Human life is like a great carnival: we meet people and go on a roller coaster of pleasure and pain. There are some days of happy bonhomie, just as there are moments of grief. We experience a gamut of emotions, sing our songs, and regale people. One day, it is time to leave. In Song 16, Rabindranath talks about being a witness and a participant in the grand fair of life. Life is a blessing. Experiencing it mindfully is a boon indeed. But after a while, the magic of every fair — no matter how enticing — begins to wear off. It feels meaningless. Having lived a whole life and enjoyed every facet of it, the poet is ready to go. He has seen all that there was to see and heard all that there was to hear. At the grand stage of life, he came down to play his musical instrument. For years he created songs and music that entertained crowds. Exhausted and detached now, he seeks silence in the company of the Divine.
Tagore asks if the time has come for him to meet God and offer his ‘silent salutation’. Notice that he does not want to play a song on his instrument; he has understood the futility of any display of skill. Instead, he looks forward to silence.
In Indian folk poetry and spiritual traditions, life is often referred to as a ‘fair’ or ‘mela’. Poet-saints and folk singers have used this metaphor to highlight the ephemeral nature of life. With its razzle-dazzle, the fair is an illusion. The soul, pure in its essential form, is often called the ‘Hansa’ or ‘Swan’.
In one of his popular bhajans, Bhakti saint Kabir das says:
“Ud jayega hans akela, jag darshan ka mela’
(The soul swan will fly alone.
This world is a spectacle, a carnival)
In Geetanjali, Tagore alludes to these popular symbols and imagery from folk and Bhakti traditions of India.
Song 16
I have had my invitation to this world’s festival, and thus my life has been blessed. My eyes have seen and my ears have heard.
It was my part at this feast to play upon my instrument, and I have done all I could.
Now, I ask, has the time come at last when I may go in and see thy face and offer thee my silent salutation?
Geetanjali is a collection of sublime devotional poetry that glorifies the divine energy that pervades through this universe. Cultivating devotion is the most beautiful way to lead a meaningful and rich life. How do you identify the deity you connect to and then perform daily rituals that deepen your bond with them? The answer is the free and incredible Vedic Sadhana app, which makes the ancient rituals and practices followed by the sages of India available for you.