Rag Gauri

 

Chapter V

Rag Gauri

Rag Gauri is an Indian musical raga that appears in the Sikh tradition from northern India and is part of the Sikh holy scripture – Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Every raga has a strict set of rules which govern the number of notes that can be used, which notes can be used and their interplay that has to be adhered to for the composition of a tune. There are Gouris of Bhairav, Poorvi and Marwa thats with additional qualifiers such as Shree-anga Gouri, Bhairav anga Gouri, Poorvi anga Gouri and so on. Gauri creates a mood where the listener is encouraged to strive harder in order to achieve an objective. However the encouragement given by the Raga does not allow the ego to increase. It therefore creates the atmosphere where the listener is encouraged but still prevented from getting arrogant and conceited. Gauri was used by Guru Nanak Dev ji, Guru Amar Das ji, Guru Ram Das ji, Guru Arjan Dev ji, and Guru Tegh Bahadur ji. Its aroh is Sa, Re, Ga, Re, Ma, Pa, Ni, Sa. Avroh of this raga is Sa, Ni, Dha, Ma, Pa, Ma, Ga, Ga, Re, Sa, Ni, Sa. Its Vadi is Re and samvadi is Pa.

The variants of Raga Gauri are – Gauri Bhairav thaat, Gauri Kalingada aang, Gauri Marwa aang, Gauri Bairagan, Gauri Basant, Gauri Chayti, Gauri Cheti, Gauri Dakhani, Gauri Deepaki, Gauri Guarari, Gauri Majh, Gauri Mala, Gauri Malva, Gauri Purbi, Gauri Purbi Deepaki and Gauri Sorath. Some of the verses composed for this Raga is

Guru Nanak Dev ji

Raga Guareri First Guru, Chaupade Dupde

There is but one, True is His name, Creative His personality and Immortal His form. He is without fear, without enmity, unborn, and self illumined.

Lord’s fear is very great and very heavy.

Paltry is man’s intellect and the speech He delivers.

Walk, by placing Lord’s fear on your head, and bear the weight thereof.

He, on whom is the grace, of the Merciful, through the Guru meditate on Him.

Without Lord’s fear none can cross the world ocean.

Lord’s fear and dread bedecks man’s love for Him.

Gauri Guareri

Guru Amar Das ji

True is the place, where the mind is rendered pure.

True is he, who abides in truth.

The True Gurbani is known through the four ages.

The True Lord is, all in all, by Himself.

By good luck man meets the society of saints.

Sitting in the sublime place he sings the glories of God.

Gauri Bairagan

Guru Ram Das Ji

You, O’ my Master are my Banker. As is the stock in trade that you give me likewise do I receive.

My God, if becoming merciful You, Yourself give it to me I would purchase Your name with love.

I am the pedlar of the Pervading God. Giving me the capital, the Lord causes me to transact the business of His name, O’ man.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji

Gauri Guareri

For several births you became a worm and a moth. In several births you were a tusker, fish and deer.

In several births you become a bird and a snake. In several births you were yoked as a horse and ox.

This the time to meet the Lord of the Universe. After a long time this human body is fashioned.

Pause

In many births you were created in rocks and mountains. In many births you were aborted.

In several branch you were produced as a vegetation (plant). Thus you were made to wander in eighty four lac existences.

By virtue of the society of saints you have obtained this human birth.

Perform the Lord’s service, and repeat God’s Name under Guru’s guidance.

Renounce pride, falsehood and insolence. Being dead in life you become acceptable in God’s court.

Whatever has been or shall be that is from You. No one else is capable of doing that.

If You unite then lone can meet You. Says Nanak, O’man you sing the praise of Lord God.

Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji

O’ saints shed your mental pride. You run away day and night from lust, wrath, and society of evil.

Pause

He who recognises both weal and woe and honour and dishonour alike and who remains aloof from joy and sorrow, he realises the real thing in the world.

One should renounce both praise and slandering others and search for the dignity of salvation.

O’ Serf Nanak, it is a difficult game and only a few know about it through the Guru.

Bhagat Kabir ji

Gauri Guareri – Chaupade

While on fire, I have now found the water of the Lord’s Name.

The water of the Lord’s Name has cooled my burning body. Pause

To subjugate their mind, men go to forests.

But that water, to quench this fire cannot be found without the Grace of the Lord.

The water of Lord’s Name has saved His burning slave from the fire that has consumed deities and men.

In the terrible ocean, there is an ocean of peace.

I continue to drink it and it does not exhaust.

Says Kabir, remember the Lord, as does a sparrow-hawk remember the water.

Bhagat Namdev Ji

Gauri Cheti

God has caused the stones to float. Why should I not Your slave float over by repeating Thine Name. Pause

You have saved the courtesan and ugly hunch back and has caused the hunter Ajamal to swim across.

The man-slayer, who shot Krishna in the foot, even he was emancipated.

I am a sacrifice, a sacrifice unto those who repeat the Name of Lord.

You saved Sudama and slave Bidur, the son of a hand maiden and gave rule to Ugar Sen.

So much so that sans devotion, sans penance, sans good family, and without good acts, Nama’s Lord has saved all..

Ravi Das Ji

Gauri Bairagan

The path to God is very difficult and mountainous and I have a worthless ox.

I make one request unto the Pervading Lord, the Foe of Pride, to preserve my capital.

Is there any merchant of God to join me ? My cargo is laden and on move. Pause.

I am the merchant of the God and deal in Divine Knowledge.

I have loaded the wealth of Lord’s Name and the world has laden poison.

O’ye the knowers of this world and the next one, write whatever nonsense you like about me.

The club of Death’s courier will not touch me since I have cast away all involvements.

As is the fleeting colour of saf-flower, so is this world.

But the colour of my pervading Lord is the permanent dye of madder- says Ravi Das, the tanner.