GEMS OF GURBANI

Art of living – 9

Nirbhay (fearless): In the mulmantra or invocation in Japuji Sahib the word   Nirbhay has been attributed to the Lord. The literal meaning of this word is fearless and according to Guru Nanak only the Almighty can be fearless because the rest of His creation lives under His discipline and fear. This he expresses in his most beautiful poetry –Asa di waar. All his creation the sun, the moon, the earth, the fire, the wind, the ocean and the man live in the grip of His fear..

Bhay wich pawan wahe sadvau

Bhay wich chaleh lakh dareau

Bhay wich agan kadai waigar

Bhay wich dharti dabbi bhaar

Bhay wich induphire siir bhaar

Bhay wich raja dharma dwaar

Bhay wich suraj bhay wich chand

Koh krori chale na anant II   GG page 464 Asa di Waar Mahala 1

 The fear of Almighty makes the wind to blow, rivers to flow, fire to burn hot, earth to carry all the weight, rains to pour, Kings to follow the path of righteousness, sun to shine and moon to spread light. All his creation lives under His fear but in a discipline and performing a duty according to the will of the Supreme Being. Guru Nanak ji want the human beings to follow this fear and take a right path to become fearless like the Almighty. The fear that is created in humanity by selfish, powerful people for the benefit of their own vested interest are the fears about which Gurus try to warn. The fear from unseen, un-natural forces make you fearful and you start looking for solutions from the Astrologers, Pundit and grave dwellers (Sarwarias). This takes you away from realizing the will of the Lord and belief in yourself. In Gurbani Guru Nanak ji have given many terminologies to express the attributes of God like Akal, Nirbhau, Nirvair, Satnaam and with these he has tried to consolidate the direction to human beings that can lead for a right personal development of his character. A common person who does not follow the directions usually fall victim to the fears of one kind or another. A truthful person who fears only God becomes fearless and his actions and deeds also become truthful. A fearless person can always speak truth in any circumstances and such people never remain sad and don’t fall prey to psychological problems like distress and depressions. On page 84 GG..” so dare jo paap kamavanda dharma vigsetu  II meaning: He alone who commits sins is in fear and the virtuous one rejoices. Though, Thyself  are true and true is your justice, then why man should be afraid.

Greed and cravings to possess more can take man to path of self demolition of his nature and in the process of multiplying his possessions he might grab what does not belong to him; he might hurt others and himself because the fear of exposure might haunt him all the time. A person who learns to live above greed and cravings can become fearless and his deeds and acts are also fearless. The Almighty does not have any weaknesses therefore He is always fearless Being fearless He is truth. Guru Nanak says: “Adi sachh jugad sachh II hai bhi sachh Nanak hosi bhi sachh II GGpg 1  Meaning: He is true from the beginning when He expressed Himself. He is true from the beginning of the ages. He is true now and He shall always be true.

When the Almighty is true His justice is always truthful. Only a fearless person can do truthful justice since he is not under pressure of any kind. Therefore attaining this attribute becomes an important part of human life. On the way to attain this attribute one needs to have the fear of Lord in mind. In bavan akhri enshrined in Guru Granth Sahib Kabir says the alphabet d should produce daar( fear) of Lord. “When Lord’s fear is produced in one’s mind all other fears vanish. Once you stop fearing Lord all other fears cling to you. Only if a person becomes fearless the fear of mind flees away.” GG page 341( dada daar upaje daar jaye…………….)