27th July

What a day! The impunity by which Pakistan sends terrorists in our country is really a serious matter. The congress was washing its dirty linen in parliament. BJP and Akalis were busy making plus points and Punjab Police working under high tension for almost 12 hours. When are we going to install CCTV cameras, and other high performing vigilance equipments to safe guard our borders?
How long are we going to let our people killed by terrorists?
We have money to buy millions of Yoga mats from China for PM modi's mega Yoga show but no money for our security and safety. PM Modi think again about your strategies and priorities. The citizens are watching.

APJ Abdul Kalam RIP. A great non political man yet he was a great leader. A truly great teacher who died as teacher amongst his students. Kalam tujhe Salam.

Looking forward...: Looking forward...: Mulmantra 9Saibhan This word ...

Looking forward...: Looking forward...: Mulmantra  9Saibhan This word ...: Looking forward...: Mulmantra  9 Saibhan  This word is coined from tw... : Mulmantra  9 Saibhan  This word is coined from two w...

Mulmantra  10

Gurprasad

 Gur literally means Guru, teacher or en lightener. Guru Nanak ji has used this word for God in many of his poems. It is because of His grace that he was enlightened and understood His Hukam or Will to spread His word. The Guru helps to dispel the darkness of ignorance from our lives so He the God is that ultimate en-lightener that we get by grace of Guru.

Prasad literally means blessings or bounties that we receive by contemplating on the word of Guru. We usually make offerings in temples and Gurudwaras to please God so that He bestows His blessings or bounties on us. But the Bountiful Lord is not dependent on our offerings because He Himself is great Giver, he keeps giving and the taker can become weary of receiving His bounties. His positive attribute of Bountiful grace is independent. It is from this aspect of God that Guru Nanak has developed his doctrine of God’s grace and he has used this aspect of God’s grace in many forms in his poetry. He calls it ‘Nadar’ and it is that grace that helps man to achieve his goal of liberation by realizing the truth of God’s existence. Grace is manifested through God’s word through Guru. This divine favour of God helps the spiritual development of man. Without knowing the God’s word the spiritual knowledge is incomplete and His grace remains illusion.

Other equivalents that Guru Nanak ji has used in his poetry are; kirpa, daya, meher, bhana, bakshish, daya and taras.

With this doctrine of grace all other religious practices become efficacious and only the contemplation on His Name or Naam japuna becomes effective because that alone overpowers haumai or ego. Once the ego is overpowered the presence of God is felt and man gets into harmony with His Will. Guru Nanak has expressed this naam japuna not as a mystical realization but as active realization of Truth of His existence. The person who becomes attuned to this recitation of His Name starts feeling change in his life and he starts transforming. Once that state arrives that you feel absorbed in His Name you start merging into that Divine light. That potentiality of total merger into the Divine light makes man becoming God like. This fact of becoming God-like gives man dignity and glory. This is the real grace of God that Guru Nanak ji has tried to explain to us.

The Mulmantra or Invocation that has been explained above translated in English is:

The Only Infinite One, the only Supreme Being, the Eternal, the Universal Spirit, the Creator Person, the All Pervading, the Sovereign, the Harmonious, the Immortal, the Embodiment, the Un-incarnate, the Self-existent, the En-lightener, the Bountiful.

Looking forward...: Mulmantra 9Saibhan This word is coined from tw...

Looking forward...: Mulmantra  9

Saibhan
 This word is coined from tw...: Mulmantra  9 Saibhan  This word is coined from two words sai meaning singular and there is no other to it, bhan meaning breakage...

Mulmantra  9

Saibhan

 This word is coined from two words sai meaning singular and there is no other to it, bhan meaning breakage. Coined together to form word Saibhan meaning singular and there is no other to break open or adjust. In other words self-existing is in singular form. This same self existing God while creating this world with living creatures has made the process of recreation which is not self existing, even the smallest self reproducing creatures like microbes that create by division need a medium for recreation. God the Supreme Being is the only one who is not born, not reproduced and His existence is not dependent on someone or something. He was always there. He is Himself the cause of His existence therefore He is self existing.

Guru Nanak says those who have realized this fact about His self existence have found a way to obtain Him or go to His court. His court is called ‘Sodar’ in Gurbani and its description is given in verse 27 of Japuji Sahib;

 O Lord, which is that door, which is that House? Wherein you are sitting and organizing everything. Where countless music instruments and singers are playing and singing, the countless measures (raag) along with their consorts (raagini) praising and singing. Wind, water and fire and even the Judge of righteousness are singing your praises. Chit-Gupt two recoding angels are consulting the righteous judge and recording. Shiva, Brahma and the Goddess who are all adorned beautifully by you are singing your praises. Indra sitting on His throne along with all His Gods and Goddesses are singing your praises. In their meditative mood the Sidhas (who have attained all powers) and the Saints who are continuously contemplating sing your praises as well. People who abandon desires and become truthful and content and those who become fearless knights all are singing your praises. All the Pundits or scholars who had been reading the Vedas in all ages and Rishis their writers are singing your praises. All those enchanting women who charm in the paradise, this world and the world under are singing your praises. All the fourteen invaluable objects created by you (that mortals seek to possess) and  the 68 pilgrimages ( the Pundits assigned as duty in a life time to visit to achieve liberation of soul), mighty warriors, divine heroes and all four sources (continents) of creation are singing your praises. All the continents, the universe and the solar systems created by your hand are eulogizing you and your glories. They are also eulogizing the saints who are pleasing to your because they immerse themselves in your Name and love. Many others whom I cannot recollect in my mind are singing your praises. Can Nanak contemplate? That and that Lord alone is truth, He is True and His Name is True. That Lord who has created the whole Creation is there and always is there even when all that He created may not be there, He will still be there. He has created in such diverse forms and colours that all looks like illusions. After the creation of this world as it pleases His honour He is watching His own handiwork. Whatever pleases Him he does that because no one can issue orders to Him. He is the King, the Emperor of the Kings and Nanak remains subject to His Will.

Looking forward...: Mulmantra 8AjuniThe literal meaning ofAjuni is w...

Looking forward...: Mulmantra 8
Ajuni
The literal meaning ofAjuni is w...: Mulmantra 8 Ajuni The literal meaning of Ajuni is without the cycle of birth and death. According to Hinduism the man has to take ...

Mulmantra 8

Ajuni

The literal meaning of Ajuni is without the cycle of birth and death. According to Hinduism the man has to take millions of birth in any living form before he is emancipated and his soul becomes free to merge into the Supreme Soul. Each cycle is a juni. Guru Nanak has attributed the character of Ajuni to God because He is the only One who is not born. He has no father, no mother, no kins and no lust and pain. In Japuji Sahib Guru Nanak says; ‘some worship Him as the Supreme Power, some worship His bounties and see His manifestations in that, some worship His virtues, His greatness and deeds, some worship through knowledge and scholarship, some worship Him as Creator and the destroyer, some worship Him as destroyer who recreates life, some worship Him as far from earth, some worship Him as omniscient and omnipresent. There is no end to the ways He has been described by His devotees. Myriads of men have described Him in myriads of ways. The Giver gives eternally; the receiver grows weary of receiving. Since the time was born men have subsisted on His bounty. The Lord within the discipline of His order directs the path of the universe.

God the disinterested enjoys it blissfully’. This shows that God has remained detached all the time and has built no relationships.

He has worked through all ages and has remained Harmonious.

The theory of incarnation of God thus stands rejected because He has not involved in any strife and He has not come and gone (He has not taken birth in human form to emancipate the world as incarnation). Ajuni therefore stands for un- incarnated.

Looking forward...: Mulmantra 7Akal MuratAkal Murat is coined from...

Looking forward...: Mulmantra   7
Akal Murat
Akal Murat is coined from...: Mulmantra   7 Akal Murat Akal Murat is coined from two words Akal meaning Timeless and Murat meaning form or Being that has defini...

Mulmantra   7

Akal Murat

Akal Murat is coined from two words Akal meaning Timeless and Murat meaning form or Being that has definite shape that is visible. Akal’s literal meaning is Timeless and that has been assigned to God as one of His characteristics by Guru Nanak. According to Guru Nanak’s doctrine no time idea can be applied to the God because He was there when the Universe came into being though in His Nirgun (without attribute form) and when He became Sargun (with attributes) His expression began in His creation. He has transcended all ages or Yugas that are calculated in Hindu mythology to measure time. In other words the time is a definite calculation and creation of definite human mind to reach the time origin of God. Guru Nanak has defined Him Timeless Being because God is beyond any calculations and He was there, He is there and He will always be there, therefore we cannot assign any time limit to Him. In other words He is Eternal. Guru Nanak also believes in moment that he calls khin (Chhin) in which God becomes perceptible and that moment is change or transformation, for example a living person could die next moment and that time percept for God is just a moment. He can create in a moment and destroy in a moment. How will you calculate that moment that could be smaller than blink of an eye for God? So, applying existence of time for God has been overcome by assigning Him characteristic of Timeless Being.

In most of the civilizations the religious belief has developed into belief of existence of God. Human mind needed a particular sign for worshipping. In religions of Semitic origins signs or things are used like Christians use cross or pictures of Jesus and Maria and in Islam pictures of Rock covered with black curtain as objects for supplication. Hindus have varieties of idols of Gods and Goddesses’ for personal worship or community worship in temples. Guru Nanak denied any idolatry shape for God. For him the God is unborn, self-existing, without form or a Formless Being. Then why is he calling that God as Murat? This he explains very well in Japuji Sahib. The concept of Murat has been developed very thematically by him and the fifth Master Guru Arjun Devji. The whole idea of Murat has been centralized in Shabad Guru or word. The Shabad or word is enshrined in Guru Granth Sahib and that has directly come from God Himself into the conscious mind of Gurus and which they have documented with their own hands as word of God or Anahad Bani. No medium like son of God or idea of prophet was used to deliver the word of God. The whole idea is the Will of Lord or His Hukam that is enshrined as guidance or teachings. Akal Murat therefore is expression of God’s command. Shabad or Anahad Bani has no shape or Form and it sounds in our heart as God’s grace in music that takes us in a bliss that we call as Wismad state in foundation doctrine. Akal Murat therefore is that blissful state of mind when we feel blessed with the presence of God within us.

Looking forward...: Mulmantra 6NirvairuThe literal meaning ofthe wo...

Looking forward...: Mulmantra  6
Nirvairu
The literal meaning ofthe wo...: Mulmantra  6 Nirvairu The literal meaning of the word Nirvairu is without enmity or malice. If we keep to the track that the Mulma...

Mulmantra  6

Nirvairu

The literal meaning of the word Nirvairu is without enmity or malice. If we keep to the track that the Mulmantra is concept of Character of God than it is explained that the God is without enmity or malice in other words the whole of humanity for Him is equal even when we see there are various races with distinctive features. Why Guru Nanak has brought up this character of God? This is the question in focus. In Guru Nanak’s various hymns he says that God is Supreme Being, without rancour, without parallel yet the Universe is under His discipline and His will reigns supreme. This makes God a very consistent being or person who can remain detached even when there is chaos in the world as some become tyrant rulers, others make rigid rules for religious living, still others are only exploiters. If he remains detached in this chaotic world then He has the capability to remain harmonious. Guru Nanak may have brought this as question in focus so that we understand that this character of God is necessary to develop within us to recognize Oneness of God and all are equal to Him and the whole universe is His Theater where He plays various plays. We must recognize that light and spirit of God within us, only then we can become without enmity and malice and consider that law of equality and love.

The development of most religions have taken a path of rigidity and those who already belong to a particular religion think others to be equal if we become one of them and follow their set of rules. For making others one of them they took path of tyranny by forcing conversion on others or making false promises of heaven after death or cohesive tools to convert others. This has created enmity and malice and in certain countries like India a deep rooted hatred.

Belief in oneness of God brings harmony in religious thinking of mankind and that alone will be a tool for world peace.

Belief in Nirvairu feature of God and developing the love for equality and love for humanity principle of Guru Nanak was nothing less than a bloodless revolution in this chaotic world.

Looking forward...: Mulmantra 5Nirbhau –The nextword in invocation...

Looking forward...: Mulmantra   5
Nirbhau –
The nextword in invocation...: Mulmantra   5 Nirbhau – The next word in invocation or Mulmantra literally means without fear. Only the Almighty the Supreme Being...

Mulmantra   5

Nirbhau –

The next word in invocation or Mulmantra literally means without fear. Only the Almighty the Supreme Being is without fear. All his creations like the sun, the moon the earth, the fire, the wind, the ocean and the man move under the grip of His fear. Guru Nanak explains this in Asa ji di waar- GG sahib pg. 464:
"Bhay wich pawan wahe sadwau
Bhay wich chaleh lakh daryao,
Bhay wich agan kadai waigar,
bhay wich dharti dabbi bhar,
Bhay wich indu phire sirbhar,
Bhay raja dhararm dwar,
Bhay wich suraj,Bhay wich chand,
Kohcrori chalat na anant"
In other words the fear of Almighty makes the wind to blow, rivers to flow, fire to burn hot, earth to carry all the weight, rains to pour, Kings to follow the path of dharma, sun to shine and moon to give light.
God alone is the fearless Being and He alone is Sovereign. Everything else moves under His discipline.

This fear of God under which His creation like air, water, sun, moon, and earth moves means living in a discipline and doing all that the God wills. When everything is being followed then the living could become smoother for everyone on this earth. It is only the human race that has become either too docile or too fearless and created divide of many kinds like subjugation to caste, creed, power, religion and politics and it all happened because God created a mind for human race that can absorb right and wrong both. The control of wayward mind is the objective of Guru to lead a fearless life so that no tyrant can subject us to subjugation, no Brahman can decide our fate and classify us into compartments of hierarchy. God and His Will is always in justice so living according to His will by grace of Guru should be objective of our life.

      

Looking forward...: Martyrs day Bhai Taru Singh ...

Looking forward...: Martyrs day Bhai Taru Singh                       ...: Martyrs day Bhai Taru Singh                           Born in a Sikh farmer’s family from Village Puhla in district Amritsar Bhai Taru S...

Martyrs day Bhai Taru Singh                          

Born in a Sikh farmer’s family from Village Puhla in district Amritsar Bhai Taru Singh ji lost his father at an early age. His early education in Sikhism and Sikh history was given by his mother. Learning from his mother he developed a very firm belief in Sikhism and ideals of Sikhism. His pious and good helping nature came to be known not only in his own village but in the surrounding villages as well. He always fed hungry people by making lungar for not only passing Sikh soldiers but his lungar was open to all Hindus as well as Muslims. This was the period when Sikhs were persecuted by Muslim rulers. Sikh soldiers went into hiding and saw hardships. It was people like Taru Singh who helped these people. Near his village was forest known as Baba Budha ji di beed. Bhai ji helped the Sikhs hiding there with food and other things.

People who lived for their higher ideals like Kirat karni, wand schakna and sewa are not tolerated by many people especially by those with communal hatred. Bhai Taru ji also became victim of this sick mentality. His activities were reported to the Governor of Punjab Zakaria Khan by Haribhagat Nirnajania. Zakaria Khan without asserting the facts ordered arrest of Taru Singh. He was asked to convert to Islam to save his life. Bhai ji told Zakaria Khan that the death is an inevitable fact; even a Muslim dies so why should he not die as Sikh and retain his honour. Zakaria Khan ordered that Bhai Taru Singh’s head should be pulled along with his head. With a sharp knife his head skin was chopped along with his hair. To torture more he was not killed. From that day onwards Zakaria Khan became very sick and he could not pass urine. He realized his folly and asked for Bhai Tarus Singh's pardon. Sikhs told that Zakaria khan can be cured if he gets Bhai Taru Singh’s shoes on his head. The tyrannical Zakaria khan agreed to get Bhai Taru Singh’s shoes on his head he got cured but soon died. Only after the death of Zakaria Khan Bhai Taru Singh ji left his last breath for heavenly abode.

Living for his ideals, strong belief in Sikhism and ready to lay oneself with life for that belief need lot of courage. Let us all pay tribute to this brave soul.  

Looking forward...: Mulmantra 4Karta PurukhahKarta means creator a...

Looking forward...: Mulmantra   4
Karta Purukhah
Karta means creator a...: Mulmantra   4 Karta Purukhah Karta means creator and Purukha means Person, coined together it means Creator Person. This is anothe...

Looking forward...: Mulmantra 4Karta PurukhahKarta means creator a...

Looking forward...: Mulmantra   4
Karta Purukhah
Karta means creator a...: Mulmantra   4 Karta Purukhah Karta means creator and Purukha means Person, coined together it means Creator Person. This is anothe...

Mulmantra   4

Karta Purukhah

Karta means creator and Purukha means Person, coined together it means Creator Person. This is another attribute of God that will be considered and deliberated. Guru Nanak rejected the theory of Vedic polytheism in which the creation of universe is responsibility of various Gods like Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva were assigned the creation and destruction. Guru Nanak’s belief is that before the creation of this universe there was darkness, there was no sun, no moon, no stars or planets. There was darkness everywhere. The Will of God alone reigned and He was wrapped within Himself but conscious. The creation of the universe was the outcome of the will of this conscious Being when He expressed Himself and His expression resulted in His manifestation of Universe. Will is the fundamental principle of God’s activity. Guru Nanak says the creation of universe is no illusion but true work of God. The process of His work is creating, destroy and create again. This way the creation does not become static and sustains in its new form. This whole activity of God is in birth, death and regeneration in living beings and creation and destruction of world in various ways is a reminder that God is omnipotent, all pervading existence. Read these lines from Guru Granth Sahib page 472 “jmana marna Hukam hai bhane ave jaiye”. Therefore Guru Nanak ji stresses man to understand the divine Will of God and live accordingly. In his long poem Dakhni Onkar Guru Nanak has dwelt upon the attributes of God as Creator person. He says it is the Truth of His Being that world exists and He pervades everywhere and that world is not Maya or illusion.

Purukhah: The literal meaning of Purukhah means a person. In context of human being it is his soul and in context of God it is the Supreme soul that has its own light and it is all pervading. In Guru Granth Sahib this word Purukhah has been used in many contexts such as God, soul, great man and all pervading. In Gurbani the word Purukhah has been used as an adjective to express various attribute of God such as Karta-purukhah or creator person, Akal Purukhah or eternal Timeless Being without beginning or end, Niranjan Purukhah or without the duality of illusions or Maya. The divine reality sustains this world. God as Purukhah is the divine soul and man is part of that soul that means we humans are having part of that Supreme Divine soul. In practical thinking when we die it is our body that is destroyed and the soul leaves and merges back into the Supreme soul. Purukhah therefore is that Being or soul that is omnipresent and all pervading.

Looking forward...: Mulmantra 3Satnaam The word Satnaam iscoined fro...

Looking forward...: Mulmantra  3
Satnaam The word Satnaam iscoined fro...: Mulmantra  3 Satnaam The word Satnaam is coined from two words, sat meaning the truth and naam meaning Name. The literal meaning of ...

Mulmantra  3

Satnaam

The word Satnaam is coined from two words, sat meaning the truth and naam meaning Name. The literal meaning of it comes as true name. Guru Nanak has attributed God with Sat because He is eternal Truth as he was there, He is there and He will always be there. He has no beginning and no end and He is not subject to change. He will ever be alike and when there is no end to Him the life will always be there. This truth of God was revealed to Guru Nanak. So according to Guru’s understanding of God, the God is an eternal Being and the word Sat or Truth is attributed to Him. The other attribute in this coined word is Naam or Name. In Guru Nanak’s doctrine Naam is synonym with word or shabad and it becomes a divine word that is an object for meditation as is suggested in Japuji Sahib. Constant recitation is the tool to get attached to the Lord so that He is pleased and then unites man with Himself. The contemplation of divine Name in itself is realization of His Being and that leads to the union with the Lord. The Name of God and names of God are two distinct features in Guru’s doctrine. The Name is the total expression of God in His manifest form or unmanifest form. It is the total expression of His Light or being that is immanent in His own creation. His names are the expressions used by His created creatures to address Him or to meditate in His Name. His creatures use His names like Ishwar, Bhagwan, Gopal, Gosain, Gobind, Rahim, Allah, Khuda and so on. Even in Guru Granth Sahib all such names are used to address Him.

These are names used by His creatures to address Him and are not to be confused with His True distinct identity as the only Infinite, Timeless, Unborn, Eternal Being whose Will or Hukam prevails over everything He has created. At the time of creation of this world that contains man as one of His creation, God has placed part of His light in man. Meditating on this Name is recommended in Gurmat to kindle the inner light of man so that it becomes able to mingle with the supreme Light of the Lord.

Looking forward...: Mulmantra………2OnkarOnkar is placed afternumerical...

Looking forward...: Mulmantra………2
Onkar
Onkar is placed afternumerical...: Mulmantra………2 Onkar Onkar is placed after numerical digit in Mulmantra and only as syllable ‘ura’ not with all its letters. This a...

Mulmantra………2

Onkar

Onkar is placed after numerical digit in Mulmantra and only as syllable ‘ura’ not with all its letters. This again signifies that there is only One God who is not divisible. He will be continuously remaining One only. In Hindu mythology the word OM is used for the absolute One and it is also used for meditation. Many scholars believe its origin from Sanskrit and it used in Vedas for God as Supreme Being, the ocean of knowledge and absolute bliss. OM is an attribute of Almighty and an object of concentration and meditation. According to some interpretations Om is constituted from three Sanskrit letters; aa, ou and ma and they represent the Hindu Trinity; Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh or Shiva. According to this interpretation God is divided into three incarnations. The Sikh Doctrine rejects the theory of incarnation and division of God. Guru Nanak has pronounced the Absolute, Infinite Being as Onkar in one of his bani documented as Dakhni Onkar in Guru Granth Sahib. This word Onkar is constituted of two words namely ‘Oan’ and ‘kar’ meaning Oan as Supreme Being and Kar means “the only’. Guru Nanak’s emphasis was on God who is only One and has no rival or equal. In phonetics it may sound or misunderstood like OM but Punjabi is the language of Indian origin and it is the interpretation that matters. Two monosyllables one as digit 1 and other as alphabet constitute the word EK ONKAR or the Only Supreme Being from whom this Universe has emanated. In Punjabi the alphabet ura is elongated from the base of U of devnagari script and that closes at top but EKONKAR ura is open upwards to denote that God is Infinite. Guru Nanak ji has given his attention very minutely to the usage and shape of these two monosyllables. His presentation of his theory of One God who is Infinite was very important to him so the attention must be given to his interpretations and teachings. He has used many Names like Brahma, Vishnu, Gopal and many more to represent only One Supreme Being because the people of his time understood God only with such names and he was the Guru of masses irrespective of their caste, standing in the society or their religious knowledge. The equality of human race irrespective of their race as God has fashioned this world was the main objective to explain the character of God.

Looking forward...: Mul MantraEk Onkar Satnaam KartaPurukh Nirbhau Ni...

Looking forward...: Mul Mantra
Ek Onkar Satnaam KartaPurukh Nirbhau Ni...: Mul Mantra Ek Onkar Satnaam Karta Purukh Nirbhau Nirvair Akal Murat Ajuni Saibhung Gur Prasad is the opening verse of the Guru Granth ...

Mul Mantra

Ek Onkar Satnaam Karta Purukh Nirbhau Nirvair Akal Murat Ajuni Saibhung Gur Prasad is the opening verse of the Guru Granth Sahib the holy book and the Ultimate Guru of the followers of Sikhism. The truth is that this foundation doctrine of Guru Nanak Devji is not only for Sikhs but for whole of the human race. The basis of this doctrine is explained in the form of teachings, examples, adulation and praises of God, the differentiation between evil and good and to become perfect are explained in Guru Granth Sahibji. The teachings, philosophy and how truth is revealed about the Creator are beautifully compiled and documented in this holy book. All those who learn and believe in this doctrine are disciples or Sikhs. This invocation or opening verse is called Mulmantra or root verse and it expresses the concept or character of an entity that the modern world calls God or Almighty. We shall not take any comparative study at this level to explain the character of God in various religions. The emphasis here will be given to the belief of Guru Nanak Dev ji alone. Guru Nanak Dev ji’s belief is based on Oneness of God and he characterizes him with digit 1 and this digit is absolute one. Digit 1 cannot be divided, from it all things begin and it is greater than zero or void. It denies the belief that before this world existed there was null or void. Nothing can start from null or zero or void but from digit 1 the existence of any number begins. Guru ji have called it Saibhung or self existing. This foundation doctrine revolves around Oneness of God who is absolute One Being, His Name is the absolute Truth, He is the Creator Person, He is without fear, He is without rancor or ill will, He is eternal or timeless, He is not subject to birth or death, He is self existing in other words He can manifest Himself, He can be realized with the grace or favour of Guru. This doctrine is based around this essence or concept of the Absolute One. All other beliefs that need a medium to unite with God by making it narrow by laws and conditions, borders for His limitations and force or tyranny to indoctrinate this narrowness are rejected by Guru Nanak. This absolute Being is Perfect and One only is the first principle of Guru Nanak’s doctrine. For full understanding of this divine reality that this perfect One Lord is the Creator, Immanent, Ineffable, all Pervasive and the ultimate ground for all that exists the understanding of this Mulmantra becomes very important and it will also provide us with insights to understand Guru Nanak Devji and Guru Granth Sahibji.

1 or Ek                                  

The first word of this holy Granth or book begins with digit 1.

1 is pronounced as Ek in Punjabi and one in English that shows that it is constituted with more than one letter. So if one is taken as digit it remains as one digit which is indivisible in letters or otherwise. That emphasizes the importance of digit 1 and why it is used as an attribute of God.  

Let us see how this beautiful doctrine unfolds the character of God or Almighty. 1 has been placed as first letter of this Granth that denotes Oneness of God meaning God is the only Supreme Being and there is absolutely none other than Him. This simple one digit also denies all existing theories about the origin of this world and wayward growth of multiplicity of Gods and Goddesses and sectarian tendencies of other doctrines. Guru Nanak’s belief is that life sprang up from this Absolute One. Before this God was wrapped within Himself in absolute trance and that means the world was not lifeless. He alone was there and then he breathed his life into the universe and the worlds sprang up from His Being. He created this world and thus became Creator or Karta Purukh. Before this creation He was Nirgun or without any attributes and unmanifest and when He expressed Himself, He not only became manifest but with attributes and in Punjabi He came to be known as Sargun or Sagun. His being Sargun is expressed in His own creation. It was His Will or Hukam that prevailed even before He became Sargun. In rag maru from pages 1023 to 1038 Guru Nanak has expressed the Oneness of God and denied the theories of His origin by other doctrines. God is light and that light is He Himself and he passes that light in His own Creation so that the darkness of the ages is dispelled. The world is illuminated through His light. He pervades all His creation yet he remains formless and detached. He is not incarnated nor can any image contain Him. He is Infinite, limitless without boundaries so He cannot be limited to a particular race, caste or creed. This unit or numerical 1 signifies that for Lord the entire creation is equal though for His own amusement he has created diversity. 

Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibSiddha Gosht 19...

Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibSiddha Gosht    19...: Gems of Gurbani Guru Granth Sahib Siddha Gosht    19 One who becomes Guru-ward stills his ego and conquers mind and keeps the True N...

Gems of Gurbani

Guru Granth Sahib

Siddha Gosht    19

One who becomes Guru-ward stills his ego and conquers mind and keeps the True Name enshrined in his mind. The Guru-ward loses the fear of death and with that confidence wins over the world. The Guru-ward understands the Name and Word of the Lord and wins a place in his court. The Lord has helped him to unite with Himself because O Nanak the Guru-ward has understood His worth II 71 II

O Yogi! The quintessence of the Divine Word is that without the Name even the yoga cannot be practised. By meditating on His Name day and night you not only get imbued with His colour but obtain peace. With His Name the understanding is attained and you become renowned.  All those disguised in various religious garbs without the understanding of His Name are strayed by Him. From the true Guru the Name is attained and then only one comes to know the ways of yoga. Reflect in your mind and you shall realize that without His Name you cannot get emancipated O Nanak II 72 II

Your status and estimation you alone know O Lord. What can others know and narrate? You were un- manifest and then manifest yourself and enjoy all the pleasures yourself. Good many seekers, adepts, spiritual teachers and disciples wander in your search; this also is your Will alone. They beg for Your Name and You bless them with this alms. I scarify myself for your vision O Lord.

The Imperishable Lord has staged this play. It is through the Guru that one understands it. Nanak, the Lord Himself pervades all ages and He is the only One and there is no other second to Him II 73 II

Concluded..

Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibSiddha Gosht 18G...

Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibSiddha Gosht   18G...: Gems of Gurbani Guru Granth Sahib Siddha Gosht   18 Guru says: O yogi! When heart and body were not there the mind was abiding in th...

Gems of Gurbani

Guru Granth Sahib

Siddha Gosht   18

Guru says: O yogi! When heart and body were not there the mind was abiding in the True detached Lord.

When there was no support for the navel lotus the breath stayed in its own Home (Lord) imbued with the Lord’s love.

If the distinction marks of caste and outline of human body had not come to exist then the quintessence of Lord’s Name would have lived in the Formless Lord.

When the human body, the three worlds, the skies didn't exist then the Formless Lord contained all the light within Himself.

All the castes, religious disguises and forms of One Lord were contained in the wondrous, formless Lord before they were expressed.

Without the True Name no one can become immaculate O Nanak the story of this Lord is ineffable II 67 II

Yogis ask: O wise man! In what way does this world come into being?

In what ways the ills destroy it and it perishes?

Guru says: The self-conceit, ego makes this world come into being and if His Name is forgotten it perishes. Only those who become God-conscious and reflect upon the quintessence of Divine knowledge can burn their ego. They become immaculate in body and soul with the Name and their speech becomes immaculate too and they remain merged in the True Lord. With the Lord’s Name comes the detachment and the Name remains enshrined in their mind. O Yogi; reflect upon this in your heart that without His Name the yoga cannot happen II 68 II

Rare are those who contemplate on True Name and receive Guru’s grace to understand the Truth. By Guru’s grace the word (shabad) becomes manifest and man is drenched with showers of Lord’s love. The God conscious comes to abide in his own home (self). The God conscious follows only One Lord and He (God) shows the path to Yoga O Nanak II 69 II

By serving the True Lord the path of yoga is obtained and meeting Him alone one gets emancipated. Without meeting the True Guru the Name is not attained. Without meeting the True Guru one suffers immense pain. Without meeting the True Lord the supreme darkness of ego is not dispelled. O Nanak without meeting the True Lord the life goes waste and death ultimately takes over II 70 II

Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibSiddha Gosht 17...

Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibSiddha Gosht    17...: Gems of Gurbani Guru Granth Sahib Siddha Gosht    17 Yogis ask: How can you recognize the Primal Lord?       How can you recognize...

Gems of Gurbani

Guru Granth Sahib

Siddha Gosht    17

Yogis ask: How can you recognize the Primal Lord?      

How can you recognize your own real self?

How does sun enters the home of moon?

Note :( the sun emanates light and moon has no light of its own thus the darkness of moon is compared to the ignorance).

Guru says: When one tries to become God-conscious, stills his ego from within the enlightenment comes like sun entering the home of moon (the darkness of ignorance is removed) easily O Nanak! When mind becomes stable it abides in its own home and heart becomes immaculate and with Guru’s grace the Primal Lord is known.

The breath has its home in the region of navel in human body. The God-conscious who in search of truth realizes his own self and finds that mind and breath should be seated in their own homes only then the wandering ceases. Once the wandering ceases the enlightenment of that Lord comes whose light is pervading all three worlds.

The God-conscious hears the music of unstruck instruments ( Anahad bani – only God can play the music that comes without striking of two parts of an instrument). This music is understood by rare people. Nanak says: The one who speaks this truth is self imbued with God’s fast colour that can never fade II 65 II

Yogis say:

If this heart and body were not there where would mind abide then?

If the supporting lotus of navel was not there in body where would the breath then have home?

Note: according to yoga shastra millions of blood vessels emanate from heart and go to various parts of body on their way back they meet at certain places in the body which forms a lotus. From this lotus the breath controlling exercises are maintained. The one lotus near the navel is said to be the home of breath. The lotus near heart controls mind and one near the throat controls the appetite, the one near forehead controls ageing. The lotus near forehead along with Ira or left nostril and pingla the right nostril and sukhmana the central bronchial pipe when takes out breath the tenth aperture of body opens and Moksha is attained.

When there was no form or outline either then how would love enshrine through the Name?

When there was no body-tomb formed from ovum and sperm, could then the worth of Lord’s extent evaluated?

When Lord’s colour, garb and form were not seen could then the True Lord be known?

The Guru says: Nanak they alone are detached who are imbued with the Name. Now then and ever they see the truest of the True Lord II 66 II

To continue….

Gems of Gurbani

Guru Granth Sahib

Siddha Gosht    16

The Yogis ask Nanak’s opinion about: Air is said to be the life of mind, on what does it survive?

Acquiring knowledge is the life of an ascetic (yogi), for what shall a hermit (Siddha) employ his mind to?

Guru says: Without God O Hermit the air (breath) survives not, the thirst is not quenched unless ego departs, and the life of a hermit will find purpose if he gets ambrosial nectar by drenching himself in the love of Lord. A hermit or an adepts’ purpose is to remain satiated by the True Lord’s Name.

The yogis ask:

What is that understanding or knowledge by which one remains steady?

With what food do the mortal remains satiated?

Guru says: By learning that suffering and happiness become alike by meditating on True Lord’s Name and that serves as food to become steady in mind. That also removes fear of death from mind II 61 II

Devoid of True Guru’s Name and Word the inner strength is lost and man cannot get imbued in His Being, cannot quaff on nectar of His Name. In this confused state he is consumed by his own fire from within.

If one forgets to meditate on True Lord’s Name he has forgotten his inheritance (Guru’s belief that man has originated from Lord). If True Name is forgotten then all breath controlling exercises are futile. O Nanak by uttering the Ineffable Lord’s Name the difference between pain and happiness is lost and the Omnipresent Lord is obtained II 62 II

By obtaining Lord’s grace man is imbued with the Lord’s love.

By quaffing on the nectar of his Name man is absorbed in the True Lord.

By reflecting on Guru’s word the inner fire is quenched.

By drinking Lord’s ambrosial nectar the soul comes to peace.

Contemplating on the Truth of Lord’s existence by the grace of Guru’s word it becomes easier to cross over the world ocean.

O Nanak such people are rare who understand and contemplate on this Truth II 63 II

Yogis ask: Where is the abode of carefree mind?

Where is the abode of breath?

Where should the Lord’s word reside O Hermit Nanak so that mind’s wandering ceases?

Guru says: With god’s merciful grace one finds True Lord and the wandering mind settles down in its own home. When man eats up his self conceit he becomes immaculate and thus able to prohibit and control wandering mind II 64 II

Looking forward...: Bhai Mani Singh JiFew words and a tribute on the ...

Looking forward...: Bhai Mani Singh Ji
Few words and a tribute on the ...: Bhai Mani Singh Ji Few words and a tribute on the martyr’s day of Bhai Mani Singh ji: Son of Bhai Mai Das who was a devotee of Hou...

Bhai Mani Singh Ji

Few words and a tribute on the martyr’s day of Bhai Mani Singh ji:

Son of Bhai Mai Das who was a devotee of House of Nanak and out of twelve, eleven of his son’s found heroic end, safe guarding the values of this house. Mai Das brought his son Mani Das at Kiratpur to meet Guru Har Rai ji for his blessings. Guruji blessed him that he will make his name big in history. He was always in Guru’s service till the tenth Guruji. Like Baba Budda ji he also served House of Nanak for longest period and died a hero’s death.

After the missionary work of Guru Teg Bahadurji where Bhai Mani Das always accompanied him he came to settle in Anandpur Sahib with Guru ji. Guruji entrusted him the work of making copies of the Guru Granth Sahib ji. When Guru Teg Bahadur ji left for Delhi for his martyrdom he entrusted the look after of Guru Gobind ji as he was still a child then. Along with the education and marshal training of Guruji Bhai Mani Das acquired all the training and became a great schlolar and warrior. He fought valiantly the battle of Bhangani in which his brother died of hero’s death. Guru ji bestowed the decoration of Diwan on Bhai Mani Das after seeing his velour and scholarly inclinations to solve problems. He became Bhai Mani Singh along with whole family after baptizing to Khalsa on the baisakhi day of 1699.

After the battles of Anandpur Sahib where he lost two of his sons Bhai ji was asked to come to Damdama Sahib where Guru ji asked him to make the final edition of Granth Sahib in which Guru Teg Bahadur ji’s Bani was added. Guruji asked him to stay at Damdama Sahib to look after Sikh matters when he himself went to south to meet Aurangzeb.

After Banda Singh Bahadur’s martyrdom there was a big divide in Sikhs and they had become directionless. Many Sikhs followed Banda Singh Bahadur as Guru whereas Guru Gobind Singh ji had passed on the throne to Guru Granth Sahib as final Guru of the Sikhs. These manmukh Sikhs even tried to change the greetings of Sikhs like instead of Wahe Guru ji ka Khalsa Wahe Guru ji ki Fateh they started using Fateh Darshan as greeting. There was another opposing force to this manmukh group of Sikhs who called themselves Tat khalsa. They took permission from the rulers of the time to celebrate diwali at Amritsar Sahib and for a large congregation of Sikhs. The rulers gave permission for the large congregation thinking that the Sikhs will finish fighting with each other as both groups marched towards Amritsar. Diwali celebrations passed on peacefully but the bitterness was still prevailing. Some Sikhs consulted Mata Sundri ji to solve this problem forever. Mataji entrusted Bhai Mani Singhji for this task and he came to Amritsar.

Bhai Mani Singhji became the Granthi of Darbar Sahib. After taking charge he regulated the affairs there and then started preparing for the large congregation of Sikhs at Darbar Sahib on the occasion of Baisakhi. Zakaria Khan who was the ruler of Punjab asked to pay tax of Rs 5000 for this celebration but with his malign intentions to kill all Sikhs during this religious congregation. When Bhai Mani Singhji came to know of Zakaria Khan’s intentions he tried to stop Sikhs coming to Amritsar but it was too late and thousands paid with their life. There was no congregation and when Bhai Mani Singh ji complained he was arrested for not paying the tax. He was taken to Lahore and ordered to convert to Islam or face death. Bhai Mani Singh ji chose death and he was martyred by slaughtering. He was butchered at 52 joints one by one.

Bhai Mani Singh ji was a Gurmukh and died for his belief in Sikhism like a hero at a very late age of His life. His contributions to the House of Nanak can never be repaid by simple tributes. Only the Lord knows to glorify His true followers.

  .       

Gems of Gurbani

Guru Granth Sahib

Siddha Gosht    15

Yogis ask: What is that word by saying which the world ocean is crossed over?

Where is the abode of that Lord?

The breath that we take out is said to be three and seven fingers away from the nostril. What is the support of that breath?

The mind that wanders and plays all the time, how does it become motionless? How does it see the Invisible Lord?

The Guru says: Hear O Sire Nanak makes true supplication and trains his mind thus. The God-conscious becomes attuned to the True Lord and blessed with His gracious glance he unites with Him. The Lord is Himself all wise and all seeing and He has destined you to merge and unite with Him II 58 II

That Invisible Lord abides within us all and I continuously see Him, wherever I see, I see Him. As the air is all pervading, so is Lord abiding everywhere, in every being. From Nirgun (without attributes) He becomes sargun (with attributes). If he extends His merciful graciousness His Name dispels all doubts from mind and He abides therein. By making the abode of His pure word the mortal’s body, speech and soul becomes pure. The one who understands that there is only One Lord alone, here, there and everywhere is ferried across the terrible world ocean. The one who understands the Lord’s word that there are no sectarian distinctions, marks, no castes and colours and no delusions II 59 II

O Yogi the three and seven finger distanced taken out breath is sustained by the Lord. The God-conscious realizes the Imperceptible, Infinite God and speaks and churns out the quintessence of His Word.

When man effaces the three qualities of temperament (egoism, optimism and pessimism) from within his mind and enshrines the word of Lord in his heart the ego is stilled and mind becomes stable. At this state man realizes that the Lord is within himself and all around himself, he comes to profess his love for the Lord’s Name.

When the Imperceptible, Infinite Lord reveals Himself to man then he is blessed with the knowledge that Yogis believe they get by learning to control their breaths in the central, left and right bronchi.  Above these three breath control modes exists the True Lord O Nanak who expresses His True Word and merges in man II 60 II

Looking forward...: Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth Sah...

Looking forward...: Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth Sah...: Looking forward...: Gems of Gurbani Guru Granth Sahib Siddha Gosht 13Y... : Gems of Gurbani Guru Granth Sahib Siddha Gosht 13 Yogis ask:...

Gems of Gurbani

Guru Granth Sahib

Siddha Gosht    14

Yogis say: Listen! Everyone says God is dispassionate.

From where do you obtain the Immortal Lord?

Of what kind are they who are imbued with the Imperishable Lord?

Guru says: They are like Him from whom they have originated. They do not transmigrate nor do they come and go (in this world). The one who follows Guru’s instructions and trains his mind is able to obtain the Imperishable Lord II 52 II

By controlling the nine doors (all body apertures like 2 eyes, 2 nostrils, 2 ears, 1 mouth and 2 excretory apertures) the one who arrives at the tenth door is near to perfection. Because of the tenth door one hears the sound of music of the Perfect Imperishable Lord. At the tenth door man reaches a state where he sees True Lord and merges in Him. The Lord fills the heart fully with His presence. The unmanifest bani becomes manifest – Gurbani and man comes to know the True Lord O Nanak II 53 II

Meeting the Lord in this equipoise state the peace descends and the God-conscious never falls into slumber (of ignorance) again and remains wakeful. By enshrining the word of Illuminable Lord within his mind and uttering the word he not only emancipates himself but saves others too. They who act on Guru’s instructions are imbued with the True Name. Nanak, those who eradicate their self-conceit do not remain separated from True Lord II 54 II

The Yogis ask: Which is that place where evil intellect gets destroyed?

Why is, that man fails to understand the quintessence and suffers?

 The Guru answers: The one who has bound himself at the door of death cannot be rescued. Without the Name of the Lord there is no prestige and honour.

Yogi asks: How can one obtain understanding and swim across?

Nanak says: The ego-centric and ignorant cannot obtain understanding O Nanak II 55 II

The evil intellect is destroyed by contemplating on the Name and word of Guru. Meeting with the True Guru the understanding that develops, helps to obtain salvation. On the other hand a wayward man does not understand the quintessence and Truth. His evil intellect separates him from God and he suffers and is burnt to ashes. The one who understands Lord’s Will is blessed with virtues and knowledge and he obtains honour in the Lord’s court II 56 II

He, who possesses the merchandise and wealth of His True Name ferries across and helps others to swim across. The one who understands Him easily gets imbued with His love and finds honour. No one can eliminate the value of such person. Where ever I see I find Him all pervading O Nanak, the True One’s love helps the world ocean cross over II 57 II

Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibSiddha Gosht 13Y...

Looking forward...: Gems of Gurbani
Guru Granth Sahib
Siddha Gosht 13Y...: Gems of Gurbani Guru Granth Sahib Siddha Gosht 13 Yogis ask: In what way mind moon, home of the coolness and darkness be illuminated? In...

Gems of Gurbani
Guru Granth Sahib
Siddha Gosht 13

Yogis ask:
In what way mind moon, home of the coolness and darkness be illuminated?
In what way the brilliance and heat of the sun is created?
In what way the call of death is stopped?
In what way the intellect and honour of the God- conscious be preserved?
Who is that warrior who slays the death?
Contemplate on this O Nanak and the give your reply II 48 II
Guru Nanak answers: Uttering God’s name the mind moon is infinitely illuminated. The sun (Name) blazes in the mind moons home and all the darkness is dispelled. Taking the shelter of the Name the call of death is stalled because woes and happiness become alike. The God-conscious is blessed with the Grace of the God that saves his honour and intellect. By imbibing the teachings of Guru; Man merges in Truth and prays, Nanak, the dread of death is eaten up II 49 II
The quintessence of the Name is considered supreme. Without Name the dread of pain and death keeps afflicting the mortal. When the man’s essence merges in that of God’s essence then only the mind is sated. When the duality is dispelled the soul enters into ‘One’ only Lords home. The spiritual breath follows and resounds like thunder from the sky one meets the Move less Lord O Nanak II 50 II
The mind is hearing within us, without us and the sound of that Lord’s Name is filling all the spaces in the three worlds and reaches in the fourth state ‘Turia’ when God’s name is absorbed and in such state vice and virtues become immaterial. He, who knows the mystery of God that He is pervading all hearts, he himself becomes the manifestation of the Primal Lord, Immaculate and bright Lord. The mortal, who is imbued with the Immaculate Name, he himself O Nanak is the Lord Creator II 51 II
Note; four states of mind ; waking or jagrit, sleeping or supan, sound sleep or sakhopat and fourth state Turia when mind is absorbed in God.

Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibSiddha Gosht 12 ...

Looking forward...: Gems of GurbaniGuru Granth SahibSiddha Gosht   12 ...: Gems of Gurbani Guru Granth Sahib Siddha Gosht   12                          The Guru ward is blessed with the Name of the Immacul...