Barah Maha (Mahala 5)

Guru Arjan Sahib

Delivering the message through the month of Maghar (mid-November to mid-December), Guru Arjan says, guides us on seeking union and connection. Message through the month Maghar: Those seeker-brides look beautiful, who are sitting with Hari, the Groom. In this season, the path of contemplation and union with Hari, the beloved Divine-Groom, IkOankar (One Creative and Pervasive Force, 1Force, the One), is described and celebrated. With this union, all the struggles and concerns of the world dissolve, and the mind is in harmony with the beloved One. The value of life cannot truly be understood if the inner radiance does not shine forth. When separation with our Sahib, the Sovereign, the One, ends, this radiance awakens within—it becomes clear that no external glittering jewels compare to the light of Nam (Identification with IkOankar) that illuminates the heart. Guru Arjan speaks of the seeker-brides who, united, drenched in the color of the love of Ram, the beautiful and charming One, radiate beauty and grace. Their beauty transcends physical appearance; it is the illuminating beauty within, enriched by connection with the beautiful One. In a parallel sense, when we are blessed to be among these Wisdom (Guru)-oriented beings, in the company of those who glow with the inner radiance, we glow together in the light of the beautiful One. In contrast, when we find that we have not yet found this radiant company, it is as painful as the realization that we have not yet found union with the Divine-Groom. We become trapped in the cycle of longing and loneliness, constantly gripped by the fear of death. The pain of separation lingers because we may not recognize the deep connection that can only be found in the presence of the charming One. But we can find this radiance. And when it is bestowed on us, we, too, taste the sweetness of this eternal companionship—hearts are free of sorrow. We stand taller, more alert, in the presence of Prabhu, the sovereign One. In this state, we are eternally adorned with the true jewels—the radiant garlands of the Nam (Identification) with Hari, the beloved, IkOankar. The sanctuary of the One offers eternal stability, and Guru Arjan, in deep reverence, rejoices in the union. We follow the voice of the bride, bowing to the very dust of the feet of the Wisdom-oriented beings, seeking refuge in their company. In their mentorship and guidance, we may attain the highest state of being. We find inspiration as we imagine the companions of the Divine-Groom drifting in love beyond the reach of worldly struggles and concerns. No longer bound by the cycles of birth and death, we are liberated through connection with the sovereign One. Guru Arjan reminds us that the ultimate beauty is not found in external adornments but in the inner radiance that comes from union with the One. When we are blessed with the grace of Identification and come into the company of the One, we experience eternal companionship, a bond that surpasses all earthly attachments. 

As Guru Arjan adores and bows to the feet of those who have reached this union, let us reflect on our own journey: How can we cultivate that inner radiance and deepen our connection with the One so that we, too, may stand in the presence of eternal companionship, free from the cycles of pain and separation?