Write the substance and explanation of the poem entitled Gitanjali Poem No. 11: Leave this Chanting.

Write the substance and explanation of the poem entitled Gitanjali

Poem No. 11: Leave this Chanting.

Ans.

Substance to the Poem

The gist of the poem is that one cannot find God by counting beads of rosary and singing songs in praise of God or chanting Mantras. God is present in the midst of tillers and stone breakers who toil hard to earn their livelihood. God himself has bound with the act of creation and He has been continuously doing this for the time immemorial. He loves those that partakes in the acts of creation and He may be found among them.

Explanations

(1) Leave this chanting and singing and telling of beads!

Whom dost thou worship in this lonely dark corner of a

temple with doors all shut? Open thine eyes and see thy

God is not before thee!

He is there where the tiller is tilling the hard ground and

where pathmaker is breaking stones. He is with them in

Sun and in shower, and his garment is covered with dust.

Put off thy holy mantle and even like him come down on

the dusty soil!

Reference to the Context: These lines have been taken from poem No. 11 of Gitanjali‘ by R. N. Tagore.

The poet condemns traditional form of worship. He asks priests to take part in the day to day work of the poor and the humble.

Explanation: It is no use of reciting mantras in a tuneful voice, singing hymns and counting beads of a rosary. Man can get nothing by worshipping God in the dark corner of a temple which has no contact with the outer world. When the devotee of ens his eyes, he sees that the temple is empty and God is not there anywhere.

God is present where the peasant is cultivating hard ground and where the labourer is breaking stones with which road are constructed. God keeps them company in the sun and the rain where they work God is always busy with the work of creation and he loves those that partake in the act of creation. He works with the poor workers and His own clothes are soiled with dust like those of tillers. Let the priest put off the holy cloak and come down and work on the dusty ground along with God Himself. He will feel the presence of God close to him.

(2) Deliverance ? Where is this deliverance to be found ? Our

master himself has joyfully taken upon him the bonds of

creation; he is bound with us all for ever.

Come out of thy meditations and leave aside thy flowers

and incense! What harm is there if thy clothes become

tattered and stained? Meet him and stand by him in toil

and in sweat of thy brow.

Reference to the Context: As above. God is not found in the dark corner of a temple. He may be found in the midst of tillers and stone breakers. The best form of worship is to live and wore with peasants and labourers.

Explanation: The poet says that if the worshipper is looking for salvation or freedom from work, he must borne in mind that salvation is to be found nowhere. Even God Himself is never free from the act of creation.

He has joyfully taken upon himself the task of creation and He has been continuously creating world, people, animals and various other things for a long period. He does his work without taking any rest.

The traditional worshipper should give up his meditation and flowers and incense which are a part of traditional form of worship. He must not mind if his clothes are torn and soiled in discharging of his day to day duty. If man wants to meet God it can only be possible by doing hard work and shedding the sweat of his brow.