Lately I have
been reading the Guru Granth Sahib, the Holy book of the Sikhs.
It is a compilation
of the sayings of Gurus and Great Bhaktas (Devotees).
The Guru Granth
is considered the Living Guru.
From the lines
of the Guru Granth:
Guru Granth
Jee Maaniyo Pragat Guraa Kee Deh
Jaa Kaa Hirdaa
Shudh hai Khoj Shabad Mei Leih
Which means:
Believe that the
Guru Granth is the Body of the Living Guru,
The Seeker whose
heart is pure will find his answer in ‘The Utterings’
The Shrimad Bhaagvad
recounts the different Incarnations of the Lord,
The Bhagvad Geeta
expounds a Mighty Philosophy,
And The Guru
Granth is an ecstatic pouring of a Spiritual Heart.
As I go through
the Guru Granth , I feel that Guru Nanak is trying to describe what he
‘sees’ and experiences…yet
he often says
how difficult it is to do the above, because words fail him, to describe
the magnitude of what we know as ‘God’.
I am sharing with you the Aarti that is generally sung, at a Gurdwara.
This ode was partly
composed by Guru Nanak.
At Jagannaath
Puri, a famous pilgrimage center of the Hindus, Guru Nanak noticed that
the priests were more
interested in
the rituals and elaborate arrangements rather than in their love for God.
So he stepped outside the
temple and burst
into the following masterpiece.
The
Aarti
Gagan mah
thaal, Rav-chand Deepak baney
Taarka mandal
Janak Moti
Dhoop maliaanlo
Pavan chavaro karey
Sagal Banrai
phoolant jyoti
Which means:
The Sky is Your
platter,
The sun and moon
are the ‘Deepaks’ the lamps (lights),
The Stars in
the sky are the pearls,
The ‘Dhoop’ (Incense)
is the fragrance,
That the wind
propels,
The whole forest
is Your flowers.
Kaisee Aarti hoi
Bhaykandana Teree Aarti
Anhata Shabad
Vajanta bheree
Which means:
O! What a wonderful
Aarti, this is!
You, are a destroyer
of Fear,
The sound of
Your Name, which is so subtle, that It goes unheard,
Resounds endlessly.
Sahas Tav Nain
na na
Nain hai Tohey
kau
Sahas moorat
Nana Ik Tohee
Sahas Pad Bimal
Na na
Ik Pad Gandh
bin
Sahas Tav
Gandh Iv
Chalat Mohee
Sabh Mah Jot
Jot Hai Sohee
Tis Dat Chaanan
Sabh Mah Chaanan Hoi
Gur Sakhi
Jot Pragat Hoi
Jo Tis Bhaavey
So Aarti Hoi
Which means:
You have a thousand
eyes, forms, feet, noses…And you have none…
I am charmed!
Your Light enlightens
all!
It is by the
Grace of the Guru that the real Light (Knowledge) Manifests.
What pleases
the Almighty is this Aarti (Creation)
Har Charan
Kamal Makrand Lobhit Mano
Ana Din Mohey
Aayey Pyaasa
Kirpaa Jal
Dey Nanak Sarang Kau
Hoi Jaatey
Terey nai Vaasa
Which means:
I yearn for Your
Lotus feet,
Night and day,
Nanak is like
the thirsty bird that asks,
For a drop of
water,
From You O Lord!
That drop (Grace)
will make Nanak find comfort,
In the uttering
of Your Name.
(The next part of the Aarti is a composition by Sri Ravidasji)
Naam Tero Aarti
Majan Muraarey
Har Kay Naam
Bina Joothey Sagal Pasaarey
Naam Tero Aasno
Naam Tero Ursaa
Naam Tero
Kesro Lay Chhitkaarey
Naam Tera Ambhula
Naam Tero Chandno
Ghas Japey
Naam Lay Tujahee Kau Chaarey
Naam Tera Deeva
Naam Tera Baatee
Naam Tero
Tel Lai , Maahee Pasaarey
Naam Terey
Kee Jyot Lagaayee
Bhaiyaa Ujiyaaro
Bhavan Saglaarey
Naam Teraa
Taagaa Naam Phul Maalaa
Bhaar Athaarah
Sagala Joothaarey
Tero Keeyaa
Tujhahee kyaa arpau
Naam Tera
Tuhee Chavar Dhulaarey
Das Atha Atha
Sathey Chaarey Khaanee
Ehay Vartan
Hai Sagal Sansaare
Kahay Ravdaas
Naam Tero Aartee
Sat Naam Har
Bhog Tuhaarey
Sant Ravidasji says that:
O Lord, Your name
is the Aarti,
Your name is
the Flower, the saffron, and the sandalwood
That is offered
to You.
Your Name is
the (Deeya)
The Lamp, the
oil and the cotton
That is lighted
in it.
With the Light
that Your Name gives out,
The whole world
is brightened.
Your Name is
the Thread and Your Name is also
The Flowers that
are strung into that thread.
All that I offer
to You is Yours.
Your Name is
the flywhisk, that you use,
The (Chant of
Your) True Name,
We offer to You,
All is false
except Your Name!
(The following part of the Aarti is composed by Sant Sainji)
Dhoop Deep
Dhrit Saaj Aartee
Vaarney Jaau
Kamlapati
Mangalaa Har
Mangalaa
Nit Mangal
Raaja Raam Raaiko
Uttam Deeyaraa
Nirmal Baatee
Toohee Niranjana
Kamlaapati
Raam Bhagat
Raamaananda Jaaney
Pooran Paramaananda
Bakhaaney
Madana Moorata
Bhay Taarey Govindey
Sain Bhanay
Bhaj Paramaananda
The Aarti is adorned
by the lighted lamp
And the fragrance
of the incense.
All is Auspicious.
Thou art the
Supreme and Pure Light.
Thou art the
Lord of the Goddess of Wealth.
My obeisance
to Thee.
And to the Lord
Rama, Beautiful Govinda,
Who is described
as Replete Pure Bliss!
Sain prays to
Thee, Who obliterates all Fear.
(The following part is composed by Sant Kabir)
Sun Sandhyaa
Teree Dev Devaakar
AdhPati Aadee
Samaayee
Sidh Samaadhee
Anta Naheen
Paayaa
Laagee Rahey
Sarnaayee
Leho Aartee
Ho Purakh Niranjan
Satguru Poojo
Bhaai
Thaada Brahmaa
Nigam Bichaarey
Alakh Na Lakhiyaa
Jaayee
Tat Tel Naam
Keeyaa Baatee
Deepak Deh
Ujiyaaraa
Jyot Laayee
Jagadeesha Jagaaiyaa
Boojhey Boojhana
Haaraa
Panchey Sabada
Anaahada Baajey
Sangey Saaringa
Paanee
Kabeer Daas
Teree Aartee Keenee
Nirankaar
Nirbaanee
Which means:
Dear Lord!
The Greatest
of Yogis have not been able to comprehend You,
Those who worship
the Unmanifest,
Fail to realize
You.
Even though they
have persevered in their quest.
Your Name resounds
unheard (By the worldly)
And only He can
hear (On who Your Grace descends)
Pray to Your
satguru!
Almighty Lord!
Accept the Aarti,
with the oil, Lit with the Chant of Your Name,
By You, the Lord
of the Universe!
Kabirdas performs
the Aarti of the ‘Beyond Description’ and the ‘Without Form’
(The following part is composed by Sri Dhanaji)
Gopaal Teraa
Aartaa
Jo Jan Teree
Bhagat Karantey
Tin Key Kaaj
Sanvaartaa
Dal Seedhaa
Maangau Ghee
Hamraa Khusee
Karey Nit Jee
Pania Chaadan
Neekaa
Anaaj Maangau
Gau Bhais Maangau
Laaveree
Ik Taajana
Turee Changeree
Ghar Kee Geehanee
Changee
Jan Dhanaa
Levey Mangee
Gopaal Tera
Aartaa
Hey Dayaal
Teraa Aartaa
Which means:
O Gopaala, (Accept)
your Aarti!
You grant the
wishes of those who worship You!
I ask for my
basic sustenance (food, oil, lentils, good quality grains)
Which makes me
feel fulfilled.
I also pray for
a good wife, good clothes, good grain, a horse, a cow…
The following has been composed by ‘Daswin Patshaahi, The 10th Guru: Gobind Singh Maharaj.
I believe that in the following words, the same feeling is conveyed as Guru Nanak’s:
That the Cosmos is an Aarti, constantly in motion, paying obeisance to the Almighty.
Yaa Tey Prasann
Bhayey Hain
Mahaa Muni
Devan Key Tap
Mein Sukh Paavey
Jag Karey
Ik Ved Rarey
Bhav Taap Harey
Mili Dhyaan
Hi Laavey
Jhaalar Taal
Mrudanga Upanga
Rabaab Leeyey
Sur Saaj milaavey
Kinnar Gandharva
Gaana Karey
Gani Jachha
Upachhara Nirata Dikhaavey
Sankhana kee
Dhunee Ghantan kee Kari
Phoolan Kee
Barkhaa Barsaavey
Aartee Kot
Karey Sur Sunder
Pekh Purandar
Key Bali Jaavey
Daanatee Dachhan
Dey Key Pradachhan
Bhaal Mein
Kum Kum Achhan Laavey
Hot Kulaahal DevPuree mil Devan KeyKuli Mangal Gaavey
Aisey Chand
Partaap Tey Devan Badhyo Prataap
Teen Lok Jai
Jai
Karey Rarei Naam Sat Jaap
It means:
The Lord is pleased
by the penance, prayers, rituals recitation of the Scriptures, Meditation,
music, dance of the
Celestial Beings,
adorned with vermilion, various musical instruments, Ringing of bells and
the showering of
flowers, and
the tune of the Aarti . The cosmic worlds rejoice and chant the Divine
Name.
Sagal Dwaar
Ko Chaad Key Gahyo Tumhaaro Dwaar
Baanh Gahey
Kee Laaj Rakh Govind Daas Tuhaar
Aagya Bhayee
Akaal Kee Tabhee Chalaayo Panth
Sabh Sikhan
Ko Hukum Hai Guru Maaniyo Granth
Guru Granth
Jee Maaniyo Pragat Guraa Kee Deh
Jaa Kaa Hirdaa
Shudh hai Khoj Shabad Mei Leih
Vaanee Guru
Guru Hai Baanee Vich Baanee Amrit saarey
Gurbaanee
Kahey Sevak Jan Maaney Partakh Guru Nistaarey
It means:
I have come to
Your door-step O Lord, having left the world behind,
Protect me, I
am in Your service.
Because of the
Lord’s command, this order (Sikhism)
Came into being.
The Sikhs are
urged to believe that the Granth is the Guru manifest,
Whoever is pure
in heart, will find the answers within the words of the Guru Granth Sahib.
Its words are
the Guru, and the Guru is in the Guru Granth’s Utterings,
And within the
words is the nectar (Of knowledge)
And the words
urge disciples to believe in the Guru!
The more I read the Guru Granth, the more I personally believe that the words in it are the result of deep and true visions of realization. The Sindhis, though Hindus, are followers of Guru Nanak and are deeply influenced by His teachings.
It is not uncommon
to seek answers of baffling questions by opening the Divine Book at random.
And as the Guru Granth
itself claims,
the pure of heart will find their queries replied.