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n this article of the Barah Maha series, we will delve into the message that Guru Arjan Dev Ji shares with us for the month of Saavan.
Composed by Guru Arjan Dev Ji, The Barah Maha Baani takes us on a journey throughout the year, allowing us to focus on a different aspect of spirituality each month.
Introduction
ਸਾਵਣਿ ਸਰਸੀ ਕਾਮਣੀ ਚਰਨ ਕਮਲ ਸਿਉ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥
ਮਨੁ ਤਨੁ ਰਤਾ ਸਚ ਰੰਗਿ ਇਕੋ ਨਾਮੁ ਅਧਾਰੁ ॥
Her mind and body are imbued with the Love of the True One; His Name is her only Support.
In the month of Saavan, Guru Arjan Dev Ji Maharaj blesses us with three main teachings. First, they share what truly cools us down and gives us joy. Second, they explain the difference between poison and Amrit. Third, they detail five things we soul brides must do to reach Waheguru. During Saavan and Bhadron, the rainy season brings relief to all living creatures, including humans, after the discomfort of the hot summer months of Jeth and Haar.
However, Guru Sahib asks what truly cools us down and brings joy, answering that it is the connection to Waheguru Ji through love. He explains that while the earth seeks support from water to cool itself, this support can be unreliable due to floods or droughts. The one true, reliable support is the Ik Naam (One name) of Parmatma. When imbued with true love for Parmatma, the mind cools down, and the body radiates the same coolness. Correcting the mind leads to the correction of everything else, including perceptions, behaviour, actions, and words. This inner coolness manifests outwardly, and even in a burning world, the saints remain cool, calm, and composed.
The Difference between Poison and Amrit
ਬਿਖਿਆ ਰੰਗ ਕੂੜਾਵਿਆ ਦਿਸਨਿ ਸਭੇ ਛਾਰੁ ॥
The pleasures of corruption are false. All that is seen shall turn to ashes.
ਹਰਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਬੂੰਦ ਸੁਹਾਵਣੀ ਮਿਲਿ ਸਾਧੂ ਪੀਵਣਹਾਰੁ ॥
The drops of the Lord's Nectar are so beautiful! Meeting the Holy Saint, we drink these in.
In the next two Pangtiyan, Guru Arjan Dev Ji Maharaj explains the difference between poison (Bikh) and Amrit. Poison is our attachment to falsehood and temporary things, such as our bodies, wealth, and worldly connections, which are all bound to destruction due to their ever-changing nature. When we attach ourselves to these things, we consume poison.
In contrast, Amrit is beyond death and can only be obtained from Akaal Purakh Vaheguru, who is eternal and beyond time. Guru Nanak Dev Ji states in the Mool Mantar that Akaal Purakh Vaheguru Ji remains constant in the past, present, and future. The name of Parmatma is Amrit, and it is beautiful and transformative. By connecting with saints who have experienced this Amrit, we too can partake in it.
Guru Teg Bahadur Ji says that only the Naam of Akaal Purakh Vaheguru, the saints who have done Naam Simran, and Parmatma and the Guru will remain in this world. Therefore, instead of attaching ourselves to things bound to destruction, we should seek the company of saints and embrace the Amrit that Guru Sahib offers.
You are not the only one!
ਵਣੁ ਤਿਣੁ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਸੰਗਿ ਮਉਲਿਆ ਸੰਮ੍ਰਥ ਪੁਰਖ ਅਪਾਰੁ ॥
Realizing this, as expressed in the previous Pangtiyan, even the forest and every blade of grass is connected to Vaheguru and in love with Him. Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj, in their Baani of Jaap Sahib, emphasizes this point, illustrating that it's not just humans who remember Parmatma, but even each blade of grass in the forest does Simran of Vaheguru's name. Guru Gobind Singh Ji says that Vaheguru is limitless and boundless. If these living creatures and plants are doing Simran of Vaheguru Ji, why are we not doing it, especially when we have been blessed with this body and life to remember Vaheguru Ji?
What do we need to do to meet you?
ਹਰਿ ਮਿਲਣੈ ਨੋ ਮਨੁ ਲੋਚਦਾ ਕਰਮਿ ਮਿਲਾਵਣਹਾਰੁ ॥
My mind yearns to meet the Lord. If only He would show His Mercy, and unite me with Himself!
Within our minds, there is a desire to meet Vaheguru Ji. We wonder how we can find and meet Parmatma. Guru Sahib says, "Karam Milaavanhaar," indicating that only through the Kirpa (grace) of Parmatma can we meet Him. Karam can refer to our past actions and the actions we commit now, but it also means Kirpa. To receive this Kirpa, a Sikh must make an effort. This includes performing Ardaas and putting in effort by following Guru's teachings: reading Gurbani, doing Sewa, doing Simran, and participating in Sangat. In our Ardaas, we acknowledge that even our efforts are possible due to the strength blessed by Sache Patshaah. Ultimately, it is through Vaheguru's Kirpa that we can meet Him. By combining our efforts with Vaheguru's Kirpa, we can become one with Vaheguru Ji.
5 steps to meeting God
ਜਿਨੀ ਸਖੀਏ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਹੰਉ ਤਿਨ ਕੈ ਸਦ ਬਲਿਹਾਰ ॥
Those brides who have obtained God-I am forever a sacrifice to them.
Here is the third point Guru Sahib shares with us. The Sakhiye, our friends who have obtained Parmatma and become one with Vaheguru, are to be revered. Guru Sahib says, "I am a sacrifice to them," for they have found the purpose of their lives. Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj, in the Baani of Shabad Hazare, teaches us this exact lesson: when we go into the Sangat of those who have become one with Vaheguru, we should ask them what they did to achieve this.
In the next Pangtiyan, Guru Sahib provides the answer:
1. Accept whatever Parmatma does as good and within His Hukam.
2. Renounce our own cleverness and ego.
Guru Sahib continues, instructing us to attach ourselves and our love to Parmatma, who gives us all the wealth of the world. Follow the teachings in Gurbani, as Guru Granth Sahib Ji provides every instruction a Sikh needs to reach Vaheguru.
Lastly, Guru Nanak Dev Ji emphasizes giving your mind and body to the Guru, accepting His teachings to become one with Vaheguru. Guru Sahib concludes by saying that this is the way to become a beautiful soul bride of Vaheguru Ji. These are the five steps we soul brides must take to become a Sohagan, united with Parmatma.
Connect with the Name of God
ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਜੀ ਮਇਆ ਕਰਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਸਵਾਰਣਹਾਰੁ ॥
O Nanak, when the Dear Lord shows kindness, He adorns His bride with the Word of His Shabad.
ਸਾਵਣੁ ਤਿਨਾ ਸੁਹਾਗਣੀ ਜਿਨ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਉਰਿ ਹਾਰੁ ॥੬॥
The month of Saavan is beautiful for those who have connected themselves to the Naam of Akaal Purakh Vaheguru Ji. Through the Shabad of the Guru, we learn these teachings and can connect to Vaheguru Ji by doing Naam Simran, which Guru Sahib constantly emphasizes. As we approach the middle of the year, in the months of Saavan and Bhadron, Guru Sahib prepares us by encouraging us to go into Sangat, build love, and understand the Panj Chor and the difference between Naam and ego. Now, Guru Sahib tells us to start doing what we are meant to do: attach ourselves to the Naam and do Naam Simran of Parmatma. This month, we have understood Guru Sahib's message about the difference between poison and Amrit, and the five things we need to do to reach Parmatma and become a Sohagan, as taught in the month of Saavan.
This article is a transcribed version of the video How to Cool Down? by Bibi Gurprit Kaur Ji.
