Avagha Rang Ek Zala

 

The month of March is usually when the festival of Holi happens in the Hindu  calendar. A festival of colors that signifies celebration of spring and mirrors the myriad of colors that are generously spread all around in the form of flowers, grass and new foliage. Indeed during this time of the year the theme on the mind of Mother Nature is Colors! 

But the truth is Mother Nature is colored at all times. The blue sky, the blue to green waters of the ocean , the white clouds and white surf, the green grass on hilltops and the white snow covered mountain peaks, the gorgeous peacocks, the golden sun that colors the east and west horizons orange red at the time of sunrise, the pink lotuses growing in the lakes all year around, the pitch black darkness on a night of a new moon. We seem to appreciate all these hues. 

But it is usually a different story when it comes to people of color. The diversity is not often looked at as a thing of beauty or richness of Nature. Why? Because ignorance comes in the way. Prejudice that is often propagated from one generation to another dims the vision. At such times the saints rise to show the light. 

Avagha rang eka zala

Rangi rangala Shriranga

This is a beautiful abhanga by the 14th century saint Soyrabai from Maharashtra. She was the wife and disciple of Sant Chokhamela. Both belonged to the community of Mahars, the lowest strata of society, considered untouchables. Listen to this exquisite poetry rendered by the late Smt Kishori Amonkar. It will transport you to another realm. 

The irony is that society deemed Soyrabai and Chokhamela as lowly people but in reality they were human beings of the highest order. Both were devotees of Lord Panduranga. The devotion culminated into the highest wisdom and exquisite poetry that arose from this deep wisdom. The poetry was a voice of their suffering. Imagine a true devotee being barred from even entering the temple of their God figure ? 

After several humiliating incidents and rejections when Soyrabai finally got the darshan of Panduranga she had a reaction that was superlative. She saw Panduranga ( Shriranga) in everything and everyone. All colors merged into one…. The color of divinity. Her own body identity didn’t matter anymore. With the oneness came the end of faults of anger and desire. There was nothing more left to be seen with the eyes. 

May this wisdom spread to many who desperately need it and yet don’t know that they need it 🙏🏼🙏🏼💕💕

Saree is a green with yellow Ajrakh print on a silk cotton Maheshwari. The skies as always created their own palette to complement the saree this morning before sunrise.

In the comments deliberately posting “unfiltered “ pictures to highlight the point that no matter how colorful one’s saree or one is, until light shines on it , it remains in the dark. Our insides are just like that . Light must shine for us to see 🙏🏼🙏🏼💕💕

The full abhanga:

Awagha rang ek jhaala l
Rangi rangala Shrirang ll

Mi tu pan gele waaya l
Paahata Pandharicha raaya ll 

Naahi bhedaache te kaam l
Paloni gele krodh kaam ll

Dehi asoni widehi l
Sada samaadhist paahi ll

Paahate paahane gele duri l
Mhane chokhiyaachi mahaari ll