Life Sketch of Lalla Yogishwari   - A great Hermit of Kashmir.

Sheila Trisal

Kashmir by it's geographical location indicates in the best sense of the term, the crown of India. It has been prolific not only in producing great kings, philosophers, grammarians, historians, astronomers and poets who not only shone like luminaries in the firmament, but also in producing women of extra-ordinary talents and rare gifts. Lalleshwari, Rupabhawani and Jaman Ded were ascetics of the most sublime and exalted order with a halo of 'Divineness' about them. Lalleshwari, more popularly called by the homely and simple name of Lal Ded (Mother Lal) was one of those master spirits, who take birth at periodic intervals in this world and deliver a message of truth and peace, exhorting the humanity to follow higher ideals of life and shun the frivolities of mortal earthly existence. She was an apostle of goodness and a follower of the 'Shaivya philosophy'. She is remembered with divine adoration by both Hindus and Muslims in Kashmir.

There is a curious legend about her birth. It is said that prior to her birth as Lalleshwari, she was born somewhere in Kashmir and was married to a man living at Pandrenthan - the old capital in the south east of Srinagar. There she gave birth to a son. The priest of this family, Shri Sidh Kanth, was called to perform the 'Kahanether' ceremony. Lalla enquired of the priest - "What relationship has the new-born baby with me?"

Sidh said perplexed - "What an absurd question : Why - he is your son" to which Lalla said - "No" "What then is he to you", asked Sidh. She replied, "I am going to die now and shall be born as a filly in Marhama village with such and such marks. If you care to have the answer to your query, you may come to meet me in Marhama after one year from now and I shall give you the answer". The woman died just after uttering these words. Sidh in order to satisfy his curiosity went, after an year, to Marhama and searched for the filly. He found her and put the old question to her. She told him - "Well I would like to give you the answer but I am to die just now and am to be reborn as a pup in Bijbihara with such and such marks and if you care to get the answer you may come to meet me there". After the filly had finished this talk, a tiger jumped out of a bush and devoured her. Sidhi's curiosity increased and after six months, he went to Bijbihara. There he searched for the puppy and he did find it. He put the same question to it, and it told him as before that it was to die just then and was to be reborn as such and such at such and such place and he might come there to receive the answer. No sooner had it said this, than a man riding on his pony passed by and the puppy got killed under the pony's hoofs. In this way Sidh was dismissed by her without having the answer he required, until she took six rebirths in different places and being thus baffled, he gave up the idea of making further attempts to satisfy his curiosity. He then went to Wastervan to perform penances.

In the same family, in which Lalleshwari had died on the eleventh day of her confinement, she took her 7th rebirth. When she was twelve years of age, her marriage was arranged in a pandit family surnamed Nica Bhatt living in the Drangabal Mohalla of Pampore. Just one day previous to the wedding day, Sidh returned from Wastervan to preside over the ceremony. While the ceremony was being performed, the bride whispered to Sidh - "That baby who was born to me and you were pursuing me in my several rebirths, anxious to know what relationship he bore to me, is this very boy who is the bridegroom here". Sidh recollected the matter and was astonished beyond belief.

Lal Ded propounded the yoga philosophy and also high moral truths in Kashmiri Verse. These are called 'Lal Vakh' (The sayings of Lal). These 'Vakhs' apart from being the utterances of a holy woman are expressive of lofty thoughts and spiritual principles. They are the gems of the purest form which touch the ear of a Kashmiri as well as the chord of his heart. They are freely quoted by Kashmiris as the most apt maxims on appropriate occasions. Since 'Lal Wakhs' treat of abstruse knowledge of yoga, they are difficult to be understood by the common people. But those who have grasped the Vedanta philosophy and understood the Bhagwat Geeta in special reference to the 'Karma' theory, will agree fully to the revelation that the same content (of Srimad Bhagwat) has been propounded by Lal Ded. Lal Ded died at an advanced age in Bijbihara. When she gave up her soul, it buoyed up like a flame of light in the air and then disappeared.

There are countless sayings of Lal Ded. I, shall, however pick up a few to present here with interpretation for the benefit of our readers.

 "Aisy Asi tay asiy aasav, Asiy dor kari Patawat,

Shivas Sori na zyon ta marun, Rava's Sori na atagat".

 

 

Only we existed (in the past) and only we shall exist (in the future).

 

 

Only we did ever make excursion in the past. Birth and death will not come to an end for Shiva;

 

 

as rising and setting will not come to end for the sun.

 

The following 'Vakh' (utterance) can be well compared to the saying from the Gita explaining the interminable round of birth and death.

 "Khena khena karan kun no watak, Nakhena gachakh ahamkari

Somuy kheh mali, somuy aasak Samiy khenah muchranay baranan tari

Sum yeli samiy, rum kati roziy Ada he mali Sapanak 'Sohum suy'."

 

 

By eating and eating, thou shalt not reach anywhere. (i.e. will not achieve anything).

 

 

by not eating thou Shalt become conceited (thou shalt consider theyself a great ascetic).

 

 

Eat moderately, and thou shalt live. By eating moderately, doors will be unbolted (for thou).

 

 

When an even (joint) is joined to another even joint, no rim remains.

 

 

Then thou, o father, shalt become (fit to proclaim) "I am He, even He".

 

 "Shiv chuy thali thali rozaan, Mozan Hindu to Musalmaan,

Truk ay chukh ta paan panum parzanaar Soy chay sahibas sati zaniy jan."

 

Shiva pervades every place, do not differentiate between Hindu and Musalmaan. (Be not a bigot).

If thou art intelligent, recognize thine own self. That is the true acquaintance with God.

The most pragmatic utterance to explain that self-realisation is the true knowledge of God.

 

 

 

 

 

"Gorus prichum Sasih latey, - yas na kehn wanaan, tas kyah naav;

 

 

prichaan prichaan, thachis ta lusas, khehnas nishi, khyatani draav".

 

I asked the guru a thousand times - 'what is the name of him who is not called anything?

I got tired and wearied by inquiring and inquiring.

'Something came out of something' -

This was the answer, meaning that god was incomprehensible.

"Dama dama omkar man parnovum, paanay paraan, paanay bozaan;

so ham padas, aham goolum, Teil Lal boh wachsay prakashasthan"

 

Every moment I taught 'omkar' to the mind, I was myself reading and myself hearing, from "so hum"

(I am He), I cut off "aham" (I am); Then did I, Lalla, reach the state of illumination.

"Omuy aadi tay omuy sorum, omuy thurum panun paan;

Anitya travith Nitya bhosum, Tavay provum paramsthan."

 

The syallable 'OM' is the beginning, and I meditated on 'OM'. I made myself with 'OM'.

Having left the perishable (body) I beheld the imperishable (god).

By doing that I attained the supreme Abode.

 

"Zanam Pravit viboh na tchondum, Loban, bhogan, bh ram na priy;

Somuy ahaar Syetha zonum, Tcholum dhokh, wav, polum Duy."

 

Having taken birth, I searched not aggrandizement. Desires and enjoyments I like not.

I considered moderate food enough. I bore pain and poverty and worshipped god.

This site is maintained and frequently updated by Uteesh Dhar, Ex-Secretary Koshur Samchar Ahmedabad. For your valued comments and suggestions, please contact at uteesh@satyam.net.in or koshursamchar@hotmail.com THIS PAGE WAS LAST UPDATED ON :Sunday February 17, 2002

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