Pooja Bhuva's Blog: To a Hero - Worshipper by Sri Aurobindo

TOPIC OF THE BLOG:-

This blog is a part of a thinking activity task given by Megha Trivedi Ma'am from the Department of English, MKBU, Bhavnagar. This blog will provide you with information about Sri Aurobindo and his Poem named 'To a Hero - Worshipper' and I will also try to explain this poem as per my understanding. I like to give some credit to Chat GPT for helping me to solve my grammar mistakes.

SRI AUROBINDO:-

"No one can write about my life because it has not been on the surface for man to see," wrote Sri Aurobindo. On another occasion, when requested to give his consent to a disciple for helping a writer of his biography, he wrote in his inimitable way, "I do not want to be murdered by my own disciples in cold print." (Click here to read more)

Aurobindo Ghose also known as Sri Aurobindo was born on August 15, 1872 in Calcutta, India and died on December 5, 1950 in Pondicherry. (Britannica) He blossomed into the revered figure of Sri Aurobindo by assuming a multitude of roles: that of a diligent student, distinguished officer, erudite professor, impassioned revolutionary, devoted patriot, affectionate husband, accomplished poet, profound philosopher, dedicated yogi, revered guru, and insightful visionary. At the age of seven, he, along with his two elder brothers, was sent to England for education. Despite securing the 11th rank out of 250 candidates in the Indian Civil Service competitive exam and successfully completing two years of probation, he chose to forgo the final interview due to his reluctance to serve the British colonial administration. (Chaama)

After a span of 14 years, he reentered India in 1893, securing a position in the Baroda Service. He dedicated 13 years to serving the Maharaja, subsequently transitioning to a role as a Professor. During this period, he diligently acquired proficiency in Sanskrit and various Indian languages, all the while immersing himself in the essence of Indian civilization. A proactive participant in the Freedom Movement, he forged connections with eminent public figures including Lokmanya Tilak and Sister Nivedita. Additionally, he displayed keen interest in the Baroda Army and played a pivotal role in initiating resistance groups in Bengal. In the year 1901, he entered the bonds of matrimony with Mrinalini Devi. (Chaama)

While in jail at Calcutta, he had “many mystical experiences, including the spirit of Swami Vivekananda opening his eyes to the higher planes of consciousness leading to a super mind. Well-versed in both Indian and European cultures, Sri Aurobindo was proficient in English, Sanskrit and many Indian languages, besides mastering Greek, Latin, French, German and Italian. His works include the synthesis of East and West, translations of and commentaries on the Vedas, Upanishads and the Gita, literary, social and political plays, historical criticism, spiritual works and three volumes of letters. (Chaama)

He was also an accomplished journalist, undertaking the editorial responsibilities of newspapers such as "Vande Mataram." (McDermott)

Here is a beautiful Film on the Life of Sri Aurobindo available on YouTube:-

AUROBINDO'S WORKS:-

The Life Divine
Savitri: A Legend and a Symbol
The Synthesis of Yoga
Essays on the Gita
The Ideal of Human Unity
The Human Cycle: The Psychology of Social Development
The Human Cycle, Ideal of Human Unity, War and Self Determination
The Upanishads
Secret of the Veda
Hymns to the Mystic Fire
The Mother
Poems

TO A HERO - WORSHIPPER:-

Here is the detailed explanation and my Interpretation about the Poem To a Hero - Worshipper. This Poem is written by Sri Aurobindo and divided into 2 parts which may refer to his ideas about Mysticism, Nature and Romanticism. More like a sad tone throughout the poem which signifies that what readers think about the poet is not right and the speaker has no such magical powers or insight in him.

My life is then a wasted ereme,

My song but idle wind

Because you merely find

According to Merriam Webster Dictionary ereme is a New Latin word from Greek erēm-, erēmo-, from erēmos lonely, solitary and erēmia desert, from erēmos + -ia -y. So, Ereme simply means Desert or Solitary. (Erem-) Poet might want to say that his life is like a "wasted ereme", meaning a solitary or secluded place. So, he is suggesting that his life is isolated or barren, devoid of meaningful experiences or connections. "My song but idle wind": This line implies that the speaker's efforts to communicate or express themselves through his "song" (which can be metaphorical, referring to his words or actions) are futile and have no impact. It's as if his words are like "idle wind," which is wind that serves no purpose and goes unnoticed. "Because you merely find": The speaker appears to attribute the sense of waste and futility in his life and his ineffectual communication to someone referred to as "you" or it might be referred to readers. It suggests that "you" (possibly a specific person or a general audience) only "find" or perceive something superficial or unimportant in the speaker's life or words.

In all this woven wealth of rhyme

Harsh figures with harsh music wound,

The uncouth voice of gorgeous birds,

A ruby carcanet of sound,

A cloud of lovely words?

In all this woven wealth of rhyme might refer to his poems which are woven in form of writing which is filled with rhyming words and poetic devices. "Harsh figures with harsh music wound" indicates that within this elaborate and rhyming composition, there are elements of harshness, possibly in the form of stark or jarring imagery or themes. The use of "harsh music" suggests that even though there are harsh elements, they are woven together with a musical quality, creating a unique and somewhat discordant harmony. "The uncouth voice of gorgeous birds" introduces an intriguing contrast between "uncouth" (meaning unrefined or rough) and "gorgeous" birds. This contrast may symbolize the blend of raw or unconventional voices with the beauty of his expressions within the speaker's work. The phrase "ruby carcanet of sound" suggests that between the harshness and discord, there are moments of precious beauty, similar to a necklace of rubies in terms of his value and allure. "A cloud of lovely words" may mean the composition and mix of words he made but at the same time he put a question mark which makes this mysterious for the speaker too.

Necklace of Rubies

I am, you say, no magic rod,

No cry oracular,

No swart and ominous star,

No Sinai thunder voicing God.

"I am, you say, no magic road" - let's first change the order of this line like - I am No Magic Road, As you say. Here You mean the people or reader who considers poets or Speakers like they have some magical abilities inside them. "No cry Oracular", here Oracular may mean divine insight, and no cry oracular might suggest that the speaker has no divine or special insight in him. "No swart and Ominous star", here Swart means Swarthy (Dark skinned people). We have to mix these two words together to know the meaning of this line. Speaker may mean by this line that he isn't any Dark Star which means an invisible star known to exist only from observation of its radio, infrared, or other spectrum or of its gravitational effect, such as an invisible component of a binary or multiple star. "No Sinai thunder voicing God": This line refers to the biblical story of the prophet Moses receiving the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai amidst thunder and lightning. The speaker is denying that they are a voice of God, similar to the thunder on Sinai. They are distancing themselves from any claim of divine revelation or authority.

Dark Star

Swarthy

Thunder of God at Mountain Sinai

I have no burden to my song,

No smouldering word instinct with fire,

No spell to chase triumphant wrong,

No spirit-sweet desire.

"I have no burden to my song": The speaker is saying that his song, which could be a metaphor for his creative work, doesn't carry a heavy burden or a profound message. He doesn't feel compelled to convey a weighty or significant theme through his art. "No smouldering word instinct with fire": This line suggests that the speaker's words lack the intense passion often associated with powerful and impactful writing. There are no "smouldering" (the process of burning slowly with smoke but no flame) words, no fiery or passionate elements in his work. "No spell to chase triumphant wrong": Here, the speaker acknowledges that his work lacks the ability to cast a magical spell that could defeat great wrongs or injustices. They don't possess the power to triumph over significant moral or societal issues through his creative output. "No spirit-sweet desire": The phrase "spirit-sweet desire" likely refers to deep, profound, or spiritually meaningful desires and aspirations. The speaker is suggesting that they don't have such excellent or transcendent desires that drive his creative efforts.

Smouldering

Mine is not Byron’s lightning spear,

Nor Wordsworth’s lucid strain

Nor Shelley’s lyric pain,

Nor Keats’, the poet without peer.

By these lines we can easily see that he means my work does not possess the quality like Byron, Wordsworth, Shelley or Keats works. With the references of these Poets he referred to Romanticism in this Poem.

I by the Indian waters vast

Did glimpse the magic of the past,

And on the oaten pipe I play

Warped echoes of an earlier day.

"I by the Indian waters vast" suggests that the speaker found inspiration and influence in the landscape and culture of India, which is rich in history and tradition. "Did glimpse the magic of the past" indicates that the speaker draws inspiration from the historical and mystical aspects of India, which have left a profound impact on his poetic sensibilities. "And on the oaten pipe I play Warped echoes of an earlier day" suggests that the speaker's poetry is like playing a simple, rustic instrument (the oaten pipe) and creating melodies that are similar to earlier times. His poetic style is characterized by a connection to the past, and they acknowledge that his work is not as grand or groundbreaking as that of the famous poets mentioned earlier.

My friend, when first my spirit woke,

I trod the scented maze

Of Fancy’s myriad ways,

"My friend, when first my spirit woke", by friend he addresses readers here and says that of course my spirit and motivation woke up too and when it woke up, "I trod the scented maze" here trod means walk and on the scented maze kind of path. "Of Fancy’s myriad ways," might be suggested in the form of fancy (fantasy) and in myriad (countless) ways. By all these three lines he may mean that I too walked on the path of fantasy and imagination countless times when motivation got into me.

I studied Nature like a book

Men rack for meanings: yet I find

No rubric in the scarlet rose,

No moral in the murmuring wind,

No message in the snows.

"I studied Nature like a book Men rack for meanings:", by these line it may means that Speaker also studied nature which also refers to the romanticism and by Men rack for meanings means Men are being tortured on the rack just like that I studied nature like a book and nearly like tortured myself (make myself study hard) to find the meanings. "Yet I find No rubric in the scarlet rose, No moral in the murmuring wind, No message in the snows", Even though doing all of these, I didn't find any rubric, any morals or any messages in nature.

Scarlet Rose

For me the daisy shines a star,

The crocus flames a spire,

A horn of golden fire,

Narcissus glows a silver bar:

"For me the daisy shines a star, The crocus flames a spire, A horn of golden fire, Narcissus glows a silver bar": In these lines, the speaker personifies different flowers, assigning them qualities and associations that evoke celestial or glorious imagery. The daisy becomes a "star," the crocus is likened to a "spire," and narcissus is described as a "silver bar." This personification emphasizes the bright and beautiful qualities of these flowers.

Daisy

Crocus

Narcissus

Cowslips, the golden breath of God,

I deem the poet’s heritage,

And lilies silvering the sod

Breathe fragrance from his page.

"Cowslips, the golden breath of God, I deem the poet’s heritage": The speaker sees cowslips (Cowslip is a Yellow Flower) as something very special. They refer to them as "the golden breath of God," suggesting that cowslips have a divine or heavenly quality. The speaker then connects cowslips to poets, considering them as the "heritage" of poets. This implies that poets draw inspiration from the beauty and purity represented by cowslips. "And lilies silvering the sod Breathe fragrance from his page": Lilies are seen as enhancing the landscape ("silvering the sod") and, symbolically, enhancing the words and creations of poets. The lilies are believed to "breathe fragrance from his page," meaning that they inspire and enrich the work of poets, making it more beautiful and meaningful.

Cowslips

Lilies

No herald of the sun am I

But in a moonlit vale

A russet nightingale

Who pours sweet song, he knows not why,

Who pours like wine a gurgling note

Paining with sound his swarthy throat,

Who pours sweet song he recks not why

Nor hushes ever lest he die.

"No herald of the sun am I", here Herald means a messenger and "But in a moonlit vale", means Moonlight Valley. To know the meaning we have to connect both the lines which conclude that I am not any messenger of the sun but I am someone from the moonlight. Through these metaphors he may suggest that I am not a big person, I am just some human being. "A russet nightingale Who pours sweet song, he knows not why, Who pours like wine a gurgling note Paining with sound his swarthy throat": Here, the speaker metaphorically likens themselves to a russet (reddish-brown) nightingale, a bird known for its melodious singing. They describe the act of singing as something instinctive ("he knows not why"), comparing it to pouring wine and mentioning the pain associated with the effort. "Who pours sweet song he recks not why Nor hushes ever lest he die": The speaker continues to emphasize the spontaneous and uninhibited nature of their singing or creative expression. They don't sing with a specific purpose or intention ("he recks not why"). Besides, they never stop singing ("nor hushes ever"), suggesting an ongoing, relentless outpouring of creativity. The line "lest he die" might imply that the speaker's creative spirit is so strong that it must be expressed continuously, or it might wither away or "die." The speaker is conveying that their artistic expression is not about heralding the sun or celebrating brightness; instead, it is rooted in the introspective and instinctual, much like a nightingale singing in the quiet of a moonlit vale. They sing not because they have a specific reason but because it's a natural and constant part of their being. This portrayal captures the idea of an artist who creates for the sake of creation itself, driven by an inner compulsion and the need to express themselves, rather than for external recognition or purpose.

Moonlit vale