Parani kia mera kia tera – Raag Sorath – Ang 659

 Another priceless gem from Bhagat Ravidas Ji.

SGGS Angg 659.

Raag Sorath.

Rani Chala Bhai from Chittor, queen of Rana Sangha (1472-1528), went on a yatra of holy Hindu tiraths. During her visit to Benares, she was told of an untouchable cobbler who had a mandir built for him by some devotees. Against the advice of the Brahmins with her entourage, she decided to visit the mandir where Bhagat Ravidas Ji worshipped the Almighty.

As she entered the mandir she heard Bhagat Ji singing this Divinely magnificient Shabad. She entered into Bhagat Ji’s sharan and accepted Him as her Guru much to the chagrin of the Brahmins.

The Shabad speaks of the fragility of the human body.

The body is made up of a wall of water, supported by a pillar of air. In its original construction a mixture of sperm and egg (ovum) was used.

“Jall ki bheet pavan ka thamba rakat boond ka gaara”

It is essentially a bird cage made up of bones, flesh and veins. The bird soul dwells within.

“Haadh maas naarhi ko pinjarr pankhee vassay becharaa”

“Parani kia mera kia tera; Jaise tarvar pankh basera” (rahao)

Despite this fragile existence man tends to squabble over this and that. Not realising that the bird soul trapped within is like a bird perched on a tree (liable to fly off anytime it is commanded to do so).

Men dig deep foundations and build walls not realising that their final resting place will hardly be three and a half cubits.

“Rakho kandh oosaro neeva; saday teen haath teri seevan”

Haath is an old measure of space. It was the length of an arm. So the length of three and a half arms would approximate 6-7 feet.

We tend to concentrate on the physical body so much.

“Banke baal paag sirr dheri”

You make your hair so carefully and tie a stylish turban on your head. But, at the end this body will be reduced to a pile of ashes.

“Eh tann hoigo bhasam ki dheri”

You may have lofty palaces and beautiful brides; without the Lord’s Name you would have lost the game of this life.

“Uchay mandar sundar naari; Raam Naam bin bajee haree”

Bhagat Ji concludes the Shabad by saying “I am of low social status, my ancestory is lowly too; my life is wretched.”
But I, the cobbler Ravidas, draw solace from Your Sanctuary.

“Meri jaat kaminee paat kaminee oosha janam hamara; tum sarnagat Raja Ram Chand kahe Ravidas chamaraa.”

Shabad Viakhya by Manjeet Singh 

Shabad Kirtan available on YouTube