Wednesday, November 25

The Divine Crossing

As much as I love talking about myself, people, relationships, movies, TV shows (and a host of other topics), I can't deny that a good blog, an interesting blog deals with a wider variety of subjects and themes. Of course, there are people who argue that one blog should have one single theme.

Whatever... I've written too much about love and heartbreak in the past 2 weeks, and I'm feeling guilty about not giving you guys more chow to chew on...

So, this time round, I'm gona write one of my favorite bhajans :-)

Yeah, you heard right. I love devotional songs, especially when my mum sings them melodiously and sincerely... And I sing them myself, too. Not as well, for sure, but certainly with dedication.

This one particular bhajan was originally sung by the adorable Anup Jalota. It's called "Jaana Tha Ganga Paar". It tells a story in the Ramayana, when Shri Ram, Seeta and Lakshman reach the Ganges and want to cross it with the assistance of the boatman Kevat.

Let me jot down the lyrics first, and you can always check out the tune online (unless you want to set your own rhythm.) It goes like this...

कभी कभी भगवान को भी भक्तो से काम पडे,
जाना था गंगा पार प्रभू केवट की नाव चदे,
जाना था गंगा पार प्रभू केवट की नाव चदे। (That's the chorus)

अवध छोड़ प्रभु वन को जायें,
सीया राम लखन गंगा तट आये,
केवट मन ही मन हर्शाये,
घर बैठे प्रभु दर्शन पाए,
हाथ जोड़ कर प्रभु के आगे केवट मगन खड़े,
जाना था गंगा पार प्रभू केवट की नाव चदे।
जाना था गंगा पार प्रभू केवट की नाव चदे।

प्रभु बोले तुम नाव चलाओ,
पार हमे केवट पहुचाओ,
केवट कहता सुनो हमारी चरण धुल की माया भारी,
मैं गरीब नैय्या मेरी नारी ना होई पडे,
जाना था गंगा पार प्रभू केवट की नाव चदे।
जाना था गंगा पार प्रभू केवट की नाव चदे।

केवट दौड़ के जल भर लाया,
चरण धोये चरणामृत पाया,
वेद ग्रंथ जिन के यश गाये केवट उनको नाव चढाये,
बरसे फूल गगन से ऐसे भक्त के भाग बड़े,
जाना था गंगा पार प्रभू केवट की नाव चदे।
जाना था गंगा पार प्रभू केवट की नाव चदे।

चली नाव गंगा की धारा,
सीया राम लखन को पार उतारा,
प्रभु देने लगे नाव उतराई केवट कहे नही रघुराई,
पार किया मैंने तुमको,
पार किया मैंने तुमको,
अब तू मोहे पार
करे,
जाना था गंगा पार प्रभू केवट की नाव चदे।
जाना था गंगा पार प्रभू केवट की नाव चदे।

Lovely, eh? I get goose-bumps as I hear or sing the final line - the "ab tu mohe paar kare" one... You should listen to this once, I promise you won't regret it...

Shall tell you the story next time in case you not well-versed in Hindi or mythology :-)

Take care!
Princess

7 comments:

Junius said...

mmm...cheers!

vishal said...

Good ya..for a change..
keep it up n come up with more interesting topics.
as it si whatver you write is an immense pleasure to read..
blogging redefined
Anuja Style

Princess said...

@ Junius - Hi! Thanks for commenting :-)

@ Vishal - Thanks man! Forgor ur blog address - wats the link again?

Cheerio!
Anuja

Princess said...

Heyaaa!

Here's the story behind the lovely devotional song (=bhajan)...

The song says that sometimes even God needs the help of his devotees. On one such occasion, Lord Ram wanted to cross the Ganges, and he sought the assistance of a boatman "Kevat".

Ram, Seeta and Lakshman left Ayodhya when Rama was banished to the forest ("Vanvaas") for 14 years by his stepmom Kaikeyi. They had to cross the river Ganga and this is when Kevat rejoiced coz God Himself had come up to him to give darshana. He bowed to the Lord as Rama said take us across the river.

Kevat was quick to retort that given the magical powers of Rama (the touch of his feet had turned the stone Ahilya into a woman), it was only in his safety/benefit that he be allowed to wash Rama's feet. If his boat turned into a woman, how would he get his daily bread?!!

(Mum told me that short-tempered Lakshman got very annoyed with this insolence and even raised his bow to strike Kevat, at which point Kevat teased him saying "If you kill me, who'll take you across?!" Rama was amused, just like a parent is, with his bindaas child... How cute!)

Rama obliged, and Kevat ran to get some water to wash his Holy feet. (There's another story behind this... All a tangled web... The never-ending sotry of our different lives and Karma. Shall share some other time.) He lovingly caressed and wiped Rama's charan, and helped Him onto his boat.

Thereafter, Kevat transported the three of them to the other bank. When Rama tried to pay the fare, Kevat said he did not want money. All he wanted was just like he had fared the trio across the river, Rama should fare him across the cycle of life and death and grant him Moksha...

Touching, eh?

Love these stories, will probably start re-reading the Mahabharata soon!

-Princess

vishal said...

www.vishalbheeroo.wordpress.com
U most welcome,ma'am
Rgds N care
Vishal

ani_aset said...

ahan varied interests ..bhajans too wah wah :)

Princess said...

:-)

Thanks!

-Princess

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