Savitri Solar Songs – I

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Savitri Solar Songs

Two Song Cycles (1986 -2020)

Origin

Having read and studied Sri Aurobindo’s Savitri – A Legend and a Symbol, for years with different approaches, already early on spontaneous tunes would arise while contemplating selected passages of Savitri. It was always a surprise and joy how these melodies seemed to arise out of the written word. Similar to the mantric effect of certain lines, the tunes fell into the ear and h-ear-t and rose in repeated rhythmic strains, creating strong resonances in the being and surroundings.

Often also, while taking chosen lines on long walks through nature, reciting the verses in movement with every step, these melodies emerged as if from behind and through the spoken words, creating a natural com-position of word, rhythm and tones, embracing these elements of human vocal expression into a heightened form, deepening the encounter with the visionary poetry into an elevating experience.

Production

During the lockdown time of Summer 2020, encountering severe breath problems forced me into conscious breath and voice work, and resulted in revisiting the work of more than 30 earlier song compositions on Savitri. Spanning studies of three decades, two distinct forms emerged of the earlier and later works and were compiled in two song cycles.

The dedicated and masterful studio work of Auroville musician, composer and producer Holger from Sunshine Studio helped to shape and arrange the songs from simple song-lines into orchestrated versions, retaining the focus on the key texts. The collaboration with Anushka and Varun on the demos, mastering and their beautiful vocal contributions and suggestions made the work into a celebration of joy and harmony.

SAVITRI SOLAR SONGS – I

After having visited the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Delhi and Pondicherry and then Auroville for the first time in 1985 the epic of Savitri became a close companion in my spiritual journey, and the emerging tunes flowed into the then prevalent work of classical guitar and explorations in singer-song-writing. Simple harmonic and rhythmic structures morph the spoken word into a dynamic expression of playful flow and aspiration, emphasizing on the psychic language of the heart…

This cycle unfolds stages of the story and journey of Savitri and Satyavan.

1

THE SEED
All the world’s possibilities in man
Are waiting as the tree waits in its seed:
All that has been renews in him its birth;
All that can be is figured in his soul.

But there is a guardian power, there are Hands that safe
Calm eyes divine regard the human scene.

BOOK 7, CANTO II: The Parable of the Search for the Soul

This first song of the first cycle shares the powerful image of a seed, which harbour “all the world’s possibilities”.

And “there is a guardian power…” safeguarding the unfolding of the human potential.

SATYAVAN
A silence waking to a hymn of joy.
A star of splendour or a rose of bliss
…SATYAVAN…
A godhead quarried from the stones of life.
His strength is like a tower built to reach heaven,

BOOK 6, CANTO I: The Word of Fate

Here the earth-soul hero of the unfolding epic is described in his awakening and power…

UNKNOWN LOVER
For somewhere on the longing breast of earth,
Thy unknown lover waits for thee the unknown.
Thy soul has strength and needs no other guide
Than One who burns within thy bosom’s powers.

One force shall be your mover and your guide,
One light shall be around you and within;
Hand in strong hand confront Heaven’s question, life;

BOOK 4, CANTO III: The Call for the Quest

The solar being of Savitri is called by her king father Aswapati to the quest for her soul-partner…

2

A HUNTER
A hunter of unknown and beautiful Powers,
A nomad of the far mysterious Light,
In the wide ways a little spark of God.
Till he has found himself he cannot pause.
A Light there is that leads, a Power that aids;
And how shall the end be vain when God is guide?

BOOK 3, CANTO IV: The Vision and the Boon

The human soul is described in the image of a hunter and nomad on its journey to “the far mysterious light”,
and the protection and support on this adventure of consciousness is granted and invoked.

HEROES AND SOLDIERS
Here must the traveller of the upward Way
Pause or pass slowly through that perilous space,
For swift and easy is the downward path,
A prayer upon his lips and the great Name.
…OM NAMO BHAGAVATE…
…Only were safe who kept God in their hearts:
Courage their armour, faith their sword, they must walk,
The hand ready to smite, the eye to scout,
Heroes and soldiers of the army of Light.
Once more they moved beneath a real sun.

BOOK 2, CANTO VII: The Descent into Night

One the journey through the inner worlds dangerous passages lurk, calling the courage of the “Heroes and soldiers of the army of light” through prayer and “the great name”.

LIGHT IS THERE
Yet Light is there; it stands at Nature’s doors:
It holds a torch to lead the traveller in.
It waits to be kindled in our secret cells;
It is a shining warrior in the mind,
An eagle of dreams in the divining heart,
An armour in the fight, a bow of God.

BOOK 10, CANTO III: The Debate of Love and Death

In the process of the challenging growth and unfolding the presence of light “waits to be kindled in our secret cells”

3

HEALING TOUCH
Only he longed to draw her presence and power
Into his heart and mind and breathing frame;
Into the darkness of the suffering world.
Only he yearned to call for ever down
Her healing touch of love and truth and joy
His soul was freed and given to her alone.

BOOK 3, CANTO II: The Adoration of the Divine Mother

The traveller of the worlds finally arrives at the core longing and yearning for the presence and healing of the Divine Mother to transform “the darkness of the suffering world”.

A FLAME
Armoured with love and faith and sacred joy,
A traveller to the Eternal’s house,
So are her dawns like jewelled leaves of light,
A flame of radiant happiness she was born
And surely will that flame set earth alight

BOOK 6, CANTO I: The Word of Fate

The promise of the dawn of solar Savitri and the power of her flame to transform earth.

A HARMONIST
…all this living mortal clay
Is seized and in a swift and fiery flood
Of touches shaped by a Harmonist unseen.
A new sight comes, new voices in us form
A body of the music of the Gods.
…The Spirit who had hidden in Nature soared
Out of his luminous nest within the worlds:
Like a vast fire it climbed the skies of night.
…As in a choric robe of unheard sounds
A Force descended trailing endless lights
…It sank into her soul and she was changed.

BOOK 9, CANTO I: Towards the Black Void

Here the harmonizing work of the spirit shaping “all this living mortal clay” is described and experienced as touching and opening the soul.

4

ONE
One speaks within, Light comes to us from above.
It seeks for Good and Beauty and for God;
…SATYAM, SHIVAM, SUNDARAM…

BOOK 7, CANTO II: The Parable of the Search for the Soul

The Vedic triad of the Good, the True and the Beautiful describing the qualities of the soul are invoked in the traditional mantra by the solo voice of Varun.

JOURNEYING
This too must now be overpassed and left,
As all must be until the Highest is gained
In whom the world and self grow true and one:
Till That is reached our journeying cannot cease.

BOOK 2, CANTO X: The Kingdoms and Godheads of the Little Mind

A constant call onward in our life’s becoming “till That is reached” is beautifully rendered through Anushka’s inviting voice.

DAILY WAY
In thy hard passage through a suffering world
Lean for thy soul’s support on Heaven’s strength,
Turn towards high Truth, aspire to love and peace.

A little bliss is lent thee from above,
A touch divine upon thy human days.
Make of thy daily way a pilgrimage

BOOK 6, CANTO II: The Way of Fate and the Problem of Pain

Closing the first cycle of the Savitri Solar Songs these two passages offer support and “a touch divine upon thy human days” to “make of thy daily way a pilgrimage”.