The Pilgrimage!

I am a firm believer that nothing happens without the will of the Akal Purakh (God Almighty). He was kind enough to provide enough initiative and I  was fortunate to visit Darbar sahib (popularly known as Golden Temple) at Amritsar on Friday. After a long time I decided to go by bus. These days I, normally, avoid bus travel due to prostrate problem, but the journey on Friday was, by and large, comfortable barring the Jalandhar to Amritsar leg in the morning; but managed reasonably well.

For sometime now I have been taking entry from the side of Guru Ramdas Langar side. This time also I took the same route. However, this time I decided to pay obeisance first before partaking langar. The rush to enter the sanctum-scrotum was heavy. But gathered the courage to stand in long queue which went even beyond the Darshani Deodhi door. It took almost 40 minutes to enter Harmandir sahib. Was relieved a lot and experienced sublime peace of mind.It was sheer Bliss to enter and be at this sacred place, even though for a few minutes. Listened to the Kirtan for about half an hour just outside the Harmandir sahib. On way back partook langar which always gives me a lot of satisfaction. It is 20 rupees invested by Guru Nanak Dev ji five hundred years ago  that has grown into such a large tree that every visitor is served food on the basis of equality without any discrimination!

Before going to Langar, visited the office of the Sikh Research Board. It wore almost a deserted look. I was able to meet one of the staff members whom I had gone to meet. The behavior of the ‘class 4’ employees left much to be desired as in every office. The poor female host felt much embarrassed when no one turned up despite 4-5 bells. I tried my best to put her at ease! But…!

It was a very fruitful and satisfying, though a little tiring, journey. It seems the age is catching up fast!

The Abode of God

This is the central holy place of Sikhs –The Darbar Sahib, popularly known as Golden Temple. It is also known as Harimandir Sahib (Abode of God). It is located in Amritsar (Pool of Nectar) city in Indian Punjab. The sanctum scrotum in the middle was constructed by the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjun Dev and is located in the middle of the sarovar (Holy pool). The outer walls of the holy building were gold plated  by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the 19th century, and since then the name ‘Golden Temple’ has gained currency. Most non-Sikhs know it by this name only although the Sikhs prefer to call it Darbar Sahib.

The ambience of the place has to be seen to be believed  appreciated. The place is the epitome of serenity and spirituality. It reverberates with soothing musical rendering from the Guru Granth Sahib the scripture of the Sikhs around the clock except for a brief period at midnight. It is believed that a dip in the holy pond cures all ills.  The community kitchen (Langar) attached serves food to thousands of people without any distinction of caste, class or religion. This kitchen is run with small donations of the sangat(congregation of devotees) which includes all and sundry, again without any distinction! Words fail me in expressing the actual environment within the precincts! It is really a Bliss to have a glimpse of the place!

 

ਆਨੰਦੁ ਆਨੰਦੁ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਕਹੈ- Bliss

Scholars have interpreted the word ‘ਮਾਏ’ in many ways – mother, life, soul etc. but in my humble opinion Guru sahib has shared this happiness with his mother only. The words ਮਾਂ ਮਾਏ , ਮਾਈ, has been used many times in the Gurbani. I feel that by using the word time and again Guru sahib has emphasized the closeness of the child with the mother and has also reiterated the importance of the impact the mother is likely to have on the child’s personality.
(p. 32)
ਵਿਦਵਾਨਾਂ ਨੇ ‘ਮਾਏ’ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਦੇ ਅਰਥ ਕਈ ਤਰਾਂ ਕੀਤੇ ਹਨ- ਮਾਂ, ਜਿੰਦੜੀ , ਆਤਮਾ ਆਦਿ ਪਰ ਮੇਰੀ ਤੁੱਛ ਰਾਏ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਗੁਰੂ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਨੇ ਇਹ ਖੁਸ਼ੀ ਆਪਣੀ ਮਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਸਾਂਝੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੈ। ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਵਿਚ ਮਾਂ, ਮਾਈ, ਮਾਏ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਹੋਰ ਵੀ ਕਈ ਥਾਈਂ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ । ਮੈਨੂੰ ਲਗਦਾ ਹੈ ਗੁਰੂ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਨੇ ਇਸ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਦਾ ਬਾਰ ਬਾਰ ਪ੍ਰਯੋਗ ਕਰ . ਕੇ ਬੱਚੇ ਦੀ ਮਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਨੇੜਤਾ ਅਤੇ ਬੱਚੇ ਉੱਤੇ ਮਾਂ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵ ਦੀ ਮਹਤਤਾ ਨੂੰ ਬਾਰ ਬਾਰ ਦ੍ਰਿੜ੍ਹ ਕਰਾਇਆ ਹੈ । ( ਪੰਨਾ 32)
From my book ਆਨੰਦੁ ਆਨੰਦੁ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਕਹੈ /Anand Anand Sabh ko Kahai

Bliss

 Every body talks about Bliss but the understanding and attainment of Bliss comes through the Lord only. When the Lord showers His grace all internal sins are eradicated and the collirium of enlightenment is obtained with which the obsession with  lust is removed, the life styles improves and Bliss is attained. But this is obtained from the Lord.

 

ਆਨੰਦ ਆਨੰਦ ਤਾਂ ਸਾਰੇ ਕਹਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ ਪਰ ਆਨੰਦ ਦੀ ਸੋਝੀ ਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤੀ ਕੇਵਲ ਗੁਰੂ ਤੋਂ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ…ਜਦੋਂ ਗੁਰੂ ਦੀ ਬਖਸ਼ਿਸ਼ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਅੰਦਰੋਂ ਪਾਪ ਕੱਟੇ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ ਅਤੇ ਗਿਆਨ ਦਾ ਸੁਰਮਾ ਮਿਲਦਾ ਹੈ, ਜਿਸ ਨਾਲ ਮੋਹ ਤੋਂ ਛੁਟਕਾਰਾ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਜੀਵਨ ਜਾਚ ਸੰਵਰ ਜਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ, ਜਿਸ ਤੋਂ ਆਨੰਦ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ…ਇਹ ਮਿਲਦਾ ਗੁਰੂ ਤੋਂ ਹੈ! (ਪੰਨਾ 47 of my book

ਆਨੰਦੁ ਆਨੰਦੁ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਕਹੈ /Anand Anand Sabh ko Kahai)

Bliss…how to obtain!

ਸੋ ਸਪਸ਼ਟ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਉੰਨੀ ਦੇਰ ਅਨੰਦੁ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਜਿੰਨੀ ਦੇਰ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਦੀ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦੀ… ਕੀ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਦੀ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤੀ ਦੁਨਿਆਵੀ ਜਿੰਮੇਵਾਰੀਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਭੱਜਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਨੂੰ ਹੋ ਸਕਦੀ ਹੈ? ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਕਦਾਚਿਤ ਨਹੀਂ! ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਦੀ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤੀ ਦੁਨੀਆਂ ਵਿਚ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਹੀ ਹੋਣੀ ਹੈ…ਜੀਵਨ ਦੇ ਸਾਰੇ ਕਾਰਜ (ਮਨੋਰਥ ਪੂਰੇ) ਕਰਦੇ ਹੋਏ! (ਪੰਨਾ 119)