Lal Ded A Divine Poetess

Author IMRAN YOUSUF - Sunday, 22 07 2012 10:02

Makuris Zan Mal Tcholum Manas Ada Mey Labum Zanis Zaan, Suh Yeli Dyuuenthhum Nishi Paanas Sorui Suy Teh Beh Na Kenh My inner self got washed and purified About HIM then I clearly came to know And when I saw HIM close to me HE was everything everywhere and I naught The society of Kashmir has, from the very beginning, experienced various sorts of influences and has adopted to various famous ideologies that either evolved or came here from outside. Be it religions, customs, traditions or even culture, Kashmir has evolved in the shade of numerous different types of influences that became its identity. While Shivaism and Budism were very famous religions among the people here, other smaller religions and faiths which believed in different gods and goddesses were also practiced. Shivaism flourished and remained predominant in Kashmir till King Ashokas reign. When King Ashoka was in charge he disseminated Buddhism in almost in every corner of the valley. Auvad Bhat, an erudite philosopher and true follower of Shivaism converted King Jalauka to Shivaism who was believed in Buddhism. His reversion, as he had been a Shivite basically, was something that worked towards creating favorable atmosphere for Shivasim in the valley. Lal Ded, the mystic poetess, belongs to Shivaism which was leading religion in Kashmir before Islam established

itself in the valley. Shivaism stands for oneness of God that is what Lal Ded used to say in her Vakhs (The poetic verses written by Lal Ded are called Vakh, She is an initiator of the spiritual poetry called Vatsun or Vakhs, literally 'speech' known as Lal Vakhs. Her verses are the earliest compositions in the Kashmiri language and are an important part of the history of Kashmiri literature). Lal continues to enthrall the imagination of new generations of the Kashmir with her mastery in the craft of presenting the divine beauty, mystical implications of being and nuances of the human nature in simple verses, understood by all. Her spiritual power, it is said, guided her into this great state of poetic quest which takes her to some mystic heights away from the limitations of existence. She started the new poetic way for the coming generations, she bestowed her vitality for the deity she was truly self evident true lover of the Shiva. Aasie Aess Teh Aasie Aasaw Aasie Doora Keri Pat Wath Shivas Soori neh Zevun Teh Marun Ravas Soori Neh Aateh Gath Only we existed in the times of yore And in the coming future we shall exist Shiva never exhausts of birth and death Rising and Setting of the Sun is forever Lalleshwari also known as Lalla, Lal Ded or "Lal Arifa" lived in the 14th century. She was a mystic of the Kashmiri Shaivite sect and at the same time, a Sufi saint. Lal Ded was born in a village called Pandrethan near Srinagar. She was married at the age of 12 but her marriage was unhappy, it is said that her in-laws mistreated her and she left home at the age of twenty-four to take sanyas (renunciation). After becoming a disciple of Sidh Srikanth, she left her material life and marriage and became a follower of the god Shiva. As a mystic, she was roving uncovered, reciting her poetic verses and quatrain-based poems. Her Vakhs are a collection of writings, sayings handed down to generation to generation by oral traditions, by memorizing her verses, in her lifetime no authentic manuscripts are preserved, these verses were so famous that every women could easily memorize. Once Lal Arifa was wondering all the way through a forest reciting and singing her poetry verses when four friends pass by, one was Prince Shohab-ud-Din, his friend Rai Shri Dal, Genda and Aakhta Ji. they were out for hunting but were very thirty and were searching for water, on their way they met Lal Arifa who offered them a cup of milk Prince Shohab-ud-Din sipped some milk offered cup to Rai Shri Dal, who after taking some milk served to Genda when Genda served cup to Aakhta Ji there were no milk left in the cup. Lal Arifa told Prince Shohab-udDin who sip first will become the King, Rai Shri Dal and Genda will be your ministers and Aakhta Ji will not survive this journey. The prediction of great mystic Lal Arifa came true, Aakhta Ji died in the same journey, Shohab-ud-Din became the King of Kashmir and Rai Shri Dal and Genda became his two ministers/ generals. Such was the immense spiritual influence of Lal Arifa. She is one of the earliest and greatest mystic poets of valley Kashmir. Lal Deds choice of Vakh was matchless, crisp, mysterious and delightful four line verses having deep content and meanings were fitting for the rhythm of thought that marked her poetic expression and also easy for man to love, adapt and commit to memory easily. Shiv tchui Thaleh Thaleh Rozaan Mo Zaan Huend Teh Musalmaan Turk Hi Chukh Teh Paan Parzehnaav

Soi Tchaie Sahibas Zaani Zaan Where ever you are Shiva is present Then dont separate Hindu and Musalmaan Recognize yourself If you are wise? Knowing yourself is the truth of God As a sacred, pious, religious spiritual genius Lal Arifa never distinguished Hindu with a Muslim every human being was equal for her, she believed in the oneness of mankind. She left this material life and started wandering from place to place to share her insight with everyone who cared to pay attention. She tried to reach out to the common people, saying the real truth which was quite visible to her, to know your own self is the real truth of God. Shiva is not somebody out there, Shiva is everywhere inside outside or within fairly evident for those who have such blessed eye sight. Lal Ded sees no difference between self realization and God realization. Lal Arifas meet with Mir Syed Ali Hamadani RA was a spiritual contact between two legends of Kashmir with purified souls, once Lal Arifa was walking by a street, she was in her own feel, all of a sudden she find Mir Syed Ali Hamadani RA infront of her (Mir Syed Ali Hamadani RA was a mystic Sufi poet and a famous Muslim scholar from Iran visited Kashmir three times. He was great saint who spread Islam in every corner of valley Kashmir and has had a most significant hand in shaping the culture of the Kashmir. He was also known as Shah-i-Hamadan (King of Hamadhan, Iran). He wrote numerous short works on spirituality and Sufism.During the reign of Sultan Shohab Uddin Shah-i-Hamadan visited first time when he remained here for six months. Second time he visited at the time of King Qutub Uddin and stayed for 01 year. At his third and last visit he intended to stay for a longer period, but had to return back early due to some kind of ailment. While going back from Kashmir Shah-iHamadan reached Khatlaan (central Asia) when He left this material world). Lal Arifa and Mir Syed Ali Hamadani RA had never before met each other it was the first time. When eyes of both strike each other, ideas were transferred spiritually to one another in a fleeting moment, not a sole word was uttered by mouth, all the things were going on spiritually, both were strong mystic saints of the time. There was no contradiction between the sacred thoughts of Lal Ded and Mir Syed Ali Hamadani RA because both were having almost same belief of oneness of God, Shivaism believes in one God and ISLAM also believes in 'LA ILAHA ILLALAH' (There is No GOD but ALLAH). Goras Pritchum Saasi Latte Yes Na Kenh Vanaan Tas Kya Naav Pritchaan Pritchaan Thachis Teh Luuses, Kenh Nas Nishi Kyenhtaam Draaw I asked my master a thousand times How the unnamed shall be described I asked for several times but remained ineffective He who seems to be nothing is the origin of something Muddas Gyaanich Kath No Vanyzie Kharass Gor Dina Raavey Douh Yus Yuth Kare Su Tuyuth Sware Krere Karizina Panun Paan Never teach the message of truth to a fool

You will lose your day feeding an ass molasses As you sow so shall you reap And dont devastate your life for nought Lal Deds heavenly verses penetrate ones heart at a blink; she wrote Vakh in such an elegant way that it became a part of every household culture in Kashmir. According to Lal Arifa, if the aspirant looks for deity sincerely, honestly and with true love within his own heart, he will understand soon that deity is nowhere but within his own self. Her true devotion, true love for deity led her to such great place she became the foundation of Kashmiri poetry, Lal Deds verses are so renowned and marvelously written that it became the origin of Kashmiri poetry. She is the grand legend who gave birth such matchless, incomparable and adorable verses. Lal Arifa had such great power of spiritualism that she sometimes finds God in her own self. Goran Vonum Kunuy Vatsun Nebrai Doupanam Andar Atsun Sui Gaw Lali Meh Vaakh Teh Vatsun Tawai Mey Hyotum Nagai Natsun My Guru taught me sole word Enter your inner self, left behind this outer world Gurus that one percept touched my heart So, I Lalla Started dancing naked Ami Paneh Sodras Navey Ches Lamaan Kati Bozi Dai Myon Meyti Diyi Taar Ameyen Takeyn Pooyn Zan Sheman Zuw Chum Braman Gareh Gatch ha With a rope of unspun thread I pull my boat in the sea Would my deity hear my call and guide me across Like unbaked clay with full of water Oh, my lord I am restless I want to return home Everything about Lal Ded indicate that she was a multidimensional human being with great spirituality and extraordinary personality left her precious and unique mark on the minds of coming generations. Her brilliancy as a poet and greatness as a saint make her immortal. We know very little about Lal Deds life and death, it is said that the last conversation of Lal Ded with Hazrat Mir Syed Ali Hamadani RA was about oneness of God (LA ILLAHA ILALLAH). Lal Ded kept an earthen saucer under her feet and other one on her head, within a blink of eye Lal Ded was nowhere and the two earthen saucers were found coupled. After that day Lal Ded is not seen and no one knows about the real burial place of this legendary poetess. Although we find a grave beside historical Jamia Masjid Bijbehara Anantnag which is said to be the grave of Lal Ded. E-mail: imranaaadi@gmail.com