The video is shot in the town of Jodhpur, the town that the famed Indian poet saint Meerabai came from. There is a slide of her about midway in the slide show at 0:50, preceded by a slide of the temple where she worshipped Krishna. The inscription in the temple says: “this is the temple where Meera offered her worship to Krishna, and where poison turned into nectar.” This is a reference to the poison the king had sent her because he disapproved of her love for the divine. A song of hers “ paga ghungaru baandh meera nachee re” is inscribed in the temple, which means:
Meera dances with anklets on her feet.
People say Meera has gone mad.
My mother-in-law says she has destroyed our family, our name.
Raanaa, the king, sent a cup of poison to Meera. Meera drank it laughing.
Meera has offered her body, mind and her soul to Hari, the Lord.
The poison turned into nectar.
Meera says, O my Lord, Giridhar Naagar, holder of the mountain, I have taken shelter at your feet.
Meera’s love for the divine is legendary. It has inspired millions to understand that love is more powerful than any human challenge.
The group of musicians are all from Rajasthan. The main singer, on the Harmonium, is Saddam Khan Langa.
There are six songs in the video.
The first song, starting at 0:50, is their welcome song - “padhaaro maare des”. It’s in Marwari, the language in that region. (This is also my mother tongue.) It says, “Welcome! Welcome to our land.”
The second song, starting at 5:15 is “Gorband”, also in Marwari. Gorband means camel. It’s a wedding party song. the “baraat” i.e., the wedding party, especially the groom, come riding on a camel. (We rode on one there! See the opening slide!)
The third song, starting at 8:51 is a Sufi song, by Amir Khusro, the famed thirteen century poet musician of India. He is considered the father of Kawwali (as well as the “gazal”). His Master was Nizamuddin Auliya of Delhi. This is a poem by him to his master. It is said that Amir Khusro gave away three camel loads of gold and silver for a pair of Nizamuddin’s sandals. It is also said that in his act of surrender he received the knowledge of the divine. Khusro says in this song:
Chaap tilak – sab cheenee ray mose naina milake. (In Hindi).
You have taken away my looks, my identity, by just a glance.
You have given me the elixir of Love;
You have intoxicated me with just a glance.
You have dyed me in your color, by a glance.
My life has become an offering to you, O Nizam
You have made me yours, by just a glance.
The fourth song, starting at 14:30, is by a Sufi auliya (master) called Bulleh Shah. His ways were unusual, he being a dervish. He went around wandering, drunk on God. This song says “He has drenched me in His color.”
The fifth song, starting at 19:05 is in Marwari: “Chodri Chodri”. It says, “I love the Dal-Baati of my land”. Daal-Baati is a down-home local Rajasthani dish. My mother made the best daal-baati. Daal is a lentil soup; Baati is a good size wheat dumpling.
The sixth and last song, starting at 23:00 is my personal favorite. “Damaa dum mast kalander”. It is a very famous Kawwali, perhaps one of the oldest sufi songs, dating back to the very beginning of Sufism. It was written in honor of Laal Shahbaaz Kalander of the twelfth century. It is attributed to Amir Khusro, and it is said that it was completely re-done by Bulleh Shah. Kalander is an Auliya, a master, someone who is merged in God. He is drunk, intoxicated on God’s love. Damaa-dum masta kalander - is a very simple song, with simple words. One refrain is “Laali more laal kee” - Laal=red, referring to the red cloth the kalander used to wear. Laal is also is a term of endearment and means “my son” or perhaps could mean my beloved. Damaa dum – my infused breath. Mast= perfectly happy, intoxicated. A loose rendition could be, “what a great one, what a fantastic, intoxicated, great one, this red robed master, this red-robed kalander. My every breath is for him; my breath that he has infused with his life force.”