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 194-195 Gauri M: 5, (140-145).   Note: This Shabad points out the difference between pretext and practice. It points out that ultimately the truth comes out.   ਗਉੜੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥  ਕਰੈ ਦੁਹਕਰਮ ਦਿਖਾਵੈ ਹੋਰੁ ॥   ਰਾਮ ਕੀ ਦਰਗਹ ਬਾਧਾ ਚੋਰੁ ॥੧॥ Ga▫oṛī mėhlā 5.  Karai ḏuhkaram ḏikẖāvai hor.   Rām kī ḏargėh bāḏẖā cẖor. ||1||   Composition of the fifth Guru in Raga Gaurri. A person (karai) does (duhkaram) evil but (dikhaavai) shows (hor) something different […]

SGGS pp 192-193, Gauri M: 5, (130-139).   ਗਉੜੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥  ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਰਾਖੁ ਮਨ ਮਾਹਿ ॥ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਿਮਰਿ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਸਭ ਜਾਹਿ ॥੧॥ Ga▫oṛī mėhlā 5.  Gur kā sabaḏ rākẖ man māhi.   Nām simar cẖinṯā sabẖ jāhi. ||1||   Composition of the fifth Guru in Raga Gaurri. (Raakh-u) keep (sabad-u = word) guidance of (gur) the guru (maah-i) in (man) mind, to (simar-i) remember/obey (naam-u) Divine commands; (sabh) all (chinta) anxiety shal (jaah-i) leave. 1.   ਬਿਨੁ ਭਗਵੰਤ ਨਾਹੀ ਅਨ ਕੋਇ ॥   ਮਾਰੈ ਰਾਖੈ ਏਕੋ ਸੋਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ […]

SGGS pp 190-191, Gaurri M: 5 (121-129)     ਗਉੜੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥   ਜਾ ਕਉ ਅਪਨੀ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਧਾਰੈ ॥   ਸੋ ਜਨੁ ਰਸਨਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਉਚਾਰੈ ॥੧॥ Ga▫oṛī mėhlā 5.  Jā ka▫o apnī kirpā ḏẖārai.   So jan rasnā nām ucẖāre. ||1||   Composition of the fifth Guru in Raga Gaurri.  (Ja kau) one on whom the Almighty (dhaarai) bestows (apni = own) IT’s (kirpa) grace; (so) that (jan-u) person (uchaarai) says (naam-u) Divine commands with his/her (rasna) tongue […]

SGGS pp 188-190, Gaurri M: 5, (110-120).   ਗਉੜੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥  ਜਾ ਕਉ ਤੁਮ ਭਏ ਸਮਰਥ ਅੰਗਾ ॥   ਤਾ ਕਉ ਕਛੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਕਾਲੰਗਾ ॥੧॥ Ga▫oṛī mėhlā 5.  Jā ka▫o ṯum bẖa▫e samrath angā.   Ŧā ka▫o kacẖẖ nāhī kālangā. ||1||   Composition of the fifth Guru in Raga Gaurri. O (samrath) omnipotent God, one (ja kau) to whom (tum) You (anga = be with) help, i.e. one who conforms to Your commands. (Kachh-u naahi = not any) no […]

SGGS pp 186-187, Gauri M: 5, (101-109).     ਗਉੜੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥  ਡਰਿ ਡਰਿ ਮਰਤੇ ਜਬ ਜਾਨੀਐ ਦੂਰਿ ॥   ਡਰੁ ਚੂਕਾ ਦੇਖਿਆ ਭਰਪੂਰਿ ॥੧॥ Ga▫oṛī mėhlā 5 Dar dar marṯe jab jānī▫ai ḏūr   Dar cẖūkā ḏekẖi▫ā bẖarpūr ||1||   Composition of the fifth Guru in Raga Gaurri  (Jab) when we (jaaneeai) we consider God is (door-i) far, i.e. forget Divine commands and commit wrongdoings then we (martey = die) remain worried (ddar-i ddar-i) with fear. When The Almighty […]

SGGS pp 184-186, Gauri M: 5 (96-100).     ਗਉੜੀ ਗੁਆਰੇਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥   ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦਿ ਨਾਮਿ ਮਨੁ ਲਾਗਾ ॥   ਜਨਮ ਜਨਮ ਕਾ ਸੋਇਆ ਜਾਗਾ ॥ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਗੁਣ ਉਚਰੈ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਬਾਣੀ ॥   ਪੂਰੇ ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਸੁਮਤਿ ਪਰਾਣੀ ॥੧॥   Ga▫oṛī gu▫ārerī.  Gur parsāḏ nām man lāgā.   Janam janam kā so▫i▫ā jāgā. Amriṯ guṇ ucẖrai parabẖ baṇī.  Pūre gur kīsumaṯ parāṇī. ||1||   Composition of the fifth Guru in Raga Gaurri Raagini Guareyri. One whose (man-u) mind (laaga) conforms (naam-i) to Naam/Divine virtues and commands (parsaad-i) with grace/guidance of […]

SGGS pp 182-184, Gaurri M: 5, (89-95).     Note: This Shabad brings out how the sensory organs are tempted and influence the mind. It says temptations cause a sort of intoxication with the organs get possessed by them, as if gone to sleep and do not distinguish between the desirable and the undesirable.   […]

SGGS pp 180-182 Gauri M: 5, (84-88).   ਗਉੜੀ ਗੁਆਰੇਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥ Ga▫oṛī gu▫ārerī mėhlā 5    Composition of the fifth Guru in Raga Gaurri Raagini Guaareyri   ਆਨ ਰਸਾ ਜੇਤੇ ਤੈ ਚਾਖੇ ॥   ਨਿਮਖ ਨ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਤੇਰੀ ਲਾਥੇ ॥   ਹਰਿ ਰਸ ਕਾ ਤੂੰ ਚਾਖਹਿ ਸਾਦੁ ॥   ਚਾਖਤ ਹੋਇ ਰਹਹਿ ਬਿਸਮਾਦੁ ॥੧॥ Ān rasā jeṯe ṯai cẖākẖe.   Nimakẖ na ṯarisnā ṯerī lāthe.   Har ras kā ṯūʼn cẖākẖahi sāḏ.  Cẖākẖaṯ ho▫e rahėh bismāḏ. ||1||   O my tongue, (jeytey = as many) all (aan) other (rasaa) elixirs that you (chaakhey) have tasted, (nimakh na) not a […]

SGGS pp 178-180, Gauri M: 5, (77-83).     ਗਉੜੀ ਗੁਆਰੇਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥    ਸੁਣਿ ਹਰਿ ਕਥਾ ਉਤਾਰੀ ਮੈਲੁ ॥   ਮਹਾ ਪੁਨੀਤ ਭਏ ਸੁਖ ਸੈਲੁ ॥   ਵਡੈ ਭਾਗਿ ਪਾਇਆ ਸਾਧਸੰਗੁ ॥   ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਸਿਉ ਲਾਗੋ ਰੰਗੁ ॥੧॥ Ga▫oṛī gu▫ārerī mėhlā 5 Suṇ har kathā uṯārī mail   Mahā punīṯ bẖa▫e sukẖ sail   vadai bẖāg pā▫i▫ā sāḏẖsang. Pārbarahm si▫o lāgo rang ||1||   Composition of the fifth Guru in Raga Gaurri Raagini Guareyri Those who (sun-i) listen to (katha) exposition of (har-i) Divine virtues and emulate them, they (utaari) remove (mail-u) the dirt, i.e. give up the […]

SGGS pp 175-178 (Gauri M: 5,) (71-76).   ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ਰਾਗੁ ਗਉੜੀ ਗੁਆਰੇਰੀ ਚਉਪਦੇ    ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ Mėhlā 5 rāg ga▫oṛī gu▫ārerī cẖa▫upḏe    Ik▫oaʼnkār saṯgur parsāḏ   Composition of the fifth Guru in Raga Gaurri Ragini Guaareyri, of four stanzas each.  Invoking the One all-pervasive Creator who may be known with the true guru’s grace/guidance.   ਕਿਨ ਬਿਧਿ ਕੁਸਲੁ ਹੋਤ ਮੇਰੇ ਭਾਈ ॥   ਕਿਉ ਪਾਈਐ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਮ ਸਹਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ Kin biḏẖ kusal hoṯ mere bẖā▫ī.   Ki▫o pā▫ī▫ai har rām sahā▫ī. ||1|| rahā▫o. […]

SGGS pp 172-175 Gauri M: 4, (65-70).   ਰਾਗੁ ਗਉੜੀ ਮਾਝ ਮਹਲਾ ੪ ॥   Composition of the fourth Guru in Raga Gauri, Raagini Maajh   Note: The first verse of this Shabad uses two expressions usually found together in Gurbani. They are ਮਤਿ ਮਾਤਾ (Mati maata) meaning the mother gives wisdom i.e. teaches and ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਪਿਤਾ […]

SGGS pp 171-172 (Gaurri M: 4,) (60-64).   ਰਾਗੁ ਗਉੜੀ ਪੂਰਬੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੪ ॥   ਕਾਮਿ ਕਰੋਧਿ ਨਗਰੁ ਬਹੁ ਭਰਿਆ ਮਿਲਿ ਸਾਧੂ ਖੰਡਲ ਖੰਡਾ ਹੇ ॥ਪੂਰਬਿ ਲਿਖਤ ਲਿਖੇ ਗੁਰੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਮਨਿ ਹਰਿ ਲਿਵ ਮੰਡਲ ਮੰਡਾ ਹੇ ॥੧॥ Rāg ga▫oṛī pūrbī mėhlā 4.   Kām karoḏẖ nagar baho bẖari▫ā mil sāḏẖū kẖandal kẖanda he.Pūrab likẖaṯ likẖe gur pā▫i▫ā man har liv mandal mandā he ||1||   Composition of the fourth Guru in Raga Gaurri Ragini Poorbi (Nagar-u = town) the human body is (bhariaa) filled […]

SGGS pp 168-171 Gaurri M: 4, (53-59).   ਮਹਲਾ ੪ ਗਉੜੀ ਪੂਰਬੀ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਦਇਆਲਿ ਦਇਆ ਪ੍ਰਭਿ ਕੀਨੀ ਮੇਰੈ ਮਨਿ ਤਨਿ ਮੁਖਿ ਹਰਿ ਬੋਲੀ ॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਰੰਗੁ ਭਇਆ ਅਤਿ ਗੂੜਾ ਹਰਿ ਰੰਗਿ ਭੀਨੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਚੋਲੀ ॥੧॥ Mėhlā 4 ga▫oṛī pūrbī.  Har ḏa▫i▫āl ḏa▫i▫ā parabẖ kīnī merai man ṯan mukẖ har bolī.   Gurmukẖ rang bẖa▫i▫ā aṯ gūṛā har rang bẖīnī merī cẖolī. ||1||   Composition of the fourth Guru in Raga Gaurri, Raagini Poorbi. […]

SGGS pp 165-168, Gaurri M: 4, (45-52).   ਗਉੜੀ ਬੈਰਾਗਣਿ ਮਹਲਾ ੪ ॥ Ga▫oṛī bairāgaṇ mėhlā 4.   Composition of the fourth Guru in Raga Gaurri Raagini Bairagan.   Note: This Shabad uses the terms ਸਾਹੁ (Saah-u) meaning a financier or business owner man, and ਵਣਜਾਰੇ (Vanjaarey) meaning traders. The Saahu provides good/merchandise to the traders who buy and sell […]

SGGS pp 163-165, Gaurri Guareyri M: 4   ਗਉੜੀ ਗੁਆਰੇਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੪ ਚਉਥਾ ਚਉਪਦੇ Ga▫oṛī gu▫ārerī mėhlā 4 cẖa▫uthā cẖa▫upḏe   Composition of the fourth Guru in Raga Gaurri Raagini Guaryeri, (chaupdey) of four stanzas each.   ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ Ik▫oaʼnkār saṯgur parsāḏ.   One all-pervasive Creator who may be known by the grace of the true guru   […]

SGGS pp 162-163, Gauri M: 3, (34-38).     ਗਉੜੀ ਗੁਆਰੇਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੩ ॥ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਵਡਭਾਗਿ ਸੰਜੋਗ ॥ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਨਾਮੁ ਨਿਤ ਹਰਿ ਰਸ ਭੋਗ ॥੧॥ Ga▫oṛī gu▫ārerī mėhlā 3  Saṯgur milai vadbẖāg sanjog   Hirḏai nām niṯ har ras bẖog ||1||   Composition of the third Guru in Raga Gaurri, Raagini Guaareyri. (Satigur-u) the true guru (milai) is found for (sanjog) made possible (vadbhaag-i) by good fortune based on past deeds. One who has (naam-u) Divine commands […]

SGGS pp 160-162, Gaurri M: 3, (28-33).     Note: The first verse of this Shabad uses the term ਮਾਰਣੁ (Maaran) meaning a softening agent like some spice in food. It is used here as metaphor for something that would cause to heart/mind dissolve the ego.   ਗਉੜੀ ਗੁਆਰੇਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੩ ॥ ਤੂੰ ਅਕਥੁ ਕਿਉ ਕਥਿਆ ਜਾਹਿ […]

Some people feel that Gurbani contains seemingly contradictory references on the subject of Jap and Tap i.e. remembrance and penance. However if we see the context in which they are used it becomes clear that there is no contradiction. Let us first see what these terms mean. In the Hindu practices Jap is taken as […]

SGGS pp 157-160, Gaurri M: 3, (21-27)   ਰਾਗੁ ਗਉੜੀ ਗੁਆਰੇਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੩ ਚਉਪਦੇ ॥ Rāg ga▫oṛī gu▫ārerī  Mėhlā 3 cẖa▫upḏe.   Composition of the third Guru in Raga Gaurri Ragini Guareyri, of four stanzas each   ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ Ik▫oaʼnkār saṯgur parsāḏ.   Invoking the One all-pervasive Creator who may be known with the guru’s grace/guidance.   ਗੁਰਿ […]

SGGS pp 155-157, Gaurri M: 14-20.   ਗਉੜੀ ਚੇਤੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ॥ ਅਵਰਿ ਪੰਚ ਹਮ ਏਕ ਜਨਾ ਕਿਉ ਰਾਖਉ ਘਰ ਬਾਰੁ ਮਨਾ ॥ ਮਾਰਹਿ ਲੂਟਹਿ ਨੀਤ ਨੀਤ ਕਿਸੁ ਆਗੈ ਕਰੀ ਪੁਕਾਰ ਜਨਾ ॥੧॥ Ga▫oṛī cẖeṯī mėhlā 1. Avar pancẖ ham ek janā ki▫o rākẖa▫o gẖar bār manā.   Mārėh lūtėh nīṯ nīṯ kis āgai karī pukār janā. ||1||   Composition of the first Guru in Raga Gaurri, Raagini […]


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