'Aao Shree Bhagwan Ji Hamare Satsang Mein' by Jiyan Bai Bhagtani

زہر کو امرت بناؤ جی
نفرت کو امرت بناؤ جی
ہمارے ستسنگ میں داتا، تمہارے بھجن میں
آؤ میرے بھگوان جی، ہمارے ستسنگ میں

Turn poison into nectar, here, in our gathering
Turn poison into nectar, right here
In our gathering, in your praise
Come my Lord, join this gathering

مِیرا ہمیں ایسی مقدس محفل میں دعوت دے رہی ہیں جہاں زہر بھی امرت بن جاتا ہے، جہاں پریم اور محبت کا راج ہے جہاں نفرت کی کوئ جگہ نہیں۔ جہاں بس ست گُرو/خُدا سے مِلن کی جستجو ہے
یہ محفل سچاٸ کی محفل ہے۔ جہاں سب اُس مالک کی نگری میں ایک ہیں اور بس اُسی کے نام کو جپ رہے ہیں۔

In Jiyan Bai’s jolting voice, a Meera bhajan in Dhatki, calling for self-transformation through the gods’ help.

After an arduous journey of seeking union with the divine, Meera invites Krishna, and asks him to bring multiple gods along with him to her gathering, to her satsang. Only in community and through the joy of singing and sharing, only with each of the gods’ many virtues present, says Meera, can one turn poison (hate) into amrit (love, or the drink of eternal life).

Meera’s satsang is a satsang of justice, knowledge, and truth; of sacrifice, devotion, and surrender. Sita avenges Raawan in this gathering. Brahma brings enlightenment. The great goddess Ganga flows from Shiva’s matted hair, and her waters wash away all sins. Creation (Brahma), sustenance (Vishnu-Krishna), and destruction (Shiv)—these are all of the qualities that have to be embodied in Meera’s gathering.

Meera’s song is not a polite request. It is a plea to Krishna. You must show up, she says. To help transform from within, to come close to the beloved’s truth.

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Jiyan Bai Bhagtani lives in Shiv Nagar, Umarkot. She has been singing since she was little. When sent to fetch water with the other girls, she remembers getting distracted by her matka. She’d sit down, play her matka, and sing. No water was brought back.

Jiyan Bai sings Bhakti bhajans and Sufi kalaams of Kabir, Bhitai, Meera Bai, and and others.

(Click on Settings for subtitles in English & Urdu)

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Amrit Pyala is a project filming, documenting, and translating mystic poetry in Pakistan. See more on amritpyala.mmm.page

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Song Credits:
Tambura & Vocals: Jiyan Bai Bhagtani
Manjira: Kanji

Translation: Hamraj Singh, Javeria Kella, Sadia Khatri, Baneen Mirza

Video Credits:
Camera: Sadia Khatri, Baneen Mirza
Audio recording: Ahmed Hasan
Mixing and mastering: Mobeen Zahid
Editing: Hadi Khatri
Subtitling: Hadi Khatri

Recorded at Shiv Mandir, Umarkot, February 2023