Janabai - You leave your greatness behind you
Ivan M. Granger August 31st, 2009
You leave your greatness behind you
by Janabai
English version by Sarah Sellergren
Jani has had enough of samsara,
but how will I repay my debt?
You leave your greatness behind you
to grind and pound with me.
O Lord you become a woman
washing me and my soiled clothes,
proudly you carry the water
and gather dung with your own two hands.
O Lord, I want
a place at your feet,
says Jani, Namdev’s dasi.
— from Images of Women in Maharashtrian Literature and Religion, Edited by Anne Feldhaus
/ Photo by magnusfranklin /
Janabai starts off this poem by proclaiming that she “has had enough of samsara,” the world of suffering and illusion. But how can she purify herself of karma — “but how will I repay my debt?” She begins with a daunting image of God and karma, God as a sort of king who mercilessly collects karmic debts.
But then the vision shifts to something more intimate. God leaves his “greatness” behind and, like Janabai herself, takes on the humble role of a servant “to grind and pound” and wash. These are traditionally a woman’s duties so God has “become a woman,” a loving mother rather than a stern father.
But what is being washed here is Janabai herself and her “soiled clothes,” her awareness. She implies that God’s grinding and pounding is being done with her, but also upon her — the purifying work of karma finally being paid. In the divine process of spiritual purification, God takes on the humble role of washerwoman, content to “carry the water” of divine energy that purifies, and not above gathering the dung of the material world which is burned for purifying fires.
This is not a vision of God in might and majesty, not a God kept hidden in temples and obscure rituals, and not an aloof debt-collector. Janabai’s God is, like herself, a servant-woman, a God who works side-by-side with her in the daily chores, a God who serves even the lowest servant. Janabai identifies herself as Namdev’s dasi or servant, and she is made holy by worshipping a servant God. By recognizing the Divine as being similar to herself, she also recognizes that she, even in her humble state, is similar to the Divine.
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Janabai
India (1298 - 1350?) Timeline |
Janabai was born in the Maharashtra region of India to a low-caste family. It was not uncommon for poor families to hire their children out as domestic servants, and this is what happened to Janabai at age 7. But the household she was sent to was unusual, for it belonged to the much-revered poet Namdev. It was in this household that Janabai spent the rest of her life.
Janabai’s poetry suggests a life of difficult labor in the household, but one that was constantly revived and supported by her intimacy with the Divine.
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hay man, i really embrace yr Poetry Chaikhana & like yr nuiances on FB… i have had the above experience of embracing god as a woman & a loving mother & i love mary as the epitome of all motherhood & womanhood & dont mind praying with & to her, this life’s pretty cool…it’ll do ’till a pretty cool one comes along, & yr commentary, i mite add(’n i will), is uprecedentedly, unrepeatedly remarkable as a cup of tea by th master hisownself(add ice ‘n lime ta mine), and i add that i love you & yourn… sandy L.
Thank you, Ivan, for sending this most stunning ecstatic Embodied poetry!
Janabai who sees the Divine as mirroring herself and She the Divine,
and then the poem by Bibi Hayati who is a divine mirror herself:
“I thank you one hundred times! In the altar
Of Hayati’s eyes, your face shines
Forever present and beautiful.”
Keep sending us these fine poems! Best to you, Ivan!
And, of course, Congratulations to you, Ivan, and to all the 5,000 people who see these ecstatic poems on Poetry Chaikhana. Your selections of poem, image and commentary is truly Divine.
Thanks, whole-heartedly!
Julie Ann
Oh Ivan,
This is an absolute delight. Humbling and loving.
I could certainly do with a few more totally giving acts - from me, I mean, not to me.
Thank you for these exquisite little gems.
Leah from Down Under.
hello Ivan i realy thanks for evry poetry for youer youer is grat to all you are realy nice because these poetry are real beautiful and very lovly Ivan you know that evry poetry to anew expnation to us because in these poetry larn to that the womane s love for ech ather to god the jo annay prem ki dafination agar dekhe to jo annanay prem hai bo hame karam karne ki prerna to deta hi hai sath hi sath us ddivain pawer jo hai us sath karke hi manav us amar prem ko prapt kar sakta hai jo ye satay hai bo omany present hai lakin jivan main chahe kitne hi sanghars kyu na ho jivan ki sahi disa ka hona hi javan main us pawar ko bayakt karta hain
Dear Ivan,
SO wonderful! The divine qualities are feminine! What are we (men and women) waiting for? May be allow for this to happen to all of us and our world?
thank you.
love,
Teréz
Hi Ivan,
Today’s was very touching, the intimacy of the washer room and her washer gatherer Godess!
Also it was impressive to see all the countries from which people read your Poetry Blog.
If I may ask in what country do you reside Ivan?
Peace and Love to all!
Thanks, everyone, for the warm-hearted comments!
And Christopher- I live in the United States, in Colorado…
Poetry Chaikhana has been a gift to me and I am always delighted to find your new blog in my email list. Your insight is amazing … you have a gift for opening the message within a poem. You have given so much comfort to me and I hope you have received comfort through your recent difficult journey.
Many thanks,
Gerry
[…] of God for me, and it was envisioned by the 14th century Hindu poet Janibai. It’s entitled, “You leave your greatness behind you.“ May you, too, feel with deep assurance that God has left God’s greatness behind, […]