Raga Jaitsri

 

Raga Jaitsri

The compositions in this raga appears on a total of 15 pages from Pages 696 to 711. Rag Jaitsri conveys the heartfelt emotion of not being able to live with someone. Its mood is preoccupied with feelings of dependence and an overwhelming sense of desperately reaching out to be with that person. Though not in Ragmala, Jaitsri does appear in 17^th century classification, but not in later ones. Guru Ram Das Ji, Guru Arjan Dev Ji and Guru Tegh Bahadur Jincomposed 30 hymns, a var and several Shlokas in this raga. It is assigned to evening hours as a mood of gentle quietness and mystery pervades it. The texts in this raga describe the meditative thoughts of a devotee who has submitted himself to his Guru and Lord. Its Aroh is Sa,Ga, Ma,Pa, Ni, Sa, while Avroh is Sa, Ni, Dha.Pa, Ma, Ga, Re, Sa. Its pakar is Sa, Ga, Pa, Ma’, Dha, Pa, Ma’, Ga, Ma’, Ga, Re,Sa. Its Vadi is Ga while its Samvadi is Ni.

Guru Ram Das Ji

In my Mind is Enshrined the Jewel of Lord’s Name, and the Guru has Blessed me:

And my Sins and Sorrows, accumulated birth after birth, have been washed off:

the Guru has Blessed me with the Lord’s Name and my Debt, to my God, is paid off.

O’ my Mind, Contemplate the Lord’s Name which Fulfils you in every way.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji

O’ loved mates, pray, tell me something of my Loved God.

I’m wonder struck hearing of His myriad Wonders: so, say something of Him unto me.

Some say, “ He is beyond the world, others that He Pervades all:

But one knows not His colour nor sign : so tell me, What indeed is the Truth ?”

Yea, He Pervades all, He Informs all hearts and nothing contaminates Him.

Says Nanak, “ Hear, ye people, my God abides on the tongue of the Saints.

Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji

Man is enticed away, and is involved in Maya: And whatever deeds he does, goaded by Greed,

they blind him down to the world of desire.

He Knows not, lured by the taste of Poison, and forsakes he the Lord’s Praise.

The Lord is with him,and yet he goes out to the woods to seek Him out.

The Lord’s Jewel is within his heart,and yet he knows Him not.

Says Nanak : without Contemplating the Lord, one loses one’s life in vain.

Bhagat Ravi Das Ji

O’ God I know naught: And my mind is sold out to Maya. Pause

You are the Guru, the Master of the Universe, while I am a mere Sinner of the kaliyuga.

The five Demons have led me astray. And have removed me far from Thee, my God.

In whichever direction I see, I see nothing but pain.

And though even the Vedas testify, my mind does not believe in You.

As when Shiva tried to cut off Brahma’s head and Indra mated with Gautam’s wife.

The head of Brahma stuck to Shiva’s hand, and Indra was cursed with a thousand Yonis(births).

So have I been fooled by the five demons. But how shameless am I that I forsake them not.

Says Ravidas, “What am I now to do , without You,O’ Lord.

Pray, whose refuge am I to seek, my God.