Guru Arjan Dev Ji

VI

Guru Arjan Dev Ji

He is known for compiling the first official edition of the Sikh Scripture called Adi Granth that was later expanded into Guru Granth Sahib ji by the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh ji. He was the youngest son of Guru Ram Das ji and Bhani. Born in Goindwal town on April 15, 1563 A.D. His other brothers were Prithvi Chand and Mahdev. He spent last 11 years of his life at Goindwal and next 7 years with his father in Ramdaspur, later Amritsar. He spent two years in Lahore during his young age when he was sent to attend wedding of his first cousin Suhari Mal’s as well as to establish Sikh Congregation. He became fifth Guru after Guru Ram Das ji. His choice of his youngest son as his successor led to the post succession conflicts and disputes leading to internal divisions among the Sikhs. Mahadev was an ascetic by nature so he did not oppose his father’s decision but Prithvi Chand opposed Guru Arjan Dev ji vehemently by creating another sect in Sikhism that was known as Minas by the followers of Guru Arjan Dev ji. Prithvi Chand even tried to assassinate his own nephew young Hargobind twice and even befriended and incited Mughal agents against Guru Arjan Dev ji. He completed the construction of Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, organised Masand system and the tradition of the collection of Dasvandh. Guru Arjan Dev ji was put behind the bars by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir accusing him of inciting rebellion against him by blessing Prince Khusrau. He was promised to be released if he decided to convert to Islam but he refused and facing unbearable torture at the hands of Mughals embraced martyrdom in Lahore. However, before his death he appointed Guru Hargobind Sahib as his successor and sixth Guru of Sikhism. He has composed verses intended to be sung in following Ragas:-

Sri Raga, Majh, Gauri,Asa, Gujri, Devgandhari, Bihagra, Vadhans, Sorath, Dhanasari, Jaitshree, Todi, Bairari, Suhi, Bilawal, Gond, Ramkali, Nat Narayan, Mali Gaura, Maru, Tikhari, Kedar, Bhairo, Basant, Saranga, Malhar, Kanara, Kalyan and Prabahti.

Sri Raga

The man was a guest for a brief moment to this earth to fulfil his Destined end:

But he was lost in Maya and lust and Realised not his Destiny.

Repentance came to him when he left the world,and he was delivered unto the Yama.

Raga Majh

Blessed is the season when I Cherish You.

Blessed the work that I accomplish for Thee.

Blessed the heart on which You Rain (Your Mercy) , O Thou, the Giver of all!

You are the Father of us all.

Raga Gauri

The Guru’s Word is eternal and abides for ever.

Through the Guru’s Word is loosed the Yama’s noose.

The Guru’s Word keeps company with the Soul.

Through the Guru’s Word is one Imbued with the Lord’s Love.

Raga Asa

He who loves (Maya), him she devours.

He who comforts her, him she fills with immense Fear.

Brothers, friends and family, lured by her, indulge in Strife,

But I have subjugated her, by the Guru’s Grace

Raga Gujri

Firstly, man is cast into the womb; and from there he is released, he comes to the earth.

But the splendid palaces, the Art galleries, and the alluring gardens do not go with him.

All Avarice is vain: For, the Guru given Name of the Lord alone is of avail to the Soul.

Raga Devgandhari

O mind, retrace, retrace your steps

from the company of the worshippers of Maya.

False is the love for the False,

and till one releases oneself from its grip, one finds not Deliverance.

Raga Bihagra

I’ve seen a miracle of the Lord, O my love, that whatever He does is righteous and just.

The Lord has made this world his play house, O my love, in which the players come and go.

It is He who created the world and Destined us to born and die.

Raga Vadhans

Within me is the desire to Meet my Perfect Guru; how shall I attain to Him ?

For, howsoever may the play distract the child’s mind, he cannot live without (mother’s) milk.

My inner Hunger is not sated, O loved Mate, even if all kinds of delicacies are laid before me.

I am Imbued, body and mind, with love of Lord: O how can I be comforted without His Vision ?

Raga Sorath

He, in whose heart Abidest Thou, O Creator Lord, him Thou Fulfil.

O’God,Forsake me not, Thy Slave; for I Cherish the Dust of Your Feet.

Your Gospel is unutterable, I can’t utter it.

O Thou Treasure of Virtue, Giver of Bliss, O my Master, Infinite is Thy Glory.

Raga Dhanasari

I, the poor one, lean only the Lord’s Name;

This is my Trade: this the Riches I gather.

Now I have only the Lord’s Name to treasure,

which avails me both here and hereafter.

Raga Jaishri

My God, my Life-breath, permeates my body and Mind.

O my All-wise Perfect Lord, be Merciful that I Meet with Your Saints.

They whom You Bless with the Potion of Love, the drank-in Your Great Essence.

I can utter not its Value: what power have I so to do ?

Raga Todi

Forsaking the Lord, one wastes one’s life away;

But how can he be deceived whose Mainstay are You, O Lord!

Without Contemplating the Lord, one’s life is ever on Fire, even though one lives long like a snake.

And even if he has dominion over the nine divisions of the earth, in the end he loses the Game.

Raga Bairari

Utter the Lord’s Praise, associating with the Saints;

thus you are cleansed of the Sins of the myriads of (past) births.

And you receive what is your heart’s Desire: and in His Grace the Lord Blesses You with His Name.

Great is the Glory of the Lord’s Name; it yields all-Peace;

And, by the Guru’s Grace, O’ Nanak,one is made Wise (in God).

Raga Suhi

The Juggler Performs His many Feats,

And Exhibits Himself in many Roles,

But when He lays aside the Mask, and ends His Play.

Then the One alone Remains, yea, the One alone.

Raga Bilaval

My Malady is over: the Lord Himself has Blesses me with Peace and Joy.

O, Glorious and Wondrous is my Lord: it is He who has Blessed me.

My Guru-God has been Merciful to me and has Saved my loved one.

I have sought the Refuge of One who is ever our Support.

Raga Gond

My Master has held my five Passions in check,

and scared them away from their association with me, His slave.

They found not the Mansion of the Lord’s Devotee ( to break into)

and, so the Lord’s Slaves sing the Songs of Joy, in Bliss.

Raga Ramkali

The four(Vedas) shout, but you trust them not,

Nor the six( Shastras), which utter but the same Truth.

The eighteen( Puranas) also point to the same One God.

But even then, O Yogi, you know not the Mystery( of the Lord).

Raga Nat Narayan

I grieve not in any wise,

for all that comes from God is sweet to me.

My Joy is in submitting to Your Will, O God and I live only if I hearken to Your Name.

This Mantram, I’ve received from the Guru that both here and hereafter who alone is.

Raga Mali Gaura

The Lord is not far: He Abides with each and all:

Yea, He is the Doer and the Cause: He is the Presence that is near and here.

Hearing His Name, one comes to Life, And one’s woes are dispelled and Peace lives within one.

The Lord is the only Treasure that one may seek,

For, all the seers and men of silence Serve Him alone.

Raga Maru

The Servant of God is rid of the evils of Ego, Attachment, and Greed,

and he minds not any save his God. And deals he in virtues of God and the Jewel of His Name.

And this is the Merchandise he carries along into the Yond. Lo, he loves his God to the end.

In his lifetime, he serves his Master, and while quitting the world he minds only Him and Him.

Raga Tukhari

I, the Meritless one, God has saved for the sake of His Saints;

Lo, the True Guru has covered up the shame of me-the Sinner.

Yea, my God has covered up my shame and He Blesses our vital breath and soul with Bliss.

Eternal and undying Master is He – the Creator and Perfect Being. O God I can’t say Your whole

praise nor where are You. Nanak, Your servant is a Sacrifice unto him,

through whom he is Blessed with Your Name even for a while.

Raga Kedara

O mother, in the society of the Saints, the Seeker Soul is Awakened,

and seeing the wonders of God, she dwells on the Name- the Treasure of Bliss.

She thirsts for the Master’s Vision, and Attunes her Eye to her God.Yea, she thirsts for nothing else.

Raga Bahiron

You have kept aside all other lunar days,

and believe that God was born on the eighth day of the moon.

O ignorant one, false, false is your belief,

For God is above birth and death.

Raga Basant

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 God.

Lo the month of Phagun has dawned upon my Soul, and I sport with my God in abundance of Joy.

I serve the Saint: this is playing Holi for me,and thus I am wholly imbued with my Lord-the God.

Raga Sarang

Within my mind Abides the Guru-God:

Yea, wherever men contemplate the God, there Bliss reign over all.

Wherever men forsake God, there is nothing but Pain and Sorrow.

But where they Praise the Lord of Bliss, there is Peace and Glory.

Raga Malhar

The child is fed upon milk, without it he lives not;

and the mother takes care of him and feeds him to his satisfaction.

O God,You are our Father, the Compassionate Lord of all,

and though we are Your erring children, we have no other refuge to take.

Raga Kanara

O Saints Bless me with the Bounty(of Lord’s Name) to which my Soul is a Sacrifice,

I was beguiled by the five demons and was lured by Ego, for I dwelt near them.

But now I have sought the Refuge of the Saints.

I am delivered of them.

Raga Kalyan

The Lord’s Saints congregate to utter and hear the Lord’s Praise.

Which to them is the Unstruck Melody, and the Bliss giving Wisdom of the Veda.

Yea they utter with utter Devotion, the Lord’s Name to be delivered of their Sins.

And this to them is God’s Wisdom- the Contemplation, the Kingly Glory, and Charitable Dispostition.

Raga Prabhati

There is no other Refuge, but for the Lord’s Name.

Through it, one is Blessed with Gladness and Miraculous powers,

And one is wholly Fulfilled. Let us Utter ever the Lord’s Name.

And we are Attuned to the One Alone and get rid of Wrath, Lust and Ego.