Raga Basant

 

Raga Basant

The composition in this Raga appears on the total of 29 pages from 1168 to 1197 of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Basant denotes the changing of the season and the newness of spring. It encourages the mind to brush away its selfishness, just like spring- cleaning and removing all the cobwebs and begin a fresh and new start. There are feelings of hope and expectations of a new beginning and the start of a new cycle. However, these emotions are not dependent on physical change of the season, but are an encouragement of an internal effort to change. The only variant in the Sacred Text is Basant Hindol. It is quite old raga dating back from 8^th century . Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Guru Amar Das Ji, Guru Ram Das Ji, Guru Arjan Dev Ji and Guru Tegh Bahadur ji have composed shabads in it. Performed in a slow tempo, this gentle melody depicts quiet joy. The descending scale is usually found at the beginning of a composition with the ascending form following later. Its aroh is Sa, Ga, Ma,Dha, Ni, Sa and Avroh is Sa, Ni, Dha, Pa, Ma, Ga, Re, Sa. Its Vadi is Sa and samvadi is Ma. Ragis today prefer Basant Bahar whose Aroh is Sa, Ma’, Ma,Ma,Ga, Ma’, Dha, Ni, Sa and Avroh is Sa, Ni, Dha,Pa, Ma’, Re, Sa and vadi is Sa and samvadi is Pa

Guru Nanak Dev Ji

Blessed is this season when all is spring for me.

O mind flower you and Cherish ever your God- the support of all the earth.

O Ignorant one, abandon your sense of I am ness.

And reflect on God, and assemble within the Virtues of your Virtuous Lord.

Guru Amar Das Ji

If you are sky clad and roam about naked. Or keep matted hair and practice Yoga.

And your breath is held within the Tenth Door; if your mind is not Stainless and Pure.

You wander from birth to birth and cease not your comings and goings.

Dwell on the One God, O Ignorant Mind, that you are ferried across instantly. Pause

Guru Ram Das Ji

My mind wanders, deluded by doubt,and does not stay in its own Home.

But goaded by the Guru’s Word, it comes back to its Home.

O God Lead me on to Your Saints that I Contemplate You:

And being rid of my Ego, I am in Bliss and enter into Trance of Equipoise. Pause.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji

I Serve my Guru and greet him with Faith. For today is an occasion of Festivity for me,

Today I am utterly in Bliss, and my cares are past and I meet with my God.

Today, in my Home is Spring, and I sing the Praises of my Infinite Lord.

Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji

O Saints, know you that this life is but an illusion,

and the only Being Ever Alive is God, who Abides with you. Pause

The world is like the riches gathered in a dream,so why take pride on a mirage ?

Yea, that which goes not along with you, why be involved with it ?

Rise above the state of praise and dispraise and Enshrine the Lord’s song in your heart.

Says Nanak: “ O Saints, the One Perfect God Fills all hearts”.

Bhagat Kabir Ji

The whole earth is in Bloom as is the sky: For, lo, in every heart is now Illumination of God.

Yea, my Lord the King, is in Bloom in a myriad colours,

and wherever I see, I see Him Permeating all. Pause

The four Vedas too have Blossomed forth to spread the Light of God.

And the Smritis and the Semitic texts too are scattering Flowers.

Bhagat Ramanand Ji

O,where am I to go, when Bliss is in my very Home?

Lo, my outgoings have ceased; and my mind has been crippled. Pause.

One day in my mind welled up a Desire ( to behold Lord).

And I took a myriad flowers and the scents sandalwood along.

And went over to the temple- the Abode of God- to worship Him.

( But I couldn’t find Him there) and Guru revealed to me His presence within me.

Bhagat Namdev Ji

If the Master gives some trouble and the servant runs away,

he shames his entire clan and does not live long.

O’ God I’ll abandon not my Devotion to You, even if the whole world laughs at me.

O’ Lord Your Lotus Feet I have Enshrined in my heart.

Bhagat Ravidas Ji

You know naught,O man, and seeing your robes, you pride on yourself.

But( before God) you, O egoistic Bride, have no place ;

And over your neck caws the crow (of Death), O Crazy one why are you puffed with Pride.

You are no more real than the mushrooms in the month of Bhadon.