Tyaa fulaanchyaa gandh koshi: Part 4

9.

जीवनी संजीवनी तू ~ माऊलीचे दूध का...

Are you the nectar in a mother’s milk that sustains life?

Nature has enforced such instincts that whether it is a human baby or a newborn from the animal kingdom, it will be nurtured and protected by its mother during the tender years.The mother’s milk is its sole lifeline in this vulnerable period. It is known to contain valuable immunoglobulins that will empower the baby to withstand various diseases. Above and beyond the nutrition, the young life gets shelter, love and its earliest life lessons from the mother. 

Sometimes young kids are not fortunate to have a mother. Yet they thrive because of the love from another woman who steps in to take care of them. In recent times a shining example of such foster mother was Sindhutai Sapkal who took under her wings over 1500 orphaned kids without any fanfare. Those kids cannot call themselves orphans anymore. 

In Marathi God is often referred to as Anaathaancha Naath ! अनाथांचा नाथ!  Protector of the orphans. Or Deenanath…protector of the poor and weak. Lord of the destitute.

He must be occasionally taking a human form like Sindhutai to fulfil that role.

जीवनी संजीवनी तू 

Jeevan means life. 

Sanjeevani is nectar or elixir that rejuvenates life. The poet asks “ are you the nectar of life? “

A mother feeding her milk to the baby is just one example of sanjeevani in life.

Farmers toil in the sun to put food on our table. Health care workers like paramedics, nurses and doctors worked tirelessly in the pandemic notwithstanding their own safety. Even in times of no pandemic they are the ones that rush when called in for a medical emergency. Soldiers who guard our borders under extremes of weather conditions as well as put their lives on the frontlines during wars. Arent they serving this nectar of life in their own way? Work done with dedication and love for improving the life of others is sanjeevani, irrespective of whether or not it is recognized, rewarded or thanked.

It is noteworthy that in this entire poem the poet addresses God as Tu, not Tumhi. Tum , not Aap if it were in Hindi. All words mean “You” in English. But in Indian regional languages “You” has many versions based on intimacy or heirarchy . In Marathi, Tu is used for someone who is of a similar age or stature as oneself or someone who is really close to you, where there is no formality. Tumhi is used to address elders, authorities or people who are not that close to you. Thus Tumhi is more respectful but misses out on closeness. Interestingly mother is frequently called Tu where as father is addressed as Tumhi. The closeness to a mother is implied in that simple address.

With that context you will understand how close the poet feels to God to address him as Tu. 

I am reminded here how even Arjun suddenly becomes aware of who Shri Krishna is, how big HE is when he shows him his Vishwaroop ( Universal gigantic form). He gets overwhelmed with that realization and spontaneously apologizes for addressing Krishna earlier as Tu like he would address any other friend. 

A lioness may be feared by others but her cubs are not scared of her. To them she is just a mother.

GOD may be the Master of the entire Universe but for his devotees HE is like a mother or friend, or even closer. Sorry to go a bit off topic here but I thought it was something important to understand the relationship that is underlying this composition.

10.

कष्टणार्‍या बांधवांच्या ~ रंगसी नेत्रात का...

Or the colors ( redness) (from hope,worry or suffering) that fills the eyes of laboring brethren?

You don’t have to be an orphan to experience extreme suffering. There are many who are less fortunate in life for various reasons. They may be born in poverty, have abusive families, lose their homes in natural disasters or face other circumstances. Yet they strive each day. 

Many times what the mouth can’t say and ears can’t hear can be read by looking into the eyes of a person. The glimmer of hope admixed at times with pain, fear and worry is particularly to be seen in the eyes of these people whose life is an uphill battle. Despite all hardships they keep going on with a dream for a better tomorrow. 

We have heard stories of rickshaw drivers who worked tirelessly to put their daughters through school and college and seen these kids ace their way up.

The latest example is of our new President of India who has seen unimaginable personal tragedy and risen from tribal roots to the highest office in the country. 

Who or what is the force that keeps their dreams alive ? The poet wonders if that look in those eyes is a hint of God’s presence. 

11.

मूर्त तू मानव्य का रे ~ बालकांचे हास्य का...

Are you humanity personified? Or are you the laughter in children?

Rare are the people who are ready to lay down their lives for others? Is God the magnanimity in such people ? Or the selflessness in those whose entire life is lived with the sole purpose of service? Or the equanimity in those who treat birds and animals as they would their own family? In short, is He humanity personified? 

We as human beings acquire a lot of layers as we go through life. The experiences, both good and bad, shape us and frequently make us cautious in our human interactions. Our words become measured, our laughter is restricted and smiles punctuated. Somewhere behind these curtains the soul gets hidden. 

Look at young babies who have not yet become aware of what kind of family they are born into, rich or poor, royalty or commoner, white, black or brown. Smile at them and see how they smile back at you irrespective of your skin color or who you are.

When I roam around in India I come across poor kids playing in the streets. They don’t have fancy toys or clothes or even shoes in their feet. But more often than not they have the purest of smiles on their face. Those unfiltered smiles radiate innocence and purity. 

Is it God who is the innocence in those precious smiles?

12.

या इथे अन् त्या तिथे रे ~ सांग तू आहेस का...

Please tell me, are you present here as well as there?

Arjun had asked Shri Krishna a similar question in the 10th chapter of the Bhagwad Geeta. Where can I find you ? And the Lord elaborated for his beloved devotee the scope of His Presence. 

Like a kaleidoscope we saw the various qualities of the creator in the earlier verses. The essence of beauty and joy as in the flowers, infinitude as in the stars, a field for creative expansion as in the sky, benevolence like in the breeze or rain, inspiration that strikes like lightning, a teacher in the form of a storm that prepares you for the challenges in life, a sustainer of life as our breath, a nourishment like milk from the mother, a champion for hard work and perseverance, an embodiment of humanity in selfless people, and epitome of purity as in a child. 

At the end of it the poet wonders and asks “ are you here as well as there? “ 

The virtue of God he is touching upon here with that question is omnipresence! 

Farooq Quaiser’s lines from a ghazal sung by Pankaj Udhas  come to mind in this context:

Kis ko Quaiser patthar maru kaun paraayaa hai?

Sheesh mahal mein ik ik chehraa apnaa lagtaa hai!

 (Who can I throw stones at? In the palace of mirrors each and every face I see is my own !!)

A western visitor had once asked Swami Dayananda Saraswati of the Arsh Vidya Gurukulam, do you believe in one God or many Gods?

Swamiji replied: “ There is not one God. There aren’t many Gods. There is ONLY GOD!”

A well known Mahavakya from the Chandogya Upanishad which is part of the Sama Veda declares :

Sarva Khalvidam Brahma! 

All this is Brahman, The Supreme Being!

Human mind perhaps can’t comprehend this concept easily. 

Each of our minds is unique and may therefore have a different outlook towards the world outside. Those of us who are believers may see God in different things and different situations. Irrespective of the specifics, our existence undoubtedly will become meaningful and beautiful if we learn to find God in day to day living.

If I may take the liberty to put a twist on Ludhianvi Saab’s words in my conclusion:

Kisliye jeete hai hum

Kiske liye jeete hai

Paa liyaa tumko to is baat pe

Hansnaa aayaa 

Why do I live? Who do I live for? 

 I laugh at these questions now that I 

have found you! 

🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

Saree is a kala cotton Bhujodi in cream color with design highlighted in rust thread. Paired with a printed cotton blouse.