Friday, February 25, 2005

Layla and Majnun

The story of "Layla and Majnun" is one of the best known legends of the Orient, both a touching love story and a profound spiritual allegory. Nizami collected a number of folk versions and shaped them into a single narrative poem of some 4,000 stanzas near the end of the twelfth century. The Sufis consider Nizami's "Layla and Majnun" an important parable of religious experience. Majnun, through his great love for Layla, is able to transcend individual identity and becomes the Beloved.

The most popular version of this love story "Leyli and Majnun" was penned by Nizami Ganjavi (1141-1209), who lived and died in Ganja, an ancient city in Azerbaijan where his shrine stands today. He wrote in Persian as was the literary custom of the day though few Persians today grant that Nizami was of Azeri ethnicity. Eric Clapton's famous song Layla was inspired by this legend.

From 12th Century Persia, the ending of the famous epic of unrequited love.

These two friends are one, eternal companions.
He is Majnun,
the king of the world in right action.
And she is Layla,
the moon among idols in compassion.

In the world, like unpierced rubies
They treasured their fidelity
Affectionately,
But found no rest
And could not attain their heart's desire.

Here they suffer grief no more.
So it will be until eternity.
Whoever endures suffering
And forebears in that world
Will be joyous and exalted in this world.

Whoever would find a place in that world
Must tread on the lusts of this world.
This world is dust
And is perishable.
That world is pure and eternal. . . .

Commit yourself to love's sanctuary and at once
Find freedom from your ego.
Fly in love as an arrow towards its target.
Love loosens the knots of being,
Love is liberation from the vortex of egotism.

In love, every cup of sorrow which bites
into the soul gives it new life.
Many a draft bitter as poison has become
in love delicious...
However agonizing the experience,
If it is for love it is well.
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