Gems of Gurbani

Guru Granth Sahib

Sukhmani Sahib – 12

The illusions or Maya always attracts people more intensely because it gives them wealth, power and position so one can get engrossed in this. Only if His (Lord’s) Grace becomes evident the bliss of His Name will be bestowed (Ashtapadi; 4, 5, 6).  

Before we take up the next classification of Ashtapadi 4, 5 and 6 a small note on Guru Arjun Devji is required to understand these ashtapadis. The enlightenment that came from Guru Nanak Devji that we call ‘jyot’ and its transmission into next Guruji successively up to tenth Guru ji and then its foundation into an immortal Guru we name it Guru Granth Sahib ji is nothing but Guru Nanakji’s deep contemplations on socio-political degradation of social, political and moral values of contemporary Indian society. The degradation of human values, the multiplicity of Gods and Goddesses and guiding of people towards blind faith, fear and suppression. Division of the society into Varnas and fate of a person to be born into a specific varna lead some leaders of the society to assume power and suppress the people. Guru Arjun Devji have described the degradation of these human values that lead a normal person to these illusions of power, wealth and status and his behavior becomes that of his oppressor. In these Ashtapadis Guruji has tried to awaken the mortals to become that person whom Guru Nanak called ‘Sachiyar’ or truthful because Wahe Guru ji (Supreme Being) is the ultimate Truth and becoming truthful is coming close to the Almighty because He likes His Creation (human) to be in that shape. Both Gurus in their bani have given stress on education or knowledge because without that it is not possible to attain the knowledge of truth. In these banis stress is given to the company of saints that means people who believe in the power of Almighty that he is Supreme, All knowing, all Pervading, Immanent and Benevolent and believe only in Him as Power of One that is Ek Onkar. All these people are given a status of saints or Brahm Giyani because they do not deviate from the meditation of One God (where as in today’s time more and more people become self centered and assume saints status for monetary gains). These banis gives us guidance or sikhiya to become truthful persons. Reading Sukhmani Sahib and understanding its full value gives us a deep understanding of Guru Arjun Devji that we don’t even need a ‘Saakhi’ to understand him. His deep insight of tenets of Sikhism that Guru Nanak ji established and documenting of all the knowledge in to Granth Sahib so that world gets inspirations forever on right human values. Guru Arjunji’s convictions were so strong that made him see the worse that will come forward in the false world of illusions and falsehood that he will have to lay his life. So he prepared his son Guru Hargobind ji to fight with tyranny but within the reign of Almighty and not for power or to establish rule over people.