Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto

Reflection: Raghupati

Kay Brown
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Palo Alto, CA

My favorite hymn is Raghupati. You are probably saying ‘Huh’? We have sung this hymn only once so far. This summer, when our own Amy was away, one of the substitute ministers weaved it into his sermon. Knowing that we would be singing it for the first time, he even had a lead singer in front. I was there. Right behind me were Kathy and Marilyn, our entire soprano section. I was amazed at how well every one sang it. Instead of just enjoying the hymn, I found myself overcoming with emotion. I could not understand why, until after the service I reflected on it.

First, there was the memory. I think it was 1947. I was just a little girl. I was holding my father’s hand. We were at a Mahatma Gandhi prayer meeting. It was in Birla house, a large white house with a big balcony on the second floor. The yard was big. There were thousands of people crowding in the yard and overflowing into the streets. Mahatma Gandhi entered the balcony, with a disciple under each arm. He first led us into this hymn. All the thousands sang it together. Then he talked for an hour. I don’t remember a word he said, but I remember the hymn vividly.

I came here to go school. When I got my first job here on the Peninsula, we tried to rent our first apartment in Mountain View. We were denied the apartment we liked, because the landlord said that he did not want to rent it to Indians. Soon after, I got a job in San Jose. One day, when I said something to our technician he did not want to hear, he said “Why don't you go home and take care of your husband and children and leave this man’s job for a man.“ Leaving a classist society for a racist and sexist society did not seem to be much of an improvement. But that was then. Since then, I have become a citizen, and am proud to be an American. I am very happy and comfortable here. That summer day, when I heard the congregation sing this hymn in my church home, I felt so accepted and loved that tears of joy started to well up in my eyes.

Now we are going to attempt to sing this hymn once again. But before we do, let me translate it for you. To appreciate the depth of its meaning, let us remember the times. India was being partitioned into two countries, India and Pakistan. Muslims were killing Hindus by the train load and Hindus were returning the favor in kind. The hymn says

Raghupati, Raghav, Raja, Ram are some of your names.
But Oh God, please give everyone the wisdom to see that
Allah is also your name.

Thank you.

 

Other Hymn Reflections:

Meanings in Our Music
We Laugh, We Cry
Spirit of Life
The Fire of Commitment
I’m On My Way
We’ll Build a Land