Gems of Gurbani

Guru Granth Sahib

Asa di waar    17

In the concluding stanzas and verses on page 474 and 475 Guru Angad ji’s bani has been recorded that gives us glimpses of preaching on new impulses that were needed to bring reforms in the society and everything was done practically also. For example Guru Angad ji continued the tradition of Langar at Khadoor Sahib and that was to consolidate the tenet of human equality and boost confidence in the downtrodden to stand up on their feet. There must have been very deep discussions on how to go further with the missionary work because Guru Nanak ji sent back Guru Angad ji to Khadoor Sahib Region of Majha which had become extremely superstitious by constant efforts of grave worshippers (Sarwarias) who pushed people to believe in superstitions to make their living. These sarwarias were Islamic people and converting people to Islam by holding complete sway on the psyche of the people. Hinduism was losing its strength and a new culture of grave worshippers was swaying people. Illiteracy was one of the reasons that people didn’t differentiate between good and bad. Guru Angadji developed the Gurmukhi script to teach people in common man’s language. This was one of the greatest blow to Brahman and other high caste people who didn’t let common man educate. Apart from that Guru ji believed in healthy mind and healthy body so a regular pehalwani (wrestling) was promoted to have healthy youth in the area. Guruji says; if a servant walks along the Master’s will, his honour is magnified but if he pleads equality then he earns displeasure because if we are eating what he gives us we cannot say well done to him. Same way we cannot command the Lord we can only implore. Guru ji say the wonderful gift is only that comes without asking (praying to Lord for boons is worthless, He gives when He is pleased). No one has ever known the boundary of Lord. He creates and He destroys. He makes the vessels (our bodies) and fills them (with individual qualities). In some He pours milk (good qualities) and some He puts in oven. Some lie down and sleep on waded covers and He watches over them and bedecks them with His gracious glance. The Lord Himself Creates and He destroy by fashioning this world He keeps it in place. Having created Beings therein He beholds their birth and death. Whom shall we address when He is all in all? We cannot give His description because He is the Creator, He is Omnipotent, He is Bounteous and He gives sustenance to all beings. The mortal does the work that He has destined him to do from the beginning. Nanak says except the One Lord there is no other abiding place. The Master does that whatever He Wills.

 (With this write up of today my understanding of Asa di waar I have concluded and hope you liked it. My next write ups on Gurbani will start after three weeks and hope you all will miss my efforts). The mission of Sikhism shall continue so try to provide education to as many as possible. With education the understanding of Gurbani becomes clearer.