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Spirituality: A Personal Account

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INTRODUCTION:

“What Limits God? His name.” – Hazrat Inayat Khan

Let me start by saying this is not a religious post. It is my understanding of a certain way of life. It is the perspective with which I see the world and what I feel about it. You can definitely see the world differently from me. I am not here to judge or challenge your faith or beliefs. They are perhaps stronger than mine. I was born a Hindu, I worship Shiva in my heart, people in history like Jahanara Begum and Maharana Pratap inspire me, I muse on Love, and I am still looking for my personal religion in between all of these, like a wanderer seeking Home. Religion, according to me, is personal for everyone, just like feelings. Apart from the worldly aspects of rituals and religions, which are very scientific and healthy for our troubled body, heart and mind, one must also seek deeper into their souls for spiritual growth. Spirituality helps us grow our souls into a more tolerant, liberal understanding of others as individuals. The soul offers wisdom we most often ignore. Those who can read their souls become great names in history. This post is perhaps an amateur attempt to talk about Spirituality through Sufism and my understanding of it. I do not know yet whether I will continue with this as a series of write-ups or end it with this thought.

SUFISM:

“He was a mystic in the service of God. Unique was his Love and Humility of his Soul”- Allama Iqbal

Sufism was my first step towards understanding spirituality better. Then I read the works of Swami Vivekananda for the same. The word “Sufi” is derived from Safa or purity. This purity is perhaps that of our Soul, the Atma or Ruh. A Sufi saint, devout follower or preacher is most likely not inclined to one religion. He understands and respects all religions and creeds as equal and every living being as a soul. Sufism is not a religion. It's a way of life. It teaches unity, tolerance and respect for all religions. Sufism respects all ideas and preaches the unity of ideas in spirituality. It is derived from Islam, but it is in itself a form of Monotheism. Gradually, through the eras, from the times of the earliest Sufi Saints during the time of Prophet Mohammad to the modern world, Sufism has evolved in dimensions. Aspects of other religions have merged with it. Sufism has culminated in its ideas of human behaviour and aspects of philosophy and psychology. In India, from the time of Akbar to the present day, Sufism has evolved with aspects of all religions found in the country, and the famous Sufi saints’ Dargahs (Khwaja Mouinuddin Chisti in Ajmer or Nizammuddin Auliya in Delhi, for example) still attract pilgrims of all religions. From the very little I understand of Sufism, I have found similarities in the preaching of many philosophers from Swami Vivekananda to our modern-day Guru as well, because spirituality in all senses culminates into one and the same thing.

My first encounter with Sufism happened throughout history. Last winter, I was reading about the Mughal empire; Or rather, the age of Aurangzeb. It is then that I read in detail about my favourite Mughal Prince Dara Shikoh. The eldest son of Shah Jahan was the heir apparent, in the wrong place and time, with his Sufi soul suffering under the materialistic expectations of his father. This man was perhaps the first foreigner (in the sense of religion) to read and understand the essence of Hinduism. He respected it, for his blood too was quarter Rajput (his grandmother was the Princess of Marwar, Jagat Gossain), and he worked towards Akbar's idea of religious unity (Din E Ilahi) more systematically with his research on Hinduism, Christianity, Jainism, Buddhism and other religions prevalent in India during that time. His idea of Sufism was an evolved one from the classical aspect; Influenced by all the existing religions of India instead of Islam alone. I also encountered the thoughts of Jahanara Begum, or Begum Sahib, as we all know her. She, the first princess of the Timurid dynasty to become a devout Sufi, through her writings (Risala E Sahibiya), has mentioned her views on religious unity time and again. All their enchanted encounters with Hindu saints and Muslim peers made me want to know about Sufism. I was attracted to Spirituality more than religion, for I was enchanted by the idea that all my beliefs actually culminated into a name or a thought. I also came across Aurangzeb’s imprisoned daughter Zeb Un Nissa, who, under the pseudonym of Makhfi, was a Sufi poet. Not much is known of her, but it is evident that the troubled souls found peace in this way of life. Then I was looking for Dara’s thoughts, if replicated later on. Because no thought that is great dies with a person. Such thoughts are immortal. To my great delight, after going through Rumi’s poetry and some analysis of Sufism and Mysticism, I chanced upon Hazrat Inayat Khan’s Sufi Teachings. This great Sufi Musician’s lectures replicate Dara’s ideals and my thoughts. It is a feeling of great joy when you find your thoughts printed on paper by somebody wiser, greater and perhaps you seek guidance in them.

HISTORY AND INSPIRATION:

“A perfect man will purge all defects away from everyone, one burning candle will light a thousand candles” – Dara Shikoh.

I started reading Sufism henceforth and connected the same to my ongoing obsession with history. History to me is not the textbooks we read or dates to be remembered. It is tales of people and the lives they lived to inspire. It is the achievements and mistakes of individuals, sections of society, countries and humanity that we as individuals, countries and mankind should learn from. Strange as it may sound, I found a deep connection between Spirituality and History. Religion and History have always been close, with their wars and conflicts of ideas, but spirituality is more personal, and to understand it, one has to assume the characters of history from their perspective. I believe it when Akul Tripathi, the TV Host of Ekant, says “Jo tum mehsus karo wohi tumhara itihas”, meaning “Your history is what you feel it to be.”  So what can be right history to you can be wrong to another reading it. Just like the aspect of Spirituality, History too is personal in nature because of the different outcomes of the same incident that many scholars may find. It is foolish to discard any theory as right or wrong. The only truth in history is the occurrence. The after-effects of incidents are often assumptions, perceptions and personal views. The lives of people are often analysed in history. While some inspire, some teach us lessons, based on our own views of right and wrong. This inspiration, gathered from history, is in itself a part of spirituality.

Reading about Sufism made me understand two things. As often misinterpreted, Sufism is not necessarily about one religion or one God, Islam or Allah. Sufism is a way of spiritual growth that can be adopted by anyone and analysed through their own religious views.  Sufism also taught me the importance of self-improvement and love. Today, the world is at its worst. Everyone assumes so in their own time. There is no value for kindness, morals, ethics, relationships or even love. It is a materialistic hamster wheel. And in this mess of a cycle, it’s our souls that are left unheard. The body and the mind work overtime with the materialistic needs, but our soul craves for something more. A spiritual growth. And such growth occurs in a few ways; by gathering knowledge, tolerance, patience and silent observation. Rarely, but fortunately, some people find a Guru or Teacher of life to drive them on the path to their beliefs. Those who don't find a teacher should try and work on it ourselves because every soul has the answers to the universe lying inside them; one just needs to ask the right questions.

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose had been attracted by spirituality to become a saint at a very tender age. He, along with a few friends, inspired by the words of Swami Vivekananda, set out across the length and breadth of the country to look for a Guru or Guide for his spiritual thirst. He encountered many men of different religions, but none could answer his spirit. Disappointed, he had returned to infer that there was no Guru for him and quit the idea of sainthood. It is then that he encountered C.R. Das, an eminent leader of Bengal’s independence movement, and in him he found a Guru to channel his spirit to the cause of the nation. The reason I mention this is because, unlike the typical thoughts, Subhash at a tender age realised that a guide can be in any sphere of life, not necessarily only for religious ways or educational teaching. It is perhaps this wisdom that made him a guide and leader to his followers in the future.
 Meera Bai, the princess of Merta, called Krishna her husband. She connected with him as a human, her soul recognising him as her muse, for her poetry and music. Not many know her contributions, but Meera, like a commoner since she left Chittorgarh, had worked with the people at the grassroots level. She had preached Love, equality and unity, dismissing the ideas of caste, creed, religion and untouchability. Her Love was not limited to Hinduism or her people. She preached lessons of brotherhood and tolerance through love. Similar to her belief is the Sufi concept of Love for God, because both beliefs emerged from Spirituality. Meera, in her own way, sought her spiritual inspiration. Not many liked or approved of her trances, dancing or unethical ways of speaking to God. She preached god is personal and inside us. He needed no extensive worship. It speaks of self-improvement and growth, which itself is spirituality. She used music, poems and lyrics to feel God within herself. The same aspect of seeking God through art and science is preached in Sufism. The connection of the heart and mind to the soul for every human being is the same spiritually.
We have heard of Chhatrapati Shivaji’s enchanting encounter with Maata Bhavani, who reminded him of his duty towards the motherland. We have read about his mother, Jijabai, who guided him on his path of reform. Such encounters, often called enlightenment, only happen to such rare souls who, by their own wisdom, can steer their way to greatness. Our wisdom lacks such awareness of souls because we lack the proper feeling and need for spiritual growth and guidance. To him, Maata Bhavani was his guide because he found inspiration for the greater causes in her. His mother was his Guru because, since early childhood, it is our mothers whose beliefs are often infused in our thoughts.
We often hear the same about Maharana Pratap Singh, about his mother, Maharani Jaivanta Bai, being the reason for his high morals and values. We often hear of his chivalry and how, with great dedication, he fought for his causes above personal interests. He respected his enemies even in the clash of interests. He had no hatred for any religion or clan, and his own army had Muslims, Jains and Hindus united for the cause of the motherland, under his leadership. His liberal thoughts of freedom and independence were also a reflection of his spiritual growth and tolerance.
Such great men and women are more often than not deprived of personal happiness, peace or support. They find themselves alone in their dreams because their souls are wiser than the others. The reason their mothers become their guides is that they are born with a spiritual connection to these women from their wombs. Such men and women rarely can find like minds during their times, but since their souls are wise, they recognise their purposes very early and work towards them.
For Dara Shikoh, Begum Sahib or Zeb – Un- Nissa, the awakening of their souls happened much later, coming in contact with other religious opinions. Unlike the ones I mentioned, they took time to steer their way to their purpose.
Dara, being the crown prince, doted on the most famous emperor of their clan, Akbar, and his religious views studied all religions and made his own interpretations through his Sufi ideals. He wanted to rule a Hindusthan united under him. His purpose was that of peace within the country and a better understanding of Life. He often mentions that the answer to man’s questions was in the religious unity of all thoughts. Practically, he lacked the foresight of a ruler and a warrior because of his lack of inborn wisdom, which perhaps caused his downfall. A great idea died with him, as his sister Jahanara lamented. 
For the princesses, it is different. Their world was limited to their Zenanas and property. We find Jahanara mentioning that when she is lonely and astray in life, it is Dara who introduced her to Sufism in an encounter with Pir Miah Mir on their visit to Kashmir in her later thirties. It is here that she finds the purpose to channel her human feelings of Love on the path of God, under his guidance. For the Mughal Princesses Jahanara and Zeb-Un-Nisa, both in their unfulfilled personal desires, were inclined towards the love of God to find peace. In this case, the purpose of spirituality was the need for their minds’ peace.

The reason I mentioned these people and their spiritual growth is that they have been inspiring me with their lives for quite a long time but never have I before this, ever noticed the spiritual cause and effect of their beings or how their lives as we read of in History connects to us and appeals to us because of our spiritual needs. While some are born with wisdom, others grow their spiritual aspects through trials and errors. All of them answered the call of their souls to understand their purposes in life. Some, born with wisdom, became great leaders. Others, growing in intelligence, left behind a thought and endless possibilities. Spirituality thus connects all human lives.



LIBERTY OF THOUGHTS:

"What is in this universe that is not in man?"-  Sufi Saying

Some people believe in an afterlife. Some don't. Some religions preach it. Some don't. Personally, I believe in life after death and new beginnings. Our souls are immortal energies that change body and identity and grow with them. With each birth, they grow and develop wisdom. Some people are born with wisdom. Wisdom thus is inborn because their souls have reached that level of growth from previous bodies. To grow a soul, one may need to understand that it's a separate identity from our name, birth and profession. Often when we are asked who we are, we say our name, our parents' name or where we live or what we do. Our souls are above these. Hence, to understand who we really are and what our souls seek, we need to dig deeper into our existence and purpose.
In a book I once read that since man is more intelligent than other animals, he needs to know his purposes in life, other than normal living activities like eating, sleeping, surviving, mating and reproducing. I personally feel that each animal feels that there is none greater than them. It's how nature functions. A tiger feels he's the strongest because he dominates the jungle terrain, a cheetah may feel he's the greatest because he is the fastest, to a blue whale, everything else looks smaller and harmless and so on. Man is perhaps the weakest in strength. But man's brain is a boon. So it can analyse and think more. Sometimes these thoughts give rise to the Ego and attitude. These create hindrances in the path of liberal thinking, learning and growth.

We analyse things with our senses. We often judge and assess things based on how our senses react. Hence, we develop tastes and opinions. But from a broader perspective, the senses we develop are not eternal truths. In fact, nothing is universal. Every truth is in respect to something held constant, like in mathematics. For scientists in ancient times, the earth was flat and the sun, moon and planets rotated around it. For years, people believed in it and saw the universe as the centre of their activities. For modern-day scientists, the sun is constant and everything else in the solar system circles around it. A place when held constant is to the east of some place, and the same place can be to the west of another. It is we who, by our own thoughts and assumptions that we are right, make judgments. Every incident, object, or occurrence has two sides like a coin. Both sides are mostly correct in their perspective. It is we who need to see things more tolerantly.

The day Man assumes he knows everything is the day he stops learning. The time a man assumes he is always right is when he stops seeing an incident from another person’s perspective. No man ever is right or wrong, good or bad. Our perspectives and point of view on an incident affect us, making them so. A truly spiritual person learns to see everything from a third person’s perspective, and it is then that he finds peace without holding grudges and thoughts of revenge. These are a hindrance to Love.

LOVE:

“Love! I wish I knew what you wanted.” – Jallaluddin Rumi.

What is love? It is the feeling that comes to man most easily and naturally since birth. We love our parents first because we develop a sense of trust in them, we start understanding and attaching to people who care for us as we grow up, and chase the people and objectives that often drive us. That is what man understands of Love. Everything we do in our lives, and the actions we take for our careers or loved ones, comes out of Love for that objective, material or person. The passion that drives you to your dreams is also love for those dreams. But this same Love grows in man as he gets wiser. His spiritual side helps him understand that love is not only about these attachments. It is beyond that.  It is also the most unreasonable feeling in the world. Love is such a wide concept that it needs no relationship, attachment or attraction to exist within you. It exists actively or dormant always in man. Feelings once accepted become man’s slave, and those ignored make man their slave. It is man’s mind that often misinterprets between attraction, fleeting infatuation and love. Because man’s mind is not that wise to interpret the thoughts that arise from his soul. However, when one attains self-improvement, in any way relatable to him, he understands himself and analyses and controls his feelings better than the rest. It is then that Man reaches the true idea of Love for him. The reason Sufism says Love makes one wise is that self-love leads to self-improvement.
Why is love so important? There is a notion in this world that showing your emotions, trust, or kindness makes you weak and vulnerable because people tend to misuse your trust or insecurities for their benefit. But Man is born with an instinct to love. He loves in his own way, with his senses first, his intellect connections later and spiritually if he gains wisdom. And Love, as preached by Sufis, is the easiest way to be closer to God.

Now, what is God? God is different for everyone. From an idol to a giver of positivity. Some call god their protector, some their parents, and some who claim to be atheist makes science their God. God cannot be defined in one term. He, too, is a personal feeling. To me, he is someone beyond a name or form. He is the one who can motivate my journey. With his own. Inspiration only takes the form of God if we understand God in a true sense.  God, since the beginning of mankind, has been omnipresent around us, in the living and nonliving aspects of Nature. To me, God is the inspiration for art and science. He is the energy of reason and the cause of everything. He is also the Muse.  For me, religion is synonymous with Love. The kind of love that made warriors brave enough to defeat the odds and come back home. To the ones whose eyes yearned to see them. The Love that made Meera create music. The Love that Jahanara turned to God or Zeb-Un-Nissa to poetry.

Spirituality is so closely connected with the idea of Love that I connected to it more than I did to any religion in my entire life. I have read the Quran, the Gita and the Bible. I have read the Mahabharata and Ramayana. All of them to me are sources of eternal truths and knowledge of life in society. A bit of history, tales and inspiration. It is perhaps a little unusual how I connect History to everything. It is because my understanding of the present and future lies in the foundation of the past. Because to me, the religion I know is Love, and I find it in the ideals and inspirations of the past.

Every human being is a student of life. At every step, we learn new things, adapt to changes and change and grow ourselves too. We may feel a connection with someone that may fade over the years. It is mostly because we judge them with our senses of hearing, smelling, seeing, touching and vibes. We rarely understand people. Thus, they repel when either of the souls grows wiser. More often than not, we fail to understand ourselves and mirror our souls in ways pleasing to the eyes of others. This will not happen if we work towards ourselves, understand who we are and do not care about the validation of others. For every student of life, Love is a mystery. Some see it as an attraction, some lust, and others are in relationships. The eternal love we all seek and fail to find is actually the one that we find in ourselves, in our ideals and inspirations that motivate our dreams. We often name it God, because love is ultimately for the formless, the souls that connect beyond identities. So to understand and worship Love, it is important to feel it within oneself rather than look for it in materialism, objects, people and attachments. That love is always temporary. As a student of the Love that culminates in spirituality, people call themselves “Sahib E Dil” or master of the heart, because to understand love is to control it. Love in its different forms can make you strong, teach you lessons and provide you with knowledge of the unknown. It is feared because it is less understood, and attractive because of its mysteries. But the only way to be spiritually rich is to love, be liberal and be kind. The cruel world today repels a kind heart and thus makes it vulnerable to all judgment. But a kind heart can win over them with patience.

RELATIONSHIPS:

“I have found no faithful friend in the world except my own soul, except my own heart, I have no trusty confidant.”- Babar, first Mughal Emperor

Relationships nowadays are the toughest to understand. Here, I do not speak of relationships romantically but with everyone close to us.  With our parents, relatives, siblings, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, people around us, our teachers, Gurus and most importantly ourselves. The thought of the future, insecurities, misunderstandings, miscommunication and lack of trust often ruin relationships. Mostly because we lack the viewpoint to understand situations from another person’s angle. In a world where the options are more and the patience less, relationships struggle and are often replaced. As new people come into our lives, old ones fade with time. I learned three things when it comes to relationships. One, you don’t NEED anyone in your life more than yourself. The want or need of someone must always be limited to certain moments or emotions. There should never be a sense of dependency except on you.  Two, a partner or a friend is not always about being superior or inferior to you according to your ego and its needs. It’s about finding the balance, working together and respecting each other’s opinions. Three, your purpose, work and parents are always your first priority. If anyone or any emotion needs to be sacrificed for them, doing that improves you as a person. Love is not limited to showing love for one person. It involves yourself and your dreams and passion more than others.

Misunderstandings do occur in every relationship in the world, be it friends, family or someone else. Our unique individuality, along with our ego and self-esteem, work hand in hand to make our apologies meaningless and often make us lose people. Can we ever replace anyone in life? The answer is no. Every person with their own perception teaches you things in life. Each interaction is different. Everyone leaves behind their own voids. Some people come to your life as lessons, some for experience and rare ones to leave memories. But what remains with you is your own being and the knowledge you gather. So, working on yourself and your own knowledge is often regarded as the highest form of Love. This is why great men often say, “When people search for God within themselves, it is then that they are closest to God.” And “Search not love outside you, Love is within you. You are Love.”

PARTING WORDS:

“ What are we but shreds of the past...” - Jahanara Begum Sahib

Of the very little I understand of the Spiritual psychology of man, I infer that knowledge is the ultimate goal of life. Our thirst to know more keeps us going, and we learn every day of our lives on earth. We become the past every moment we live, and in these moments, we should learn as much as we can to make our souls grow and prepare for their next journey.
I often wonder who my God is. Is it Love, the whole essence of it? The Love that makes me muse on it, write and wonder. The Love that brings me closer to nature. The love that makes me connect to souls like Jahanara or Ajabdeh. I always wonder about my purposes. One of them is definitely reaching out to you people with my thoughts, ideas and views on life, love and relationships. Is it enough for a lifetime? Or do we, as part of society and social validation, need more earthly purposes to connect to? Only time can give me the answer, and if I find it, in reading and understanding or am lucky enough to meet a guide to my ideas, I will surely let you know.


BIBLIOGRAPHY: 

Here is a list of books and references I read to realise what I read in this article.
ShahjahanNama
History of Aurangzeb By Jagunath Sircar
History of the Mughal Empire by R.C. Majumder
Sufism and Mysticism in India 
 Sufi Teachings of Hazrat Inayat Khan, volumes I to VII 
The Life of A Mogul Princess 
Akbar by Vincent Smith
Meera Bai by Banke Bihari
An Indian Pilgrim By Subhas Chandra Bose
Heroines by Ira Mukhoty
Collection of Rumi’s Mystic Poetry
The mingling of the two oceans by Dara Shikoh (Majma Ul Bahrain)
Diwan of Makhfi

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The Righteous Wife

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Rao Nahar Panwar made Mandore the capital of Marwar, Rajasthan, until Rao Jodha shifted to the Mehrangarh Fort. Mandore, a few km from the blue city of Jodhpur, now stands as a tourist spot with an archaeological park of ancient temples.  Dated back to around the 6th Century and older, these temples are an example of wonderfully curved stone architectural wonders. Amongst them stands a temple to an unusual deity. The King of Lanka, the demon devotee of Shiva, Ravana. Surprised? The Brahmins of this place religiously worship him twice every day. Why? Temples at Mandore During the Puranic times, Maya Danav, the architect among Demons, son of Rishi Kashyap and his wife Aditi, used to rule Madnore, with his consort, the Apsara queen Hema. They had two sons, Mayavi and Dhundhuvi, but yearned for a daughter. Devotees of Shiva prayed to him for a daughter. Once an Apsara, Madhura visited Kailash in the absence of Devi Parvati and tried to seduce the Lord. Angered at her action, the Devi h...
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The Emperor's First Wife

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  Ruqaiya Sultana Begum  was born to Babur's second surviving son, Hindal Mirza, and his wife, Sultanam Begum, in 1542 C.E., merely a few months after Hamida Banu gave birth to the heir Jalaluddin Mohammad Akbar. She was well-versed in Persian, Urdu and Arabic and was attracted to poetry and music. Being a proud descendant of the Timurid clan, most of Rukaiya's childhood was spent in Kabul, near the Bagh E Babur, built by Babur himself. From early childhood, she had seen the struggle of her family to regain their lost power in Hind. In 1551 C.E., just after her father died young at a battle for Humayun, leaving her and her mother in the harem of the emperor, it was Hamida Banu who wanted the marriage of Rukaiya to her first cousin, Akbar. Theirs was the first in-house marriage of the Mughals, soon to be followed by many more in the generations to come. At the mere age of nine, she had married the crown prince, and when Humayun won back Lahore, she was fifteen. At the mere age ...
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The Warrior and Princess

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Dasharatha was very protective of his sons. He had got them after almost a lifetime of waiting and yajnas, so they were his lifeline. Ram, the eldest, won hearts with his humble, generous ways. Bharata, the second, was his favourite queen's brave son, and Laxman and Shatrughan were the twins to the lesser queen, who followed their brothers like shadows. They were a peaceful, happy family. Sage Vasistha was their Kulaguru, teaching them the Vedic hymns and the righteous ways of life. The Princes grew up in the luxurious, protected premises of the palace. The King of Mithila, too, was childless. Mother Earth granted him a daughter. Sita grew up learning and curious, followed by the king's second daughter, Urmila and their cousins Mandavi and Shrutakirti. They grew up knowing the natural ways of life, and their father took them to learn from men to know more about man and his natural instincts. The princesses were curious and always questioning the traditions, and the Princes lear...
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