Rawel Singh

Rawel Singh I am a Sikh writer currently based in the United States. My interests include the exegesis of the Guru Granth Sahib, along with the comparative study of the Qur'an, Hebrew Bible, New Testament and Hindu texts. This blog is intended to engage in a dialogue with wider audience mostly on theological issues.

Congregation

"Sādh Saṅgat" in the Sikh parlance refers to the congregational body of committed human beings who aspire toward the attainment of self-realization while alive through the dual-act of active engagement with the Divine Word (gur śabad) and loving adherence to the long-established traditions (rahat maryādā) of the Panth.

SGGS pp 721-723, Tilang M: 1, Shabads 1-5.   ਰਾਗੁ ਤਿਲੰਗ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ਘਰੁ ੧   ੴ ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਅਜੂਨੀ ਸੈਭੰ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ Rāg ṯilang mėhlā 1 gẖar 1. Ik▫oaʼnkār saṯ nām karṯā purakẖ nirbẖa▫o nirvair akāl mūraṯ ajūnī saibẖaʼn gur parsāḏ. Composition of the first Guru in Raga […]

SGGS pp 719-720, Bairaarri M: 4 and 5, Shabads 1-7.   ਰਾਗੁ ਬੈਰਾੜੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੪ ਘਰੁ ੧ ਦੁਪਦੇ   ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ Rāg bairāṛī mėhlā 4 gẖar 1 ḏupḏe  Ik▫oaʼnkār saṯgur parsāḏ.   Composition of the fourth Guru in Raga Bairaarree, (dupadey) with two stanzas each, (ghar-u 1) to be sung to the first beat.  Invoking […]

SGGS p 718, Ttoddi Naamdev Ji Shabads 1-3.   ਟੋਡੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਭਗਤਾਂ ਕੀ    ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ Todī baṇī bẖagṯāʼn kī  Ik▫oaʼnkār saṯgur parsāḏ.   (Baani) composition of (bhagtaa’n = devotees) the saints.  Invoking the One all-pervasive Creator who is known with the true guru’s grace/guidance.   Note: We hear people saying s/he has seen God. […]

SGGS pp 716-718, Ttoddi M: 5 and 9, Shabads 20-31.   ਟੋਡੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ਘਰੁ ੫ ਦੁਪਦੇ ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ Todī mėhlā 5 gẖar 5 ḏupḏe   Ik▫oaʼnkār saṯgur parsāḏ.   Composition of the fifth Guru in Raga Ttoddi, (dupadey) with two stanzas each, (ghar-u 5) to be sung to the fifth beat.  Invoking the […]

SGGS pp 2-3, Japji Paurris 8-11, Suniai.   There are five aids to spiritual advancement as stated in the first five Paurris  of Japji and elaborated thus:   Living by Hukam or Divine will: Japji Paurri 2. Remembering Divine virtues – Gaaveeai, Gaavai: Japji Paurri 3. Listening and keeping in mind – Suniai: Japji Paurris […]

SGGS pp 713-715, Ttoddi M: 5, Shabads 6-19.   ਟੋਡੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ਘਰੁ ੨ ਦੁਪਦੇ               ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ Todī mėhlā 5 gẖar 2 ḏupḏe  Ik▫oaʼnkār saṯgur parsāḏ.   Composition of the fifth Guru in Raga Ttoddi, (dupadey) with two stanzas each, (ghar-u 2) to be sung to the second beat. Invoking the One all-pervasive […]

SGGS pp 711-713, Ttoddi M: 4 and 5, Shabads 1-5.   ੴ ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਅਜੂਨੀ ਸੈਭੰ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ Ik▫oaʼnkār saṯ nām karṯā purakẖ nirbẖa▫o nirvair akāl mūraṯ ajūnī saibẖaʼn gur parsāḏ.   Invoking the ONE Almighty, (sat-i) with eternal (naam-u) commands/writ; (karta purakh-u) Creator of all universe. (Nirbhau […]

SGGS pp 709-710, Vaar Jaistsri Paurris 16-20 and Jaitsri Ravidas Ji   ਸਲੋਕ ॥ ਪਤਿਤ ਪੁਨੀਤ ਗੋਬਿੰਦਹ ਸਰਬ ਦੋਖ ਨਿਵਾਰਣਹ ॥ ਸਰਣਿ ਸੂਰ ਭਗਵਾਨਹ ਜਪੰਤਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਹਰੇ ॥੧॥ Salok.  Paṯiṯ punīṯ gobinḏah sarab ḏokẖ nivārṇėh. Saraṇ sūr bẖagvānėh japanṯ Nānak har har hare. ||1||   (Slok) prologue. Emulation of virtues (gobindah) of the Master (nivaarnah) […]

SGGS pp 707-709, Jaitsri Vaar M: 5, Paurris 9-15.   ਸਲੋਕ ॥ ਬਸੰਤਿ ਸ੍ਵਰਗ ਲੋਕਹ ਜਿਤਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਿਥਵੀ ਨਵ ਖੰਡਣਹ ॥ ਬਿਸਰੰਤ ਹਰਿ ਗੋਪਾਲਹ ਨਾਨਕ ਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ ਉਦਿਆਨ ਭਰਮਣਹ ॥੧॥ Salok.  Basanṯ savarag lokah jiṯṯe parithvī nav kẖandṇah.  Bisranṯ har gopālah Nānak ṯe parāṇī uḏi▫ān bẖaramṇėh. ||1||   (Slok) prologue. If someone (jitatey) conquers (nav = nine, khanddanah […]

How Sri Guru Granth Sahib is the Guru ਸਭ ਸਿਖਨ ਕੋ ਹੁਕਮ ਹੈ ਗੁਰੁ ਮਾਨਿਓ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ । This is the edict for all the Sikhs; accept the Granth as the Guru (Guru Gobind Singh)   This edict of the tenth Guru makes it easy for the Sikh to answer the question of Sri Guru Granth […]

SGGS pp 705-707, Jaitsri Vaar M: 5, Paurris 1-8.   ਜੈਤਸਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ਵਾਰ ਸਲੋਕਾ ਨਾਲਿ   ੴ  ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ Jaiṯsarī mėhlā 5 vār salokā nāial  Ik▫oaʼnkār saṯgur parsāḏ.   Composition of the fifth Guru in Raga Jaitsri, (vaar) a ballad in praise of the Almighty, (naal-i) together with (sloka) prologues. Invoking the One all-pervasive Creator […]

SGGS pp 703-705, Jaitsri M: 5, Chhants 1-3.   ਜੈਤਸਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ਛੰਤ ਘਰੁ ੧             ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ Jaiṯsarī mėhlā 5 cẖẖanṯ gẖar 1  Ik▫oaʼnkār saṯgur parsāḏ.   Composition of the fifth Guru in Raga Jaitsri, (chhant) a song of love and longing for the Almighty with each stanza of six lines, (ghar-u 1) […]

Does Gurbani Prohibit Eating Meat? Different people have different views on whether consumption of meat by a Sikh is allowed. Some feel it is prohibited while others feel there is no prohibition. Let us make an effort to understand what Gurbani says. Those who think meat is not to be taken by a Sikh quote […]

SGGS pp 702-703, Jaitsri M: 9, Shabads 1-3.   ਜੈਤਸਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੯    ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ Jaiṯsarī mėhlā 9   Ik▫oaʼnkār saṯgur parsāḏ.   Composition of the ninth Guru in Raga Jaitsri. Invoking the One all-pervasve Creator who may be known with the trus guru’s grace/guidance.   Note: All compositions of the ninth Guru start with […]

SGGS pp 700-702, Jaitsri M: 5, Shabads 1-13.   ਜੈਤਸਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ਘਰੁ ੩         ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ Jaiṯsarī mėhlā 5 gẖar 3  Ik▫oaʼnkār saṯgur parsāḏ.   Composition of the fifth Guru in Raga Jaitsri, (ghar-u 3) to be sung to the third beat.   Invoking the One all-pervasive Creator who may be known with the […]

SGGS p 698-699, Jaitsri M: 4, Shabads 7-11.   ਜੈਤਸਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੪ ਘਰੁ ੨         ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ Jaiṯsarī mėhlā 4 gẖar 2     Ik▫oaʼnkār saṯgur parsāḏ.   Composition of the fourth Guru in Raga Jaitsri, (ghar-u 2) to be sung to the second beat.  Invoking the One all-pervasive Creator who may be known with […]

SGGS pp 696-698, Jaitsri M: 4, Shabads 1-6.   ਜੈਤਸਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੪ ਘਰੁ ੧ ਚਉਪਦੇ    ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ Jaiṯsarī mėhlā 4 gẖar 1 cẖa▫upḏe  Ik▫oaʼnkār saṯgur parsāḏ.   Composition of the fourth Guru in Raga Jaitsri, (chaupadey) of four stanzas, (ghar-u 1) to be sung to the first beat.     Invoking the One all-pervasive Creator who […]

SGGS pp 694-695, Dhanaasri Ravidas Ji, Trilochan Ji, Naamdev Ji, Sain Ji, Peepa Ji, Dhanaa Ji.   ਧਨਾਸਰੀ ਭਗਤ ਰਵਿਦਾਸ ਜੀ ਕੀ    ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ Ḏẖanāsrī bẖagaṯ Raviḏās jī kī    Ik▫oaʼnkār saṯgur parsāḏ.   Composition of (ji) the revered (bhagat = devotee) saint Ravidas in Raga Dhanaasri:   Invoking the one all-pervasive Creator who may […]

SGGS pp 691-694 Dhanaasri Baani Kabir Ji and Naamdev Ji.   ਰਾਗੁ ਧਨਾਸਰੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਭਗਤ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ ਕੀ   ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ Rāg ḏẖanāsrī baṇī bẖagaṯ Kabīr jī kī  Ik▫oaʼnkār saṯgur parsāḏ.   Composition of (ji) the revered (bhagat = devotee) saint Kabir, in Raga Dhanaasri.   Invoking the One all-pervasive Creator who may be known with […]

SGGS pp 690-691, Dhanaasri M: 4 and 5, Chhant.     Note: We human beings remain engrossed in our pursuits for worldly pleasures and tend to forget what we are here for. We pursue pleasures but still remain restless because craving for them never ends. When the Almighty is kind to lead to the guru […]


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