MYSTIC POETRY OF SHAH ABDUL LATIF BHITAI
BY DR.ALI AKBAR DHAKAN
Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai was born at Hala Haveli(Family House) in Taluka Hala of Hyderabad District now Matiari District.His ancestors came from Hirat and settled in Sindh.His great grand father,Shah Abdul Karim of Bulri was also a renowned poet and a saint.His father Syed Habib Shah was a pious man and was in Hala Haveli when Shah Latif was born in the year 1689 and passed away in 1752 at the age of 63 years.Since his very childhood he was very humble and obedient son with high and pious feelings and thinking.He was devoted and dedicated human being with the ideology of kindness and faithfulness with all poor or rich,youngsters or elders,local or outsiders,Muslims or Hindus.From the poetry of Shah Latif Bhitai,it is clear that man is mortal and he has come in this world as a guest of some days so he has to live as helping hand and loyal with others.Shah has given many teachings and admonitions to all human beings for their better lives to be passed in this world and earned their reward for them in the coming or next world.His main teachings are:
Make efforts even in the severe cold or heat.
Do not say to any body in response to his bad words.
Rely only on your own efforts,hardworking and honesty.
Seek help from God only in your hardships and natural calamities.
Have patience in difficulties and mishaps.
Thank God for His bounties bestowed upon you.
Be kind and sympathetic to all.
Be punctual in your duties,prayers and welfare activities.
What ever you need,demand from your Almighty Allah(God).
Take care of your all belongings.
Feed the hungry and help the needy.
Be balanced with your neighbors and relatives.
Respect your parents and pray for their good health and well being.
Give their legal rights to your wife or wives.
Pray to God for His mercy and salvation.
A sleeping man can not create Kingdom.
Numerous People visit and pay tributes to those who awakened and passed lives in prayers of God even after their death.
Now,melody-wise elaboration of Shah latif's poetry is given in the following
23 Surs or Melodies which have been taken from a book of Agha Saleem namely The poetry and Mystic Thought of Shah Abdul Lateef Bhittai:
1.Sur Kalyan (Melody of Peace)
Kalyan is a Sanskrat language word meaning inner peace or well being.The first poem in this melody is about the Creation and Oneness of Almighty Allah as follows:
Allah,the very first,the Omniscient,the Supreme,the Lord of universe,the Omnipotent is there since infinity by His omnipotence,the uncreated,the Lord,the One,the Unique,the Provider,the Master,the Merciful,Praise the true Master by singing hymn of wisdom,the Generous One Himself sustains the universe.About our Prophet(PCBUH)Shah Latif says,"Whosoever believed that God is one,and heartily affirmed that Muhammad(pbuh) is the cause and source of creation,none of such believer's boat ever touched unfavorable landing."Our Poet elucidates the mystic perception of God,the Pireen meaning Beloved,"Your manifestations are in billions,Your essence is in every being,but appearances are variant to one another,O! my Beloved,how can I enumerate attributes?" 2."He is this,He is that,He is death,He is the Beloved,He is the breath,He is the enemy,He is the guide."
2.Sur Aeman(Melody of Harmony) It is a continuum of the above poem Sur Kalyan containing lover's all afflictions "You are the beloved,the healer,the potion for pain,O beloved! I suffer from varied maladies,cure the patients of their afflictions O Lord!" 2." You are the beloved,the physician,and the remedy of pain,curative are your sweet words for my aching heart,I crave for you as other physicians'medicines don't work." 3." You are the beloved,the physician,and the medicine for those who are down with affliction,You cause the sickness,You cure it and You are the Guide and the Lord benevolent,strange that You make the worldly physicians ineffective."
3.Sur Srirag (Melody of Voyage)containing situations about the sea and seashore swarming with ships,vessels,galleys and boats.The Poet says,"Current is swift,tide is ever rising,and anchors can not stay,even big ships sail against the current with full force,the seafarers use ballast to steady their boats on the sea,I have heard pilots telling hair-raising tales."
4.Sur Samoondri (Melody of Seafarers) showing grief feelings of wives when their husbands are leaving them to start voyage in the sea for fishing purpose.The Poet says,"Those were the days of blooming youth when the beloved embarked on voyage,even my tearful imploring could not make them stay,o mates what should I do? he set the sail leaving me on spikes."
5. Sur Sohni (Melody of unflinching love)telling a story of love of a girl of a village.She used to meet her beloved swimming in the nearby river by the help of a baked water pitcher.But one day her mother in law changed it and put an unbaked pitcher so it broke and she drowned in the river.On her cries her beloved Sahar or Mehar also jumped into the river to protect her but he also drowned.The Poet Shah Latif says,"Break the unbaked pitcher,go into the deep waters with love,O Sohni,longing leads the real lovers to their destinations.Love is boundless,so is the grief of love,there is no limit to yearning,nor to grief,Love knows no numerations;it alone can find its own depth."
6.Sur Sassui(Melody of Odyssey of Being).Sassui was very beautiful so her father named her Sassui meaning Moon.As told by a Soothsayer for her as unlucky girl,her father a Hindu Brahman threw her in the sea and was taken by a washer man of Bhanbhore near Karachi.She was married with a Baloch of Makran namely Punhun.His brothers one day came to his house and gave them some drug in the night and abducted both in asleep but they threw Sassui in the big mountains near Gadap and took away Punhun to Makran but he returned from there and met Sassui in her Grave in the mountains where she had been left by the brothers of Punhun.Shah Latif says,"Sassui crossed that mountains,which had defeated men,how much lofty the mountain be,it is plain for those who are in love."
7.Sur Leela(Melody of Repentance).This is a story about the exchange of her husband Chanessar with Kounroo for her Diamond necklace for a night only but Kounroo told Chanessar that his wife Leela exchanged him for her necklace so Chanessar annoyed with his wife Leela and did not go to his wife Leela so she repented with great grief.Shah lateef says,"Leela,if you have learnt lesson,give up all scheming,roll your headscarf round your neck as a sign of complete submission,If you beseech him for forgiveness he will never ask you to leave.If your entreaties can bring your consort back,placate him with sobs,continue your entreaties,this is a place where only entreaties count.If he is not moved by your entreaties,persist in your entreaties,do not give up hope,the beloved is immensely merciful."
8. Sur Moomal Rano(Melody of Self Redemption).Raja Nando,a Gujjar Rajput King once ruled over upper Sindh from his capital at Mirpur Mathelo.He had nine daughters two of whom were Moomal and Soomal.Rano liked Moomal and used to visit her in the night on his camel.When Rano could not reach Moomal for many days and one night when Rano came and saw another man sleeping with Moomal in the night ,he left Moomal and never visited her but actually that another man was no body but she was Soomal in the dress of Rano as advised her by Moomal.In the morning when Moomal saw the stick of Rano on her bed she understood that Rano had come but seeing Soomal sleeping in the dress of a man near Moomal he left her and he did not visit Moomal again.Moomal realised her mistake and repented and tried to meet Rano but all efforts went in vain.Shah Latif says," Wherever may I ride my camel,it is radiance all around,within me is crimson Kaak (Moomal's Palace)within me is brilliant Ludaano,all is Raano,there is nothing but Raano."
9. Sur Umer-Marui (Melody of Chastity).This is story of a village virgin beautiful girl of Malhir Thar.She was taken by a King of Umerkot Thar namely Umer to his palace and tried very much to marry her but she could not be cheated but she protected her chastity.Umer atlast returned Marui with esteem and respect to her parents in Malhir. Shah Latif says,"Pining for my homeland if I die,take my dead body to my homeland,let me buried beside my herdsmen in Thar,I will be alive in death if my dead body were sent to Malhir."
10. Sur Kaamoad(MELODY of Humidity).This is story of Jam Tamachi the King of Thatta near Keenjhar Great Lake.The King selected Noori as his wife from amongst other many beautiful and rich family girls or ladies.Shah Latif says,"You are the Samma King,I am a Gandri fisher maid,the embodiment of all imperfections,perceiving the beautiful faces of your queens,see that you do not turn away from me."
11. Sur Ghatoo(Melody of Killers).This is story about Karachi when it was a small placid village being called as Kolachi after the name of an old woman who was the head of the village.A fisherman namely obhayo had seven sons,the youngest one was Morio.His six brothers were killed by a Killer whale(Mangar Machh).The younger brother Morio took revenge of their brothers by killing the whale with his great trick and bravery.Shah Latif says,"Now that I have borrowed fish,bring my fish catchers back,O God,O Lord,do not let me down before the fish merchants,it is now in their absence that my pride has come to appreciate their worth."
12. Sur Sourath ( Melody of Enthrallment ).This is story about a Rajpoot King Rae Dyach who ruled over Kathiawar with capital at Girnar.He married Sourath but Beejal got his head by music of Surando( a music instrument) as he was great fond of music.Shah Latif says,"Beejal asked the king,"Are you giving me word of honor o king?,yes,I give you word of honor,king replied,you ask for any boon and I will give it to you,then give me your head o king."
13.Sur Kedaro(Melody of Martyrdom).In Islamic history a great tragic event has occurred.The family of the Prophet Muhammad(pbuh)was martyred in the desert of Karbala near Koofa Najaf in Iraq by Yazeed in the Muslim month of Muharram in 61 A.H.(681 A.D.)Shah Latif Bhitai says,"The hardship of martyrdom was a rain of mercy,Yazeed knew not,it was a sign of love,the Imams have an eternal covenant to die."Shah Sb further says,"The hardship of martyrdom was divine grace,only perfect devotees can comprehend the mystery of Karbala's occurrence."
14.Sur Sarang ( Melody of Clouds ).Sarang is a Hindi word,having manifold meaning like deer,cuckoo,pearl,lotus flower,cloud,etc. In Sindhi language Sarang means cloud connoting rainy season.Shah Latif says,"Rainy season has set in,I will dye my dress crimson,my friend cloud again means to rain.O my beloved,without your shelter,I shiver in cold,right from evening,O you perfect one,without you I shiver even under the quilt,I live in a hope that God will bring you back."
15. Sur Aasa(Melody of Transcendence).It means philosophic thought of oneness of being or in the words of Ibn Arabi"Absolute Unification."Shah Latif says,"I search in limitlessness,and find not limit of the Guide,Beloved's beauty has no shape,on our part yearning is limitless and on His part is the indifference."
16. Sur Rip--Barvo(Melody of coming out of oneself).Love is a creative force,an instinct that man has been giving expression to since ancient times in varied ways like poetry,cave carvings,music rituals and mythology.Shah Latif says,"You are my Lord beloved,I am merely a servant,clasping my hands I do obeisance to you,I will not leave your door even for a moment my friend,never ever deprive me of your grace my love."
17.Sur Khahori ( Melody of Seekers ).It means snake charmers who earn their livelihood by charming and catching snakes.Shah Latif says,"I saw seekers,who rest not even for a while,they explore mountains for wild fruit in extreme heat,having obtained it,they happily hum in forest."
18. Sur Ramkali(Melody of Discovering Lord in Nothingness).It is about ascetic Yogis who forsake world,abandon all worldly comforts and are wandering in wilderness in search of Brahma,the Absolute..Shah Latif says,"When all desires,which cling the heart,fall away then the mortal becomes immortal,and in this life finds Brahman."
19. Sur Poorab(Melody of the East).It means the East telling story about spinning girl's feelings and ascetics who blowing their conshells are proceeding to eastward for pilgrimage.Shah Latif says,"Never make crow your messenger as it feeds on carrion,will he think of his stomach or go to friend's door?,one who can only caw conveying message is not for him.O my beloved's crow,come,say something pleasant,you smell of spring's fragrance,and have a maund of musk,on your way to me cross beloved's courtyard,so that seeing you my body may be relieved of all anguish."
20. Sur Karayal(Melody of Peacock,Swan and Cobra).Those days Poetry was considered to have something in it of the divine that enabled poets to say things,which no ordinary person could say and was beyond rational powers. Shah Latif says," Why don't you delve into the deep where there are pearls? What have you to do here on the bank?"
21. Sur Pirbhati(Melody of Dawn).It is story about Jam Sapar or Pahar Khan was a generous and fond of music.So early in the morning lyricists or bards called as Charans demand alms or charity at the doors of his Palace by using their musical instruments.It is an oral tradition that once he gave hundred horses in charity to a bard.Shah Latif says,"Forget all skill,be ignorant naive,seek alms then,last night Sapar had high breed horses kept for you,the Lord of Lasbella blessed those,who do not know singing.O minstrel,remember Sapar in every breath,never forget him,replace strings of your fiddle with those of silver,present yourself before him,imploring and entreating."
22. Sur Dahar ( Melody of the Days bygone ).Lakho Phulani was the son of Jam Phul,the ruler of Kach Bhuj.He had married five wives from different strong Rajpoot clans.His one wife was from Rebari clan and Lakho Phulani was born of her.He was young and handsome and very dear to his father.Rajas and other tribal heads were sucking poor peoples blood and became bandit.Lakho mounted his black mare namely Lakhi attacked the enemy with his two friends,Jaso and Jasraj on his left and right.Shah Latif says,"There were lakhs of Lakhos but Phulani is of singular kind,the Oads(Mud workers) were freed of all fears after coming under his protection."
23. Sur Bilawal(Melody of Valor).It is story about bravery and munificence which were considered as high human values.Dodo and Chanessar were brothers.Chanessar being elder was entitled to ascend the throne but all the chieftains voted for Dodo and ascended the throne.Chanessar went to the King Allauddin of Khilji tribe to Delhi for help.He defeated Dodo and killed him.Shah Latif Bhitai says,"O Samma,you wear the crown otherwise there are many turbaned men,people crowd at your door,everyone gets alms according to the capacity of his bowl."
DR ALI AKBAR DHAKAN
Chairman
Sindh Development Foundation
A-106 Shanti Nagar Dalmian
Gulshan Iqbal Block 19 KARACHI-12 PAKISTAN
Dated: 16-11-2014
Cell# 03003664472
PTCL:021-34980110
