The preceding Pauris of Japji have described the virtues of the Creator, the creation with its diverse nature and the inability of the mortal to figure out all that. The 27^th Pauri brings out the harmony in all that exists with all components of the universe performing their function in a mutually supporting manner. The starting verses of the Pauri liken the harmony in nature with that in a musical group in which different musical instruments and singers perform in unison. Not being able to see the Creator- director of this show, the Guru asks:

ਸੋ ਦਰੁ ਕੇਹਾ ਸੋ ਘਰੁ ਕੇਹਾ ਜਿਤੁ ਬਹਿ ਸਰਬ ਸਮਾਲੇ ॥

ਵਾਜੇ ਨਾਦ ਅਨੇਕ ਅਸੰਖਾ ਕੇਤੇ ਵਾਵਣਹਾਰੇ ॥

ਕੇਤੇ ਰਾਗ ਪਰੀ ਸਿਉ ਕਹੀਅਨਿ ਕੇਤੇ ਗਾਵਣਹਾਰੇ ॥

What is that place like from where You direct all activity and watch?

There are innumerable sounds of the musical instruments, and their players;

There are numerous melodies, their tunes and the singers.

Playing of the musical instruments and singing as part of a group have been likened to performance of the functions by the various entities. The expression used is ‘Gaaveh’ meaning ‘they sing’. The combination of the two shows that performing the allotted roles is acknowledging or praising the Creator. This is to show that worship or singing praises is doing what we are required to do, the purpose for which every one and every thing has been created. For example the way elements like air, water and fire do what they are meant to do human beings should carry out their duties as allotted in the spirit of “Hukam rajaaee chalna Nanak likhiaa naali’ (Pauri 1) meaning we should live according to the preordained commands. Let see how some of the entities, some physical and some metaphorical are described:

ਗਾਵਹਿ ਤੁਹਨੋ ਪਉਣੁ ਪਾਣੀ ਬੈਸੰਤਰੁ ਗਾਵੈ ਰਾਜਾ ਧਰਮੁ ਦੁਆਰੇ ॥

ਗਾਵਹਿ ਚਿਤੁ ਗੁਪਤੁ ਲਿਖਿ ਜਾਣਹਿ ਲਿਖਿ ਲਿਖਿ ਧਰਮੁ ਵੀਚਾਰੇ ॥

The air, water and fire obey You as does Dhram Rai in front of You.

Chitra Gupt write and their recordings are considered by Dhram Rai.

Dharam Rai is the metaphorical presenter in the Divine Court and describes our deeds. ‘Chitra Gupt’ the unseen recorders keep record of the deeds which Dharam Rai considers.

It would be noticed that whereas in all other cases ‘Gaaveh’ (later also’ Gaavan’) meaning ‘they sing’ has been used it is ‘Gaavai’ meaning ‘sings’ in case of ‘Dharam’. That is because Dharam Rai is one and hence a singular term is used.

The next set of entities is those of the Hindu gods and goddesses, who are not on the earth but up somewhere doing God’s bidding. The Hindu beliefs revolve round these entities. Their inclusion here shows that while the mortals worship them they themselves acknowledge Akal Purakh

ਗਾਵਹਿ ਈਸਰੁ ਬਰਮਾ ਦੇਵੀ ਸੋਹਨਿ ਸਦਾ ਸਵਾਰੇ ॥

ਗਾਵਹਿ ਇੰਦ ਇਦਾਸਣਿ ਬੈਠੇ ਦੇਵਤਿਆ ਦਰਿ ਨਾਲੇ ॥

Ishar, Brahma and the goddess acknowledge as owing their existence to You;

Sitting on the Indra throne, Indras praise You with all the gods with them.

Ishar is some times erroneously called Shiva which actually stands for Parmatma or Akal Purakh.

mention of Indra throne shows that Indra is the king of the gods.

The Pauri next describes those who are respected on the earth and says they all owe their position to the Divine:

ਗਾਵਹਿ ਸਿਧ ਸਮਾਧੀ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਗਾਵਨਿ ਸਾਧ ਵਿਚਾਰੇ ॥

The Siddhas (accomplished ones) sitting in meditation acknowledge You as do the seekers;

ਗਾਵਨਿ ਜਤੀ ਸਤੀ ਸੰਤੋਖੀ ਗਾਵਹਿ ਵੀਰ ਕਰਾਰੇ ॥

The celibates, the charity givers, the contented ones and the great warriors acknowledge You.

ਗਾਵਨਿ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਪੜਨਿ ਰਖੀਸਰ ਜੁਗੁ ਜੁਗੁ ਵੇਦਾ ਨਾਲੇ ॥

The Learned ones reading scriptures and the graet sages have been praising through the ages;

ਗਾਵਹਿ ਮੋਹਣੀਆ ਮਨੁ ਮੋਹਨਿ ਸੁਰਗਾ ਮਛ ਪਇਆਲੇ ॥

Captivating beautiful ladies in the world acknowledge You;

In Hindu mythology the gods churned the ocean which brought out fourteen invaluable jewels, things of great value.

ਗਾਵਨਿ ਰਤਨ ਉਪਾਏ ਤੇਰੇ ਅਠਸਠਿ ਤੀਰਥ ਨਾਲੇ ॥

The fourteen precious items and the sixty eight places of Hindu Pilgrimage acknowledge You;

 

The fourteen ratans or jewels were as follows :

1. Chandra’ ( Moon)
2. ‘Parijat’ , a tree in the Paradise of Lord Indra
3. ‘Airavat’ , a multi-tusked elephant for Lord indra
4. ‘Kamadhenu’ , a cow which provides desired objects
5. ‘Uchchaihsravas’ the white horse for Lord Indra
6. ‘Sankha’ the conch of Lord Vishnu used for victory
7. ‘Gada’ or mace.
8. ‘Laxmi’ , goddess of wealth
9. ‘Rambha’ , the apsara (celestial beauty) for heaven
10. ‘Ratnas’, ( gems and jewel )
11. ‘Kalpavriksha , a tree fulfilling one’s wishes
12. ‘Dhanwantari’, the physician for all Gods.
13. ‘Mada , a goddess
14. ‘Amrit’ (the nectar drinking which one becomes immortal) in a golden chalice ( Kumbha).

(Source: Web page Samudra Manthan and 14 Ratnas).

ਗਾਵਹਿ ਜੋਧ ਮਹਾਬਲ ਸੂਰਾ ਗਾਵਹਿ ਖਾਣੀ ਚਾਰੇ ॥

All the great warriors and brave ones acknowledge You as do all the four life forms.

The four life forms are Andaj – those born from the egg, jayraj – those born from the womb, saytaj – born as a result of sweat, and utbhuj – born in the soil.

The next set of entities are those held in space by the Creator:

ਗਾਵਹਿ ਖੰਡ ਮੰਡਲ ਵਰਭੰਡਾ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਰਖੇ ਧਾਰੇ ॥

The planets, galaxies and universes created and supported in space.

As may be seen not only the earth but other galaxies and universes have been mentioned.

The above verses mention how every one and every hing acknowledges the Creator. The Pauri now mentions singing the Creator’s praises and says:

ਸੇਇ ਤੁਧੁਨੋ ਗਾਵਹਿ ਜੋ ਤੁਧੁ ਭਾਵਨਿ ਰਤੇ ਤੇਰੇ ਭਗਤ ਰਸਾਲੇ ॥

ਹੋਰਿ ਕੇਤੇ ਗਾਵਨਿ ਸੇ ਮੈ ਚਿਤਿ ਨ ਆਵਨਿ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਕਿਆ ਵੀਚਾਰੇ ॥

Only those, whom You like, praise You; they are imbued in your love and relish it;

This means the virtue of remembering God’s virtues comes by Divine grace

All entities mentioned above are perishable, but their Creator is not:

ਸੋਈ ਸੋਈ ਸਦਾ ਸਚੁ ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਸਾਚਾ ਸਾਚੀ ਨਾਈ ॥

ਹੈ ਭੀ ਹੋਸੀ ਜਾਇ ਨ ਜਾਸੀ ਰਚਨਾ ਜਿਨਿ ਰਚਾਈ ॥

ਰੰਗੀ ਰੰਗੀ ਭਾਤੀ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਜਿਨਸੀ ਮਾਇਆ ਜਿਨਿ ਉਪਾਈ ॥

ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਵੇਖੈ ਕੀਤਾ ਆਪਣਾ ਜਿਵ ਤਿਸ ਦੀ ਵਡਿਆਈ ॥

ਜੋ ਤਿਸੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਸੋਈ ਕਰਸੀ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਨ ਕਰਣਾ ਜਾਈ ॥

ਸੋ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹੁ ਸਾਹਾ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਰਹਣੁ ਰਜਾਈ ॥੨੭॥

There is only one eternal Master, the eternal truth and with eternal virtues;

The Creator is, shall be and shall not perish.

The creation of different hues and nature in numerous forms;

IT created and having created, watches the creation at IT’s will;

The Creator does as IT pleases, takes orders from none;

The king, rather the king of kings; we live by IT’s will. 27. SGGS page 6