KALIYE KRISHNA


A musical narrative with character voices and chorus
[written for Jyotsna 2005. Performed in Svaradhara in Dec 2005]


1. BRINDAVAN, on a calm and fine day. MUSIC IN.

Kaliye:
Ssss… Ssss… Shhh…. Shhhh
Slowly and surely I make my slippery journey…
Of my slithering serpentine self to that…
Fabulous fragrant abode of joy

Calmly carefully I crawl cravenly
Surreptitiously superstitiously to that…
Fabulous playground of that Krishna boy!

For I have heard…
It’s a place of plenty
of pleasure and leisure
Of bliss so divine… it’s absurd
For I have heard…
That Krishna is a morsel
so sweet so plump so yum
Not to go… would be absurd

So,
Calmly carefully Kaliye, that’s me,
Kaliye slithers surrep-superstitiously
To that sweet, plump, yum, fun playground
Of that… of Kaliye’s Krishna boy


2. FLUTE SONG IN

Gopas:
(Laughter song) Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!
HARI! Hari Krishna Hari Krishna Krishna Krishna Hari Hari

Gopa 1:
C’mon guys
While our cows graze away
With Krishna we must play

Gopa 2:
Under a tree he’s fast asleep
It’s time for… hide and seek

Gopas sing Laughter Song

Gopa 3:
With Krishna we love to stay all day
Listen to his flute, while the time away

Gopa 4:
Under the sky life is sweet
Krishna makes everything complete

Gopas:
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Let’s hide let’s hide
Hee hee hee hee hee hee
He’ll seek he will seek

3. CELLO KALIYE

Kaliye:
Mmmmm… shlurp! I hear voishes I shmell food
My tonguesh’ shlurping… Oooo… it’sh sho good

Gopas:
With Krishna we love to stay all day

Kaliye:
Kaliye – today’sh your day

Gopas:
With Krishna we must play

Kaliye:
The sweet dumpling’sh coming your way… (music crescendo)
KHAAAAARRRH!

Gopa 1:
Who are you…?

Kaliye:
Kaaaa….!

Gopa 2:
Who?

Kaliye:
Kaliye!

Gopa 3:
Who are you looking for?

Kaliye:
Krishna!

Gopa 4:
You’re a snake!

Kaliye:
I know… is that bad?

Gopa 5:
You’re beautiful!

Kaliye:
Thank you!

Gopa 6:
You’re so long!

Kaliye:
You’re so cute!

Gopa 7:
You’re so colourful!

Kaliye:
And magical… mmmmmmm (bewitching music)

Gopas 2, 3, 4 & 5:
Wow!

Kaliye:
Yow!

Gopa 1:
He’s blue, he’s green, now he’s red and purple

Gopa 6:
He’s got rubies and diamonds…

Kaliye:
Look! Look at my eyes… (bewitching music)

Gopas 4, 5, 6, & 7:
Wow!….

Gopa 1:
You are fabulous

Gopa 2:
You are phenomenal!

Kaliye:
But hungry

Gopa 3:
You are always changing

Gopa 4:
You are enchanting

Kaliye:
But hungry

Gopa 5:
You are Kaliya, what can we give you?

Kaliye:
Something to eat… something, someone
You’re so cute and juicy, can I eat you?
Just kidding, kids, actually I’m vegetarian.
I’m on a fast…. Look in my mouth
Aaahhh!…. it’s clean, haven’t had anything substantial for years…
See!… aaaaah!

Gopa 1:
Open your mouth bigger…

Kaliye:
Sure!… aaaah!

Gopas 2, 3, 4:
What a big mouth!
It’s like a cave
Oh look!, he’s got shining jewels for teeth

Kaliye:
Yaa, step right in for a closeup inspection
Free admission
Step right in and be sure… be my guest!
Aaaah!… kamawn dawn we shy!

Gopas 3, 4, 5 & 6
Let’s go in and have a look
Let’s go in
Let’s have a look
Let’s hide here
Krishna won’t find us here
Let’s hide here
Krishna won’t know where to look
Wait!
Let’s wait for Krishna

Kaliye:
KHAAAARRRHHH!

Krishna:
KALIYA!

Gopas:
Krishna!

Kaliye:
Krishnaaaa!

Krishna:
Can I be the first?

Kaliye:
Ooooo… sure… but why deny your friends the pleasure
I’ve got so many heads, let each one enter whichever head
He wants…. Hmmm

Krishna:
No, Kaliye…

Kaliye:
Mmmm OK

Krishna:
I’m going in…

Kaliye:
I’m waiting…

MUSIC EFX

Gopas, separately and together:
He closed his mouth!
He’s got Krishna in his mouth!
Kaliya, spit him out

Kaliye:
Mmmmm? (laughing) Hmhm hm hm!!!

Gopas, as before:
Spit him out
Give him out
You’re a lout
Give him out or
We’ll beat the daylights out…

MUSIC EFX

Kaliye:
AAARRRGGGHHH!

Gopas, as before:
He’s opened his mouth
Krishna’s coming out…

Kaliye:
Aaaoooowwww! Why you….!

Krishna:
Why you dirty, lying slippery evil thief of a snake
A juicy yummy meal of us you want to make…

Kaliye:
Why you… who are you calling a snake?
You pulled out my teeth, you’ve given me a splitting headache!

Krishna:
You came pretending to be friends with us
You actually wanted to make an end of us…

Kaliye:
YESSS!
Slowly and surely
I have made my slippery journey
of my slithering serpentine self
To this fabulous fragrant abode of joy
For I have heard
of this place of plenty
Of pleasure and leisure
Of Krishna so divine… it’s absurd!
I WANT TO EAT YOU!

4. BATTLE
Music up in tempo excitement to show the face off between Krishna and Kaliye. Kaliye pounces on Krishna powerfully and swirls and twirls, creating a strong current in the river, and secures Krishna within his coils. His numerous heads gather one by one around the struggling Krishna, and are glaring at him with hate and venom. Just as Kaliye is about to strike, Krishna gives him a hard kick, and jumps onto Kaliye’s head/heads. He begins to dance. His dancing feet pummel Kaliye with great force, and the amazing feat of a dance as a form of attack is a wondrous sight. Kaliye is unable to withstand the terrible and terrific blows from the divine child. He finally gives up the fight. [a full orchestration of this segment should bring out the joy, power, excitement of Krishna’s feat.]

Kaliye:
Mercy! Mercy! Mercy!
Let me be, release me
O child of wonder and light
Have mercy on me
Forgive my impunity
Forgive my audacity
Please, have pity on me!

Krishna:
O beautiful Kaliye
A monster you have become
You have grown covetous and cruel
Greedy and insatiable
Can it be that I should let you live
And once again let the world tremble at your name?
Or should I now kick your brains in
And you will never crawl the earth ever again?

Kaliye:
O Krishna, divine lord, supreme being
Let me live, let me live!
You are divine, you can forgive!
Let me live and sing your name
In yonder place where none can be harmed by me
Let me sing your glories
Let me sing of your glorious feet
That danced on my head
Let me live so I can sing of Hari!

Krishna:
Live, Kaliye…

Kaliye:
O Hari Krishna Hari Krishna Krishna Krishna Hari Hari

Gopas:
Hari Krishna Hari Krishna Krishna Krishna Hari Hari

All together:
Hari Krishna Hari Krishna Krishna Krishna Hari Hari

THE END

SHARIRA

1.
I have been here before
Flowers in my hand
Gazing in, through the temple door
My heart, a cup of blossoms
Plucked with hope, faith and devotion
As I step on twilight cool temple floor

I have been here many times before
Wishing and praying
Seeking sanctuary – no! More!
My mind, a cup of memories
Stirred aflame, of love’s sublime bliss
As I come to you, my heart, to adore

Bless this pilgrim as before
O sweet Lord Ganesha
She praises your joyous dancing form
Her body, an invocation
Purified, and true, with dedication
To make this pilgrimage once more

Bless this pilgrim once more
O sweet Lord Ganesha
Bless this yearning soul once more
Remove the veil of ignorance
Illuminate all, with your divine vision
Dance, open the door, so I can adore

2.
O my love
Birdsong fills this twilight time
And spring, flush and green
With humming bees drunk on love’s nectar
Remind me of your love sublime

O my lord
Nearby, temple bells chime
As evening falls, I wait
Eager and yearning, but you turn away
Pitiful me, lovelorn at lovers’ time

Come my lord
See this beautiful city
I have built you a shrine
Where lovers’ loving creepers will entwine us
Where our lotus hearts in bliss will blossom
And my soul on wings of joy will fly

My body is my temple
My heart is my shrine
A secret sacred place
To meet you face to face
Then and there you make
My body as thy temple
My heart as thy shrine

Come, this love is waiting
Filled with defenceless longing
This heart, these lips, these limbs
Quench now this quivering soul
With your love supreme

O Bhoga Thyagesha
Uplift me unto you
Hold me close to you
Let lovers two, one become
To taste supreme bliss - anandam

O my lord, pitiless, you turn away
Manmatha’s arrows are aimed my way
Springtime song harsh with cuckoo’s cooing
Springtime breeze heated with lovers’ longing
Make painful and senseless your delay
Come, O my love, take your love away

3.
Hear this padam, O hear this song
Stirred from a loving heart
That has been waiting long:

Yesterday, at twilight
By the bank of the river
I saw her
Face aglow with the light
Of love and desire
Every gesture
Suggesting
Love’s pleasure.
Who was she?

O handsome lord of my life
Beautiful Kanda, peacock rider
There you were
You and her, side by side
Drinking from one another
Sweet pleasure
From eyes filled
With love’s desire

Hear this song, O hear this song:
I watched and I watched
Reminded of a time not so long
When you and I were so caught
In love’s divine embrace
Sweet soft words you spoke
Charmed my heart to race
And into your arms you took
Me… Eager for you
Eager to be held against you

O beautiful Kanda, peacock rider
There you were
As once we were
Held together
As divine lovers
To fulfill love’s desire

O beautiful Kanda, peacock rider
There you were
As once we were
Come now hither
To fulfill
And remove love’s desire

4.
Come, little Krishna, on your darling little feet
your little feet adorned with twinkling anklets sweet
come bully me

stamp, little Krishna, stamp your darling little feet
plead with your eyes and pouting lips so sweet
and beg buttermilk of mother Yashoda
giving in, her eyes were filled with tears of endearment
looking on, heaven and earth were filled with astonishment
ornaments tinkling, the whole world would sing
stamp your feet, fill the world with praising

come, little Krishna, on your darling little feet
your little feet adorned with twinkling anklets sweet
come…
dance
dance on crafty, cruel Kaliye, with your dancing little feet
crush the crawling Kaliye with your divine dancing feat
jump on his head, stamp on his ego, subdue the snake
and beautiful and pure Yamuna once more make

come darling little Krishna on darling little feet
your wondrous stamping and dancing please repeat


[written for Daisygarani and Shangita Namasivayam Sep 2006]

CONSUMED BY PASSION

The Goddess, yearning for the vision of her beloved for ten thousand years, saw him seated in meditation under a tree. At the moment he opened his eyes to the world, she became shy and turned away. Unable to resist, she stole a glance just as he turned to look at her. A moment of eternity. An eternity of desire filled the created universe. From her glance, stolen in shyness and tender love, Manmatha, the god of desire and passion, was born. His weapon was the sugar cane bow and sweet intoxicating flower arrows that would strike every soul in its deepest core. And while Shiva and Parvathi were engaged in their cosmic dance, Manmatha would roam free, to rule the world – with passion!!!

1.
Ananta navaratna vilasat kataka kinkinni
Jhalam jhala jhalam jhala ravam…. (quote from Patanjali stotram)

Like the pious and devoted Patanjali, I closed my eyes, put my palms together in prayer, spoke to no one, thought only of you, my Lord. Thinking and dreaming of you, I closed my eyes to the world, hoping to see you…

After what seemed to be an eternity of darkness and despair… I awoke to the glorious vision of your dance, O Lord Nataraja, Lord of the Dance… and drinking from the amritam of your vision… I was consumed with tears flowing, heart breaking and mind blinding joy… and then, and then, the vision of you, seared in my mind, caught in my heart, became the fount of my tears – for now it is only a memory, a flash of brilliant light in the darkness of my soul – and I awoke in sadness, consumed with passion, longing once again for you…

Now, in sadness and in joy, but consumed with passion, I remember how you danced to the praises of Patanjali. I sing now the song he sang, and I dance now the dance you danced – remembering, hoping, wishing, longing… praying…

2.
Can this body wait through eternity! No, but this soul can. Having seen you once, and knowing you are my only one – I come in another birth, in another form – in pursuit of you, you in another form. O Krishna, have I not revealed to you the truth of my soul? I have prepared myself lovingly for your coming and waited through the night.

Closing my eyes in fatigue for just a moment, I suddenly awake to birds singing their morning song! O another dark night has passed with my heart longing for you… why do you not come, O Krishna? Give me one good reason – were you playing your flute and forgot all about me?

Draupadi, honoured princess of the Pandavas, raised her hands to you, and you saved her. Won’t you, just once, show me that you love me, too? Have I not revealed the truth of my soul? I am waiting, waiting in longing, must you delay? Are you some place else, Krishna, my love, playing your sweet flute for someone else? Tell me please, when and what time you will come… I will wait… don’t forget me!

I know, all the gopis who have been dancing with you, told me how you danced on the serpent Kaliya’s head, how you killed Kamsa, and how you lifted Govardhana hill with your little finger. Did your fatigue make you forget me?

I know… you sang your song divine, your glory shining forth from the highest peak, and all the gopis love you. I know, I will wait… but don’t delay, come and make me yours.

I don’t understand this indifferent silence. Give me a reason why you leave me thus. I have sung a thousand songs in praise of you… will you not show me your compassion, and come to me? Come to this one suffering and pining for you day and night. O Lord asleep on the endless serpent on the ocean of eternity, I have come to you in love, pleading at your lotus feet…

3.
Like the surging waves of the ocean, my heart heaves in hope, and breaks into the froth and foam of desire when I hear the song of your flute, O enchanting flute player. I stand motionless, like a statue, not knowing where time went.

It is night but the clear moon burns me like the sun, and my eyes strain in the direction of your flute song floating on the breeze, O enchanting one. My eyes blur, and something is happening inside me.

My heart is tender and open, fill it with your love. Make me happy. Both of us alone in the forest, come embrace me. Fill me, fill my spirit and my heart with love and joy.

The sea and her waves are inseparable. The sun and his rays are inseparable. You and me… are inseparable! But I am crying out loud for you, heartbroken, while you make merry with others. Is this right? Is this your way? I suffer when I hear your enchanting flute song…

4.
I am lost, my friend, lost in love with the dark-hued Lord Krisha. They talk about my lovelorn looks, do I care? I am in love, my lord is Krishna. He holds the universe in his little mud-filled mouth, he hoists the Govardhana hill on his little finger, and he saves desperate Draupadi from dishonour. O totally in love, I have surrendered to my Kannan, my Lord Krishna, supreme ruler of my body and soul.

5.
I close my eyes, and in my mind, I see my love. The one my soul has yearned for through eternity. Like a brilliant flash of light and joy, I have seen him before. Filled my heart, my mind, and my soul with sweet, sweet joy – I have tasted his love before. I remember. I close my eyes, and in my mind, I see my love… and me, another moment in eternity, dancing our dance of love forever more. I close my eyes, and I see him as I did before…

[written for Shangita Namasivayam 2006]