Updesh [Teaching] to the Khalsa - Sarbloh Granth

10:29 PM

Below is a passage from Sri Sarbloh Granth Sahib Ji where Guru Gobind Singh Ji gives updesh [teaching] to the Khalsa. This follows the Mangla Charan [preamble] and is just before the main story of Sarbloh Granth.


ਉਠ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਤਿ ਕਰਹੁ ਇਸਨਾਨਾ, ਪਦ ਪੰਕਜ ਮਹਿ ਲੀਨਾ ॥
Wake up in the early hours of the morning, and merge with the Lotus Feet [of the Lord].

ਜਥਾ ਸਕਤਿ ਦਾਨ ਭੂਖੈ ਕਹੁ, ਨਿਮਖ ਨਿਮਖ ਰੰਗ ਭੀਨਾ ॥
As much as your means allow give charity to the hungry, in every moment be entrenched in the love [colour] of Vahiguru.

ਕ੍ਰੋਧ ਨਿਵਾਰ, ਦਯਾ ਮਨ ਲਾਵਹੁ, ਹਿੰਸਾ, ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਤ੍ਯਾਗੋ ॥
Destroy anger, instill compassion in your mind, disregard violence and poor thinking.

ਇਕਮਨ ਹੋਇ ਭਜਹੁ ਨਾਰਾਇਨ, ਖਿਮਾ ਧਰਮ ਅਨੁਰਾਗੋ ॥
With one mind worship Narayan, create a love for forgiveness and rightousness.

ਤੀਰਥ, ਬਰਤ, ਨੇਮ, ਸੁਚਿ ਕ੍ਰਿਯਾ, ਸੀਲ, ਸੰਤੋਖ, ਆਚਾਰੋ ॥
[Make] Pilgrimages, desireless worship, the Name, truthful actions, restraint, contentment your nature.

ਪੂਜਾ, ਤਿਲਕ, ਹੋਮ, ਗਾਯਤ੍ਰੀ, ਸੰਧ੍ਯਾ, ਤਰਪਨ ਧਾਰੋ ॥
Conduct worship, [adorn a] Tilak, [conduct] Havans, [recite] Gayatri [mantras], worship at the prescribed times, instill these virtues [in your heart].

ਗੁਰੁ, ਠਾਕੁਰ, ਪਿਤੁ, ਮਾਤ, ਬੰਧ ਜਨੁ, ਮਿਸ਼੍ਟਿ ਬਚਨ ਅਭਿਲਾਖੋ ॥
Speak sweetly to your Guru, your Takhur, Father, Mother, and in laws.

ਸਭਿ ਕੀ ਰੇਨੁ ਹਇ ਰਹੇ ਪੰਖਰੂ, ਮੰਦਾ ਕਿਸਹਿ ਨ ਭਾਖੋ ॥੯॥
Become the dust from the feet of others and stay humble, do not call anyone else bad.

ਇਸ਼੍ਟ, ਦੇਵ, ਰਿਖੀ, ਪਿਤ੍ਰ, ਬ੍ਰਹਮਨ, ਗਉ, ਅਭ੍ਯਾਗਤਿ ਮਾਨੋ ॥
Recognize [respect] your Beloved, God, Sages, your Father,the Brahman, the Cow, and those who have their face to the Guru

ਕੀਟ ਹਸਤਿ ਮੇਰੁ, ਤ੍ਰਿਣਨਨ ਮਹਿ, ਸਰਬ ਨਿੰਰਜਨਿ ਜਾਨੋ ॥
In a small ant, a large elephant, a massive mountain and even in a small blade of grass, the Lord Niranjan resides in all.

ਸਤ੍ਯ ਰੂਪ ਆਤਮ ਅਬਿਨਾਸੀ, ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਸਤਿ ਪਹਿਚਾਨੋ ॥
Your true Aatma [form] never dies, recognize Braham [God] as always true as well.

ਏਕ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਸਭ ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਪੂਰਨ, ਆਦਿ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਭਗਵਾਨੋ ॥੧੦॥
The One Braham is in all; Bhagvaan was here from the very beginning.



Page: 81 Chapter 1, Vol. I, Sarbloh Granth

Notes:

ਪੂਜਾ, ਤਿਲਕ, ਹੋਮ, ਗਾਯਤ੍ਰੀ, ਸੰਧ੍ਯਾ, ਤਰਪਨ ਧਾਰੋ ॥

Tilak has traditionally been seen a sign [nishan] of someone who does worship [bhagati] of Parmesvhar. At Takht Sri Hazur Sahib they still apply Tilaks to pilgrams. Traditionally when the Gurgaddi was passed to another Guru a Tilak was adorned as part of the ceremony. Furthermore, annoiting weapons [shastars] with blood is also seen as a form of Tilak, a practise which can be seen at Takht Sri Hazur Sahib and within the Nihung Singh groups.

Hom here refers to Havans. Havan is a traditional practise where a fire is lighted and various materials are poured into the fire. For the Khalsa, Giani Baba Inderjit Singh Ji explained that making langar is a form of hom, as it uses fire and provides for the poor. Furthermore, traditionally the Khalsa would lite Havans when reading Dasam Guru Granth Sahib Ji or when preparing for war. It was seen to appease Vahiguru's Shakti, Chandi. Baba Deep Singh Ji before fighting the Mughals performed a Havan as recorded in Naveen Panth Prakash [written in the 1800s], it says:

ਸੁਨਿ ਬੇਅਦਬੀ ਬਹੁ ਗੁਰੁਦ੍ਵਾਰੈਂ ।ਚੰਡੀ ਚਢੀ ਤਾਂਹਿ ਅਤਿ ਭਾਰੈਂ ।੯।
When hearing about the disrespect at the Gurdrawa [Harimandar], The spirit of Chandi arose within him [Baba Deep Singh Ji Shaheed]

ਸੁਨਿ ਸਿੰਘ ਪਾਠ ਅਖੰਡ ਕਰਾਯੋ । ਹਮਨ ਕਰਯੋ ਕੰਗਨਾ ਬੰਧਵਾਯੋ ।
Baba Ji organized an Akhand Paat and completed a Havan [before heading towards the battle] and tied a wedding bracelet around his wrist [a preparation for martyrdom as death is seen as a merging with their beloved Lord]

Gaayatri here refers to a type of mantras being recited. For the Khalsa the Gayatri mantra that has been told is:

ਗੁਬਿੰਦੇ ॥ ਮੁਕੰਦੇ ॥ ਉਦਾਰੇ ॥ ਅਪਾਰੇ ॥੯੪॥
ਹਰੀਅੰ ॥ ਕਰੀਅੰ ॥ ਨ੍ਰਿਨਾਮੇ ॥ ਅਕਾਮੇ ॥੯੫॥


Recognizing the Cow as sacred is also a traditional practice which has now been forgotten. Within the Nihang Singh camps one will never find them eating beef, even though other meat is eaten and served in the langar [communal kitchen].

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