This is one of the most beautiful Marathi Abhangs I have ever listened to. Ranjani and Gayathri simply take me to a different plane when I hear them sing this. I have listened to this Abhang in the past, purely for it's musical value, and did not quite bother about the lyrics or it's meaning.
Today, this sung suddenly rang in my ears, as if it was some sort of divine calling. My mind immediately wandered to Pune, where I used to visit the Vitthal Mandir in Bhawanipeth, off and on. I felt rather bizzare. Why would this spark come from nowhere, all of a sudden. Unannounced? Even as I am ruminating about it, I dug out the lyrics. I realize that the lyrics, by Sant Tukaram are a classic. A satirical piece as it were. Here it is.
पंढरीचे भूत मोठे
आल्या गेल्या झडपी वाटे
बहु खेचरीचं रान
बघ हे वेडे होय मन
जाऊ नका कोणी, तिथे जाऊ नका कोणी
जे गेले, नाही आले परतोनी
तुका पंढरीसी गेला
पुन्हा जन्मा नाही आला
I do understand a bit of Marathi. So, I started dismantling the words. Tukaram Maharaj has adopted a very unconventional , satirical approach to Pandharpur and Vithobha . He starts off by saying पंढरीचे भूत मोठे - that there is a formidable ghost in Pandharpur. आल्या गेल्या झडपी वाटे - it catches anyone who passes by, so beware!! If you want to be safe, then either change course and take a different path, or simply cancel.
बहु खेचरीचं रान
बघ हे वेडे होय मन
खेचरी may mean some sort of animal, I am not very sure. But this line essential means that there is so much greenery around Pandharpur, with खेचरी grazing. And that, the very sight of the greenery will simply blow your mind away.
जाऊ नका कोणी, तिथे जाऊ नका कोणी Dont go, anyone. Dont go there, anyone, for , जे गेले, नाही आले परतोनी whoever went there, never returned.
Now Turakam goes on to give his own example
तुका पंढरीसी गेला - Tukaram went to Pandharpur, in search of the Brahmam. पुन्हा जन्मा नाही आला - but , not only he did not return, but he and never got a rebirth.
The Mundakopanishad says " Brahmavid Brahmaiva bhavathi" , ie, the knower of Brahman becomes Brahman. Tukaram Mahraj, in his inimitable style has said exactly the same thing, in a more humourous/ satirical way.
It may be noted here that Hinduism is probably the only religion where one has the freedom to mock God ( brahmam). There is an established technique in Tamil literture, called அசதியாடல் ( asadhiyaadal) , where the poet takes the liberty and mocks at God, as if he would mock a dear friend playfully. Read more about that in my earlier article here.
http://andhakudi.blogspot.com/2016/05/blog-post_29.html
Below is the Abhang by RG. Enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beJXJVwD3v4
5 comments:
Khechar means Pony.
Thank you for the blog post.
After listening to rendering of this abhang, by Ranjani & Gayatri,I was looking for more details on lyrics and landed on your page.
What little I know, "KHECHARI" has nothing to do with khechar as commented by some. It is one of YOGIC MUDRA.
With this bit of an understanding, we need to proceed to fathom the deeper meaning of the whole Abhang (eternal, unperishable).
खेचरि means in sanscrit ,a powerful wind which can blow the sky
खेचरि here is referred to Sanths in Pandharpur. खेचरि can be referred to as Eagles which does the scavengers job of cleaning up the forests.
रान = Forest
खेचरि रान = Rahasya Arth for this line as explained a Maharaj is that Sanths simlar to the Eagles are like scavengers who cleans up our Mind/Heart which is like a dense forest which is full of Agyan.
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