Bhima Bhoi
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Bhima Bhoi is not only of of the outstanding poets of Orissa but of the most famous poet-activists of the Satya Mahima Dharma movement in Orissa [5]. Born in Western Orissa, Bhima Bhoi (1850 - 1895)[1] [2] was most probably an orphan, cared for by a tribal couple. It is said that he composed beautiful songs [6], although he was completely illiterate. Later he became a disciple of Mahima Gosain, to whom he devoted all his poetry. It is generally accepted that after the death of his guru, Bhima Bhoi founded his own ashrama at Khaliapali in 1877. It is there that Bhima Bhoi composed not only his most beautiful and original part of Mahima Dharma’s devotional literature, Stuticintamani, which is still sung today [3]. He also fought against social evils such as caste and ritualised piety and initiated women into his community.[4] Because of his social engagement and poetry he is remembered today as a santa kabi (“holy poet”).
[edit] Stuticintamani, 45th Song
Stuticintamani, 45th Song[5]
Oh preceptor, oh Lord, You are beyond the scope of description by qualification. I am going down now. Kindly tell me the way. (1)Oh shapeless Lord, You are without any desire, but I am with desire. Save me from the delusion and deluge. (2) Oh preceptor, oh Lord, You are above the Vedas, but I am confined to the Vedas. Kindly tell me divine wisdom so that I will get rid of the sins of nature. (3) Oh preceptor, oh Lord, You are beyond the Vedas, but I bear a shape. You take ablution in the Ganges water but I take bath in the well-water of this earth. (4) Oh Lord of the void, You have got one foot but I have two. Rescue me with Your single foot. (5) My preceptor is free of sins but I am a great sinner. Oh Lord, rescue me from sins and do not deceive me. (6) Oh preceptor, oh Lord, You are intelligent but I am a fool. Knowing fully well the merits have some kindness for me. (7) Oh preceptor, oh Lord, You are a store house of knowledge and I am ignorant. Kindly rescue me from this dangerous Kali Age. (8) Oh preceptor, oh Lord, You are expert in rescuing and I am fit for being condemned. You can save me from sixty six thousand Kumvi hell in which one has fallen by dragging him. (9) Oh omniscient Lord, knowing in Your heart which is full of kindness that the creatures has fallen in the mire of sins, rescue him. (10) Oh preceptor, oh Lord, You are free of diseases and I am full of diseases. Your religion is that of the void and You are endowed with all beauty. This creature is very unfortunate. (11) Oh preceptor oh Lord, You have no companion or friend, but I am in coupe. As soon as I assumed body, delusion is sticking to my skin and hairs of the skin. (12) Oh Alekha God, you are my illustrious preceptor and I am your disciple. I am being drowned, save me. What more I will tell you. (13) My good preceptor is very virtuous, and I am a great sinner. Kindly see my condition and save me from the earth which is like an ocean. My preceptor is the fathomless sea of kindness. His religion is called Mahima. It is not even known to the wise as well as to the Vedas. (15) The Lord has no shape or form. Then how to meditate on Him. Or Lord, you give result without performance of my religious rites. (16) You are unthinkable. Your body is of the void. You cannot be described in words. Who can get any trace of Him by means of the holy lores. (17) Oh pious and wise men, you are poet and learned men. Think within yourself. In this great Kali Age follow Alekha Mahima night and day. (18) This religion has been evolved in this age and there is no importance in any other religion. One will get deliverance, wealth etc. by adopting this religion. (19) This is Kali Age; from day to day Kali Age is assuming great proportion in the matter of sins. Following the feet of the preceptor Bhima Kanda has composed up till now 900 stanzas.
[edit] References
- Bannerjee, Ishita and Johannes Beltz 2008 (eds.), Popular Religion and Ascetic Practices. New studies on Mahima Dharma, New Delhi: Manohar Publishers.
- Beltz, Johannes. 2003. “Bhima Bhoi: The making of a modern saint”, A. Copley (ed.) Hindu Nationalism and Religious Reform Movements, New Delhi: OUP, pp. 230-253.
- Bhima Bhoi. 1992. Bhaktakavi Bhimabhoi Granthavali. Edited by Karunakar Sahu and published by Vidhyadhar Sahu. Cuttack: Dharmagrantha Store.
- Mahapatra, Sitakant. 1983. Bhima Bhoi. New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi (Makers of Indian Literature).
