12th Doharaa: "Baank Bajr..."

Last updated on Apr 6, 2023

Dhan Dhan Kalgidhar Maharaj, Chittey Baja Wale Paatshah, Neela-Ghorh Asvaar, Sarbans Daani, Dasmesh Pita Ji Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji Maharaj
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ਬਾਂਕ ਬਜ੍ਰ ਬਿਛੂਓ ਤੁਹੀਂ ਤੁਹੀਂ ਤਬਰ ਤਰਵਾਰ॥
Baa[n]k Bajr Bichhoo-O Thuhee[n] Thuhee[n] Thabar Tharvaar
ਤੁਹੀਂ ਕਟਾਰੀ ਸੈਹਥੀ ਕਰੀਐ ਰੱਛ ਹਮਾਰ॥੧੨॥
Thuhee[n] Kataaree Saihathhee Kareeai Rachh Hamaar
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After the Arth of Baank and Bajr, the Mehron Steek does not go into depths about the other shastars featured in this doharaa but makes the following statement: It is a great mistake if we say Shastars are equal to God in worship, this is not Maharaj is teaching us. Shastar Naam Maalaa is focussing on Vaheguru’s Shakti/Power through singing the Praises of Bhagauti. So, this Bani is like another Akaal Usthath. If Akaal Usthath is the right arm then Shastar Naam Maalaa is the left arm.
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If this is confusing please see the commentary on Sree Thoo (8th Dohara) & Kaal Thuhee (5th Dohara). The point made in the Mehron Steek is that we are not doing idol worship of Shastars but rather worshipping the wielder of Akaal Purakh through Their Shakti. The reality is Vaheguru is non-dual: meaning there is no separation from Vaheguru. Our default perception as per society's thinking is that there is a separate God and separate creation (as in Purakh & Prakirti or Shiv-Shakthi) but when you see them as one, then it change the definition of the relationship of things. Vaheguru is pervading in all of creation, so when we worship Shastars are we worshipping them as creation? The intention behind the worship of Shastars is to worship Vaheguru through Their Creation/Energy. We exist in the world of creation, we understand Vaheguru through the creation in order to transcend it. This analogy of the Warrior-Vaheguru wielding Their Weapons-Maya should be often contemplated upon by the Khalsa. The Warrior is not separate from Their Weapons. This will allow for the spiritual-material power to sit in balance within the mind-body complex.
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Gauntlet version of Baagh-nakh (tiger claws) Shastar

Resource	ਬਾਂਕ / Baa[n]k
Mehron Steek	ਬਾਂਕ: A heavy cutting tool used to cut branches off of a tree
Dr. Rattan Singh Jaggi Steek/Pandit Narayan Singh Steek	Refers to Baank as a Baagh-nakha shastar (Dr. Steek) Refers to a Shastar which is like the sharp nails of a tiger (Pt. Steek)
Giani Bishan Singh Steek	Simply says Baank is a name of a weapon
Mahaan Kosh	ਬਾਂਕ: A Shastar which is sharp like the nails of a tiger

A clear definition is not available based on the consulted commentaries. Baank is referred to a different Shastar versus what Mahan Kosh and the other commentaries state. Mehron Steek perhaps refers to a type of large scythe or saw-like Shastar. Giani Bishan Singh does not provide any details. The other commentators refer to the Baagh-nakha A point to note is that a lot of Shastars have varying names depending on where you go in the world and when in history you look into.

10th century depiction of Vajra = literally Thunderbolt... It is the weapon wielded by Vedic King of the Angels: Indra. Vajrayana is a famous Buddhist train of thought, meaning the Thunderbolt-Vehicle. Some people refer to the Vajra as a mace as well.

The different context behind the vajra/bajr

Resource	ਬਜ੍ਰ / Bajr
Mehron Steek (similar in Pandit Narayan Singh Steek, Dr. Rattan Singh Steek, Giani Bishan Singh Steek)	ਬਜ੍ਰ: A heavy rock coming from the sky’s lightning, a weapon wielded by the King of the Clouds ~ Indra, weapon also spelled Vajra
Pandit Narayan Singh Steek/Dr. Rattan Singh Steek	Refers to Indra’s Gadha (Mace)
Giani Bishan Singh Steek	Refers to a Kuharraa (small axe)
Mahaan Kosh	ਬਜ੍ਰ: Indra’s Mace (Gadha), lightning

There are many stories associated with Indra's Vajra. One is the origin story of the Vajra. Following is from Amar-Chitra-Katha website "Vritra was the son of Twashta, the carpenter of gods. In a fit of rage, Indra had killed Vishwarupa, the sage, who was Twashta’s elder son. To avenge his son’s death, Twashta performed a yagna to ask for a son who would slay Indra. But he mispronounced a syllable in the mantra, and ended up getting a son who would get killed by Indra, instead of killing Indra. This son, Vritra, also had a boon, that he could not be killed by any weapon made of stone, metal, or wood. The defeated devas asked Lord Vishnu for his help, who advised them to make a weapon out of sage Dadhichi’s bones. The devas approached the sage, whose bones were stronger than any weapon because of the Narayana Kawach he possessed. The sage sacrificed his life and Vishwakarma, the divine architect, created the Vajra out of the sage’s spine. Indra, with his newly acquired weapon, faced the asura again and defeated him successfully"

Zeus shares quite a parallel with Indra... it makes us think... how do you show a lightning bolt as a physical object/weapon? This way of thinking also allows to interpret Bajra.

The closest physically-available weapon with the name Bajra is the mace. A longer shaft version of the Vajra/Bajra symbol becomes a Gadha (mace).

A double-ended Bichhuwa, double-ended daggers are referred to as haladie

By analyzing the strike of a scorpion, it can allow us to plan on how to strike with a bichhuwa

Resource	ਬਿਛੂਓ/Bichhoo-O
Mehron Steek (similar definition in Giani Bishan Singh Steek, Pandit Narayan Singh Steek, Dr. Rattan Singh Jaggi)	[Only] You are the Bichhoo shastar
Mahaan Kosh	ਬਿਛੂ = Scorpion ਬਿਛੂਆ = A peshkabz shaped like a Scorpion’s tail

The Macuahuitl Aztec Wooden Sword/Club (right) has obsidian blades on around its edges which are powerful enough to decapitate a horse.

In action!

Resource	...ਤੁਹੀ ਤਬਰ ਤਰਵਾਰ/ Thuhee Thabar Tharvaar
Mehron Steek	... ਤੁਹੀ ਤਬਰ (ਕੁਹਾੜਾ) ਹੈਂ ਅਤੇ ਤੂੰ ਹੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਤਲਵਾਰ ਹੈਂ ... You are the Axe and You are My Sword
Pandit Narain Singh Steek (similar to Dr. Rattan Singh Jaggi Steek)	[Only] You are the Kuhaarhaa/Axe, [Only] You are the Talwaar/Sword
Mahaan Kosh	ਤੁਹੀ: ਸਰਵ/ਕੇਵਲ ਤੂੰ Thuhee = All/Only You
Giani Sher Singh Ambale Wale Katha Translation	These Shastars are not [just] made of metal but are the form of Vaheguru. Vaheguru is the Atma Roop Shakti within everything

Maharaj ~ You are the Axe & the Sword... You are the weapons which are combination of the two weapons as well.

Modern Push Dagger can be referred to as a Kataaree (small Kataar)

Resource

ਤੁਹੀ ਕਟਾਰੀ/Thuhee Kataaree

Mehron Steek (Similar definition in Dr. Rattan Singh Jaggi Steek, Pandit Narayan Singh Steek)

ਜਮਰਾਜ ਦਾ ਜਮਧੜ (ਕਟਾਰੀ) ਰੂਪ ਹੈ.

ਭਾਵ-ਤੁਹੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਕਟਾਰੀ ਹੈਂ
King of Death/Jamraaj/Azraaeel/Grim Reaper’s Molar of Death = Kataari Form. Meaning : Only You are my KaTaar... You are my Everything, You are my Blade/Kirpaan.

Mahaan Kosh

ਕਟਾਰੀ; ਛੋਟਾ ਕੱਟਾਰ
Kataaree = Small Kataar

ਕਟਾਰ, ਸੰਗ੍ਯਾ- ਇੱਕ ਦੁਧਾਰਾ ਛੋਟਾ ਸ਼ਸਤੂ, ਜੋ ਕਮਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਰੱਖੀਦਾ ਹੈ.
Kataar, meaning - a small double-edged shastar, that which is kept in the Kamarkassa

Resource	ਸੈਹਥੀ / Saihathee
Mehron Steek (same definition in Giani Bishan Singh Steek, Dr. Rattan Singh Steek, Pandit Narain Singh)	ਬਰਛੀ. Barchee. Spear.
Mahaan Kosh	Sanskrit Origins. ਬਰਛੀ. Barchee. Spear.
Giani Sher Singh Ambale Wale Katha Translation	Giani Ji says Sai-hathee refers to that which is used by 100 hands, meaning can be utilized in 100 different ways.

Maharaj comes to help us in 100 different ways. Sai-100 Hathee-Hands... think of this as 100 helping hands. When you are down and just need one hand to get you up, Maharaj uplifts with 100 hands worth if you take Maharaj's Support

Resource

ਕਰੀਐ ਰੱਛ ਹਮਾਰ

/ Kareeai Rachh Hamaar

Mehron Steek (similar definition in Pandit Narayan Singh Steek, Giani Bishan Singh Steek, and Dr. Rattan Singh Steek)

Vaheguru ~ You are the Largest of the largest Shastars among the Grandest of Shastars! This is why please recognize me as Your Slave/Servant and keep protecting me in all the different ways of protecting.

There are many ways where Maharaj protects us from danger. It does not necessarily mean directly in the way of imminent threats. It could be a person or place we are protected from or protected in. Daas had stopped for 2 weeks in Italy in 2020 on the way from UK to India. During this time, daas wanted to visit places of renaissance history. Daas had ended up misspending money due to horrible currency exchange calculation. The budget for the trip was used up for 1 week. Daas had to cancel the booking to receive money then take a train cross-country to someone who knew daas' Pita Ji from Punjab. During this time, daas had no money and just enough for a train ticket and some snacks from vending machines along the way. Daas had to spend 1 night in Bologna without any money as it was on the way and couldn't take an overnight train. Daas did ardaas to Guru Sahib to protect daas and be able to find a place to stay after arriving at a gurdwara in Bologna. It turned out that when daas arrived, the gurdwara was hidden and Sangat doesn't get together unless it was a Sunday. So the day, daas arrived was on the Sunday and the Sangat was celebrating Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji's Prakash. A Premi Sangat took this complete stranger in and did seva of daas while there. Guru Sahib protected daas and didn't let me sleep on the streets nor let me go hungry.
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Daas was able to go to India afterwards. After being in India for 2 months, daas had to evacuate to Canada due to COVID lockdowns being initiated worldwide. Daas took the very last flight out of India to the United States. After that specific flight, everyone else from other countries had to stay in India for months before leaving. Over and over, Guru Sahib has protected this daas from suffering. Who knows how many other bad things had been avoided which daas was not weary of throughout the trips to many parts of the world.
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Please forgive any mistakes! Suggest any additions or omissions
Guru Panth Ka Daas,
Aaeenaa