Music, and Ma Kali

[Guest guest]

Namaste, all.

 

Stuck here in the nursing home, one of my favorite distractions is listening to

my small collection of music CDs here. I am especially interested in Hindu

influences on Western music. I am getting deeper into Kirtan (call and response

chants in Sanskrit or Hindi), and various Westerrn purveyors of " Mantra Music "

(like Deva Premal).

 

I sometimes enjoy attempts by Westerners to do English-language devotional Hindu

music -- it's a slippery slope, because they have to avoid getting mawkish and

sentimental. Lots of " Christian Music " -- devotional songs about Jesus - often

take that misstep.

 

In the 1980s, lesbian feminist songwriter Meg Christian became active in the

SYDA Yoga organization, and a high-profile devotee of Gurumayi Chidvelasinanda

(it's pretty obvious that Meg developed an enormous crush on the stunningly

beautiful SYDA Guru). Meg wrote a cassette album, " The Fire of My Love, "

containing devotional songs to Gurumayi; I noticed it's available as a CD now,

carried by Ladyslipper Music. I bought it, despite having a scratchy pirated

copy of the tape at home.

 

Some of the songs do slip into that weepy style, but the music IS gorgeous, and

two cuts are especially my favorites. She set to music an English translation of

Saint Jnanishwar's " Amritanubhava, " a hymn describing the relationship of Shiva

and Shakti, and it always brings tears to my eyes. A sample:

 

Shiva and Shakti are the same

Like musk and its fragrance,

Or gold and it's luster.

Joining together, they merge into one

Like darkness and light at the breaking of the dawn.

 

Meg also wrote a song about her feelings for her Guru, titled " Oh, My Gurumayi. "

which I have sung at several Pagan festivals -- But I altered the lyric to

praise Mother Kali instead of Gurumayi. While wrestling with cancer, Kali Ma is

much on my mind, and here are the lyrics (with my changes in CAPS).

 

What do you say to the cry of the heart

When its darkest night has come?

After lives of ancient loneliness,

And longing for its own?

And FROM YOUR PAIN you cry a name

You never thought you knew

And She appears, and in her hands

Are all your dreams come true.

 

What can you say, what can you say but

Blessed, blessed am I --

OM KALI, MATA KALI, MAHAKALI JAI! [repeat]

 

What can you say to the radiant one

Who melts your fear and pain?

And then she lets you love her

Any foolsh way you can.

She heals your heart, and steals your heart,

And fills it, till it bursts

And in the place it used to be

You'll find the universe.

 

What can you say, what can you say but

Blessed, blessed am I --

OM KALI, MATA KALI, MAHAKALI JAI! [repeat twice]

 

So let the mind deny -- it is the heart that sees Her face,

The heart that drinks Her tenderness,

And seeks Her sword of grace.

Her fire is the sweetest food the heart has ever known,

And KALI-MA is the dearest word the heart has ever sung.

 

What can you say, what can you say but

Blessed, blessed, blessed am I --

OM KALI, MATA KALI, MAHAKALI JAI! [repeat 3x]

 

Do you have any favorite music with Hindu themes?