The violin sings a poignant
melody. She-Who-Is-One-With-Him seems to be pining for her beloved. The notes
are mournful and persuasive. The audience is drawn into the intensity of her
yearning, feeling her pain… Then the rhythmic beats of the tabla rise softly
and the mood lightens as The Cowherd seems to appear in Her presence.
Now the music is a
dance. Back and forth, the Violin and the Tabla sway together in a breeze
blowing in across the waters of the nearby river, feeling the cool touch of
morning dew on the grass that nourishes the cattle.
The audience mainly
comprises teenage boys and girls who think anything cultural is old fashioned
and roll their eyes at ‘classical’. There are is also a collection of grown-ups
vaguely resentful of having to spend an extra evening away from home.
The music castes a
spell upon this difficult group of spectators. The Celestial Duo holds each
other in fond embrace to the lilting notes of the strings. Now they dance
separately; now they merge. A thousand flowers open to the morning sun; lotuses
bloom; soft wisps rise off the silently flowing water.
They fly off into the
clouds in a game of chase; they lie back on the soft grass to catch their
breath… or lose it.
The cattle make
pretence of grazing; birds glide by with barely a swish; flowers sway; insects
buzz to the tune. It is a moment stolen from Heaven itself, and the earth is
sanctified.
One is uninitiated,
illiterate in music; knowing nothing but to lose oneself to it and feel, and
frolic upon the dewy meadows now as One, now as the Other. One does not know
the theme of the ‘raag’ or the composition being played… but even the teenagers
cannot help breaking into applause.
The dance has been
heady and She must finally sigh and surrender as She falls into His arms and
rests Her head upon His bosom. He must now not take to His head this illusion
of an upper hand, because both know that victory lies in surrender, in
dissolution, in Oneness.
The world of worries
and fears has retreated far back in one’s consciousness. A fleeting resolve is
made to hold captive in wakefulness the essence of this dream, to surrender to freedom
when the lights come on, to so fill one’s ears with The Music that other sounds
are drowned, to see The Dance in all that is visible and all that is not.
“ZeinaGlo brings you
the radiant glow of inner peace, good health and attendant beauty.
ZeinaGlo helps you strip off layers
of inhibitions, hesitation, and cynicism, allowing your thoughts and emotions
to flow freely.
ZeinaGlo helps to douse the flames of
insecurity and guilt, to open the windows of mind and body to the cool fresh
breeze of love.
ZeinaGlo encourages you to
spread inner peace, good health, radiance, exuberance, warmth,
joy and the glow from your inner being.
ZeinaGlo brings the beauty of your
own thoughts back to you!!”
For,
questions, criticism or advice, please post comments here, or write to zeinaglo@rediffmail.com or zeinaglow@gmail.com
