An
Introduction by Sh. G.
N. Raina
| |||
 The
nations have a history as well as geography. They
grow not by the sun and stars, the wind and rain
but by the creative Spirits who by precept and
practice, work toward the establishment of
universal brotherhood of man, overcoming the
artificial barriers of caste, creed or colour.In the last millennium, Kashmir, as also the rest of India, has produced a galaxy of great saints, seers and savants who have enriched, elevated and refined life and helped the people at large in distress. In India, we have had illustrious God-men like Kabir, Tulsi, Surdas, Tuka Ram, Srikrishna Chaitanya, Eknath, Narsi Mehta, Tyagaraja, Dhyaneshwar, Tiruvalluvar, Namdev, Mirabai, Dayanand, Guru Nanak, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, Vivekananda, Swami Ram, Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi, Ramana Maharishi, Sri Satya Sai Baba, and Sri Aurobindo. In Kashmir, too, we have had the great fortune of producing greatsaints like Lalleshwari, Rupa Bhawani, Sheikh Nuruddin, Parmanand, Rishipir, Jeewan Shah, Lassa Sahib, Anandji, Ramji, Sahib Kaul, Manas Razdan, Zaikak, Kakaji Mastana, Grata Bab, Ramjoo Tabardar, Vidya Dar, Shankar Razdan, Bhagwaan Gopinath Ji, Kashkak, Sona Kak, Nandlal Ji, Swami Lakshman Joo, Sati Devi and Mathura Devi. These saints belong to all times and to all nations. They transcend the bonds of communities and conventions, place and time. They are born to serve God by serving His creatures. A saint, a seer and a sage is, indeed an universal phenomenon. In the present troubled times when the people of the Valley, Kashmiri Pandits in particular, are passing through untold miseries, the only solace comes from our glorious philosophic and spiritual traditions enriched by our saints and sufis. The sayings of Lalla Arifa echo and re- echo to this day. She sang in the language of the masses. A mystic of the purest ray serene, Lalla urged the people to rise above caste, creed and colour and see the light within.
MO ZAAN HYUND TA MUSALMAN, TRUK AY CHHAUK TA PAN PANUN PARZANAV, SOI CHHAY SAHIBAS SATI ZANI ZAN" (Siva is all-pervading and present in each particle. Never differentiate between a Hindu and a Muslim. If you are shrewd and intelligent, know THY SELF. There lies acquaintance with god".) "SANTOSHI BYALI BHAVI ANAND PHAL"We have not been able to collect details of most of our saints and seers. But a good number of them are represented here and most of these have been drawn from our special numbers issued in the past. We are grateful to the learned authors whose articles on various saints have been reproduced here for the benefit of all, particularly our youth, who, I am sure, will derive inspiration and strength from the lives of these Sages and Seers. |
Lalleshwari (Lal Ded)
Kashmir
has produced many saints, poets and mystics. Among
them, Lal Ded is very prominent. In
Kashmir, some people consider her a poet, some
consider her a holywoman and some consider her a
sufi, a yogi, or a devotee of Shiva. Some even
consider her an avtar. But every Kashmiri
considers her a wise woman. Every Kashmiri has
some sayings of Lalla on the tip of his tongue.
The Kashmiri language is full of her sayings.
Lal Ded
Kashmiri
Hindus and Muslims affectionately call her
"Mother Lalla" or "Granny Lalla".
She is also called "Lallayogeshwari".
Some people call her Lalla, the mystic.
No comments:
Post a Comment