Mystic Poets Of India

Many of the great mystics of India found their way to express the inexpressable through song. While we have their words, we can’t know what melodies they sang them to, so Sandeep Srivastav has composed melodies based on the Indian raga system, which would surely have been familiar to them. From an abundance of Masters we have chosen Kabir, Meera, Buleh Shah, Sahajo, Amir Khusrow, Nanak and a great scholar, Tulsidas. We have selected parts of their poems to be sung on this CD. Chinmaya Dunster has set these melodies to chords, Western instrumentation and contemporary grooves with the help of Kavi, whose guitars set the basic flavour of each song. CREDITS Produced by Chinmaya Dunster. Vocals: Sandeep Srivastav and Gayatri Lalunwalkar Guitars: Kavi Tabla/Dholak: Shambhu Nath Bhattacharya Flute and piano: Sangit Om Sarod: Chinmaya Dunster Vocals recorded by Lalit Kumar Kapil and Rajeev Purushotham at Katha-Ras Sound Studios, New Delhi, India. TRACK NOTES AND LYRICS 1. RAM TAJU Sahajo (c1725-1800) Rajasthani female mystic Ram taju pai Guru na bisaru. Guru ke sam hari ko na niharu I may abandon Ram (God), but I can never forget my Guru I do not see God with the same sense of gratitude as I do my Guru Hari ne janm diyo jag maanhi. guru ne awagaman chhutaahi God sent me into this world But my Guru rid me of the vicious cycle of birth and death Hari ne paanch chor diye saatha. guru ne lai chhuraye anatha God sent five thieves (the five senses) to me My Guru rescued me from their captivity -------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. ZEHAL-E MISKIN Amir Khusrow (1253-1325), sufi mystic, poet and musician of Delhi, who wrote in Persian and Hindustani. Zehal-e miskin makun taghaful, duraye naina banaye batiyan Do not overlook my misery by blandishing your eyes and weaving tales ki taab-e hijran nadaram ay jaan, na leho kaahe lagaye chhatiyan. My patience has over-brimmed. O sweetheart, why do you not take me to your bosom? Shaban-e hijran daraz chun zulf wa roz-e waslat cho umr kotah Long like curls in the night of separation, short like life on the day of our union; Sakhi piya ko jo main na dekhun to kaise kaatun andheri ratiyan. My dear, how will I pass the dark dungeon night without your face before me? ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. ASTUTI Nanak (1469-1539) founder of the Sikh religion. Astuti ninda do'u tyaage khoje pad nirvaana Jan nanak yeh khel kathin hai koi Guru-mukh jaana Unaffected by praise or criticism, one attains nirvana Says Nanak, “it is a difficult game, some learn it, facing the Guru.” --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. JAI JAI SURNAYAK Tulsidas (1532-1623) of Varanasi. philosopher and devotee of Rama. Jai jai surnayak jan sukhdayak pranatpaal bhagwanta, Go dwij hitkari jai asurari sindhusuta priyakanta, O lord, giver of happiness to all and protector of the downtrodden. You guide the learned and eradicate sinners. The consort of the daughter of the ocean (Laxmi), we praise you. Paalan Surdharni Adhbhut Karni Maram Na Janahi Koyee, One, who nurtures the earth and the Gods, your acts are mysterious. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. CHHAP TILAK Amir Khusrow Chhap tilak sab chhini re mose naina milaike Baat agam keh dini re mose naina milaike You've taken away my looks, my identity, by just a glance. You said something deep, profound, by just a glance Khusro Nijam ke bal bal jaiye Mohe suhagan kinhi re mose naina milaike Khusro gives his whole life to you, O Nijam You've made me your bride, by just a glance. --------------------------------------------------------------- 6. RAM GOVIND HARI (inspired by Pt. D V Paluskar’s melody) Kabir (1440-1518) a weaver of Varanasi, householder and mystic, harmoniser of Hinduism and Islam. Bhajo re bhaiyyaa ram govind hari jap tap saadhan kachhu nahin laagat kharchat nahin gatthree Brothers, sing ‘Ram Govind Hari’ No need is there for chanting, penance or other means And no need is there for money. kehat kabira jaa mukh ram nahin wa mukh dhool bharee Says Kabir “Not having Ram (God) on your lips, You are fit only for biting the dust.” --------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. RANJHA-RANJHA Bulleh Shah (1680-1757) Punjabi Sufi, humourist and anti-fundamentalist. (In this poem about a Punjabi couple, Heer and Ranjha, Heer speaks of her love for Ranjha as a metaphor for her love of the Divine) Patiya likhan main sham nu, mohe piya nazar na aawe I write letters every evening, but you don’t come, Beloved. Ranjha-ranjha kardi hun main appe ranjha hoi Saddo ni mainu dhido ranjha, heer na akkho koi Repeating the name of Ranjha I have become Ranjha myself. O call me ye all ‘Dhido-Ranjha’, let no one call me Heer. Ranjha main vich, main ranjhe vich, ghair khayal na koi Main nahi oh aap hai apni aap kare diljoi. Ranjha is in me, I am in Ranjha. No other thought exists in my mind. I am not, He alone is, He alone is amusing himself. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 8. MOHE LAGI Meera (or Meerabai) (c1498-c1547), aristocratic bhakti Krishna devotee. (Girdhar Nagar is an epithet of Krishna) Mohe lagi lagan guru charnan ki. charan bina mohe kachhu nahi bhaave Jhooth maya sab sapnan ki. bhav-sagar sab sookh gaya hai Fikar nahi mohe tranan ki The ocean of birth and death has dried up, I am not worried about crossing it I am wedded to my Guru's feet, nothing appeals to me except surrendering to your feet The entire world seems false like an illusion or a dream. Meera kahe prabhu girdhar nagar, ulat bhai more nainan ki. Oh Meera's courtly Lord Girdhar Nagar, my Guru's grace and blessings have turned my eyes inward from the external world to the inner spirit. Patiya likha main shaam nu mohe piya nazar na aave I can't see my beloved, so I write letters to him in the evening.