14: Scribbled Notes — “crimson seed of ecstasy”
At the end of Book Eleven of Savitri there is a phrase “crimson seed of ecstasy”. What is that seed, and what is the significance of the colour “crimson”?
Then from a timeless plane that watches Time,
A Spirit gazed out upon destiny,
In its endless moment saw the ages pass. ||156.12||
All still was in a silence of the gods. ||156.13||
The prophet moment covered limitless space
And cast into the heart of hurrying Time
A diamond light of the Eternal’s peace,
A crimson seed of God’s felicity;
A glance from the gaze fell of undying Love. ||156.14||
A wonderful face looked out with deathless eyes;
A hand was seen drawing the golden bars
That guard the imperishable secrecies. ||156.15||
A key turned in a mystic lock of Time. ||156.16||
But where the silence of the gods had passed,
A greater harmony from the stillness born
Surprised with joy and sweetness yearning hearts,
An ecstasy and a laughter and a cry. ||156.17||
A power leaned down, a happiness found its home. ||156.18||
Over wide earth brooded the infinite bliss. ||156.19||
The phrase “crimson seed of ecstasy” is a profound poetic symbol that encapsulates multiple layers of meaning, both spiritual and cosmic. Let us explore its significance:
- Seed as Potential: The term “seed” often symbolises the origin or potential of something yet to unfold. In this context, it represents the nascent spark of divine bliss (Ananda) that holds the promise of a transformative and creative force. It is the germ of a new creation, a new consciousness, or a new state of being.
- Crimson as a Symbol:
- Life and Vitality: The colour crimson is associated with life, passion, and the vital force. It signifies the intensity of life-energy and the fervour of divine love.
- Sacrifice and Transformation: Crimson also evokes the image of blood, which in spiritual traditions often symbolizes sacrifice, the offering of the self for a higher purpose. This aligns with the transformative journey of Savitri, who sacrifices her individual self to embody the divine force and bring about a new dawn for humanity.
- Spiritual Fire: In Sri Aurobindo’s writings, fire often represents the divine will or aspiration. Crimson, as a fiery hue, could symbolize the burning intensity of the divine ecstasy that seeks to manifest in the material world.
- Ecstasy as Divine Bliss: Ecstasy, in Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy, is not merely an emotional or mental state but the supreme Ananda, the bliss of the Infinite. It is the ultimate delight that pervades all existence and is the essence of the Divine. The “crimson seed of ecstasy” thus suggests the concentrated essence of this divine bliss, ready to unfold and transform existence.
In the context of Savitri, this phrase appears at a climactic moment when the descent of the supramental consciousness into the material world is imminent. The “crimson seed” symbolises the divine potential implanted in the heart of creation, which, when fully realised, will bring about the transformation of life into a divine existence. It is a poetic expression of the evolutionary force driving the universe towards higher states of consciousness and bliss.
For the seeker, the “crimson seed of ecstasy” can be seen as the divine spark within each individual—the psychic being or soul. By nurturing this inner seed through aspiration, surrender, and spiritual practice, one can participate in the greater evolutionary movement towards the manifestation of the divine life on Earth.
This phrase, like much of Savitri, invites deep intuitive meditation and reflection, as its layers of meaning unfold in the light of one’s inner experience and spiritual growth. Sri Aurobindo in his poetry, as well as everywhere, is mathematically both precise and accurate. And yet people talk of “structural ambiguity” in his philosophical writings, a hurried immature assessment.
There is in the “crimson seed” the physical vitality of life and the fieriness of the spirit. There is wealth in it, there is royalty, there is authority, by it strong emotions are evoked in art, crimson glazes create a sense of depth, garments of Mary Magdalene are in deep crimson, it is the fire of divine love. The alchemical Rubedo or reddening is the transformation with perfect perfection, biblically offspring, Seed of Class 2, the breeder seed.
“Seeds provide a great reproductive advantage in being able to survive for extended periods until conditions are favourable for germination and growth. The seeds of gymnosperms (such as the conifers) develop on scales of cones or similar structures, while the seeds of angiosperms are enclosed in an ovary that develops into a fruit, such as a pome or nut. The structure of seeds varies somewhat. All seeds are enclosed in a protective seed coat. In certain angiosperms the embryo is enclosed in or attached to an endosperm, a tissue that it uses as a food source either before or during germination. All angiosperm embryos also have at least one cotyledon. The first seed-bearing plants emerged at least 365 million years ago in the late Devonian Period. Many angiosperms have evolved specific fruits for dispersal of seeds by the wind, water, or animals.”
The Savitri-masterstroke is “crimson seed” and not “crimson seeds”, seed the origin, the start of an event that continues to grow, there is propagation.
There is an anecdote of Narad visiting a cobbler busy mending footwear under a huge banyan tree, both adorers of Vishṇu, intense bhaktas seeing everywhere their Lord’s work and glory. In the course of the conversation the cobbler asked Narad with what was Vishṇu presently busy. Narad replied: He is busy in making an elephant pass through the hole of a needle. The cobbler applauded and said: Surely this will happen. If, because of his doing from a tiny seed of this fig tree such majesty can spring up, the elephant will surely go through the needle’s hole.
That is the seed of new manifestation. Savitri was assured by the Supreme Lord himself that this earthly life shall be the life divine: “A diamond light of the Eternal’s peace, A crimson seed of God’s felicity”. Light and seed have been cast in the heart of hurrying Time.
But it must be well recognised that much of the significance of “seed” as a singular gets lost in changed “seeds” as a plural. The corresponding painting by Huta has regrettably missed the implication of the singular with her 28 “scattered seeds”. Of course Huta had done her Savitri-paintings directly with the Mother. But that does not mean that the Mother had approved what she had done, given her nod to “seeds”. There was always from her such wonderful freedom available to the artist, and to everyone. In fact it was there even for the revisions made in Savitri by Amal. While she had said that she would not allow him to change even a comma in it, and while she exploded once, she left the matters for Amal to decide. Wonderful freedom of action or even of separating from the divine or opposing the divine is the glory of this creation. When changes in Savitri were made those were never shown to the Mother, brought to her attention for her “approval”; naturally with that freedom the entire responsibility remains with him who had introduced those changes.
The featured image is a painting by Huta.
Savitri Book 11 Canto 1 – The Eternal Day: The Soul’s Choice and the Supreme Consummation
Then from a timeless plane that watches Time,
A Spirit gazed out upon destiny… ||156.12||
The prophet moment covered limitless space
And cast into the heart of hurrying Time
A diamond light of the Eternal’s peace,
A crimson seed of God’s felicity;
A glance from the gaze fell of undying Love. ||156.14||
Then from| a time|+less plane| that watch|+es Time,|
A Spir|+it gazed| out u+|pon de+| ti+ny,|
The proph|+et mo+|ment cov|+ered lim|+it+less space|
And cast| in+to| the heart| of hur+ry|+ing Time|
A dia|+mond light| of the| E+ter|+nal’s peace,|
A crim|+son seed| of God’s|fe+lic|+i+ty;|
A glance| from the gaze| fell of| un+dy+|ing Love.|
Leave a Reply