Textiles have had a sacred significance from Vedic times. Dhamija tells us that in mankind’s technical evolution, textile technology is the most ancient and there exists a deep connection between the making of textiles and facets of our inner consciousness. Weaving, in its early inception was linked with the rhythm of breathing and Kabir the weaver-poet, meditated on the divine as he wove. Felt-makers do Zikr, going into ecstasy as they roll out the namda. Women of Punjab embroidered a symbolic door through which they sought God’s intervention. And “Ikat was considered a powerful, magical cloth, imbued with the ability to cure to heal, purify and protect.” Here is a poem by the Mahastrian Saint-poet Namdev where scissors, needle, thread, fabric metre and stitching are used as metaphors to express his a yearning for the love of the Divine. का करूं जाती का करूं पांती । राजा रांम सेऊं दिन राती ।। मन मेरौ गंजा जीह्वा मेरी काती । रांम रंमे काटूं जंम की पासी ।। सींवनां सींऊं हूं सींऊं हुं सींऊं । रांम बिनां हूं कैसै जीऊं ।। सुरति की सुई प्रेम का धागा । नांमां का मन हरि सौं लागा ।। Neither your caste nor celebrity status can influence me. I only see the purity of your soul. Not unlike my sewing scissors, a constant chant of love on my lips, cuts through the metre of experience, severing forever the noose of its illusion. Sewing is my work. I labour with needle and thread, wondering how to live without that love once felt. Each piercing jab of the needle rekindles passions thread, stitching the fragile fabric with memories of love I just cannot forget. [transcreation gn]
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 10:34:52 +0000