Chun Chun Maati

Death. How can we forget it? The most basic fact of life is forgotten in the rush of life itself. Kabir reminds us - that which is built will fall; that which is born will die. This is a live recording from a concert given in Bangalore in January 2017.

This beautiful song learnt from Bharmal Vagha of Kutch.

Chun chun maati mahal banaaya
Moorakh kahe ghar mera

Na ghar mera na ghar tera

Hai jagat mein phera

Khaak mein khap jaana re banda

Maati se mil jaana

Thoda (nahin) karo abhimaan

Ik din pavan sa ud jaana

Jaada pehro jheena pehro

Pehro malmal saacha

Rupya paawal mushroo pehro

Toye maran keri aasa

Khaak mein khap jaana…

Sona pehro roopa pehro

Pehro heerla saacha

Vaar vaar motida pehro

Toye maran keri aasa

Khaak mein khap jaana…

Maata roye janam janam

Aur behen roye baarah maasa

Ghar ki naari ter din roye

Kare beeja ni aasa

Khaak mein khap jaana…

Ik din jiyo do din jiyo

Jiyo varas pachaasa

Kahat Kabira suno bhai saadho

Toye maran keri aasa

Khaak mein khap jaana…

Laying Brick Upon Brick 

Laying brick upon brick

The fool says, “My house”!

Not my house, nor your house

This world’s a merry-go-round

You’ll turn to dust one day

You’ll merge with the earth

Don’t be so proud, oh fellow

The wind will blow you away

Your attire may be fine or rough

You may wear the best silks

Spend a lot of money on finery

It all ends in death

You’ll turn to dust… 

Wear expensive gold or silver

Or the finest diamonds

Wear pearls over and over

It all ends in death

You’ll turn to dust…

You mother may mourn for years

Your sister for many months

Your partner will wait a few days

Then look for someone else!

You’ll turn to dust…

You may live one day or two

Or a hundred years

Kabir says, listen friend

It all ends in death 
You’ll turn to dust…

Translation: Vipul Rikhi 

Sat re Vachan

Words of truth fill the seeker to the brim; they fill up her every pore. With these beautiful words begins this beautiful bhajan which we've heard from Mooralala from Kutch. It's a poem by Kheem Saheb, describing the experience of fearlessness once one has drunk from the cup of the Name (one's own breath?). You can listen to Mooralala's own rendition on Ajab Shahar here.

Sat re vachan saadhu ko bhar bhariya, ho ji

Bhariya hai taaram taar

Naam ro piyaalo saadhu nirbhay thi peeyo, ho ji

Paayo mhaare satguru ae aaj

Surta chadhhi saadhu aasmaan maan, ho ji

Bhanvar gufa maan dhani mhaaro baithhiyo, ho ji

Bhanvaro kari le gunjaar

Unmuni aasan saadhu mhaara sevta, ho ji

Bhari rahiya hai bharpoor

Naam ro piyaalo…

Vina re vaadadiye veejo khavi rahiyo, ho ji

Anhad varsya hai noor

Naam ro piyaalo…

Kheem re khaada re vinya nar joojhe, ho ji

Bhaan guru bataaya hai bhed

Naam ro piyaalo…

Words Of Truth

Words of truth

Fill the seeker to the brim

They seep into her every pore, oh yes!

Drink fearlessly, seeker

From the cup of the Name

I’ve found my true guru today

Awareness climbs to the sky!

Drink fearlessly, seeker

In a whirling cave, my master sits

Hum and find him out, O bee

Strike an inward-looking posture

Get filled to the brim, oh yes!

Drink fearlessly, seeker

Lightning flashes on a cloudless day

Boundless light showers, oh yes!

Drink fearlessly, seeker

No spear or sword, yet Kheem makes war

My guru Bhaan has whispered the secret

Drink fearlessly, seeker

Translation: Vipul Rikhi and Shabnam Virmani

Koi Nahin Apna

What is the ultimate truth of our existence? Is it that we are utterly alone? That we come alone, and leave alone? That no one can escape the clutches of death? Kabir invokes all these truths in this utterly direct and bare song, which goes to the heart of all that we tend to deny or forget. No one is your own - understand, oh heart.

I've heard this song in the raw and powerful voice of 'Kabir baba' (Vishnu Khuprao Deshmukh), an itinerant street musician in Malwa. You can find his original rendition on Ajab Shahar here.

Koi nahin apna
samajh mana

Dhan daulat tera, maal khajeena
do din ka sapna
samajh mana

Nanga aana, nanga jaana
nahin kapda rakhna
samajh mana

Trikuti mein se jaan nikal gayi
moonh par daalo dhakna
samajh mana

Chaar jana mil khatiya uthaana
jangal beech rakhna
samajh mana

Kahat Kabir suno bhai saadho
vo hi hai ghar apna
samajh mana

No One is Yours

No one is yours,

Understand oh heart

Your wealth and gold

Your precious riches

A passing dream

Understand oh heart

We come naked

And leave naked

No covering remains

Understand oh heart

From between the brows

Life escapes

A shroud is put on the face

Understand oh heart

Four men act

As pall-bearers

They take you to the jungle

Understand oh heart

Kabir says

Listen seekers

That is our real home

Understand oh heart

 Translation: Vipul Rikhi

Ochintu Koi Mane

In January this year, while on a 'Sadbhavana Yatra' in north Gujarat organised by Sanjay-Tula of Vishwagram, we met Dhruv dada (well-known Sahitya Akademi awarded Gujarati writer, Dhruv Bhatt). As we travelled with him in his car, with great love, he shared with us those poems of his which come to him as songs (with tunes). We have so much enjoyed learning these songs of a modern/contemporary mystic poet, so to speak. 

In this song, he speaks of the benevolence of nature (kudrat ni rehem) and the joy of being alive. While walking along the banks of the river Narmada, he once came across a farmer working in his field under a blazing sun. When he asked him how he was doing, the farmer turned to him with a thousand watt smile, and replied with no hint of self-pity, that he was full of joy! That moved something internally for Dhruv dada in his attitude to the farmer, and to himself, and inspired this poem/song.

This yatra, mooted and part-sponsored by him, was his gesture of commitment to a larger culture of tolerance and reverence in India, done very quietly, away from the noise and controversy surrounding the returning of awards.

Ochintu koi mane raste made ne kadi

dheere thi poochhe ke kem chhe

To aapne to kahiye ke dariya si mauj maan

ne upar thi kudrat ni rehem chhe

Phaatela khissa ni aad maan muki chhe ame

chhalkaati malkaati mauj

Eklo ubhun ne toye mela maan houn

evun laagya kare chhe mane roj

Taalu vasaaye nahin evadi pataari maan

aapno khajaano hem-khem chhe

Aapne to kahiye ke dariya si mauj maan...

Aankhon maan paani to aave ne jaaye

nathi bheetar bheenaash thathi ochhi

Vadh ghat no kaanthaao raakhe hisaab nathi

parvaah samandar ne hoti

Sooraj to uge ane aathmiye jaaye

maari upar aakaash em-nem chhe

Aapne to kahiye ke dariya si mauj maan...

I'm at play 

If, suddenly, I were to come across

Someone on the way

And if they were to ask me

Softly,

"How are you doing today?"

Then I would say, 

Nature is so bountiful

And like waves in the ocean 

I'm at play!

In my torn trouser-pocket hide 
Many joyful, dancing waves

Even when alone 
I'm in a carnival each day 
In a tiny bundle
Which can never be locked
My treasure is as safe as day 
Like waves in the ocean
I'm at play! 

Water in the eyes comes and goes
But the moistness within never dries
The shore may keep accounts
Of less and more
The ocean doesn't bother about such scores 
The sun may rise and set everyday 
The sky over me is always the same 
Like waves in the ocean
I'm at play! 

Translation: Vipul Rikhi