The Winds of Wonder

This handsome young Dawn

ही सौंदर्ययुवा उषा

आली ही पहाटे राजकन्या सौंदर्ययुवा, उषा,

न मावळणारा सूर्य घेऊनी, वाढवे ती प्रकाश;

विस्तारित चैतन्यप्रभा, प्रज्वलेतीच्या आकांक्षा,

आहे हे आगमन सिद्धरूप करण्या पार्थिवता;

आत्मा आणि देह तिचे आहेत मोत्यासमान, 

लखलखीत, पिते जशी ती दूध ढवळ्या गायीचे;

अज्ञानाचे असे ज्ञान तिला, रात्रीच्या उदरी 

विस्मयीत फाकणारी जांभळीशी झळाळी;

पारिजात, निशिगंध, रातराणी, मोगराही, 

होई सुगंधित तिच्याच प्रेमस्वरूप उल्हासाने;

अतिमानसिक विश्वसत्याचा बारा इंची पाया, 

तेजःपुंज, अमरत्वाचा, तीच उभारी भूतळावर;

विशाल वरुणाचे घेऊनि अनमोल सहाय्य 

मिळवी ती कृपा, आनंदप्रभूचा आशीर्वाद. 

२५ एप्रिल २०२५

Featured image: Daybreak at Pondicherry near the Ashram.

A Hymn to the Dawn

Here is the Hymn to Dawn by Rishi Vishwamitra, Rig Veda III.61, Ushā Sūkta:

उषो वाजेन वाजिनि प्रचेताः स्तोमं जुषस्व गृणतो मघोनि ।

पुराणी देवि युवतिः पुरंधिरनु व्रतं चरसि विश्ववारे ॥१॥

1) Dawn, richly stored with substance, conscious cleave to the affirmation of him who expresses thee, O thou of the plenitudes. Goddess, ancient, yet ever young thou movest many-thoughted following the law of thy activities, O bearer of every boon.

उषो देव्यमर्त्या वि भाहि चन्द्ररथा सूनृता ईरयन्ती ।

आ त्वा वहन्तु सुयमासो अश्वा हिरण्यवणाँ पृथुपाजसो ये ॥२॥

2) Dawn divine, shine out immortal in thy car of happy light sending forth the pleasant voices of the Truth. May steeds well-guided bear thee here who are golden-brilliant of hue and wide their might.

उषः प्रतीची भुवनानि विश्वोर्ध्वा तिष्ठस्यमृतस्य केतुः ।

समानमथं चरणीयमाना चकमिव नव्यस्या ववृत्स्व ॥३॥

3) Dawn, confronting all the worlds thou standest high-uplifted and art their perception of Immortality; do thou move over them like a wheel, O new Day, travelling over an equal field.

अव स्यूमेव चिन्वती मघोन्युषा याति स्वसरस्य पत्नी ।

स्वजंनन्ती सुभगा सुदंसा आन्ताद्दिवः पप्रथ आ पृथिव्याः ॥४॥

4) Dawn in her plenitude like one that lets fall from her a sewn robe moves, the bride of the Bliss; creating Swar, perfect in her working, perfect in her enjoying, she widens from the extremity of Heaven over the earth.

अच्छा वो देवीमुषसं विभातीं प्र वो भरष्वं नमसा सुवृक्तिम् ।

ऊर्ध्व मधुधा दिवि पाजो अश्रेत् प्र रोचना रुरुचे रण्वसंदृक् ॥५॥

5) Meet ye the Dawn as she shines wide towards you and with surrender bring forward your complete energy. Exalted in heaven is the force to which she rises establishing the sweetness; she makes the luminous worlds to shine forth and is a vision of felicity.

ऋतावरी दिवो अर्केरबोध्या रेवती रोदसी चित्रमस्थात् ।

आयतीमग्न उषसं विभातीं वाममेषि द्रविणं भिक्षमाणः ॥६॥

6) By heaven’s illuminings one perceives her a bearer of the Truth and rapturous she comes with its varied light into the two firmaments. From Dawn as she approaches shining out on thee, O Agni, thou seekest and attainest to the substance of delight.

ऋतस्य ब्रुघ्न उषसामिषण्यन्वृषा मही रोदसी आ विवेश।

मही मित्रस्य वरुणस्य माया चन्द्रेव भानुं वि दधे पुरुत्रा ॥७॥

7) Putting forth his impulsions in the foundation of the Truth, in the foundation of the Dawns, their Lord enters the Vastness of the firmaments. Vast the wisdom of Varuna, of Mitra, as in a happy brightness, orders multitudinously the Light.

Sri Aurobindo writes about this Divine Dawn, “light of the immortal existence bringing out in man the powers or the voices of Truth and Joy”.

“The supramental world in us, foundation of the Truth, is the foundation of the Dawns. They are the descent upon mortal nature of the light of that immortal Truth, ṛtaṁ jyotiḥ. The Lord of the Dawns, Master of Truth, Illuminer, Creator, Organiser, putting forth in the foundation of Truth, above mind, the impulsion of his activities, enters with them by this goddess into a bodily and mental existence no longer obscured but released from their limits and capable of vastness, mahī rodasī. The Lord of Truth is the sole Lord of things. He is Varuna, soul of vastness and purity; he is Mitra, source of love and light and harmony. His creative Wisdom, mahī mitrasya varuṇasya māyā, unlimited in its scope,—for he is Varuna,—appearing, candreva, as a light of bliss and joy,—for he is Mitra,—arranges, perfectly organises, in multitudinous forms, in the wideness of the liberated nature, the luminous expansions, the serene expressions of the Truth. He combines the various brilliancies with which his Dawn has entered our firmaments; he blends into one harmony her true and happy voices. Dawn divine is the coming of the Godhead. She is the light of the Truth and the Felicity pouring on us from the Lord of Wisdom and Bliss, amrtasya ketuḥ, svasarasya patnī.”

“O Dawn rich of store in thy substance,” cries the Rishi to her, “conscient cleave to the affirmation of him who expresses thee, O thou who hast the plenitudes.” 

… leader not only of happy truths, but of our spiritual wealth and joy, bringer of the felicity.

https://incarnateword.in/sabcl/10/the-divine-dawn

From the Internet

A “Hymn to the Dawn” is a poetic or musical composition that praises and celebrates the dawn, often associated with its arrival, beauty, and the promise of a new day. It can be found in various forms, including hymns from the Rigveda, which are ancient Vedic hymns in Sanskrit. Modern examples include songs and music composed in tribute to the dawn’s beauty and the beginning of a new day.

Here’s a more detailed look at what a “Hymn to the Dawn” can be:

Ancient Examples:

• Rigveda: The Rigveda, a collection of ancient Vedic hymns, contains numerous verses and songs dedicated to Dawn, often praising her arrival and the new day she brings, according to sacred-texts.com.
• Hymn LXV of the Rigveda: This specific hymn in the Rigveda is dedicated to Dawn, where she is praised for her beauty and the light she brings to the world.
• Other Hymns in the Rigveda: There are other hymns in the Rigveda that also mention and celebrate the dawn, according to testbook.com.

Modern Examples:  

• “Hymn to the Dawn” by Gustav Holst: A famous example is “Hymn to the Dawn” composed by Gustav Holst as part of his “Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda,” as seen on YouTube.
• Music by Scott Buckley: Scott Buckley has also composed music titled “Hymn To The Dawn,” which can be found on platforms like Spotify and SoundCloud.
• Other Modern Composers: Many other composers have created music and songs that celebrate the dawn, including works by Delos and others, as seen on YouTube.  

Common Themes in Hymns to the Dawn:

• Light and Rebirth: Dawn is often associated with the arrival of light, the banishment of darkness, and the promise of a new day, according to sacred-texts.com.
• Beauty and Wonder: The dawn’s beauty, especially the colors of the sky, is often praised and celebrated in hymns, as seen on YouTube.
• New Beginnings: The dawn represents the beginning of a new day, a fresh start, and the possibility of new experiences.
• Hope and Joy: The dawn often brings a sense of hope and joy as it signals the end of darkness and the start of a new day.

Ralph T.H. Griffith: HYMN LXV Dawn

1. Shedding her light on human habitations this Child of Heaven hath called us from our slumber; She who at night-time with her argent lustre hath shown herself e’en through the shades of darkness.
2 All this with red-rayed steeds have they divided: the Dawns on bright cars shine in wondrous fashion. They, bringing near the stately rite’s commencement, drive far away the night’s surrounding.

3 Dawns, bringing hither, to the man who worships, glory and power and might and food and vigour, Opulent, with imperial sway like heroes, favour your servant and this day enrich him.
4 Now is there treasure for the man who serves you, now for the hero, Dawns! who brings oblation; Now for the singer when he sings the praise-song. Even to one like me ye brought aforetime.
5 O Dawn who standest on the mountain ridges, Aṅgirases now praise thy stalls of cattle.
With prayer and holy hymn they burst them open: the heroes’ calling on the Gods was fruitful.
6 Shine on us as of old, thou Child of Heaven, on him, rich Maid! who serves like Bharadvāja.
Give to the singer wealth with noble heroes, and upon us bestow wide-spreading glory.