Raga Bilawal

 

Raga Bilawal

The composition in this raga appears on total of 48 pages from 795 to 843. It conveys the emotions of great happiness that comes from having attained a goal or achieved an aim . It is an overwhelming feeling of fulfilment, satisfaction and joy, that is experienced when the accomplishments is very important and dear to you. The happiness felt is like laughing out loud, there is no planning or any ulterior motive, it is just a natural expression of heartfelt happiness arising from a sense of achievement. Over 170 hymns were composed in this raga by Guru Nanak Devji, Guru Amar Das Ji, Guru Ram Das Ji, Guru Arjan Dev Ji, and Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. The Aroh in this raga is Sa,Re, Ga, Ma,Pa,Dha,Ni, Sa and Avroh is Sa, Ni, Dha, Pa, Ma. Ga, Re, Sa and Pakar is Ga,Re, Ga, Ma,Dha, Pa, Ma,Ga, Ma, Re, Sa. Its vadi is Dha and samvadi is Ga.Some of the compositions in this Raga are as follow.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji

Through the wisdom of the Guru, my Mind is Attuned to the Lord in the state of Equipoise.

And Imbued with the Lord’s Love, my mind is satiated. The Egocentrics are strayed by Doubt like mad. How can one find Peace without God and not realise Him through the Guru’s Word ?

Guru Amar Das Ji

Cursed is the food, cursed the sleep, cursed the attire one wears,

cursed the body, cursed the family, if one Attains not to the Lord in this human birth.

For,once one loses the grip on life’s step, one loses one’s life in vain.

Guru Ram Das Ji

My mind is lured away by Maya: it is full of Dirt of Vice. And so it can Serve You not.

How shall I, the ignorant man be saved? O’ my mind,Dwell on your Lord-the Bewitching God of Man. When He, the Lord is in Mercy, one Meets with the Guru and is Ferried Across.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji

One loves what seems but passes away:

Then,how am I to meet with You, whom I see not, O’ my Eternal Lord!

Be Merciful to me and lead me on to Your Path. And Attune me to the Fellowship of Your saints.

Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji

Without the Lord’s Name, one comes to Grief. Without His Worship, one’s Doubt is stilled not:

this Mystery was Revealed to me by the Guru.

Of what use are one’s fast and pilgrimages if one does not take Lord’s refuge ?

And fruitless are one’s Yogic feats and yajnas, if one forsakes the Lord’s Praise.

Bhagat Kabir Ji

The world is a stage and no one stays here save for a brief moment.

So walk you on the straight path, else you too will receive the push- pause.

Neither childhood, nor youth,nor age is safe from the clutches of death.

Man is but a mouse,and the cat of Death devours it in the end.

Bhagat Namdev Ji

The Guru has fulfilled me, And I am rid of my woes and my inmost Self is filled with Bliss.

The Guru has Blessed me with the collyrium of Wisdom.

And now I believe that without Lord’s Name, life is without a mind.

Namdeva has known You through Contemplation,O Lord.

And now his soul is Merged in You – the Life of all life.

Bhagat Ravidas Ji

Everyone laughed at my poverty: for such was my state.

And, now, the eighteen Siddhis are under my sway: such is Your Mercy, O God!

You know all and I am so ignorant. You are the Destroyer of ‘coming and going’.

So all life seeks Your Refuge and You Fulfil all. He, who seeks Your Refuge carries not the load of evil, and You save both high and low- and no one is ashamed of receiving Your Bounties.

Bhagat Sadna

To wed a King’s daughter, a person assumed the disguise of Vishnu.

And he too,O’ God, though lured by lust and self, was Fulfilled by You.

What is Your merit, O Guru of the World, if You do not forgive my past sins ?

And why may one seek the refuge of the lion, if he is to be seized by the Jackal ?

The Chatrik wails but for one drop from on high. But if he loses his life and then is blessed with a whole ocean: of what worth is that blessing to him ?

How am I to comfort my mind, when it is so tired of the toil and is stilled not.

For if I get the boat after I ‘m drowned, then, how shall I ride it and go across.

O’ God, I am nothing, nor is anything mine except You,

So save You my Honour, here and now, for, I belong to You.