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.