Devotional Poems

Here is an old classic from Subhdra Kumari Chauhan. Most of us have read this poem in our school days. Here it is to refresh the memory. – Rajiv Krishna Saxena ठुकरा दो या प्यार करो देव! तुम्हारे कई उपासक कई ढंग से आते हैं सेवा में बहुमूल्य भेंट वे …

Raskhan the great Krishna-Bhakt lived in late sixteenth century some where around Delhi and wrote in Brij Bhasha. His following poem is a classic and shows the depth of his absolute devotion for Lord Krishna – Rajiv Krishna Saxena मनुष हौं‚ तो वही ‘रसखानि’   मनुष हौं‚ तो वही ‘रसखानि’ …

Kabir (1440AD to 1518AD) was one of the early saints of bhakti kaal who lived in northern India. By profession he was a weaver. He was a disciple of Guru Ramanand from southern India. He shunned religious affiliations and sang the glory of one God in vedanta as well as …

I had read this poem by Ram Avtar Tyagi in children’s school Hindi text book. It left a deep impression. It may moisten eyes of some readers, especially those who feel special affinity for India. And that is why this is such a special poem. Illustration is from the collection …

Here is a famous composition of sant Kabir Das, a nirguni saint of 15th century, who lived in Banaras. In the present composition Kabir points out how fleeting the life is. Be it a prophet, a King, divine personalities, common people, doctor and patients, all eventually die. This is indeed …

Adi Shankaracharya in 8th century AD undertook to revive the Vedantic interpretation of Hindu scripture in order to wean people away from elaborate Karmakand rituals. He roamed through the length and breadth of the Indian subcontinent and debated countless religious leaders. He was remarkably successful in his aim. Credit goes …

The epic Ram-Charit Manas by Tulsidas (AD 1532-1623) is simply unparalleled both as a reflection of a human beings devotion to Lord as also in his absolute grip over the technique in poetry. In the following passage from this mammoth work, the poet describes the birth of Rama. When the …

Here is a poem by the well-known poetess Mahadevi Varma, showing her deep devotion and appreciation of the motherland. Rajiv Krishna Saxena फिर एक बार मैं कम्पन हूँ तू करुण राग मैं आँसू हूँ तू है विषाद मैं मदिरा तू उसका खुमार मैं छाया तू उसका अधार मेरे भारत मेरे …

Those of us, who grew up in 50s and 60s and before that, may remember that there were conscious efforts by the parents and teachers to make the children morally strong. There were preachings to that effect hidden in poems, stories and updeshas. My impression is that this emphasis has …

India has been through a phase of bad times for last few centuries. It was however not always so. Reading Bharat-Bharati by the Rashtra Kavi Maithli Sharan Gupt fills in all Indians a great deal of pride in our country, as it was in ancient times, and generates hope of …