CHINAR SHADE : SOHAM , SUFI POETS OF KASHMIR AND THE SAGE OF BELUR

KANYAKUMARI....

Where is river Ganga ? Where is the yamuna ? The ocean does not know the difference . It is all water .

(Photo Autar Mota ..What you see close to Vivekananda Rock memorial is tall stone sculpture of the Tamil poet and philosopher Tiruvalluvar, author of the Thirukkural. It is about 133 feet in height.

To this photo i am adding a brief story titled " SOHAM , SUFI POETS OF KASHMIR
AND THE SAGE OF BELUR "

SOHAM , SUFIS AND THE SAGE OF BELUR

I am fortunate enough to have seen and heard Shri Ranganathananda ( 1908-2005 ) . He was an authority on Vedas and Upanishads , Scholar extraordinary , Philosopher and Head Monk of Belur Mutt or swami Vivekananda’s Rama Krishna Mission in India . Swami ji as he was fondly known never talked about narrow religious issues. His discourses touched issues facing humanity at large , cutting across all barriers of color , race or religion. In fact Belur Mutt or Temple is notable for its architecture that fuses Hindu, Christian and Islamic motifs as a symbol of unity of all religions.

Mohammed Ali Jinnah once listened to Ranganathananda's lecture on Islam and Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) and had remarked:

“Now I know how a true Muslim should be.”

Swami ji declined the Padma Vibhushan as it was conferred on him in his individual capacity and not for the Mission. swami ji would often say ;-

“ The endeavors and conclusions of the sense-bound intellect can not be the last word in man’s search for truth. An intellectual approach to truth will end only in agnosticism; and often in cynicism. But the whole being of man seeks to experience truth, to realize it. … This rising above rationalism to direct experience and realization, this growth of man from the sensate to the super-sensual dimension, is the special message of Indian spiritual tradition ”

Once Swami ji explained the importance of word SOHAM . I had heard the word in Hindu Bhakti as well as in Muslim Sufi poetry of kashmir. SOHAM- Soo or SOHAM is reflected in the Shrukhs of Nund Reshi as also in the poetry of Wahab Khaar , Soachh Kraal , Shamas Faqir,Ahad zargar ,Nyaam sahib , Ahmed Batwaari , Rehman Dar ,Rahim Sahib ,Shah Qalandhar and many more sufi poets of Kashmir. This concept emerged in sufi poetry due to a unique blending of Mahayana Budhism ,Vedanta and Islamic Tassavuf in kashmiri thought . I quote some other poets who used this concept :-

(1)

Yot yithh zanamuss kenh chhunaa Laarun

Daarnaai daarun Soham Soo

Brahma Vishnu Maheshwar Gaarun

Daarnaai daarun Soham Soo.

( shah Gafoor )

After being born ,What is here to gain ;

So hold SOHAM kriya for existence .

Create Brahma , Vishnu and Maheshwara

And own SOHAM kriya for existence .

(2)

Raahe badh Nishi kar Traahi Bhagwaan

Puniyee Paap Traavithh kar Yaksaan.

Voan samad Miran Shastra heyoo

Paru OM Soo Om SOHAM Soo

( Samad Mir )

Be away from the misleading path

Think not of evil or Good but be unvarying ,

Samad Mir speaks the message of shastras

And recite OM and SOHAM soo .

(3)

Tosas Om ki Punn Khaaer Massaai

Baa Rasaa rasaai Kornuss Tayaar

SOHAM Soo Yaar Vuchha Novanussaai

Baa Rasaa rasaai Kornuss Tayaar

( Assad Parray )

I spun Omkar in shahtoos and offered it to the lord

And he completed me slowly and steadily .

He made me to befriend SOHAM soo

And he completed me slowly and steadily .

(4)

Mar Zinda par SOHAM soo

Hamas Damas Saeit zaan

( Ahmed Raah )

Die while existing and recite SOHAM soo

Know linkage of breath control with HAMAS..

WHAT IS SOHAM

As per swami Ranghanathananda SOHAM originated from VEDAS .Soham is Paramount when a person tries to identify himself with the universe or ultimate reality .Swami ji explained that when a child is born the first cry that the universe hears from his Mouth is

“ Koham ? Koham ? ”

“ Who am I ? Who Am I ? ’

The universe in turn responds with words

“ SOHAM ! SOHAM ! ”

“ Your are what I am ! You are What I am !”

Added swami ji that the word is also a MANTRA in Tantrism that comes from Ajapa Japa or a meditation that is done without uttering a word. Swami ji explained that SOHAM consists of two words . Soooooo…. And Hummm. While sooo means the tender sound of inhalation and Humm implies the exhalation.

SOHAM IN KASHMIR’S TRIKA PHILOSOPHY

The Pranayaama Kriya (Breathing Technique for the vital Pranaa or life. Prana enters the body through the breath and is sent to every cell through the circulatory system. Prana creates life by allowing the heart to beat ) that was performed extensively in kashmiri pandit households was nothing but Ajapa japa or SOHAM ( sooo plus hummm… ). It is a Kriya Yoga and also an essential ingredient of Kashmir’s luminous Shaiva thought which is primarily aimed at realization of existing identity with universal consciousness .

SOHAM when reversed becomes HAMSA OR HAMSO which means ‘I AM THAT ’ . HAMSA OR HAMSO also refers to SWAN . kashmiri poets have used word RAAZHANS for the word HAMSA or HAMSO . And in kashmir’s shaivism HAMSO or HAMSO is nothing but Atman .

kashmir’s shaivism refers to the Phenomenal world as real and calls it shakti while the Advaita sidhanta holds it as Maya or illusion. In this way kashmir’s shaivism is a contrast to Adi Shankara’s Advaita .Another aspect peculiar to TRIKA DARSHANA or kashmir’s shaivism is that it accepts no restrictions between caste , race or sex. TRIKA never accepted the supremacy of VEDIC CASTE SYSTEM.

(Autar Mota )

Tuesday 15th January 2013..... Time 11.45 PM ... Good Night .