Mahakavi Bhushan

Ever since my childhood, I was fascinated by and attracted towards the enigmatic character that is Shivaji. Earlier, it used to be about the feats of his bravery- the incidents involving Afzalkhan, Shaistakhan etc. A very big influence on that attuned mind of mine was Babasaheb Purandare. His eloquent story telling simply captivated me. As I started getting older, i.e after 9th, I started understanding the importance of the concept of "Hindavi Swaraj" and that of Rajyabhishek. What its real significance was, considering the political situation in India in the 17th century. This moulding of these views, along with many of my beliefs i have, was all down to the expression rich oratory of Ninadrao Bedekar. In recent times, I think I have understood Shivaji Maharaj better- thanks to Bedekar, and his mention of the works by contempraneous poets- Kavi Bhushan and Kavindra Paramanand.

However, what has really fascinated me is the poetry of Mahakavi Bhushan. The poetry he has written, is probably, a difficult read, as it is written in Brij-bhasha, a dialect of Hindi from the region of Kanpur. However, listening to experts and their comments on the poetry, and grasping the way of saying the poetry really feels creates a goosebump creating scenario. The poems literally lift you from where you are sitting and takes you to the world of Shivaji Maharaj- its so easy to visualise! 

Certainly Kavi Bhushan goes to great length of ornating the already bejewelled Shivaji Maharaj. थोडक्यात भूषणानी शिवाजी राजांना भूषणबद्ध केले. All of his poetry has to be believed, as the history in that is tha of Shivaji Maharaj. His work has is largely focused of veer ras, although there are elements of the bhayaan ras as well as the raudra ras- emotions which are more or less not written on in favour of the shrungaar ras. This is what is really impressive.

Recently a CD of chhand by Kavi Bhushan was released by Ninadrao Bedekar. I still have to get it, but I am sure that it would be the buy of the year for me. 

 Here i am presenting a rather not known Chhanda by Kavi Bhushan and its translation.

प्रेतिनी पिसाचरू निसाचर निसचरिहू मिलि मिलि आपुस में गावत बधाई है|

भैरो भूत प्रेत भूरि भूधर भयंकर से, जुत्थ जुत्थ जोगिनी जमाती जोरि आई है|

किलकी किलकी कै कुतूहल करति काली डिम डिम डमरू दिगंबर बजाई है |

सिवा पुछै सिव सों समाज आजु कहाँ चली काहू पै सिवा नरेस भृकुटी चढ़ाई है |

the translation of this is as follows:

the dead, the spirits, the night dwellers have congregated and are sharing joyous exchanges.

the frightening follwers of shiva- the shiva gans, ghosts etc, along with the 64 yoginis have also gathered.

even the great goddess Kali, is here out of curiosity, and the great lord Shiva is beating his drums.

Seeing all this, Parvati asks Lord Shiva, " your followers seem happy, at which enemy has Shivaji the King, raised his wrath of destruction?"

what Bhushan wants to imply is that once Shivaji Maharaj has set his sights on an enemy, there is sure to be a big war, and hence lot of death. on getting to know about the prospect of a war, the shiv-gan seem to be over joyed as they can merrily feast on the dead after the war. Such a gruesome incident is described so delicately. I guess only Bhushan can do that!