Sep 02 2016
Rasakhan – Enchanted
Enchanted
by Rasakhan
English version by Shyamdas
I put my fingers in my ears
to block the sound
whenever Krishna gently plays His flute!
Declares Raskhan,
“It happens when enchanter Mohan
climbs to the rooftop
to call His cows.
“I issue a warning to all the people of Braja.
Tomorrow, I will not be able to console them.
“O, friend! Having glimpsed His smile,
I cannot…
I cannot…
I will not
control my love.”
— from Treasure House of Love: Poems of Rasakhan, Translated by Shyamdas
/ Image by vishalmisra /
Krishna is often depicted standing in a relaxed posture holding a flute to his lips. Think of Krishna as the pied piper of India, but it is lost souls he calls to himself.
I put my fingers in my ears
to block the sound
whenever Krishna gently plays His flute!
When you think about it, this opening line can be read in two different ways. On the surface, Rasakhan (speaking as Radha, the cowherd girl who loves Krishna) seems to be petulantly blocking out the music of Krishna’s flute, not wanting to come when called. Of course, even this implies that the Lord’s music is so enchanting that the only way not to be drawn by it is to try to block it out. This hints that we are already hooked by the call of God, that union is inevitable, and we can only temporarily put it off.
But there is another, esoteric way to read this, as well. The flute of Krishna is the quiet tone heard deep within the base of the skull when we sit in silent, devoted meditation and prayer. It is this whisper in the inner ear that draws us to deepest union with the Eternal. So, understood this way, Rasakhan could actually be describing a yogic technique of blocking out sound and quieting the external senses in order to better hear Krishna’s call within.
Declares Raskhan,
“It happens when enchanter Mohan
climbs to the rooftop
to call His cows.
We hear the flute when Mohan, another name for Krishna, climbs to the rooftop. Again, in the language of yoga, this can be understood as a reference to the skull in general or, more specifically, the crown chakra.
“O, friend! Having glimpsed His smile,
I cannot…
I cannot…
I will not
control my love.”
I love those lines! That’s the passion felt by a true lover of God! “I cannot… I cannot… I will not control my love.”
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| Treasure House of Love: Poems of Rasakhan | ||||
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Rasakhan
India (1534? – 1619?) Timeline |
Like Kabir and a few other celebrated poet-saints, Rasakhan melded within himself both Islam and Hinduism.
He was born to a wealthy Muslim family in India, possibly near Delhi. His birth name was Saiyad Ibrahim, and he later took the spiritual name Rasakhan. He is said to have had a good education and he spoke both Hindi and Persian (Farsi).
Most of his poems are ecstatic bhakti songs exploring the love between Radha and Lord Krishna, written in the Hindi language.
Rasakhan also translated the Srimad Bhagavatam (one of the great scriptures in the Krishna bhakti tradition) into Persian
Feeling this poem today, needing to be still or better said a recent illness has caused me to stop and be still. Knowing that God is in control, seeking me is a comfort, but I feel the draw of Independence , doing things for myself has been my life. now I must wait and have assistance. this can be frustrating or been devastating but I believe God wants me to become more connected to life and to the Divine in this way. Surrender is another though I have.
Fran~ I know from personal experience how difficult it can be to relax that instinct to be in charge and to, instead, have to rely on the help of others. Be kind to yourself and those around you. Sounds like you are discovering some of the hidden treasures of even those vulnerable moments. Sending you love. ~Ivan
Had not heard of Rasakhan earlier.
Thanks for his poem and his life in brief
Ivan’s amazing words “hidden treasures of even those vulnerable moments” reminds me of something Vimala Thakar said: ‘Problems are like love letters from god.’ Just as you treasure a love letter, hide and carry it with you, read it again and again whenever possible, so too look at your troubles. They contain special layers designed just for you… the loving flute, ever playing deep inside~ density, it loosens; darkness, turns bright; pain becomes beautiful, deep deep inside, inside becomes everywhere
Thank you Ivan, I really love this poem, it resonates with me as I am about to return to my centering prayer after a time of running away from it not wanting to hear the transforming music of change. which after all I had been pleading to be changed !!! I will look for more by this poet although perhaps this one was all I needed from him.. Bless you Ivan.