ਚਕਵੀ (chakvee)
Meaning: noun: The ruddy goose, which is believed to be separated from her partner after sunset.
Quote:
ਰੇ ਮਨ ਐਸੀ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਉ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਜੈਸੀ ਚਕਵੀ ਸੂਰ॥
re man aisee har siu preet kar jaisee chakvee soor.
O mind! Long for the Divine as the ruddy goose longs for the sun.- Guru Nanak Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, Page 59
Message: The legendary love-birds ‘chakvaa’ and ‘chakvee’ – male and female are large orange-brown ducks. They are known for their love for the sun. As per poetic references, when the sun sets, they feel they have separated from their partner who might be right next to them. All night long, they yearn and wait for the sun to rise. Only after the appearance of their beloved sun, their lives are filled with joy once again.
The love and longing of the chakvee for the sun is exemplified here through this verse. She does not sleep for an instant because she is unable to bear separation from her beloved (sun) which has gone away from her sight during the night.
For her, when the sun sets, her world has stopped, her life is barren even while her partner is there. The sun is the ultimate love of her life beyond any other relationships.
The Divine is always near at hand but only by being Guru-centred do we realise that the Creator is always close to us. Through the wisdom of Gurbani, we fall in love with the magnificence and infinity that is the Divine and this vocation becomes central to our lives. Human relationships are subject to the transitory nature and limitations of life like time, feelings, etc. They can only be steadier if we taste the elixir of divine love.
Etymology: From Sanskrit chakravaak/kee (the ruddy goose) → Pali chakkavaak → Prakrit chakkavaaya/chakkaa → Sindhi chakuo, Punjabi chakvaa, Awadhi chaka-ee, Gujarati chakvo/chakvee.
