Gems of Gurbani

Guru Granth Sahib -6

The Granth Sahib’s banis that gives message to change and follow a certain path for personal development are not the only important feature contained in it. The degradation in the society, the division of society in castes and classes, the arbitrary and tyrannical behviour of the ruling class, the exploitation of the poor, loss of respect for women are some of the factors that have been delved into for making an awareness and awakening the masses from their slumber. Before going in to details of awakening messages in the Granth Sahib let us take the important Banis and their message in personal development. The main Banis are: Japuji Sahib written by Guru Nanak ji. Barah mah, bawan akhri, sukhmani, thiti, written by Guru Arjun Devji. Barah mah, thiti written by Kabir ji, Pati, anand by Guru Amardasji, onkar, sidh-gosht by Guru Nanak devji. There are 22 Waar in Guru Granth Sahib as follows:

 sri raag ki waar, gauri, wadhans, bihagade, sorhat, bilawal, sarang, kanade M 4

 maajh ki waar, aasa  ki waar, malhar ki waar M1

gauri ki waar, gujri ki waar, jaitsari ki waar, raamkali ki waar, maaru ki waar, basant ki waar M5

Gujri ki waar, suhi ki waar, ramkali ki waar, maru ki waar, M3

Ramkali ki waar satta te balwand.

In Gurbani the waar are thematic narratives that can be sung with instrumental music. In every waar there is a central theme. This will be explained later when we take it as subject matter.

As is discussed earlier the state of society that was reduced to a downtrodden level, the arbitrary and cruel behavior of high caste Hindus towards majority and so called low caste had become extremely suppressive and they empowered invaders and foreingners to rule this country thus worsonening the condition of already depressed masses. Greed and false pride of high caste ruling and priest class made them so degraded that they forgot that in their position they have to think of their country and save it from invaders and influences of outsiders. Guru Nanak is the first ever great Indian who contemplated on this matter and recorded his verses that he sang to reprimand the tyrants and bullies. In Guru Granth Sahib, apart from Daily (nitnem) Banis, praises to invoke union with the Almighty there are verses, protests, reprimands and awakening calls for humanity to wake up from their slumber. This was the foundation for making this granth so that a nonsectarian path, with new philosophy, with a new caste and classless society that could develop into a universal society could be cultivated.

The bold words to emancipate from all such negative characters that included all religions of the contemporary time, rulers their administrators are recorded in this Granth so continuous efforts to malign its philosophy by Indians as well as foreingners are undertaken but truth always prevails.

The picture that is drawn by Gurus of the community’s downfall some example are shown as follows: labh paap dui raja mahta kur hoa sikdaar……GG ang 468 M1

 Meaning: Both greed and sin are the King and Minister and falsehood is the Master of Mint (taksaal). Lust the assistant official is summoned and consulted and they sit together and an evil plan is chalked out.

Raje sihn makkadam kutte….. GG ang 1288 M1

Meaning:The Kings are tigers and their administrators are dogs, they go  and harass the sitting and sleeping ones..(the masses that has resigned to despair).

To continue…..