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Vasant Ragini, Page from a Ragamala Series

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व्रज में हरि होरी मचाई

Vraj Mein Hari Hori Machai

Surdas
2 min read 1 versesHoli

1 verses · ~2 min

व्रज में हरि होरी मचाई । इततें आई सुघर राधिका उततें कुंवर कन्हाई । खेलत फाग परसपर हिलमिल शोभा बरनी न जाई ॥१॥ नंद घर बजत बधाई….ब्रज में हरि होरी मचाई । बाजत ताल मृदंग बांसुरी वीणा ढफ शहनाई । उडत अबीर गुलाल कुंकुमा रह्यो सकल ब्रज छाई ॥२॥ मानो मघवा झर लाई…..ब्रज में हरि होरी मचाई । लेले रंग कनक पिचकाई सनमुख सबे चलाई । छिरकत रंग अंग सब भीजे झुक झुक चाचर गाई ॥३॥ परस्पर लोग लुगाई…ब्रज में हरि होरी मचाई । राधा ने सेन दई सखियन को झुंड झुंड घिर आई । लपट झपट गई श्यामसुंदर सों बरबस पकर ले आई ॥४॥ लालजु को नाच नचाई…ब्रज में हरि होरी मचाई । छीन लई हैं मुरली पीतांबर सिरतें चुनर उढाई । बेंदी भाल नयन बिच काजर नकबेसर पहराई ॥५॥ मानो नई नार बनाई …..ब्रज में हरि होरी मचाई । मुस्कत है मुख मोड मोड कर कहां गई चतुराई । कहां गये तेरे तात नंद जी कहां जसोदा माई ॥६॥ तुम्ह अब ले ना छुडाई….ब्रज में हरि होरी मचाई । फगुवा दिये बिन जान न पावो कोटिक करो उपाई । लेहूं कढ कसर सब दिन की तुम चित चोर सबाई ॥७॥ बहुत दधि माखन खाई….ब्रज में हरि होरी मचाई । रास विलास करत वृंदावन जहां तहां यदुराई । राधा श्याम की जुगल जोरि पर सूरदास बलि जाई ॥८॥ प्रीत उर रहि न समाई….ब्रज में हरि होरी मचाई ।

इति

Surdas

The Poet

सूरदास

Surdas

c. 1478 · c. 1583

Surdas represents the absolute zenith of the Bhakti movement in North India. Born in the late fifteenth century and believed to have been blind from birth, he did not need physical sight to observe the intricate beauty of the divine. He became the foremost poet of the Ashtachhap, a group of eight mystic poets dedicated to Lord Krishna. Composing entirely in Brajbhasha, Surdas authored the monumental Sur Sagar, a collection of thousands of devotional songs that remain deeply ingrained in the cultural memory of India. He wrote with an unparalleled understanding of child psychology, capturing the innocent mischief of the infant Krishna with a tenderness that no other poet has ever matched. His verses are not merely literature. They are the musical foundation of Vaishnava devotion. Five centuries later, his words continue to echo in temples and classical music concerts, offering eternal comfort to the human soul.

Vasant Ragini, Page from a Ragamala Series

Paired Painting

Vasant Ragini, Page from a Ragamala Series

This exquisite folio captures the vibrant essence of Vasant Ragini, a musical mode associated with the arrival of spring. The central figure, adorned in the regal attire of Krishna, dances with divine joy amidst a lush landscape. He is encircled by companions who offer musical accompaniment with drums and handheld instruments, embodying the harmony between the celestial and the earthly. The inclusion of peacock feather motifs on his clothing acts as a gentle nod to the pastoral divinity of Krishna, elevating the seasonal celebration into a deeply spiritual meditation on love, renewal, and the cyclical nature of the divine dance.

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