Thursday 27 December 2007

Mukhvak on my Birthday 27th Dec 2007


Mukhvak on my Birthday 27th Dec 2007
Originally uploaded by jagjindersingh

Hmmmm... feels good when you know that this is the day when you were born, and when nearly all of your friends care to wish you and sing a song for you!

However, this birthday is definitely special as a lot of changes have occurred in my life since my last birthday...

I was just thinking of reading the Mukhvak and then storing it online so that I would be able to read it later as well...

As I read the Mukhvak, and the translation, another kind of sensation went through the body when I read "Guru carries you across this tension-stricken world to a tension-free world and that happens within an instant!"...

Let us discuss and see what Guru ji is trying to tell us...


This "Shabad" has been composed in Raag Dhanasari, which signifies Inspiration and Motivation. The composition is done by 5th Mehl, Guru Arjan Sahib and located at Page 684 in Guru Granth Sahib. The Rhythm used is in the beat of House 12, i.e. the Shabad if sung needs to be played in Vishnu Taal and it contains 12 Taalis and has 36 Maatras. A highly professional Tabla player would understand this concept.

Here, Guru Sahib is mentioning about the current state, i.e. when our mind has left its own logical thinking to cure up the things around, and listens to the teachings of the Truth which is present all over, it does not take another instant to get freed from the shackles of the tensions in the world. All the happiness and sorrows seems vanishing and another state of pivot is obtained!

It seems that the majority of the people are engaged in doing special deeds or rituals OR a lot are engrossed in visiting shrines/dipping in the pool of water, thinking it as a washer of sins... but who can tell them that the same water which is underground, or in the house tank is created by the Lord Himself. It will clean the place wherever it can be if it is let flown. But even the same water can stink when stagnant! The property is to clean, but it itself stinks when not running on its own.

The water can clean the surface of the body, but the inner self is only cleansed with the Truth. The same cleansing or purifying Nectar, when goes inside and suppose spat outside becomes filthy, how can something tangible give solace?

That is why, Guru says, only the slaves of Lord find HIM in their hearts.

All the shackles of false deeds have been broken and a new life has begun after seeing the Truth! Nanak wishes to remember and love the Lord in every breath who has done so much blessing on him...

Nikkiaan Jindaan Vadda Saka - Martyrdom of Sahibzadas


This is a very old poem written in Sikh history, sung by Bhai Harjinder Singh ji (SriNagar Wale), who happens to be my favorite Keertaniya.


Just remembering the Vadda Saka by the Chhote Sahibzadey!!!



Vaataan lamiyaan te Rastaa pahaarh da
Turay jaande Guraan de Laal ji
Sarsa Nadi te Vichhora Pae gaya
Uss vele da sun lo haal ji...

Raat haneri, bijli lishke
raah junglaa de pae gaye ne...
resham naalo sohal sareer nu
dukhre sehne pae gaye ne
chhoti umar de dono baal ji
Mata Gujri ohna de naal ji
Sarsa Nadi te Vichhora Pae gaya
Uss vele da sun lo haal ji...

Kehr di sardi, haddiyaan cheere
baal nyaane, kambde ne...
ungli phad k ma Gujri di
raah pathra de langhde ne
kado Ajeet te Jujhar veere aounge
Mata Gujri nu puchhde sawal ji
Sarsa Nadi te Vichhora Pae gaya
Uss vele da sun lo haal ji...

umar nyani, do bacheya di
ik maa budhri saath kare
bedoshe ihna nirdosha da
kaun hai jo insaaf kare
kaisi honi ne khedi chal ji
Gangu paapi ohna ne naal ji
Sarsa Nadi te Vichhora Pae gaya
Uss vele da sun lo haal ji...

Vaataan lamiyaan te Rastaa pahaarh da...


Friday 21 December 2007

Brahman's Langar

Let us go back to that time when Brahman is discriminating with Shudar or untouchable. This is a new age Brahman story, so new gadgets are also being used...

******
The scene goes, a shudar wanted to enter into Temple and wishes to prepare food for the Lord Vishnu in the Temple, though he had no problem in letting Brahman do the pooja and offer that food prepared by Shudar to Lord Vishnu...
But the bitter fact was, nobody other than Brahman were allowed to enter Kitchen or touch the Utensils in which Pooja food is to be made, because Pooja food has to be pure as it is to be offered to Lord Vishnu... if by chance the Shudar enters the Lord Vishnu's Temple Kitchen, the Brahman becomes furious and tells the Shudar to leave the Kitchen as he is not Brahman. He then has to recite Gayatri Mantar or just chant "OM-OM" to cleanse the environment again. Inside there is a happy feeling that they are not Shudar and they are Lord Vishnu-walas! Who wants to be treated like that, and why don't they (Shudars) do our sewa and get Brahman birth in next life so that they can be allowed inside Kitchen? The person who was Shudar is not happy obviously as he has been denied to do the Sewa of Pooja food because he is not doing and living the life that Brahmans are living, i.e. baptization and using Lord Vishnu's devotion as a full-time job through which Brahman can obtain his monetary salary as well. He then hesitantly ask the Brahman as what Sewa they are allowed to do, as they just wanted to do Sewa!! The Brahman then informs him about the basic rules of Sewa and where one can enter and where one cannot. So they are being told that if you are non-Brahman, you can sweep the Lord Vishnu Temple's premises and floor, do the Vaccum, wash the Utensils used after Pooja food preparation, the Big Deghs in which Daal/Sabji is made, though the special utensil in which special Prashad is prepared is to be washed only by Brahman, so please don't wash it.
Moreover, the Shudar is also "entitled" to clean the Restrooms, Wash-basins, Bathrooms of Pandits/Pujaris (who are obviously Brahmans), floors outside, doors, windows, fix lights, fix anything else...Out of non-Brahman community, some know to do Raag Keertan, but they are denied to perform Keertan, as they are non-Brahman. It is just to teach a lesson to non-Brahman that how bad is to be felt if you are non-Lord Vishnuwala!!! Bravo, what a solution!!!
******

I was reading some Sikhi forums recently and there were articles about the Sewa, and that too specifically for sewa of Langar. It interested me and I kept on reading it, and to my expectations I found the usual discrimination between Amritdharis and Non-Amritdharis.

A very famous Jatha and other Deras/cults have special "Rehat" and a stringent tougher "rehat" vaale Sikhs, who only eat in specially cooked food, i.e. prepared only by Singhs/Kaurs who are "Baptised" or "Amritdhari" and treat other food as Malechh or impure.

Okay, let us now replace few words in the above story to the below one...

******
Nobody other than Bibekis/Amritdharis (fake) are allowed to enter Guru's Kitchen or touch the Utensils in which Langar is to be made, because Langar has to be pure as it is to be offered to Guru Sahib... if by chance the non-Amritdhari enters the sarab-sanjhee Kitchen of True Guru, the Bibekis become furious inside, but "politely" asks the non-Amritdhari to leave the Kitchen as he is not Baptised. He/she then has to recite Japji Sahib/Shabad Hazare/Dukh-Bhanjani/Sukhmani etc or just chant "Waheguru" to cleanse the environment again. Inside there is a happy feeling that they are not non-Amritdhari and they are Guruwalas! Who wants to be treated like that, and why don't they (non-Amritdharis) get baptised so that they can be allowed inside Kitchen? The Singh/Kaur who was non-Amritdhari is not happy obviously as they have been denied the Sewa of Langar because they are not living the life that Bibekis (fake) are living, [i.e. first baptization and then using Guru Granth Sahib's Hymn singing/recitation as a full-time job through which the (fake) Bibekis Keertaniyas/Kathakaars can obtain their monetary salary as well (which is humongous after frequent trips to different Gurudwaras in different countries!!) ...] The shudars, oops... non-amritdharis then ask the Brahmans, oops... (fake)Bibekis as what Sewa they are "allowed" (:by whom?) to do, as they just want to do Sewa!! The (fake) Bibekis/Amritdharis then inform about the basic rules of Sewa and where one can enter and where one cannot. So they are being told that if you are non-Bibekis/Amritdharis, you can sweep the Gurudwara premises and floor, do the Vaccum, wash the Utensils used after Langar preparation, the Big Deghs in which Daal/Sabji is made, though the Degh in which Karaah Prashad is prepared is to be washed only by (fake) Bibekis/Amritdharis, so please don't wash it.
Moreover, they can also wish to clean the Restrooms, Wash-basins, Bathrooms of Granthis/Keertanis who are obviously (fake) Bibekis/Amritdharis, floors outside, doors, windows, fix lights, fix anything else...Out of non-Bibekis/Amritdharis, some know to do Raag Keertan, but they are denied to perform Keertan, as they are non-Bibekis/Amritdharis. It is just to teach a lesson to non-Bibekis/Amritdharis that how bad is to be felt if you are non-Guruwala!!! Bravo, what a solution!!! Reverse Psychology or what?
******

Why their food or say Langar to be prepared only by Amridhari Sikhs? And the tougher sewa to be given to non-Amritdharis?

Ridiculous!



Guru Sahib never created any differences, rather they created the Niyara Panth - Khalsa, without discrimination, and hatred!

Not allowing non-Amritdharis, only deepens the thorn inside them and they tend to feel that Amritdharis feel themselves Superior just the way Pandits or Brahmans used to feel about themselves over others! They feel low and left-outs, because they don't know what is right? Whether the Niyara Panth is right or the so-called Amritdhari "Suchaa"pan is right? Daily we read "Soche Soch na hovayi", no use I think...
This is one of the prime reason that the people taking Khande ki Pahul are becoming so less, and more people are getting into cutting of hair and drugs, all thanks goes to misinterpreted Rehat and Rehatwalas!
If you see, the sewa of cleaning shoes, toilets, bathrooms should be given to Amritdharis only! No other should be allowed except Amritdharis to do sewa of Bathrooms/Restrooms!! Now imagine the scene? Can you imagine all the Bhaijees and Granthijees cleaning the bathrooms and toilets and not sipping hot-milk brought by the Sangat (out of which most would be "non-Amritdharis")! Why the langar ingredients brought by Non-Amritdharis are accepted to be put in Langar, and the same person is not allowed to do his contribution in making the Langar as well??? Height of Hypocrisy!!!
Well, what I wanted to say was, if the Langar Hall is being cleaned by Non-Amritdharis, the dishes in which Amritdharis would eat Langar would be cleaned by Non-Amritdharis and the lavatories used later by Amritdharis would be cleaned by non-Amritdharis, who actually is the Nimaana Gursikh and who is an Egoistic Brahman???
Think yourself!!!!
Alaavanti eh bharam jo hai, mujh oopar sab Kopela
Sood Sood kar maar uthayeo, kaha karo Baap Beethla????1

Thursday 20 December 2007

Ras Soyena Ras Roopa Kaaman, Ras Parmal ki Vaas...

I always knew that circumstances change your personality and characteristics, but I just experienced it as well...

I think a hidden talent has come up within me, a chef!

I just realized how delicious things I make! Hehe! I made Aloo-curry last week, it was yummy, my roomie took it twice! Then I made Toor-daal and Sabzi along with boiled rice, awesome!

Now today, I experimented with Chhole (not exactly Punjabi Chhole), to my (no more) utter surprise, when I tasted them, Voila, my tongue was just dancing with happiness and my chef part was proud and satisfied!

You are invited... anytime!!

Tuesday 18 December 2007

Changed the BLOG NAME to BABIHA!!!!


Just edited my blog's name from EpitomicKhalsa to Babiha, one of my favorite words from Guru Granth Sahib...

The change of blog's name was not a sudden thought, rather it was a slower understanding of my own self, whether the word Epitome of Creator suits me? My inner self knew it did not...


Well, I always wanted to write something about this amazing creature, Babiha or the Brain-fever Bird, as they call in Bird Dictionary. It is also called a Hawk-cuckoo bird, due to its looks similar to that of a Shikra Hawk...

However, the traits of both birds are not similar... the Babiha is known for its shrieking calls starting from Spring till the rainfall... The calls frequency keeps on increasing as the day for the monsoon approaches... the calls during the final stages are so filled in cries, that one may feel that the bird is dying if it does not get the sprinkles of rain!

No wonder, why this amazingb bird has been referred so many times in Guru Granth Sahib, so that one can imagine the pain of love with being away from God that Guru describes in the stanzas, is just as the Babiha is without the rain-water!

The Babiha is crying day and night when its thirst grows, and is in deep hope that the rain-water will quench its thirst! The similar scenario is being drawn for a lover of Truth, who is crying to get the glimpse of the Eternal Truth, the GOD...



ਸਲੋਕ ਮ 3 ॥
ਬਾਬੀਹੈ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਪਛਾਣਿਆ ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਸਹਜਿ ਸੁਭਾਇ ॥
ਮੇਘੁ ਵਰਸੈ ਦਇਆ ਕਰਿ ਗੂੜੀ ਛਹਬਰ ਲਾਇ ॥
ਬਾਬੀਹੇ ਕੂਕ ਪੁਕਾਰ ਰਹਿ ਗਈ ਸੁਖੁ ਵਸਿਆ ਮਨਿ ਆਇ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਸੋ ਸਾਲਾਹੀਐ ਜਿ ਦੇਂਦਾ ਸਭਨਾਂ ਜੀਆ ਰਿਜਕੁ ਸਮਾਇ ॥1॥

Saturday 1 December 2007

On way to Fremont Blvd

The bus service here in Fremont is not bad! They have a half an hour service in your area, and to your desired destination mostly. The initial experiences included running for the bus, checking the pockets for the coins and dollar bills, which normally became a routine...

Normally, the bus drivers are pretty decent, and greet very well. But the most amazing experience that I got today was when I boarded the bus # 212 at 9:20am, and was putting the coins for my ticket, the Bus Driver folded her hands and said,
"SatSreeAkaal ji"!!


I was more than amused and just could not be happier. Definitely, I reciprocated with the same tone and gesture, which made both of us smile in a better human way...

Anyhow, just wanted to share this experience after the recent hate crime against Gurvir Singh from Seattle, Washington...