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Guru Granth Sahib
Composition, Arrangement & Layout
ਜਪੁ | Jup
ਸੋ ਦਰੁ | So Dar
ਸੋਹਿਲਾ | Sohilaa
ਰਾਗੁ ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ | Raag Siree-Raag
Gurbani (14-53)
Ashtpadiyan (53-71)
Gurbani (71-74)
Pahre (74-78)
Chhant (78-81)
Vanjara (81-82)
Vaar Siri Raag (83-91)
Bhagat Bani (91-93)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਝ | Raag Maajh
Gurbani (94-109)
Ashtpadi (109)
Ashtpadiyan (110-129)
Ashtpadi (129-130)
Ashtpadiyan (130-133)
Bara Maha (133-136)
Din Raen (136-137)
Vaar Maajh Ki (137-150)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗਉੜੀ | Raag Gauree
Gurbani (151-185)
Quartets/Couplets (185-220)
Ashtpadiyan (220-234)
Karhalei (234-235)
Ashtpadiyan (235-242)
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Baavan Akhari (250-262)
Sukhmani (262-296)
Thittee (296-300)
Gauree kii Vaar (300-323)
Gurbani (323-330)
Ashtpadiyan (330-340)
Baavan Akhari (340-343)
Thintteen (343-344)
Vaar Kabir (344-345)
Bhagat Bani (345-346)
ਰਾਗੁ ਆਸਾ | Raag Aasaa
Gurbani (347-348)
Chaupaday (348-364)
Panchpadde (364-365)
Kaafee (365-409)
Aasaavaree (409-411)
Ashtpadiyan (411-432)
Patee (432-435)
Chhant (435-462)
Vaar Aasaa (462-475)
Bhagat Bani (475-488)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗੂਜਰੀ | Raag Goojaree
Gurbani (489-503)
Ashtpadiyan (503-508)
Vaar Gujari (508-517)
Vaar Gujari (517-526)
ਰਾਗੁ ਦੇਵਗੰਧਾਰੀ | Raag Dayv-Gandhaaree
Gurbani (527-536)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਿਹਾਗੜਾ | Raag Bihaagraa
Gurbani (537-556)
Chhant (538-548)
Vaar Bihaagraa (548-556)
ਰਾਗੁ ਵਡਹੰਸ | Raag Wadhans
Gurbani (557-564)
Ashtpadiyan (564-565)
Chhant (565-575)
Ghoriaan (575-578)
Alaahaniiaa (578-582)
Vaar Wadhans (582-594)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸੋਰਠਿ | Raag Sorath
Gurbani (595-634)
Asatpadhiya (634-642)
Vaar Sorath (642-659)
ਰਾਗੁ ਧਨਾਸਰੀ | Raag Dhanasaree
Gurbani (660-685)
Astpadhiya (685-687)
Chhant (687-691)
Bhagat Bani (691-695)
ਰਾਗੁ ਜੈਤਸਰੀ | Raag Jaitsree
Gurbani (696-703)
Chhant (703-705)
Vaar Jaitsaree (705-710)
Bhagat Bani (710)
ਰਾਗੁ ਟੋਡੀ | Raag Todee
ਰਾਗੁ ਬੈਰਾੜੀ | Raag Bairaaree
ਰਾਗੁ ਤਿਲੰਗ | Raag Tilang
Gurbani (721-727)
Bhagat Bani (727)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸੂਹੀ | Raag Suhi
Gurbani (728-750)
Ashtpadiyan (750-761)
Kaafee (761-762)
Suchajee (762)
Gunvantee (763)
Chhant (763-785)
Vaar Soohee (785-792)
Bhagat Bani (792-794)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ | Raag Bilaaval
Gurbani (795-831)
Ashtpadiyan (831-838)
Thitteen (838-840)
Vaar Sat (841-843)
Chhant (843-848)
Vaar Bilaaval (849-855)
Bhagat Bani (855-858)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗੋਂਡ | Raag Gond
Gurbani (859-869)
Ashtpadiyan (869)
Bhagat Bani (870-875)
ਰਾਗੁ ਰਾਮਕਲੀ | Raag Ramkalee
Ashtpadiyan (902-916)
Gurbani (876-902)
Anand (917-922)
Sadd (923-924)
Chhant (924-929)
Dakhnee (929-938)
Sidh Gosat (938-946)
Vaar Ramkalee (947-968)
ਰਾਗੁ ਨਟ ਨਾਰਾਇਨ | Raag Nat Narayan
Gurbani (975-980)
Ashtpadiyan (980-983)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਲੀ ਗਉੜਾ | Raag Maalee Gauraa
Gurbani (984-988)
Bhagat Bani (988)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਰੂ | Raag Maaroo
Gurbani (889-1008)
Ashtpadiyan (1008-1014)
Kaafee (1014-1016)
Ashtpadiyan (1016-1019)
Anjulian (1019-1020)
Solhe (1020-1033)
Dakhni (1033-1043)
ਰਾਗੁ ਤੁਖਾਰੀ | Raag Tukhaari
Bara Maha (1107-1110)
Chhant (1110-1117)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕੇਦਾਰਾ | Raag Kedara
Gurbani (1118-1123)
Bhagat Bani (1123-1124)
ਰਾਗੁ ਭੈਰਉ | Raag Bhairo
Gurbani (1125-1152)
Partaal (1153)
Ashtpadiyan (1153-1167)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਸੰਤੁ | Raag Basant
Gurbani (1168-1187)
Ashtpadiyan (1187-1193)
Vaar Basant (1193-1196)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸਾਰਗ | Raag Saarag
Gurbani (1197-1200)
Partaal (1200-1231)
Ashtpadiyan (1232-1236)
Chhant (1236-1237)
Vaar Saarang (1237-1253)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਲਾਰ | Raag Malaar
Gurbani (1254-1293)
Partaal (1265-1273)
Ashtpadiyan (1273-1278)
Chhant (1278)
Vaar Malaar (1278-91)
Bhagat Bani (1292-93)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕਾਨੜਾ | Raag Kaanraa
Gurbani (1294-96)
Partaal (1296-1318)
Ashtpadiyan (1308-1312)
Chhant (1312)
Vaar Kaanraa
Bhagat Bani (1318)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕਲਿਆਨ | Raag Kalyaan
Gurbani (1319-23)
Ashtpadiyan (1323-26)
ਰਾਗੁ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਤੀ | Raag Prabhaatee
Gurbani (1327-1341)
Ashtpadiyan (1342-51)
ਰਾਗੁ ਜੈਜਾਵੰਤੀ | Raag Jaijaiwanti
Gurbani (1352-53)
Salok | Gatha | Phunahe | Chaubole | Swayiye
Sehskritee Mahala 1
Sehskritee Mahala 5
Gaathaa Mahala 5
Phunhay Mahala 5
Chaubolae Mahala 5
Shaloks Bhagat Kabir
Shaloks Sheikh Farid
Swaiyyae Mahala 5
Swaiyyae in Praise of Gurus
Shaloks in Addition To Vaars
Shalok Ninth Mehl
Mundavanee Mehl 5
ਰਾਗ ਮਾਲਾ, Raag Maalaa
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Guru Granth Sahib
Jup Banee
Mool Mantar
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<blockquote data-quote="japjisahib04" data-source="post: 22766" data-attributes="member: 971"><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><em><span style="color: black">The Source of all creation is the Formless One, The Supreme-word: Ong-Kar is His Emanation. He is Eternal, His Name the Eternity Omnipresent, He is the Creator-Almighty Fear-less, enmity-free Timeless Being is He, Into a womb conceivable never, Self-Luminous is He, forever With the Enlightener’s Grace God revealed His Presence.</span></em></span></p><p><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The Japji is the holy composition of Guru Nanak. It begins with Mool Mantar or Basic formula. It is even called Mangla Charan – remembrance of God – A Vandana, which is followed by a Sloka. Mool </span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'">means the origin or beginning. Guru Granth Sahib is the extension and elaboration of Mool Mantar.</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> It gives succinctly the concept and </span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'">most comprehensive definitions of God</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">.</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">It proclaims God has seven facets and the realization of truth or worship of God requires the realization of sevenfold ideal in human living. Numerical ‘Ek’ is the first primal un-manifested Form of the One Nirgun or Transcendent, Formless God. The other two are manifested Forms ‘Ong-kar’ and ‘SATNAM’, from ‘KARTA PURAKH’ to ‘Sai-Bhang’ are the attributes of God. </span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'">Ek means the One Indivisible Virtual Reality that permeates through all creation and may be understood as the ‘ONE SPIRIT’ remembered as Infinite (Wahe) Wisdom (Guru). Ong-kar means the manifestation of EK in the creation to include all worlds, all humanity, and all human beings with one soul residing within them. It makes us believe that we can experience God through experiencing his creations. It motivates us to recognize the presence of the Divine Light in every living being and discourages the society from profiling people into good and bad by promoting recognition of the same soul that each one carries. </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="color: black">Finally ‘Gurprasad’ denoted realization of God as Grace of the Guru. </span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="color: black">Guru Nanak says emphatically that</span><span style="color: black">, “</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'GurbaniAkharHeavy'">eyko hY BweI eyko hY ] swihbu myrw eyko hY</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><strong><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'GurbaniAkharHeavy'"> -</span></span></strong><span style="color: black"> He is the One and Only One. He is the One alone. My God and Master is One.” - Guru Granth ang.350.5.</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The best way to indicate Him is through the sound symbol i.e. Mool Mantar as a</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'">ny evolving theory has its beginning as a vibration from a single membrane or 'string'. </span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'GurbaniAkharHeavy'">1a> </span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">‘Ek-Ong-Kar’ the sound current of Brahmandh which represents the entire world of polarity, including all the names and forms in the universe and also that which is beyond all names, forms and manifestation.</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="color: black">So beside the names and forms of universe, the silence that follows ‘Ong-kar’ represents that permanent factor, the transcendental reality. </span></span></p><p> </p><p></p><p><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Before we ponder on </span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'GurbaniAkharHeavy'"><></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="color: black"> Ik-Ong-Kar, let us know the origin of this word and how it descended on Guru Nanak. </span><span style="color: black">Since Guru Sahib had no particular preference for any descriptive name out there - the beginning logo signifies exactly that, therefore its understanding is of paramount importance. What this logo signifies and why do we utter it by ong-kar. Gurbani tells us, “Ong-kar ek dhun ekay eikaiy raag allpay." p885. Thus ong-kar signifies that it is the unstruck celestial sound of Brahmand of the ONE God. In Japjisahib Guru Nanak sahib says, “keeta pasau eko kwaho, tis tai hoey lakh daraoyo”. This eka is ong-kar. Guru Gobind Singh Ji further makes it clear in Jaap Sahib too with the sabd, ong-kar aad kathnee anaad - the whole brahmand is being created, sustained and destroyed from the dhuni of this primal word ong-kar. There is a temple 100 Kms away from Indor which is called Ong-kar which is carved in between the mountains and archological surveys estimates it could have been built 4000 ago. So this word could be 4000 old. In order to make clear this unstruck celestial sound, Gur Sahib established a Gurudwara name ong-kar few kilometer away from this temple.</span></span></p><p> </p><p></p><p><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'GurbaniAkharHeavy'">1a> </span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Ik-Ong-Kar</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">is a revelation, it is neither prose nor poetry; it is the language of God. This is first facet of God. It is pronounced in three words “Ik-Ong-Kar” means (One Word-One Spirit). Gurbani tells us that this revelation descended on Guru Nanak, “</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'GurbaniAkharHeavy'">Duin mih iDAwnu iDAwn mih jwinAw</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><strong><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'GurbaniAkharHeavy'"> -</span></span></strong> </span>through celestial sound while in meditation.” - Guru Granth ang.879.3. Ik-ong-kar sabd is the sound current of the soundless sound (Anhad Naad) and is “divine light to illuminate this world, which comes to abide within the mind by His grace.” - Guru Granth ang.67.10. Gurbani is the guru of Sikh and guru abides within the baani. </p><p> </p><p></p><p><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">T</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">herefore Supreme Word </span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'GurbaniAkharHeavy'"><></span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> ‘Ek-Ong-Kar’ is His Emanation and as Gurbani tells us form of formless, “</span></span><span style="font-family: 'GurbaniAkharHeavy'">siqgur kI bwxI siq srUpu hY gurbwxI bxIAY ]</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> - the Word of the True Guru's Bani is the embodiment of Truth; and through simran of Gurbani, one becomes perfect and merges with the Truth.” - Guru Granth ang.304.16. </span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">God of Nanak is preceded by the digit “1” that is the first thing to remember and that only has been represented by sound symbol indicating the being of God, which is Ong-kar. Further the digit one (1) before “Ong-kar” reveals a subtle philosophical concept. Briefly, it may be accepted to reflect that there is only One God for whole humanity. There are, of course, many different names assigned to Him, but there is not different God for different faiths. </span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">I consider use of numeral one before ‘Ong-kar’ as deliberate because a numeral is free from all cultural associations and it is an affirmation that it is ONE only. This is revealed in order to avoid any other interpretation. It was a statement to those who claim that only their God is the One, Guru Nanak says what is One can't be yours or mine but One for everyone. </span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">By this statement Guru Nanak tells us that ‘The Almighty’ is One indivisible entity and we should not make any attempt to perceive it through human faculties. Numeral one </span></span><span style="font-family: 'new times roman'"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'"><span style="font-size: 12px">indicating and uncompromisingly stressing. the oneness of reality. </span></span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">One and Ong-kar have been used together and also separately at many places in Gurbani.</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> “Ong” a Sanskrit word– means “Brahm” the cosmic sound symbol, the vibration that is prevalent alike in each and every bit of Creation and it is from this vibration that entire universe has manifested.</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> What we call creation, in reality spells only the transformation of God Himself first into the jewel of Naam and then into the material world. One can raise a legitimate question here: what impelled God to manifest Himself into form of a universe; or from the human viewpoint, what makes Him create? According t</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">o the Sikh doctrine, God being Love, wanted to dispense out His Love. Hence He ‘created’ the great universe out of Himself to shower His Love upon it. Guru tells us, “To dispense His Love, He created the cosmic expanse.” - Guru Granth ang.463.5. </span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">“Kar (</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'GurbaniAkharHeavy'">>)</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> ” means the changeless and uniformly pervading in everything and all over (</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'GurbaniAkharHeavy'">zry zry ivc iek rs, ijs ivc qbdIlI nw Awvy</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">).</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Question arises, how can it be same in each and particles. It is “just a<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">s light permeates the rays of the sun, so does God permeate in every being through and through.” - Guru Granth ang.1177.14. </span>Hence Ek-Ong-kar is the symbol of God. Further use of the numeral ‘one’ is to stress that all have to worship only One God, who is everlasting Entity and none else. Before Guru Nanak, ancient Indian faith believed in Trinity-Trimurti-Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva as the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer respectively. But Nanak says that “Ek-Ong-kar” is the Creator meaning thereby that “He Alone” is the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer. And we have to discover One in His infinite manifestation. Like, “</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'GurbaniAkharHeavy'">guru guru eyko vys Anyk ] </span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">- t</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">eacher of teachers is the One, who appears in so many forms. With this declaration the very concept of trinity was dismissed. In addition, ancient rishi’s believed in millions of other deities, gods and goddesses and their miracles.</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="color: black">During the ministry of Guru Nanak it was a general belief that Ganesh is Sidhi Datta (donor of supernatural power) and Sarswati is Budhi Datta (donor of spiritual knowledge), which are the two main requirement of mankind. Guru Nanak says if these two powers can be obtained from anyone other than the God, then there is no need to worship God. Guru </span><span style="color: black">Nanak declared that Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Ganesh, Saraswati and Indra etc. all are the creation and Will of One Supreme God and they are subject to birth and death. They can be the object of veneration but not object of human worship. He further clarified that none of these deities have independent authority and thus are not attribute or aspect of God. He says, “It is God alone who is the Doer of deeds. There is none else.” – Guru Granth a</span><span style="color: black">ng.276.18. Hence the creation has to worship the Creator – the Almighty God in His abstract form i.e. baani. </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'"><span style="color: black">Never ever was this beauty so disclosed in the hearts of humans as in these heart piercing words.</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">“</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'GurbaniAkharHeavy'">nwnk eyko psirAw dUjw kh idRstwr ] - </span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The One is All-pervading; where is any other to be seen? </span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'">There is only one Thakur who is doing it all. It is all an expanse of this ONE IK ONG-KAAR.</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'">His creativity is infinite as well as beyond relativity and His method of self creativity is a real wonder when we look at the creation and growth of living organisms.</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> All this is to say that dualities are creation of we humans; the ‘Ultimate Reality is only One and we should not get entangled in the complications created by the dualities.</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="color: black">In this invocation each word is combination of two words, like ‘Sat-Naam’. “Sat,” means ever Living Truth being its identity, existing reality and ‘Naam’ – essence of God. Contrary to the belief of others and as per the interpretation of ‘satye maive jayteh’, i.e. ‘Sat’ is Truth, Gurbani tells</span><span style="color: black"> us both sides of it, “</span></span><span style="font-family: 'GurbaniAkharHeavy'">siq siq siq pRBu suAwmI ] gur prswid iknY viKAwnI ] scu scu scu sBu kInw ] koit mDy iknY ibrlY cInw ]- </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">True, True, True is our Ever Living God and Master. By Guru's Grace, few present Him in one or other form. True, True, True is the Absolute Creator (who is anubhav prakash) but out of millions, hardly any have recognized and realized Him.” – Guru Granth ang.279.9. So it<span style="color: black">denotes, </span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'GurbaniAkharHeavy'">“inrgunu Awip srgunu BI EhI ] -</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="color: black"> nirgun is His existence whereas sargun is His presentation. He is without attributes and with attributes. One Reality, nirgun, noumenon, n</span><span style="color: black">ot visible, without physical form like truth that possesses only virtues. The same Reality evolved to become visible, sargun, phenomenon, the matter and all its forms, thus by evidencing His power He fascinates the entire world.” - Guru Granth ang.287.17. Even </span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'">location of the Golden Darbar Sahib in a pool of water is symbolic of the confluence of nirgun and sargun. Water being “formless” representing nirgun and the Darbar Sahib representing sargun. Thus the pursuit of Truth is the pursuit of God. </span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The third aspect is infinite creativity ‘Karta-purakh’ – ‘Karta’ means Creator. <strong>‘Purakh’ </strong>which means intelligent conscious specifically implies<strong> that not Nature, but God is the Creator, Protector and Destroyer. Thus that which provides intelligence and spiritual quest in creation is the unconditioned consciousness, the ‘pursha’. Therefore </strong>He is not only the infinately but is pervading in each and every particles of universe or in other word not only the Creator of whatever is seen or unseen but is present in all of His creation.<strong> It is one of the aspect of God.</strong></span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'"> All matter and space is Him.</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="color: black"><strong> Guru Nanak further made clear</strong></span><span style="color: black"><strong>, “</strong></span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'GurbaniAkharHeavy'">Twkuru eyku sbweI nwir ]</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="color: black"> -</span><span style="color: black"> <strong>there is only one ‘pursha’ the creator God and the rest all are His followers or His form.</strong>” - Guru Gran</span><span style="color: black">th ang.933.12.</span><span style="color: black"> So all have to worship the God only.</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="color: black"><strong>The fourth aspect is </strong></span><span style="color: black">‘Nir-bhau’ - total fearless</span><span style="color: black">ness. In my humble opinion fearless is the one, who has already conquered on emotions like greed, lust, attachment, envy etc. Such a person is not worried about emotions like greed, lust, anger or attachment. And t</span><span style="color: black">here is no body higher than Him and beyond God there is nothing. Gurbani declares, “He alone is without any fear, other numerous deities (w</span><span style="color: black">ho are called gods) like Rama, are just dust (nothing) before Him.” Guru Granth.464.17. He is the Creator of entire universe so how can He be afraid of anything and or has attachment. God’s next attribute is absence of animosity ‘Nir-vair’. He is without enmity as enmity give rise to equality and, “</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'GurbaniAkharHeavy'"><strong>iqsih srIku nwhI ry koeI ] -</strong></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="color: black"><strong> no one is equal to Him or He has no other.” - Guru Granth ang.1082.4</strong></span><span style="color: black">. We are all part of Him. Can He hate any part of His body? God is all love and f</span><span style="color: black">orgiveness hence </span><span style="color: black">‘Nir-vair’</span><span style="color: black">.</span></span><strong><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> He is also mentioned in the scriptures as <em>Sat</em> (Truth), <em>Aadi Shakti</em>, <em>Bhagoutee</em>, Celestial Dancer, Grace, Pure Love, Spaceless, Causeless, Formless, Light, Energy, Spirit, Knowledge, Bliss, Pure Awareness, Divine Consciousness, Infinite, Original Source, Self, Absolute, Ultimate Reality, Primordial Being, and so on, by whose Light and Dynamic energy the entire Universe is created, sustained and withdrawn.</span></span></strong></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="color: black">Fifth aspect is eternal, changeless entity ‘Aa-kaal-murat’. Murat means the Life-giving Entity. Akal means deathless and formless. Thus Akal Murat means that G</span><span style="color: black">od’s Living Entity, which is formless and never dies, an image of eternal. It is clear that God is independent of time. It is so, we all can un</span><span style="color: black">derstand. What is time after all? It is an entity, which elapses between two events. For ‘the Supreme’’ there is no event, naturally time is not an entity for God. Time has meaning only in world where things change; it has meaning for us mortals, not for God. Thus God is a timeless beauty. God is the beauty that finds best expression in beautiful thoughts, words and deeds. Further <strong>He is not an imagination, but His presence is felt all over and always through His manifestation. </strong>His for</span><span style="color: black">m, existence is beyond time. He is ageless: He is ancient, yet the beauty is, “</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'GurbaniAkharHeavy'">swihbu myrw nIq nvw ]</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> - my God and Master presents Himself with new blessings every now and then.” - Guru Granth ang.660.4. </span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="color: black">As statement of His existence or form may not be mistaken that He is born or created by someone, thus the sixth aspect straight away says ‘Aa-juni’ that He is beyond c</span><span style="color: black">ycle of births. Guru Nanak’s God is eternal thus, “</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'GurbaniAkharHeavy'">Awie n jwvY myrw pRBu AibnwsI</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'GurbaniAkharHeavy'"> - </span></span></span>my God does not take birth and dies.” - Guru Granth ang.562.17.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="color: black">It is a general religious belief that God is a human being and is subject to birth and death hence numerous people address Ram and Krishan as God ‘Bhagwan’ or ‘Prabhu’ and worship them who were born and died. But Guru Nanak Ji warned, “</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'GurbaniAkharHeavy'">so muKu jlau </span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'GurbaniAkharHeavy'">ijqu khih Twkur jonI ]</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="color: black"> - let that mouth be burnt, which calls anyone God and Master, who is subject to birth and death.” - Guru Granth ang.1136.4. Gurbani reaffirms and tells us,</span><span style="color: black"> “</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'GurbaniAkharHeavy'">iliK Aru mytY qwih n mwnw ]</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> - I do not believe in those whom He created and destroyed. I only know the One God who is from the beginning and is not created by anyone but is enlightened by Himself.” - Guru Granth ang.340.8. </span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'">reincarnation of God into anthropomorphic formsvarious gods and goddesses), </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="color: black">Further it may be observed that wherever the Guru has been described by such words as ‘Gobind Rup’ - Guru Granth ang.1272.17, this means that the Guru possesses all the attributes of God and has merged into His baani. It does not mean that he is the incarnation of God, thus Guru</span><span style="color: black"> rup is not any human form but is exclusively the Guru-Sabd, as it is the Sabd which ultimately remains and not the body (Thus the Sabd which merges or mind has to link during meditation is Guru-Sabd). Further, “</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'">Word is the embodiment of the God and the God is in the Word.”- Guru Granth ang. 982.10 and the revealed Word of God is not meant, to be worshiped as ritual but read, listened to and acted upon as the wise counsel of the GURU.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: black"> </span></p><p><span style="color: black"></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="color: black">Then it comes </span><span style="color: black">‘Sai-bhang’ means enlightened by itself <strong>implying that all that exists emanates from Him while He does not originate in anything</strong></span><span style="color: black"><strong> else, “</strong></span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'GurbaniAkharHeavy'"><strong><span style="color: black">AwpIn@Y Awpu swijE AwpIn@Y ricE nwau ]</span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> - He is enlightened by Himself and shines in His own Light and Himself created Jewel of </span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Naam, an extension of God.</span></span></strong></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="color: black"><strong>” - Guru Granth ang.463.4. Since He is enlightened by Himself hence He does not need the help of any woman to take birth. He is uncarnated and transcendental. </strong></span><span style="color: black">To make it more clear Gubani further tells us,</span><span style="color: black"> “</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'GurbaniAkharHeavy'">nwnk BMfY bwhrw eyko scw soie ]</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> – there is only One God who is not manifested with the help of a woman.” - Guru Granth ang.473.10. Thus Guru Nanak wants to give the message if God also has to come through same route and suffers the pain in the womb then what is the difference between Him and us.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: black"> </span></p><p><span style="color: black"></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The invocation ends with the Word, Gur-parsad. The Guru is in fact the <em>Shabad</em> (Word). </span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'">So before we start, let us understand that i</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">n Sikh teachings, the concept of Guru also plays a major role in interpreting <em>Gurprasad</em> (by the grace of the Guru, He is known). The meaning of grace (<em>Nadar</em>) in Guru Nanak's teachings is to be determined by examining his own personal experience. For Guru Nanak, grace meant something peculiar as a result of his own experience and is to be regarded as God's sovereign act of self-disclosure. God, the only source and totality of power and grace expresses Himself in Word and God Himself as Guru bestows the gift of grace. But again for grant of grace one has to pray and align the ground to seize.</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'"><span style="color: black"> The basic mantra is to bring the consciousness in tune with the Sabd of Satguru. </span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">It should be noted that in Guru Nanak's teachings, human guru, though considered as messenger to communicate the message (Word) of God to the humanity, is not a least participant directly or indirectly in the power of grace. Guru Nanak used the term 'Guru' clearly in three senses. The Guru is God; the Guru is the Voice of God; and the Guru is the Word, the Truth of God. These three senses (God, Guru and Guru's Word) are ultimately inseparable. The human gurus, the Guru Panth and finally the Guru Granth Sahib forged the Sikh religion. However, in the scriptural teachings, Gurus refers to Guru Sabd. </span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="color: black">Thus it means God</span><span style="color: black"> can be realize</span><span style="color: black">d or life comes to this state of mind ‘by the Grace of Guru (Holy Book - source of Spiritual Knowledge or Sabd/verse). It denotes that all the foregoing seven principles could be lived only if mankind is enlightened by practicing the teachings. Then how to be competent or eligible enough to get His Grace is described in all the thirty eight Stanzas.</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The Guru is the symbol of light or knowledge, which is accompanied by sweetness or parsad. He is ever in gratitude of infinite wisdom for realizing one’s real personality. Just as biological processes create favorable circumstances for a seed first to become a tree and then to transform itself into a fruit, meditation on the Sacred Words (Sabd) creates the necessary energy through which an individual human may reach the heights of supreme attributes and merge in eternal union with the Infinite Wisdom. And first such Sabd was Ek-Ong-Kar. This infinite wisdom descended on Guru Nanak from God, which revealed Gurmat is manifested eternally in Guru Granth Sahib. Indeed by meditating on our Divine spirit through the Sacred Words we are worshipping divine itself. As beauty and fragrance is the quality of a flower, similarly baani is the beauty and fragrance of God and is a vehicle to reach Him. </span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'">Guru N</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">anak used the word <em>baani</em> for the words he received from God, words which he transcribed in the form of hymns. Perhaps a strict definition requires us to identify Guru not with God Himself, but with the Voice of God, with the means whereby God imparts His message to human kind. Thus baani and Guru</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'"><span style="color: black"> show us the path to realization of Akaal Purkh.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="color: black">Guru Nanak passed this tr</span><span style="color: black">uth to the mankind with following verse “God has revealed to him to know that without the Guru (the source of Spiritual Kno</span><span style="color: black">wledge i.e. baani), liberation is not attained, so one must follow and adheres to the teachings of Guru.” - Guru Granth ang.864.7. He further says, “</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'GurbaniAkharHeavy'">siq purKu ijin jwinAw siqguru iqs kw nwau ]</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> - as the one who knows and recognizes the path which leads to His palace, his Name is Satguru and this Satguru is true source of Divine knowledge (truth).” - Guru Granth ang.286.12. Guru Nanak further declares, “</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'GurbaniAkharHeavy'">siqgur ivic Awpu riKEnu kir prgtu AwiK suxwieAw</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="color: black"> - He has placed Himself within the True baani </span><span style="color: black">(truth); thus revealing Himself, He declares this openly.” - Guru Granth ang.466.8. It is will be useful to note that t</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'">he term 'Satguru' is for that entity that manifests the “true dispeller of darkness”. The Gurbani tells us numerous characteristics of the Satguru: Satguru is complete, is spiritual, exists forever, has been existing forever, is free from the cycle of birth and death and is divine knowledge (Satguru ki Baani). As a divine word (the Sabd/Gurmantar), is divine spirit (Jyot) with melody, residing in everybody? This is the intermediate link between the devotee and God, as the vehicle/channel to meet God.</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The Mool Mantar recorded ahead of the Japji is in full form. This Mool Mantar, which is glorifying or is indicating God also becomes the invocation for us to remember every time we begin a new work. </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS'"><span style="color: black">Bhai Gurdas ji wrote that every time you do Mool Mantar you get ten times closer to the Infinite Being, that's how powerful Mool Mantar is. Guru Nanak defines in Gurbani as</span><span style="color: black">, “</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'GurbaniAkharHeavy'">mUl mMqRü hir nwmu rswiexu khu nwnk pUrw pwieAw ]</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> by Chanting the Mool Mantra, and the Name of the God, the source of nectar, I have found the Perfect God.” –Guru Granth ang.1040.19.</span></span><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> It is also chanted (in full or short form) not only in the beginning of each set of Guru hymns but also before writing the Bhagat hymns as a prayer to seek blessings of the gracious God. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Regards Sahni Mohinder</span></span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="japjisahib04, post: 22766, member: 971"] [FONT=Times New Roman][I][COLOR=black]The Source of all creation is the Formless One, The Supreme-word: Ong-Kar is His Emanation. He is Eternal, His Name the Eternity Omnipresent, He is the Creator-Almighty Fear-less, enmity-free Timeless Being is He, Into a womb conceivable never, Self-Luminous is He, forever With the Enlightener’s Grace God revealed His Presence.[/COLOR][/I][/FONT] [COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]The Japji is the holy composition of Guru Nanak. It begins with Mool Mantar or Basic formula. It is even called Mangla Charan – remembrance of God – A Vandana, which is followed by a Sloka. Mool [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Arial Unicode MS]means the origin or beginning. Guru Granth Sahib is the extension and elaboration of Mool Mantar.[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman] It gives succinctly the concept and [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Arial Unicode MS]most comprehensive definitions of God[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman].[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]It proclaims God has seven facets and the realization of truth or worship of God requires the realization of sevenfold ideal in human living. Numerical ‘Ek’ is the first primal un-manifested Form of the One Nirgun or Transcendent, Formless God. The other two are manifested Forms ‘Ong-kar’ and ‘SATNAM’, from ‘KARTA PURAKH’ to ‘Sai-Bhang’ are the attributes of God. [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Arial Unicode MS]Ek means the One Indivisible Virtual Reality that permeates through all creation and may be understood as the ‘ONE SPIRIT’ remembered as Infinite (Wahe) Wisdom (Guru). Ong-kar means the manifestation of EK in the creation to include all worlds, all humanity, and all human beings with one soul residing within them. It makes us believe that we can experience God through experiencing his creations. It motivates us to recognize the presence of the Divine Light in every living being and discourages the society from profiling people into good and bad by promoting recognition of the same soul that each one carries. [/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black]Finally ‘Gurprasad’ denoted realization of God as Grace of the Guru. [/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black]Guru Nanak says emphatically that[/COLOR][COLOR=black], “[/COLOR][/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy]eyko hY BweI eyko hY ] swihbu myrw eyko hY[/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Times New Roman][B][COLOR=black][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy] -[/FONT][/COLOR][/B][COLOR=black] He is the One and Only One. He is the One alone. My God and Master is One.” - Guru Granth ang.350.5.[/COLOR][/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]The best way to indicate Him is through the sound symbol i.e. Mool Mantar as a[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Arial Unicode MS]ny evolving theory has its beginning as a vibration from a single membrane or 'string'. [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy]1a> [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]‘Ek-Ong-Kar’ the sound current of Brahmandh which represents the entire world of polarity, including all the names and forms in the universe and also that which is beyond all names, forms and manifestation.[/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black]So beside the names and forms of universe, the silence that follows ‘Ong-kar’ represents that permanent factor, the transcendental reality. [/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][/FONT] [COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]Before we ponder on [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy]<>[/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black] Ik-Ong-Kar, let us know the origin of this word and how it descended on Guru Nanak. [/COLOR][COLOR=black]Since Guru Sahib had no particular preference for any descriptive name out there - the beginning logo signifies exactly that, therefore its understanding is of paramount importance. What this logo signifies and why do we utter it by ong-kar. Gurbani tells us, “Ong-kar ek dhun ekay eikaiy raag allpay." p885. Thus ong-kar signifies that it is the unstruck celestial sound of Brahmand of the ONE God. In Japjisahib Guru Nanak sahib says, “keeta pasau eko kwaho, tis tai hoey lakh daraoyo”. This eka is ong-kar. Guru Gobind Singh Ji further makes it clear in Jaap Sahib too with the sabd, ong-kar aad kathnee anaad - the whole brahmand is being created, sustained and destroyed from the dhuni of this primal word ong-kar. There is a temple 100 Kms away from Indor which is called Ong-kar which is carved in between the mountains and archological surveys estimates it could have been built 4000 ago. So this word could be 4000 old. In order to make clear this unstruck celestial sound, Gur Sahib established a Gurudwara name ong-kar few kilometer away from this temple.[/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][/FONT] [COLOR=black][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy]1a> [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]Ik-Ong-Kar[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]is a revelation, it is neither prose nor poetry; it is the language of God. This is first facet of God. It is pronounced in three words “Ik-Ong-Kar” means (One Word-One Spirit). Gurbani tells us that this revelation descended on Guru Nanak, “[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy]Duin mih iDAwnu iDAwn mih jwinAw[/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Times New Roman][B][COLOR=black][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy] -[/FONT][/COLOR][/B][COLOR=black][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy] [/FONT][/COLOR][/FONT]through celestial sound while in meditation.” - Guru Granth ang.879.3. Ik-ong-kar sabd is the sound current of the soundless sound (Anhad Naad) and is “divine light to illuminate this world, which comes to abide within the mind by His grace.” - Guru Granth ang.67.10. Gurbani is the guru of Sikh and guru abides within the baani.[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy] [/FONT][/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy][/FONT] [COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]T[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]herefore Supreme Word [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy]<>[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman] ‘Ek-Ong-Kar’ is His Emanation and as Gurbani tells us form of formless, “[/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy]siqgur kI bwxI siq srUpu hY gurbwxI bxIAY ][/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman] - the Word of the True Guru's Bani is the embodiment of Truth; and through simran of Gurbani, one becomes perfect and merges with the Truth.” - Guru Granth ang.304.16. [/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]God of Nanak is preceded by the digit “1” that is the first thing to remember and that only has been represented by sound symbol indicating the being of God, which is Ong-kar. Further the digit one (1) before “Ong-kar” reveals a subtle philosophical concept. Briefly, it may be accepted to reflect that there is only One God for whole humanity. There are, of course, many different names assigned to Him, but there is not different God for different faiths. [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]I consider use of numeral one before ‘Ong-kar’ as deliberate because a numeral is free from all cultural associations and it is an affirmation that it is ONE only. This is revealed in order to avoid any other interpretation. It was a statement to those who claim that only their God is the One, Guru Nanak says what is One can't be yours or mine but One for everyone. [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]By this statement Guru Nanak tells us that ‘The Almighty’ is One indivisible entity and we should not make any attempt to perceive it through human faculties. Numeral one [/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=new times roman][FONT=Arial Unicode MS][SIZE=3]indicating and uncompromisingly stressing. the oneness of reality. [/SIZE][/FONT][/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]One and Ong-kar have been used together and also separately at many places in Gurbani.[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman] “Ong” a Sanskrit word– means “Brahm” the cosmic sound symbol, the vibration that is prevalent alike in each and every bit of Creation and it is from this vibration that entire universe has manifested.[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman] What we call creation, in reality spells only the transformation of God Himself first into the jewel of Naam and then into the material world. One can raise a legitimate question here: what impelled God to manifest Himself into form of a universe; or from the human viewpoint, what makes Him create? According t[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]o the Sikh doctrine, God being Love, wanted to dispense out His Love. Hence He ‘created’ the great universe out of Himself to shower His Love upon it. Guru tells us, “To dispense His Love, He created the cosmic expanse.” - Guru Granth ang.463.5. [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]“Kar ([/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy]>)[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman] ” means the changeless and uniformly pervading in everything and all over ([/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy]zry zry ivc iek rs, ijs ivc qbdIlI nw Awvy[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]).[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]Question arises, how can it be same in each and particles. It is “just a[FONT=Times New Roman]s light permeates the rays of the sun, so does God permeate in every being through and through.” - Guru Granth ang.1177.14. [/FONT]Hence Ek-Ong-kar is the symbol of God. Further use of the numeral ‘one’ is to stress that all have to worship only One God, who is everlasting Entity and none else. Before Guru Nanak, ancient Indian faith believed in Trinity-Trimurti-Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva as the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer respectively. But Nanak says that “Ek-Ong-kar” is the Creator meaning thereby that “He Alone” is the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer. And we have to discover One in His infinite manifestation. Like, “[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy]guru guru eyko vys Anyk ] [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]- t[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]eacher of teachers is the One, who appears in so many forms. With this declaration the very concept of trinity was dismissed. In addition, ancient rishi’s believed in millions of other deities, gods and goddesses and their miracles.[/FONT][/COLOR] [FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black][/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black]During the ministry of Guru Nanak it was a general belief that Ganesh is Sidhi Datta (donor of supernatural power) and Sarswati is Budhi Datta (donor of spiritual knowledge), which are the two main requirement of mankind. Guru Nanak says if these two powers can be obtained from anyone other than the God, then there is no need to worship God. Guru [/COLOR][COLOR=black]Nanak declared that Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Ganesh, Saraswati and Indra etc. all are the creation and Will of One Supreme God and they are subject to birth and death. They can be the object of veneration but not object of human worship. He further clarified that none of these deities have independent authority and thus are not attribute or aspect of God. He says, “It is God alone who is the Doer of deeds. There is none else.” – Guru Granth a[/COLOR][COLOR=black]ng.276.18. Hence the creation has to worship the Creator – the Almighty God in His abstract form i.e. baani. [/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Arial Unicode MS][COLOR=black]Never ever was this beauty so disclosed in the hearts of humans as in these heart piercing words.[/COLOR][/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]“[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy]nwnk eyko psirAw dUjw kh idRstwr ] - [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]The One is All-pervading; where is any other to be seen? [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Arial Unicode MS]There is only one Thakur who is doing it all. It is all an expanse of this ONE IK ONG-KAAR.[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Arial Unicode MS]His creativity is infinite as well as beyond relativity and His method of self creativity is a real wonder when we look at the creation and growth of living organisms.[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman] All this is to say that dualities are creation of we humans; the ‘Ultimate Reality is only One and we should not get entangled in the complications created by the dualities.[/FONT][/COLOR] [FONT=Times New Roman][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black]In this invocation each word is combination of two words, like ‘Sat-Naam’. “Sat,” means ever Living Truth being its identity, existing reality and ‘Naam’ – essence of God. Contrary to the belief of others and as per the interpretation of ‘satye maive jayteh’, i.e. ‘Sat’ is Truth, Gurbani tells[/COLOR][COLOR=black] us both sides of it, “[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy]siq siq siq pRBu suAwmI ] gur prswid iknY viKAwnI ] scu scu scu sBu kInw ] koit mDy iknY ibrlY cInw ]- [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman]True, True, True is our Ever Living God and Master. By Guru's Grace, few present Him in one or other form. True, True, True is the Absolute Creator (who is anubhav prakash) but out of millions, hardly any have recognized and realized Him.” – Guru Granth ang.279.9. So it[COLOR=black]denotes, [/COLOR][/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy]“inrgunu Awip srgunu BI EhI ] -[/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black] nirgun is His existence whereas sargun is His presentation. He is without attributes and with attributes. One Reality, nirgun, noumenon, n[/COLOR][COLOR=black]ot visible, without physical form like truth that possesses only virtues. The same Reality evolved to become visible, sargun, phenomenon, the matter and all its forms, thus by evidencing His power He fascinates the entire world.” - Guru Granth ang.287.17. Even [/COLOR][/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=Arial Unicode MS]location of the Golden Darbar Sahib in a pool of water is symbolic of the confluence of nirgun and sargun. Water being “formless” representing nirgun and the Darbar Sahib representing sargun. Thus the pursuit of Truth is the pursuit of God. [/FONT][/COLOR] [FONT=Arial Unicode MS][/FONT] [COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]The third aspect is infinite creativity ‘Karta-purakh’ – ‘Karta’ means Creator. [B]‘Purakh’ [/B]which means intelligent conscious specifically implies[B] that not Nature, but God is the Creator, Protector and Destroyer. Thus that which provides intelligence and spiritual quest in creation is the unconditioned consciousness, the ‘pursha’. Therefore [/B]He is not only the infinately but is pervading in each and every particles of universe or in other word not only the Creator of whatever is seen or unseen but is present in all of His creation.[B] It is one of the aspect of God.[/B][/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Courier New] All matter and space is Him.[/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black][B] Guru Nanak further made clear[/B][/COLOR][COLOR=black][B], “[/B][/COLOR][/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy]Twkuru eyku sbweI nwir ][/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black] -[/COLOR][COLOR=black] [B]there is only one ‘pursha’ the creator God and the rest all are His followers or His form.[/B]” - Guru Gran[/COLOR][COLOR=black]th ang.933.12.[/COLOR][COLOR=black] So all have to worship the God only.[/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black][B]The fourth aspect is [/B][/COLOR][COLOR=black]‘Nir-bhau’ - total fearless[/COLOR][COLOR=black]ness. In my humble opinion fearless is the one, who has already conquered on emotions like greed, lust, attachment, envy etc. Such a person is not worried about emotions like greed, lust, anger or attachment. And t[/COLOR][COLOR=black]here is no body higher than Him and beyond God there is nothing. Gurbani declares, “He alone is without any fear, other numerous deities (w[/COLOR][COLOR=black]ho are called gods) like Rama, are just dust (nothing) before Him.” Guru Granth.464.17. He is the Creator of entire universe so how can He be afraid of anything and or has attachment. God’s next attribute is absence of animosity ‘Nir-vair’. He is without enmity as enmity give rise to equality and, “[/COLOR][/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy][B]iqsih srIku nwhI ry koeI ] -[/B][/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black][B] no one is equal to Him or He has no other.” - Guru Granth ang.1082.4[/B][/COLOR][COLOR=black]. We are all part of Him. Can He hate any part of His body? God is all love and f[/COLOR][COLOR=black]orgiveness hence [/COLOR][COLOR=black]‘Nir-vair’[/COLOR][COLOR=black].[/COLOR][/FONT][B][COLOR=black][FONT=Arial] He is also mentioned in the scriptures as [I]Sat[/I] (Truth), [I]Aadi Shakti[/I], [I]Bhagoutee[/I], Celestial Dancer, Grace, Pure Love, Spaceless, Causeless, Formless, Light, Energy, Spirit, Knowledge, Bliss, Pure Awareness, Divine Consciousness, Infinite, Original Source, Self, Absolute, Ultimate Reality, Primordial Being, and so on, by whose Light and Dynamic energy the entire Universe is created, sustained and withdrawn.[/FONT][/COLOR][/B] [B][FONT=Arial][/FONT][/B] [FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black]Fifth aspect is eternal, changeless entity ‘Aa-kaal-murat’. Murat means the Life-giving Entity. Akal means deathless and formless. Thus Akal Murat means that G[/COLOR][COLOR=black]od’s Living Entity, which is formless and never dies, an image of eternal. It is clear that God is independent of time. It is so, we all can un[/COLOR][COLOR=black]derstand. What is time after all? It is an entity, which elapses between two events. For ‘the Supreme’’ there is no event, naturally time is not an entity for God. Time has meaning only in world where things change; it has meaning for us mortals, not for God. Thus God is a timeless beauty. God is the beauty that finds best expression in beautiful thoughts, words and deeds. Further [B]He is not an imagination, but His presence is felt all over and always through His manifestation. [/B]His for[/COLOR][COLOR=black]m, existence is beyond time. He is ageless: He is ancient, yet the beauty is, “[/COLOR][/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy]swihbu myrw nIq nvw ][/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman] - my God and Master presents Himself with new blessings every now and then.” - Guru Granth ang.660.4. [/FONT][/COLOR] [FONT=Times New Roman][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black]As statement of His existence or form may not be mistaken that He is born or created by someone, thus the sixth aspect straight away says ‘Aa-juni’ that He is beyond c[/COLOR][COLOR=black]ycle of births. Guru Nanak’s God is eternal thus, “[/COLOR][/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy]Awie n jwvY myrw pRBu AibnwsI[/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy] - [/FONT][/COLOR][/FONT]my God does not take birth and dies.” - Guru Granth ang.562.17.[FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy] [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black]It is a general religious belief that God is a human being and is subject to birth and death hence numerous people address Ram and Krishan as God ‘Bhagwan’ or ‘Prabhu’ and worship them who were born and died. But Guru Nanak Ji warned, “[/COLOR][/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy]so muKu jlau [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy]ijqu khih Twkur jonI ][/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black] - let that mouth be burnt, which calls anyone God and Master, who is subject to birth and death.” - Guru Granth ang.1136.4. Gurbani reaffirms and tells us,[/COLOR][COLOR=black] “[/COLOR][/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy]iliK Aru mytY qwih n mwnw ][/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman] - I do not believe in those whom He created and destroyed. I only know the One God who is from the beginning and is not created by anyone but is enlightened by Himself.” - Guru Granth ang.340.8. [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Courier New]reincarnation of God into anthropomorphic formsvarious gods and goddesses), [/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black]Further it may be observed that wherever the Guru has been described by such words as ‘Gobind Rup’ - Guru Granth ang.1272.17, this means that the Guru possesses all the attributes of God and has merged into His baani. It does not mean that he is the incarnation of God, thus Guru[/COLOR][COLOR=black] rup is not any human form but is exclusively the Guru-Sabd, as it is the Sabd which ultimately remains and not the body (Thus the Sabd which merges or mind has to link during meditation is Guru-Sabd). Further, “[/COLOR][/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=Arial Unicode MS]Word is the embodiment of the God and the God is in the Word.”- Guru Granth ang. 982.10 and the revealed Word of God is not meant, to be worshiped as ritual but read, listened to and acted upon as the wise counsel of the GURU.[/FONT][/COLOR] [FONT=Arial Unicode MS][/FONT][COLOR=black] [/COLOR][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black]Then it comes [/COLOR][COLOR=black]‘Sai-bhang’ means enlightened by itself [B]implying that all that exists emanates from Him while He does not originate in anything[/B][/COLOR][COLOR=black][B] else, “[/B][/COLOR][/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy][B][COLOR=black]AwpIn@Y Awpu swijE AwpIn@Y ricE nwau ][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman] - He is enlightened by Himself and shines in His own Light and Himself created Jewel of [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]Naam, an extension of God.[/FONT][/COLOR][/B][/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black][B]” - Guru Granth ang.463.4. Since He is enlightened by Himself hence He does not need the help of any woman to take birth. He is uncarnated and transcendental. [/B][/COLOR][COLOR=black]To make it more clear Gubani further tells us,[/COLOR][COLOR=black] “[/COLOR][/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy]nwnk BMfY bwhrw eyko scw soie ][/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman] – there is only One God who is not manifested with the help of a woman.” - Guru Granth ang.473.10. Thus Guru Nanak wants to give the message if God also has to come through same route and suffers the pain in the womb then what is the difference between Him and us.[/FONT][/COLOR] [FONT=Times New Roman][/FONT][COLOR=black] [/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]The invocation ends with the Word, Gur-parsad. The Guru is in fact the [I]Shabad[/I] (Word). [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Arial Unicode MS]So before we start, let us understand that i[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]n Sikh teachings, the concept of Guru also plays a major role in interpreting [I]Gurprasad[/I] (by the grace of the Guru, He is known). The meaning of grace ([I]Nadar[/I]) in Guru Nanak's teachings is to be determined by examining his own personal experience. For Guru Nanak, grace meant something peculiar as a result of his own experience and is to be regarded as God's sovereign act of self-disclosure. God, the only source and totality of power and grace expresses Himself in Word and God Himself as Guru bestows the gift of grace. But again for grant of grace one has to pray and align the ground to seize.[/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Arial Unicode MS][COLOR=black] The basic mantra is to bring the consciousness in tune with the Sabd of Satguru. [/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Unicode MS][/FONT] [COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]It should be noted that in Guru Nanak's teachings, human guru, though considered as messenger to communicate the message (Word) of God to the humanity, is not a least participant directly or indirectly in the power of grace. Guru Nanak used the term 'Guru' clearly in three senses. The Guru is God; the Guru is the Voice of God; and the Guru is the Word, the Truth of God. These three senses (God, Guru and Guru's Word) are ultimately inseparable. The human gurus, the Guru Panth and finally the Guru Granth Sahib forged the Sikh religion. However, in the scriptural teachings, Gurus refers to Guru Sabd. [/FONT][/COLOR] [FONT=Times New Roman][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black]Thus it means God[/COLOR][COLOR=black] can be realize[/COLOR][COLOR=black]d or life comes to this state of mind ‘by the Grace of Guru (Holy Book - source of Spiritual Knowledge or Sabd/verse). It denotes that all the foregoing seven principles could be lived only if mankind is enlightened by practicing the teachings. Then how to be competent or eligible enough to get His Grace is described in all the thirty eight Stanzas.[/COLOR][/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]The Guru is the symbol of light or knowledge, which is accompanied by sweetness or parsad. He is ever in gratitude of infinite wisdom for realizing one’s real personality. Just as biological processes create favorable circumstances for a seed first to become a tree and then to transform itself into a fruit, meditation on the Sacred Words (Sabd) creates the necessary energy through which an individual human may reach the heights of supreme attributes and merge in eternal union with the Infinite Wisdom. And first such Sabd was Ek-Ong-Kar. This infinite wisdom descended on Guru Nanak from God, which revealed Gurmat is manifested eternally in Guru Granth Sahib. Indeed by meditating on our Divine spirit through the Sacred Words we are worshipping divine itself. As beauty and fragrance is the quality of a flower, similarly baani is the beauty and fragrance of God and is a vehicle to reach Him. [/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Arial Unicode MS]Guru N[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]anak used the word [I]baani[/I] for the words he received from God, words which he transcribed in the form of hymns. Perhaps a strict definition requires us to identify Guru not with God Himself, but with the Voice of God, with the means whereby God imparts His message to human kind. Thus baani and Guru[/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Arial Unicode MS][COLOR=black] show us the path to realization of Akaal Purkh.[/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black]Guru Nanak passed this tr[/COLOR][COLOR=black]uth to the mankind with following verse “God has revealed to him to know that without the Guru (the source of Spiritual Kno[/COLOR][COLOR=black]wledge i.e. baani), liberation is not attained, so one must follow and adheres to the teachings of Guru.” - Guru Granth ang.864.7. He further says, “[/COLOR][/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy]siq purKu ijin jwinAw siqguru iqs kw nwau ][/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman] - as the one who knows and recognizes the path which leads to His palace, his Name is Satguru and this Satguru is true source of Divine knowledge (truth).” - Guru Granth ang.286.12. Guru Nanak further declares, “[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy]siqgur ivic Awpu riKEnu kir prgtu AwiK suxwieAw[/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Times New Roman][COLOR=black] - He has placed Himself within the True baani [/COLOR][COLOR=black](truth); thus revealing Himself, He declares this openly.” - Guru Granth ang.466.8. It is will be useful to note that t[/COLOR][/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=Arial Unicode MS]he term 'Satguru' is for that entity that manifests the “true dispeller of darkness”. The Gurbani tells us numerous characteristics of the Satguru: Satguru is complete, is spiritual, exists forever, has been existing forever, is free from the cycle of birth and death and is divine knowledge (Satguru ki Baani). As a divine word (the Sabd/Gurmantar), is divine spirit (Jyot) with melody, residing in everybody? This is the intermediate link between the devotee and God, as the vehicle/channel to meet God.[/FONT][/COLOR] [FONT=Arial Unicode MS][/FONT] [COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]The Mool Mantar recorded ahead of the Japji is in full form. This Mool Mantar, which is glorifying or is indicating God also becomes the invocation for us to remember every time we begin a new work. [/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Arial Unicode MS][COLOR=black]Bhai Gurdas ji wrote that every time you do Mool Mantar you get ten times closer to the Infinite Being, that's how powerful Mool Mantar is. Guru Nanak defines in Gurbani as[/COLOR][COLOR=black], “[/COLOR][/FONT][COLOR=black][FONT=GurbaniAkharHeavy]mUl mMqRü hir nwmu rswiexu khu nwnk pUrw pwieAw ][/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman] by Chanting the Mool Mantra, and the Name of the God, the source of nectar, I have found the Perfect God.” –Guru Granth ang.1040.19.[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman] It is also chanted (in full or short form) not only in the beginning of each set of Guru hymns but also before writing the Bhagat hymns as a prayer to seek blessings of the gracious God. [/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=black][FONT=Times New Roman]Regards Sahni Mohinder[/FONT][/COLOR] [/QUOTE]
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Guru Granth Sahib
Jup Banee
Mool Mantar
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