Rumi

Picture: Shams Tabrizi and Rumi with the Dervishes

Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi, born in 1207 was a Persian poet, an Islamic dervish and a Sufi mystic. He is regarded as one of the greatest spiritual masters and poetical intellects.

His poems of love and ecstasy are beloved by millions of readers in America—he is often described as “the best-selling poet in America.” His poems have been translated to several languages around the world and are a favorite reading at weddings.

He has been compared to Shakespeare for his creativity and Saint Francis of Assisi for his spiritual wisdom. Rumi underwent a remarkable midlife transformation when he met the itinerant mystic Shams of Tabriz, who encouraged him to reorient from a path of knowledge and life as a respected Muslim teacher, preacher, and jurist, to a path of love and of the heart by including music, poetry, and the whirling dance as part of his spiritual practice. When Shams of Tabriz disappeared, Rumi coped with the pain of separation by composing joyous poems of reunion, both human and divine. The great legacy of Rumi over the centuries has been as an interfaith icon, as he articulated the notion of “religion of love,” and wrote that “Since we worship the one God, then all religions must be same.”

Rumi was a refugee and migrant for most of his life. His family escaped their home in present-day Afghanistan, which was destroyed by the invading Genghis Khan and the Mongols. He acquired poetic and spiritual wisdom during a time of great turmoil in Central Asia.

Remarkably at his funeral in Turkey in 1273, the procession included singers and dancers, traditional chantings from the Quran as well as Christian priests chanting the Gospel and Jewish rabbis reciting Psalms.

Mann Chand Re Nu – A R Rahman at his best

What is there to say about this song? Just listen to it…

Singers: Sukhwinder Singh, Shraddha Pandit, Vijay Prakash
Music: A R Rahman

In Punjabi:
♫ Mann chandre nu raas na aave, Na aave dharwaas
Jigar da sauda kyon kar baitha, mukadi jaandi aas
Je lut janda te lut janda dil, hauke kha ke chhup jaanda ♪
–

♫ Beparwah da ki kehna, Na aave dharwaas..
Jigar da sauda kyon kar baitha, mukadi jaandi aas..
Dard sataunda bedardaan nu, bedardaan da ki jaanda..
Dard sataunda bedardaan nu, bedardaan da ki jaanda.. ♪

Translation:
Crazy heart neither gets satisfaction nor can afford..
Why it did the deal of heart, now even the hopes are dying..
Once heart is gone, its gone! It hides after crying..
–
What to say about heartless people, there is no relief..
Why it did the deal of heart, now even the hopes are dying..
Pain hurts and heartless have no regret about it..
Pain hurts and heartless have no regret about it..

PS: This song is not from a movie. It’s from the music album ‘Connections’ released by Nokia.

The Mystic Poet Kabir: 1398-1518 AD

Kabir with Namdeva, Raidas and Pipaji. A 19th-century painting. 

Moko Kahan Dhundhere Bande
Mein To Tere Paas Mein
Na Teerath Mein, Na Moorat Mein
Na Ekant Niwas Mein
Na Mandir Mein, Na Masjid Mein
Na Kaabe Kailas Mein
Mein To Tere Paas Mein Bande
Mein To Tere Paas Mein
Na Mein Jap Mein, Na Mein Tap Mein

Na Mein Barat Upaas Mein
Na Mein Kiriya Karm Mein Rehta
Nahin Jog Sanyas Mein
Nahin Pran Mein Nahin Pind Mein
Na Brahmand Akas Mein
Na Mein Prakuti Prawar Gufa Mein
Nahin Swasan Ki Swans Mein
Khoji Hoye Turat Mil Jaoon
Ik Pal Ki Talas Mein
Kahet  Kabir Suno Bhai Sadho
Mein To Hun Viswas Mein

Translation

Where do you search me?
I am with you
Not in pilgrimage, nor in idols
Neither in solitudes
Not in temples, nor in mosques
Neither in Kaaba nor in Kailash
I am with you O’ man
I am with you
Not in prayers, nor in meditation

Neither in feast or fasting
Not in yogic exercises
Neither in renunciation
Neither in the vital force nor in the body
Not even in the ethereal space
Neither in the womb of nature
Not in the breath of the breath
Seek earnestly and discover
In but a moment of search
Says Kabir, listen O’ seekers
Where your faith is, I am there.