Gems of Gurbani

Guru Granth Sahib – 10

Before we go to details of Bara Maha in ragas tukhari of Guru Nanak Devji and rag majh of Guru Arjunji the changes effected by the changing of seasons as noticed and recorded by Guru Arjunji according to the prevalent division of the year into six seasons, a blick into his beautiful composition Ruti documented in rag Ramkali on page 927 -928 is a must. In Guru Granth Sahib the spiritual union with Lord the Almighty has been described as seeker (Sikh) as beloved or wife and the Lord Himself as the Kant or husband. The separation comes because of the ego that is manifested in human beings as riches, pride of caste, and position in the society.

This separation or bichhoh from Lord is taken as the basis of the description of changes in the seasons and how nature the creation of primal Lord plays his role in bringing the changes in a seeker (Sikh) and he ultimately starts on the path to seek his union with Lord. Since Guru Arjunji keeps the magnitude of house of according to which all days, seasons and months are auspicious. In the beginning of his composition he says: jassu gaveh wadbhagi ho kar kirpa bhagwant jiyoII rut maah murat ghadi gun ucharat sobhwant jiyo II O fortunate ones sing the praises of the Lord and His auspicious grace will be bestowed on you. Auspicious is the season, the month, the moment and time when Lord utters his grace.

Traditionally the season starts with the basant ritu or spring and the months are chet and vaisakh. The nature comes to life in these months. But for the convenience of the showing of emotions that change according to the season and how the transition in human nature takes place in his spiritual quest to seek union with Lord we will start from the season of grishm ritu. Grikham rut att ghakhri jeth akhade ghaam jiyo II prem bichhoh duhagani drisht na kari ram jiyo II The months of jeth and haar of grishm or summer season are severely intense and hot. Man behaves like a divorced woman who has been separated because of her pride and Lord doesn’t see her or love her because of her attachment to the riches, ego and pride. Without the Love of Lord she is like fish without water and dies in agony.

Rut baras suhelia sawan bhaadve anand jiyo II ghan unnav vuthhe jal thal pureya makrand jiyo II Prabh pur riha sabni thhain har naam navnidhi  ghar bhare II  The pleasant rainy season of the month of sawan and bhadon bestows bliss. The low clouds rain and fill the seas and land with sweet honey water. The Lord is fully filling all the places with nine treasures of His grace that each and every hearth and home is filled.

By seeing the nature’s bounty the man who has disgraced himself and separated from the Lord has been awakened and he starts thinking of Love of God.

Rut sarad aadambro assu katke har piyas jiyo II khojanti darsan phirat kabuh miliye guuntaas jiyo II In the sarad season that precedes winter the months of assu and katak the thirst or desire to meet the Lord has awakened in me and I am preparing to meet him. Searching for His vision I wander thinking when shall I see Him my Lord the treasure of all virtues.

Rut sisiyar seetal har pragtey manghar poh jiyo II jalan bhujhi daras payeya binse Maya droh jiyo II In the cool moon months of maghar and poh God has become manifest into me ( I feel His presence within me). Seeing Him the burning desire to see His vision has become lessoned and the fraud of illusions (Maya) has also ended.

Rut saras basant maah chet vaisakh sukh maas jiyo II har jiyo naa miliya mauliya man tan saas jiyo II Delightful is the season of basant. The months of chet and vaisakh are pleasant. Obtaining the venerable Lord as my spouse my soul, body and life are blooming.