Reading Notes: Soordas The Blind Bard, an Amar Chitra Katha vol613

Soordas The Blind Bard
Amar Chitra Katha volume # 613
Image from DiscoverBooks

Today, I read an Amar Chitra Katha comic book. Have you heard of Amar Chitra Katha? I hadn't either, but they are incredibly famous in India, and generations have now been able to enjoy them. There are more than 400 titles, in more than 20 different languages, that retell stories from the great Indian epics, mythology, history, folklore, and fables in comic book format. It was originally created by Anant Pai, beginning in 1967.

Soordas:

• "Born 1478 A.D. to a poor Saraswat Brahman couple of Sihi Village, near Delhi."
• Born blind, everyone forgot his real name and began to call him "Soor" (Soor meaning blind)
• As a child, his parents and the world were cruel to him, and did not understand him. 
• His Brahman father taught his brothers Shlokas, verses in Sanskrit, and having heard a passing group singing Bhajans, Soordas went to his father and asked him to teach him Shlokas too. He did not.
• So, Soordas followed the same group singing Bhajans that passed by the next day. He followed them to the lake, they abandoned him in the morning. But, Soordas remained and sang devotional songs and ate whatever was offered to him by the villagers. He learnt from the Sadhus and the pilgrims on their way to Mathura and Vrindavan. 
• Deprived of one of his 5 senses, he was gifted with a 6th sense, and became a famous Diviner.
• Soordas divined where Zamindar's lost son would be located, so he came and honored Soordas and built him  a hut. 
• An ektara (musical one-stringed instrument) and vessels were given to Soordas, and disciples began to stay with him and serve him. 
• Soordas had a dream of Krishna with many disciples singing devotional songs. So, Soordas left to go wander the woods with his ektara and sing praise to Krishna. "Jai Gopal! Jai Jai Gopal!"
• He kept stopping and singing Bhajans and gathering large crowds, but each time he had to leave them to excape the world, finding unused paths. 
• He fell into a well, and a week later Krishna came to rescue him out of the well. 
• In his quest to find Krishna again, he stayed in Gow-Ghat near Mathura. Here he composed hundreds of Bhajans, acquired many disciples and his fame as the Singing Mahatma (Great Soul) spread far and wide. 
• Eventually, the greatest scholar-saint of all time, Vallabha Acharya met with Soordas, the poet-saint. Vallabha Acharya corrected Soordas from singing degenerating songs to Krishna to singing only of Krishna's life. Because Soordas was unlearned, Vallabha Acharya taught him all about Krishna so that Soordas might sing about him. He initiated Soordas as his disciple.
• "Shri Krishnah Sharanam Mama" - I take refuge in Krishna. Vallabha Acharya appointed Soordas as the chief singer in Shreenathji's Temple in Govardhan. 
• When Soordas sang of Krishna, the devotees could actually see Krishna in front of their faces, it was so vivid and lifelike. 
• His brothers visited him at the temple, and Soordas embraced them warmly as they apologized for not recognizing his greatness and perhaps causing him to leave home. Soordas would not leave the temple to go visit his parents, however, saying that all mankind was his family.
• His brothers soon realized that his Bhajans were on everyone's lips, and all mankind was indeed his family. 
• Even Tansen, the famous singer at the court of Akbar began to sing the songs of Soordas. 
• Akbar came to visit Soordas because Soordas would not sing outside the Temple of Krishna. Soordas composed a new song for him, and Akbar tried to give him some lands. Soordas would not accept them, and Akbar called him 'Indeed, he is a great Fakir.' (Fakir, derived from Arabic فكير means self-sufficient one who only possesses the desire/need for god. Also, poverty.)
• Once, When Soordas was at Mathura, Tulsidas came to seek his guidance.  The two departed from each other after a few days, and requested that each other sing of their god: '
• Tulsi, sing of Krishna!' 'Of course, but Soordas, sing of my Rama!'
• Soordas stayed in the Temple of Shreenath, yet his songs sung in Brij Boli (dialect of Hindi spoken in and around Mathura) became so popular that they were sung from Rajasthan and Punjab to Assam. 

Page 22-23 of Soordas The Blind Bard, Amar Chitra Katha vol613
Personal Photo, October 2016.

I could write about when he fell into the well and Krishna came to save him out of it. I could also write about his songs being on the lips of all of the peasants.

As far as including a piece of golden jewelry, he is quite poor and lives only on what is given to him. I will have to have a piece of jewelry gifted to him, probably around the time that his hut is built, by the Zamindar. Or I could have Vallabha Acharya gift it to him, since he taught him all about Krishna's life, and as Soordas' Guru, he would probably accept the gift from him. 

Reading Notes: Rabindranath Tagore, Amar Chitra Katha vol548

Rabindranath Tagore
India's Gentle Torch-Bearer
Amar Chitra Katha vol 548
Image from Indian Epics ACK Guides

Today, I read an Amar Chitra Katha comic book. Have you heard of Amar Chitra Katha? I hadn't either, but they are incredibly famous in India, and generations have now been able to enjoy them. There are more than 400 titles, in more than 20 different languages, that retell stories from the great Indian epics, mythology, history, folklore, and fables in comic book format. It was originally created by Anant Pai, beginning in 1967.

Rabindranath Tagore: India's Gentle Torch-Bearer

• Born May 7, 1861 at Jorasanko Mansion in Calcutta. The 2nd youngest child of Maharishi Debendranath Tagore. His father was rarely home.
• His parents were away or busy, so many different people took over as caretakers to occupy little Rabi. 
• A cousin took Rabi and taught his to write poetry. Rabi was barely 8 years old when he wrote his first poem. 
• Rabi was a sensitive, imaginative boy who often missed school to spend time in nature. His parents arranged for a local uncle-type to come to the house every evening to teach the boys English.
• The house of the Tagores was a virtual university: a meeting ground for poets, scholars, musicians and men of science and philosophy.
• When Rabi was twelve, his father returned home from a long pilgrimage in the Himalayas. He had the boys dressed in the sacred thread, shaved heads and gold rings in their ears. The boys went for a 3 day retreat: they were taught to chant in correct accents, relevant sections from the Upanishads, and were taught to meditate.
• Rabi was serious regarding meditation and was often moved to tears of bliss at the end of a session.
• Around this time, his father invited him to journey with him to the Himalayas
• At 17 years old, Rabindranath went to England for higher studies, but returned after 17 months. He now began to devote much of his time to writing and acting. "Valmiki Pratibha" was a musical play that was produced during this time period.  
• 4 months after the wedding, Rabi's beloved sister-in-law, Kadambari Devi, died. The songs he composed in the months that followed this were intense with feeling. 
• 1890 -- "Let us walk from Calcutta to Peshawar. It will enrich our store of experience."
• Rabi's father heard of this and wanted to provide Rabi with a chance to travel, but wanted it to be combined with business.
• Rabi settled at Shilaidha in Kushthia, in the very lap of nature, to take over running of the place for his father. His family estates were scattered and entailed a good deal of traveling by boat. 
• During this time period, Rabi soaked in all of the songs and tunes of the rural, local people: rowers, sowers, peasants. "It is only unsophisticated music like this that millions can appreciate. It throbs with the joy of life."
• "Though he did write a great deal during this period, his proximity to the illiterate peasant folk turned his mind to other spheres. 'I feel for my countrymen, when will they get rid of their superstitions and fears? When will they know a better life?'"
• Shanti Niketan: Rabi built and Ashram to educate boys and teachers on the model of an Ashram in natural surroundings, Rabi even taught there. "Children are born with a natural curiosity, which, if properly encouraged, makes the learning experience a pleasure."
• He wanted to make learning a pleasure, but the response was poor.
• His liberal views antagonised the Brahma Samajists. "He has too much sympathy with Orthodox Hindu views" "He is a Brahmo! Our children will not study in the school of a Brahmo!" His school is neither recognized by Calcutta University nor by the Government. What good is an education that won't help our children get jobs?
• 1902-1907 Rabindranath's wife, father, daughter Renuka and son Samindra died. Holy crap!
• 1905: Bengal was partitioned by the British on communal lines. There were a lot of protests. He gave a speech to inspire students all of the country "Down with British Imperialism!"
• During this time, he wrote the National Anthem of Bangladesh (My Golden Bengal, I Love You)
• He was a staunch supporter of Widow Remarriage, and in 1910 he married his son to a widow, Pratima Devi. 
• His many works won him admirers from abroad. Rothenstein, the famous English Painter, suggested that his translate his "Gitanjali" into english. W.B. Yeats praised the translation.
• 
  He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature for Gitanjali from Sweden. He was the first Asian to receive the prize. The funds from the prize were enough to continue funding Shanti Niketan.
• The King knighted him in Calcutta. Long Live Sir Rabindranath Tagore!
• The Calcutta University conferred a D.Litt on him. 
• He renunciated his title of Knighthood (which was declined, but he stopped using it) when in 1919 a brutal massacre by the British (@ Jallianwala Baug in the Punjab) compelled him to write a letter to the Viceroy of India protesting the barbarous attack. \
• He left Calcutta to go stand by Mahatma Gandhi in solidarity during his fast. "The government was forced to agree to the Mahatma's demand for a common electorate between caste Hindus and Harijans." Mahatma Gandhi broke his fast by sipping lime juice while Tagore sung his favorite songs from the Gitanjali. 
• Rabindranath had attained world fame, and Shanti Niketan became a center of pilgrimage for Indians and for foreigners. $$$ poured in: royalties from the English editions of his books, the education given at Shanti Niketan was recognized and it was considered a great privilege to be able to study there. (During some difficult early years, his wife offered up her bangles and adornments to be sold to keep the school going.) Jawaharlal Nehru (1st Prime Minister of India) was one of the many that were impressed by Tagore's educational methods. 
• Indira (Jawahar) was admitted as a student at the ashram. 
• Tagore lived to be 80 years old. He is called the Father of Modern Bengali Lit. Perhaps his most enduring contribution is his collection of songs, which will be sung for ages to come. 

Personal Photo of page 20 from Amar Chitra Katha's
Rabindranath Tagore: India's Gentle Torch-Bearer
October 2016

I could write about his wife giving up her bangles and baubles to sustain the school/ashram of Shanti Niketan. I could also write about his love of nature, his journey to the Himalayas with his father, or his work of Gitanjali. 

I think it would be interesting for him to receive the gold piece of jewelry for my StoryBook when he gets married and eventually gives it to his wife. Though, later, she returns it to him, in the collection she says "It's not mine, it's yours anyways" to sell. Except, for some reason, there's this one piece that he's not quite able to sell. His later works and translations reveal the true nature of the reincarnating piece of gold, and his figures out the problem with it, which is why he is able to live so long -- until 80 years old!

Reading Notes: Mirabai: She Gave Her Heart to Krishna -- Amar Chitra Katha

Mirabai: She Gave Her Heart To Krishna
an Amar Chitra Katha comic book, Volume 535

Today, I read an Amar Chitra Katha comic book. Have you heard of Amar Chitra Katha? I hadn't either, but they are incredibly famous in India, and generations have now been able to enjoy them. There are more than 400 titles, in more than 20 different languages, that retell stories from the great Indian epics, mythology, history, folklore, and fables in comic book format. It was originally created by Anant Pai, beginning in 1967.

Mirabai: A Rajasthani princess whose mother (jokingly?) told her as a child that Lord Krishna was her husband. (She was about 5 years old)

• Mira was eventuall married to prince Bhojraj of Chittor, who hated the Mughals and was known for his valour
• Her new family goddess was Durga, but Mira refused to give up her devotion to her Lord Krishna
• Bhojraj's sister Uda was offended at this, and spread rumors that Mira went every evening to another man -- this enranged her husband Bhojraj
• Bhojraj decided she was insane, so he humored her and built her a temple where she could worship her "stone lover"
• Mira's devotion spread far an wide, and a Mughal emperor, Emperor Akbar wanted to know what these songs were. They came to the temple disguised as Hindus, and were brought into a trance by her song. Overwhelmed, they brought a necklace to her feet, touched them, and offered her the necklace in the name of Krishna
• This was forbidden, her husband found out a Mughal had touched her, and her ordered her to drown herself in a river. 
• A true and faithful Hindu wife, she went to the river, but just as she was about to jump, Krishna appeared and saved her! She fainted, but when she was revived, her told her that her previous life was over, and now she was to go and worship him in Brindavan.
• They were ecstatic that once more there would be singing and dancing in Brindavan. "She is Radha reborn!"

Krishna and Radha seated on a terrace, Brooklyn Museum

Radha: Almost always depicted as the goddess next to Krishna, she is considered to be the embodiment of Shakti herself, the original goddess, and the embodiment of the female creative powers, sometimes referred to as "The Great Divine Mother", and she is the primordial cosmic energy that moves throughout the whole earth. 

• Her husband heard that she was alive, and traveled to her and asked her forgiveness. She forgave him, and went back to Chitor with him, where she continued her worship of Krishna.
• 10 years later, her husband Bhojraj died. Her father in law told her to prepare herself for Sati. She refused. 
• The new King told her that she could not worship Krishna in the palace, or mix with holy men, or dance. So, she decided to go to the public temple. 
• Miracles: 
• the new king wanted to poison her, so sent a snake to the temple as a "gardland" for Krishna. When Mira opened the basket, it was indeed a garland, stunning the deliverer. 
• They removed her bed mattress and replaced it with poison tipped nails, covered with rose petals. Mira went to sleep, not noticing anything and it felt as soft as petals beneath her. 
• Poison mixed into nectar intended for Mira. The poison turned into nectar, after it was offered to her in the name of a gift for Krishna. 
• She wrote to Tulsidas, a saint of her times, and asked him what she should do. Tulsidas advises her to shun those who come in the way of her worship, even if they are the closest of relatives. 
• So, she left the king's palace in Chitor, and went to the palace of her Uncle in Merta.
• She began growing old, and went on pilgrammage to all the places that were important to Krishna: 
• Mathura
• Brindavan
• Dwarka -- she stayed on here because the call of Krishna became loud and more insistent.  One day during her worship and dance, she fainted and fell at the feet of Krishna, and here she died, and Krishna took her to become on with him, her bridegroom. 

Dwarka: associated with Dwarka Kingdom, the ancient Kingdom of Krishna. It is one of the Sapta Puri, the 7 most holy ancient religious cities in the country. It is one of the Chardhums, the four Holy Hindu pilgrammage sites. 

Mirabai is usually shown with an instrument, a Dotara or a Veena

Reading Notes: Kabir: He Spoke Of Tolerance And Mercy -- Amar Chitra Katha

Kabir: He Spoke Of Tolerance And Mercy
an Amar Chitra Katha comic book, Vol 623
source: Reading Notes Guide

Today, I read an Amar Chitra Katha comic book. Have you heard of Amar Chitra Katha? I hadn't either, but they are incredibly famous in India, and generations have now been able to enjoy them. There are more than 400 titles, in more than 20 different languages, that retell stories from the great Indian epics, mythology, history, folklore, and fables in comic book format. It was originally created by Anant Pai, beginning in 1967.

Kabir: Famous Poet Who Spoke of Tolerance towards all religions and Mercy

• Found as a baby by a newly betrothed Muslim couple on their journey back home to Varanasi after their wedding(Year: 1398 A.D.) Father Niru, a weaver, and mother Nima 
• Child named by a Muslim Priest: 
• Kabir, one of God's names
• But the son of a weaver could not have God's name for a name, even though the texts declared it to be so, as seen by several colleagues of the priest. Niru wanted to end the child's life due to the outrage, so he took him to the forest to leave him alone for the animals. But, as he turned to go, he heard a voice "Stop! There is no evil in him. He shall be the wisest of men. His form, his very name, would spell holiness." "Kabir.... destined to be great?" Niru kept the baby and raised him in Islam.
• As Kabir grew, he struggled to differentiate between the god of Islam and the god of Hinduism, so he sought out a Hindu swami (swami Ramanand, a Vaishnava Saint)
• Swami Ramanand taught him that "In the Eyes of God, all men are equal irrespective of caste, creed, and colour."
• Kabir wed, and had a child, but thought only of God. "I have neither roof nor hut, I have neither caste nor name; thy name alone, O God, is enough for me." Kabir's wife, Loi, was very sad because they had not enough clothes or food even to eat, because Kabir gave everything away.
• When a burglar came in to rob them, he tripped and fell, and Kabir turned on a lamp and helped him up, offering anything that he had to him. 
• Kabir was accused of mixing religions, being immoral and an infidel. He was brought before the King, but refused to bow. They chained him and attempted to drown him, but he came back up again. They tried to burn him alive, but he came out of the flames of the fire unharmed. A third time they tried to kill him, by throwing him under the feet of an elephant to be trampled to death. However, the elephant saw a group of angry lions charging at him, a miracle, as it was only Kabir standing there, and the elephant ran away scared. 
• Millions became Kabir's followers, and his Bhajans (Hindu word for holy songs, interestingly) were on their lips. 
• Shortly before Kabir's death, he desired to go to Maghar, the place where if people die there, they do not get into Heaven. He did this because he was determined to free the people from superstition.
• Controversy over burial practices ensued: burial? cremation? 
• Kabir appeared to his followers in a vision: "I belong to all of you. Please don't fight." And his followers found no body, only the shroud that had covered his body and a bed of flowers. They took the flowers and shared them amongst his followers. 

-I find it interesting that many of the saints, or even incarnations of the gods, are often "found" as babies, and raised up and destined to be great.

-I like the idea of Kabir, as a child wearing a Muslim skull cap, putting the forks of Vishnaivism on his head, diregarding the differences between the god of each religion. He learns the word for god of hinduism by cleverness, "Hare Ram!" and declares himself to be a student of the Swami. 

-He defied death three times, and sought to abolish idol worship and separations between people

Kabir on a postage stamp in India