LOOK: Ancient Egyptian bowl
Made from Nile clay over 5,600 years ago, with supports shaped like human feet, this small anthropomorphized bowl seems to be bending forward in humility. I see in it a reminder of how, on the one hand, we are to bring our selves as an offering to God, pouring out our praises and love; and on the other, how we bring our emptinesses, our lack, to God to fill.
LISTEN: “Ashish tujhse Chahte hain” (We Seek Your Blessings) | Composer and lyricist unknown | Performed by Anand Karma, 2021
This song is in Hindi. Below, a transliteration into the Roman alphabet is given beside the Devanagari script, followed by an English translation.
[1] कोई खूबी है ना लियाकत
बक्शो हम को अपनी ताकत
कोई खूबी है ना लियाकत
बक्शो हम को अपनी ताकत
खाली दिलों को लाते हैं
खाली दिलों को लाते हैं
हे स्वर्गीय पिता हम आते हैंआशीष तुझसे चाहते हैं
हे स्वर्गीय पिता हम आते हैं[2] तुम हो शक्तिमान प्रभुजी
दया भी है अपार
तुम हो शक्तिमान प्रभुजी
दया भी है अपार
स्तुति हम गाते हैं
स्तुति हम गाते हैं
हे स्वर्गीय पिता हम आते हैंआशीष तुझसे चाहते हैं,
हे स्वर्गीय पिता हम आते हैं[3] हमनें बहुत खताएं की हैं
रहे निकम्मे ज़फ़ाएं की हैं
हमनें बहुत खताएं की हैं
रहे निकम्मे ज़फ़ाएं की हैं
शर्म से सिर झुक जाते हैं
शर्म से सिर झुक जाते हैं,
हे स्वर्गीय पिता हम आते हैंआशीष तुझसे चाहते हैं,
हे स्वर्गीय पिता हम आते हैं
Koi khoobi hai na liyaqat
Baksho humko apni taqat
Koi khoobi hai na liyaqat
Baksho humko apni taqat
Khali dilon ko late hain
Khali dilon ko late hain
He swargya pita hum aate hain
Ashish tujhse chahte hain
He swargya pita hum aate hain
Tum ho shaktimaan prabhu ji
Daya bhi hai apaar yeshu ji
Tum ho shaktimaan prabhu ji
Daya bhi hai apaar yeshu ji
Stuti hum sub gaate hain
Stuti hum sub gaate hain
He swargya pita hum aate hain
Ashish tujhse chahte hain
He swargya pita hum aate hain
Humne bahut khatayen ki hain
Rahe nikamme jafayen ki hain
Humne bahut khatayen ki hain
Rahe nikamme jafayen ki hain
Sharm se sir jhuk jaate hain
Sharm se sir jhuk jaate hain
He swargya pita hum aate hain
Ashish tujhse chahte hain
He swargya pita hum aate hain
There is no merit [that we bring]
Bestow on us your power
There is no merit
Bestow on us your power
Empty hearts we bring
Empty hearts we bring
O Heavenly Father, we come
Seeking your blessings
O Heavenly Father, we come
You are all-powerful, O Lord
And you are all-merciful, O Jesus
You are all-powerful, O Lord
And you are all-merciful, O Jesus
Praises we all sing
Praises we all sing
O Heavenly Father, we come
Seeking your blessings
O Heavenly Father, we come
We have made many mistakes
And committed vile injustices
We have made many mistakes
And committed vile injustices
Our heads are bowed in shame
Our heads are bowed in shame
O Heavenly Father, we come
Seeking your blessings
O Heavenly Father, we come
Anand Karma is a Christian singer and worship leader from New Delhi. Last year he and his American wife moved temporarily to Minneapolis with their infant son, but they are planning to return to India later this year.
In 2017 Karma released a worship album, Gaye Mera Mann Yeshu Naam, which is available on all major digital platforms. On his YouTube channel he posts acoustic covers of Indian Christian worship songs, mostly in Hindi, like the one above, which asks God for the blessing of grace that forgives, strengthens, and makes glad.
Art & Theology 
Love that bowl on feet! And your thoughts about it too. Reminds me of the Orthodox practice of laying the chin on the chest in a posture of humility when praying the Jesus Prayer. Thank you.
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Yes! And I’ll be featuring a recording of the Jesus Prayer tomorrow. 😉
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[…] I couldn’t put it better myself so I won’t. Check it out here: https://artandtheology.org/2022/03/04/lent-3/ […]
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