MANY FORMS OF LOVE

Ethereal

A poem and some thoughts about Agape¹

Who so heartless, as to not break into a sonnet, when greeted by views this divine?

The world broke my heart, over and over again. But the universe refuses to disappoint.

— Aparna

The view outside my window last morning, left me completely breathless. I grabbed my camera and started clicking. Each picture that revealed itself, had me speechless with awe. The poem formed itself in my head while I was hastily pressing the shutter. It felt as if the universe gently whispered it in my ear. Out of respect, I am ignoring the technicalities, and sharing the words and images in the form they appeared — with minimal adulteration, filtering or bungling at my end.

I had prepared a different poem to publish this week, but the universe clearly had other plans…

Forms of Love

¹Some forms of love identified by ancient Greek philosophers were: divine or universal love (Agape), familial love (Storge), friendly or platonic love (Philia), romantic love (Eros), committed or long-lasting love (Pragma), playful love (Ludus), guest love (Xenia), self-love (Philautia), and obsessive love (Mania).

As per the Greeks, Agape (divine or universal love) is the love of God for humans, and the reciprocal love humans feel for God. The definition extends, and this love is considered to be manifested in the unconditional, unselfish love of one’s fellow beings.

Agape in Each Droplet

Look carefully at the image above, ‘Agape, in Each Droplet’. Do you see the mini droplets on the strands of spider web? Do you see the buds and branches reflected in each sparkle of bokeh? That is the nature of Agape. It permeates every particle, of each droplet, being, and soul…God, man, beast, plant, earth, nature, everything blends together in this love…

Noor, a Song About Agape One of my personal favourites is the song Noor (lyrics below) from the Bollywood movie, Delhi 6. I feel it brings to life, the essence of Agape.

“Zarre zarre mein us hi ka noor hai Jhaank khud mein woh na tujhse door hai Ishq hai usse toh sabse ishq kar… Is ibaadat ka yahi dastoor hai Ismein usmein aur usmein hai wo hi… Yaar mera har taraf bharpoor hai”

— Prasoon Joshi

English translation (it doesn’t do justice to the melody and beauty, but is a close approximation of the meaning)

(God’s) light permeates each and every particle Look within yourself, s/he is not far from you If you love (God), then love everyone… That is the way to practice this worship S/he’s in you, them and everyone… My beloved (God) is aplenty in all directions, everywhere

“There are as many forms of love as there are moments in time.” — Jane Austen

My understanding of love is limited at best, and I am often quite flummoxed by it. Maybe you are not supposed to understand it. Or maybe I just need to try harder. My series ‘Many Forms of Love’, attempts to share some of my personal experiences with, and observations of love, in its myriad forms. I am hoping, that by articulating these, I will get some clarity about this ubiquitous, yet rather elusive phenomenon.

To read more from this series, click here.

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