Japji Sahib - Pauri 6

Dear Khalsa Jee,



Visiting places of pilgrimage and taking bath in water bodies has been a tradition from the times of Vedas. To understand it’s meaning we have to go back in time.



Let us imagine the India say some 1500 years ago and an individual starting from what is known as Chennai today for pilgrimage to Kashi.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/jap-ji-sahib/400-japji-sahib-pauri-6-a.html



Imagine the total environment for this journey. What transport that would have been available at that time – bullock cart or horse or some thing like that. What types of roads of that time – muddy and ill maintained and non-existent at places. Imagine the non-availability of the map of the route to Kashi – on had to depend on locals who can help to some distance they know with all the possibility of deception and cheating. Imagine the lonely paths with virtually no traffic to be encountered for long times. Imagine the distances between population centers – long stretches of unpopulated areas and the time taken to cover the distance between them, with no help in between. Imagine the feeling of insecurity felt all the time by the individual from carnivorous animals and thieves. Imagine the ruggedness of the Satpura and Vindhya mountain ranges, which the individual has to cross and the difficulties associated with it. Imagine the limitation and the risk associated with carrying food, water, supplies and money on the way to Kashi. Imagine the uncertainties in the traveler passing through the areas ruled by different kings. Imagine the risk involved for the traveler all the way who had to depend on individuals that one does not know for sure what are their intentions. Imagine the sickness that may afflict the person on the way with no medical help available. Imagine the uncertainty the individual will have not knowing how much time the journey will take. Imagine the loneliness that the individual will have with no real contact with his loved one he has left behind. With all this, imagine what the individual embarking on such journey will be undergoing.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=400



I must have been a very stressful and scary situation demanding lot of courage to say ‘I’ will go to pilgrimage to Kashi. Note the word ‘I’, which indicates ego.



The person who embarks on such journey is bound to pass through very difficult times on the way. Somewhere he may be sick and living on the mercy of some one. Some time all what he is carrying with him may get stolen or lost; he may have to beg to support himself and his journey. Some time he may be struggling for water. He may even she his fellow traveler dieing on the way. Some time he may miss the convoy going to Kashi and may have to wait for long till the next one arrives. During this wait he may have to take up some menial works, which may not suit his status back home and so on. One can imagine all sorts of difficulties that the travelers would have to face in those times.



Now imagine what would have happen to this individuals ego ‘I’ with which he has begun his journey. On the way it would have been shattered so many times, the individual would have realised his limitedness and inadequacies. The ordeals would have made him realise that he is nobody and time and time again he would have prayed to God for help and support. His reliance and belief in God would have increased many folds and the belief would have percolated deep into his psyche and to the depth of his heart and his soul.



When in sight of his destination - Kashi, with tears in his eyes, he would have been thanking God who has carried him all the way and whose support his again need to go back home and be with his loved ones.



With his ego shattered and dead the individual would have already become ‘Nirmal’. The process of reaching Kashi would have already transformed him. This internal transformation is in no way visible to human eye. What they can see is the individual taking bath in the water body near the place of pilgrimage. What water can do to any individual? It touches only the external body; it can only wash away the dust and dirt. The real cleansing is the transformation that is needed deep within. It is the transformation that had taken place during the journey caused by the process of journey of those times.



Taking bath in Kashi was only symbolic act; it was the intent with which the individual had started his journey. Taking bath was like touching the tape in a race at the end line; the real thing is running.



The individual, who had started the journey with ‘I’ on his tongue, would have returned home with the Naam on his tongue. People, naturally would have concluded that the bath has transformed him, and this illusion continues – it is not the bath but the process of reaching Kashi in those days.



When Guru Sahib says that ‘tirath naavaa jay tis bhaavaa’, he is meaning the same thing. If one has become transformed and graced by ‘Karta Purakh’ then it is equivalent to what common people think happens if one takes bath in the water body associated with a revered place for pilgrimage.



Please note:



(i) Guru Sahib had to use terms, which the common man – his audience – understood, this was necessary to convey the intended meaning effectively. Here he has used ‘tirath naavaa’.



(ii) Use of this term does not mean that he is asking us to start going to places of pilgrimage and take bath there. Reaching the place of pilgrimage by plane, going to the place of reverence by air-conditioned car and taking bath there or something like that, for me, has no meaning because the real process that bring about the transformation is missed all together. To me, it is waste of time and money; it is only pretence. It is a meaning less ritual.



With Love and Respect for all



Amarpal

 
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Yeah! that made a perfect sense to me...

About the journey and destination to Kashi example, the same feeling was there during my visit to Gurudwara Hemkunt Sahib.

I started visit to that far place. I walked so many kms. I climbed so many other kms. I helped others on the way. I did this, I did that. And once taken darshan of the ambience there, there was no 'I' left. Just 'Waheguru Tera Shukar Hai'
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=400
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=400

Best Regards.