15. Baani Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Ji Ki: Ang 682 Dhan Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Ang 682: Dhan Guru Granth Sahib Ji

ਧਨਾਸਰੀ  ਮਹਲਾ  ੫ ॥

ਅਉਖੀ  ਘੜੀ  ਨ  ਦੇਖਣ  ਦੇਈ  ਅਪਨਾ  ਬਿਰਦੁ  ਸਮਾਲੇ ॥ 

ਹਾਥ  ਦੇਇ  ਰਾਖੈ  ਅਪਨੇ  ਕਉ  ਸਾਸਿ  ਸਾਸਿ  ਪ੍ਰਤਿਪਾਲੇ ॥੧॥

ਪ੍ਰਭ  ਸਿਉ  ਲਾਗਿ  ਰਹਿਓ  ਮੇਰਾ  ਚੀਤੁ ॥

ਆਦਿ  ਅੰਤਿ  ਪ੍ਰਭੁ  ਸਦਾ  ਸਹਾਈ  ਧੰਨੁ  ਹਮਾਰਾ  ਮੀਤੁ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

ਮਨਿ  ਬਿਲਾਸ  ਭਏ  ਸਾਹਿਬ  ਕੇ  ਅਚਰਜ  ਦੇਖਿ  ਬਡਾਈ ॥

ਹਰਿ  ਸਿਮਰਿ  ਸਿਮਰਿ  ਆਨਦ  ਕਰਿ  ਨਾਨਕ  ਪ੍ਰਭਿ  ਪੂਰਨ  ਪੈਜ  ਰਖਾਈ  ॥੨॥੧੫॥੪੬॥

धनासरी महला ५ ॥

अउखी घड़ी न देखण देई अपना बिरदु समाले ॥

हाथ देइ राखै अपने कउ सासि सासि प्रतिपाले ॥१॥

प्रभ सिउ लागि रहिओ मेरा चीतु ॥

आदि अंति प्रभु सदा सहाई धंनु हमारा मीतु ॥ रहाउ ॥

मनि बिलास भए साहिब के अचरज देखि बडाई ॥

हरि सिमरि सिमरि आनद करि नानक प्रभि पूरन पैज रखाई ॥२॥१५॥४६॥

Summary

“ਅਉਖੀ  ਘੜੀ – Aukhi Ghari – Difficult times” what are those? Well, everyone will respond unanimously, difficult times are when mind is confused, no hope is left and circumstance strangles an individual. But Dhan Guru Granth Sahib Ji tells us following about difficult times:

ਇਕ ਘੜੀ ਨ ਮਿਲਤੇ ਤਾ ਕਲਿਜੁਗੁ ਹੋਤਾ॥ [1]

इक घड़ी न मिलते ता कलिजुगु होता ॥

(When I could not be with You for just one moment, the Dark Age of Kali Yuga dawned for me.)

What can be worse than “Kal Yug, Black Age”? Let us ask the same question to ‘Sikh History’ and it tells us following:

• The Martyrdom of Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Ji sitting on ‘Red Hot Plate’ in Lahore saying ‘Tera Bhana Mitha Laga – Whatever is happening is ‘YOUR WILL’ and tastes sweet to Me’. 
• The Martyrdom of Dhan Guru Teg Bhadhur Ji. The Great Guru is about to be beheaded in Delhi challenging the credibility of Imperial Regime with just sheer patience. 
• Dhan Guru Gobind Singh Ji, watching the Martyrdom of ’40 Brave Sikh’ and ‘Two Elder Sons’ in battle of Chamkaur with a smile.

Ask anyone, what can be more painful than that? What kind of mental and physical pain ‘They’ had to endure but ‘They’ were just in ‘Bliss, in Deep Meditation Thanking Almighty to be part of ‘HIS PLAN’. Even in such circumstances Dhan Guru Gobind Singh Ji showers His Grace on mortals by uttering following words:

ਤੁਧੁ ਬਿਨੁ ਰੋਗੁ ਰਜਾਈਆ ਦਾ ਓਢਣ ਨਾਗ ਨਿਵਾਸਾ ਦੇ ਹਹਿਣਾ ॥ [2]

तुध बिन रोग रजाइया दा उड़ण नाग निवासा दे रहणा ||

(Without “YOU’ is like wearing blankets of disease, Without You is like living with Venomous Snakes.)

So, ‘Difficult Times’ are not what we generally comprehend, like struggling to make ends meet. As per Gurbaani, the difficult times are those when we don’t remember ‘HIM’.  

‘HE’ takes cares of ‘HIS’ devotees in ‘Difficult Times’. And that is ‘HIS’ nature. HE extends HIS arms, grabs HIS devotee in his arm and protects him with each and every breath. ‘HE’ keeps sending ‘HIS THOUGHTS, HIS REMEBRANCE’ to ‘HIS’ devotees. And once mind is occupied with HIS THOUGHTS, how an individual can feel anything else? How he could feel pain in the state of ‘Ecstasy’? Even if he fails to remember ‘HIM’; events will happen that he will begin to remember ‘HIM’. One, who HE grabs, never let him to forget HIM even for a moment. Point to remember the key word above is ‘Devotee – An individual who has surrendered himself’ else no other individual remembers him and even if he does it would be act of selfishness[3]. 

Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Ji, ‘Baani De Datta – Bestower of Baani’, further say that His consciousness remains attached to ‘God – The One’. Let us do ‘Ardas’ at this juncture, ‘Datar Pita please grab us and bless us with enough mettle to remain absorbed in ‘THE NAAM’ and path shown by You’.

Just think if anyone protects us how probable will it be that he will let us call him ‘Friend’. But ‘HE’ is such a Bestower of Grace, that HE accepts any name given to HIM in affection and gratitude. And of course since HE is creator HE has been in the beginning and end. Guruji further say that ‘HE’ always come to help. There can be none better ‘Companion’ than HIM.

HIS greatness cannot be described.

ਉਸਤਤਿ ਕਹਨੁ ਨ ਜਾਇ ਤੁਮਾਰੀ ਕਉਣੁ ਕਹੈ ਤੂ ਕਦ ਕਾ ॥ [4]

उसतति कहनु न जाइ तुमारी कउणु कहै तू कद का ॥

(Your Praise cannot be described; who can say where You are.)

ਊਚ ਅਪਾਰ ਬੇਅੰਤ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਕਉਣੁ ਜਾਣੈ ਗੁਣ ਤੇਰੇ ॥ [5]

ऊच अपार बेअंत सुआमी कउणु जाणै गुण तेरे ॥

(O my lofty, incomparable and infinite Lord and Master, who can know Your Glorious Virtues?)

But Guruji being blessed by ‘Akal Purakh’ further bestowing HIS grace on us say that He is delighted on gazing upon the marvelous and glorious greatness of the Lord and Master.

Guruji is asking everyone to remember HIM again and again. This will take any one into ecstasy. And then HIS grace will protect and preserve the honor of such individual.

So in summary Guruji is conveying the message that remembering ‘Lord’s Name’ brings happiness to an extent that difficult times just disappear and this is HIS way of protecting HIS devotees.

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[1] Maajh Mehla 5 Chaupade Ghar 1 – Ang 96

[2] Dhan Guru Gobind Singh Ji wrote these lines in Deserted Jungle of Macchiwara after Battle of Chamkaur.

[3] Though Humanyun went to take blessings of Dhan Guru Angad Dev Ji after he lost in battle; but he was full of ego. He charged towards, His Holiness Guruji, with sword.

[4] Tukhaari Chhant Mehla 5 – Ang 1117

[5] Raag Bilaaval, Mehla 5, Ghar 2, To Be Sung To The Tune Of Yaan-Ree-Ay – Ang 802

14. Self Perception

I grab book of science and it tells me that I am a complex biological evolution composed of tissues, cells, DNA, molecules, atoms, sub-atomic particles and it goes on. WOW! I am so diversified. But, I don't realize that I have become like fragments of broken mirrors. And I still don't get any insight about my nature and my existence. But again who cares about my nature and existence as long as I am pleased with facts provided to me by Science. Engrossed in scientific explanation, I begin to see my projections everywhere.  I see myself growing with knowledge but I don't realize that this all is delusional forgetting I am not outcome of fragmentation but of unionism.

So, who will help me to overcome this delusion? If my destiny is awakened by Grace of 'True Guru', I realize that I have been living in delusions. I have built a web of ignorance around me based on understanding rationality has offer. This partial understanding has caused me just pains. And again by 'His Grace' I find solace in 'Gurbaani'.

'Gurbaani' starts bestowing blessings on me. I begin to realize that I am not just projection; I am not just combination of sub-atomic particles; I am not just complex biological evolution but I am just as simple as ignorant fool whose nature and existence lays deep inside my consciousness. And still I have been withering away outside to find myself outside. I am trying to find internal peace in multiverses which are just self made ignorant projections. Let us never forget:

"ਸਭ ਕਿਛੁ ਘਰ ਮਹਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਨਾਹੀ ॥ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਟੋਲੈ ਸੋ ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲਾਹੀ ॥" [1]

सभ किछु घर महि बाहरि नाही ॥ बाहरि टोलै सो भरमि भुलाही ॥

(Everything is within the home of the self; there is nothing beyond. One who searches outside is deluded by doubt.)

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1. Maajh Mehla 5 - Ang 102 Dhan Guru Granth Sahib Ji

13. Baani Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Ji Ki: Ang 1299 Dhan Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Ang 1299: Dhan Guru Granth Sahib Ji

ਕਾਨੜਾ ਮਹਲਾ ੫

ਬਿਸਰਿ ਗਈ ਸਭ ਤਾਤਿ ਪਰਾਈ॥ ਜਬ ਤੇ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਮੋਹਿ ਪਾਈ॥੧॥ਰਹਾਉ॥ਨਾ ਕੋ ਬੈਰੀ ਨਹੀ ਬਿਗਾਨਾ ਸਗਲ ਸੰਗਿ ਹਮ ਕਉ ਬਨਿ ਆਈ ॥੧॥

ਜੋ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੀਨੋ ਸੋ ਭਲ ਮਾਨਿਓ ਏਹ ਸੁਮਤਿ ਸਾਧੂ ਤੇ ਪਾਈ॥੨॥ਸਭ ਮਹਿ ਰਵਿ ਰਹਿਆ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਏਕੈ ਪੇਖਿ ਪੇਖਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਬਿਗਸਾਈ ॥੩॥੮॥

कानड़ा महला ५

बिसरि गई सभ ताति पराई ॥

जब ते साधसंगति मोहि पाई ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥

ना को बैरी नही बिगाना सगल संगि हम कउ बनि आई ॥१॥

जो प्रभ कीनो सो भल मानिओ एह सुमति साधू ते पाई ॥२॥

सभ महि रवि रहिआ प्रभु एकै पेखि पेखि नानक बिगसाई ॥३॥८॥

Summary
Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Ji is also known as ‘Shanti De Punj – Source of Peace’. He always remained undeterred by slandering against Him by ‘so called His opposition[1]’. Even sitting on ‘Red Hot Iron Plate’ He did not utter a single word in distress; in fact He thanked ‘Almighty – The One’. Such a state of mind, how that is possible? In this Shabad, Guruji gives an insight how an individual can achieve this, what happens to his internal state and what does he observe?

Who can describe the greatness of ‘Company of Holy’? Well, who is better than Guruji Himself? He has been in the company of Shri Guru Amardas Ji (Third Sikh Guru, His maternal grandfather) and Dhan Guru Ramdas Ji (Fourth Sikh Guru, His father). And it does leave impact on upbringing of Guruji. As per these words, in ‘Their’ company, Guruji manages to overcome jealously.

Jealously is a branch of ‘Ego’, which is responsible for all the slandering and is cause of altercations, disputes and even war. But Guruji is no more touched by it. And that explains why He became ‘The Perfect Epitome of Peace’. He, who is envious of nothing, will not indulge in any clash. He will be in ‘pool of internal bliss’. Even if someone throws garbage intentionally on Him[2], He will just ignore it and will remain submerged in ‘The Naam of One’. Just remember throwing garbage is considered a great insult, in any age.

Once a connection is made with ‘The One – The Lord of Dhan Guru Nanak Dev Ji’, everything seems connected. Since, ‘HE’ is all pervading and nothing is without ‘HIM’. So, wherever an individual goes and he finds ‘HIM’ how could anything be a stranger to that individual? That feeling of connectedness makes an individual to appreciate everything ‘The One’ has created. How could anyone destroy anything or harm anyone in such mental state? He is in synch with everyone and everything. This gives rise to ‘Unconditional Love’, which Sikh Gurus have bestowed on us via ‘Their Baani’. And who is in ‘Love with The One’ is in love with everything. He, who finds such a love, becomes ‘Nirvair – Enmity with none’. And this is what Guruji say that, “Now no one is my enemy, and no one is a stranger. I get along with everyone”. It is immaterial for an individual, if others obstruct his ways, slander him or even charge him to ransack. This is weakness of opposition, remember he does not call them opposition it is them who builds up such beliefs under influence of their own fragility; but he realizes it and just keeps moving in blissful state.

What else ‘Company of Holy’ makes an individual realize? Just to reiterate, Guruji had great influence of Dhan Guru Amardas Ji and Dhan Guru Ramdas Ji. And both attained “Dhan Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Throne” by sheer surrender to Guru’s Will. And that would have left a deep impact on Guruji, ‘The Surrender’. Walking in ‘HIS’ will all the sins and illusions are erased.

“ਕਿਵ  ਸਚਿਆਰਾ  ਹੋਈਐ  ਕਿਵ  ਕੂੜੈ  ਤੁਟੈ  ਪਾਲਿ  ॥  ਹੁਕਮਿ  ਰਜਾਈ  ਚਲਣਾ  ਨਾਨਕ  ਲਿਖਿਆ  ਨਾਲਿ [3]॥੧॥“

“किव सचिआरा होईऐ किव कूड़ै तुटै पालि ॥ हुकमि रजाई चलणा नानक लिखिआ नालि ॥१॥“

(So how can you become truthful? And how can the veil of illusion be torn away?

O Nanak, it is written that you shall obey the Hukam (Will) of His Command, and walk in the Way of His Will. ||1||)

 What does surrender do? It makes an individual to dye in ‘HIS’ color.

ਲਾਲ  ਰੰਗੁ  ਤਿਸ  ਕਉ  ਲਗਾ  ਜਿਸ  ਕੇ  ਵਡਭਾਗਾ [4] ॥

लाल रंगु तिस कउ लगा जिस के वडभागा ॥

(One is dyed in the color of the Lord's Love, by great good fortune.)

What is special of about ‘dye’? Well, once a cloth is dyed the color spreads uniformly. It gives a soothing touch to clothe. It makes the owner happy. Similarly when an individual, engrossed in ‘The Naam’ sees ‘One God’ everywhere makes him happy. The happiness makes him blossom.

So in summary, Guruji is conveying that give up all evils in the company of ‘Holy’, and then the life will be colorful with God visible everywhere, eradicating all the hatred, jealousy and enmity, leaving an individual filled with unconditional love filled with bliss and happiness.

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[1] He faced opposition from His Brother and Imperial Regime.

[2] Once Prithi Chand, brother of Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Ji threw garbage on Him. Prithi Chand’s aim was to kindle anger in Guruji.

[3] Japji Sahib

[4] Bilalval Mehla 5 – Ang 808 Dhan Guru Granth Sahib Ji