māghi majanu saṅgi sādhūā dhūṛī kari isnānu.
hari kā nāmu dhiāi suṇi sabhnā no kari dānu.
janam karam malu utrai man te jāi gumānu.
kāmi karodhi na mohīai binsai lobhu suānu.
sacai māragi caldiā ustati kare jahānu.
aṭhsaṭhi tīrath sagal punn jīa daïā parvānu.
jis no devai daïā kari soī purakhu sujānu.
jinā miliā prabhu āpaṇā nānak tin kurbānu.
māghi suce se kāṁḍhīahi jin pūrā guru miharvānu.12.
-Guru Granth Sahib 135-136
The month of Magh (mid-January to mid-February) is also very cold. In this month, going on pilgrimages and taking baths there is considered to be very auspicious. Through Magh, the Guru says that the being, who, through the Wisdom (Guru) and the company of virtuous beings, praises IkOankar (the Divine), lives a virtuous life. It is as if the being has taken a bath at many pilgrimage sites. The being who follows this path does not need to rely upon traditionally prescribed rituals, like taking baths at sixty-eight pilgrimage sites, almsgiving, or being compassionate to beings. The being effortlessly receives all fruits said to be attained through these ritual practices.
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
Calligraphy
Delivering the message through the month of Magh (mid-January to mid-February), Guru Arjan disrupts long-held social doctrines. Message through the month of Magh: Take a plunge in the company of the sages; take a bath in their dust. In this month, many follow the tradition of embarking on pilgrimages, believing that a dip in holy rivers or visiting pilgrimage sites can cleanse the mind and bring them closer to the One. It is culturally believed that by performing rituals on specific days, one can attain Divine grace and end the cycle of separation. However, Guru Arjan reminds us that it is not the physical act of dipping the body in water that brings an inner cleansing but the inner transformation of the mind. Whether it is the serene waters of Sri Harimandar Sahib or the revered Kumbh Mela, Guru Arjan tells us that simply relying on these external acts will not lead to liberation. True connection with the One is not found in ritual alone but in the compassion we cultivate, transcending any external practice. In the society we live in, we often associate mental and inner purification with ritualistic actions, but Guru Arjan invites us to look deeper. Real cleansing comes from the compassion within, and this is where the true role of a true mentor comes into play. Someone connected to the One teaches us the true meaning of purification. The true bath is not in water but in the Wisdom (Guru), which washes away not just physical impurities but also the ego, pride, and barking desires of the mind. The desires of the mind are likened to a barking dog here, constantly restless and unending, never satisfied, and always seeking more. Through contemplation of the Nam (Identification) of Hari, the all-pervasive One, our separation ends, and we are truly cleansed from within. It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that we can overcome our inner struggles by visiting a pilgrimage site or performing charitable deeds. But Guru Arjan reminds us that these acts, while meaningful, cannot address the root cause of our separation from the beloved One. The real path to liberation is through the cultivation of compassion, humility, and love, not through external displays of piety. As Guru Arjan humbly surrenders himself in devotion to the Wisdom (Guru), we learn that true purity, true connection, and true liberation are found in yielding to the One, embracing compassion in every action, and receiving the grace of the One. In the season of Magh, when the coldest days of winter often mirror the coldness we feel in our separation from the One, we are reminded that purity is not about following societal rules or external laws of ritual. True purity is a state of the heart, a heart that is open, compassionate, and receptive to the protection and sovereignty of Prabhu, the One. When the grace of the Wisdom illuminates within us, it washes away the impurities of the mind, replacing them with a heart full of love, understanding, and humility.
The lesson of Magh invites us to reflect on the rules of purity we hold and, in light of this new understanding, to consider whether they need to be redefined or reshaped. Are the rituals we adhere to truly aligned with our deepest interests, or do external expectations influence them? What would purity look like in the protective warmth of the sovereign One?
The lesson of Magh invites us to reflect on the rules of purity we hold and, in light of this new understanding, to consider whether they need to be redefined or reshaped. Are the rituals we adhere to truly aligned with our deepest interests, or do external expectations influence them? What would purity look like in the protective warmth of the sovereign One?
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