3 verses · ~1 min
लाठी में हैं गुण बहुत, सदा रखिये संग। गहरि नदी, नाली जहाँ, तहाँ बचावै अंग।।
तहाँ बचावै अंग, झपटि कुत्ता कहँ मारे। दुश्मन दावागीर होय, तिनहूँ को झारै।।
कह गिरिधर कविराय, सुनो हे दूर के बाठी। सब हथियार छाँडि, हाथ महँ लीजै लाठी।।
इति
The Poet
गिरिधर
Giridhar Kavirai
1713 · 1740s
In the vast tradition of Indian poetry, most writers sought the patronage of kings or wrote exclusively in devotion to the divine. Giridhar Kavirai chose a different path entirely. He directed his verse toward the ordinary householder trying to navigate the practical complexities of daily life. Active in the eighteenth century, Giridhar perfected the Kundaliya, a demanding six-line poetic form that circles back on its opening word. He used this structure not for romantic subjects, but to deliver sharp and pragmatic wisdom. His verses served as a survival guide for the common man. He addressed everything from the unpredictable nature of wealth to the difficulty of identifying true friends. He wrote in an accessible, straightforward dialect of Braj and Awadhi. These practical maxims resonated so deeply with rural populations that people memorized them across generations without ever needing printed books. Giridhar Kavirai remains a poet of lived experience, offering grounded moral clarity for an unpredictable world.
Paired Painting
Dattatreya
This captivating chromolithograph portrays Lord Dattatreya, the revered avatar embodying the divine trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Standing gracefully in a serene, lush landscape beside a tranquil river, the deity possesses three heads and six hands, holding sacred emblems such as the trident, conch, discus, and water pot. He is accompanied by four dogs, symbolizing the four Vedas, and the wish-fulfilling cow Kamadhenu, representing the earth and sustenance. The Ravi Varma Press successfully transformed how millions of households experienced divinity, bridging classical iconography with Western realism to evoke a profound sense of sacred devotion and protective presence.
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