Sunday, 31 May 2015
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibOnkar 2Ramkali Ma...
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibOnkar 2Ramkali Ma...: Gems of Gurbani Guru Granth Sahib Onkar 2 Ramkali Mahal 1 dakhni Onkar There is but one True God. By Guru’s grace He is obtained....
Gems of Gurbani
Guru Granth Sahib
Onkar 2
Ramkali Mahal 1 dakhni Onkar
There is but one True God. By Guru’s grace He is obtained.
The Brahma (one of the unit of Hindu trinity) was created by
the One Lord (Onkar). The Brahma cherished One Lord in his mind. Mountains and
ages emanated from this One Lord. One Lord created the Vedas (ancient Hindu
scriptures that were transferred by high caste Brahmins from one generation to
the next by oral recitations). The world is emancipated by One Lord (He created
it and also preserved it). One Lord also created the higher beings that become
God conscious. The Imperishable One Lord whom we pay obeisance by saying Om Namah
(O One Lord I bow before thee), you must listen and contemplate on His Word. Om
Namah is the word that explains the essence of the three worlds II 1 II
Listen! O Pandit why are you creating the confusion by
writing the stories of worldly Gods (all the mythological epics and scriptures)
and goddesses? Write only by the grace of the Guru the Name of One Lord the
cherisher of the World II 1 II Rahao II
S or Sa is the letter that makes the word sahaj
meaning easily. The One Lord has easily created the worlds and in all three
worlds it His Light that reflects. You pick up the gems of His Word and recite
His Name and the treasure (God) will be yours. The one who studies, reads and
contemplates shall understand that the True Lord resides in us all. It is only
through contemplation man becomes pious and understands that without the True
Lord the world is but one false place II 2 II
Dh or dha is the letter that makes the word dharma or
righteousness as character in men who become steadfast in their belief and
cherish One Lords devotion in the city of faith.
Dh is the letter that makes the word dust (dhool).
Even the dust of pious person’s feet who have understood the meaning of One
Lord when comes on the forehead by paying obeisance can transform one into gold
from mere iron dross.
Dh is the letter that makes the word applause (dhan)
for the supporter of this earth though He Himself is unborn but whose decisions
are true and perfect II 3 II
To continue……..
Friday, 29 May 2015
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibOnkar 1Onkar Ban...
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibOnkar 1Onkar Ban...: Gems of Gurbani Guru Granth Sahib Onkar 1 Onkar Bani was written by Guru Nanak ji at Kartarpur where he settled after his various ...
Gems of Gurbani
Guru Granth Sahib
Onkar 1
Onkar Bani was written by Guru Nanak ji at Kartarpur where he
settled after his various travels, missionary work and to continue his journey
in reflecting and understanding the True Lord. He also reflected upon all his
interaction with people of various and different beliefs and consolidated his
own belief in Waheguru the Only One Lord who is Creator, Person, Unborn,
Fearless, Immaculate, Timeless and from whom the life springs. Satguruji wrote
several Banis here and he reflected upon his own life and His life’s mission to
propagate the Word that he seems to have received directly from Lord Himself.
The Bani Onkar is a monologue that he seems to explain to a Pandit. It is an
extension of God’s Word that he had received directly when his father took him
to school to learn Sanskrit from a Pandit. The Pandit was teaching the alphabet
s or sa when he came to school and asked Guruji if he knew this alphabet.
Guruji’s sermon on words that came from his mouth stunned not only the Pandit
but others too. Guruji reflected upon all these words that were spoken by Lord
Himself through him were added with experience of all travels and knowing the
various other beliefs and finalizing his own Belief and consolidating it as
foundation of Gurmat. Onkar and Sidha Gosht are two such Banis that clarifies
the existence of Oneness of Lord and objective of life in human form. This
monologue with a Pandit shows that there are differences in Belief. The Creator
who has created this world is like a tree that branches out from oneness into
multiplicity of races, regions, worlds, weathers, nature, earth and soil,
waters and oceans and all the variety that we see in the creation. Whereas
Brahmanical belief takes us from various branches towards the main trunk (God) and
fails to recognize that the Creator is the Person who plays all His play. The
belief of Brahman divides the Society that created various demons of desires
and lusts whereas Gurmat tells us to control these demons and walk towards
Oneness who takes care of everyone.
Onkar Bani is documented on Page 929 onwards in Guru Granth
Sahib. It is written in 54 stanzas and composed in Raag Ramkali dakhani.
To continue…..
Thursday, 28 May 2015
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibOneness and Univer...
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibOneness and Univer...: Gems of Gurbani Guru Granth Sahib Oneness and Universality of God Week days, Lunar days, auspiciousness and omens 5 Continued fr...
Gems of Gurbani
Guru Granth Sahib
Oneness and Universality of God
Week days, Lunar days, auspiciousness and omens 5
Continued from Ang 842: With the company of powerful Lord
Master man cannot be destroyed by another. Under the protection of Lord the
devotee earns His pardon and attains glory. Higher than Him there is none
other. Why should then Lord’s slave have fear and whose fear he should feel? II
4 II
By Guru’s grace peace abides in the body. By contemplating on
His Name you shall not suffer any pain or agony and the cycle of rebirth will
not take place. Imbued with His Name one merges in celestial bliss. My Master
is ever all pervading II 5 II
Some attach to the Lord like slaves while other go astray in
doubts. God Himself does everything and makes others do everything. There is
only One Lord who dispenses everything; being done there is none other. Man can
show his displeasure if there is any other than the Lord. Service to this Only
Lord is a supreme deed. This service alone will be considered true in True
Lord’s Court II 6 II
All the lunar days, week days become beauteous if one
contemplates only on true Lord’s Name. If man serves the True Lord then he
obtains the fruit. Lunar days and week days shall keep coming and going. Ever
eternal are Guru’s word through which man merges in the True Lord. Man becomes
imbued with the Name when he recognizes the truth about lunar days and week
days. Without merging in True Lord man remains in doubt and wanders in the
cycle of rebirth II 7 II
The wayward man falls into an evil state and dies. They do
not remember that there is Only One Lord and are lured by another. Due to this
darkness of spiritual ignorance of man, the human body has lost the power of
thinking. The word of God is important, how can one ferry across World Ocean
(otherwise)? Creator Himself creates various beings and He makes them
understand the word of Guru II 8 II
Various Sects wear many religious garbs. Like the
unsuccessful dice (dice is thrown again and again to achieve the target) the
wayward man wander, wander and wanders. They obtain no peace here and hereafter
and die wasting their life. Serving the True Lord man drives out his doubt and
within his home (his own heart and mind) finds the True Lord’s mansion II9 II
Whatever the true Lord Himself wishes that alone happens. The
omens attached to lunar days and week days create double mindedness and
duality. Only the fools and ignorant observe the omens regarding weekdays and
lunar days. Without the True Lord there is pitch darkness in life. With Guru’s
grace (Word or shabad Guru) man can realize God and this understanding alone
helps him to merge into the One Name II 10 II
Tuesday, 26 May 2015
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibOneness and Univer...
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibOneness and Univer...: Gems of Gurbani Guru Granth Sahib Oneness and Universality of God Weekdays, lunar days, auspiciousness and omens 4 Continued on A...
Gems of Gurbani
Guru Granth Sahib
Oneness and Universality of God
Weekdays, lunar days, auspiciousness and omens 4
Continued on Ang 842
The fifteen lunar days, seven week days, months, seasons,
days and nights come again and again. Same way the world is in flux (bahaave).
The coming and going is under His Will (Hukam). He (Lord) exercises His Will
for all these flux but Himself remains stable (aad sach jugad sach Nanak hai
bhi sach hosi bhi sach). Nanak says some rare Guru oriented people understand
these things by reflecting over His Name II 10 II 1 II
Bilawal Mahala 3
The Primordial Lord has Himself created the creation. All the
creatures are engrossed in worldly love of valuables and illusions. The worldly
love for valuables attaches them to another. They, unfortunate ones die and
their cycle of rebirth continues. Once the true understanding for True Lord is
obtained, illusions break and the love for worldly valuables passes and the man
merges in the truth. The one in whose destiny this merging with the True Lord
is written, only his mind becomes the abode of True One (Lord) II 1 II Rahao II
The One who has created this creation knows to take care of
it. None can erase your writ O Lord. If one calls himself adept and a striver,
he is deluded with doubt and continues his coming and going. One who goes into the
service of Lord understands the Lord. If one abandons his ego only then he
looks at door of the Lord’s House (Gurudwara) II 2 II
One God is pervading all and there is none another.
Renouncing another if the mortal knows the Guru’s word (shabad) that becomes
his password in the True Lord’s Court. If a man attains True Guru then alone He
meets the True, Unique Lord. Once man reaches this state of mind he cannot
think of other then the Lord alone II 3 II
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibOneness and Univer...
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibOneness and Univer...: Gems of Gurbani Guru Granth Sahib Oneness and Universality of God Weekdays, lunar days, auspiciousness and omens 3 Veerwaar (Th...
Gems of Gurbani
Guru Granth Sahib
Oneness and Universality of God
Weekdays, lunar days, auspiciousness and omens 3
Veerwaar (Thursday); the fifty two warriors like Hanuman are
deluded with doubts. All the goblins and demons are attached to another (they
abandon the Almighty). Though God alone has created them but He keeps them
distinctive. O my Creator you alone are everyone’s support. The mortals and
other creatures are under your protection. He alone meets you, whom You have
ordained to meet II 6 II
Shukrawaar (Friday); The Almighty is all pervading. He creates
all and estimates the worth of each. Those who become God oriented contemplate
on that. He (Lord) does the deeds of truth and continence (self-restrain). All
the fasting, religious rites without understanding the Lord leads man to love
another (believing in another deities) II 7 II
Shaniwaar (Saturday); The world is wandering aimless engrossed
in maintaining good omens, deliberation on Shastras, ego and selfhood (personal
interests). The blind apostate (Manmukh) or the wayward from Almighty is engrossed
in the love of another even in the event of blows of death hammering on his
door. Those who are blessed with Guru’s grace obtain eternal peace. The blessed
ones does good deeds and hears and loves only the Truth II 8 II
The very fortunate are those who get opportunity to serve the
Lord. They abandon their ego to embrace the love to the True Lord. They come
into this state where they are easily imbued with your love O Lord. And You O
Lord blissfully unites them with you. There is only One Lord and none other. Realizing
this reality with grace of Guru, man obtains Divine understanding.
Monday, 25 May 2015
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibOneness and Univer...
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibOneness and Univer...: Gems of Gurbani Guru Granth Sahib Oneness and Universality of God Week days, lunar days, auspiciousness and omens 2 Somwaar (Mon...
Gems of Gurbani
Guru Granth Sahib
Oneness and Universality of God
Week days, lunar days, auspiciousness and omens 2
Somwaar (Monday); The True Lord is pervading all. His worth
cannot be estimated. Narrating and describing Him all keep their attention
fixed on Him. Only blesses by Lord Himself the robe of honour of His Name falls
on a person. Lord is inaccessible, Incomprehensible and cannot be perceived. Only
with True Guru’s instructions one can see that Lord is all pervading II 2 II
Mangalwaar (Tuesday); The God Himself created love for
worldly things and valuables. He linked all mortals to various professions.
These instructions He gives to those who follow and take care of their home and
hearth. When he (mortal) lovingly performs his service (to his family) that is
the service to Lord and in this process he burns his egoism and his love for
worldly things (being selfish). This happens by contemplating on Lord’s word
(Shabad) II 3 II
Budhwaar (Wednesday); The Lord Himself blesses man with
sublime (superb) understanding. By Guru’s grace he then performs good deeds and
contemplates on His Name. Imbued with the Name the mind becomes pure. He sings
the praises of Lord and his filth of egoism is washed away. In the Lord’s True Court
he obtains glory. Imbued with Lord’s Name he is embellished with Guru’s Word II
4 II The profit of the Name is obtained at the Guru’s door, Lord Himself
blesses man with it. He, who gives to Him I am devoted. By Guru’s grace self conceit
is dispelled. O Nanak! Keep though His Name close to your heart. To the beneficent
Lord I pay my homage II 5 II
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibOneness and Univer...
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibOneness and Univer...: Gems of Gurbani Guru Granth Sahib Oneness and Universality of God Week days (waar), lunar days, auspiciousness and omens 1 In m...
Gems of Gurbani
Guru Granth Sahib
Oneness and Universality of God
Week days (waar),
lunar days, auspiciousness and omens 1
In my childhood my mother never allowed us to wash hair on
Thursdays as we had one brother and Thursday being brother’s day Veerwaar in
Punjabi belief. If sister’s washed hair on that day something inauspicious
might happen to the brother. As a child I never understood the auspiciousness
of days and their association with deities and other sacred rituals. Even in
college days many of my friends fasted on certain days and associated this
ritual of fasting with deities who act in your favour if you perform certain
rituals. We didn’t have any fasting rituals or any special acts associated with
deities in our home because my grandfather who was a staunch Sikh never allowed
such futile traditions. As I started learning Gurbani I started to understand
my grandfather and Sikh belief in truth of Oneness of God and that He is
Universal. Guru Nanak’s belief that all such traditions and religious rituals
created to create fear and doubt in the minds of people are to fulfill the
vested interests of a particular class of priests is relevant even in the
present times. Just look around how religion is commercialized and so many
rituals are performed. These all deviate the mortals from meditating on the
Name of True Lord and following His Ordinance to act humanly and work towards
welfare of humanity.
The third Guru Amardasji has deliberated on Guru Nanak ji’s
Sikh concept of Oneness of God and His Universal character in Raag Bilawal
Mahala 3 ang 841 in Guru Granth Sahib ; Seven days.
There is but One God by the grace of True Guru He is
obtained.
Adit waar (Sunday): He alone is the primordial Lord. He
Himself is the doer of everything. There is none other like Him. Since He
established Himself there was no warp and woof and He has woven Himself in the
World.
Whatever the Creator does that alone happens. Imbued with His
Name one is ever in peace. By Guru’s grace only rare ones understand this II 1
II
Within my mind I take every bead of a rosary of His Name and
fill the treasure with His virtues. My Lord is Unintelligible, Imperceptible
and Infinite. I sit and pray at His feet and become His slave II 2 II Rahao II
Saturday, 23 May 2015
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibTithi 7 ...
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibTithi 7 ...: Gems of Gurbani Guru Granth Sahib Tithi 7 Teras (thirteenth lunar day); the mortal is like a tree on the seashore...
Gems of Gurbani
Guru Granth Sahib
Tithi 7
Teras (thirteenth lunar day); the mortal is like a tree on
the seashore. The Immortal can become its roots if the mortal and his mind
remain attached with string of Lord’s love. He then no ways dies of fear and
dread nor is he ever drowned. The mortal loses his honour in a death that he
gets from fear and dread. Instead of fear and dread of death, he who enshrines
fear of the Lord in his mind gets honour of sitting on a throne and becomes
pleasing to the Lord II 17 II
Chaudas (fourteenth lunar day); the man who deeply enters
into the fourth state (four states are Jagrit, supan, sakopat and turia- awake,
in dream, sound sleep and fourth state turia is when mind is totally absorbed
in the Love of Lord), who overcomes time and three qualities of optimism,
pessimism and egoism, who let in the sun of wisdom in the moon’s house of darkness
and also who knows the worth of the way of union with the Lord, who is all
pervading the fourteen worlds, nether land, continents and the solar systems II
18 II
Note; the beauty of Guruji’s thought process is so evident
here, it touches scientific knowledge of environment that moon gets its light
from the sun otherwise it is just a dark house. The comparison of sun with wisdom
as without the light of sun there is no existence of life on this planet.
Chaudas is also the day of no moon because on that night the
moon remains invisible in the sky.
O wise man, understand and contemplate on the Lord’s Name,
when the moon rises in the sky its light illuminates the three worlds. The Creator
has created all this process and enjoys seeing it. A person who understands the
message of Guru that all this is play of Lord he gets merged into the Lord II
19 II Those who fail to understand the play of Lord become astray instead being
God oriented and fall prey to the cycle of birth and death. Only those who
perform the setting of hearth and home as per the Will of Lord get permanent seat
in Lord’s court and a beauteous life. The one who merges into the Lord starts
understanding his self. Where there are desires there comes destruction and
ruin. The begging bowl of a person with duality and selfishness bursts. Nanak
prays to be a slave of Him who remains detached from the worldly snares of
attachments II 20 II
Thursday, 21 May 2015
Looking forward...: Pranaam Shahidan de SartajGuru Arjun DevjiBorn as...
Looking forward...: Pranaam Shahidan de SartajGuru Arjun Devji
Born as...: Pranaam Shahidan de Sartaj Guru Arjun Devji Born as youngest son of Guru Ramdas ji and named as Arjun Mall he was destined to become the...
Born as...: Pranaam Shahidan de Sartaj Guru Arjun Devji Born as youngest son of Guru Ramdas ji and named as Arjun Mall he was destined to become the...
Pranaam Shahidan de Sartaj
Guru Arjun Devji
Born as youngest son of Guru Ramdas ji and named as Arjun Mall he was destined to become the fifth Guru of Sikhs. When he was still a child Baba Budhaji called him “Bani ka Bohith”,the ship of the Bani. He was under training of Baba Budhaji and Bhai Gurdasji. He lived in very hostile conditions on one side was his brother Prithi Chand who always conspired against him and then the Mogul Empire. He was still the favorite son of Guru Ramdasji because he not only learned the ideals of the house of Nanak but composed the Bani himself. He travelled extensively in Majha and consolidated the followership to Sikhism. When he was bestowed the Guruship his first task was to complete the work of Tank and Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar. During a famine in Punjab he helped to dig wells all over Majha and a well with six water drawing channels called Chhehrta was his invention. He also helped people of Lahore during an epidemic there. His selfless service for people and kind helping nature earned him the title of ‘Sacha Padshah’. His wisdom and very sharp intelligence and most humble personality were enough to draw people to Sikhism. After Guru Nanak he did the extensive missionary work to consolidate Sikhism. He settled two towns of Kartarpur and Tarn Taran. The monumental task that he completed was the compilation of Guru Granth Sahib. In his opinion the Granth would be a perennial source of inspiration and the means of self perpetuation for the community. The utterances of all the Gurus so far were called bani and an object of highest reverence for Sikhs and Gurus themselves. It was equated with Guru and thus became ‘Bani Guru hai, Guru hai Bani’. Guru Arjunji set himself to compile these bani in a Granth and with the help of Bhai Gurdas completed the monumental task in five years. His being the scholar of extreme sharpness and wisdom and his knowledge of poetry and music is shown in the compilation of Guru Granth sahib. He not only documented the Bani in 31 ragas and raginis but the whole task was done with a usage of grammar in such a way that pollution and pilferage could be avoided. The Granth was installed at Harmandir sahib in Amritsar and Baba Budhaji was the first Granthi. The Harmandir Sahib and Guru Granth Sahib are the two statements that crystallized the Sikh faith one as a central place for Sikhs and the other as the key factor in organizing the Sikhs in a community. Guru Granth Sahib not only became the permanent repository for the messages of Gurus but the revealer of Divine truth and a spiritual and religious guide of the Sikhs. It is not only the source of literary tradition but it enhanced the intellectual and cultural environment of the Sikhs. With the compilation of Guru Granth Sahib the detractors of Sikhism saw their chance of evil plans to be executed against Guru and he became the first martyr of Sikhism.
He fulfilled the requirements of a true Sikh as according to the house of Nanak; ‘a virtuous soul must be the courageous soul.’ Willingness to suffer trials for one’s convictions was a religious imperative. Guru Arjun exemplified this principle.
Born as youngest son of Guru Ramdas ji and named as Arjun Mall he was destined to become the fifth Guru of Sikhs. When he was still a child Baba Budhaji called him “Bani ka Bohith”,the ship of the Bani. He was under training of Baba Budhaji and Bhai Gurdasji. He lived in very hostile conditions on one side was his brother Prithi Chand who always conspired against him and then the Mogul Empire. He was still the favorite son of Guru Ramdasji because he not only learned the ideals of the house of Nanak but composed the Bani himself. He travelled extensively in Majha and consolidated the followership to Sikhism. When he was bestowed the Guruship his first task was to complete the work of Tank and Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar. During a famine in Punjab he helped to dig wells all over Majha and a well with six water drawing channels called Chhehrta was his invention. He also helped people of Lahore during an epidemic there. His selfless service for people and kind helping nature earned him the title of ‘Sacha Padshah’. His wisdom and very sharp intelligence and most humble personality were enough to draw people to Sikhism. After Guru Nanak he did the extensive missionary work to consolidate Sikhism. He settled two towns of Kartarpur and Tarn Taran. The monumental task that he completed was the compilation of Guru Granth Sahib. In his opinion the Granth would be a perennial source of inspiration and the means of self perpetuation for the community. The utterances of all the Gurus so far were called bani and an object of highest reverence for Sikhs and Gurus themselves. It was equated with Guru and thus became ‘Bani Guru hai, Guru hai Bani’. Guru Arjunji set himself to compile these bani in a Granth and with the help of Bhai Gurdas completed the monumental task in five years. His being the scholar of extreme sharpness and wisdom and his knowledge of poetry and music is shown in the compilation of Guru Granth sahib. He not only documented the Bani in 31 ragas and raginis but the whole task was done with a usage of grammar in such a way that pollution and pilferage could be avoided. The Granth was installed at Harmandir sahib in Amritsar and Baba Budhaji was the first Granthi. The Harmandir Sahib and Guru Granth Sahib are the two statements that crystallized the Sikh faith one as a central place for Sikhs and the other as the key factor in organizing the Sikhs in a community. Guru Granth Sahib not only became the permanent repository for the messages of Gurus but the revealer of Divine truth and a spiritual and religious guide of the Sikhs. It is not only the source of literary tradition but it enhanced the intellectual and cultural environment of the Sikhs. With the compilation of Guru Granth Sahib the detractors of Sikhism saw their chance of evil plans to be executed against Guru and he became the first martyr of Sikhism.
He fulfilled the requirements of a true Sikh as according to the house of Nanak; ‘a virtuous soul must be the courageous soul.’ Willingness to suffer trials for one’s convictions was a religious imperative. Guru Arjun exemplified this principle.
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGruru Granth SahibTithi 6Dwadas (T...
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGruru Granth SahibTithi 6Dwadas (T...: Gems of Gurbani Gruru Granth Sahib Tithi 6 Dwadas (Twelfth lunar day); He, who remains detached from the twelve signs (the twelve s...
Gems of Gurbani
Gruru Granth Sahib
Tithi 6
Dwadas (Twelfth lunar day); He, who remains detached from the
twelve signs (the twelve signs are religious marks adorned by Hindus to show
their identity of belonging to a particular sect or religious beliefs. These
twelve signs are – sacred thread, deer skin, grass girdle, metal pot, hair luft
- there are five signs of brahmcharis, frontal mark (tilak), rosary of holy
basil, rosary of rudraksh, sacred mark of three lines of vaishnavas and two
lines of shivaites, three staves of sanyasis, ear- rings sign of yogis) day and night he remains
wakeful and sleeps not ever (sleeping is a process where all sense organs
become dormant, same way if the mind sleeps the other forces start influencing
the consciousness and in dormant state the Almighty is forgotten). The one who
is awake can remain absorbed in God and has faith in Him, he loses fear of
death. All those who remain detached also slay their five adversaries (lust,
wrath, avarice, worldly attachments (illusions) and ego). Nanak prays they only
remain merged in Lord’s love II 15 II
The twelfth lunar day; man should know how to practice compassion
and charity and ought to bring home his wandering mind. Selfless service (sewa)
to others is the way of fasting. Uttering His Name from mouth is the only way
that brings un-uttered (Anahad) meditation of His Name. The understanding of
His Being in all three worlds becomes deeper with meditation of His Name.
Purity and continence are all contained in knowing the True Lord II 16 II
Tuesday, 19 May 2015
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibTithi 5Dasmi (t...
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibTithi 5Dasmi (t...: Gems of Gurbani Guru Granth Sahib Tithi 5 Dasmi (tenth lunar day); contemplate on His Name and share it with others and purify yo...
Gems of Gurbani
Guru Granth Sahib
Tithi 5
Dasmi (tenth lunar day); contemplate on His Name and share it
with others and purify yourself. Instead of taking bath at pilgrimages take
bath of Lord’s knowledge and excellences. No filth can ever attach to the
truth. Truth is strong enough to expel doubt and dread from mind. Flimsy doubt
and dread break up like raw thread. The world is like that frail yarn where
doubt and dread live but if you contemplate on True Lord’s Name and know
abundance of His love your mind shall become stable II 12 II
Ekadasi (eleventh lunar day); the mortals should enshrine the
only One True Lord in mind and expel cruel mindedness, egoism and love for
worldly attachments. He, who observes the fasting of knowing his/herself only
get profited. (On ekadasi or eleventh lunar day people observe fast and eat
only fruits and make offerings in the temples). One who observes hypocrisy sees
not the quintessence (Truth). The Immaculate Lord is self sustained (He needs
no offerings), He is detached and purest of Pure Lord and no filth is attached
II 13 II
Wherever I saw, I found only One Lord. He created creatures
of many kinds. By eating fruits only one loses the life’s fruit. Relishing the
variety of delicacies one loses the taste of Lord.( Ekadasi fast is observed by
eating fruits only but instead of contemplating on Lord’s Name majority are
waiting for the moment to break the fast and relish delicacies. This mechanical
fasting has not achieved its goal of fasting that is thinking and contemplating
on Lord). The mortals get wholly engrossed in covetousness. The only way to
learn the truth is by practising it and become God oriented (Gurmukh) by the
grace of Guru II 14 II
Sunday, 17 May 2015
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibTithi 4Sixth (luna...
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibTithi 4Sixth (luna...: Gems of Gurbani Guru Granth Sahib Tithi 4 Sixth (lunar day): Though the Lord has created the Shastras still the word that He create...
Gems of Gurbani
Guru Granth Sahib
Tithi
4
Sixth (lunar day): Though the Lord
has created the Shastras still the word that He created without clang (Anahad)
is unique in sound. Those who have contemplated on His Anahad Bani and have
uttered it (for the benevolence of humanity) have obtained glory. The Lord if He Wills, He calls the mortals to
His mansion (they sing His gloryand perform under His Will). The others (like
Sadhus who wear religious garbs but go door to door for begging) who proclaim
to be the religious people burn themselves in their own pride. The truth always
merges in to the truth and finally merges in to the True Lord II 8 II
Saptami (seventh lunar day); If a
man’s body becomes blessed with chastity and contentment than he is blessed
with the Immaculate One’s Name that is like contentment of getting all seven
seas (The seven seas are considered to be: of milk, of curd, of ghee, the juice
of sugar-cane, of honey, of sweet water and the saline water). The one who follows
the instructions of the Guru, makes his conduct good and reflects only on the
Name of True Lord and help others too, gets ferried across the world ocean without
any obstructions II 9 II
Ashtami (eighth lunar day); One who
sharpens his intellect, does righteous deeds and ponders over the Name of the
Immaculate One obtains the eight psychic powers (Sidhis). He, who gives up his
three qualities – optimism, pessimism and egoism synonym with air, water and
fire and recognizes that the True Lord abides in his heart, is truly meditating
on the Name of True Lord, O Nanak, if he remains absorbed in the true Lord he
abandons the fear of death II 10 II
Naumi (ninth lunar day); The Name of
the Lord is most powerful. The powerful Lord is the Lord of all nine great
yogis, the nine regions and all the hearts. The whole world has become
dependent (like offspring’s who are dependent for their bringing up on parents)
on Maya the elusive spread of wealth and other plays of Maya. My obeisance is
only for the Lord who is my protector from the beginning of the ages. The Lord
was there from beginning of the ages, during all ages and shall be there in all
coming time (ages). That Infinite, Omnipotent Lord alone is capable Person who
can do everything II 11 II
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibTithi 3Fourth (t...
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibTithi 3Fourth (t...: Gems of Gurbani Guru Granth Sahib Tithi 3 Fourth (the fourth Lunar day); The lord created four Vedas, four sources of creation (An...
Gems of Gurbani
Guru Granth Sahib
Tithi 3
Fourth (the fourth Lunar day); The
lord created four Vedas, four sources of creation (Andaj- egg born, Jeraj-
placenta born, Setaj- sweat born, Utbhuj- earth born), and distinctions in the
form of speech. He created eighteen Puranas, six shastras and three qualities
(Rajas- optimism, Tamas-egotism, Satik- pessimism). He, himself knows whom to
instruct. He who controls the three stages of mind (Jagrit- waking, Supan-
sleeping and sakopat- sound sleep) can dwell into fourth stage “Turia” when the
mind is absorbed in the God. Nanak prays to be His slave II 5II.
Fifth (Lunar Day): the mortals (who
are considered to be created of five elements) of five elements are but demons
(the five elements are; the fire, the earth, the water, the sky and the air –
all five have destructive powers as well). But the Lord Himself is
incomprehensible and detached unlike mortals who are involved in doubt, hunger,
worldly love and thirst. Only after tasting the elixir of His Name some become
satiated, some become imbued with His Name, some die to be reduced to dust
(becoming extremely humble). Some abide in the True Lord’s mansion and remain
there in His presence II 6 II
The false one is not renown and has no honour
like the black crow that ever remains impure. He (the false one) is like a bird
in the cage that moves around gyrating but can never get itself released from
the cage on its own. It can be released if its owner releases. Same way if one
becomes devoted to God and follows Guru’s instructions and firmly grasps the
meditation can obtain the Lord II 7 II
Saturday, 16 May 2015
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibTith 2Raag Bilawa...
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibTith 2Raag Bilawa...: Gems of Gurbani Guru Granth Sahib Tith 2 Raag Bilawal Mahala 1; There is One God. By Guru’s grace He is obtained. The first Lu...
Gems of Gurbani
Guru Granth Sahib
Tith
2
Raag Bilawal Mahala 1;
There is One God. By Guru’s grace He
is obtained.
The first Lunar Day: The Unique Lord
is Peerless, Immortal, Unborn and without caste and involvement. He is
unapproachable, we cannot fathom His thinking and He is without Form or an
outline. After my great search I found Him and I found out that He abides in
every heart. Nanak is devoted to all those beings who have found Him and can
show others the way to find Him. By Guru’s grace I have obtained the supreme
status II 1 II
Whose Name should I utter except that of the
Lord of the Universe? With the Guru’s grace my house (my heart) seems to be the
mansion of the Lord II Rahao II
Second (Lunar Day); they who start
believing in others by abandoning Lord will regret in the end. They are
destined for the coming and going cycle of birth and death. In this cycle they
bring nothing into this world and take nothing from here. In addition the fear
of death is like sword hanging on their head that keeps them wounded. There is
no emancipation without the Guru’s word. Hypocrisy has never emancipated anyone
II 2 II
The true Lord has created this
Universe with various elements and created various spheres which He keeps
separated and which He is capable of destroying. He created earth and sky a habitat
for living. He created day and night, fear and emotions. He, who has created
all this, is always there to take care of it. There is none other than the
Creator II 3
II
Third (lunar day); The Lord has
created the trinity- Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesha with various Gods and goddesses
in various forms. He also created countless number of lights (mortals with part
of His light). He Himself evaluates them and fills all spaces. Since He fills
all spaces who shall I call near and who is far from the Lord? II 4 II
Friday, 15 May 2015
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth Sahib Tithi 1 According...
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth Sahib Tithi 1 According...: Gems of Gurbani Guru Granth Sahib Tithi 1 According to Hindu calendar system the month is divided into two parts; Shukla and Krishn...
Gems of Gurbani
Guru Granth Sahib
Tithi
1
According to Hindu calendar system
the month is divided into two parts; Shukla and Krishna paksha. End of shukla
paksha is full moon and that also is the beginning of Krishna paksha. This
division of month is known as lunar days or tith in Punjab. The physical
movement of moon on each day may affect moods of people, brighter nights may
elevate the mood and darker nights may cause fear in some people. Together with
constellation of stars, planets and other heavenly bodies a complexity of
beliefs is created that can cause fear of death, good and bad omens, loss of
health and property, fear of death of some dear ones and many more
superstitions. The root cause of all such maladies is the greed of a particular
priest class who like to run their homes without toil or hard work and grab
other people’s earnings by spreading superstitious beliefs and fears. They are
the one who suggest solutions as well and people rush to the holy places, banks
of holy rivers and deras to take advantages of the auspiciousness of certain
days and to ward off the evil of others. In Hindu calendar each day of shukla
paksh or Krishna paksha is related to certain deities and solution was provided
to please that particular deity for removing obstacles. Fasting is one of the
greatest tool by which many deities are pleased and offerings are prescribed to
complete the gap to ensure income. The age old tactics of creating fear in mind
is so obsolete that even the highly educated fail to see the reason behind all
superstitions and their futility. The greed of priest class is so deep seated
that computer engineers and IT professionals cannot stop taking advantage of
certain periods called auspicious where certain rituals are performed to ward
off evil or bring home some deities. They take leave from their modern jobs and
go to perform rituals to earn money.
Guru Nanak who proposed his theory of
Ek Onkar or One God for all humanity
composed his preaching based on these superstitious rituals and lunar days in
Raag Bilawal, documented on page 838 of Guru Granth Sahib.
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibSohila 7Raag Gauri...
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibSohila 7Raag Gauri...: Gems of Gurbani Guru Granth Sahib Sohila 7 Raag Gauri Purabi Mahala 5 The following verse advices the mortals to awaken and change your lif...
Gems of Gurbani
Guru Granth Sahib
Sohila 7
Raag Gauri Purabi Mahala 5
The following verse advices the mortals to awaken and change your life and do for what you have taken human form for. If you change God will help you to learn object of your life and you will attain inner peace and will be absorbed in the realm of Lord.
The Fifth Master says: I pray O dear friends, listen to me this is the right time to serve the God conscious people. Take the advantage of their company and earn the profits of God’s Name in this life. Hereafter you shall find an abode that may make your life comfortable.
In the company of God conscious people all your affairs can be set right II Rahao II
This world is engrossed in wickedness and scepticism and suffers. Only the divine, the God conscious people are saved and cross this worldly ocean.
He, whom God awakens to drink the essence of His Name comes to know the discourse of the ineffable Lord II 2 II
Trade only those commodities for which you have come to this world and with grace of the Guru, God will abide in your heart.
In your own home (your heart) you shall feel the presence of Lord that will give you comfort and peace and you will be saved from the cycle of rebirth II 3 II
O Lord you know to read every heart and you fashion every chance that fulfils the yearning of hearts to unite with you.
Nanak your servant asks for this happiness to become dust of your divine feet O Lord! II 4 II 5 II
This was fifth concluding part of Sohila that is read before going to bed.
Guru Granth Sahib
Sohila 7
Raag Gauri Purabi Mahala 5
The following verse advices the mortals to awaken and change your life and do for what you have taken human form for. If you change God will help you to learn object of your life and you will attain inner peace and will be absorbed in the realm of Lord.
The Fifth Master says: I pray O dear friends, listen to me this is the right time to serve the God conscious people. Take the advantage of their company and earn the profits of God’s Name in this life. Hereafter you shall find an abode that may make your life comfortable.
In the company of God conscious people all your affairs can be set right II Rahao II
This world is engrossed in wickedness and scepticism and suffers. Only the divine, the God conscious people are saved and cross this worldly ocean.
He, whom God awakens to drink the essence of His Name comes to know the discourse of the ineffable Lord II 2 II
Trade only those commodities for which you have come to this world and with grace of the Guru, God will abide in your heart.
In your own home (your heart) you shall feel the presence of Lord that will give you comfort and peace and you will be saved from the cycle of rebirth II 3 II
O Lord you know to read every heart and you fashion every chance that fulfils the yearning of hearts to unite with you.
Nanak your servant asks for this happiness to become dust of your divine feet O Lord! II 4 II 5 II
This was fifth concluding part of Sohila that is read before going to bed.
Thursday, 14 May 2015
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibSohila 6The...
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibSohila 6The...: Gems of Gurbani Guru Granth Sahib Sohila 6 The last two verses documented on page 13 of Guru Granth Sahib are written by Guru...
Gems of Gurbani
Guru Granth Sahib
Sohila 6
The last two verses documented on page 13 of Guru Granth
Sahib are written by Guru Ramdasji and Guru Arjun Devji in raag Gauri Purabi.
These verses remind us to abandon ego, anger and lust and seek the company of
saintly people who can guide us to follow the path that leads to inner peace
and unite us with the Lord God.
Raag Gauri Purabi Mahala 4
The body (here characterized as a town) is full of lust and
wrath to the brim. By meeting the saint Guru I have broken both into pieces. By
virtue of pre ordained writ I have met the Guru who has helped me to enter the
realm of Lord II 1 II
Making obeisance with clasped hand to the saint Guru is like meritorious
act and making prostrate salutation is a great virtue II Rahao II
The Mammon worshipper has never tasted the elixir of God
because the thorn of ego/pride has stuck within him. As he walk along on his
path of illusions the thorn prick more and more and he feels the fear of death
like a mace that keeps hanging on his head II 2 II (The thorn prick unless
removed from body keeps pricking and the pain doesn't subside even after
wearing soft shoes so is ego a character that is self demolishing).
On the other hand God
conscious people have absorbed themselves in the Name of Lord and they have
broken away from the fear of birth and death(recycle of birth and death). They
have obtained the Imperishable Lord and are honoured in all the regions of the
Universe II 3 II
I am poor and humble and I am only yours O Lord save me save
me you are Greatest of the Great. Your Name is the sustenance and support of
this ordinary Nanak and with your Name grace he enjoys the peace within II 4II
4 II
Tuesday, 12 May 2015
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibKirtan Sohila 5Dh...
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibKirtan Sohila 5Dh...: Gems of Gurbani Guru Granth Sahib Kirtan Sohila 5 Dhanasari Mahala 1 Aarti There is but One Lord. By true Guru’s grace He is obt...
Gems of Gurbani
Guru Granth Sahib
Kirtan Sohila 5
Dhanasari Mahala 1
Aarti
There is but One Lord. By true Guru’s grace He is obtained.
The sky is like a salver, studded with stars and their orbs
look like pearls, the moon and Sun are like lamps that lighten the world, the
wind is fanning the breeze that brings fragrance of sandalwood from malay
mountains and the whole vegetation is full of flowers ready to make offerings
to the Light O luminous Lord II 1 II What a beautiful adoration to the Lord
with all His own creation is being performed O Lord the destroyer of the dread.
The celestial music is being played that untouched word for your adoration that
sounds in all beings equally like temple drums II rahao II
O Luminous Lord Your light and Being is manifest in all human
beings that is how you have thousand of eyes but none of your own, you have
thousands of forms bur self is without form, thousands are your holy feet but
none are your own, thousands are the noses but none is your own. O how I am
bewitched with all your play! Amongst all beings is your light that can
enlighten everyone, every soul but with Guru’s teachings that Divine light
becomes manifest. Whatever pleases Him that alone is His adoration! For me His
Lotus feet are like that sweet honey for which day and night I remain thirsty.
Grant Nanak, the pied cuckoo with the nectar of your mercy so that he may have
an abode in Your True Name O Lord II 4 II 1II 7 II 9 II
Note: The Malay mountains are in south where most of the
sandalwood in India is grown. The Aarti according to Hindu tradition is done by
lighted Lamps in a salver with some fragrances in front of an Idol. The
tradition that is followed is to move the salver four times at the feet of the
deity, twice in front of stomach area, once on face and seven times on whole
body. Nobody is ever explained why it is done in this particular way. Since
Guru Nanak ji was against Idol worship and believed only in Formless God he
wrote this beautiful Aarti for the adoration of the Lord where the whole nature
created by Him is worshipping Him and we human need to realize that it is Him
whose command we need to follow.
Saturday, 9 May 2015
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibKirtan Sohila 4C...
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibKirtan Sohila 4C...: Gems of Gurbani Guru Granth Sahib Kirtan Sohila 4 Continued…… Dhanasari Mahala 1 page 662 There is but One God. By true Guru’s ...
Gems of Gurbani
Guru Granth Sahib
Kirtan Sohila 4
Continued…… Dhanasari
Mahala 1 page 662
There is but One God. By true Guru’s grace he is obtained.
This is not the age in which people know the way to truth and Yoga. In this age
the world’s places of worship are being polluted and the world is being drowned.II
1II In this age only the Lord’s Name is sublime. A hypocrite has closed his
eyes, holding his breath he is trying to deceive the world.II rahao II Holding his breath with his thumb and
two fingers he is proclaiming that; I am seeing the three worlds. But he is not
seeing anything behind him (Guru ji had picked up his begging bowl and kept it
behind is back to check whether in his lotus posture he is actually seeing the
three worlds). But he does not see anything behind his back; O strange is this
lotus posture. II 2 II The Khatris (Kshtriyas) have abandoned their religion
and are speaking the foreign language of the Malechhas( invader Islamic
people). The world has assumed one caste (that of evil) and the religion and
righteousness has vanished from this world II 3 II The Hindus study the eight
and ten Puranas and experts study and reflect upon Vedas ( to show the way to
emancipation). Without Lord’s Name there is no emancipations says Nanak the
slave of the Lord II 4 II.
This small verse with its huge meaning tells us the history
of Nanak’s age and how troubled he was to see the total deterioration in the
country where no one was doing their duties. Kshtriyas who were supposed to
protect the country had themselves become party to the invaders to establish
their rule and the Brahmins who were supposed to show the world the right path
to know the Will of the Lord and look after the humanity had divided the
society instead of uniting it to fight the foreign rule. The hypocrites like
the sadhu were exploiting the situation by such superstitions and stunts that
they have direct connection with the Lord and can become intermediary between
Lord and people naturally by taking a fee.
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibKirtan Sohila 3D...
Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibKirtan Sohila 3D...: Gems of Gurbani Guru Granth Sahib Kirtan Sohila 3 During his travels to the east in India Guru Nanak came to see the Temple of Pur...
Gems of Gurbani
Guru Granth Sahib
Kirtan Sohila 3
During his travels to the east in India Guru Nanak came to
see the Temple of Puri and he saw the aarti being conducted there and was
saddened to see that people and priests have all forgotten the Creator and the
world is being lead to believe in illusions. He came away from the temple. The
evening was clear on the coast and moon was full and the whole atmosphere was
serene with ocean making its own waves and noises. He thanked God for creating
this blissful atmosphere and one of the most beautiful obeisances was flowing
through his pious mouth. Years later he documented this beautiful creation that
he penned down at Kartarpur on the banks of river Ravi. Guru Arjun Dev has
recorded this on page 663 of Guru Granth Sahib in raag Dhanasari Mahala 1.
Before we take up to understand aarti let us understand that
atmosphere that created the revolutionary streak in Guru Nanak and also that
aversion for traditions that needed complete overhauling. The breakdown of
Indian society was at all levels because people were thrown into pits of
darkness by blind faith and superstitions. All along the coastal areas in India
people go for evening walks to see sunset and get fresh breeze from the ocean.
The avarice of Sadhus and other religiously garbed people becomes intensive
take to advantage of the congregation of people at such places to earn money.
Some dig pits in the sand and sit up to shoulders in them and cover themselves with
sand and a begging bowl is kept nearby for people to throw money for their
stunt because at that particular moment they are united with God and thus
become favourites with the God and can ask for any boons. Others sit in Yoga
with their bellies withdrawn, eyes closed in meditation as if united with the
Lord and get blessings for people by becoming intermediary between people and
God. Following verse that is recorded in Guru Granth Sahib is that atmosphere on the beach that
made Guru ji check on the Sadhu if he is really connected with God.
To continue…………..
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