Asa ki Vaar and Chhants Mehla 4th
So one fine day, I was listening to a collection of Guru's teachings called, Asa Ki Vaar. It portrays a very strong message on the lifestyles we humans live normally and does a strong criticism on the illusions we live in, such as rituals, birth-death, cleanliness etc.
The message really striked to me and my life, but while listening to the Vaar, I realized that before every Shalok and Pauree, the Raagis read "Chhant Mhela 4th", and I could not relate the Chhant's theme with the Vaar.
To dwell more on this, I opened Prof. Sahib Singh's translation on Guru Granth sahib, which is available online at http://www.gurugranthdarpan.com/darpan2/0462.html
To enable some basic understanding, Vaar is a kind of collection which is sung in a folktune associated with some historical figure, and overall, the message and language is quite aggressive in nature. It only contains Shaloks and Paurees. The essence of the Pauree lies at its end and it doesn't have a Rahao, though Shaloks can have Rahao.
Paurees are always supported by Shaloks normally, though some collections like Japjee Sahib, Anand Sahib have only Paurees.
Chhants are another type of poetry which is entirely different from Paurees. Chhants are normally in a collection of 2-4-6.
As per Guru Granth Sahib's structure, the Chhants appear before Vaars, which means, the section of Chhants would appear before the beginning of the Vaar, and when Vaar begins, it would only contain Shaloks and Paurees.
So, the basic question is "Why do Raagis sing Asa ki Vaar which also contains Chhants written by 4th Nanak?"
If 5th Nanak, Guru Arjan Sahib compiled Guru Granth Sahib which separated Chhant from Asa Ki Vaar, who combined it together?
If we read the theme of the Chhants recited along with the Vaar (there are actually 4 chhants each with 6 stanzas, so 4 chhants times 6 stanzas = 24 stanzas, which are an exact fit for the 24 Paurees with Asa ki Vaar???). On a closer look, the chhant portrays a different message than the Asa ki Vaar itself!
I asked many Raagis and musicians, they all say that this is the way it is written (where??) and this is the way it has been happening since Guru's times. I am not able to understand if Guru ji wanted the Sikh to read Vaar like this, why would he write the Chhants separate, around 15 pages before?
The aggression created by the Shaloks and Paurees gets diminished by the message portrayed by the Chhants (because Chhant's theme is different). Just like, if we add "My heart is pierced with Guru's Love" infront of "The liars don't find the place to rest and are expelled to Hell!"
Both lines make true sense, but their message are unrelated to each other. Oranges are oranges and Apples are apples. Both will give different taste, even though both are fruits.
So, I tried singing Asa ki Vaar just like our Guru ji wanted us to read, and I was astonished with the result and the aura that was filled around was unexplainable. Even though I did not sing in Tunde Asraaje ki Dhuni, but the message from the Vaar was oozing out with each Pauree...
.... waheguru....
The message really striked to me and my life, but while listening to the Vaar, I realized that before every Shalok and Pauree, the Raagis read "Chhant Mhela 4th", and I could not relate the Chhant's theme with the Vaar.
To dwell more on this, I opened Prof. Sahib Singh's translation on Guru Granth sahib, which is available online at http://www.gurugranthdarpan.com/darpan2/0462.html
To enable some basic understanding, Vaar is a kind of collection which is sung in a folktune associated with some historical figure, and overall, the message and language is quite aggressive in nature. It only contains Shaloks and Paurees. The essence of the Pauree lies at its end and it doesn't have a Rahao, though Shaloks can have Rahao.
Paurees are always supported by Shaloks normally, though some collections like Japjee Sahib, Anand Sahib have only Paurees.
Chhants are another type of poetry which is entirely different from Paurees. Chhants are normally in a collection of 2-4-6.
As per Guru Granth Sahib's structure, the Chhants appear before Vaars, which means, the section of Chhants would appear before the beginning of the Vaar, and when Vaar begins, it would only contain Shaloks and Paurees.
So, the basic question is "Why do Raagis sing Asa ki Vaar which also contains Chhants written by 4th Nanak?"
If 5th Nanak, Guru Arjan Sahib compiled Guru Granth Sahib which separated Chhant from Asa Ki Vaar, who combined it together?
If we read the theme of the Chhants recited along with the Vaar (there are actually 4 chhants each with 6 stanzas, so 4 chhants times 6 stanzas = 24 stanzas, which are an exact fit for the 24 Paurees with Asa ki Vaar???). On a closer look, the chhant portrays a different message than the Asa ki Vaar itself!
I asked many Raagis and musicians, they all say that this is the way it is written (where??) and this is the way it has been happening since Guru's times. I am not able to understand if Guru ji wanted the Sikh to read Vaar like this, why would he write the Chhants separate, around 15 pages before?
The aggression created by the Shaloks and Paurees gets diminished by the message portrayed by the Chhants (because Chhant's theme is different). Just like, if we add "My heart is pierced with Guru's Love" infront of "The liars don't find the place to rest and are expelled to Hell!"
Both lines make true sense, but their message are unrelated to each other. Oranges are oranges and Apples are apples. Both will give different taste, even though both are fruits.
So, I tried singing Asa ki Vaar just like our Guru ji wanted us to read, and I was astonished with the result and the aura that was filled around was unexplainable. Even though I did not sing in Tunde Asraaje ki Dhuni, but the message from the Vaar was oozing out with each Pauree...
.... waheguru....
Comments
Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!!
I was searching for Tunde Asraj Ki Dhuni and stumbled upon your blog. Excellent posts, all! Still reading them, and enjoying, and yes, learning. I am also puzzled, like you, as to why Ragis sing Chants when they sing Asa Ki Var. Who started this practice, and why? Guruji wanted Asa Ki Var to be sung with Pauris and Saloks.. this is very clear because this is how this Var is compiled in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
Do you know how we can listen to the audio of Asa Ki Var sung in Raag Asa in Tunde Asraj Di Dhuni? Is this audio available online?
Thanks ji, and Gurfateh!
G.Kaur
Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh!
Thanks for your kind comments. I got a little reference that this was added on the request of some keertaniye in 20th century, and earlier, "Panj Granthi" contained only Vaar, without Chhants.
I personally think that this is a conspiracy, to diminish the affect of Gurbani's message from the Vaar, may be from the enemies of the Guru? And we, being a Shardhawaan sikhs, just do whatever we are being told and don't actually apply our intellect which needs guidance from the Guru!
I found the Tunde Asraaje ki Dhuni recently, not sure how authentic it is, but Prof. Surinder Singh from Raj Academy is a man to trust in Gurmat Sangeet.
Here it is >>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KBIQZI9-IY
It's beautiful, isn't it? It is similar to the one what raagis sing in Darbar Sahib.
Let me know if you need more information. I will be more than happy to share that.
regards,
Jagjinder Singh
I just would like to say, thanks for bringing up this topic of chhants and Asa ki vaar...I totally agree with what you have said, and really makes me feel happy to see sikhs who actually search for the truth.
Also, I have some good news! Prof. Surinder Singh ji will be coming out with a Cd and booklet set, on Asa Ki vaar done in Tunde Asraje ki dhuni! It should come out next year!!
With love,
servant of guru