pandrah thitīṁ tai sat vār.
māhā rutī āvahi vār vār.
dinasu raiṇi tivai sansāru.
āvāgaüṇu kīā kartāri.
nihcalu sācu rahiā kal dhāri.
nānak gurmukhi būjhai ko sabadu vīcāri.10.1.
-Guru Granth Sahib 842
This composition, revealed by Guru Amardas Sahib (1479-1574 CE), is based on the seven days of the week. In it, the Guru imparts a distinct teaching for each day of the week. Through Sunday, the being is inspired to recite the Nam of IkOankar (the Divine). Through Monday, it is conveyed that Nam is received through the Wisdom (Guru), and it is through Nam that the being experiences IkOankar. Through Tuesday, it is expressed that IkOankar Own-Self creates worldly attachment, and Own-Self bestows awareness to the being. Through Wednesday, it is informed that the being receives honor by immersing in the Nam. Through Thursday, it is stated that all beings are created and supported by IkOankar. Through Friday, it is explained that without remembering the Nam, all ritual practices like observance of fasts lead to worldly attachment. Through Saturday, it is conveyed that self-centered beings deliberate on “auspicious” and “inauspicious” deeds and continue to live in illusion. At the end, it is concluded that only the beings who reflect on the eternal Wisdom are imbued with the love of IkOankar.
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
Calligraphy
Recite the Treasure of virtues within the heart. This alone is the rosary. In the tenth stanza, Guru Amardas refers again to the rampant systems of ‘auspiciousness.’ There are fifteen days of the moon’s waxing and waning and seven days of the week. There are months and seasons, and these cycles of change come and go repeatedly, just as the coming and going of day and night. And this coming and going is also of the Creator, IkOankar (One Creative and Pervasive Force, 1Force, the One). It is happening in nature, and we are also a part of nature, so it is happening to us, too. So much of our lives are about these natural cycles of coming and going. We need not worry too much about this. Why dwell on this so much, constantly shifting our behaviors and engagement based on the ebb and flow of the natural world? What if, instead, we cultivated a sense of steadiness?
At the end of this stanza, Guru Amardas emphasizes that true steadiness lies in IkOankar, the Creator. The Creator is the only one who is eternal, unshakeable, and steady. The Creator infuses all of creation with the One’s Own power. We witness that power when we witness the world. This issue of cycles of ‘auspiciousness’ becomes a non-issue because only the steady One may remain here eternally. We come to understand this through the Wisdom (Guru), having contemplated the teachings of the Wisdom. Guru Amardas urges us to shift our focus out of coming and going. We need not adjust for all this ebbing and flowing or fixate on these systems. We just need to find that one constant deed of loving connection with the Creator, IkOankar, and dedicate ourselves to that. Will we do that one deed worth doing? Will we become Wisdom-oriented? Will we root ourselves in the steady One?
SUMMARY
In this composition, Guru Amardas alludes to various conceptualities, lifestyles, schools of thought, philosophies, complexes, and systems that all claim to help us develop some kind of religious or spiritual currency. He uses the calendar week, moving through different days to show us how we can experience devotion to IkOankar (One Creative and Pervasive Force, 1Force, the One) and experience the presence of the One. He subverts and reframes popular ideas of purity and auspiciousness, particular things being allowed or not allowed on specific days, and simplifies them directly for his audience. We are encouraged to turn the rosary of the Nam (Identification with IkOankar) within the heart. Rather than fixating on these systems rooted in transaction, we ought to spend our time treasuring the virtues of the Treasure of virtues—IkOankar. We are urged to cultivate a relationship with the Wisdom (Guru) to live in the culture of Identification with IkOankar. We are reminded that all things are of the One—that there is no one else. We are reminded that all things happen in the Command of the One—there is no other. If we want to get out of these fear-based systems that only lead us into further fixation and attachment that feed our egos, it can only happen through the Wisdom and the most worthwhile deed of engaging in the Identification with devotion. If we can do this and reflect on the eternal Wisdom, we can be so dyed in the color of love for the One that we become indistinguishable from the One—indistinguishable from the One we love, the Bestower of comfort. Will our day-to-day life become about praise? Will we become fortunate through reflecting on the eternal Wisdom? Will we cultivate more and more devotion with each passing week? Will we lovingly attach ourselves to the One?
At the end of this stanza, Guru Amardas emphasizes that true steadiness lies in IkOankar, the Creator. The Creator is the only one who is eternal, unshakeable, and steady. The Creator infuses all of creation with the One’s Own power. We witness that power when we witness the world. This issue of cycles of ‘auspiciousness’ becomes a non-issue because only the steady One may remain here eternally. We come to understand this through the Wisdom (Guru), having contemplated the teachings of the Wisdom. Guru Amardas urges us to shift our focus out of coming and going. We need not adjust for all this ebbing and flowing or fixate on these systems. We just need to find that one constant deed of loving connection with the Creator, IkOankar, and dedicate ourselves to that. Will we do that one deed worth doing? Will we become Wisdom-oriented? Will we root ourselves in the steady One?
SUMMARY
In this composition, Guru Amardas alludes to various conceptualities, lifestyles, schools of thought, philosophies, complexes, and systems that all claim to help us develop some kind of religious or spiritual currency. He uses the calendar week, moving through different days to show us how we can experience devotion to IkOankar (One Creative and Pervasive Force, 1Force, the One) and experience the presence of the One. He subverts and reframes popular ideas of purity and auspiciousness, particular things being allowed or not allowed on specific days, and simplifies them directly for his audience. We are encouraged to turn the rosary of the Nam (Identification with IkOankar) within the heart. Rather than fixating on these systems rooted in transaction, we ought to spend our time treasuring the virtues of the Treasure of virtues—IkOankar. We are urged to cultivate a relationship with the Wisdom (Guru) to live in the culture of Identification with IkOankar. We are reminded that all things are of the One—that there is no one else. We are reminded that all things happen in the Command of the One—there is no other. If we want to get out of these fear-based systems that only lead us into further fixation and attachment that feed our egos, it can only happen through the Wisdom and the most worthwhile deed of engaging in the Identification with devotion. If we can do this and reflect on the eternal Wisdom, we can be so dyed in the color of love for the One that we become indistinguishable from the One—indistinguishable from the One we love, the Bestower of comfort. Will our day-to-day life become about praise? Will we become fortunate through reflecting on the eternal Wisdom? Will we cultivate more and more devotion with each passing week? Will we lovingly attach ourselves to the One?
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