Johar Maibaap - Sant Chokhamela Marathi abhang
I am presenting an Abhang (Marathi devotional) from Marathi drama Sant Kanhopatra (1931). The abhang was written in 14th century by saint-poet Sant Chokhamela, a Mahar devotee of Vithoba.
Johar Maibaap Johar - Sant Chokhamela Marathi Abhang by swaravanshi
The era was when the “Mahars” (an outcaste, based on the caste system) used to be forcibly kept outside city limits and only allowed to perform tasks deemed too lowly for uppercastes. The poet Chokhamela was a Dalit Mahar devotee of Vitthala living in Pandharpur, and they used to refer to their social superiors as “Johar”…
In this Abhang, Sant Chokhamela pays obeisance, in all humility, to Vitthala, (referring to him as his Johar parent) offering himself as a servant of his servants and pleads that he be given any left overs of food other bhaktas have consumed…
Forced to work as an indentured servant to build a wall, Chokhamela was buried under the rubble as the wall collapsed. Sant Namdev picked up his remains and buried him outside the Vitthala temple in Pandharpur where he used to worship. His tomb is in front of the Vitthala temple, Pandharpur, where it can be seen to this day.
Forced to work as an indentured servant to build a wall, Chokhamela was buried under the rubble as the wall collapsed. Sant Namdev picked up his remains and buried him outside the Vitthala temple in Pandharpur where he used to worship. His tomb is in front of the Vitthala temple, Pandharpur, where it can be seen to this day.
What a ugly and moving tale of the caste system from those days…
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, leader of the ‘Dalits’, belonged to the same Mahar community as Chokhamela and was instrumental in architecting the Indian constitution.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, leader of the ‘Dalits’, belonged to the same Mahar community as Chokhamela and was instrumental in architecting the Indian constitution.
Here is my humble attempt of this Natyageet Marathi abhang, to pay a tribute to Babasaheb Ambedkarji and the great saints who just wrote such meaningful eulogies in honor of Vitthala and other forms of the Lord, while losing their lives to the bane of the caste system.
Marathi Abhang based on Raag Bibhas (of Marwa Thaat) - also goes to some Bhairav, Todi (Lalit) as the song progresses..
Lyrics/Poetry: Sant Chokhamela
Play: Sant Kanhopatra (1931)
Originally sung by : Lalji Desai, also presented in concerts by artists like Pt. Kumar Gandharva
Lyrics/Poetry: Sant Chokhamela
Play: Sant Kanhopatra (1931)
Originally sung by : Lalji Desai, also presented in concerts by artists like Pt. Kumar Gandharva
Cover by: swaravanshi
Based on versions by Classical vocalists: Manjusha Patil, Madhura Datar
Arrangement using iTablaPro (Set to Scale C, in Bhajani Theka): swaravanshi
Based on versions by Classical vocalists: Manjusha Patil, Madhura Datar
Arrangement using iTablaPro (Set to Scale C, in Bhajani Theka): swaravanshi
Lyrics/Meaning:
——————-------
जोहार मायबाप जोहार |
Salutations to you,
my mother and father (Vitthala)
तुमच्या महाराचा मी महार ||१||
I am an untouchable Mahar to your Mahar
God, I am even inferior to the people inferior to you…
बहु भुकेला जाहलों |
God, I am extremely starved (for your love)
तुमच्या उष्ट्यासाठी आलों ||२||
I came hoping for your leftovers
(for the little mercy you will show me)
——————-------
जोहार मायबाप जोहार |
Salutations to you,
my mother and father (Vitthala)
तुमच्या महाराचा मी महार ||१||
I am an untouchable Mahar to your Mahar
God, I am even inferior to the people inferior to you…
बहु भुकेला जाहलों |
God, I am extremely starved (for your love)
तुमच्या उष्ट्यासाठी आलों ||२||
I came hoping for your leftovers
(for the little mercy you will show me)
चोखा म्हणे आणिली पाटी|
उष्ट्यासाठी आणिली तुमच्या
Chokha mela says…
I brought with me a basket
for your discarded leftovers…
उष्ट्यासाठी आणिली तुमच्या
Chokha mela says…
I brought with me a basket
for your discarded leftovers…
काय लिहायचे ह्या गाण्याबद्दल ?
ReplyDeleteमी सगळे इंटरनेट शोधले ..... पण मला काही मिळाले नाही ....
सर्वोत्तम सर्वोत्तम आणि उत्कृष्ट ...
धन्यवाद हे गाणे परत ऐकवल्याबद्दल..
Very nice contribution. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteCan You provide lyrics and meaning for "Vithu Deenacha Dayala"
ReplyDeleteखूप सुंदर आकलन व अनुवाद. धन्यवाद!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing nice write up.
ReplyDeleteI think its very rare composition and touching
ReplyDeleteThanks!!
ReplyDeleteYa ganyacha raag konta ahe
ReplyDeleteRaag Bibhas
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ReplyDeleteNamaskar Deeply touching Choka Melas Life-Story and background. The Abhang is beautiful Rgds TR
ReplyDeleteChokha Melas Abhang with intro is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2otC5hxiMZE
ReplyDeleteRgds
एक कडव्याचा उल्लेख केलेला नाहीये:
ReplyDeleteबहू केली आस, तुमच्या दासाचा मी दास ।।३।।
Excellent to learn the meaning of the lyric.. thanks..by the way the interpretation of caste system has been finely handled..but I personally feel that God has created varnashrma just to own the responsibilities of duties as HE himself has to undergo them in his avatar.it is up to the human race to see God in everyone and learn ultimately that they are always inferior to God and not superior by any length of imagination. Thanks
ReplyDeleteThank you
ReplyDeleteExcellent! Tugged at the heart's strings! God bless you! Thanks🌹👏👏👏👏👏
ReplyDeleteWonderful. God bless.
ReplyDeleteI AM REALLY REALLY INDEBTED TO THIS CONTRIBUTION NOW I CAN ENJOY AND REVER CHOKAMELA AS I NOW KNOW THE TRANSLATION BY swaravanshi. THANKS A MILLION FROM A NON MARATHI DEVOTEE.
ReplyDelete