Sur ki gati main kyaa jaanoon
Posted on: March 14, 2013
This article is written by Sadanand Kamath, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
In a book ‘Vedanta Treatise’ I have with me, four types of yogas have been prescribed for attainment of salvation. They are Bhakti (devotion), Gyaana (knowledge), Karma (activity) and Hata (compulsion). It is generally believed that devotion is the mother of all other yogas. Without devotion, all other yogas would be incomplete for attaining the objective. In this context, I recall an introduction by late C Rajagopalichari on a LP of M S Subbulaxmi’s immortal ‘Bhaj Govindam-Vishnu Shashtranamavali and I quote a part of it from the CD I have with me:
The way of devotion (bhakti) is not different from the way of knowledge (gyaana). When intelligence matures and lodges securely in the mind, it becomes wisdom. When wisdom is integrated with the life and issues out in action, it becomes devotion. If it does not get transformed into devotion, such knowledge is useless tinsel. To believe that gyaana and bhakti – knowledge and devotion, are different from each other is ignorance.
I find these remarks by late C Rajagopalachari very relevant in the modern times. In the context of family, social and career responsibilities are parts of ‘gyaana’ and ‘karma’ (knowledge and activity). How can ‘bhakt’i (devotion) be separated from them? We always use phrases like ‘he is devoted to his family’ and ‘he is devoted to his duties’ etc. To give an example, cricket is a part of ‘karma’ for Sachin Tendulkar. He is a diehard devotee (bhakt) of cricket. But unless he has gyaana (knowledge) of cricket, his devotion to it becomes half-hearted. Take for instance this blog itself. In my view, regulars of this blog are ‘bhaktas’ (devotees). They share their ‘gyaana’ (knowledge) of Hindi films and music ( sometime beyond that) as a part of their ‘karma’ (activity).
There is one unknown writer of a bhajan (devotional song) who, in his poetry, gives an impression that when one is totally submerged in devotion to Him, the knowledge is subservient to devotion. The bhajan is ‘sur ki gati main kya jaanu’ (1950). I have attempted below a gist of this bhajan with a rough English translation :
I do not know the tempo of the tune of my bhajan but I know how to sing a bhajan. I know that the bhajan I sing has a very deep meaning but how I could know the meaning when I only know how to utter Prabhu with misty eyes. Why should I sing in His praise when I know that He would not be unjust to his devotees? How can I know the answer to this when a simple man that I am, is crazily engrossed in love for Him.
In short, this bhajan reflects a devotee’s total surrender to God.
This popular bhajan is sung by Mukesh and set to music by Naresh Bhattacharya. Unfortunately I am unable to get the name of the writer of this soothing bhajan from any source in the websites. Somehow, I get an impression that the writer of this bhajan is the same person who wrote pitu maatu sahaayak swaami sakha. This bhajan like other traditional bhajans is rendered in slow tempo keeping the background and interlude music to the minimum. The whole idea is to understand the meaning of each word as bhajan progresses. After all traditional bhajans are sung more for the praise of God than showcasing the singers and musicians involved while singing them in any congregation.
Song-Sur ki gati main kyaa jaanoon (Mukesh NFS)(1950) Singer-Mukesh, Lyrics-Unknown, MD-Naresh Bhattacharya
Lyrics
sur ki gati main kyaa jaanoon
ek bhajan karna jaanoon
sur ki gati main kyaa jaanoon
ek bhajan karna jaanoon
arth bhajan ka bhi ati gehraa
usko bhi main kyaa jaanoon
arth bhajan ka bhi ati gehraa
usko bhi main kyaa jaanoon
prabhu prabhu prabhu karna jaanoon
prabhu prabhu prabhu karna jaanoon
naina jal bharna jaanoon
sur ki gati main kyaa jaanoon
gun gaaye ae ae ae ae
gun gaaye prabhu nyaay na chhode
phir kyun tum gun gaate ho
phir kyun tum gun gaate ho
main bola main prem deewaana
main bola main prem deewaana
itni baaten kyaa jaanoon
sur ki gati main kyaa jaanoon
ek bhajan karna jaanoon
sur ki gati main kyaa jaanoon
8 Responses to "Sur ki gati main kyaa jaanoon"
March 14, 2013 at 1:47 pm
Its a confessional bhajan by Mukesh considering the fact he was not so pakka in his sur-taal. In fact once he had to sing 25 times to finalize the song.
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March 14, 2013 at 4:24 pm
One of best NFS from Mukeshji. Kamathji, your intro to the song is excellent
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March 14, 2013 at 6:16 pm
Superb Bhajan,superb write up !
Thanks,Kamath ji.
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March 14, 2013 at 8:01 pm
Kamath ji,
Heard this after decades. Grateful for giving it through this blog. Your introduction was apt & enlightening.
Thanks a lot
K S Shenoy
Bangalore
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March 14, 2013 at 11:07 pm
Superb write up. Thanks for refreshing my memory of this bhajan.
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
March 14, 2013 at 11:51 am
Great post Sir ! thanks ! heard it after many years and very happy that it is now on our blog with an informative article rather a short lesson on ‘Vedanta and Devotion’. Very rightly said without devotion we cannot achieve anything.
I remember an interview of Mamooty years back on Doordarshan where he talks about sincerety. He said that we have to be sincere to everything even sincere to the nature, our surroundings, our work etc. Involvement or devotion is very much necessary.
Thanks for this beautiful post Sir !!!
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March 14, 2013 at 12:19 pm
Thanks for liking it.
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