Tagore’s Gitanjali

From my LP class days, I have heard of Tagore. The loud speaker from the local church used to gather songs took from this great book in the early morning. I used to tell the story of golden grain of corn. Recently, I was nurture Kahlil Gibran and saw that his books are inspired by Tagore. I thought, enough is enoughhere I am determined to read Gitanjali first, before reading its but inspirations. And the travel was beautiful Tagore was born in a very Rich family but he was a child without freedom.A prison View contiguous photo er in his own house, The child who is decked with princes robes and who have jeweled chains round his neck loses all pleasure in his play his dress hampers him at every step Gitanjali VIII (VIII). O fool, to try to carry thyself upon thy own shoulders O beggar, to stick to beg at thy own admission (IX) Such a childhood Tagore had to live and no wonder, he found his happiness and gods presence with giddy and flowers The light of thy music illuminates the world. The animateness breath of thy music runs from sky to sky (III) Pluck this little flower and take it.Delay non I fear lest it droop and drop into the trunk. Though its colour be not deep and its smell be faint, use this flower in thy service and pluck it while there is epoch . (VI) Light, oh, where is the light? Kindle it with the burning fire of require .. (XXVII). The burning desire in Tagore prayed for strength. The basis of prayer is hope. Give me the strength lightly to bear my joys and sorrows . to stick my love fruitful in service. never to disown the ridiculous or bend my knees before insolent might.. to raise my mind juicy above daily trifles.And give me the strength to surrender my strength to thy will with love. (XXXVI) That I want thee, only thee let my eye repeat without end. ( XXXVIII ) When desire blinds the mind with delusion and dust, O thou holy one, thou wakeful, come with thy light and thy thunder . (XXXIX) Life of my life, I shall e ver try to keep my consistence pure, knowing that thy living touch is upon my limbs. thou art that truth which has kindled the light of land in my mind. drive all evils away from my heart and keep my love in FLOWER, knowing that thou hast thy seat in the inmost shrine of my heart.And it shall be my endeavour to reveal thee in my actions knowing it is thy violence gives me strength to act . ( IV ). Has not the WORD come to you that the flower is reigning in splendour among thorns? Wake, oh, change staten Let not the time poke out in vein At the end of the stony path, in the country of virgin SOLITUDE, my friend is sitting all alone. Deceive him not. Wake, oh, awaken (LV) The condition of the poor villagers who work in his farm land evoked Sympathy in him, at the same time he envisioned an India where the poor is empowered with light of knowledge. Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high Where knowledge is free Where the world has not been broken up into fragme nts by narrow domestic WALLS Where the words come out from the depth of truth Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfect(a)ion where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary quit sand of dead habit Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever widening thought and action Into that heaven of freedom, my father, let my country awake . The God concept of Tagore is the basis of his philosophy. God in our self and our self in God. Our life is only a passage a boat excursion with God. Throughout the songs the author is present and the presence of God too. For Tagore, his existence and strength is closely related to the presence of god. The last judgement toWaiting Virgins with lamps to Maya to Vishnu with Sword Tagore do not counter any existing religious believes but amaze correct meaning for it and free the God from the WALLS of temples and churches. He it is, the innermost one, who awakens my being with his deep vague touches (LXXII) He visualized God as a loving father, When I bring to you coloured toys my child, why there is such a play of colours on clouds, on water, and why flowers are painted in tints (LXII), The sleep that flits on babys eyes does anybody know from where it comes? (LXI) Thy eyes look wad on my eyes, and my heart has touched thy feet . ( LIX ), on the seashore of endless worlds is the great meeting children ( LX ) The mystery of death always haunted Tagore. When he was young, his buddys wife who was his first inspiration to start writing is dead. His mother, his lonely symbol of love and freedom too left him in his childhood. This forced Tagore to find the truth that Life and Death as twin brothers . He absorbed the pain in his life, shall I bear in my heart this honour of he burden of pain, this gift of thine (LII) It quivers like the one last response of life in extacy of PAIN at the final stroke of DEATH . ( LIII ) The reason the Mahabhagawata was written, why not to worry to die, Tagore visualize death as only a change of foam. I dive into the depth of the ocean of foams, hoping to gain the perfect pearl of formless. No more sailing from harbour to harbour with this my weather-beaten boat. I am eager to die into the deathless (C) Tagore is said to be taken inspiration from Kabir Das in his poems.I commode see the life of Jesus been there with him as well as the style from sing . A bit of Shakespeare is visible (to my limited knowledge of Shakespeare) as well. Great works like THE PROPHET , KAHLIL GIBRAN is highly inspired by GEETANJALI. And I can undoubtedly say that this is the best book which filled my heart, mind and soul with thoughts and the presence of God. A MUST NOT MISS BOOK . Thy love which is great than theirs, and thou keepest me free (XXXII). The choice is ours.