Aesthetics and religion

From ancient times art and religion were closely associated. The most beautiful architecture, ornamental facades, painfully carved exteriors and interiors both in wood and marble or even rocks are common sight at all religious places. There are two reasons for this kind of development 1) patronage of the rich and powerful for show off or even love for the deity. 2) Imposing grandeur brings more patronage, pilgrimage that ultimately moves commerce.

All such efforts are followed by people in power both political and religious heads. Many empty religious traditions are created to run the shop. Most fascinating are the bathing rituals and morning and evening prayers. People flock on these occasions and spend money to please the deities. During his travels Guru Nanak visited most crowded religious places and established the facts that most rituals performed there were empty and there were religious people in disguise to mislead innocent and ignorant people in the name of religion. He visited the Jagannath Temple in Orrisa for an evening Aarti, the temple was full of people with maddening sound and smoke from the incense burning inside. A self hypnotizing effect and environment is created so that the Pandas have the constant flow of devotees rush coming in. Guru Nanak ji came away from there, and composed the most beautiful eulogy to God that is known as Aarti. Guru Nanak ji being the keen lover of nature and adorer of His creation composed the beautiful eulogy; Aarti in lyric description of panoramic beauty and mystic longing for the Lord:

“In the salver of the sky, sun and moon are the lamps. The luminous stars are the pearls, the warm winds from the mountains wafts the incense. The God of air waves the whisk. The forests of the world offer their wealth of flowers. And spheres their music play.”

He further weaves his magic of words in his most beautiful poetry – Barahmaha, where the changes in nature of twelve months of the year make his central theme. Thus Guru Nanak ji has shifted his focus from the opulent, extravagant architectural beauty of temples to the creation of the Almighty. He (God) is the greatest Creator of aesthetics which is incomparable. In his aesthetic pursuit and search of truth Guru Nanak finds sound and music to be the most satisfying expressions and that inspired him to write beautiful poetry and compose music on the banks of river Ravi when he settled for last years of life. During his travels whatever inspired him in nature he would ask his companion Mardana to play his rabab and he would sing in his melodious voice. He could inspire people to follow his bhakti marga (devotional path). The same pulse of Guru Nanak was transferred in fifth Nanak- Guru Arjun Devji and he also composed eulogy to God by praising His creation. Gurus have expressed their imagination and beauty of the Lord as written earlier but on the whole the God is Sundar – beautiful, Manmohan or Manmohanang – whose beauty bewitches or allures the heart, Jagmohan – One who allures the whole world, Husnul wajuh – beautiful face and body, Rura and sohna meaning beautiful.

He is husnul charag – a beautiful lamp and other aesthetic qualities of song, music, rhytem and dance are attributed to God in His eulogy that describe him above all like – Gite Geet, nade naad, tane taan, nirte nirt and then meditating on such Lord an euphoria engulfs the devotees and He express this word ‘Wahe Guru’ the wondrous Lord. Thus Guru Nanak has shifted the whole focus from man made aesthetic works to the Creator of wonderful Creation that is this Universe.