She, the goddess of beauty,
I, a monk of love;
I found her at the temple of Kasbo.
Bharumal Amrani
Bharu Mal Amrani is a distinguished folklorist, poet, writer, researcher, journalist, script writer & compere of Radio Pakistan, and social–environmental activist from Tharparkar, Sindh, who has devoted more than two decades to the preservation, documentation, and promotion of Thari dialect, folklore, culture, and heritage. Currently he is working as a subject specialist of Sindhi at Raichand Rathore Government Higher Secondary School, Chelhar. Born on 17 February 1982 in village Soothar jo Tarr near Chelhar, Tharparkar, he obtained his Master’s degree in Sindhi Literature and Education and did law graduation from the University of Sindh, Jamshoro. He is the author of ten books in Sindhi on Thari folk songs, literature, poetry, culture, and history, and has also compiled and translated important works into Urdu and Punjabi, including the Punjabi translation of his book Sahra kay Dohay, to introduce Thar’s rich literary heritage to a wider national audience. In recognition of his outstanding literary, academic, journalistic, and social services, Bharu Mal Amrani has received several prestigious awards.
I found her at the temple of Kasbo
I found her at the temple of Kasbo—
She, the goddess of beauty,
I, a monk of love;
I found her at the temple of Kasbo.
I performed her aarti from the platter of my eyes,
I wrapped her in the scarf of my soul and brought her down into my heart.
Bowing down in the temple of the heart,
I knew her to be beyond sin and virtue;
I found her at the temple of Kasbo.
Her youth was the magic of centuries,
What use are chants and what use are spells?
What use is a rosary, what use are incantations?
At her single smile, the peacocks danced,
At her single laugh, the fair of the monsoon bloomed.
I sang her in the Malhar of love;
I found her at the temple of Kasbo.
Every path of my faith ends upon her,
Every moon of my devotion rose from her horizon.
Which incense stick should I burn before her?
Her very name is filled with fragrance.
Ringing the bell of love,
I offered her the flower of my hopes.
If only… she would accept this bond!
I found her at the temple of Kasbo.
Sindhi Version
مون ڪاسٻي جي مندر ۾ هُن کي پاتو
هو سُونهن جي ديوي،
آءٌ پيار جو ساڌو،
مون ڪاسٻي جي مندر ۾ هُن کي پاتو،
مون اکين جي ٿالهيءَ سان هن جي آرتي اُتاري،
مون رُوح جي رومال ۾ ويڙهي هُن کي لاٿو،
دل جي ديول ۾ سجدو ڏئي،
مون پاپ ۽ پُڃ کان مٿي هُن کي ڄاتو،
مون ڪاسٻي جي مندر ۾ هن کي پاتو،
هن جو جوڀن جُڳ جُڳ جو جادو هو،
ڪهڙا جاپ ۽ ڪهڙا جنتر؟
ڪهڙي مالها، ڪهڙا منتر؟
هِن جي هڪڙيءَ مُرڪ تي مورن کيڙا ڪيا،
هُن جي هڪڙي ٽهڪ تي سارنگ ميڙاڪيا.
مون محبت جي ملهارِيءَ ۾ هُن کي ڳاتو،
مون ڪاسٻي جي مندر ۾ هُن کي پاتو،
مُنهنجي ويساهه جي هر واٽ هُن تي ئي کُٽي،
مُنهنجي عقيدت جو هر چنڊ هُن تي ئي اُڀريو،
هُن جي اڳيان ڪهڙي اگربتي ٻاريان،
هُن جو نانءُ ئي واس ڀريو آ،
عشق جو گهنڊ وڄائي
مون آسن جو گُل هن کي ڀيٽا ڌريو،
شال وڻي هي هُن کي ناتو!
مون ڪاسٻي جي مندر ۾ هُن کي پاتو!
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