Rag Gujri

Raga- Gujri

Raga Gujri is an Indian Classical Raga that is part of Thodi Thaat. It is named after Gujarat India, and is also known as Shekharchandrika in South India. It is characterized byTivra Ma and Komal Re, Dha and Ga. Its time of rendering is in the late morning between 9 a.m to 12 a.m. Arohana is S R G M D N S and and avoraha is S N D M G R S, and vadi is D and samvadi is R. The Bandish Bhore Bhaye Todi Baat sung by Ustad Bade Gulam Ali Khan is based on this raga.

It is a raga that helps listeners become aware of passing of time and the preciousness of life. It is often compared to a person in the desert who holds water in their cupped hands. The person only realises the value of the water when it slowly seeps through their hands. Similarly this raga helps listeners realise the value of time and the mortality of life. Some of the personalities who have composed verses intended to be sung on this raga in Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji are – Guru Nanak Dev ji, Guru Amar Das ji, Guru Ram Das ji, Guru Arjan Dev ji and Bhagats like Kabir ji, Tirlochan ji, Namdev ji, Ravi Das ji and Jai Dev ji.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji

If I make Your name the sandal wood and my mind stone. If good deeds be mixed therewith as saffron then alone shall the True adoration be performed in the heart.

Perform His service by meditating on God’s Name as without the Name there is no worship. Pause

If man were to wash his heart as the stone idol is washed from outside, his filth shall be removed, his soul shall be cleansed and he shall depart for deliverance.

The beasts have merits, as they eat grass and give milk. Without the Name, accursed is man’s life and the acts he performs.

The Lord is near. Do not consider him far. He always remembers and takes care of us.

Says Nanak, what He gives, that we eat as He alone is the True Lord.

Guru Amar Das ji

Accursed is such a life, wherein God’s love is not obtained. Accursed is the vocation in which Lord is forgotten and man attaches himself to duality.

O’ my soul, so serve the True Guru by serving whom Lord’s love is begotten and all other things are forgotten. Thus the soul shall remain attached with Lord, there shall be no fear of old age and the man shall attain immortal status. Pause.

Guru Ram Das Ji

The mother, father, and son are made by God and the relationships of all are established by God.

All my strength is as nothing, O’ my brother. The body and soul belong to Lord and the entire human frame is in His power. Pause.

God, Himself infuses devotion in saintly persons. In family life they remain detached.

When hearty love is established with God, then whatever the man does, that is pleasing to God.

I do the deed the work to which Lord has put me to and I do that which He, Himself makes me to do

They, whose devotional service is pleasing to my God those person fix their attention on Lord’s Name, O’ Nanak.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji

Why do you O’ man think of enterprise, when Reverend Lord Himself is engaged in your care.

In the rocks and stones, he has created the beings and puts their sustenance before them.

O, my Lord, who remains in the society of saints is rescued from mammon.

By Guru’s grace he obtains the supreme status and the dead wood blossoms forth. Pause

Of mother, father, people, son and wife no one is supporter of another.

Lord provides sustenance to each creature so why do you fear, O’ my soul.

The flamingoes come after flying over hundreds of miles leaving behind their young ones.

Who feeds them, and who enables them to peck? Have you ever thought in your mind ?

All the treasures and the eighteen supernatural powers are on the palm of His hand.

Slave Nanak is devoted, dedicated and ever a sacrifice unto You, O Lord and You are boundless.

Bhagat Kabir ji

Slok

Kabir, the door of salvation is narrow like the one tenth part of the mustard seed.

How can the soul that has become bulky like an elephant pass through it.

If a man meets such a Guru who becoming mightily pleased shows mercy. Then spacious becomes the gate of salvation and soul can easily pass in and out.

Chaupade of Kabir Ji

With four feet, two horns and a dumb mouth, how you will sing God’s praise.

Standing and sitting, the stick shall fall on you, so where will you hide your head ?

Without God , you shall become a borrowed ox. With a torn nose and maimed shoulders, you shall eat the straw of coarse grain. Pause

Bhagat Namdev Ji

Gujri Venerable Sire Namdev Ji

If You give me an empire, what glory then, is this to me.

If You make me beg alms what shall it then, detract from me.

Meditate you on your God, O’ my soul and you shall obtain the dignity of salvation.

Like this you shall not again come and go.

Bhagat Ravi Das ji

The calf has defiled the milk in the teats. The black bee has spoiled the flower and fish the water.

My mother, from where shall I find anything to offer for Lord’s worship. I cannot find any undefiled flower. Shall I be unable to attain my beautiful Lord ?

The serpents twine around the sandal tree. Poison and nectar dwell together.

With incense, lamp, victuals and scents how can Your slave perform Your worship.

I dedicate and offer my body and soul as my worship. By Guru’s grace I attain Immaculate Lord.

I could not perform Your worship and done flower adoration, says Ravidas I know now how shall I be delivered and emancipated form the cycle of life and death.

Bhagat Tirlochan Ji

You have not cleaned your heart from filth, though you have taken the garb of a hermit.

You have not recognised the Lord in the Lotus Heart of your body so why have you become a sage.

The world has gone astray in doubt, O’ Jaichand and you have not realised Lord- Embodiment of supreme bliss. Pause

Sire Jai-dev Ji

In the beginning was the unrivalled Lord, who loves the traits like truthfulness, etc.

He is supremely wonderful and beyond Nature, by remembering Him all attain salvation.

You utter only the beautiful name of Lord who is the embodiment of Nectar and Reality.

By remembering whom, the fear of birth, old age and death shall not befall a man.