This COVID lockdown times have had a few very memorable powerful spiritual experiences. Samvatsari Bhaav Pratikraman, a few Sadhguru sathsangs, Akhand Diya (in a different way).. add to that a Zoom Garba session for this Navratri! (what is garba?)
Organized by Dada Bhagwan Foundation, I was intrigued by their Zoom Garba plan. I thought it was because they are Gujju and that their meditators are probably frustrated with a lockdown Navratri.
Bhakti Garba
It was only when I started watching the Garba program, that I realised that it was not the usual masala, masti (frivolous fun) type that is usually seen in Mumbai or other crowded centers.
People had placed idols, photos and other offerings nearby for this occassion. Or sometimes in the center of the room and they did garba around it.
Some dressed up like a “proper” navratri, others were in their usual clothes.
An orchestra of meditators sang bhakti filled songs, some of which were quite energetic and catchy with lyrics. And the folks danced in circles to these bhakti songs. Around idols, near idols… In the mood of bhakti.
It was beautiful!
Hitherto, my experience of Garba functions was that of a big party with a decorative devi somewhere. Nothing devotional. Loud songs and lots of people who could well be dancing in a disco.
Of course, the energy is high, but not necessarily devotional. And then the usual news pieces of eve teasing and other racuousness makes rounds making me even more uninterested in the celebration.
So this garba bhakti came as a major surprise! So lovely!
Later my parents told me that this kind of bhakti garba is commonly done in this ashram on different functions. Dada has said, “The clapping should be done with utmost sincerity and dedication such that you have given up everything you have to the Lord, and now, all you can give is your prayers and worship. When this intention is portrayed while doing Dada’s Garba, or any Garba for that matter, the merits or benefits you will receive will be astronomical.”
Dancing Pradakshina
Circumambulating around an idol/shrine is very common in Indian temples. And in Ramana Ashram there is a culture of loving Pradakshina – either around the Ramana samadhi or a longer girivalam around Arunachala himself!
I loved these pradakshinas after spending time at Ramanasramam. And often I went to the shrine at aarti time and kept doing pradakshina all through the aarti. Sublime!
Seeing this bhakti garba, it struck me that this was also a circumambulation – around idols / photos which are either consecrated or held dear by the person – and this circumambulation is done dancing and so joyfully! Awesomeness!
This kind of an environment and bhaav will remove all self-consciousness and calculation of merit. Much easier to lose ourselves in devotion with such an activity! No wonder Dada says, the merits of such bhakti garba would be astronomical.
Natural circular motion
One thing I have noticed during pradakshina and at other times too, that there is something very natural about circular motions. Once we keep doing pradakshina, many pradakshinas, one after the other, some natural circular motions within the system keeps happening… tough for me to describe more.
And so, garba makes a lot of sense to me, beyond simply dancing and merriment. I suspect that the traditional garba dance was very thoughtfully and scientifically designed to align with some very natural phenomena. Which added layers and layers of circles in it. Self-circumambulation, around your partner , around the central consecrated gudi… And so much.
Almost like the solar system celestial motion, Moon around Earth, Moon and Earth around Sun and so on.
Round, round, round as life goes around. In circles. From anger to anger. From birth to birth. From death to death. And love to love. And so on.
Never thought the much celebrated Garba of (us) Gujarati folk was such a power-packed bhakti process.
Much love to our ancient culture, so much wisdom, color and joy. 🙏🏻 And to our ancestors who kept it ON to whatever degree. And enlightened beings who come and revive these traditions.
Halo re…..!! 😀