Guru Vinya Ghor Andhaaro

Guru shatters the pitch darkness, the lamp destroys the utter blackness, says Kabir, urging us to light the lamp in our own self-temple. As he says, light the lamp and there's radiance!

I learnt this song from Asariya Bhai Jagariya of Kutch, Gujarat. 'Jagariya' means one who awakens.Watch his beautiful rendition with his mandali on 'Ajab Shahar' here.

Jal vinya jyot, pavan vinya paani
Al pal vaar leher laagi re
Mandariye maan
Deepak baryo ajvaado

Guru vinya ghor andhaaro mandariye maan
Divle vinya ghor andhaaro mandariye maan
Deepak baryo ajvaado

Etleek chhe potli padi jaase hethi
Padi jaase maati maaylo gaaro re
Mandariye maan
Deepak baryo ajvaado

Seelari nu saanto ras bharyo meetho
Guriye guriye ras nyaaro re
Mandariye maan
Deepak baryo ajvaado

Haath maan chhe vaatko ne saaro sheher bhatkyo
Moorakhda ne tel nahin aale koi udhaaro re
Mandariye maan
Deepak baryo ajvaado

Kaho ho Kabir suno bhai saadho
Naam liyo nirakaaro re
Naam liyo niradhaaro re
Mandariye maan

Deepak baryo ajvaado 

Guru Shatters the Pitch Darkness

Water douses fire, wind dries up water

Each moment a new wave rises

In the temple

Light the lamp and there’s radiance

The guru shatters the pitch darkness

In the temple

The lamp dispels the utter darkness

In the temple

Light the lamp and there’s radiance

Such a small bundle

It will bite the dust one day

It will mingle with the mud

In the temple

Light the lamp and there’s radiance

The sugarcane stem

Is juicy and sweet

Each knot has a special taste

In the temple

Light the lamp and there’s radiance

Begging bowl in hand

You went round the whole town

No one lends oil to a fool

In the temple

Light the lamp and there’s radiance

Says Kabir, listen seekers

Dwell upon the formless

Take the name of the nameless

In the temple

Light the lamp and there’s radiance

(translation by Vipul Rikhi and Shabnam Virmani)

Milo re Milo

Oh, to meet someone from my own land, says Gorakh, and be able to exchange a few words with him. As the saint-poets often say, no one here understands our language. They speak a different tongue.

This is a song from Malwa, which we learnt from Kaluramji.

Milo re milo koi mhaara des ra
Do do baataan karaanga ji

Lakkad lakkad sab ek hai
Ek hi maalik ne gadhiya ji
Ek lakkad toh dhooni mein jale
Dooji mahalaan mein jadiya ji
Milo re milo...

Patthar patthar sab ek hai
Ek hi maalik ne gadhiya ji
Ek patthar ki moorat bani
Dooji seedhi mein jadiya ji
Milo re milo...

Dharti maata ra choolha kariya
Aasmaan kiya hai kadhela ji
Chaar jugaan ke phoonkan diya
Dhuan gagan samaana ji
Milo re milo...

Dui kar jod Gorakh boliya
Paaya hai vaikunth vaasa ji
Jin ne ratiya nij naam ko
Voi nar sant sujaana ji
Pahunchooga sat dhaama ji

Milo re milo... 

Someone from my Land

Oh, to meet someone from my land

And have a few words with him

This wood, that wood, they’re all one

The same master made them all

This wood burns in a sacred fire

That one’s studded in a palace wall

Oh, to meet…

This stone, that stone, they’re all one

That master fabricated them both

This stone becomes part of the idol

That one’s on the temple floor

Oh, to meet…

Mother earth, the firewood stove

The sky transforms to a cauldron

All four ages tossed in the fire

The smoke rises up to the heavens

Oh, to meet…

Gorakh folds his hands in prayer

He’s found his place in heaven

One who remembers the true name

Arrives at the true destination

Oh, to meet…

(translation by Vipul Rikhi)

Aisi Mhaari Preet

With Diwali firecrackers as the backdrop, this live recording from a satsang in Pune in November last year speaks of an intensely intimate love: like the vine for the tree, like the fish for the sea. This beloved is closer than one’s own heartbeat.

We learnt this song from Prahladji, among the many others that he’s been and continues to be an amazing channel for. The sweetness of the Malwi dialect adds its own special flavour to the song. With much gratitude to Sheetal Vaidya, Neerad Trivedi and aunty for hosting the satsang and for this recording.

Aisi mhaari preet nibhaavajo

Ho nirdhan ka ho Raam

Aisi mhaari preet nibhaavajo

Ho durbal ka ho Raam

Bhavsaagar mein bhoolo mati

Tam toh jharkat ham beladi

Raanga tam se liptaaye

Tam toh dhaldo ne ham sookhi jaavaan

Mhaara kai ho havaal?

Aisi mhaari preet nibhaavajo…

Tam toh samdar ham maachhali

Raanga tamaara ho maay

Tam toh sookho ne ham mari jaavaan

Mhaara kai ho havaal?

Aisi mhaari preet nibhaavajo…

Tam toh baadal ham moriya

Raanga tam se judaaye

Raanga tam se harkaaye

Tam toh garjo ne ham boliya

Tam toh barso ne ham boliya

Mhaara kai ho havaal?

Aisi mhaari preet nibhaavajo…

Kahe ho Kabir Dharmidas se

Piyu thaara ghat maay

Piyu hirday dhadkaaye

Aisi mhaari preet nibhaavajo…

Be True to My Love

Be true to my love

Like the poor have no one but their Raam

Be true to my love

Like the weak have nothing but their faith

Don’t leave me alone in this life-ocean

You are the tree, and I the creeper

I’ll stay in your embrace

If you wither, I’ll dry up too

What will happen to me without you?

Be true to my love…

You are the sea, and I the fish

I’ll stay immersed in you

If you dry up, I’ll die too

What would I be without you?

Be true to me love…

You are the cloud, I the peacock

I’m connected to you

I get great joy from you

When you rain, I sing and dance

What would I be without you?

Be true to my love…

Kabir says, O Dharamdas

The beloved is within your body

The beloved is your own heartbeat

Don’t leave me alone in this life-ocean

Be true to my love…

(translated by Vipul Rikhi)

Hiye Kaaya Mein

In yet another song on the body, Kabir meditates on the fragility of our lives - like a necklace of pearls that will scatter, like a garden of flowers that will be grazed away, or like a clay pot that will shatter one day. This body is also described as a marketplace, where one must strike a good bargain.

We learnt this beautiful song from Mooralala ji. This is a live recording (hence the low levels) made in Rome by the renowned oral historian, Alessandro Portelli, who had warmly invited and hosted us. Singing here at the Apollo Film Club as part of our tour of Europe in 2014.

Hiye kaaya mein bartan maati ro
Hiye dehi mein bartan maati ro
Phooti jaase nahin kare ranako
Sahib hamko darr laage ek din ro

Ek hi din ro, ghadi palak ro
Nahin re bharoso ek hi pal ro
Sahib hamko darr laage ek din ro

Hiye kaaya mein maala motiyan ki
Tooti jaase doro roodho tan ko
Sahib hamko darr laage ek din ro

Hiye kaaya mein haat bajaara
Sauda kari le ho roodho pal ro
Sahib hamko darr laage ek din ro

Hiye kaaya mein vaadi phuliyan ki
Mriga chari jaaye ho roodho van ro
Sahib hamko darr laage ek din ro

Ek din aavse, sab ne bulaavse
Lekha lese raai til ro
Sahib hamko darr laage ek din ro

Kahat Kabira suno bhai saadho
Pehla hai naam alakh ro

Sahib hamko darr laage ek din ro 

In This Body 

In this body, a vessel of clay

It will shatter

Then never resound

I fear that day, lord

Just one day, one moment

The blink of an eyelid

Can you trust

A single instant?

In this body, a string of pearls

The thread of this body

Will snap one day

I fear that day, lord…

In this body, a market bustles

Find a true saint

Strike a good bargain

I fear that day, lord…

In this body, a field of flowers

A deer grazes away

The beautiful garden

I fear that day, lord…

A day will come

Each one will be called

An account taken

Of every moment

I fear that day, lord…

Says Kabir, listen seekers

First and foremost

Remember the invisible

I fear that day, lord…

(Translation by Vipul Rikhi and Shabnam Virmani)

Haman Hain Ishq Mastaana

A classic Kabir song, 'Haman hain' describes his state of utter freedom and aloofness from attachments to or requirements from the world. He doesn't need to keep it happy anymore, he doesn't need to be in bed with it anymore. He has banished duality from his heart. This composition is by the wonderful Bindhumalini and Vedanth Bharadwaj. Find more songs at www.ishqfakiri.com

Haman hain ishq mastaana
Haman ko hoshiyaari kya?
Rahein aazaad ya jag se
Haman duniya se yaari kya?

Jo bichhude hain piyaare se
Bhatakte dar badar phirte
Hamaara yaar hai ham mein
Haman ko intezaari kya?

Na pal bichhude piya ham se
Na ham bichhude piyaare se
Unhi se neh laagi hai
Haman ko beqaraari kya?

Kabira ishq ka maata
Dui ko door kar dil se
Jo chalna raah naazuk hai
Haman sir bojh bhaari kya?

I’m Drunk on Love

I’m drunk on love

Why be clever anymore?

Free of worldliness

Why befriend the world anymore?

They wander who are lost

Separated from the beloved

My beloved dwells in me

Why wilt in waiting anymore?

Not once did I lose sight of him

Not once did he leave my side

My heart’s strings are tied to him

I don’t toss and turn anymore

Kabir, get drunk on love

Rid the heart of duality

Such a delicate path to tread

Why lug a heavy load anymore?

(translation by Vipul Rikhi)

Raam Ras Meetho Ghano

In this song, Kabir asks us to burn down our house. Only then will a new house arise. And the promise of a new house is 'Raam ras' - the amazingly sweet nectar of Raam, our actual, inner self. I learnt this song from Mahesha Ram ji and his accompanist Amolak Ram. Find more songs at http://ishqfakiri.com/

Main mera ghar jaadiya re, jogiya ji
Liyo paleeta haath
Koi agar jaado ghar aapro re, jogiya ji
Chalo hamaare saath

Raam ras meetho ghano re, jogiya ji
Piye amar hoi jaaye

Ghar jaadyo ghar ubhare re, jogiya ji
Ghar raakhyo ghar jaaye
Ek achambho main joviyo re, jogiya ji
Mado kaal ne khaaye
Raam ras...

Aago re aage dav jade re, jogiya ji
Peechhe hariya hoye
Balihaari un roonkhdi re, jogiya ji
Jad kaatyo phal hoye
Raam ras...

Dhruv piyo, Prahlad piyo re, jogiya ji
Piyo Peepe Ravidas
Bhagat Kabira ras pi rahyo re, jogiya ji
Phir peevan ri aas

Raam ras... 

The Drink of Raam 

I burnt down my house, yogi

I took up the flaming torch

If you scorch your own house, yogi

Then join me on this walk

The drink of Raam is incredibly sweet

One who drinks it never dies

Scorch the house to make a house arise, yogi

Protect it and it’s gone!

I saw a strange, wondrous sight, yogi

A dead man was eating up time 

            Incredibly sweet… 

Ahead, a blaze rages, yogi

Behind it, greenery thrives

I saw such a plant, yogi

Cut the root and the fruit revives 

            Incredibly sweet… 

Dhruv drank it, Prahlad drank it, yogi

Peepa and Ravidas drank it in

Kabir too is drinking, yogi

His thirst as great as it’s ever been 

            Incredibly sweet… 

(translation by Vipul Rikhi)

Ramta Padhaaro Ganpati

This is a Meera bhajan from Rajasthan. We learnt it from Mahesha Ram ji. It invokes the Lord of Beginnings, Ganesha, inviting him and all the other gods to our 'nij mandir', our very own, deeply personal, temple - this body, where we may welcome all the gods if we prepare it well enough.

Dhoop khevaada agarbatti nij mandariye mo
Ramta padhaaro Ganpati

Moose ri asvaari vaala Ganpat aaya
Sang ma re laaya Riddhi Siddhi

Nandi ri asvaari vaala Shiv ji aaya
Sang ma re laaya Parvati

Raam ji re aaya vhaala, re Lachhman aaya
Sang ma re laaya Sita sati

Anjani ka jaaya vhaala, re Hanumant aaya
Sang me re laaya amar booti

Bolya Meera bai, ne Girdhar gaayo

Guru milya hai Ravidas 

Stop by on Your Travels, O Ganesha

Incense sticks in my self-temple are lit

Stop by on your travels, O Ganesha

A mouse for his vehicle, Ganesha arrives

Together with his wives, wealth and wisdom

Stop by, O Ganesha

Riding his bull, Shiva arrives

Parvati, his partner, by his side

Stop by, O Ganesha

Raam arrives, and Lakshman arrives

Together with Sita, embodiment of truth

Stop by, O Ganesha

Son of the wind, Hanuman arrives

Bringing the herb of eternal life

Stop by, O Ganesha

Meera says, in service of Krishna

I found Ravidas, my true guru

Stop by, O Ganesha

(translation by Vipul Rikhi)