આનંદ સાગર - ગઝલ

I wrote this Ghazal on Apr 4, 2018 after a life changing inner experience. This ghazal beautifully explores themes of play, wandering, self-discovery, and spiritual transcendence. Reposting here on my blog.

Ghazal

આભમાંથી એ સિતારો ખર્યો છે,
રમવા કાજે એય લીલા રમ્યો છે.

વગર વિસામે અને વગર મંઝિલે,
ફરવા ખાતર એમ જ એ ફર્યો છે.

દુઃખની દુનિયામાં સુખ શોધતાં,
અંતે થાકીને એ ખુદને મળ્યો છે.

જેવો દેખાયો તે મનનાં મુકુરમાં,
એવો જે એણે એ કૃષ્ણ ચિતર્યો છે.

નજર જ્યોતિએ જ્યાં જ્યાં ફેરવી,
અહં તો એનો ત્યાં ત્યાં મર્યો છે.

ચિત્તનાં વમળો ને બુદ્ધિ ની પર,
‘અવિઝ’ ને આનંદ સાગર જડ્યો છે.

Meaning

“Ocean of Joy”

From the Sky that star has fallen down, For the sake of play he has played that game. Neither knowing a stop nor the destination,
For the sake of journey he has wandered the world. And wandering in the world filled with duality, At last that tired being found him self.
Whatever reflection his mind-mirror has captured, From that reflection he canvased his own Krishna. Wherever his soul gazed, his ego got destroyed. Beyond whirlpool of feelings and his little intelligence, ‘Aviz’ has found the Ocean of Joy.

Comments

Cosmic Play
- A star falls from the sky, not as a tragedy but as part of a divine play (લીલા). This reflects the beauty of life’s cycles, where even something as monumental as a falling star is seen as a joyful act in the grand cosmic scheme.
Endless Wandering
- This couplet speaks of aimless wandering—without rest (વિસામો) or destination (મંઝિલ). It reflects the human condition of seeking, exploring, and moving, often for the sake of the journey itself, rather than a fixed endpoint.
Discovery Through Exhaustion
- In the pursuit of happiness in a world filled with sorrow, the individual ultimately becomes weary and turns inward, discovering themselves. This highlights the idea that true joy lies not in external pursuits but in self-realization.
Inner Reflection
- The man sees a reflection of his true self in the mirror of the mind (મનનાં મુકુર), and it is as divine and complex as Krishna (કૃષ્ણ). This suggests that within every individual lies a divine essence waiting to be recognized.
Death of Ego
- Wherever the light of awareness (નજર જ્યોતિ) is cast, the ego (અહં) dissolves. This couplet conveys the transformative power of awareness and mindfulness, where understanding and clarity lead to the end of pride and self-centeredness.
Spiritual Union
- By transcending the turbulence of the mind (ચિત્તનાં વમળો) and the intellect (બુદ્ધિ), the poet, અવિઝ, experiences the blissful ocean of joy (આનંદ સાગર). This suggests a state of spiritual awakening, where inner peace and boundless joy are attained.