Waheguru Gurmantar - Part 2
We have already discussed above that through the writings of Bhai Gurdaas, the Bani uttered by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji and the many rahitnaamaas (codes of conduct), it has been established that the shabad or word gurmantar has been accepted as the gurmantar of the Khalsa. Now the discussion on gurmantar will be based on the quotations found in Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji in his fifth form, while praising the Timeless Being, says that the Timeless Being exists in the creation in numerous forms and colours, is ever present within each and every life-form, is not a slave to anyone and is entirely carefree. Guru Ji refers to such a Timeless Being as ‘Gur-Wah’ :-
Quotation from Gurbani M5 376
inkit jIA kY sd hI sMgw ]
kudriq vrqY rUp Aru rMgw ]1]
vymuhqwjw vyprvwhu ]
nwnk dws khhu gur vwhu ]4]21]
nikatt jeea kai sadh hee sa(n)gaa ||
kudharath varathai roop ar ra(n)gaa ||1||
vaemuhathaajaa vaeparavaahu ||
naanak dhaas kehahu gur vaahu ||4||21||
He is near at hand; He is the eternal Companion of the soul.
His Creative Power is all-pervading, in form and color. ||1||
The Lord is absolutely independent, and totally care-free;
O servant Nanak, chant His Glorious Praises. ||4||21||
The word Wah Wah is used in Gurbani to praise the Timeless Being Waheguru. Satguru Ji says that he who praises the Timeless Being Waheguru by using the word ‘Wah Wah’, will be freed from the cycles of births and deaths and jam, the couriers of death, will not approach him. Guru Ji says:-
Quotations from Gurbani M3 3/514, M3 515,
vwhu vwhu bwxI scu hY gurmuiK lDI Bwil ]
vwhu vwhu sbdy aucrY vwhu vwhu ihrdY nwil ]
vaahu vaahu baanee sach hai guramukh ladhhee bhaal ||
vaahu vaahu sabadhae oucharai vaahu vaahu hiradhai naal ||
Waaho! Waaho! is the Bani of the True Word. Searching, the Gurmukhs have found it.
Waaho! Waaho! They chant the Word of the Shabad. Waaho! Waaho! They enshrine it in their hearts.
vwhu vwhu gurisK inq sB krhu gur pUry vwhu vwhu BwvY ]
nwnk vwhu vwhu jo min iciq kry iqsu jmkMkru nyiV n AwvY ]2]
Vaahu vaahu gurasikh nith sabh karahu gur poorae vaahu vaahu bhaavai ||
Naanak vaahu vaahu jo man chith karae this jamaka(n)kar naerr n aavai ||2||
Waaho! Waaho! Let all the Gursikhs continually praise Him. Waaho! Waaho! The Perfect Guru is pleased with His Praises.
O Nanak, one who chants Waaho! Waaho! with his heart and mind - the Messenger of Death does not approach him. ||2||
Guru Ji says that they who utters ‘Wah Wah’ their faces will glow, meaning they will triumphant in this world and the world hereafter.
Quotation From Gurbani M4 313
saudy vwhu vwhu aucrih auTdy BI vwhu kryin ]
nwnk qy muK aujly ij inq auiT sMmwlyin ]1]
Soudhae vaahu vaahu oucharehi out(h)adhae bhee vaahu karaen ||
Nanak thae mukh oujalae j nith out(h) sa(n)maalaen ||1||
While asleep, they chant, ""Waaho! Waaho!"", and while awake, they chant, ""Waaho!"" as well.
O Nanak, radiant are the faces of those, who rise up early each day, and dwell upon the Lord. ||1||
We have already discussed earlier that according to the writings of Bhai Gurdaas Ji (the word) ‘Waheguru’ is gurmantar and by contemplating upon it egotism is erased. These writings of Bhai Gurdaas Ji are an elucidation of this quotation of SatguruJi:-
Quotation from Gurbani M3/515
vwhu vwhu sy jn sdw krih ijn@ kau Awpy dyie buJwie ]
vwhu vwhu kriqAw mnu inrmlu hovY haumY ivchu jwie ]
vaahu vaahu sae jan sadhaa karehi jinh ko aapae dhaee bujhaae ||
vaahu vaahu karathiaa man niramal hovai houmai vichahu jaae ||
Waaho! Waaho! Those humble beings ever praise the Lord, unto whom the Lord Himself grants understanding.
Chanting Waaho! Waaho!, the mind is purified, and egotism departs from within.
The amount of importance Guru Ji attaches to the word ‘Wah’ is the same as the importance he gives to the word ‘Guru’. Guru Ji says, whosoever while uttering ‘Guru-Guru’ takes the refuge of the Timeless Being Waheguru, he gets to meet the Timeless Being Waheguru.
Quotation from Gurbani M5/837
guru guru krq srix jy AwvY pRBu Awie imlY iKnu FIl n peIAw ]5]
gur gur karath saran jae aavai prabh aae milai khin dteel n peeaa ||5||
Uttering, ""Guru, Guru"", she seeks His Sanctuary; so God comes to meet her, without a moment’s delay. ||5||
M5/213
myry mn guru guru guru sd krIAY ]
rqn jnmu sPlu guir kIAw drsn kau bilhrIAY ]1] rhwau ]
jyqy sws gRws mnu lyqw qyqy hI gun gweIAY ]
jau hoie dYAwlu siqguru Apunw qw ieh miq buiD pweIAY ]1]
myry mn nwim ley jm bMD qy CUtih srb suKw suK pweIAY ]
maerae man gur gur gur sadh kareeai ||
rathan janam safal gur keeaa dharasan ko balihareeai ||1|| rehaao ||
jaethae saas graas man laethaa thaethae hee gun gaaeeai ||
jo hoe dhaiaal sathigur apunaa thaa eih math budhh paaeeai ||1||
maerae man naam leae jam ba(n)dhh thae shhoottehi sarab sukhaa sukh paaeeai ||
O my mind, dwell always upon the Guru, Guru, Guru.
The Guru has made the jewel of this human life prosperous and fruitful. I am a sacrifice to the Blessed Vision of His Darshan. ||1||Pause||
As many breaths and morsels as you take, O my mind - so many times, sing His Glorious Praises.
When the True Guru becomes merciful, then this wisdom and understanding is obtained. ||1||
O my mind, taking the Naam, you shall be released from the bondage of death, and the peace of all peace will be found.
These words of Guru Ji ‘Vay-muhtaa-jaa vaypar-wah, Nanak daas kahuh gur wah’ have been going on for generations. This proof is obtained from Bhai Santokh Singh’s composition Gurpartaap Sooraj book 4 and chapter 46 where the words ‘Simrahu Waheguru Gurwah’ appear. From this it appears that that the words ‘Gurwah’ and ‘Waheguru’ have been used for the Timeless Being.
The gurmantar ‘Waheguru’ which Guru Ji has imparted (to us) is the essence of all names. The numerous ways of uttering this name are included in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Within various separate shabads or words, the form of this mantar or chant appears as ‘Wah’, ‘Guru’ and ‘Gur’. In the combined state, the form of this gurmantar is ‘Waheguru’, ‘Waheguru’ and ‘Gur Wah’.
Through some of the words found in Sri Guru Granth Sahib, we have already mentioned above that the form of gurmantar ‘Gurwah’, is because of ‘Wah’ and ‘Guru’. Now some shabads are given which make use of the complete form of gurmantar. These are found in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji on page 1402 and 1403.
vwihgurU vwihgurU vwihgurU vwih jIau ]
siq swcu sRI invwsu Awid purKu sdw quhI vwihgurU vwihgurU vwihgurU vwih jIau ]1]6]
syvk kY BrpUr jugu jugu vwhgurU qyrw sBu sdkw ]
vaahiguroo vaahiguroo vaahiguroo vaahi jeeo ||
sath saach sree nivaas aadh purakh sadhaa thuhee vaahiguroo vaahiguroo vaahiguroo vaahi jeeo ||1||6||
saevak kai bharapoor jug jug vaahaguroo thaeraa sabh sadhakaa ||
Waahay Guru, Waahay Guru, Waahay Guru, Waahay Jee-o.
You are forever True, the Home of Excellence, the Primal Supreme Being. Waahay Guru, Waahay Guru, Waahay Guru, Waahay Jee-o. ||1||6||
Your servants are totally fulfilled, throughout the ages; O Waahay Guru, it is all You, forever.
From the shabad found on page 1403 it is very clear that the shabad ‘Waheguru’ is used only for the Timeless Being:
kIAw Kylu bf mylu qmwsw vwihgurU qyrI sB rcnw ]
qU jil Qil ggin pXwil pUir rh´w AMimRq qy mITy jw ky bcnw ]
mwnih bRhmwidk rudRwidk kwl kw kwlu inrMjn jcnw ]
gur pRswid pweIAY prmwrQu sqsMgiq syqI mnu Kcnw ]
kIAw Kylu bf mylu qmwsw vwhgurU qyrI sB rcnw ]3]13]42]
keeaa khael badd mael thamaasaa vaahiguroo thaeree sabh rachanaa ||
thoo jal thhal gagan payaal poor rehyaa a(n)mrith thae meet(h)ae jaa kae bachanaa ||
maanehi brehamaadhik rudhraadhik kaal kaa kaal nira(n)jan jachanaa ||
gur prasaadh paaeeai paramaarathh sathasa(n)gath saethee man khachanaa ||
keeaa khael badd mael thamaasaa vaahaguroo thaeree sabh rachanaa ||3||13||42||
You have formed and created this play, this great game. O Waahay Guru, this is all You, forever.
You are pervading and permeating the water, land, skies and nether regions; Your Words are sweeter than Ambrosial Nectar.
Brahmas and Shivas respect and obey You. O Death of death, Formless Lord, I beg of You.
By Guru’s Grace, the greatest thing is obtained, and the mind is involved with the Sat Sangat, the True Congregation.
You have formed and created this play, this great game. O Waahay Guru, this is all Your making. ||3||13||42||
The presence of this word ‘Waheguru’ in (the Bani) Saveyeh in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji proves the point that the word ‘Waheguru’ is used for the Timeless Being (the Primal Being). This word has appeared thirteen times on pages 1402 and 1403. So according to the instruction of Satguru Ji, ‘Waheguru’ is the gurmantar that we should chant or contemplate upon.
Of all the mantars or chants found in the four ages this is the supreme mantar. Although the word ‘Waheguru’ appears to be rather short when reading and centupling, it is the most potent. It has the power to fulfill all desires and put right all the affairs to the extent that it can transform man into becoming selfless and erase his evil inclinations. It can also connect man with the Primal Being in the innate self thus enabling him to experience the presence of Waheguru. The value of the fruits that man can attain, when he fixes his attention and meditates on the Timeless Being, can never be expressed. Those who contemplate upon the mantar ‘Waheguru’, only those Gursikhs will experience the divine hue and only they will know how priceless and precious the experience is.
Quotation from Gurbani M5/81
sweI nwmu Amolu kIm n koeI jwxdo ]
ijnw Bwg mQwih sy nwnk hir rMgu mwxdo ]1]
saaee naam amol keem n koee jaanadho ||
jinaa bhaag mathhaahi sae naanak har ra(n)g maanadho ||1||
The Master’s Name is Priceless; no one knows its value.
Those who have good destiny recorded upon their foreheads, O Nanak, enjoy the Love of the Lord. ||1||
In Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji there is a reference about this very word ‘Waheguru’ in which Guru Ji says:-
Quotation from Gurbani M5 /747-757
byd kqyb isimRiq siB swsq ien@ piVAw mukiq n hoeI ]
eyku AKru jo gurmuiK jwpY iqs kI inrml soeI ]3]
baedh kathaeb simrith sabh saasath einh parriaa mukath n hoee ||
eaek akhar jo guramukh jaapai this kee niramal soee ||3||
One may read all the books of the Vedas, the Bible, the Simritees and the Shaastras, but they will not bring liberation.
One who, as Gurmukh, chants the One Word, acquires a spotlessly pure reputation. ||3||
This word ‘Waheguru’ is so precious that, that knowledge which cannot be obtained by reading all the world’s scriptures and books of knowledge, all that knowledge can be obtained with this shabad of the Guru.
Quotation from Gurbani M5/216,
cqur byd muK bcnI aucrY AwgY mhlu n pweIAY ]
bUJY nwhI eyku suDwKru Ehu sglI JwK JKweIAY ]3]
chathur baedh mukh bachanee oucharai aagai mehal n paaeeai ||
boojhai naahee eaek sudhhaakhar ouhu sagalee jhaakh jhakhaaeeai ||3||
Reciting the four Vedas from memory, they do not obtain the Mansion of the Lord’s Presence hereafter.
Those who do not understand the One Pure Word, utter total nonsense. ||3||
M1/467
nwnk lyKY iek gl horu haumY JKxw JwK ]1]
Naanak laekhai eik gal hor houmai jhakhanaa jhaakh ||1||
O Nanak, only one thing is of any account: everything else is useless babbling and idle talk in ego. ||1||
Bhai Gurdaas Ji writes in his Kabet Saveyeh that just as a precious stone is small to look at, but its price can fill ones coffers; just as a cheque has little or no weight, but with a paper cheque a huge amount of cash can be collected; just as a seed is but small, but the tree that grows out of it bears numerous fruits; in the same way while the shabad of the Guru appears to be rather short, but its importance only becomes apparent when the essence of the soul is acquired and experienced:
jYsy hIrw hwQ mY qnk so idKweI dyq
jaisae heeraa haathh mai thanak so dhikhaaee dhaetha
mol kIey dmkn Brq BMfwr jI ]
mol keeeae dhamakan bharath bha(n)ddaar jee ||
jYsy br bwDy huMfI lwgq n Bwr kCu
jaisae bar baadhhae hu(n)ddee laagath n bhaar kashhu
AwgY jwie pweIAq lCmI Apwr jI ]
aagai jaae paaeeath lashhamee apaar jee ||
jYsy bit bIj Aiq sUKm srUp hoq
jaisae batt beej ath sookham saroop hotha
boey sY ibibiD krY ibrKw ibsQwr jI ]
boeae sai bibidhh karai birakhaa bisathhaar jee ||
qYsy gur bcn scn gurisKn mY
thaisae gur bachan sachan gurasikhan mai
jwnIAY mhwqm gey hI hirduAwr jI ]
jaaneeai mehaatham geae hee haridhuaar jee ||
Quotation from Bhai Gurdaas Ji
The second Bhai Gurdaas Ji writes in his Vaar:-
hir vwihgurU mMqr AgMm jg qwrnhwrw]
har vaahiguroo ma(n)thar aga(n)m jag thaaranehaaraa||
jo ismrih nr pRym isau phuNcY drbwrw]
jo simarehi nar praem sio pahu(n)achai dharabaaraa||
In ‘Mehmaa Parkash’ every episode ends with the following line:-
vwihgurU muK kro aucwr ]
ho dieAwl kr lhy auDwr ]
vaahiguroo mukh kuro ouchaar
ho dhaeiaal kur lehae oudhaar
Say the word Waheguru with your mouth.
Being compassionate (the Timeless Being) will save you.
Giving examples from the janamsakhi (biography) of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Bhai Santokh Singh Ji writes in ‘Sri Guru Nanak Parkash’- when Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji went to the land of lust, the women there changed Bhai Mardana Ji into a sheep and (seeing this) Guru Ji advised them as follows:-
iqq vwihgurU muK nwm jpo
Ardws iqhvl kI krIXy ]
mn kwmnw pUrn hovihgI
hir kIriq pRIiq irdy DrIXy ]
Contemplate upon the Name of Waheguru.
Make your supplications by offering the karhaa-parshaad.
Your desires will be fulfilled,
When you keep the Lords praises in your heart.
(Sri Guru Nanak Parkash Poorbaardh Chapater 7)
In the Triya Raj (where ladies of lust rule) too Guru Ji gave the same advice:-
sK sMq Awie qW pY mMq n clwie inj
tihl bnwie kIjY Cor rIiq mwn kI ]
‘vwihgurU’ jpo mK jwih Bv jnX dK,
Dyiq suK rIiq jXNo sMqoK isMG Bwn kI ]
The holy saint has arrived and your spells will not work on him.
Learn to serve and do away with egotism.
Utter Waheguru and all your difficulties will vanish.
Says Santokh Singh (the Guru blessed them with this) beneficial and comfort giving practice.
Many other historical references also confirm that the shabad or word ‘Waheguru’ is the gurmantar of the Khalsa.
In this century the sants or spiritually evolved beings like Baba Attar Singh Ji Mastuanaa, Sant Baba Nand Singh Ji Nanaksar, Sant Karam Singh Ji Hotee Mardhaan, Sant Sangat Singh Ji Kamaalee-ay Wale, Sant Baba Sunder Singh Ji, Sant Khalsa Gurbachan Singh Ji Bhindraan Wale, Bhai Sahib Bhai Randhir Singh Ji Narangwal Wale, Sant Ishar Singh Ji Rarh-ay Wale, and many other spiritually evolved saint meditated and contemplated upon the ‘Waheguru’ mantar and persuaded many other to take Amrit , the ambroisal nectar, and receive the gift of gurmantar ‘Waheguru’ by treading the path of Gur-maryadha (Sikh code of conduct), sent into motion by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
To be continued………