Raga Sorath

 

Raga Sorath

It is twenty fifth raga to appear in the series. The compositions of this raga appear on a total of 65 Angs (pages) fro, Ang no. 595-660 of The Holy Granth. Raga Sorath belongs to Khamaj thaat. Beside Guru Nanak Dev Ji it was used by Guru Amar Das ji, Guru Ram Das ji, Guru Arjan Dev ji and Guru Tegh Bahadur ji. It conveys the feeling of having such a strong belief in something that you want to keep repeating the experience. In fact this feeling of certainty is so strong that you become the belief live that belief. The atmosphere of Sorath is so powerful that eventually even the most unresponsive listener will also be attracted. The following represents the order of notes that can be used in ascending and descending phase of the composition and the primary and secondary notes. Arohana in it is Sa,Re, Ma,Pa, Ni,Sa and Avrohana is Sa, Re, Ni, Dha, Ma, Pa, Dha, ma, Ga,Re, Ni,Sa.. Vadi in this raga is Re while Samvadi in it is Dha. Raga Sorath has been named after the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. Following are the compositions in this raga.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji

All are subject to death- all have to leave(the world).

Go,ask the Wise, who are the ones who’d meet their Lord in the Yond.

The who forsake my Lord are in immense Grief.

So Praise you that Lord. By whose Grace one attains eternal Bliss.

Guru Amar Das Ji

When one becomes the Slave of Lord’s Slaves, he attains to the Lord and sheds his Ego.

The Lord’s Devotees are Engaged to the Lord of Bliss, and so they sing the Praises of their Lord.

Imbued with the Word, the remain forever alike, and are Merged in their Lord.

Guru Ram Das Ji

The Lord Himself Pervades all; and He is detached too from all.

Manifested as the world He trades, but trades He too with Himself, the Merchant King.

He is Himself His own Credit, Himself the Trade and also the trader.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji

The joyous man sees everyone in joy; the sick man sees everyone in pain.

But the Lord is the Creator and the Cause and He keeps all as He wills.

O’ my mind, he who is rid of his illusions,

For him no one is lost forever, for he sees the Lord in all- Pause

He, whose mind is comforted in the Society of the Saints, he seeks to see all in Peace.

But he whose mind is overwhelmed by Ego, he wails and is born only to die.

Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji

O my Mind, love your Lord.

Hear only His Praise with the ears, and sing only His songs with the tongue.- Pause

Join the fraternity of the Saints, and Contemplate your Master, and from a sinner you will get Holy.

The wild-mouthed Yama roams the whole world. And will soon prey upon you: you know this.

Says Nanak: “ Contemplate your Lord, for your life passes off all too-soon.”

Bhagat Kabir Ji

The Hindus are worn out worshipping the idols, and the Muslims bowing their head to Kabba.

Some are cremated, while the others are buried; but none, O’ God has found Your True State.

O’ my mind, the world is but a blind well, and Yama has cast net on all sides, far and wide.

The poets have passed off reciting their poetry, the Kapris repairing to Kedarnatha;

And the Sanyasins raising a tuft of matted hair; but no one of these has found Thy True State.

Bhagat Namdev Ji

When I see my Lord, I sing His praise. And then I, His slave become content.

Meeting with my Guru, I merge in His Word- Pause. Where I see the dazzling Light of God.

There I hear the Unstruck Melody of Bliss. There I see the All-Pervasive Light of God.

It is through the Guru’s Grace that I have known this.

Bhagat Ravi Das ji

In darkness, one mistakes the string for a snake; Awakened I have learnt this mystery a bit.

How strange that seeing the different bangles, one is led to believe that their gold too may be different. Though in different forms, the One God pervades All and experiences every state.

Says Ravidass “ Though God is near at hand, he meets you in His own good time.

Bhagat Bhikhan ji

Water wells up in my eyes: my body has become weak; my hair grow grey.

My throat is choked, and I have become mute; O’ What shall I do now ?

O’ God, Be Thou my Physician, And save me, Your Saint and ferry me across.

My forehead aches; my body burns; in my heart is pain. With such a malady I am gripped

of which there is no cure. The Lord’s Immaculate Nectar Name is panacea for all maladies.

Says Bhikhan: “ By the Guru’s Grace, I Attain to the Door of Deliverance”.

Such is the Precious Jewel of the Lord’s Name which I have attained through various deeds.

I’ve tried to treasure it in the heart, but it is hid not. O’ God I can’t describe Your Virtues.

As the mute one can not describe the taste of the sweets. Pause

The tongue uttering, the ears hearing, the mind Cherishing the Lord is pleased.

Says Bhikhan: “ Both my eyes are now content, for, wheresoever I see, The One Lord alone I see.