Word Meaning
आइना-दारी
aaina-daari
Meaning
Holding up a mirror; reflection, manifestation, or contemplation.
Detailed Meaning
Literally meaning holding a mirror, the compound signifies serving as a reflective surface to showcase someone's splendor. In this couplet, it represents the lover's single, awestruck eye functioning as a mirror to absorb and reflect the beloved's myriad vibrant manifestations. It evokes a state of passive adoration, visual wonder, and absolute devotion.
Etymology
Persian compound formed from 'ā'īna' (mirror) and suffix '-dārī' (holding, presenting; from 'dāshtan').
Usage
In classical Urdu ghazal, it is a favored metaphor for the lover's spellbound, unblinking eye acting as a mirror to the beloved's beauty.
Examples
The silent mirror-holding of morning dew reflecting the dawn.
His poetry became a mirror-holding of the beloved's elegance.