Huma Asli Maheshwar Bood by Ali Mardan Khan

The collage painting by  Claudia Dose represents the 36 tatvaas of Kashmir Saivism. One can clearly see the influence of the great Kashmiri Master of Neo-tantric art Ghulam Rasool Santosh.

 

 

Not many people in Kashmir would have known the name, Ali Mardan Khan, had it not been for the small area in downtown Srinagar that is named after this Afghan Governor. Despite this he would have remained a name in the books of history like many others rulers but for the verses that immortalized him in Kashmiri Folklore, despite him not being a Kashmiri. The verses were written at a time which was clearly our dark ages. It was forbidden for non Muslims (read Hindus) to read their scriptures or practice their religion openly. I am not sure if it is entirely true but it is widely believed that the Hindus were ordered not to recite Sanskrit verses thus forcing them to make Persian as their language of connect to their deities. Whatever may be the historical accuracy of this “order”, to this day we recite Bhakti verses in Persian and there is one in particular which I remember and goes something like this:

 

Chakreshwari Hajat rawa,Sajath gada ra padshah

Vaah Vaah chi Lakshmi Thapna,shree sharika devi nama

That Goddess Chakreshwari, who can turn a beggar into a king

She who listens to our prayers and answers them

I salute, thee, Seat of Lakshmi, who incarnates in the form of Sharika (in Kashmir)

 

To cut a long story short, one evening Ali Mardan had a vision which took the shape of a beautiful Persian Devotional Poem .Most of us keep rendering them at religious and social festivals with fervor & devotion. Thanks to the oral tradition that has helped carry this poem in its totality to us. It also is a commonplace in most of our Leela* renditions. I am using the version published in Sahaj Kosam (compiled by Moti Lal Saqi) for Mast Bab Ashram. It is slightly different from the version (the last verse differs) that comes down to us via the oral route .I make an attempt to transliterate the verses.

Huma Asli Maheshwar Bhood,Shab Shahi ki Man Deedam

Ghazanfar Charma-e-barbood,Shab Shahi Ki Man Deedam.

It was Shiva, the real God, the King I saw that night

Adorned was his body with Lion Skin, the King I saw that night

 

Ze  Basmash Jam-e-bar-tan,Zunar-ish mar-e-bar garden

Ravanish Gang-e-bar sarbood,Shab Shahi…….

Besmeared with ash, Instead of the scared thread a snake coiled around his neck

Un ebbed flow the Ganga from his locks, the King I saw that night

 

Sah Chashmash bar-jabee-daarad,Zi mahro maaha roshan tar

Se Karan Daste-Bastah Bood,Shab Shahi…….**

Brighter than sun and moon, shone his three eyes

In Salutations to him stood Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva (the 3 causes of the universe), the King……….

**This verse needs a little explanation, the three reasons though commonly understood as Shiva,Vishnu and Mahesh are seen in a different way by the Saivities of Kashmir. The Will (Iccha Shakti of Citi-Supreme Consciousness) in itself has the triple process of manifesting, maintaining and dissolving the universe. So the three reasons could also be understood as attainment of Swantraya (Freedom from Bondage of Ignorance)

 

Be Dastash AAb-e-Kaunsar,Ve bekh Nakoosay Nilofar

Hilalash Taj Bar Sar Bood,Shab Shahi…….

With a conch of Lotus Shoot in one hand and the pitcher of nectar in another

The Crescent Moon embellished his forehead, the King……….……

 

Uma az soi-chip-binger, Zi Sad Khursheed Taban-tar

Savare Kulb-e-nar bood,Shab Shahi…….

Uma on his left, effulgent, like a thousand suns

Beseated on Nandi, I saw the king that night……

 

Ajab Sanyasa deedam,Namo Narayanay Guftam

Be Khakhay Paye Bosidam,Shab Shahi….

Wonderstruck I said Namo Narayan, incredible sage he was

In reverence, I bowed to touch the specks of dust at his feet, the King……….

 

Nighahay bar mane Miskeen,Namud-e-az- chasme taaban-tar

Makanash La maaken tar bood,Shab Shahi……

With his divine grace (Anugraha) ,he showered his radiance

Immersed me in the universe of consciousness, the King……….

 

Manam Mardan Ali Khanam,Ghulam-e-Shahe-Shahanam

Ajab Israr Main Beenam,Shab Shahi…….

I Ali Mardan Khan who is the servant of the king of the kings

Is witness to a mystic experience, the King……….

Another version of the last verse is Manam Mardan Musalmanam,Ali Khanam Namee Dhanam,which means

 I Ali Mardan a devout Muslim , who owes every breath to Ali (the Caliph).

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This poem is also a reiteration of the Kashmiri Saivate standpoint of the world being real as against the Vedantic concept of it being Maya (unreal).That the poet’s vision is not of a formless deity but one that he describes in great detail with its physical attributes and iconography reinforces the Kashmiri Saiva thought of the creation being real when Unmesh (broadly translated as opening of eye/thought )happens.

Note:  I would welcome improvements in translation. Persian is not a language I am well versed with. I thank my friend Geetika, without her help this translation would not have been possible.

*Leela is a Kashmiri Devotional Poem.