“Rose of God” is a mystic poem by Sri Aurobindo similar to his another mystic poem “Thought the Paraclete“. Rose of God was first published 1941 in the collection titled ‘Poems’. In this poem, the speaker seeks to discover the mysteries of the Divine Rose.
Aurobindo takes spiritualism to a new level through the complex thematic exploration in his mystical poems. The strength of this poem lies in its depth of symbolism and imagery that invite multiple meanings and interpretations.
‘Rose of God’ is an intricate mystic poem in which the Rose of God embodies the Rose of Bliss, Rose of Light, Rose of Power, Rose of Life, and Rose of Love.
Rose of God by Sri Aurobindo Summary
Stanza 1
Rose of God, vermilion stain on the sapphires of heaven,
Rose of Bliss, fire-sweet, seven-tinged with the ecstasies seven!
Leap up in our heart of humanhood, O miracle, O flame,
Passion-flower of the Nameless, bud of the mystical Name.
In the first stanza of “Rose of God” the speaker set out on a journey with a quest to understand the mysterious Divine Rose. Here, this Rose of God shines as a vibrant vermilion stain against the background of vast expanse of the blue sky that gives birth to the Rose of Bliss.
The speaker asks the Rose of God and the Rose of Bliss to rise and leap up within human hearts. The Rose of Bliss represents intense joy, with its seven petals of seven different colours symbolise different kinds of ecstatic experiences.
The “sapphires of heaven” denote the immeasurable expanse of blue sky where the dazzling sun – “the passion flower of the Nameless” – summarily resides.
Stanza 2
Rose of God, great wisdom-bloom on the summits of being,
Rose of Light, immaculate core of the ultimate seeing!
Live in the mind of our earthhood; O golden Mystery, flower,
Sun on the head of the Timeless, guest of the marvellous Hour.
In this stanza the figure of the Rose of Light and Time are are invoked by the speaker. The divine rose (Rose of God) represents the highest wisdom, or the highest source of wisdom on the “summits of being”. And the rose of light represents pure enlightenment, the “immaculate core of the perfect understanding”.
The Rose represents the golden mystery that symbolises the Timeless wisdom. This divine essence becomes a guest in the glorious hour, and the speaker invites this divine essence to dwell in the human mind and bring the light (enlightenment) to eradicate the evils of illiteracy from the earth.
The speaker calls the divine essence a “golden Mystery” and the “Sun on the head of the Timeless” because of its illuminating (rose of light) and transformative nature (rose of time).
Stanza 3
Rose of God, damask force of Infinity, red icon of might,
Rose of Power with thy diamond halo piercing the night!
Ablaze in the will of the mortal, design the wonder of thy plan,
Image of Immortality, outbreak of the Godhead in man.
The Divine Force is represented as the Rose of Power, just like the Rose of Light, is crucial for guiding and regulating the mortal world.
The speaker continues to address this Divine Force as Rose of God throughout the poem. The expression “damask force of Infinity” implies here the infinite and enduring might and strength of the Divine. The symbol ‘red icon of might’ evokes an image of strong power and determination.
The “diamond halo piercing the night” symbolises the divine light that pierces through darkness and ignorance. In this instance, the speaker invokes this divine force to inspire and guide the human will (the will of the mortal), creating a marvelous plan, the “Image of Immortality.”
Stanza 4
Rose of God, smitten purple with the incarnate divine Desire,
Rose of Life, crowded with petals, colour’s lyre!
Transform the body of the mortal like a sweet and magical rhyme;
Bridge our earthhood and heavenhood, make deathless the children of Time.
The Rose of Life serves as a bridge between the terrene domain and heavenly realms and alters the pitiful mortal into a deathless child of Time, making immortal in heaven.
The speaker, therefore, appeals for the Devine force to give ‘immortal qualities for mortals’, taking beyond the limits of time and mortality.
Stanza 5
Rose of God, like a blush of rapture on Eternity’s face,
Rose of Love, ruby depth of all being, fire-passion of Grace!
Arise from the heart of the yearning that sobs in Nature’s abyss:
Make earth the home of the Wonderful and life beatitude’s kiss.
In the last stanza, the speaker expresses his desire to the Rose of Love to transform the earth into an eternal bliss, similar to heaven. This transformation of earth would raise the mortal from his suffering to a level of divinity and happiness.
The speaker emphasises that the Divinity is associated with rapture, love and grace. The image of a “blush of rapture on Eternity’s Face” suggests a moment of intense joy and ecstasy within the eternal.
The “Rose of Love” is depicted as a deep Ruby that symbolises the deep passion. Hereby, the speaker hopes for the earth to become a home for the Divine and for life to be filled with bliss of beatitude, symbolised by a kiss.
Poetic Devices
The poem “Rose of God” by Sri Aurobindo contains a number of rich poetic devices. Here are some notable ones:
Imagery
Readers can discover the poem filled with colorful images that appeal to the senses. Examples include:
- “vermilion stain on the sapphires of heaven”
- “diamond halo piercing the night”
- “fire-sweet, seven-tinged with the ecstasies seven”
- “damask force of Infinity, red icon of might”
- “like a blush of rapture on Eternity’s face”
Metaphor
The Rose serves as a Central Metaphor throughout the poem. This Metaphor symbolises various aspects of the divine power. As mentioned by the author, the rose represents beauty, ecstasy, wisdom, light, power, desire, and love in the poem.
- “Rose of God” symbolises divine beauty and perfection.
- “Rose of Bliss” represents profound joy.
- “Rose of Light” stands for pure wisdom and enlightenment.
- “Rose of Power” signifies strength and might.
- “Rose of Love” embodies deep affection and grace.
Simile
Sri Aurobindo employs more than one simile in this poem:
- “Transform the body of the mortal like a sweet and magical rhyme”
- “Rose of God, like a blush of rapture on Eternity’s face”.
Personification
Personification is a figure of speech where abstract concepts are given human characteristics:
- “Leap up in our heart of humanhood, O miracle, O flame” (suggesting the rose has the ability to leap and affect human hearts).
- “Sun on the head of the Timeless, guest of the marvellous Hour” (suggesting the rose or divine light is a guest who can interact with time).
Anaphora
The phrase “Rose of God is repeated at the beginning of each stanza that emphasises the central symbol of the poem and creates a rhythmic structure.
Paradox
The poem often juxtaposes contrasting ideas to highlight the mystery and majesty of the divine:
- “Timeless” and “Hour” (contrasting eternity with a specific moment).
- “earthhood” and “heavenhood” (contrasting the mortal and the divine).
Hyperbole
Exaggeration is used to convey the grandeur of the divine:
- “Make deathless the children of Time” suggests an immortal transformation.
All these devices are intertwined in order to provide the readers with a powerful, enshrouded, spiritual image of the divine rose and to turn the poem into a reflection on the spiritual pursuit of the enlightenment.
Theme of Rose of God
This mystic poem revolves around the idea of the aspiration for the Divine presence on earth. The speaker is longing for the Divine presence and fill earthly life with love, light, power and grace. He wishes love to spread everywhere and the whole earth gets rid of ignorance by the light of the divine.
The speaker especially wants a spiritual enlightenment which is the basis for wisdom in other aspects – “Rose of Power with thy diamond halo piercing the night!” He wants to bridge the earthly and heavenly realms, and the transformation of mortal existence into a reflection of divine perfection.
The poem also insisting the power of humanity to go beyond its limitations and experience a union with the Divine. This union will bring about a state of fulfillment and eternal bliss.
FAQs: People Also Ask
Q: What symbol is the sun compared to in the poem Rose of God?
In this poem, the sun is compared to the “flower” in the stanza:
Live in the mind of our earthhood; O golden Mystery, flower,
Sun on the head of the Timeless, guest of the marvellous Hour.
Here, the sun is symbolically compared to a “flower” representing both its radiant beauty and its transformative power. It suggests that just as a flower brings brightness and vitality to its surroundings, the sun brings illumination and enlightenment to the timeless realm, acting as a guest of wonder and Marvel.
Q: What is the meaning of the rose of God by Sri Aurobindo?
(Or)
What is the symbolic significance of the title The Rose of God?
The Rose of God symbolises the Divine presence. It represents various aspects of the Divine, such as wisdom, power, love, and grace.
The Rose serves as a metaphor for the beauty, richness and the transformative nature of the divine essence.