The Dance of Eternity: When the Damru of Shiva Resonates in the Soul
“Dimik Dimik Damru Kar Baje, Prem Magan Nache Bhola…” ~ these words are not just a devotional chant; they are a timeless reminder of the cosmic rhythm, the eternal dance of Lord Shiva, and the union of sound, silence, and consciousness. Every beat of the Damru, every movement of Bhola Shankar’s divine dance, carries the essence of creation, preservation, and dissolution.
This devotional song beautifully portrays Lord Shiva as the blissful dancer, immersed in love, his Damru setting the rhythm of existence, his ornaments and companions representing the deepest truths of the universe.
The Sound of the Damru: The Pulse of Creation
The opening line of the bhajan, “Dimik Dimik Damru Kar Baje”, brings before our mind the mystical sound of Shiva’s Damru. The Damru is not merely a musical instrument. It is a symbol of the primordial vibration, the first sound (nada) from which the universe emerged. In yogic traditions, this sound is represented as AUM/OM ~ the vibration that pervades all of creation.
When the Damru plays, it is not just music to the ears, but a cosmic reminder: life itself is rhythm. Every heartbeat, every breath, every cycle of day and night, every rise and fall of civilizations, all follow the eternal drumbeat of Shiva.
“When the Damru of Shiva resounds within, we begin to recognize that life itself is a dance of rhythm and silence.” ~ Adarsh Singh
Bhola Nataraja: The Blissful Cosmic Dancer
The refrain “Prem Magan Nache Bhola” reflects Shiva as Nataraja, the cosmic dancer. Unlike a worldly dancer, Shiva’s dance is not for entertainment but for maintaining the balance of the cosmos. His dance is called Ananda Tandava, the dance of bliss.
In this dance, he creates, sustains, and dissolves the world. His movements are not chaotic but aligned with cosmic intelligence. The devotee sees him not as a wrathful destroyer but as Bhola, the innocent one, intoxicated in divine love, whose dance liberates.
Shiva’s dance teaches us that life too is a rhythm between joy and sorrow, rise and fall, creation and dissolution. To resist the dance is to suffer; to flow with it is liberation.
“Dance with life, as Shiva dances with the cosmos. Resistance is bondage, surrender is freedom.” ~ Adarsh Singh
The Echo of Singhi Nada: Trumpets of the Divine
The bhajan continues: “Singhi Nada Bajavat Gavat, Latak Rahi Bagali Jhola, Bhola.”
Here the imagery deepens. The Singhi Nada, a trumpet-like instrument, symbolizes the loud and powerful call of divine consciousness. It is the sound that awakens the slumbering soul. The bag slung over his shoulder (Bagali Jhola) represents the simplicity of Shiva, who, though the Lord of the universe, carries no treasure except the essence of nature itself.
This verse captures both the majesty and humility of Shiva. He is the lord of sound and silence, the destroyer of illusions, yet he walks with a small pouch slung across his shoulder ~ a reminder that renunciation is greater than possession.
“True wealth is not in possessions, but in the lightness of spirit. Even Shiva carries only a Jhola.” ~ Adarsh Singh
The Nagas Perform Aarti: Serpents as Sacred
“Naga Phanan So Karat Aarti, Dev Dev Gati Anmola, Bhola.”
This line is especially powerful in symbolism. The serpents (Nagas) are often associated with fear, poison, and death. Yet in Shiva’s presence, even serpents become divine worshippers. They raise their hoods not in aggression, but in reverence, performing aarti of their Lord.
This teaches us a profound lesson: even that which appears dangerous or destructive, when aligned with divine consciousness, becomes sacred. The serpent represents kundalini shakti, the dormant spiritual energy within us. In Shiva’s presence, this energy awakens and rises in worship of the supreme consciousness.
“When awareness awakens, even the serpent within transforms into light. That is the magic of Shiva.” ~ Adarsh Singh
Ganga and the Crescent Moon: Shiva as the Eternal Yogi
The verse “Bhalchandra Sar Ganga Lahare, Haath Liye Bhang Ki Gola, Bhola” paints the iconic image of Shiva. The crescent moon (Bhalchandra) rests on his forehead, symbolizing time, rhythm, and cycles of life. The Ganga flows from his matted locks, representing purity, wisdom, and liberation.
Together, the moon and the Ganga symbolize balance: the coolness of the moon with the flowing wisdom of Ganga, both contained in the meditative stillness of Shiva. His holding of the bhang ki gola is symbolic too, not of intoxication in a worldly sense, but of transcendence, the ability to rise above the material into blissful consciousness.
Here lies the essence of yogic living: to balance serenity and power, wisdom and compassion, detachment and love.
“Balance is the crown of a yogi; in Shiva we see serenity flowing like Ganga and stillness shining like the moon.” ~ Adarsh Singh
The Cosmic Symbolism of the Dance
Shiva’s dance, adorned with damru, serpents, moon, and Ganga, is not just imagery but a spiritual teaching:
The Damru ~ The rhythm of life and death.
The Serpents ~ Dormant energies awakened into devotion.
The Moon ~ Control over the mind and mastery of time.
The Ganga ~ Flow of consciousness and liberation.
The Jhola ~ Simplicity and renunciation.
The Dance ~ The balance of creation, preservation, and destruction.
Through this symbolism, the bhajan teaches us that divinity is not outside us but within. The same damru beats in our heart, the same Ganga flows in our consciousness, the same dance vibrates in our spirit.
Inner Reflection: The Damru Within
When we hear or sing “Dimik Dimik Damru Kar Baje,” it is not only a devotional chant but also an invitation to turn inward. Where is the damru? It is the heartbeat. Where is Shiva’s dance? It is in the rise and fall of our breath, in the constant change of life.
If we remain unconscious, life feels chaotic. But when we awaken to the rhythm, we see the cosmic dance playing through us. Devotion to Shiva is thus not mere ritual but a recognition of this eternal rhythm within.
“The truest temple of Shiva is not built in stone, but discovered in the rhythm of our own being.” ~ Adarsh Singh
Beyond the Bhajan: Living in Shiva Consciousness
To extend the wisdom of this bhajan into daily life is to live in Shiva consciousness. It is to embody innocence like Bhola, simplicity like the wandering yogi, strength like the Nataraja, and wisdom like the Ganga flowing from his locks.
It is to embrace life as a dance rather than a burden. Challenges then are no longer obstacles but rhythms in the larger music of existence. Joys are not clung to, sorrows are not resisted; both are danced with.
Living in Shiva consciousness means being rooted in awareness, flowing with compassion, and surrendering to the rhythm of existence.
“To live in Shiva consciousness is to dance with life unafraid, knowing every step leads to freedom.” ~ Adarsh Singh
The Eternal Beat of Bhola
This bhajan is a reminder that Shiva is not only a deity but the very pulse of existence. Every time the damru resounds in our heart, every time we allow life to dance through us with innocence and surrender, we are worshipping Shiva.
As we sing, “Dimik Dimik Damru Kar Baje, Prem Magan Nache Bhola,” let us remember that Bhola dances not outside us but within us. And when we dance with him, we become free.
“Life is not a journey to control, but a dance to join. When the damru beats, let your soul dance with Bhola.” ~ Adarsh Singh
Tue Sep 16, 2025
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