One of my published poems: Bards Annual Poetry 2016

 Sharing one of my poems that was published in the Bards Annual Poetry Anthology 2016 (Bards Annual 2016: The Annual Publication of The Bards Initiative by Bards Initiative | Goodreads).

The poem is as follows:

Soulful Collection of some Gregorian Chants/ Catholic Hymns

 I thought of sharing few Latin hymns/ Gregorian chants that I have listened to since a very very long time of my life, and they continue to impart peace. This is my first post where I am sharing Christian music. I am especially sharing the ones in Latin as sung by Catholic monks...Well, for the sake of privacy, suffice to say that Christ will always have a key place in my life for reasons known only to me...Amusingly enough, my birth date tends to fall on or around Easter (when Christ was resurrected) most years. There is an interesting anecdote I kept on remembering, however. The first time I ever saw a crucifix was in my grandmother's house when I was 3-4 years old where it was kept on some cupboard but displayed and always caught my eye. And my mother would also talk of Sisters/nuns in her convent school where she studied in her childhood (although she was a devout Hindu). Although I was born in one-faith (Hinduism) family, I was given the liberty to follow any faith I liked, and there were never any restrictions. After few years, when I was actually painting at a very very young age in my drawing notebook (probably 6-7 years old), I literally color painted a real life Christ crucified on the cross simply from my imagination (and that painting remains close to me in my memory, and I regret not having a copy of it or taking photo simply because there was no cameras or phone cameras in the house in those years). In all humility, I would like to call that painting as my masterpiece ever painted. Someone once asked me, if I was able to also paint the pain which was there on Christ's body and face and I was left speechless as I was not sure if I could answer that at that age of my life. Anyhow, after many years, that notebook got lost and was never to be found. Something very similar to what happened to one of the famous Christian painters (Akiane) who painted the Prince of Peace (the only real face of Christ) (Prince Of Peace | Official Akiane Gallery | Jesus Painting) but that painting was lost although it was found many many years later as it was God's will...

Anyhow, some of the peaceful Gregorian chants I would like to share (for the receptive heart (s)) are here:

Dan Gibson’s Solitudes - Jesu Dulcis Memoria | Illumination: Peaceful Gregorian Chants

Dan Gibson - Asperges Me Domine

Pange Lingua Gloriosi - Catholic Hymns, Gregorian Chant

Dan Gibson’s Solitudes - Adoro Te Devote | Illumination: Peaceful Gregorian Chants

Dan Gibson’s Solitudes - Kyrie Eleison | Illumination: Peaceful Gregorian Chants

Monks singing Gregorian Chant in a Catholic Benedictine Seminary

(this one is very peaceful chanting).

A beautiful Sufi song from a Bollywood movie- Tu mere Rubaru ho main tere rubaru

 

Sharing a song that is from a Bollywood movie (Khuda Haafiz 2, 2022) that I had watched recently (actually the movie has two sequels, Khuda Haafiz and Khuda Haafiz 2, although I watched both, but the second sequel is too violent and traumatic unlike the first one which I like more).  The particular song captured my heart, as it's a Sufi song. 

Rubaru - Full Video | Khuda Haafiz 2 | Vidyut J, Shivaleeka O | Vishal Mishra, Asees Kaur, Manoj M

Basically, the actor in the movie (the first one: Khuda Haafiz) is shown as a Hindu man who marries a Muslim girl but unfortunately, due to a twist of fate, she lands in a foreign country (similar to Oman), where she gets involved in human trafficking and is sold into prostitution. The whole movie is based on his frantic and devoted search for his wife (who has already had her share of traumas due to the trap she landed in) facing so many challenges but ultimately manages to get her back safely.

The lyrics of the song are composed by Manoj Muntashir, who is a highly gifted poet who has composed some truly deep lyrics for many Hindi movies. The vocals of the song feature Nizami Brothers (a Sufi Qawwali group) along with other singers.

The piano music at the beginning of this song is very divine as well.

The whole lyrics are one deep poem coming from the heart, asking the Beloved to appear and not torment the lover...Specifically, the lines where the lover (seeker) wants to annihilate himself (main ghat jaun maula) as soon as the beloved joins are very deep.

the lyrics are below (the link at the end also has lyrics in English translated)

"Lobaan Ke Dhuein Sa Faila Hai Char Su

Tu Laapata Hai Phir Bhi Har or Tu Hi Tu 

Main Hoon Fakeer Tera Rakh Meri Aabroo 

Haami Yeh Bekasan Hai Itni Si Aarzoo.

Tu Mere Rubaru ho main tere Rubaru

Sarphiri Hawa Rok De Zara 

Tune Jo Banaya Woh Bigadne Na De.

Meri Haar Mein Teri Haar Hai 

Haarne Na De Mujhe Tu Haarne Na De.

Aise Jud Mujhse Main Ghat Jaaun Maula 

Tera Jo Karam Ho Main Chhat Jaaun Maula 

Main Shaam Ka Dhundhalka Tu Noor Hubahoo 

 Haami Yeh Bekasan Hai Itni Si Aarzoo...

Tu Mere Rubaru ho main tere Rubaru

Tu Hi Pehli Zid Tu Hi Harf-E-Aakhir 

Mere Dil Mein Hai Jo Kuchh Bhi Woh Tujhpe Zaahir 

Le Khol Di Yeh Baahein Teri Khatir 

 Nazdeek Is Kadar Hai Phir Kyun Hai Door Tu 

Haami Yeh Bekasan Hai Itni Si Aarzoo 

 Tu Mere Rubaru Ho Main Tere Rubaru 

Ab Aan Milo More Sajan Mann Ki Lagan Samjho 

Hai Loot Rahi Dil Ko Mere Ishq Tapan Samjho 

Nas Nas Mein Mere Tum Hi Tum, 

Na Bas Mein Yeh Mann Samjho 

Mukabbir Ho Mere Dil Ke Toh Bin Bole Sajan Samjho...

Tu Mere Rubaru Ho Main Tere Rubaru 

https://lyricsraag.com/rubaru-translation-khuda-haafiz-chapter-2/

(Note: Lobaan is an Indian resin herb used in prayer mostly by Hindus but also probably burned at other shrines. Interestingly, I always remembered the fragrance of this resin but never knew it was called lobaan until I started to burn it myself)