Vaahiguroo jee Ka Khalsa, Vaahiguroo jee kee Fathe

Khalsa Jeeo, while we as the Sikh Youth have our eyes set on state of Chardee Kala, that state will not be reached until we become aware our present actions.  A major issue affecting us is the rapidly deteriorating respect and honor for Gurbani.   One can only start to undertand this concern if they start to learn more about the Khalsa Panth’s past. The disrespect shown to Sri Amrit Keertan Pothees,  Sri Gutka Sahibs would all cease if one was to look at our Guru’s lives and then gain an appreciation of the Gurbani that is still present with us today. So as an introduction to respecting Gurbani here is an  excerpt from a book titled “Gurbani Da Adab”:

“1. During the time of the Goshts (discussions of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji with the Sidhs) the Sidhs asked Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji:

Teraa Kavan(u) Guroo; Jis Kaa Too Chaelaa (Who is your Guru? Whose disciple are you?) (Ang 942)

The respected King (Guru Nanak Dev Ji) answered:

Sabad(u) Guroo; Surat(i) Dhun(i) Chaelaa  (The Shabad is the Guru, upon whose vibration I lovingly focus my consciousness as the chaylaa) (Ang 943)

Gur Sangat(i) Baanee Binaa; Doojee Oatt Naheen Heh(i) Raaee (I have no support except of the Guru, holy congregation, and Bani) (Vaar 1, Pauri 42)

Oh Sidhs! Without the Guru’s congregation and without the Guru’s Bani, there is no other support at all for us.

2. The Bhatts recited the following about the Second King, Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji:

Naanak(i) Naam(u) Niranjan Jaanyo; Keenee Bhagat Praem Liv Laaee (Guru Nanak realized the Immaculate Naam, the Name of the Lord. He was lovingly attuned to the loving devotional worship of the Lord)

Taa Tae Angad(u) Ang Sang(i) Bhayo Saaeir(u); Tin Sabad Surat(i) Kee Neev Rakhaaee (Guru Angad was with Him, life and limb, like the ocean; He showered His consciousness with the Word of the Shabad) (Ang 1406)

3. Sri Guru Amar Das Ji says the following in ‘Anand Sahib,’ from the daily Nitnem:

Aavahu Sikh Satguroo Kae Piaariho: Gaavahu Sachee Baanee (Come, O beloved Sikhs of the True Guru, and sing the True Word of His Bani)

Baanee Taa Gaavahu Guroo Kaeree; Baaneeaa Sir(i) Baanee (Sing the Guru’s Bani, the supreme Word of all Words.

Jin Ko Nadar Karam(u) Hovai; Hiradai Tinaa Samaanee (Those who are blessed by the Lord’s Glance of Grace – their hearts are imbued with Bani)  (Ang 920)

Gurbaanee Eis(u) Jag Mehi Chaannan(u); Karam(i) Vasai Man(i) Aaeae (Gurbani is the Light to illuminate this world; by His Grace, it comes to abide within the mind) (Ang 67)

Sri Guru Amar Das Ji told their Sahibzahaa, Baba Mohan Ji, to look after the Gurbani, which had been compiled by Guru Amar Das Ji and the previous two Guru Sahib Jis, and make sure to not give this Gurbani to anyone apart from the Fifth King, Sri Guru Arjun Dev Ji. Guru Amar Das Ji blessed Sri Guru Arjun Dev Ji in their childhood by saying:

Dohita Baanee Ka Bohita (My Grandson is the Boat of Gurbani. Gurbani has been called the boat, which can liberate us worldy beings:

Gur(u) Jahaaj(u), Khaevatt(u) Guroo; Gur Bin(u) Tariaa Naa Koe (The Guru is the Boat, and the Guru is the Boatman. Without the Guru, no one can cross over) (Ang 1401)

4. Sri Guru Ram Das Ji states:

Baanee Guroo, Guroo Hai Baanee: Vich(i) Baanee A(n)mrit(u) Saarae (The Word, the Bani is Guru, and Guru is the Bani. Within the Bani, the Ambrosial Nectar is contained) (Ang 982)

Satigur Bachan, Bachan Hai Satigur; Paadhhar(u) Mukat(i) Janaavaigo (The True Guru is the Word, and the Word is the True Guru, who teaches the Path of Liberation) (Ang 1309)

5. The Fifth King, Sri Guru Arjun Dev Ji, personally went to Sri Goindwall Sahib, to collect Pothiaa (Collections of Gurbani written by the previous Guru Sahibs) from Baba Mohan Ji. After receiving the Pothia, Guru Ji respectfully seated the Pothia on a palanquin. Guru Sahib Ji did not seat themselves on the same level as the Pothia, nor did Guru Ji ride their horse back to Sri Amritsar Sahib. Instead, Guru Sahib Ji walked barefoot keeping the palanquin to their right, and waved a Chaur Sahib over the Pothia, until they arrived in Sri Amritsar Sahib. Guru Sahib Ji seated the ambrosial Gurbani on a platform at the place of Ath-Sath- Ghaat (a place within Sri Harimandir Sahib known as the place of 68 pilgramages), keertan was recited and the Gurbani Pothia were respected by reciting the following divine words:

Pothee; Parmesar Kaa Thhaan(u) (These Pothia are the home of the Transcendent Lord God) (Ang1226)

After compiling and completing Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji’s Saroop, the first Prakash of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was performed at Sri Harmindir Sahib. Once this had taken place Sri Guru Arjun Dev Ji never sat on a pillow in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, or on the same level as Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Guru Sahib insisted that the Chaur Sahib was not waved over them, (but instead over Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji) and then sat amongst the holy congregtion. By showing great respect and reverence to Gurbani the respected Fifth King blessed us with guidance on how to respect and revere Gurbani.

Near Sri Akaal Takhat Sahib, is Kothri Sahib; it is here, where at night, still to this day, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, resumes the posture of bliss (Sukhaasan). Satguru Ji (Sri Guru Arjun Dev Ji), would not take rest on a bed alongside Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, but would instead lay a white sheet on the floor and rest below Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. To this day, a white sheet is kept on the floor, alongside the bed of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji as a reminder of their devotion.”

to be continued……