Ritual songs and folksongs of the Hindus of Surinam

3 Sohar iii [Paramaribo, 1967]
Gaṅgā as the goddess of fertility
thanksgiving to Gaṅgā⁴

jamunā ka ų̄cā kararavā tiriyavā ika rove, tiriyavā ika roväi ho
gaṅgā mā̈i dehū tu apanī lahariyā to hama ḍūbi marabäi ho
kiyā tora sāsū sasura dukha kiyā näihara dūri base ho, ki näihara dūri base re
tiriyā ki tora kantā paradesa kavana dukha ḍūbi maro ho
nahį more sāsū sasura dukha nahį näihara dūri base
gaṅgā mā̈ī nahį mora kantā paradesa kokhiyā dukha ḍūbi marabäi ho

4 Cp. R. Tripāṭhī ('29; 4,5); D. Satyārthī (Dhīre Baho Gangā: 6,7); Satyendra ('49: 124, 125); K. Upādhyāya ('54: 111); S. Anila ('57: 72, 73). Lines III-VI and XI-XIII, repeated in many of our recorded songs and in other collections. Lines XV, XVII ‘more pichavaravā’ - motif is repeated in many songs.

[p. 43]

VII.

gangā mā̈ī ika re santati (bina)¹ jaga sūnā to hama ḍūbi marabäi ho

VIII.

ta jā̈ū tiriyavā ta ghara apane ta apane mandila bhītara, apane mandila bhītara ho

IX.

tiriyā āṭhau mahinā nau lagihaį to horilā janamihaį ho

X.

āṭhau mahinā nau lagalai to horilā janama bhäilai, babüā janama bhäile ho

XI.

sakhiyā bājai lāge anandan badhaiyā uṭhe lāgai sohara ho

XII.

sakhiyā nanda ghara bajala badhaiyā uṭhana lāge sohara ho

XIII.

dhīre dhīre bāje badhaiyā au rasai mę uṭhe sohara, rasai mę uṭhe sohara ho

XIV.

sakhi satarąg bājäe sahanaiyā sasura dvāre näubati ho

XV.

more pichavaravā sunaravā begai cali āvo, begai cali āväu ho

XVI.

are sonarā sone rūpe gaṛhäu kalasavā maį gaṅgā mā̈ī caṛhäibäi ho

XVII.

more pichavaravā rągarajavā begai cali āvo, begai cali āväu ho

XVIII.

rągarejavā rągi lāo caṭaki piyariyā maį gaṅgā mā̈ī caṛhäibäi ho

XIX.

jamunā ka ų̄cā kararavā tiriyavā jaba āvai, tiriyavā ika āväi ho

XX.

gaṅgā mā̈ī dehū tu apanī lahariyā maį kalasā caṛhäibäi ho

XXI.

hą̄ gaṅgā mā̈ī dehū tu apanī lahariyā maį piyarī caṛhäibäi ho

XXII.

jā̈o tiriyavā ghara apane to apane mandila bhītara, to apane mandila bhītara ho

XXIII.

tiriyā juga juga jiye nandalāla tu kalasā caṛhāye ho, tu

 

(baṛhe)

 

piyarī caṛhāye ho

XXIV.

tiriyā juga juga baṛhe ahivāta tu kalasā caṛhāye ho, tu piyarī caṛhāye ho

On a high dune of the (river) Yamunā² a woman cries, a woman cries:

1 Bina: this is our interpolation without which the meaning would not be clear.

2 In the Hindu tradition all rivers or bodies of water may be referred to as Gaṅgā. See also de Klerk ('51: 215-217).

[p. 44]

II.

- Oh mother Gaṅgā, (if) you (would) give me your one wave I (would) drown and kill myself.

III.

- Do you have trouble from father-in-law and mother-in-law, or, (is it that) your parental family dwells far?

IV.

Or (is it that) your beloved one (has gone) to a foreign land? Because of what sorrow (would) you drown and kill yourself?

V.

- I have no trouble with father-in-law and mother-in-law, nor (it is that) my parental family dwells far,

VI.

Mother Gaṅgā, nor has my beloved (gone to a) foreign land (but) for the pain of (the infertility of my) womb would I drown and kill myself.

VII.

Mother Gaṅgā, without a single progeny the world is empty so I would drown and kill myself.

VIII.

- Now, go, woman; now, go to your home;

 

go inside your residence¹

 

- inside your residence.

IX.

Woman, it will take eight or nine months and then a baby boy² will be born.

X.

It took eight or nine months and then a baby boy was born, a good little baby boy³ was born.

XI.

Sakhi, congratulatory music began to be played joyfully; (the sound of) sohar (singing) began to rise.

XII.

Sakhi, at the home of Nanda the congratulatory music was played; (the sound of) sohar (singing) began to rise;

XIII.

The congratulatoy music plays (ever so) softly; (the sound of) sohar (singing) rises with sweetness.

XIV.

Sakhi, (there) is played a seven-coloured śahnā̈ī,⁴ and a music of welcome at the doors of the father-in-law's (home).

XV.

- O goldsmith (residing) behind (my) home, come in haste, come in haste.

XVI.

O goldsmith, chisel a pitcher of gold and silver (of which) I will make an offering to the mother⁵ Gaṅgā.

1 The Sanskrit term mandira means a temple; mandila or maṇḍila used for a residence would suggest the sanctity of a home. See also p. 14.

2 Horila or horil, a term of endearment towards a baby boy.

3 Babüā, a term of endearment towards a young boy.

4 A musical instrument, like an oboe, not played in Surinam.

5 Variant: gaṅgā ke caṛhäibe; I will make an offering to Gaṅgā.

[p. 45]

XVII.

- O dyer (residing) behind my (home), come in haste; come in haste.

XVIII.

O dyer, dye and bring me a brilliant (ly dyed) yellow headscarf (which) I will make an offering to mother¹ Gaṅgā.

XIX.

When the woman comes to the high dunes of Yamunā² - a woman comes (and says);

XX.

- O mother Gaṅgā, give (me) your one wave; I will make an offering of the pitcher.

XXI.

Yes, mother Gaṅgā, give (me) your wave; I will make an offering of the yellow headscarf.

XXII.

- Go, woman, to your home - indeed, inside your residence; indeed, inside your residence.

XXIII.

Woman, may Nandalāla³ live⁴ for many aeons (since) you have made an offering of the pitcher; you have made the offering of the yellow headscarf.

XXIV.

Woman, may (your) marital good luck⁵ increase for aeons (since) you have made an offering of the pitcher, you have made an offering of the yellow headscarf.

1 See note 5 page 44.

2 See note 2 page 43.

3 Son of Nanda, Kṛṣṇa.

4 Variant: baṛhe; may increase, prosper.

5 Ahivāt (S. avidhavātva) synonymous in the dialect with suhāg (S. saubhāgya), the marital auspiciousness, a woman's state of marital happiness and luck whereby her husband may live long and her womb be fruitful.