CHAPTER - V I

MYSTICISM OF SUFFERING

Tagora , t h e j o y o u s m y s t i c , d o e e n o t i g n o r e t h e

v e r y c o n e p i c u o u e a s p e c t of l i f e , namely s u f f e r i n g . One

of t h e e p e c i e l i t i e e of G i t e n j a l i i e t h e s i n g u l a r , mys t i cc

way t h e p o e t a p p r o a c h e s s u f f e r i n g . I n ef fect i n poem

no.40 h e p r a y s , "Send t h y a n g r y storm, d a r k w i t h d e a t h ,

i f i t i e t h y w i s h , and w i t h l a e h e s o f l i g h t n i n g s t a r t l e

t h e s k y f r o m e n d t o e n d ? (XL, 23). The s u f f e r i n g God

s e n d s i s welcome t o t h e p o e t . If l i k e a f e t h e r He

p u n i s h e e him w i t h H i s t e r r i b l e a n g e r , He w i l l , a l s o ,

s u r e l y , bend upon h im w i t h Hie l o v e a n d mercy e f t e r w e r d s ,

l i k e a m o t h e r b e n d i n g h e r t e a r f u l fece o v e r h e r c h i l d ,

a f t e r h e h e e been p u n i s h e d by t h e f a t h e r .

The simile i s v e r y t e l l i n g and i t b e a u t i f u l l y

i l l u e t r a t e s t h e ro le of e u f f e r i n g i n e m y a t i c t 8 l i f e

and a l s o h i s a p p r o a c h t o it. I n T a g o r e ' s G i t e n j a l i

t h e m y s t i c i s m of j o y , i e o n l y o n e a s p e c t o f h i s l i f e ,

o n e s i d e of t h e c o i n . I t h a s i t e o t h e r s i d e as w e l l -- t h e n y e t i c i s m of s u f f e r i n g . Tagorean m y s t i c i s m o f

s u f f e r i n g has i t s uniqueness. Poem no.52 p resen t s i t

v i v i d l y and d rama t i ca l l y . The D i v i n e l o v e r v i s i t s

t h e post-beloved d u r i n g t h e n i gh t . They have a n i g h t

o f b l i s s . The D i v i n e l o v e r depar ts e a r l y i n t h e

morning. The beloved now seerches f o r some g i f t s t h e

Lover m i g h t have l e f t beh ind f o r t he poet. To h i s

s u r p r i s e he d i scovers t h a t He has n o t l e f t behind any

f l owers , sp ices o r vase o f perfumed f l o w e r s which as

we have e l reedy seen i n chapter 3, symbol ise t h e comfo r ts

end l u x u r i e s o f the world. The o n l y g i f t t h e D i v i ne

Lover has l e f t behind i s H i s sword, which symbol isee

s p i r i t u a l s t r e n g t h and courage, consequent on s u f f e r i n g .

Tagore seems t o suggest t h a t Eester Sunday comes o n l y

a f t e r Good Fr iday. T h i s sword enables t h e poe t t o

f i g h t t he e v i l w i t h i n h i s own s e l f and a t t a i n soul -

force.

Sou l - fo rce makes h im f e a r l e s s and enables h im t o

keep h i s body pure, knowing t h a t God's l o v i n g touch

i s upon a l l h i e l imbs. I t he lps t h e poe t t o keep e l l

u n t r u t h s o u t o f h i s thoughts, knowing t h a t God i s t h a t

t r u t h which has k i n d l e d t he l i g h t o f reason i n h i s mind.

S o u l f o r c e a l s o assists him t o d r i v e a l l e v i l s away

f r o m h i a h e a r t and k e e p h i s " l o v e i n flower", knowing

t h a t God h a s His seat i n t h e i n m o s t a h r i n e of t h e

p o e t ' a h e a r t . F i n a l l y t h e p o e t i s emboldened t o

e n d e a v o u r t o r e v e a l God i n a11 h i s a c t i o n s , knowing i t

t o ba Hie power which g i v e s him s t r e n g t h t o ect (IV, 3 ) .

No I n d i a n p o e t h a s e v e r s t r i v e n s o h a r d t o e l a b o r a t e

t h e v a r i o u s s a l u t a r y f u n c t i o n s s u f f e r i n g p e r f o r m s i n

t h e m y e t i c l a s o u l as t h e T a g o r e of G i t a n j a l i .

The sword t h e D i v i n e L o v e r l e f t b e h i n d e n a b l e s

t h e p o s t t o a a v e r t h e b o n d s t h e t b i n d him t o t h e wor ld .

He i s e n a b l e d t o d o h i s d u t y f e a r l e s s l y , i r r e s p e c t i v e

of what b e f a l l s him. K a b i r a le0 u s e a l s w o r d l s y n b o l i c s l l y

i n t h e aame way. I n poem no.37 of The Hundred Poems

h e e x h o r t s , "Lay h o l d o n y o u s sword , and j o i n i n t h e

f i g h t . F i g h t , 0 my b r o t h e r , a s l o n g as l i f e l a a t s . " 1

And h e a f f i r m s i n t h e same poem, "I t i s i n t h e kingdom

o f t r u t h , c o n t e n t m e n t a n d p u r i t y , t h a t t h i s b a t t l e i s

r a g i n g , end t h e sword t h e t r i n g s f o r t h most l o u d l y

i s t h e sword of H i s namen (XXXVII, 4 7 ) . And w i t h t h i s

K a b i r X X X V I I , 47.

sword t h e d e v o t e e h a s t o s t r i k e o f f h i s enemy's h e a d , 2

end t h e r e make a n e n d of h im q u i c k l y . The enemy h e r s

s y m b o l i s e s s i n . The m y s t i c h a s t o ove rcome e v i l by

making good u s e of t h e ' s w o r d ' i.e. s u f f e r i n g . The

i n f l u e n c e o f K a b i r on T e g o r e ' s G i t a n j s l i i s q u i t e

e v i d e n t . R e f e r e n c e h e s a l r e e d y been made i n c h a p t e r

3 t o t h i s k i n s h i p .

The eword i n G i t e n j s l i s y m b o l i s e e e u f f e r i n g e n d

t h e e p i r i t u a l e t r e n g t h a n d c o u r a g e w i t h which t h e p o e t

c a n f i g h t t h e e v i l w i t h i n h i s s o u l -- u n t r u t h ,

s e l f i e h n e e s , a n d i m p u r i t y . S p i r i t u a l s t r e n g t h makes

t h e p o e t fear less a n d c a p a b l e of r e s i s t i n g e v i l

w i t h o u t c e r i n g f o r w h a t h e p p e n s t o him. S u f f e r i n g

t e a c h e s T a g o r e t h e v i r t u e o f d e t a c h m e n t t a u g h t by t h e

Q i t a . I t makes him i n d i f f e r e n t t o p l e s e u r e and p a i n ,

t o c o m f o r t and l u x u r y , t o p r a i s e and b l ame o f t h e wor ld .

The d i v i n e eword is, i n a s e n s e , much more

f a s c i n a t i n g t o t h e p o e t t h a n t h e . b e a u t y o f t h i s w o r l d ,

H e wr i tes i n poem no.53 "But more b e a u t i f u l t o me t h y

K a b i r X X X V I I , 47.

sword w i t h i t s c u r v e of l i g h t n i n g l i k e t h e o u t s p r e a d

w i n g s of t h e d i v i n e b i r d o f Viehnu, p e r f e c t l y p o i s e d

i n t h e a n g r y r e d l i g h t of t h e s u n s e t w ( L I I I , 35). The

T e g o r e of G i t e n j e l i t h i n k s t h a t ' j u s t es t h e b u r n i n g

o f g o l d makes t h e mete1 p e r f e c t , p u r e e n d b r i g h t ,

s u f f e r i n g l e e d o men t o s p i r i t u a l p e r f e c t i o n .

H i s r e l i g i o u e i n s i g h t e s p e c i a l l y i n G i t e n j a l i ,

l i k e t h a t of e l l g r e e t s a i n t s end m y s t i c s , was born of

d e e p l y e x p e r i e n c e d s o r r o w end s o l i t u d e . A l l t h e p a i n

e n d s u f f e r i n g , t h e b e r e e v e m e n t s end r e b u f f s , t h e

s t r u g g l e s and m o r t i f i c e t i o n e which T e g o r e underwen t

i n t h e f i r e t d e c e d e of t h i s c e n t u r y , were f i n e l l y r e s o l v e d

and s u b l i m a t e d i n t h e s o n g s o f t h e B e n g e l i G i t e n j e l i .

The t e n o r i s t h e same i n t h e E n g l i s h v e r s i o n .

M r i n e l i n i Devi, T a g o r e ' e w i f e , who had l o o k e d

a f t e r him f o r t w e n t y y e a r s , w i t h u n s t i n t e d l o v e and

d e v o t i o n , and had b o r n e him f i v e c h i l d r e n , d i e d on

23 November. 1902. H i s f e e l i n g s o f s o r r o w end

b e r e a v e m e n t f o u n d e x p r e s s i o n i n a f i n e e l e g y Smeren.

I t h a s twen ty - seven poems* a l l r e n e r k e b l e f o r t h e i r

t e n d e r n e s s , d e p t h of f e e l i n g end s i m p l i c i t y of

u t t e r e n c e . One of t h e e a i e i n c l u d e d i n t h e E n g l i s h

v e r s i o n of G i t s n j a l i (LXXXVII, 57-58). The poem

p r e s e n t s t h e husband who l o o k s a b s e n t m i n d e d l y f o r t h e

wife e v e r y w h e r e i n t h e h o u s e , o n l y t o r e a l i z e t h a t h e

w i l l n e v e r a g a i n see h e r on t h i s e a r t h . A s K r i p a l a n i

writes i n t h i e c o n n e c t i o n , ". . . t h e h u e b a n d ' e

s i n c e r i t y o f sorrow e t a l o s e t h a t was i r r e p l a c e a b l e

end t h a t wee f e l t from d a y t o day i e v e r y e v i d e n t and

i e m o v i n g l y e x p r e s s e d w i t h o u t an e x c a s a o f e a l f - p i t y . * 3

I t i e m y s t i c a l l y e x p r e e s e d t o o i n as much t h e p o e t most

w i l l i n g l y e u r r e n d e c e h i m s e l f t o God 's h o l y w i l l .

I n Sep tember 1 9 0 3 , n i n e montha a f t e r h e r m o t h e r ' s

d e a t h , Renuke, T a g o r e ' s d e a r d a u g h t e r , i n s p i t e of a l l

h e r f a t h e r ' e d e s p e r a t e a t t e m p t 8 t o s a v e h e r l i f e , d i e d

a t t h e t a n d e r a g e o f t h i r t e e n . The f a t h e r f e l t h e r

l o s s v e r y d e e p l y . F o u r montha a f t e r t h e d e a t h o f

Renuka, t h e p o e t e u f f e r e d a n o t h e r be reavement . A

young and b r i l l i a n t p o e t , S a t i s Roy whom Tagore l o v e d

e a h i o own eon and who, a n i d e a l i s t l i k e h i m s e l f , had

K r i p a l a n i 209,

j o i n e d h i e s c h o o l s t a f f a t S a n t i n i k e t a n , s u d d e n l y

d i e d o f smell-pox.

The whole s c h o o l h a d t o b e s h i f t e d t o S h e l i d e h

f o r t h e time b e i n g , foe fear of t h e e p i d e m i c . F i n a n c i a l

d i f f i c u l t i e s made i t i n c r e a s i n g l y d i f f i c u l t t o r u n t h e

s c h o o l and Tagore was o b l i g e d t o s e l l t h e r o y a l t y o f

e l i m i t e d e d i t i o n o f h i s c o l l e c t e d works. H i s f a t h e r ,

t h e Haha R i s h i p a s s e d away on 1 9 t h J a n u a r y , 1905, of

c o u r s e a t t h e r i p e o l d a g e o f e i g h t y - e i g h t . The

t r a g e d y o f November, 1 9 0 7 wee t h e g r e a t e s t t o Tagore .

H i s y o u n g e a t s o n , S e m i n d r e , a handsome end g i f t e d boy

s u d d e n l y d i e d of c h o l e r a a t t h e a g e o f t h i r t e e n , on

t h e same d a y on which h i s m o t h e r had d i e d f i v e y e a r s

earl ier .

With t h e u n t i m e l y d e a t h of h i s y o u n g e s t e o n

Semindra , h e was r e d u c e d t o u t t e r l o n e l i n e s s . L o n e l i n e s s

emid t h e crowd i s e v e n more o p p r e e e i v e and so , f o r a

time h e r e t i r e d i n t o s o l i t u d e i n t o h i s e s t a t e a t

S h e l i d e h . N e v e r t h e l e s a , es K r i p s l a n i affirms: " H e

h a d l ea rn t n o t t o muddy t h e waters o f h i s Muse w i t h

h i s p e r s o n a l g r i e f , him v e r s e was i n c r e a s i n g l y becoming

h i s o f f e r i n g t o God, t h e l a n g u a g e o f h i s communica t ion

o f a h i g h e r l o v e . " 4

With t h e i n t e n t i o n of r e c o v e r i n g h i s h e e l t h and

t o meet a t f i r a t h a n d t h a l i v e minds o f t h e wet Tagore d e c i d e d t o e a i l from C a l c u t t e t o London on 1 9 t h

March, b u t on t h e n i g h t b e f o r e h i s d e p a r t u r e h e was

s u d d e n l y t a k e n ill a n d t h e d o c t o r s f o r b a d e a n i m m e d i a t e

voyege. H i s l u g g a g e was o n b o a r d and h a d t o b e s e n t

beck f r o m Madras w h e r e t h e s h i p h a l t e d next . ' He was

d i s a p p o i n t e d a t t h i s u n f o r e e e e n c a n c e l l a t i o n of h i s

K r i p a l a n i 209.

H i e s o n ' s a c c o u n t of t h i s i l l - f a t e d v o y a g e i s w o r t h q u o t i n g 2 "The e v e n i n g b e f o r e t h e b o a t a a i l e d , t h e r e was a p a r t y a t S i r Aahu tosh C h a u d h u r i ' s r e s i d e n c e , where a p e r f o r m a n c e of f a t h e r ' s o p e r a t i c p l a y , V a l m i k i P r a t i b h a , w a s g i v e n . . . F a t h e r , o f c o u r s e . h a d t o be resent. We ceme beck l a t e a t n i g h t . I n s t e a d o f g o i n g t o bed f a t h e r s a t down t o w r i t e l e t t e r s f o r t h e r e m a i n d e r of t h e n i g h t . I n t h e e a r l y h o u r a o f t h e morn ing w e f o u n d him, t o o u r d i smay , on t h e v e r g e o f a c o l l a p s e . Doctors h a d t o b e h u r r i e d l y summoned. A l l o u r l u g g a g e h a d b e e n s e n t o n t o t h e b o a t t h e p r e v i o u s e v e n i n g . A b i g crowd of f r i s n d e had g a t h e r e d a t t h e Chandpa l Gha t j e t t y t o see him off . T h e i r s u r p r i s e c o u l d w a l l b e i m a g i n e d when t h e b o a t l e f t w i t h o u r

e l d n g i n g s b u t t h e o w n e r s were n o t t o b e aeen . " R a t i n d r a n a t h T a g o r e , On t h e Edges of Time (New D e l h i a

O r i e n t Longmans, 1958) Qtd . i n K r i p a l a n i 2'442.

v o y a g e and s o u g h t c o n s o l a t i o n and s t r e n g t h , as i n t h e

p a s t by r e t i r i n g a g a i n t o S h s l i d a h on t h e b a n k s of .

t h e h i e b e l o v e d river,,Padma. I t was h e r e t h a t h e began

t o t r a n s l a t e , f o r t h e first time, some o f h i e G i t a n j a l i

s o n g s i n t o E n g l i s h . He h a s t r a n s l a t e d f i f t y o n e o f t h e

h u n d r e d a n d f i f t y s a v e n poems o f h i s B e n g a l i G i t a n j e l i .

To q u o t e K r i p a l s n i a g a i n , " T a g o r e ' s r e l i g i o u s p o e t r y

which c u l m i n a t e d i n t h e p a s s i o n a t e s i n c e r i t y a n d u t t e r

s i m p l i c i t y o f G i t a n j e l i wee wrung o u t o f h i s h e a r t ' s

blood." 6

T a g o r e s u c c e e d e d i n g e t t i n g a p o s i t i v e meaning

o u t o f t h e s u f f e r i n g s o f l i f e . He asser ts i n C r e a t i v e

U n i t y , " L i f e ' s t r a g e d i e s o c c u r , n o t t o d e m o n s t r a t e

t h e i r own r e a l i t y , b u t t o r e v e a l t h a t e t e r n a l p r i n c i p l e

o f j o y i n l i f e , t o w h i c h t h e y g a v e a r u d e shak ing . " '

S u f f e r i n g i s n o t i n c o m p a t i b l e w i t h j o y ; r a t h e r j o y

i s e n h a n c e d by it. O c c a e i o n a l l y T a g o r e a c c e p t s t h e

i d e a s t h a t s u f f e r i n g a n d p a i n are n e c e s s a r y t o make u s

K r i p a l a n i 209-10.

I C r e a t i v e Un i ty 5.

c o n s c i o u s of t h e e x i s t e n c e o f j o y , a s t h e s h a d e s ere

n e e d e d t o e x h i b i t t h e f i g u r e a i n a p i c t u r e , o r i n

a n o t h e r simile, es, " t h e r e must come e f u l l p a u s e t o

weave p e r f e c t i o n i n t o music."' "The mean ing o f h e a l t h

comes home t o u s w i t h p a i n f u l force when d i s e a s e

d i s t u r b s i t .* ' He aff i rms q u i t e i n e m y s t i c v e i n ,

* L i f e d r o o p s t o w a r d i t s s u n s e t t o be drowned i n t h e

g o l d e n shadows. "10

The T e g o r e o f G i t a n j e l i h a s d i s c o v e r e d t h e d e e p e r

a s p e c t s o f t h e s u f f e r i n g s of l i f e . They ere meena t o

p e r f e c t i o n . P e i n "is t h e h a r d c o i n wh ich mus t b e p e i d

f o r e v e r y t h i n g v a l u a b l e i n t h i s l i f e , f o r o u r power ,

o u r wisdom, o u r l o v e . "11 I t i s t h e b i r t h - p e n g o f j oy .

The flower, i n o r d e r t o b r i n g f o r t h f r u i t , h e s t o s h e d

its e x q u i s i t e p e t a l s and a c r u e l economy c o m p e l s i t

t o g i v e up i t s sweet per fume. l 2 Viewed i n t h i s way,

p a i n , a s h a s a l r e a d y b e e n h i n t e d , i s o n l y "he o t h e r

C o l l e c t e d Poema end P l a y a 134.

C r e e t i v e U n i t y 4.

C r e a t i v e U n i t y 134.

l 1 S a d h a n e 53.

l 2 S e d h a n a 82.

s i d e o f Joy." " In p a i n i s e y m b o l i s e d t h e i n f i n i t e

p o s s i b i l i t y o f p e r f e c t i o n , t h e e t e r n a l u n f o l d i n g o f

A c c o r d i n g t o T a g o r e , t h e most i m p o r t a n t l e s s o n

t h a t re c a n l e a r n from o u r l i f e , t h e r e f o r e , is n o t

t h e t t h e r e is p a i n i n t h i s w o r l d , b u t t h e t i t d e p e n d s

upon o u r s e l v e s t o t u r n i t i n z t o good a c c o u n t , " t h e t it

i s p o e s i b l e t o t r e n s m u t e i t i n t o joy . n 1 4

A r e a l l y r e l i g i o u s a s p e c t o f t h e s u f f e r i n g s o f

l i f e i s r e a c h e d when T a g o r e sees i t a s a means i n t h e

h a n d s o f God f o r t h e f o s t e r i n g of a s p i r i t u e l c h e t a c t d r

i n him. T h e r e are meny d i f f e r e n t d e s i r e s i n h i s h e a r t ,

b u t many o f them, b e i n g s e l f i s h and f o o l i s h , are r ee l

h i n d r e n c e e t o h i s s p i r i t u a l g rowth . G o d , t h e r e f o r e , i n

H i s mercy , d e n i e s t h e f u l f i l m e n t o f h i s d e s i r e s e v e n

a t t h e cos t o f g r e a t p a i n . The p o e t i s q u i t e r e a l i s t i c

when h e s a y e r "My d e s i r e s ere meny end my c r y is

p i t i f u l n ( X I V , 9 ) . But h e i s e v e r happy end c o n t e n t e d .

H e s c k n o w l e d g e s r " b u t e v e r d i d s t t h o u s a v e m e by h a r d

l3 S a d h a n a 53.

l 4 S a d h a n a 52.

r e f u e e l s n ( X I V , 9 ) . And h e asserts, " T h i s s t r o n g my

mercy h e e been w r o u g h t i n t o , l i f e t h r o u g h end t h r o u g h n

( X I V , 9 ) . The p o e t i s so happy f o r d a y by d a y God i s

making him w o r t h y of t h e s i n g l e , g r e a t ~ i f t s t h e t He

g i v e s t o h im unesked -- t h i s s k y and t h e l i g h t , t h i s

body a n d t h e l i f e and t h e mind -- a e v i n g him from t h e

p e r i l s of overmuch d e s i r e . O f c o u r s e , t h e r e ere times

when h a l a n g u i d l y l i n g e r s , a n d times when h e awakens

end h u r r i e e i n s e a r c h o f h i e g o a l . . Times ere n o t rare

when t h e D i v i n e c r u e l l y h i d e s Himself f r o m him.

N e v e r t h e l e s s , h e g r a n t s t h e t , e l o w l y , b u t s t e a d i l y ,

t h e I n f i n i t e i s making him w o r t h y o f H i s f u l l s c c e p t a f i c e

by r e f u s i n g him, t h u e , s a v i n g h im from t h e p e r i l s of

w e e k , u n c e r t a i n d e s i r e .

S u f f e r i n g end p e i n are m e s s s n g e r s o f God ' s l o v e .

God s a y s t o menr "1 h e e l you , t h e r e f o r e I h u r t ) l o v e

you , t h e r e f o r e punish." l5 The p e r e l l e l i e m be tween

t h i ~ t h o u g h t end t h e s a y i n g s o f t h e Old T e s t a m e n t i e

e v i d e n t : "Whom t h e Lord l o v e t h , I4-a c h e s t e n e t h " s n d

l 5 C o l l e c t e d Poem5 and P l a y s 295.

* S t r i p e s t h a t would c l e a n s e away e v i l . " I6 Through

s u f f e r i n g , God, i n H i s " s t r o n g mercy", c e l l s t h e p o e t ' e

f o r g e t f u l e n d e r r i n g h e a r t back t o His f a t h e r l y bosom.

"Misery k n o c k s etay d o o r , and h e r m e s s a g e i s t h a t t h y

l o r d i s w a k e f u l , and h e c a l l a t h e e t o t h e l o v e - t r y s t

t h r o u g h t h e d a r k n e s s o f n i g h t n (XXVII, 16) . The Lord

i s w a k e f u l , b u t t h e p o e t h a s t o make h i s way t o him

t h r o u g h t h e r o u g h and t u m b l e o f l i f e .

T a g o r e i e n o t a f r a i d o f s o r r o w and p a i n ; h e

welcomes i t a s a means of c l e a n s i n g , p e r f e c t i o n a n d

e n r i c h m e n t . He p r a y s t h a t God may. s t r i k e a t t h e r o o t

o f p e n u r y i n h i e h e a r t (XXXVI, 21) . L i k e many m y s t i c s ,

e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e v e i n S t . F r a n c i s o f Assisi. h e p r a y s ;

L e t me n o t p r a y t o be s h e l t e r e d f rom d a n g e r s

b u t t o be f ea r lees i n f a c i n g them.

L e t m e n o t beg f o r t h e s t i l l i n g o f my p a i n

b u t f o r t h e h e a r t t o c o n q u e r it.

L e t m e n o t l o o k f o r a l l i e s on l i f e ' s b a t t l e f i e l d

b u t t o my own s t r e n g t h .

l6 P r o v e r b s 3812 2 0 ~ 3 0 .

L e t me n o t c r a v e i n a n x i o u s f ea r t o b e s a v e d

b u t hope f o r t h e p a t i e n c e t o win my f r eedom.

G r e n t m e t h a t I may n o t be a c o w a r d ,

f e e l i n g y o u r mercy i n my s u c c e s s a l o n e ;

b u t l e t m e f i n d t h e g r a s p o f y o u r hand i n my

f a i l u r e . 17

The p o s t of G i t a n j a l i f e s l e t h a t f a i l u r e a n d d e f e a t ,

n o l e s s t h a n s u c c e s s e n d t r i u m p h , are m e s s e n g e r s o f God's

goodnese . "I w i l l d e c k t h e e w i t h t r o p h i e s , g a r l e n d a of

my d e f e e t . I t i s n e v e r i n my power t o e s c a p e

u n c o n q u e r e d * (XCVI 11, 6 4 ) . I n F r u i t G a t h e r i n g T a g o r s '

writes "My master h a s b i d me, w h i l e I e t a n d a t t h e

r o a d e i d e , t o s i n g t h e s o n g o f Defeat, f o r t h a t i s t h e

b r i d e whom He wooe i n secret. "18

T a g o r e i e c o n v i n c e d t h a t p a i n e n d s o r r o w h a v e a

d i v i n e ween ing as mesne o f g r e a t e r b e a u t y a n d j o y , a n d

h e p r e y e t h a t t h i s g r a c i o u e p u r p o s e may be f u l f i l l e d .

The f o l l o w i n g l y r i c f r o m F r u i t G a t h e r i n g i l l u a t r e t e a

l7 C o l l e c t e d Poems a n d P l a y s 215.

C o l l e c t e d Poems a n d P l a y s 220.

t h e p o i n t .

The p a i n was g r e a t whan t h e s t r i n g s were

b e i n g t u n e d , my M a s t e r 1

Begin y o u r m u s i c , e n d l e t me f o r g e t t h e

p a i n ; l e t m e f e e l i n b e a u t y w h e t y o u h a d

i n y o u r mind t h r o u g h t h o s e p i t i l e s s days . 19

T a g o r e ' s m y s t i c v i e w of s u f f e r i n g i s q u i t e r e m a r k a b l e ,

i n a a much a s i t i s n o v e l i n I n d i a n r e l i g i o u e l i t e r a t u r e .

I n t r a d i t i o n a l H i n d u i s m s u f f e r i n g i s l o o k e d upon

p r i m a r i l y as e v i l , aa a p u n i s h m e n t f o r Karma e x p e r i e n c e d

i n Samaere. And l i b e r a t i o n f r o m s u f f e r i n g i s t h e g r e e t

g o e l of Hindu r e l i g i o u s l i fe . The - Gita e x h o r t s t o

d i s r e g a r d p a i n as wel l as p l e e a u r e ; o t h e r w i s e t h e

p e a c e o f mind w i l l b e d i s t u r b e d . But t h i s a t t i t u d e

of i n d i f f e r e n c e t o p a i n e n d s u f f e r i n g i s p r i t a d i f f e r e n t

f r o m a p o s i t i v e e v e l u a t i o n o f them w h i c h T a g o r e makes.

To T a g o r e s u f f e r i n g i s God ' s g i f t t o man. I n poem no.52

h e writes, "Yet I a h a l l b e e r i n my h e a r t t h i s h o n o u r

o f t h e b u r d e n o f p a i n , t h i s g i f t of t h i n e . "

l 9 C o l l e c t e d Poems e n d P l a y s 202.

Not even death cou ld shake Tegore'e f a i t h i n t h e

u l t i m a t e j o y end goodneee o f the universe. He had,

as we have a l reedy p o i n t e d out, enough and more pe rsona l

exper ience o f t h e ha rves t o f death i n h i s fami ly . a

Wi th i nRsho r t p e r i o d he l o e t h i e wife, two deughtere,

one son, h i e o l d f a t h e r and a g rea t f r i e n d . He had

h i e f i r e t r e e l acquaintance w i t h death a t t h e age o f

twenty- four , when h i e s ie te r - i n - law, h i e b r o t h e r

J y o t i r i n d r a ' a w i fe , whom he had l oved and adored as a

mother, died. I n h i e Reminiecences he has descr ibed

t h e t e r r i b l e shock t h i s unexpected l o s e made on him.

He w r i t e e i

The acquaintance which I made w i t h Death

a t the age o f twenty- four was a permanent

one, end i t s blow has con t inued t o add

i t e a l f t o each succeeding bereavement i n

en ever leng then ing cha in o f taere. That

which I had h e l d I wee made t o l e t go --'

t h i e wae t h e sense o f l o s e which d i s t r eseed

me, -- b u t when e t t h e same moment I viewed

i t from the s tandpo in t o f freedom gained,

si, a g rea t peace f e l l upon men. . . - < *

He e x p e r i e n c e s t h a t i t is i n d y i n g t h a t o n e i a b o r n

t o e t e r n a l l i f e .

I n t h e d u e l i s m o f d e a t h end l i f e T e g o r e f i n d s a

b e a u t i f u l harmony. Poem no.95 of G i t a n j a l i is o n e of

t h e nost r e m a r k a b l e i n t h e who le . c o l l e c t i o n . With an

amaz ing b o l d n e s s of c r e a t i v e i m a g i n a t i o n t h e p o e t

c o m p a r e s L i f a and Dea th t o t h e two b r e a a t e of t h e

D i v i n e Mother . The poem c o n c l ~ d o s . *The c h i l d c r i e a

o u t when f r o m t h e r i g h t b r e a s t t h e m o t h e r t a k e a i t

away, i n t h e v e r y n e x t moment t o f i n d i n t h e l e f t o n e

i t a c o n s o l a t i o n n ( X C V , 63). The f l o w e r h a e t o d i e t o .

g i v e l i f e t o t h e f r u i t , t h e f r u i t h a s t o d i e t o g i v e

llfe t o t h e plant. *' Dea th is n o t t h e u l t i m a t e . r e a l i t y ;

i t i s a p o r t a l t o a new l i f e . 21

T a g o r a t h e a p o s t l e o f j o y o u s s u f f e r i n g d o e s n o t

f e a r Evan d e a t h . Not o n l y t h a t ha d o e s n o t f e e r d e a t h .

b u t e v e n e n t a r a i n t o m y e t i c a l communion w i t h it

p i c t u r i n g i t as a b r i d e g r o o m and h i m s e l f as t h e b r i d e .

20 The R e l i g i o n of Man 123.

f ' S a d h a n a 42.

I n poem no.91 t h e p o e t a d d r e a s e s d e a t h as " t h e l a s t

f u l f i l m e n t o f l i f e . " He i n v i t e s him " t o come and

w h i s p e r n t o him. He c o n f e s s e s , "Day e f t e r day h a v e

I k e p t w a t c h f o r t h e e ; f o r t h e e h a v e I b o r n e t h e j o y s

and p a n g s o f l i f e n (XLI, 6 0 ) . J u s t a s a b r i d e f i n d s

consummat ion and f u l f i l m e n t i n h e r u n i o n w i t h t h e

b r i d e g r o o m , s o a l s o t h e p o e t ' s l i f e w i l l b e conaununated

by u n i o n w i t h Death. When h e cornea, t h e p o e t w i l l

offer t o h im a11 h i e h o p e s , e l l h i e j o y s and a l l h i s

l o v e . J u s t a g l a n c e of l o v e from him w i l l win t h e p o e t ' e

h e a r t f o r e v e r and l i k e a b r i d e h e w i l l s u r r e n d e r

h i m s e l f t o t a l l y t o h i s b r idegroom.

The p o e t now fee l s t h e n e a r p r e s e n c e of d e a t h .

He i m a g i n e s h e i s g a r l e n d i n g t h e b r i d e g r o o m w i t h t h e

g a r l a n d s t h a t h a v e a l r e a d y been woven w i t h t h e f l o w e r s

c u l l e d from h i s s p i r i t u a l g a r d e n . After t h o wedding

ceremony i s o v a r , t h e b r i d e a c c o m p a n i e s t h e b r i d e g r o o m

t o h i s h o u s e where , i n t h e d a r k n e s s of n i g h t , t h e

u n i o n t a k e s p l a c e . The c o n c r e t e i s u s e d t o i l l u s t r a t e

t h e h i g h l y a b s t r a c t m y a t i c a l t r u t h o f t h e p o s t ' s

m y s t i c a l communion w i t h d e a t h , t h e f i n e s t and t h e moat

p r o f i t a b l e o f dl s u f f e r i n g s f o r the poet. Death

enables him t o be f u l l y d i sso l ved i n t he D iv ine , t h e

J ivatma d i s s o l v e s i n t o t he Paramatma.

Poem no.86 p i c t u r e s death as 6od'e messenger

(LXXXVI, 57). T h i s again i s a m y s t i c e l a t t i t u d e .

Death has crossed t h e unknown sea and brought 6od1e

c a l l t o t he poet. The n i g h t i s dark and t h e poet 's

h e a r t i e f e a r f u l . Yet he w i l l take up t h e lamp, open

h i s gates and bow t o deeth h i s welcome. He w i l l worship

deeth "w i t h f o l d e d hands and w i t h t e a r s U (LXXXVI, 57).

He w i l l worship death "p lac ing a t h i e f e e t t he t r easu ren

(LXXXV, 5 7 ) o f h i e heart .

Poem no.83 r e v e a l e the i n f i n i t e va lue God beetows

on t h e Poet 's t e e r s o f g r i e f . The poe t promises God,

who i s p i c t u r e d as Mother, t o weave 'a cha in o f p e a r l s

f o r h i s Mother 's neck w i t h h i s t e a r s o f morrow (LXXXII I ,

55) . And he avowe, " t h i e my sorrow i s abeo lu ta l y mine

own, end when I b r i n g i t t o thee as my o f f e r i ng , t kou

rawerdeet me w i t h t h y grace* (LXXXII I , 55-56). The

poe t i e convinced t h a t h i s t e e r o are power fu l enough

t o compel God t o reward h i m w i t h H i s grace, f o r t he

t e a r s a r e h i s own. They a r e , t h e r e f o r e , o f f e r i n g s

i n t h e r e a l s e n s e a n d are v a l u e d a s s u c h by t h e

Almighty. S u f f e r i n g p u r i f i e s t h e p o e t ' s s o u l a n d

b r i n g s him n e a r e r t o t h e h e a r t o f God. The m y s t i c i s m

o f s u f f e r i n g t r a c e a b l e i n t h i s a t t i t u d e of t h e p o e t

n e e d s n o s p e c i a l e m p h a s i s .

A c c o r d i n g t o T a g o r e e v e n God i s s u b j e c t t o

s u f f e r i n g - t h e i n f i n i t e p a i n t h e Almigh ty s u f f e r e d

w h i l e d i v i d i n g h i m s e l f i n t o t h e m y r i a d f o r m s . T h i s

pang of s e p e r a t i o n p e r v a d e s t h e who le u n i v e r s e . I t

s p r e a d s f r o m s t a r t o s tar . I t i s h e a r d i n t h e r u s t l i n g

o f t h e l e a v e s i n t h e d a r k , r a i n y m o n t h s o f J u l y . " I t

i s t h i s o v e r s p r e a d i n g p a i n t h a t d e e p e n s i n t o l o v e s

and d e s i r e s , i n t o s u f f e r i n g s and j o y s i n human homes"

(LXXXIV, 5 6 ) . T h e s e are t h e i d e a s c o m p r e s s e d a n d

e x p r e s s e d i n t h e e i g h t y f o u r t h l y r i c . I t s c o n c l u d i n g

s t a t e m e n t i s v e r y r e v e a l i n g a n d h e s a c l e a r b e a r i n g

on T a g o r e ' s p o e t i c m y s t i c i s m i n G i t a n j a l i which w i l l

b e t h e t o p i c o f discussion i n t h e n e x t c h a p t e r . The

p o s t c l e a r l y affirms t h a t i t i s t h e o v e r s p r e a d i n g p a i n

t h a t h e r e f e r r e d t o a b o v e t h a t e v e r melts and f l o w s

i n s o n g s t h r o u g h h i s h e a r t . Thus , t h e s o n g s i n G i t a n j a l i

presen t t h e " s t i l l sad muaicn o f t h e poe t ' s heart .

The poe t ' s s u f f e r i n g i s t h e s t u f f ou t o f which t h e

G i t a n j a l i poems ere made.

Tagore' e m y s t i c a l approach t o s u f f e r i n g i s c l e a r l y

revea led i n l y r i c s i x t y - e i g h t . Out o f H i s l o v e God

sends sunbeame t o t h e poet. These sunbeams, w i t h t h e i r

ou t s t r e t ched arms, embrace h im as a mother end f o n d l e

him w i t h l o v e and a f f e c t i o n . They c a r r y t he c l oud made

by t h e t e a r s and s ighe o f t he s u f f e r i n g poe t t o God,

who, o u t o f H ia l o v e and c h a r i t y takes t he ' o f f e r i n g '

( t h e c l o u d made o f t h e t e a r s and t h e s i ghs o f the poet ) ,

i r r a d i a t e s i t w i t h d i v i n e beauty, end i m p a r t s numerous,

e v e r s h i f t i n g and changing colours, though He h i m s e l f

i a a w f u l l y white, s p o t l e s s and r a d i a n t i n H i s beauty.

Though God i s spot less , clam and serene, He l o v e s

H i s su f f e r i ng c h i l d [ the poet] more than others. H i s

t e a r e and s ighe move God's hear t , t o envelop i t w i t h

g r i e f . They darken God's u s u a l rad ience as a c loud

envelops t h e sky and obecuree i t s s t a r r y br ightneas.

God weeps w i t h t he poe t and t h e i r t e a r s become one end

thus mys t i c communion between t h e poe t and h i s God i a

a c h i e v e d . I t i s God 's d e e p l o v e f o r t h o p o e t t h a t

e n a b l e e t h e p o e t ' s t e a r s end s i g h s r e a c h God.

The secret of t h e e w e e t n e s s of t h e poems of

G i t a n j a l i i s t h a t t h e y s p r i n g f r o m a s u f f e r i n g h e a r t .

" U n l e s s t h e g r a i n o f whea t f e l l s t o t h e g r o u n d and d i e s

i t c a n n o t p r o d u c e f r u i t . n22 Only f r o m e s u f f e r i n g

h e a r t c a n b r e a k m e l o d i e s o f sweet music . The p o e t -

m y s t i c ' s way i e e t r e n u o u s and herd . Communion w i t h t h e

I n f i n i t e is a c h i e v e d o n l y t h r o u g h t h e t h i c k and t h i n

o f l i f e . He g o e s t h r o u g h h a r d a t r u g g l e s . He d a r e s

d a n g e r s e n d d i f f i c u l t i e s at e v e r y s t e p . P a i n and

e u f f e r i n g ere h i e c o n s t a n t companions. But t h e communion

t h u s a c h i e v e d i e e x t r e m e l y sweet. D i v i n e b l i s s i s

f o r c e d t o flow i n t o t h e m y s t i c ' s h e a r t l i k e t h e sweet

m u s i c (LV. 36-37) o f a s i n g e r w i t h a b r o k e n h e a r t .

I n d e e d t h e T a g o r e of G i t a n j a l i is a e i n g e r w i t h a

b roken h e a r t . But h e h a s t h e n e c e s s a r y s o u l - f o r c e t o

b e e l w a y a "calm o f mind, a l l p a s s i o n ~ p e n t . " ~ ~ ~ a ~ o r e

m e t a p h o r i c a l l y p r e s e n t s t h i s i d e a i n t h e t h i r t e e n t h

poem.

22 J o h n 12124.

23 John M i l t o n . Samson A g o n i s t e s , e d . Ann P h i l l i p s (Cambr idge: U n i v e r s i t y T u t o r i a l press. 1974) 97.

A l l h i s l i f e t h e p o e t h a s been p r e p a r i n g h i m s e l f

t o meet God, h i e Maker, b u t s t i l l h i s p r e p a r a t i o n s

are i n c o m p l e t e . He writes:

The s o n g t h a t I came t o s i n g r e m a i n s

unsung t o t h i s day ; I h a v e s p e n t my d a y s

i n s t r i n g i n g a n d u n s t r i n g i n g my i n s t r u m e n t .

The time h a a n o t come t r u e , t h e worde

h e v e n o t b e e n r i g h t l y s e t , o n l y t h e r e i s

t h e agony o f w i s h i n g i n my h e a r t . The

b l o s s o m h a s n o t opened ; o n l y t h e wind i s

s i g h i n g by. I h a v e n o t s e e n h i s face,

n o r h e v e I l i s t e n e d t o h i s v o i c e , o n l y I

h a v e h e a r d h i s g e n t l e f o o t s t e p s f r o m t h e

r o a d b e f o r e my h o u s e ( X I I I , 8 ) .

Here i s a p q i n t e r t o t h e a e s t h e t i c m y s t i c i s m o n e o f

t h e e e a e n t i a l i n g r e d i e n t s of which i s " i n f i n i t e

l o n g i n g n , v e r i f i a b l e i n G i t e n j a l i . The T a g o r e of

G i t a n j a l i ' r e j o i c e s ' a n d ' s u f f e r s ' as a p o e t . H e i s

f i rs t end l a s t e p o e t . J o y and s o r r o w are t h e t w i n

p i l l a r s upon which t h e e d i f i c e o f G i t a n j a l i i s b u i l t .