Continued From:
http://tdsinghharjidamarg.blogspot.in/2017/04/17183-overcoming-death-gur-shabad-in.html
Overcoming Death - Glorious Praises of The One:
Sikhism is ‘Bhakti Marg – The Path to God via devotion’. Devotion has many forms like Serving the Guru, Surrendering to the Guru, Singing Praises of The One and Guru. So in this section we will try to discover what happens to Death if an individual does ‘Kirtan – Listens, Sings Glorious Praises of Lord’ in divine light of Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji!
http://tdsinghharjidamarg.blogspot.in/2017/04/17183-overcoming-death-gur-shabad-in.html
Overcoming Death - Glorious Praises of The One:
Sikhism is ‘Bhakti Marg – The Path to God via devotion’. Devotion has many forms like Serving the Guru, Surrendering to the Guru, Singing Praises of The One and Guru. So in this section we will try to discover what happens to Death if an individual does ‘Kirtan – Listens, Sings Glorious Praises of Lord’ in divine light of Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji!
What is the importance of ‘Listening’
in Sikh
Philosophy is being discussed in previous section of ‘Gur
Shabad’. The Glory of The One is such that even listening
ensures that an individual rises above pains of birth and death as said by Dhan
Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji in following words:
जो जो सुनै राम जसु निरमल ता का जनम मरण दुखु नासा ॥
(Whoever listens to the Immaculate Praises of the Lord - his
pains of birth and death are dispelled.)
सुणि कीरतनु साध पहि जाइ ॥जनम मरण की त्रास मिटाइ ॥३॥
(Listen to the Kirtan of His Praises, at the Feet of the
Holy. Your fears of birth and death shall depart.)
ਕੋਟਿ ਕਰਨ ਦੀਜਹਿ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਸੁਣੀਅਹਿ ਅਬਿਨਾਸੀ ਰਾਮ ॥ਸੁਣਿ ਸੁਣਿ ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਕਟੀਐ ਕਾਲ ਕੀ ਫਾਸੀ ਰਾਮ ॥[3]
कोटि करन दीजहि प्रभ प्रीतम हरि गुण सुणीअहि अबिनासी राम ॥सुणि सुणि इहु मनु निरमलु होवै कटीऐ काल की फासी राम ॥
(Please bless me, O Beloved God, with millions of
ears, with which I may hear the Glorious Praises of the Imperishable Lord. Listening,
listening to these, this mind becomes spotless and pure, and the
noose of Death
is cut.)
The above Shabad by Dhan
Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji really gives insight regarding significance of
listening. He is asking for ability to listen. This clearly suggests two
ears are not sufficient to listen to HIS Glories. Listening opens the
channel between Heart and HIM. Thus, listening is the pivotal
key to attain ‘Deathless State’. So what ever is said in such state becomes
eternal. And in such state Sikh Gurus have uttered ‘Gurbaani’
which is only present in Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, else
is just noise.
Gurbaani
attunes to ‘The Formless – The One’. So a question comes to mind how HIS
glories can be sung WHO does not have form since praise can be done only for
perceptible character. The whole creation is originated from HIM
so HE
is present every where and thus what ever we perceive as virtues, descedents
from HIM.
And Dhan
Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji speaks so much about HIS Glories that no
mortal mind can comprehend, understand or know ‘Them’ without singing
them. But how I will get to know that I am singing the praises of HIM?
Well, this question is perfect deterrence for an enthusiast to pursue further.
And most of time, it is implanted by other rather than himself. The answer is get
attached to Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and what ever an individual will
read will be Glory of HIM. Appreciating and praising The Lord will keep Death
away as per following words of Dhan Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Dhan
Shri Guru Ram Daas Ji:
ते कबहु न हारहि हरि हरि गुण सारहि तिन्ह जमु नेड़ि न आवै ॥
(Those who appreciate the Glorious Praises
of the Lord, Har, Har, never suffer defeat; the Messenger of Death
does not even approach them.)
जो तुधु सचु सलाहदे तिन जम कंकरु नेड़ि न आवै ॥
(The Messenger of Death
does not even approach those who praise You, O True Lord.)
Keep reciting; keep singing Glorious
Praises and meanings which don’t seem to make sense initially will
start falling in place. And eventually an individual will escape tha pains and
suffering of Death as said by Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Dhan
Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Dhan Shri Guru Ram Daas Ji in
following words:
दूखु दरदु जमु नेड़ि न आवै ॥कहु नानक जो हरि गुन गावै ॥४॥५९॥१२८॥
(Pain, suffering and the Messenger of Death do not even
approach that one, Says Nanak, who sings the Glorious Praises of the Lord.)
जो जनु करै कीरतनु गोपाल ॥तिस कउ पोहि न सकै जमकालु ॥
(Who sings the Kirtan of the Lord's Praises, The Messenger of Death
cannot even touch that humble being.)
गुण गाइ जीवह हरि अमिउ पीवह जनम मरणा भागए ॥
(Singing His Praises they live, drinking in the Lord's Nectar;
the cycle of birth and death is over for them.)
रहंता जनम मरणेन रमणं नानक हरि कीरतनह ॥७॥
(The cycle of birth and death is ended, O Nanak, singing
the Kirtan of the Lord's Praises.)
गुन गावत तूटै जम जालु ॥१॥
(Singing the Glorious Praises of the Lord, the noose of death is
cut away.)
जनम मरण मलु उतरै सचे के गुण गाइ ॥१॥
(The filth of birth and death is erased, singing
the Glorious Praises
of the True Lord.)
जनम मरण भव भंजनु गाईऐ पुनरपि जनमु न होई जीउ ॥४॥
(So sing the Praises of the Lord, the Destroyer of the fear of
birth and death,
and you shall not be reincarnated again.)
दूतु न लागि सकै गुन गाइ ॥२॥
(Death cannot touch one who sings
the Glorious
Praises of the Lord.)
कालु न चांपै हरि गुण गाइ ॥
(Death does not chew up one who sings
the Glorious Praises
of the Lord.)
नानक जन हरि कीरति गाई छूटि गइओ जम का सभ सोर ॥४॥१॥८॥
(Servant Nanak sings the Kirtan of the Lord's Praises;
the sound and fury of Death has totally gone away.)
Again ‘Gur Shabad’ has revealed
one more nature of Death. In above words of Paatshahi 4 it has been mentioned (ਜਮ ਕਾ ਸਭ ਸੋਰ -
the sound and fury of Death). Death is predator so we all will assume it
to be secretive that it will come silently. But Guruji is clearly telling
Death
has sound. So does it mean Death comes with Boom?
Well, how a mortal can answer this, only Guruji can so need to surrender at His
feet to know it under grace of Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
Continuing further, singing Praises
of Lord eliminates the Fear of Death as said by Dhan
Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji in following words:
अकलु गाइ जम ते किआ डरीऐ ॥
(Singing the Praises of the absolute Lord, why
should anyone be afraid of death?)
Even Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji
blesses us with His experience of singing HIS Praises in following words:
गुण गावत अचुत अबिनासी ॥ता ते काटी जम की फासी ॥२॥
(I sing the Glorious Praises of the unchanging, eternal
Lord God, And the noose of death is snapped.)
But how to sing praises? This question
means a lot to a novice since what good is that singing which is forced upon an
individual. Forcing to sing praises is as good as nothing. How come? Think
about Atrocious Emperors who just unleased brutality of the highest
degree and forced people living in their regime to sing glory for them. Did
such praises pacify the mind of individuals suffering from pain? Did such
praises bring any respite? Were they saved? The answer is ‘No’. They just did it for
sake of it. And if Praises for The One is sung with similar mindset how one
will ever feel the bliss. It will sound more like a punishment rather than one’s
inner desire to do same. There will not be an urge, a feeling of devotion and
the act of singing praises will be just like rituals at superficial level. So
that’s why Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji and Jaidev Ji tells us the
way to sing Praises of Lord and that is to sing them joy, delight and
loving devotion to feel the bliss of defeating Death in following words:
बिगसि बिगसि अपुना प्रभु गावहि ॥नानक तिन जम नेड़ि न आवहि ॥३॥१९॥३०॥
(Those who sing God's Praises with joy and delight,
O! Nanak The
Messenger of Death does not come near
to them.)
इछसि जमादि पराभयं जसु स्वसति सुक्रित क्रितं ॥
(If you desire to escape the fear
of the Messenger of Death, then praise the Lord joyfully, and do good deeds.)
भाउ भगति गाइ गुण गोबिद जम का मारगु साधिओ ॥१॥
(Through
loving
devotion,
and singing
the Glorious Praises
of the Lord of the Universe, I have escaped the Path of Death.)
Praises can be sung alone or in
aloofness. But in the company of ‘Saadh - Saints and Holy Men’ (more
in impact of Saadh Sangat on overcoming death will be covered in
later sections) the effect is magnified many times and that’s why Dhan
Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji emphasize of singing praises in their company in
following words:
कीरतनं साधसंगेण नानक नह द्रिसटंति जमदूतनह ॥३४॥
(And sings the Kirtan of His Praises in the Saadh Sangat, O Nanak, shall never
see the Messenger of Death.)
जमदूतु तिसु निकटि न आवै ॥साधसंगि हरि कीरतनु गावै ॥
(The Messenger of Death does not even
approach that person who sings the Kirtan of the Lord's Praises
in the Saadh
Sangat, the Company of the Holy.)
Guruji
further blesses is with the time of singing praises. This not only
slaps laggards who try to escape by cribbing about not able to determine
auspicious moment for worship. As per His following words an individual
should sing praises day and night:
दिनसु रैनि हरि कीरतनु गाईऐ ॥सो जनु जम की वाट न पाईऐ ॥३॥
(The humble being who sings
the Kirtan of the Lord's Praises, day and night does not have to go with the
Messenger of Death.)
Should we take breaks while doing Kirtan
– Singing Praises? Well our physical limitations ask us to take rest but
still it does not stop our mind from remembering HIM. That is even when
laying on bed HIS glories can be recited in mind. Death can come any moment
so the singing praises has to be continuous and this is what Dhan
Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji has to say in following words:
जरा मरा तापु सभु नाठा गुण गोबिंद नित गावहु ॥३॥
(The pains of old age and death shall all depart, when you constantly
sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord of the Universe.)
Some considered singing as formal expression
where individuals sing with proper way. What if an individual doesn’t know how
to sing in proper way? What if he cannot sing alone? What if he is at location
where he cannot sing? Well, no need to worry, how Guruji can leave any one
seekers in limbo? Guruji says even chanting praises
can keep the Death away in following words:
जम कंकरु नेड़ि न आवई रसना हरि गुण गाउ ॥१॥
(The Messenger of Death does not even approach those
who chant
the Glorious Praises
of the Lord with the tongue.)
उचरत गुन गोपाल जसु दूर ते जमु भागै ॥१॥
(Chanting the Glorious Praises of the Lord of the Universe,
the Messenger of Death runs far away.)
हरि गुण रमत नाही जम पंथ ॥
(Chanting the Glorious Praises
of the Lord, he does not have to walk on the Path of Death.)
Individuals can be too lethargic to
chant. Dhan Shri Guru Teg Bhadur Ji asks such individuals that even if
they vibrate the tounge with HIS praises they will be saved from Death
in following words:
जिहबा गुन गोबिंद भजहु करन सुनहु हरि नामु ॥कहु नानक सुनि रे मना परहि न जम कै धाम ॥२१॥
(Vibrate with your tongue
the Glorious Praises
of the Lord of the Universe; with your ears, hear the Lord's Name. Says Nanak,
listen, man: you shall not have to go to the house of Death.)
And even if vibrating tounge is not
possible and an individual just vibrate in HIS Glorious Praises even then he
will be saved as per following words of Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji:
रवण गुणा कटीऐ जम जाला ॥३॥
(Vibrating the Glorious Virtues
of the Lord, the noose of the Messenger of Death is cut away.)
Even absorbing in Lord’s Praise will save
an individual as per Guruji in following words:
मीचु हुटै जम ते छुटै हरि कीरतन परवेस ॥
(Death is overcome, and one escapes
the Messenger of Death, by absorption in the Kirtan of the Lord's Praises.)
Mortals are lazy and driven by self. They
don’t want to spend efforts and will find excuses for not singing Kirtan.
But Guruji
has blessed them with all possible means to attune to HIS praises. Like, if
they cannot sing, chant. If they cannot chant just vibrate with tounge. If they
cannot vibrate with tongue, just vibrate in mind. If cannot vibrate remain absorbed
in HIS
Praises. But still how far we have succeeded in listening to Words
of Guru – Guru Shabad? Well, Guruji is asking again and again to
call HIM
‘blessed’
to defeat Death in following words:
जिनी तुधनो धंनु कहिआ तिन जमु नेड़ि न आइआ ॥
(The Messenger of Death
does not even approach those who call You 'blessed'.)
Further, how much efforts it takes us to
call HIM
‘blessed’?
And if we cannot even sing, chant or speak even, YOU are Blessed, then I am
not sure where we are taking ourselves. We are too much busy in accumulating
wealth of world. But what is the real wealth? As per Dhan Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji
the real wealth is to praise HIM as per following words:
तुधु सालाहनि तिन धनु पलै नानक का धनु सोई ॥जे को जीउ कहै ओना कउ जम की तलब न होई ॥४॥३॥
(Those who praise You gather the wealth
in their laps; this is Nanak's wealth. Whoever shows respect to them is
not summoned by the Messenger of Death.)
