Common Sense

From the Deccan Herald

From the Deccan Herald (link at the end of the post)

I am very impressed by this, uniting of different spiritual paths in music, as our Murshid Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan (ra) suggested early in the 20th century. And for such a wonderful cause as well. An Indian Sufi group singing both traditional Indian poetry as well as Gospels. My heart is open to this. Please read.

Of sufi strains and biblical hymns

Baishali Adak, Feb 09, 2012 :

The Indian Cancer Society recently held its annual fundraising concert- ‘Artistes Against Cancer’ with a brilliant performance by the band ‘The Sufi Gospel Project’. Over 300 invitees attended the concert at the beautiful Lotus temple and appreciated the musical performance as well as the awareness initiative by the Cancer Society.

For over three hours, Sonam Kalra, the lead singer of the group and her band members enthralled the audience with their unique and spiritual music. Sonam’s meditative voice created a trance like environment while Alex Fernandes on the piano, Rishabh Prasanna on flute, Ahsan Ali Khan on sarangi, Amaan Ali Khan on tabla and Daniel Paul on guitar, gave her company. The serene setting of the Bahai House of Faith, with its open spaces and soft lighting, complimented the grave issue of the evening and the mystical music perfectly.

The programme began with the secretary of the Indian Cancer Society Jyotsna Govil speaking on the need for more awareness on this deadly disease. This was followed by a felicitation ceremony of some cancer survivors after which ‘The Sufi Gospel Project’ took over the evening.

Sonam began with a rendition of the popular gospel hymn Abide With Me blended beautifully with Kabir Das’ bhajan Moko Kahan Dhoonde re Bande. The audience swayed to her tunes on Chal Bulley–a piece by Bulleh Shah which talks of brotherhood and equality. She proceeded to sing her excellent Urdu translation of the Amazing Grace prayer combined with a Sufi couplet, again expounding the message of pluralism.

This was followed by a rendition of Kabir’s Haman Hai Ishq Mastana… Haman ko Hoshiyari Kya? Sonam explained that she likes to sing to lesser known pieces of sacred poetry which need to be heard, unlike the more popular numbers like Damadam Mast Kalandar which has already been performed to perfection.

She also sang a 100-year-old gospel hymn speaking of one’s closeness to God In the Garden followed by another number inspired by Ray Charles’ Hallelujah and I Just Love Him So. She then went to sing a traditional Irish blessing A Theerna blended with Indian instruments like the sarangi and flute which give it an Indian leaning. Her rendition of Kabir’s Naiharwa was a personal favourite among the audience.

The choice of songs displayed an in depth research into sacred poetry of all faiths and her voice, evidently trained over years, easily transcended the territories of English gospels, Sikh hymns and Hindu bhajans. All through the concert, the lyrics of the songs that Sonam sang were projected on a big screen in the auditorium. This was not only informative but also helped the audience connect with the music.

Sonam said, “This cause is close to my heart as my mother suffered from cancer too. We tried to bring together a healing and soothing music here today. Sacred music is always therapeutic. Besides, the blending in of the sounds of different faiths shows that different religions can also coexist in blissful harmony.”

via Of sufi strains and biblical hymns.

Miyan Mir's Dargha/Mazar in Lahore, Pakistan

Baba Sain Mir Mohammed Sahib (c. 1550 – 11 August 1635), popularly known as Mian Mir, was a famous Sufi saint who resided in Lahore, specifically in the town of Dharampura (in present-day Pakistan). He belonged to the Qadiri order of Sufism. He is famous for being a spiritual instructor of Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. He is identified as the founder of the Mian Khail branch of the Qadiri order.

Mian Mir was a friend of God-loving people and he would shun worldly, selfish men, covetous Emirs and ambitious Nawabs who ran after faqirs to get their blessings. To stop such people from coming to see him, Mian Mir posted his mureeds (disciples) at the gate of his house.

Once, Jahangir, the Mughal emperor, with all his retinue came to pay homage to the great faqir. He came with all the pomp and show that befitted an emperor. Mian Mir’s sentinels however, stopped the emperor at the gate and requested him to wait until their master had given permission to enter. Jahangir felt slighted. No one had ever dared delay or question his entry to any place in his kingdom. Yet he controlled his temper and composed himself. He waited for permission. After a while, he was ushered into Mian Mir’s presence. Unable to hide his wounded vanity, Jahangir, as soon as he entered, told Mian Mir in Persian: Ba dar-e-darvis darbane naa-bayd (“On the doorstep of a faqir, there should be no sentry”).

Pir Mian Mir, whose mind and soul were one with the Lord, caring little for the emperor’s irritation, replied in Persian: Babayd keh sag-e-dunia na ayad (“They are there so that the dogs of the world/selfish men may not enter”).

The emperor was ashamed and asked for forgiveness. Then, with folded hands, Jahangir requested Mian Mir to pray for the success of the campaign which he intended to launch for the conquest of the Deccan. Meanwhile, a poor man entered and, bowing his head to Mian Mir, made an offering of a rupee before him. The Pir asked the devotee to pick up the rupee and give it to the poorest, neediest person in the audience. The devotee went from one dervish to another but none accepted the rupee. The devotee returned to Mian Mir with the rupee saying: “Master, none of the dervishes will accept the rupee. None is in need, it seems.”

“Go and give this rupee to him,” said the faqir, pointing to Jahangir. “He is the poorest and most needy of the lot. Not content with a big kingdom, he covets the kingdom of the Deccan. For that, he has come all the way from Delhi to beg. His hunger is like a fire that burns all the more furiously with more wood. It has made him needy, greedy and grim. Go and give the rupee to him.”

Mian Mir, holds a pivotal legendary place in Sikhism and in Sikh history. Sikh Children and Sikh people around the world learn about him, his spiritual contribution and his place in Sikh history.

Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru, often visited Lahore, the birth-place of his father (the fourth Guru, Guru Ram Das) to meet his relatives. On the occasion of one of such visit, he called on Mian Mir. The two men of God met and became very close lifelong friends. Mian Mir was thirteen years older than Guru Arjan.

Guru Arjan was responsible for the construction of many tanks and buildings. In 1588, he planned to build a temple in the center of the holy tank called Amritsar or the pool of nectar. As the temple was to be thrown open to people of all castes, creeds and climes, he invited Mian Mir to lay the foundation stone of the Harmandir Sahib. Mian Mir came to the city of Amritsar wearing a religious mendicant’s long cloak made up of patches of coarse wool and a cone-shaped cap, with a rose flower on top.

Mian Mir was given one of the warmest welcomes for which Guru Arjan was famous. The two holy men embraced each other in sincere love and regard. The purpose of the temple was disclosed to the Sufi saint. Mian Mir was delighted at the fine objectives the Guru had in mind. The foundation-stone was laid. Hymns were sung in praise of God and sweets were distributed among the audience.

After having lived a long life of piety and virtuosity, Hazrat Mian Mir died on 11 August 1635 (7 Rabi’ al-awwal, 1045 according to the Islamic Calendar). He was eighty-eight years old.

His funeral oration was read by Mughal prince Dara Shikoh, who was a highly devoted disciple of the Saint.

He was buried at a place which was about a mile from Lahore near Alamganj, that is at the south-east of the city.Hazrat Mian Mir’s spiritual successor was Hazrat Mullah Shah Badakhshani.

Hazrat Mian Mir’s Mazar (Mausoleum) still attracts hundreds of devotees each day and he is revered by many Sikhs as well as Muslims.