Word Meaning
तहय्युर
tahayyur
Meaning
Astonishment, amazement, wonder, or spellbound bewilderment.
Detailed Meaning
Tahayyur denotes profound wonder or stunned amazement that renders an observer motionless and speechless. In this couplet, it forms part of the Persian idiom 'angusht-e-tahayyur dar dahan' (finger of wonder placed on the lips or in the mouth), personifying the candle as frozen in silent awe upon hearing the fiery, exquisite voices of the beautiful singers. It highlights how sublime beauty commands complete stillness and speechlessness.
Etymology
Arabic root ح-ي-ر (ḥ-y-r), derived from Form V (تَفَعُّل / tafa‘‘ul).
Usage
In classical ghazal, tahayyur is often invoked alongside the imagery of mirrors, statues, or fingers pressed to the lips to depict speechless aesthetic contemplation.
Examples
Aalam-e-tahayyur mein aaina ban jaana
Nigaah-e-shauq ko bakhsha tahayyur us ke jalwon ne