The morning stars twinkled in divine rhythms on the seamless ciborium. The train cleaved space-time from north to south. The rice fields in moonlight looked strangely surreal. Not green, not blue, but some vague night colour! Narayanan was awake at the open train door, clinging to the vertical side bars, The domain-free morning breeze echoed through him. It was cold He was facing east and awaiting the dawn to erupt in mystic splendour . Most of the passengers were asleep. But Narayanan thought with his ancient ancestors that a new dawn was a great new beginning not ever repeating and one must be blessed to see the sun every dawn. It appeared to be a long wait though: the stars wobbled to the mechanical rhythm of the wheels, clogs and clamps, nuts and bolts grating on the iron rails.The chaotic random metallic sounds reverberated in strange coherence into a hidden rtam of eternity. It was as if the astral canopy was leading the train into its fathomless abyss of mystery. The east slowly turned radiant and pink, the stars almost vanished unobtrusively. Hidden galaxies and new milky ways were reborn in distant subtle spaces. Narayanan smiled to himself. As the early morning light fell on his face in a beatific caress. asovaditya! tvamevam pratyaksham brahmam (Oh! Lord Sun You are verily the manifest Brahman) The fields became visible tender green and the sky turned rubiscent, with definitely meticulous cloud formations that seemed to carry a hidden intent. for the cosmic day unfolding for the earth and the earthlings. Some morning birds started surfacing from nowhere, auguring the new dawn! Some coconut and plantain farms with hidden brick houses, a lamp here and there, fields again, cranes soaring up and cows grazing in morning abandon ~ dawn became visible on the tropical landscapes evanescently vanishing on the horizon creating new landscapes. The train stopped at the station and the sun had also almost come out fully into visibility just around then.The platform was lit in incandescent glory of morning in light and the suggestive shadows, There were some people drinking coffee, some eating vada and idli. A porter languidly pulled a trolley A man, his wife who carried an infant and another child walked behind him. ~ The man was rather heavy and wore spectacles. an old man feeding bread crumbs to crows ~ a dog awaits his turn Narayanan climbed the over-bridge and had a good look at the sun that was rising above a green hilltop with sculptured rocks. He walked on and just as he was descending the steps he heard a beautiful flute music being played: almost instinctively he identified the raagam as hindustani kaafi. He wondered whether he should drink coffee or eat something before he left the platform. But he felt he could wait a while. He drank some water from his bottle. As he walked out of the gate of the platform he could hear the flute again: it was still the kaafi aalapana continuing! The queue at the ticket counter was growing in apparent length. He walked on, through the passengers, cars taxis and auto rickshaws waiting ~ some people were alighting some were crowding in and so on. He traced the naadam of the flute and unconsciously went towards the south road. The music of the flute became clearer once the clamour subsided with the distance. As he walked a little, Narayanan identified the flute source. A saffron clad bearded saadhu with vibhooti on his forehead and jata behind him was playing the flute. His eyes were closed and he seemed to intonate more and more subtle phrases of the raagam. He was sitting under a konna tree which was full of yellow flowers. Some flowers had fallen on and around him. Some people had put some coins on the saffron cloth laid in front of him: sunlight fell on the flowers and the coins. But the grand flute recital continued in unabated bliss . It appeared that the saadhu did not play for others to listen but he played for the hidden God in all. sunlight shadows shift ~ breeze stalls to listen to the flute Narayanan stood aside and listened to the flute intently. It was great music ! It sounded as if the flute was made for just that raagam. Endlessly kaafi flowed on. A squirrel was pouncing around on the grass. Some crows sat silent on the wall. Narayanan listened for a long time. The old saadhu was completely oblivious of the world around him He had become kaafi. The sun was well up. Narayanan thought of home and coffee. He wondered if he should also put alms for the saadhu flautist: but instantly recognized that, this great music and musician cannot be repaid, except by humility. He felt it would be degrading, to pay this great soul Narayanan prayed silently and walked on. cow, chewing the cud ears perked to kaafi raagam ~ a fragrant breeze
Notes ~ idli ~ a south indian rice cake of steamed rice and lentils generally an item for breakfast. Now rather well known in the world: idli is eaten generally with chutney and saambar .
vada ~ vada is a fried lentil paste pancake often eaten with idli: vada is also generally eaten with chutney and saambaar
hindustani kaafi ~ a raagam in Karnatic music.
raagam ~ the essential unit of Indian classical music with a specified ascending and descending scale. There are innumerable raagam-s
aalapana ~ a free elucidation of the raagam.
naadam ~ divine creation sound
saadhu ~ an ascetic mendicant
vibhooti ~ sacred ashes besmeared on the forehead and hands indicating one’s devotion to Lord Shiva.
jata ~ matted locks of hair.
konna ~ an auspicious tree which blooms mildly fragrant yellow flowers: konnappoo is the flower |
As I became the golden morning.
Thank you for this Narayanan it is beautiful.