“SHAKTI “
Oil On
Canvas 1990 by G. R. Santosh
To this
Painting , I am adding a write up ….
“LAL DED IS
THE ORIGINATOR OF “NOTHINGNESS “ IN KASHMIR’S POETIC THOUGHT “
The
Philosophical concept of Nothingness or Emptiness is essentially of Asian
origin. Be it Hinduism , Islamic Sufi Tradition , Buddhism , Taoism ,
Neo-Confucianism or Japanese and Korean thought, One finds this NOTHINGNESS
playing crucial role. Buddhists call it ultimate reality that happens to be the
root of self and the world or the ultimate truth about our transient life . In
sufiism,NOTHINGNESS and SOMETHING are identical as SOMETHING is achieved in a
state of NON BEING. This makes NOTHINGNESS pivotal to sufi thought .
In Kashmir ,
the philosophical concept of SHUNYATA or NOTHINGNESS is very old and it existed
much before LAL DED ( 1317-1388 ) as a religious thought with native Hindus or
Buddhists . But for sure , apart being the first progressive poet in kashmiri
language , LAL DED is the originator of Nothingness in Kashmiri Poetic Thought
. Transcending all dogmatic religion, Lal Ded is the first poet to have
propounded KASHMIR SHAIVISM in her Poetry or VAAKHS .
After a
careful scrutiny of some VAAKHS of LAL DED , one is led to believe that for Lal
Ded , a slippage to Nothingness is a Union with SUPREME SHIVA that resides in
every particle of this universe . She also believes that this limitless and
transcendent Shiva is the destroyer of darkness leading to emergence of light .
For Lal Ded , Shiva is not only the destroyer from the Trinity of Brahma (
Creator ) Vishnu ( Preserver ) and Mahesha ( destroyer ) but the essential supreme
ruler of SHUNYA or NOTHINGNESS .
Apart from
Kashmir Shaiva thought , NOTHINGNESS as expressed by LAL DED is also of RIG
VEDIC origin. To some extent , NOTHINGNESS in her VAAKHS ( VAAKYAS ) is
influenced by VEDIC HYMNS of NASADIYA SUKTA. The primordial ocean mentioned in
RIG VEDA is synonymous with the concept of NOTHINGNESS. And the concept of
SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING (Kenh’nuss Nishe Kyah’taam Draav) is again a pure RIG
VEDIC thought . I quote two Hymns from RIG VEDA in support of this argument…
(1)
“Then there
was neither death nor immortality
nor was
there then the torch of night and day.
The One
breathed windlessly and self-sustaining.
There was
that One then, and there was no other.”
(2)
“And they
have stretched their cord across the void,
and know what
was above, and what below.
Seminal
powers made fertile mighty forces.
Below was
strength, and over it was impulse.”
I also Quote
three Vaakhs of Lal Ded with my simple English rendering ,
(1)
Shuniiyukk
Mae’daan Kodumm Paanus
Mey Lallie
Roozum Boadh Na Hosh
Wai’Zey
Sap’nuss Paanie Paanus
Adhaaa
Kammie Hilli Phoall Lalli Pamposh ..
( Lal Ded )
( Alone I
Traversed this vast ground of Nothingness ,
Intellect
and consciousness too withdrew from me .
Then alone I
turned familiar to my own inner self ,
And Here I
appear like a Lotus flower blooming in swamp . )
2
Kenhi’nus
Pyaath Kyaah Chhuyii Na’tchun,
Mwatchii
Kenh Na Ta Natchun Traav ..
Poat
Pheerithh Chuyee Totuyii Atchun
Yohaii
Vatchunn Tcheituss Thhaav
( Lal Ded )
( Why Dance
over this nothingness ?
Abandon this
ballet for you too shall contract to Nothingness .
And On
return , you shall have to go back to nothingness ,
So Bear this
thought alone in your mind . )
3
Goruss
Pratchhom Saasi La’teiy
Yuss na Kenh
Vanaan Tuss Kyaa Naav.
Pratchhaan
Pratchhaan Tha’cheiss Ta loosuss
Kenh’nuss
Nishe Kyah’taam Draav
( Lal Ded )
“To my
Master , I asked a thousand times ,
By what name
should we call the nameless one .
Drained I
became from seeking this knowledge ,
And lo !
Something emerged from Nothingness only.”
Once an
Individual realizes that the final truth or reality is EMPTINESS or NOTHINGNESS
, he carries a different outlook on qualms of mundane existence . This
enlightenment also enables him to rise above the painful concerns of routine
life . And accordingly , this concept of Nothingness comes up with a positive
transformative power.
In kashmiri
poetry , NOTHINGNESS has also been profoundly enunciated by almost every poet
of Sufi genre most notably by Shamas Faqir , Rehman Dar , Shah Gafoor ,Nyaam
Sahib, Waza Mehmood ,Sochha Kraal , Ahmed Batawaari , Samad Mir , Ahad Zargar
,Wahab Khaar and many more in their compositions .
Apart from
Islamic Tassavuf , Almost all these poets appear to be deeply familiar with the
NETI NETI concept of VEDANTA whereby one negates all descriptions about the
ultimate reality but not the reality itself. And to embark on this , one needs
to transcend worldly experiences rejecting everything ( Not this , Not this )
and arrive at the vast ocean of Nothingness to draw something ( Kenh Nassa
Nishe Kyaahtaam Draav ) .
This group
of Sufi poets from kashmir were remarkable souls ; Simple , Unassuming , Almost
without access to the Modern Education ,Poor in so far as the worldly Material
possessions are concerned But profoundly rich with knowledge of the traditional
thought of their land . They belonged to the lowest strata of the society that
evaluates individuals in terms of their material possessions . A Labourer , A
Mason , A Blacksmith ( Wahaab Khar ) , A Potter ( Sochh Kraal ) , A Weaver (
Shams faqir ), A Cowherd ( Rahim Sahib Sopori) , A Wood Cutter ( Samad Mir )
synthesizing NOTHINGNESS of Hindu VEDANTA and ISLAMIC TASSAVUF on grand poetic
format . This is possibly unknown in any other Literature or society .
I quote ..
1
Shunyaa
Gatsithee Ooss Myon Oluy
Aemm Ashkaa
Naaran Zoluye
Kuniruss
Trovnumm Rwoni Manzoluy
Shroin
Shroin Bozaan Aas
( Shamas
faqir )
( Traversing
NOTHINGNESS , my abode turned visible ,
And the
intensity of love set this too on fire.
With a
Chiming Cradle swung across my loneliness ,
I reached
that final spot listening to musical chimes all around )
2
Kenh Nai
Ouss Ta Kyaahtaam ouss
Kenhuss
Maaney Chhuyii Kentssaa
Kenhusss
Maaney Zaanaan Goss
Paanaai Ouss
Ba Bahaannai
( Sochh
Kraal )
( If Nothing
was perceptible ,
For sure ,
something lay thereat.
I just moved
ahead interpreting this Nothingness
And I became
the cause to exist .)
Dapyomuss
Addah kattien chhuyee Tche Maqaam
Tammie Dopnumm
Naai Chhu Subah Naai Chhu Tattie Shaam .
( Sochh
Kraal )
( I put him
a question ,
“ Where is
your abode ? ”
And he
replied ,
“ A place
where You experience neither Mornings nor evenings “
Scientifically
( Theoretical Physics ) , In our universe, even a dark, empty void of space,
absent of all particles, is still something. And to explain Anything in time
and space , Nothingness has to be called in to play its crucial role. And
Nothingness does not represents something that we're afraid of, a disarray or a
breach of the system. Greek philosophers ( Aristotle and Plato notably ) also
agreed that Being is ultimately transcended in the concept of NOTHINGNESS .
( NOTHINGNESS clicked in Black and White.. Photo Autar Mota )
German
Philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer ( 1788-1860 ) comes very close to the Eastern
concept of Nothingness .His philosophy bears influence of Plato, Kant, Buddhism
and Vedas .
I end this
brief post with a quotes of Schopenhauer.
“ We can
regard our life as a uselessly disturbing episode in the blissful repose of
NOTHINGNESS “
( Autar Mota
)
.
.
