Feb 21, 2018

Lai Re Naam



Remember the Name, take the Name – the Name is what saves! This ‘Name’ is the breath, the inner sound, the energy, which keeps us alive! Why not remember it, stay connected with it, and find in it the ground of our being, as this song gently suggests?
I learnt this song through Velagana Bhil from Kutch. You can listen to his raw, powerful version here.
Lai re naam, lai re naam, naam se tire
Naam bhooli aatma, bhamti phire ji
Baahare ubho mrigalo khetar mein chare
Dhani aave dhore ubho bhajto phire ji
Lai re naam…
Aandhade ne maala deeni, phenkto phire
Moorakh haathde heero deeno, dharti dhare
Lai re naam…
Nugura na neema deeno, kehto phire
Pehere kastoori kapda, tel mein tare
Lai re naam…
Saadhuda na sang jaaye, sudharo phire
Dev Dungarpuri bolya, naam se tire
Lai re naam…
Remember the Name
Remember the Name
Chant the Name
The Name is what saves
One who forgets the Name
Wanders aimlessly
The deer grazes the crops in the field
When the keeper arrives, it turns and flees
 Remember the Name…
Pearls in a blind man’s hand don’t stay
A fool fritters his diamonds away
Remember the Name…
The fool thinks his inner cloth is for show
Smears with perfumes his musk-scented robe
Remember the Name…
Seek good company if you want to re-form
Dev Dungarpuri says, the Name transforms
Remember the Name…
Translation: Vipul Rikhi

Feb 18, 2018

Jab Lag Sukhiyo Shareer




Indian philosophy is understood to propose four stages of life – childhood, youth, middle age and old age, with prescribed dharmas for each stage. This is usually understood in the culture to mean that inner work, meditation, spiritual search or satsang are literally a ‘last resort’, to be postponed diligently till old age while the duties and pleasures of the householder’s life hold sway in youth. Kabir turns this on its head. He says the best time to meditate is now, while your body is still young and willing. In old age, with no prior practice, neither body nor mind is going to buckle down to it! So do it now, while you’re well and the body is game! I learnt this song through Mahesha Ram ji of Rajasthan.
Hove re bhaag bhala re saadho
Satguru madiya, padiyo samand maan seer
Hansa re hove chug leejiye
Naam amolak heer
Peecche re yaad nahin aavse re piya
Pinjde mein vyaape peed
Hari ra gun gaay le re haan
Saadhu bhai, jab lag sukhiyo shareer
Hove re joban hata bhaj leejiye
Jej nahin karna beer
Vikal budhaapo tane aavse re piya
Manado nahin jhaale dheer
Hari ra gun…
Hove re pal pal kshan kshan aayu ghatat hai
Jyon anjali ko neer
Phir re hanso nahin aavse re piya
Maansarovariye ri seer
Hari ra gun…
Hove re sab devan ro dev Raamaiyo
Sab peeraan ro peer
Kehet Kabira bhaj leejiye
Sukhsaagariye ri seer
Hari ra gun…
While You are Well
Sing the praises of Hari, brother
While you’re well and the body is game
You won’t remember to do it later
When your frame is rattling with pain
Oh yes, my fortunes improved, the stream
Merged with the ocean, my true guru came
If you’re a swan, then seek
Only the precious jewel of the Name
Sing the praises…
Meditate while you still have youth
Don’t delay, brother, don’t wait till the end
A restless old age is creeping up on you
Your heart will lose all patience
Sing the praises…
Life slips out of our hands like water
Each moment, each instant, trickling away
The swan returns to the great mountain lake
It won’t pass anymore on this way
Sing the praises…
Oh yes, the god of all gods is Raam
The saint of all saints
Kabir says, meditate on that ocean
Of bliss, and become a part of it
Sing the praises…
Translation: Vipul Rikhi

Feb 1, 2018

Mann Laago Yaar Fakiri Mein




In a radical departure from the norm of pursuing wealth and success, in this song the poet Kabir celebrates the joy of poverty, and the beauty of simplicity. But this poverty is not empty – it is filled with the joy of remembrance or meditation. Kabir claims that this joy is far greater than the joys afforded by material comfort or luxury. Saboori, or contentment, is the quality which takes one to fakiri, or the state of being utterly free – free of desires, wants and the incessant need for more!

I learnt this song through Kaluram Bamaniya ji of Malwa, Madhya Pradesh. Watch his wonderful rendition here. The audio recording uploaded here is from a live performance by me at Lamakaan in Hyderabad. Watch the video of it here. With Venkataraman Ramachandran on the kanjira.


Mann laago mero yaar fakiri mein
Mann laago mero yaar gareebi mein

Jo sukh paaya naam bhajan mein
Vo sukh naahin ameeri mein
Mann laago mero yaar fakiri mein…

Haath mein tumba bagal mein sota
Chaaron dishaayein jaageeri mein
Mann laago mero yaar fakiri mein…

Prem nagar mein rehni hamaari
Bhali ban aayi saboori mein
Mann laago mero yaar fakiri mein…

Aakhir yeh tan khaak milega
Kaahe phirat magroori mein?
Mann laago mero yaar fakiri mein…

Kahe Kabir suno bhai saadho
Saahib mile hain saboori mein
Mann laago mero yaar fakiri mein...


My Mind Has Taken To Living Free

Oh friend, my mind has

taken to living free!

The joy of mindful awareness
Cannot be found in luxury

My mind rejoices in poverty
My heart rejoices in simplicity
My mind has taken to living free!

A bowl and a staff is all I carry
Yet my kingdom stretches wherever I see
My heart has taken to living free!

My dwelling in the city of love
Became beautiful with patience
My mind has taken to living free!

Your body will bite the dust one day
Why strut about, so smug, so vain?
My heart has taken to living free!

Says Kabir, listen seekers
The Lord is found in contentment
My mind has taken to living free!

Translation: Vipul Rikhi & Shabnam Virmani