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The waters of joy by Basava (1134 - 1196) Timeline English version by A. K. Ramanujan Original Language Kannada Yoga / Hindu : Shaivite (Shiva) 12th Century When like a hailstone crystal like a waxwork image the flesh melts in pleasure      how can I tell you? The waters of joy broke the banks and ran out of my eyes. I touched and joined my lord of the meeting rivers. How can I talk to anyone of that?     -- from Speaking of Siva, by A K Ramanujan Amazon.com   / Photo by s-a-m /	Themes   Bliss   Melting   Sexual Union   Smile   Water Recommended Books Speaking of Siva, by A K Ramanujan The Yoga Tradition: Its History, Literature, Philosophy and Practice, by Georg Feuerstein
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Commentary by Ivan M. Granger

That line in the first stanza, "the flesh melts in pleasure" -- it sounds erotic, doesn't it? It's an uncomfortable notion to many people, but there is an erotic element the the ecstatic energies unlocked by spiritual bliss. Yet, on an even deeper level, Basava is saying that the flesh, identification with the physical form softens and fades into nothingness amidst the overwhelming pleasure of spiritual bliss.

I love the esoteric water imagery of this poem. "The waters of joy / broke the banks..." For many mystics, spiritual ecstasy is described with water metaphors: blissful energy flows through the body and the awareness, it descends like dew, it drenches us, it fills us up, it pours out of us, it bursts through the boundaries of the little self.

Basava received enlightenment at a sacred meeting of rivers. This is why his poems include a reference to Shiva as "the lord of the meeting rivers." But there is also a deeper, esoteric meaning relating to the subtle energies awakened in the yogi's awareness. I like the broad understanding of this where the individual identity, having melted, its banks broken through, allows the sacred waters of awareness to flow uninhibited in all directions. The rivers of the transcendent and the personal meet, flowing into each other.

There words fail...

How can I talk to anyone
of that?

I guess you write a poem, then fall silent.

Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are Copyright © 2002 - 2011 by Ivan M. Granger.
All other material is copyrighted by the respective authors, translators and/or publishers.