Guest guest Posted October 22, 2008 Report Share Posted October 22, 2008 A Bhakti poem sent by Ivan. His notes are at the foot. > > The pot is a God. The winnowing > > By Basava > > > (1134 - 1196) > > English version by A. K. Ramanujan > > > > The pot is a God. The winnowing > > fan is a God. The stone in the > > street is a God. The comb is a > > God. The bowstring is also a > > God. The bushel is a God and the > > spouted cup is a God. > > > > Gods, gods, there are so many > > there’s no place left > > for a foot. > > There is only > > one God. He is our Lord > > of the Meeting Rivers. > > > > -- from Speaking of Siva, by A K Ramanujan > Amazon.com > > / Photo by Chor Ip / > > > ============ > > Thought for the Day: > > Always better to know > > than to believe > ============ > > Here's your Daily Music selection -- > > > > Various Artists > > > The Heart of Percussion > > > Listen - Purchase More Music Selections > > > > Hi Alan - > > > > I love this poem. I first found it in Georg > Feuerstein's mammoth book on the Yoga Tradition, and > then later in A. K. Ramanujan's Speaking of Siva. > It's one of those simple, yet powerful poems that rings > in the back of my mind. > > > > Gods, gods, there are so many > > there’s no place left > > for a foot. > > > > Makes you want to take every step carefully. > > > > Turns each walk into a prayer. The placing of each foot on > the ground, the touching of every object becomes divine > contact. > > > > -- > > > > Basava, sometimes referred to reverently as Basavanna or > Basaveshwara, was a twelfth century devotee of Shiva and > early organizer of the Virasaiva Lingayata sect in the > Kannada-speaking regions of southern India. > > > > The Virasaivas were a Shiva bhakti movement that rejected > the elaborate ritualism and strict caste system of orthodox > Hinduism which favored the wealthy, and instead emphasized > direct mystical experience available to all through deep > devotion to God. In this sense, the Virasaiva movement was > a mystical protestant movement that also asserted social > equality and justice for the poor. As Lingayatas they > worship Shiva in the form of a linga, the stone symbol that > represents God as creative generator of the universe or, > more deeply, as a representation of the Formless taking > form. > > > > Basavanna was orphaned at a young age but adopted by a > wealthy family with political connections. He received a > good education but rejected a life of comfort and prestige > to become a wandering ascetic dedicated to Shiva. > > > > He received enlightenment at a sacred meeting of rivers. > This is why all of Basavanna's poems include a reference > to Shiva as " the lord of the meeting rivers. " > This also has a deeper, esoteric meaning relating to the > subtle energies awakened in the yogi's awareness. > > > > However, he soon was given a divine command to return to > worldly life. Basavanna initially resisted, but eventually > yielded and returned to his adopted family. Before long he > attained high political office while, simultaneously, > forming the new populist mystical movement of Virasaivas > into a coherent, egalitarian community. This community > fostered many other great poet-saints, including Akka > Mahadevi and Allama Prabhu. > > > > > > Have a beautiful day! > > > > Ivan > Share Your Thoughts on today's poem or my commentary... > > > > > New on the Poetry Chaikhana Blog > > > In addition to the daily poem, other recent > blog posts include: > > Stork Migrations and Reading a Poem - > Comments (2) I just returned from a walk along the shore of > a nearby lake. Eight majestic white wood storks were > drifting along the surface, then, at some mutually agreed > upon signal, they took off one after the other, reaching out > for full wingspan, and rising up in an ascending, orderly > line to the sky. > > Watching them, I thought, “Reading a poem is like > this.†More > - More > - More > > Support the Poetry Chaikhana > > Donations to the Poetry Chaikhana in any amount are > always welcome. Thank you! > > > > Click here > > > > You > can also support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as > the authors and publishers > of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the > recommended books through > the links on this site. Thank you! > > Click here > > > A small amount each month makes a big difference. > Become a voluntary Subscriber for just $2/mo. > > > > > Click here > > > Help the Poetry Chaikhana reach more people. Become a > Supporter for just $10/mo. > > > > > Poetry Chaikhana Home > > > New | Books | Music | Teahouse > | About | Contact > > Poets > by: Name| Tradition > | Timeline > Poetry by: Theme | Commentary > > > > > > Blog | Forum | Video Channel > www.Poetry-Chaikhana.com > Poetry Chaikhana > > P.O. Box 2320 > > Boulder, CO 80306 > Ivan > M. Granger's original poetry, stories and > commentaries are Copyright > 2002 - 2008 by Ivan M. Granger. > > All other material is copyrighted by the respective > authors, translators and/or > publishers. > ============ > Plain Text: If you have any difficulty reading this HTML > formatted email, please let me know and I can send you plain > text emails instead. > Cancelling: If you wish to stop receiving this Daily Poem > email from the Poetry Chaikhana, simply reply to this email > and change the Subject to " Cancel " . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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