Baba
Strong yearning to get Him
Namaskar,
This
entire topic revolves around the inner meaning of Prabhat Samgiita
#4786. This composition is for all sadhakas, and especially for those
more involved in dhyana meditation.
Song of highest bhakta
This
song depicts how the bhakta has deep bhakti for Parama Purusa and a
strong yearning to get Him; but, for such a long time Parama Purusa has
not come in the personal and intimate manner in which the sadhaka
desires. And just as this song begins, Parama Purusa has come, but in a
disguised way; hence, the sadhaka is unaware of his arrival. So the
bhakta is still crying out of melancholic longing for Parama Purusa -
and lovingly accusing Him of not coming. In the worldly sphere, it is
similar to one baby accusing its mother of being late or missing their
time together. In that case, the baby will bitterly, yet lovingly,
accuse the mother of not caring.
The
same thing - to an even greater degree - occurs in spiritual life. In
this song, the relation between the bhakta and Parama Purusa is that of
madhura bhava.
Ananda
Marga philosophy states, "Madhura bha'va is a very exalted bha'va, for
this bha'va fills the mind with sweetness and bliss and leads the
aspirant to the closest proximity of the Lord." (1)
When
a sadhaka feels extremely linked with Parama Purusa, then he has a deep
yearning to be with Him always. And if Parama Purusa does not announce
Himself and come very near in that most intimate way, then the bhakta
will lovingly accuse Parama Purusa and cry for Him to come in a more
personal way.
Wherever
there is a strong bond of love then this feeling is quite natural. Many
sadhakas have felt this in their sadhana, at one time or another. So
this song carries that feeling of extreme bhakti between the bhakta and
the Lord. Those who do not have such a feeling may not understand the
depth of this song, but if they are strict in Sixteen Points and sincere
in sadhana then certainly that high spiritual longing will be awakened.
So
in this scene, the bhakta is crying out of a melancholic longing to
have Him in a more personal relation. Parama Purusa has gone far away
for what seems like ages and ages so the sadhaka is in tears. And now,
in His heavenly liila, Parama Purusa has come, but in a disguised
manner, so the bhakta is unaware he is in the presence of the cosmic
Entity, Parama Purusa. Thus the bhakta is still not satisfied because he
feels that Parama Purusa is not responding to his call. He laments
again and again why Parama Purusa is not coming as he desires. For this
reason the sadhaka is very upset and crying for Parama Purusa to come in
his proximity.
As
the song begins, Parama Purusa has just arrived, yet in a disguised
manner, and is standing before the bhakta and asking him why he is
crying. And the below purport is how the loving communication between
the bhakta and Parama Purusa progresses in this song.
Prabhat Samgiita #4786
"Ka'jal meghe ka'jal cokhe, jala jhare keno balo na'..." (Prabhat Samgiita 4786)
Purport:
1st Stanza
Note: Here Parama Purusa is addressing the bhakta.
O'
my close one, what is the matter, what is troubling you? What has
happened? Who has turned their back on you? Who has caused you so much
pain and sorrow - in your mind and heart, which you could not tolerate?
Please tell me why you are crying and shedding so many tears. Your
collyrium-filled eyes, which are like black rain clouds, are profusely
raining down tears. What is the matter, please tell me, please tell me.
1st
Stanza Inner Meaning: Here in this first stanza, in a very indirect
manner befitting of His supreme liila, Parama Purusa is announcing that
He has come. That is why He is asking the bhakta why he is still crying.
Parama Purusa's message is that there is no need to cry anymore -
because "I have come, the Entity whom you long for has come." Yet at the
same time, because this is the liila of Parama Purusa, the bhakta is
unable to recognise His grand arrival. That is why the bhakta is still
crying.
2nd Stanza
Note: Here also Parama Purusa is addressing the bhakta.
Who
are you crying for in this untimely way. Who is your cherished One who
has not come, causing you to shed all these tears. Now the pre-winter
season is coming, the rainy season has ended. This is the time to
rejoice and bask in this heavenly season. Yet still your eyes are
despondent showering tears as in the rainy season. Which Dearmost has
not come, causing you to cry like this.
2nd
Stanza Inner Meaning: Here Parama Purusa is telling the bhakta, "When I
the Parama Purusa was not here then that was the rainy season. But that
dark period is over. Here I am, I have come. The rainy season has gone.
No longer is there any need to cry. I have fulfilled your longing by
making my arrival." On the one side Parama Purusa is giving us these
assurances. Yet in the flow of His transcendental liila, the bhakta does
not realise that he is in the presence of Parama Purusa because Parama
Purusa has come in a disguised way.
3rd Stanza
Note: Here again Parama Purusa is addressing the bhakta.
Always
remember that a friend is one who keeps his promises. If one breaks
their promise then you cannot consider them as your friend, Bandhu [1].
Likewise do not accept anyone as your Bandhu who causes you pain and
then fails to apologise. Also do not accept someone as your Bandhu if
they do not smile and cry seeing your joy and sorrow.
3rd
Stanza Inner Meaning: In this last stanza, Parama Purusa is consoling
the bhakta. Because of His great love and affection, Parama Purusa does
not like to see the bhakta crying in misery. So Parama Purusa is trying
to pacify and appease the bhakta in all kinds of ways with the sole
intention of easing the heartache and pain of the bhakta, who has been
crying for Dearmost Parama Purusa. Parama Purusa wants his tears to dry
up. Thus on the one hand Parama Purusa is directly telling not to trust
those who do not live up to their promises. And the indirect meaning is
that, "You can trust Me because I - the Parama Purusa - have now come. I
am your Bandhu and I have kept my promise by coming." Yet on the other
hand, Parama Purusa remains fully involved in His evernew liila, and in
that way the bhakta is unable to recognise His beautiful arrival because
He has come in a disguised fashion.
O' my close one, please tell me why are you crying...
Special style of communication: Parama Purusa & bhakta
Prabhat
Samgiita is the loving communication between the bhakta and Parama
Purusa. In most compositions, the song is sung by the bhakta; less
frequently Parama Purusa is addressing the bhakta, either using direct
or indirect language. But always the song is the loving sharing between
Parama Purusa and the bhakta. Never is there a third entity in the song.
In
contrast, traditional Hindu bhajans and writings in the bhakti
tradition might employ 2 characters, i.e. bhakta and Parama Purusa, or 3
characters. In those instances where there are 3 characters, then 2 of
the them are bhaktas who are friends talking about the third character –
i.e. Parama Purusa. For example, one bhakta might ask, “Why are you
crying? Is it because your Lord has not come?” This is a common scenario
in melancholic, traditional Indian bhajans.
But
in Prabhat Samgiita, the communication is exclusively between the
bhakta and Parama Purusa – there is no 3rd party. Sometimes the bhakta
is talking with Parama Purusa, sometimes Parama Purusa is addressing the
bhakta. In either case, the style of communication may be direct or
indirect. In some rare melancholic compositions, Parama Purusa addresses
the bhakta in a very indirect and disguised manner wherein the bhakta
does not even recognise that it is Parama Purusa.
For
example, in a melancholic song, if a bhakta is crying in longing for
Parama Purusa, then Parama Purusa might come in a disguised way so the
bhakta does not even realise it is Parama Purusa. Keeping His identity
hidden, Parama Purusa then asks, “Why are you crying? In whose longing
are you crying?”
The
following song proceeds in this subtle manner. Parama Purusa has come
to the bhakta in a disguised way and the bhakta has no idea that Parama
Purusa is the One next to him addressing him and asking these questions.
In this way Parama Purusa plays His supreme liila.
Note for Prabhat Samgiita #4786:
[1] Bandhu:
This is one of the names of Parama Purusa, i.e. the Eternal Companion
who stays with you even after death. Here below are some of Guru’s
teachings on the term bandhu.
Ananda
Marga ideology states, “What is the meaning of “bandhu”? In Saḿskrta,
the meaning of the word “bandhu” is “to bind”. Bandhu indicates that
person or entity who cannot stand separation. Parama Puruśa or Saguńa
Brahma is closely and intimately connected with this expressed world, or
jagata. He is pervasively connected with every individual entity, be it
a living being or a crude object. He is also linked through and through
with the universe as a whole. In other words, He is indissolubly and
inextricably involved (ota prota) with everything. Therefore, He is the
only bandhu of this universe. The rest of your bandhus in the physical
world are not your eternal friends. Though they are with you now, a day
will soon come when they will go away; they will be separated from you.
When you depart from this world, these friends will accompany or carry
your dead body. But how far will they accompany you? They will accompany
your body up to the cremation ground or the burning ghat. Having gone
so far, at the most they will return to their own dwelling places. So
they are not your real bandhu. There is a shloka in Saḿskrta:”
Atyágasahano bandhu sadaevánumatah suhrd;
Eka kryaḿ bhavenmitraḿ samapráńáh sakhásmrtah.
“He
who loves [[so much that]] he can never sustain the grief of
separation, is known as “bandhu”. In this sense, nobody can have any
bandhu in this world. Only that Jagatabandhu – that Parama Puruśa – can
be your bandhu. No one else is your bandhu. Only He is your real
friend.” (2)
References
1. Namami Krsnasundaram, Disc: 27
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 6, Parama Puruśa – the Only Bandhu
