Followers

Wednesday 16 May 2012

The Benaras Trio


Benaras, known as the oldest living town on earth, is not just a place of an over hyped Hindu Mythology.
To me it is more important for the other two reasons which are not confined to the narrowness of a particular religion or sect.
Sant Kabir, one of the brightest enlightened gurus ever was born and lived his humble, exemplary life here, trying to free us from the shackles of so called ‘religions’, giving us the secret of self realization and meeting the God within ourselves. But we are a really thankless herd of sheep, going towards the ditch with our eyes only on the tails of others, ignoring the message of a real ‘sadguru’ who tried to save us from the doom.
Gautam the Buddha, another enlightened guru,  gave his first sermon to five of his disciples here only. Although I am not much for Buddhism as a religion, since it is in a bad shape today like all other religions, indulging in ceremonial repitition of rituals mindlessly and pompously, but the Buddha is the choicest gift of existence to mankind, who has been pathetically sent into oblivion by this intoxicated world.
संत कबीर
तुमने कोशिश की 
मानवता को 
नींद से जगाने की.

लेकिन हम 
बेहोश लोग
फिर से सो गए
बस तुम्हे
नाम का 'संत' बनाकर.

हम हो सकते थे 
रूढ़ियों-परम्पराओं से मुक्त
जागरण युक्त
पर वो सब आसान है,
तुम्हारा सुझाया मार्ग कठिन,
और हमें आसान, आरामदायक 
रास्ते पसंद हैं.

कितना पीड़ादायक है
ये देखना की
बस चन्द लोग 
सिर्फ़ तुम्हारा नाम जानते हैं
काम नहीं.

तुम किताबों में 
पढ़ाये जाते तो हो
पर बस कक्षा उत्तीर्ण होते ही
सब तुम्हे भूल जाते हैं.

काश वो तुम्हे 
याद रखते 
इस जीवन की कक्षा 
में उत्तीर्ण होने के लिए...
 भगवन बुद्ध
तुमने दिया सन्देश
शांन्ति, मैत्री और भाईचारे का
इस मूरख संसार को.

जिसे अनसुना अनदेखा कर
हमने बना लिया 
तुम्हारी शिक्षा को
एक नशा
और करने लगे 
वही सब नए सिरे से
जिससे तुम हमें 
मुक्त करने आये थे.

आज दुनिया में 
करोड़ों लोग 
तुम्हारे 'धर्म' के 
अनुयायी हैं
पर 'तुम्हारे
बस कुछेक मुट्ठीभर!

कितना हास्यास्पद है
तुम्हारे धर्मान्धों को
वही सब करते देखना
जिससे तुमने 
उन्हें छुडाया था... 






18 comments:

  1. Nice photos...refreshed memories of my visit to Banaras...

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  2. lovely post with great thoughts.....
    i still read kabir/rahim whenever i get time...
    everyone should....

    प्रेम गली अति संकरी, तामें दाऊ न समाई |
    जब में था तब हरी नहीं, अब हरी है में नाहीं ||

    thanks a lot.
    regards.
    anu

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    Replies
    1. Hey Anu! Thank you for the wonderful 'doha'...I'm a die hard Kabirpanthi, and visiting his place of Sadhna and Samaadhi was a pilgrimage for me in the real sense...a dream come true! It's a pity though that finding the place was a tiresome effort...but very well rewarded at the end. Glad that you too are a Kabir lover and liked my post! Thanks again:)

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  3. marvelous captures and lovely poetry!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks tonz Deepak, your positive comments on my pics really make me very happy:)

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  4. बहुत अच्छे अमित जी
    सुन्दर फोटो और कविता

    अफ़सोस इस वक्त मै ट्रेनिंग की वजह से मुंबई में हू
    वरना आप से मिलने का बहुत बढिया अवसर था

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  5. Excellent shots..Longing to see that place..:-)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks a lot Nagini! Please do try to make it to that place sometime...meanwhile I shall present you with some more of pagan delights:) if you please:):)

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  6. a treat to eyes nd ears both !

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    Replies
    1. Hey...thanks loadz Alka, I'm sooo obliged:)

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  7. Profound. I have never been to Benaras but I wish to. Thanks for the pictures and the hindi poem accompanying the post is superb.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks a whole lot Saru, glad that you liked it:)

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  8. jeevan ki kaqsha mein paas hone ke liye hamare maapdand ab " measurable" ho gaye hain :right address ,right school,right car ,right brands ,right club,right hotels:)
    But the satire touches a chord : very well said.

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    Replies
    1. ...you're right Varsha:) Thanks a lot!

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  9. Good images. I wish they were bigger, tho' :)

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    Replies
    1. Who will read me then?:D
      Plz click them to enhance...thank you Divya!

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