Rang De Chunariya English Translation

Rang De Chunariya is a Hindi Bhajan song with deep meaning for Krishna devotees. The best rendition is by Anup Jalota when he sang it live at the ISKCON temple. The songs were available in a double LP album known as Bhajan Sandhya. The meaning of chunariya requires some explanation because it is usually an outer garment covering that a female wears, however the song uses this as a powerful symbol to mean something very different. One of the central concepts of Krishna Consciousness is that our bodies are coverings like clothes, and after we die, the soul simply discards the body and comes back in a new one, as one would change clothes. Therefore, the beauty of this is that chunariya symbolises the body.

In Bhakti movement, one of the aims is to be like God, who is composed of infinite colours (wisdom). Therefore, asking god to paint your body (chunariya) in his colours is extremely desirable for Krishna devotees, because it also includes mind, heart, and soul. Therefore, chunariya represents all of those things as well. Mira understands the importance of this because without it she knows that she would never be able to go home to Lord Krishna. She expresses that she does not want any old colours and it has to be the same as HIS colours. Furthermore, she specifies that the colours should be such that they never come off, thus never forgetting the wisdom of god. Additionally, she specifies that even if the laundry-men wash it for their entire lives, then it should still not come off. Therefore, she wants this wisdom of God to be permanent in her.

This is a difficult song to understand if you did not read the classical back-stories of Mira and Krishna. However if you were fortunate to read them in the original Sanskrit then it is simple. In this song, Shyaam is another name for Lord Krishna, and since this is from the point of view of Mira, she refers to him as piya, which approximates to beloved (husband). The back-story of Mira was that she did not remarry after her earthly husband dies, and thereafter always considers Krishna to be her husband.

There are also other names for the Lord such as Giridhar Nagar, and Prabhu. Giridhar is simply another name given to Krishna because he lifted the mountain Giri with his hand (dhar). During this time, the mountain gave refuge (underneath it) to living things for protection. Mira refers to Krishna as Giridhar Nagar when she wishes to call upon his "all powerful" nature and kindness for giving refuge. The meaning in the song is that if he can lift mountains, then surely it is a trivial matter for him to paint her in his colours. Mira knows that Shyaam, Hari, and Prabhu are all names of Krishna, therefore she bows at their feet successively and asks Giridhar Nagar to colour her.

Lyrics and English Translation

Rang de chunariya...

Paint my body...

Shyaam piya, mori rang de chunariya.

Oh Lord, (please) paint my body.

Aisi rang de, ke rang nahi choote,

Paint it such, that the colours never come off,

dhobiya dhoye chahey, ye sari umariya.

even if the laundry-men wash it all of their lives.

lal na rangavu mei,

I do not want red,

hari na rangavu,

I do not want green,

Apne hi rang me, rang de chunariya.

Paint my body in YOUR colours.

Bina rangaye mai to, ghaar nahi jaoongi,

Without (god’s wisdom) colours, I will not go home,

biti he jaaye chaahe, yeh sari umariya.

even if it takes my whole life.

Mira ke prabhu, Giridhar Nagar,

Mira’s says, "Lord Giridhar Nagar",

(Questions)

Jal se patla kaun hai?

What is thinner than water?

Kaun bhumi se bhari?

What is heavier than earth?

Kaun agan se tej hai?

What is hotter than fire?

Kaun kajal se kali?

What is blacker than kajal?

(Answers)

Jal se patla gynan hai,

Thinner than water is knowledge (of God),

aur paap bhumi se bhari.

(and) sin is heavier than earth.

Krodh agan se tej hai,

Anger is hotter than fire,

aur kalank kajal se kali.

(and) shame is darker than kajal.

Mira ke prabhu, giridhar nagar,

Mira’s says, "Lord Giridhar Nagar",

Prabhu charanan me,

At Prabhu’s feet,

Hari charanan me,

At Hari’s feet,

Shyaam charanan me,

At Shyaam’s feet,

Lagi najariya,

With a fixed gaze,

Shyaam piya, mori rang de chunariya...

Oh Lord, (please) paint my body (in your colours)...