The very center of your heart is where life begins - the most beautiful place on earth.
~Rumi~
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Bhavana recently emailed us a beautiful personal reflection around "Aaqa", an evocative Sufi song and this week's Maitri Tunes which we are delighted to share.
I have listened to the qawwali several times in the last few days. And each time I have done so, I have felt a stirring within. The heart feels like it is melting and will flow out through the eyes. I do not know if it is from a perception of pain or joy… perhaps both, or neither. But a flock of words flies in the mind:
Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
I was in school then. And I remember my fondness for the morning assembly – and reciting my prayer right out aloud in all earnestness not suspecting in the least I was getting some of the words wrong! The prayer was a daily affair. I did not understand the meaning then. I don’t understand it even now - not fully. But the prayer whirling like a dervish, resounds in the portals of memory. The head bows down on its own and the two hands of reason and intuition come together at the centre of the heart – the seat of the antaryami, the In-dweller, I have heard since I was a baby, where everything unites, the ‘revered centre of people’s heart, its light’.
Wird tere naamon ka ho raha hai ku-ba-ku
(Everywhere, your beautiful names are constantly on people’s lips…)
And on the lips of Mirabai, is the all-attracting name Krishna. She dances in ecstasy and sings Chunari ke kiye took, odh lini loi; Moti-moonge utar, banmala poi… It’s not her feet that dance – it’s her entire being. The body moving, swaying and swirling is only a manifestation of her heart in movement – from this sphere to the other – to join her Giridhara Gopala. Her silken stole has fallen away and she dons a shawl, a suf, made of coarse wool and her pearls and corals have given way to a flower-garland that Krishna wears too.
As I continue to listen to the qawwali, thoughts drift in lovingly – sometimes gushing, sometimes in trickles. Apart from Mira, some other names come too… Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who danced in streets in abandon, songs of praise for the Divine on his lips and his love overflowing. And Ramakrishna Paramhamsa, brimming with ecstasy for the Divine Mother, Kali, dancing and singing like one mad.
So many other names, perhaps, not yet available to the heart as I write.
Have I not heard of the Sufi who dances likewise, so completely absorbed in the love of God, so taken by His call that he swirls and sways as though on a swing which takes him higher and higher where he will behold the resplendent face of the Divine Beloved? Isn’t Mira’s loi the same thing as the Sufi’s woollen cloak? Pure, that’s one meaning of suf; the other being wool. Wool that insulates the Purity that wears it – and won’t allow the currents of the world to flow through. Isn’t his Sama and Ramakrishna’s Samadhi the same trance-like state which, the wise say, is the step-ladder to one indivisible unity?
Lyrics and translation:
طرزِ ثنائی من نمی دانم
(طرزِ ثنائی میں نہیں جانتا)
tarz-i sanaayi man nami-daanam
I am unacquainted with the manner of offering praise
اے نورِ قلبی اے نورِ روحم
(اے میرے دل کے نور، اے میری روح کے نور)
ay noor-i qalbi ay noor-i rooham
O light of the heart, O light of my soul
کعبۂ دلہا قبلۂ دلہا
(کعبہ دلوں کے، قبلہ دلوں کے)
kaa‘ba-i dil-ha qibla-i dil-ha
Revered centre of people’s hearts
عشقِ حقیقی خالقِ عالم
‘ishq-i haqeeqi khaaliq-i ‘aalam
Real Love, Creator of the world
مولا
maula
Lord
مولا
maula
Lord
مولا
maula
Lord
مولا
maula
Lord
جہاں بھی دیکھو تیرا نشاں ہے
jahaan bhi dekho tera nishaan hai
Wherever we turn, your signs are present
محرابِ دل میں تیری اذاں ہے
mahraab-i dil men teri azaan hai
The niche of the heart echoes with your call to prayer
تو ہی احد ہے تو ہی ہے واحد
tu hi ahad hai, tu hi hai waahid
You are One, You are Unique
تو ہی ہے مخفی تو ہی جلی ہے
tu hi hai makhfi, tu hi jali hai
You are Secret, and You are also Evident
یہ سب تمہارا کرم ہے آقا
yih sab tumhaara karam hai aaqa
It is all due to Your blessing, O Lord
یہ سب تمہارا کرم ہے آقا
yih sab tumhaara karam hai aaqa
It is all due to Your blessing, O Lord
کہ بات اب تک بنی ہوئی ہے
kih baat ab tak bani hui hai
That our affairs continue to prosper
یہ سب تمہارا کرم ہے آقا
yih sab tumhaara karam hai aaqa
It is all due to Your blessing, O Lord
کہ بات اب تک بنی ہوئی ہے
kih baat ab tak bani hui hai
That our affairs continue to prosper
کسی کا احسان کیوں اٹھائیں
kisi ka ahsaan kyoon uṭhaaen
Why should we seek help from anyone?
کسی کو حالات کیوں بتائیں
kisi ko haalaat kyoon bataaen
Why should we tell our woes to anyone?
تمہیں سے مانگیں گے تمہیں دو گے
tumheen se maangen ge tumheen do ge
You are the one we will turn to, and You are the one who will help us
تمہارے در سے ہی لو لگی ہے
tumhaare dar se hi lau lagi hai
Yours is the threshold we are devoted to
یہ سب تمہارا کرم ہے آقا
yih sab tumhaara karam hai aaqa
It is all due to Your blessing, O Lord
یہ سب تمہارا کرم ہے آقا
yih sab tumhaara karam hai aaqa
It is all due to Your blessing, O Lord
کہ بات اب تک بنی ہوئی ہے
kih baat ab tak bani hui hai
That our affairs continue to prosper
یہ سب تمہارا کرم ہے آقا
yih sab tumhaara karam hai aaqa
It is all due to Your blessing, O Lord
کہ بات اب تک بنی ہوئی ہے
kih baat ab tak bani hui hai
That our affairs continue to prosper
الله ہو
allaah hu
God is
الله الله ہو
allaah allaah hu
God, God is
الله ہو
allaah hu
God is
الله الله ہو
allaah allaah hu
God, God is
اے میرے مالک
ay mere maalik
O my Master
اے میرے مالک میرے خالق میرے حاجت روا
ay mere maalik mere khaaliq mere haajat-rawa
O my Master, my Creator, my Succourer
جب نہیں ہو ساتھ کوئی
jab naheen ho saath koyi
When we find ourselves all alone
جب نہیں ہو ساتھ کوئی بس تیرا ہے آسرا
jab naheen ho saath koyi bas tera hai aasara
When we find ourselves all alone, our only refuge is You
اے میرے مالک میرے خالق میرے حاجت روا
ay mere maalik mere khaaliq mere haajat-rawa
O my Master, my Creator, my Succourer
جب نہیں ہو ساتھ کوئی بس تیرا ہے آسرا
jab naheen ho saath koyi bas tera hai aasara
When we find ourselves all alone, our only refuge is You
چھائے کہیں جو گہرا اندھیرا
chhaaye kaheen jo gahra andhera
When dismal darkness descends somewhere
تیری عطا سے آئے سویرا
teri ‘ata se aaye sawera
Your bounty brings the brightness of dawn
تیری ہی خلقت چاند تارے
teri hi khalqat chaand tare
The moon and the stars are Your creation
تو نے ہی بخشی یہ روشنی ہے
tu ne hi bakhshi yih raushani hai
It is you who has blessed us with the gift of light
یہ سب تمہارا کرم ہے آقا
yih sab tumhaara karam hai aaqa
It is all due to Your blessing, O Lord
یہ سب تمہارا کرم ہے آقا
yih sab tumhaara karam hai aaqa
It is all due to Your blessing, O Lord
کہ بات اب تک بنی ہوئی ہے
kih baat ab tak bani hui hai
That our affairs continue to prosper
یہ سب تمہارا کرم ہے آقا
yih sab tumhaara karam hai aaqa
It is all due to Your blessing, O Lord
کہ بات اب تک بنی ہوئی ہے
kih baat ab tak bani hui hai
That our affairs continue to prosper
میں فقیری میں بھی ہوں کتنا قلندر دیکھو
main faqeeri men bhi hoon kitna qalandar dekho
Look at what heights I aspire to in my pursuit of asceticism
دیکھنے والو ذرا میرا مقدر دیکھو
dekhne waalo zara mera muqaddar dekho
For those who want to perceive, look where fate has brought me
خطا ہوئی تو خطا کو میری چھپایا ہے تم نے
khata hui to khata ko meri chhupaaya hai tum ne
When I committed an error, You lovingly concealed it from the world
کرم اپنا کر دیا اپنا بنایا تم نے
karam apna kar diya apna banaaya tum ne
You showed me clemency, and took possession of my heart
کسی کا احسان کیوں اٹھائیں
kisi ka ahsaan kyoon uṭhaaen
Why should we seek help from anyone?
کسی کو حالات کیوں بتائیں
kisi ko haalaat kyoon bataaen
Why should we tell our woes to anyone?
تمہیں سے مانگیں گے تمہیں دو گے
tumheen se maangen ge tumheen do ge
You are the one we will turn to, and You are the one who will help us
تمہارے در سے ہی لو لگی ہے
tumhaare dar se hi lau lagi hai
Yours is the threshold we are devoted to
یہ سب تمہارا کرم ہے آقا
yih sab tumhaara karam hai aaqa
It is all due to Your blessing, O Lord
یہ سب تمہارا کرم ہے آقا
yih sab tumhaara karam hai aaqa
It is all due to Your blessing, O Lord
کہ بات اب تک بنی ہوئی ہے
kih baat ab tak bani hui hai
That our affairs continue to prosper
یہ سب تمہارا کرم ہے آقا
yih sab tumhaara karam hai aaqa
It is all due to Your blessing, O Lord
کہ بات اب تک بنی ہوئی ہے
kih baat ab tak bani hui hai
That our affairs continue to prosper
تو خدائے لم یزل
tu khuda-i lam yazil
You are God of all eternity, whose existence does not cease
تو ہی ہے ربّ العالمین
tu hi hai rabb ul-‘aalameen
And You are Lord of the Worlds
تیرے سجدے میں جھکی دونوں جہانوں کی جبیں
tere sajde men jhuki donon jahaanon ki jabeen
Both this world and the hereafter bow in worship to You
تو ہی اوّل تو ہی آخر
tu hi awwal tu hi aakhir
You are the First – who pre-existed before all of creation;
and You are the Last – who remains after all of creation has passed away
تو احد واحد بھی تو
tu ahad waahid bhi tu
You are One – indivisible in Your unity and without parallel;
and You are also the Unique Source from which all of creation emanates
ورد تیرے ناموں کا ہو رہا ہے کو بہ کو
wird tere naamon ka ho raha hai ku-ba-ku
Everywhere, your beautiful names are constantly on people’s lips
تو خدائے لم یزل
tu khuda-i lam yazil
You are God of all eternity, whose existence does not cease
تو ہی ہے ربّ العالمین
tu hi hai rabb ul-‘aalameen
And You are Lord of the Worlds
تیرے سجدے میں جھکی دونوں جہانوں کی جبیں
tere sajde men jhuki donon jahaanon ki jabeen
Both this world and the hereafter bow in worship to You
تو ہی اوّل تو ہی آخر
tu hi awwal tu hi aakhir
You are the First – who pre-existed before all of creation;
and You are the Last – who remains after all of creation has passed away
تو احد واحد بھی تو
tu ahad waahid bhi tu
You are One – indivisible in Your unity and without parallel;
and You are also the Unique Source from which all of creation emanates
ورد تیرے ناموں کا ہو رہا ہے کو بہ کو
wird tere naamon ka ho raha hai ku-ba-ku
Everywhere, your beautiful names are constantly on people’s lips
تو خدائے لم یزل
tu khuda-i lam yazil
You are God of all eternity, whose existence does not cease
تو ہی ہے ربّ العالمین
tu hi hai rabb ul-‘aalameen
And You are Lord of the Worlds
تیرے سجدے میں جھکی دونوں جہانوں کی جبیں
tere sajde men jhuki donon jahaanon ki jabeen
Both this world and the hereafter bow in worship to You
تو ہی اوّل تو ہی آخر
tu hi awwal tu hi aakhir
You are the First – who pre-existed before all of creation;
and You are the Last – who remains after all of creation has passed away
تو احد واحد بھی تو
tu ahad waahid bhi tu
You are One – indivisible in Your unity and without parallel;
and You are also the Unique Source from which all of creation emanates
ورد تیرے ناموں کا ہو رہا ہے کو بہ کو
wird tere naamon ka ho raha hai ku-ba-ku
Everywhere, your beautiful names are constantly on people’s lips
تو خدائے لم یزل
tu khuda-i lam yazil
You are God of all eternity, whose existence does not cease
تو ہی ہے ربّ العالمین
tu hi hai rabb ul-‘aalameen
And You are Lord of the Worlds
تیرے سجدے میں جھکی دونوں جہانوں کی جبیں
tere sajde men jhuki donon jahaanon ki jabeen
Both this world and the hereafter bow in worship to You
تو ہی اوّل تو ہی آخر
tu hi awwal tu hi aakhir
You are the First – who pre-existed before all of creation;
and You are the Last – who remains after all of creation has passed away
تو احد واحد بھی تو
tu ahad waahid bhi tu
You are One – indivisible in Your unity and without parallel;
and You are also the Unique Source from which all of creation emanates
ورد تیرے ناموں کا ہو رہا ہے کو بہ کو
wird tere naamon ka ho raha hai ku-ba-ku
Everywhere, your beautiful names are constantly on people’s lips
