Aghori Poem by Rejeesh Palavila

Aghori is a drum waking in cremation grounds!
Like a rock adorned with ashes from pyre is Aghori!

In the Ganges flowing from the Himalayan braid
Aghori is the voice spelling Siva mantra! !

His offering is the flesh burning in the pyre!
Happily he lives in the cemetery, indifference! !

Trident, the weapon of destruction, in one hand!
On the other, a skull seeking alms! !

His throat booms 'I'm Siva, I'm Siva'!
Rudraksha bound matted hair on the head! !

Everything is symbol of Siva, asylum
Apparent happy state of salvation! !

How many feet seeking the path to Supreme soul
In Bharath, sitting in lotus posture

Evincing fire in firewood, spiritual seekers
In the soil where the pedestal of knowledge was made

In the high of charas and bhang, in the
drum beats booming in the pools of Ganges..

Dancing in the light of funeral pyre,
Smearing hot ashes head to toe,

Meditating on the form of dancing Lord Bhairava
What heaven are these dancers making! !

Poem by Rejeesh Palavila (Malayalam)
Translated by Variath Madhavankutti