Waheguru Gurmantar - Part 3
According to Shromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee’s ‘Sikh Rahit Marayaadha’, the Sikh code of conduct, the contemplation of Naam Banee is a very essential part of a Sikh’s personal way of life.
In this Sikh Rahit Maryadhaa it is written:-
1. A Sikh rises at the ambrosial hour (the last watch of the night – Amrit Vela), takes his bath and focusing on the Timeless Being, he contemplates on the Naam Waheguru.
2. He does his Nitnem.
The extract below, taken from the daily Ardaas of the Khalsa found in this Sikh Rahit Mayaadhaa, gives us further proof that the word ‘Waheguru’ is the gurmantar of the Khalsa:-
The first (and the most important) thing that the Khalsa requests for in Ardaas is - May the Khalsa contemplate upon Waheguru, Waheguru, Waheguru and may this meditation bring lasting peace and comforts.
The references of the rehit-naamaas given above, the utterances of the tenth Guru Sri Guru Gobind Singh Jee, the Vaars and Kabit Savayehs of Bhai Gurdaas Jee, the commands from Gurbanee included in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee, and other references of historical writers, do not leaves even an iota of doubt that Satguru Jee blessed the Khalsa with the gurmantar ‘Waheguru’. Despite giving so many references and proofs still if a so called Sikh does not accept word ‘Waheguru’ as the gurmantar, and goes on to contemplate on some other mantar, then he is an apostate. He is certainly not a Sikh as Sri Guru Gobind Singh Jee has indicated in Bhai Prahlaad Singh Jee’s rahit-naamaa:-
vwihgurU ky mMqR ibn jpY AOr koeI jwp ]
so swkq, isK mUl nih, bcn hY sRI muKvwk ]
Waheguru kay mantar bin japai aur koee jaap.
So saakat, Sikh mool nahi, bachan hai sree mukhvaak.
(Bhai Santokh Singh)
The all encompassing meaning of the word ‘Waheguru’ is, that Self-Created Wondrous Form which manifests knowledge after destroying ignorance.
Wondrous for this reason that, this Form is the support of all; wondrous for this reason that the Form is the illumination of all; and He Himself is the Self-Illuminated, slave to non. Satguru Jee calls such a Wondrous Form, the First Being, ‘Waheguru’.
vymuhqwjw vyprvwhu ]
nwnk dws khhu gur vwhu ]4]21]
vaemuhathaajaa vaeparavaahu ||
Naanak dhaas kehahu gur vaahu ||4||21||
The Lord is absolutely independent, and totally care-free;
O servant Nanak, chant His Glorious Praises. ||4||21||
swr mMqR cwro kw cwr ] vwihgurU mMqR inrwDwr ]
Saaar Mantar chaaron ka chaar. Waheguru mantar niraa-dhaar. (Sarab Loh Granth)
The four fold divisions (within the Hindu Dharma) have four separate mantaras: (Of them all the) mantar Waheguru is supreme.
It is clear from the above discussion that in Gurmat, the teachings of the Guru, the name form that symbolizes (the Timeless Being’s) qualities is not accepted as gurmantar and the only word befitting the praiseworthy unnarrateable Timeless Being, is the gurmantar ‘Waheguru’ which Guru Jee bestowed on the Khalsa. By contemplating on this word, man erases his egotism and merges with the Timeless Being Waheguru.
vwihgurU gurmMqR, hY jp haumY KoeI ]
Waheguru gurmantar hai, jap haumai khoee.
Waheguru is the gurmantar. Contemplate upon it and erase your egotism.
Waheguru Simran (Waheguru Contemplation)
In this age of materialism, the run around given by western education to matters pertaining to the spiritual realm , the absence of research of our own household (treasure) and the lack of the company of Gursikhs, has reduced drastically the influence of the contemplation of Naam Simran on Gursikhs. Not only has it reduced, some ignorant people even label the contemplation of Naam as a long-winded thing and sneer at it. They have even been heard to ridicule (with statements such as), O brother, you think God is deaf or is he susceptible to flattery that we should say Waheguru, Waheguru for Him to hear?
In religious pursuit, ‘Naam’ and ‘Simran’ both mean the same thing. Contemplating upon the Naam is doing Simran. Simran is an extension of that thing which is loveable and in which there is a need for love.
The Giaanees, (those who possess knowledge), render its meaning to be remembrance, recollection, contemplation, remembering in the heart, focusing the mind to aid remembrance - am contemplating - am doing simran. Feeling the presence of the Omnipresent Light, saying ‘Waheguru, Waheguru’ to address His Presence is simran. Reading listening and singing the Shabads in praise of the Creator is also simran. What it means is that in the house of the Guru repetition of the gurmantar Waheguru over and over again with love and concentration is called ‘simran’.
Our attention begins to focus on that thing on which we do more simran. A pull is generated for that thing on which our simran and attention focuses all the time. Where the continuous pull is maintained, affection and love naturally arises. This is spontaneous knowledge where, that which is being loved is acquired. In this way Naam and Naami (the object of the contemplation-Waheguru) is obtained. In this Waheguru Himself abides
hir ismrn mih Awip inrMkwrw ]
jYsw syvY qYso hoie ]4]
har simaran mehi aap nira(n)kaaraa ||
jaisaa saevai thaiso hoe ||4||
In the remembrance of the Lord, He Himself is Formless
They become just like the One they serve. ||4||
This means that, the Naamaee (the object of the contemplation), whose simran is being done, his virtues will slowly diffuse into the practitioner or the one who is contemplating. If the naamee is fearless, the practitioner too will be fearless. And if the Naamee is without enmity, the practitioner too will be without enmity.
ijn inrBau ijn hir inrBau iDAwieAw jI iqn kw Bau sBu gvwsI ]
Jin nirabho jin har nirabho dhhiaaeiaa jee thin kaa bho sabh gavaasee ||
Those who meditate on the Fearless One, on the Fearless Lord-all their fears are Dispelled.
In the end after reaching a certain level of contemplation, all the virtues of the Naam diffuse into the one who contemplates. This world is created out of the thoughts of the mind. If the mind thinks about Waheguru all the time then it will become the embodiment of Waheguru. The purpose of simran is to ensure that the name of Waheguru settles in the mind of the practitioner all the time. The thoughts of the mind take the hue of the company it keeps. The company of Waheguru through simran is the best form of sangat or company, which can transform the mind into an embodiment of light.
In the house of the Guru, great importance is given to ‘Naam Simran’. In Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee there are numerous places where great emphasis is placed on Naam Simran with the message, ‘contemplate on the Naam; without the worship the Hari or Waheguru, emancipation is not possible.’
swsq isMimRiq byd bIcwry mhw purKn ieau kihAw ]
ibnu hir Bjn nwhI insqwrw sUKu n iknhUM lihAw ]1]
saasath si(n)mrith baedh beechaarae mehaa purakhan eio kehiaa ||
bin har bhajan naahee nisathaaraa sookh n kinehoo(n) lehiaa ||1||
The great men have studied the Shaastras, the Simritees and the Vedas, and they have said this:
Without the Lord’s meditation, there is no emancipation, and no one has ever found peace.1
khu nwnk iehu qqu bIcwrw ]
ibnu hir Bjn nwhI Cutkwrw ]3]44]113]
kahu naanak eihu thath beechaaraa ||
bin har bhajan naahee shhuttakaaraa ||3||44||113||
Says Nanak, this is the essence of Truth:
Without the Lord’s meditation, there is no salvation. ||3||44||113||
ssw srin pry Ab hwry ]
swsqR isimRiq byd pUkwry ]
soDq soDq soiD bIcwrw ]
ibnu hir Bjn nhI Cutkwrw ]
sasaa saran parae ab haarae ||
saasathr simrith baedh pookaarae ||
sodhhath sodhhath sodhh beechaaraa ||
bin har bhajan nehee shhuttakaaraa ||
SASSA: I have now entered Your Sanctuary, Lord;
I am so tired of reciting the Shaastras, the Simritees and the Vedas.
I searched and searched and searched, and now I have come to realize,
that without meditating on the Lord, there is no emancipation.
In reality, Naam Simran is the way to salvation in the house of the Guru. This is the essence of happiness of all suffering. This means that by doing Naam Simran, all the sufferings of this world and the world hereafter can be erased. By doing the Simran of Waheguru, loads of suffering can done away with and the fear of jam, the couriers of death, will be removed forever. These blessing are only with Naam Simran. It can make the impossible possible. In the age of Kaljug, Naam is the only means towards salvation. This is why in the house of the Guru, Naam is regarded as the most superior. The proof of this is in the valuable words of the Guru below:-
puMn dwn jp qp jyqy sB aUpir nwmu ]
pu(n)n dhaan jap thap jaethae sabh oopar naam ||
Donations to charity, meditation and penance - above all of them is the Naam.
nwm quil kCu Avru n hoie ]
naam thul kashh avar n hoe ||
There is nothing equal to the Naam.
sweI nwmu Amolu kIm n koeI jwxdo ]
saaee naam amol keem n koee jaanadho ||
The Master’s Name is Priceless; no one knows its value.
nwnk kY Gir kyvl nwmu ]4]4]
naanak kai ghar kaeval naam ||4||4||
Nanak’s home is filled with the Naam, the Name of the Lord. ||4||4||
iesu jug mih soBw nwm kI ibnu nwvY soB n hoie ]
ieh mwieAw kI soBw cwir idhwVy jwdI iblmu n hoie ]5]
eis jug mehi sobhaa naam kee bin naavai sobh n hoe ||
eih maaeiaa kee sobhaa chaar dhihaarrae jaadhee bilam n hoe ||5||
In this age, the Naam, the Name of the Lord, is glory; without the Name, there is no glory.
The glory of this Maya lasts for only a few days; it disappears in an instant. ||5||
kty pwp AsMK nwvY iek kxI ]11]
kattae paap asa(n)kh naavai eik kanee ||11||
Countless sins are erased, by even a tiny particle of the Lord’s Name. ||11||
With the help of ‘Naam Simran’ man begins to walk towards Waheguru. In the soul yearning to get connected with the Primal Soul arises. The respected Gurus regard simran as the means to salvation.
The respected Gurus not only wrote about the supremacy of simran but also showed (its value) throughout their life by doing simran. Sri Guru Nanak Dev Jee spent days in meditation and used to remain inebriated in the intoxication of the Naam. The place where Sri Guru Angad Dev Jee’s did his meditation is still there in Khadoor Saahib today. Sri Guru Amardas Jee in his old age used to stand and hold a peg while worshipping at night. Sri Guru Ramdas Jee built up Amritsar, the pool of nectar, for those devoted to doing simran. Sri Guru Arjan Dev Jee’s medatitive sessions are well known. In Taran Taaran, he sat in meditation for forty eight hours and upon getting up he said, “This place is very pure.” Sri Guru Har Gobind Sahib Jee’s underground cell for meditation was discovered very recently in the town of Ambala. Sri Guru Har Rai Jee’s place of meditation is in Kartarpur Sahib and Sri Guru Har Krishan Jee’s is in Banglaa Sahib, Delhi. Sri Guru Teg Bahadhur Jee did simran for many years in Baabay Bakaalay and Anandpur Sahib. Sri Guru Gobind Singh Jee, writing about his earlier life says:-
icq n BXo hmro Awvn kih ]
cuBI rhI surq pRB crnn mih ]
I had no interest in coming (to this earth)
My consciousness was immersed in the Primal Being. Bachittar Natak Patshaahee 10
It is clear from this statement of Guru Jee that he was experiencing so much bliss in Naam simran that he was not prepared to forego Naam simran to assume the position of a prophet.
The fourth Satguru, Sri Guru Ramdaas Ji, outlining the code of conduct of a true Gursikh, and stating his (Gursikh’s) aim and lofty status which holds true love, goes on to indicate a methodology by which a Sikh can:-
sdw Anµid rhY idnu rwqI ]23]
Night and day live in eternal bliss
gur siqgur kw jo isKu AKwey su Blky auiT hir nwmu iDAwvY ]
audmu kry Blky prBwqI iesnwnu kry AMimRq sir nwvY ]
aupdyis gurU hir hir jpu jwpY siB iklivK pwp doK lih jwvY ]
iPir cVY idvsu gurbwxI gwvY bhidAw auTidAw hir nwmu iDAwvY ]
jo swis igrwis iDAwey myrw hir hir so gurisKu gurU min BwvY ]
ijs no dieAwlu hovY myrw suAwmI iqsu gurisK gurU aupdysu suxwvY ]
jnu nwnku DUiV mMgY iqsu gurisK kI jo Awip jpY Avrh nwmu jpwvY ]2]
gur sathigur kaa jo sikh akhaaeae s bhalakae out(h) har naam dhhiaavai ||
oudham karae bhalakae parabhaathee eisanaan karae a(n)mrith sar naavai ||
oupadhaes guroo har har jap jaapai sabh kilavikh paap dhokh lehi jaavai ||
fir charrai dhivas gurabaanee gaavai behadhiaa out(h)adhiaa har naam dhhiaavai ||
jo saas giraas dhhiaaeae maeraa har har so gurasikh guroo man bhaavai ||
jis no dhaeiaal hovai maeraa suaamee this gurasikh guroo oupadhaes sunaavai ||
jan naanak dhhoorr ma(n)gai this gurasikh kee jo aap japai avareh naam japaavai ||2||
One who calls himself a Sikh of the Guru, the True Guru, shall rise in the early morning hours and meditate on the Lord’s Name.
Upon arising early in the morning, he is to bathe, and cleanse himself in the pool of nectar.
Following the Instructions of the Guru, he is to chant the Name of the Lord, Har, Har. All sins, misdeeds and negativity shall be erased.
Then, at the rising of the sun, he is to sing Gurbani; whether sitting down or standing up, he is to meditate on the Lord’s Name.
One who meditates on my Lord, Har, Har, with every breath and every morsel of food - that GurSikh becomes pleasing to the Guru’s Mind.
That person, unto whom my Lord and Master is kind and compassionate - upon that GurSikh, the Guru’s Teachings are bestowed.
Servant Nanak begs for the dust of the feet of that GurSikh, who himself chants the Naam, and inspires others to chant it. ||2||
Meaning: He who calls himself a Sikh of a True Guru, he should daily get up in the morning and contemplate on the Naam. In the ambrosial hours of the morning (the last watch of the night-Amrit Vela- before the sun rises is regarded as the Amrit Velaa) he should make an effort, arise and take his bath. He should contemplate upon the ‘Naam,’ which is the meditation of the Primal Being as indicated by the Guru. With this all his sins and terrible wrong doings will be erased. Later when the sun rises, he should sing the Banee of the Guru and continue to contemplate upon the Naam of the Primal Being while sitting or standing (all the time). The thing is, whoever contemplates upon Waheguru, with every breath, that Sikh of the Guru, is loved by the Guru. On whomsoever my master (Waheguru) becomes beneficent, the Guru blesses that Gursikh with hfis guidance. Nanak, the slave begs for the dust of that Gursikh who himself contemplates and gets others to contemplate (the Naam of Waheguru) as well.
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