'Vijali Na Chamkaare' says Ganga Sati

विजली ना चमकारे
Sung by Shabnam Virmani & Shreeparna Mitra

I have long been arrested by the central image of this poem. "String your pearl in the glow of a single crack of lightning. Do what must be done, for soon there will be darkness." I am intrigued to discover that this fierce voice is a woman's, and that she is sharing her insights with another woman. Ganga Sati, a bhakti poet of the medieval period from Saurashtra in Gujarat, is reputed to have sung 52 songs, one per day, to instruct her daughter-in-law Panbai. With deep gratitude to Niranjanbhai Rajguru, a very knowledgeable folklorist and singer of the Gujarat sant-vani traditions, who shared the spirit of this song with me.

Words of the song:
विजली ने चमकारे, मोतीड़ा पिरोवी ल्यो पान बाई
अचानक अंधारा थासे जी
जोतारे जोतामा दिवसो, वेया जासे पान बाई
एकवीस हज़ार छह सौ ने, काल खाशे

जान्या रे जेवी आ तो, अजान छे रे पान बाई
ई अधूरिया ने नौ कहवाये जी
गुपत रास नो, खेल छे आ अटपटो ने
तमे आंटी रे मेलो तो समझाए जी

मान रे मूकीने तमे, आवो ने मैदान म्हारे
जानी लेजो जीव केरी जात ने
सजाती विजाती नी, जुगती देखाडूं ने
बीबे रे पाड़ी दऊँ बीजी भात जी

पिंड रे ब्रह्माण्ड थी, पर छे गुरूजी म्हारो
एनो रे देखाडूं तमने देश जी
गंगा रे सती तो, एमज बोल्या ने
नियान नहीं माया नो जराए लेश जी

With gratitude to Rajubhai Patel for organising this concert for the residents of Morbi, Gujarat on 28 April, 2024.
(www.shabnamvirmani.com)