9th Dohara: "Thumhee Dhin Rajnee Thuhee..."
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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ਤੁਮਹੀ ਦਿਨ ਰਜਨੀ ਤੁਹੀ ਤੁਮਹੀ ਜੀਅਨ ਉਪਾਏ॥
Thumhee Dhin; Rajnee Thuhee, Thumhee Jeean Oupaa-ae
ਕਉਤਕ ਹੇਰਨ ਕੇ ਨਮਿਤ ਤਿਨ ਮੋਂ ਬਾਦ ਬਢਾਇ॥੯॥
Kouthak Haeran Kae Namith, Thin Mo[n] Baadh Batdaae[i]
–
We are bound by the constraints of time and space. It is Vaheguru's Sandbox.
We perceive that there is a sunrise and a sunset but in reality, we are facing the sun at sunrise and give our back to the sun after sunset. The Sun is consistently present whether we see it or not. Vaheguru is the same way. Maharaj sees everything equally and the Gursikh also does not see the world in duality. They see Vaheguru in everything. Day and night are often used to denote polar opposites like good & bad, light & darkness, life & death, likes & dislikes, etc.
Day and night are the stage upon which our Karma take place.
Vaheguru is detached from it all and pervading within it all at the same time:
ਦਿਵਸੁ ਰਾਤਿ ਦੁਇ ਦਾਈ ਦਾਇਆ ਖੇਲੈ ਸਗਲ ਜਗਤੁ ॥
Divas-Raath Dhue Dhaaee Dhaaeiaa Khelai Sagal Jagath
The entire world plays in the laps of both day & night: our Nanny & Butler.
(Sri Japji Sahib)
What are we to do between this play of day & night?
Jathedar Baba Hari Singh (Tarna Dal) explain that the:
"The rehat of a Nihang Singh is that between 12am - 2am he should arise, bathe and then sit immersed in prayer and meditation. He should present himself before Guru Granth Sahib each morning and take a Hukamnama. The morning should be spent on exercising or training in martial arts. During the day, one should immerse themselves in their responsibilities while focusing the mind on God's Name".
A special thanks to Bhai Jasmeet Singh (Khalsa Panth UK) for providing this translation & writing the following commentary on the Jeevani of Nihung Singhs:
"These are the Maryadai (traditions) that the world needs Nihang Singhs to bring back. For Nihang Singhs of old, the greatest honour in your day came when you took the opportunity to present yourself in Darbar Sahib for Asa Di Vaar.
Baba Joginder Singh & Baba Surjeet Singh both led by example, coming into the Darbar Sahib each Amritvela and encouraging all other Singhs to do so. Baba Surjeet Singh kept up this habit while in Patiala jail, where there were daily satsangs.
There aren't many Singhs who will encourage you these days to keep a disciplined Amritvela. From 12-8am, the day of a Nihang Singh was devoted to Nitnem, Simran, Keertan, & Langar Di Seva. Then they would begin tending to their horses. It is that amount of simran and that amount of seva that made these people the amazing heroes whose pictures filled our walls.
It is very difficult to emulate that type of life while working and in family. Practising 3am-6am is a lot more achievable. If you miss a day, don't beat yourself up start again the next day. Just by klooking like Nihang Singhs, we will never be worthy of the legacy of the great Akalis. At least in trying to emulate their devotion, humility and commited spirit, we can try to keep alive what they held sacred"
There are also Two Kshatriya (Warrior-King) lineages based on the Sun & the Moon: Suraj-vanshi (Solar Dynasty) & Chandra-vanshi (Lunar Dynasty).
The Lineage of Surajvanshi lineage includes many like Sri Ram-Chandra Ji (Avtar of Vishnu), Bedi Lineage (Family in which Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj were born into), Sodhi Lineage (Family in which Guru Ramdas Ji, Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji, Guru Har Krishan Sahib Ji, Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, & now the Guru Khalsa Panth). Sri Ram-Chandra's Sons were Luv & Kush. Luv's descendants include the Sodhi's and Kush's descendants include the Bedi's. This is recorded in Bachitar Natak by Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj.
Chandravansh includes: Bharath (who South Asia is named after), Brahma (as descendent Soma/Chandra started lineage), Sri Krishna Ji (Avtar of Vishnu), both leading sides of the Mahabharat war except Suraj-vanshi Karan, Parasraam (Avtar of Vishnu, also synonymous with a battle-axe), and many others.
This is information is relevant to shastar design. Traditional Indian shastars have markings that often indicate a specific lineage.
ਤੁਮਰਾ ਲਖਾ ਨ ਜਾਇ ਪਸਾਰਾ ॥
Thumraa Lakhaa naa Jaah[i] Pasaaraa
We cannot c0mprehend your entire manifestation/creation/universe
ਕਿਹ ਬਿਧਿ ਸਜਾ ਪ੍ਰਥਮ ਸੰਸਾਰਾ ॥੩੯੩॥
Kih Bidhhi Sajaa Prathham Sa[n]saaraa
In which manner was this ever-changing universe created?
ਏਕੈ ਰੂਪ ਅਨੂਪ ਸਰੂਪਾ ॥
Ekai Roop Anoop Saroopaa
[From] One (Formless) Form came such a Beautiful Form (Creation)!
ਰੰਕ ਭਯੋ ਰਾਵ ਕਹੀ ਭੂਪਾ ॥
Rank Bhayo Raav Kahee Bhoopaa
Somewhere You are impoverished & somewhere You are the King
ਅੰਡਜ ਜੇਰਜ ਸੇਤਜ ਕੀਨੀ ॥
Andaj Jhaeraj Saethaj Keenee
Creating egg-born, placenta-born, bacteria/sweat-born,
ਉਤਭੁਜ ਖਾਨਿ ਬਹੁਰਿ ਰਚਿ ਦੀਨੀ ॥੩੯੪॥
Uthbhuj Khaan Bahur Rach Dheenee
Also creating & giving multiple earth-tearing(plants) beings.
Maharaj has created 4 means of being born into this world. These are all referred to as Joons. There are 8.4 million ways to be born into this world. The human life being the highest. Through your karma, you are born as a certain species.
How can we learn from the different species around us? We have many shastars inspired by Vaheguru's Own Natural Design:
Vaheguru developed this universe and – within Their Hukam – caused dispute within the world.
In Chandi Di Vaar Maharaj explains how peace transitioned into strife.
During the time of Satyug, there was eternal peace.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji tells us about how this changes as Treta-Yug came to be:
ਸਾਧੂ ਸਤਿਜੁਗੁ ਬੀਤਿਆ ਅਧ ਸੀਲੀ ਤ੍ਰੇਤਾ ਆਇਆ ॥
Saadhhoo Sath[i]jug Beethiaa Adhh Seelee Thraethaa Aaeiaa
Following the Saintly Sat-Yug (Age of Truth),
the less peaceful Treta-Yug came about
ਨੱਚੀ ਕੁਲ ਸਰੋ ਸਰੀ ਕਲ ਨਾਰਦ ਡਉਰੂ ਵਾਇਆ ॥
Nachee Kal Saro Saree Kal Naaradh Douroo Vaaeiaa
The Divise-Power of Treta danced upon the heads of all,
Naaradh played his instrument...
(Naaradh is known to be a mischievious instigator).
The world goes through peace and chaos all in Maharaj's Hukam.
The nature of the world is constantly changing. Inconsistency is the nature of the world, so do not let happy or sad events affect your mind. Expect them to happen.
ਅਸੰਖ ਮੂਰਖ ਅੰਧ ਘੋਰ ॥
Asankh Moorakh Andh Khor
There are countless ignorant people living in complete darkness,
ਅਸੰਖ ਚੋਰ ਹਰਾਮਖੋਰ ॥
Asankh Chor Haram Khor
There are countless thieves and sinners
ਅਸੰਖ ਅਮਰ ਕਰਿ ਜਾਹਿ ਜੋਰ ॥
Asankh Amar Kar Jaahi Jor
There are countless strong people who exert their strength on others
ਅਸੰਖ ਗਲ ਵਢ ਹਤਿਆ ਕਮਾਹਿ ॥
Asankh Gal Vad Hathiaa Kamaahi
There are countless cut-throat murderers.
(Sri Japji Sahib)
The Khalsa stands up against the cruel tyrants as part of their duty:
ਦੇਹ ਸਿਵਾ ਬਰ ਮੋਹਿ ਇਹੈ
Dhaeh Sivaa Bar Moh[i] Eihai
Grant me this blessing of power
ਸੁਭ ਕਰਮਨ ਤੇ ਕਬਹੂੰ ਨ ਟਰੋ ॥
Subh Karman Thae Kab-hoo[n] na Taro
May I never stop from doing the right thing!
(Dhan Dhan Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj, Chandi Charithar Ukath Bilaas)
Let the Khalsa continue to stand up – verbally and physically – in favour of the defenseless and the oppressed.
The Khalsa should be careful about how the world's divisive nature impacts our own relations. Let us not allow the divisive nature to cause us to fight against those who are on the side of Dharam, within the Khalsa Panth, and within our own personal battles against Maya. Let us engrain the quality of compassion as Maharaj tells us that compassion gives birth to Dharam (righteousness):
ਧੌਲੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਦਇਆ ਕਾ ਪੂਤੁ ॥
Dhhaul Dhharam Dhaeiaa Kaa Pooth
The Bull of Righteousness is the Child of Compassion.
(Sri Japji Sahib)
In order to fight for Dharam, you must have compassion within you.
Compassion will automatically produce Dharam.
ਜਹਾ ਲੋਭੁ ਤਹ ਕਾਲੁ ਹੈ ਜਹਾ ਖਿਮਾ ਤਹ ਆਪਿ ॥੧੫੫॥
Jahaa Lobh[u] Thah Kaal Hai Jahaa Khaemaa Thahaa Aap
Where there is greed, there is death...
Where there is forgiveness, there is You – Vaheguru.
(Salok Bhagat Kabeer Ji, Ang 1372)
Learn to forgive, even if someone has done you wrong.
Realize that if you hold a grudge, you are reacting to the Karam and cause the cycle to continue. We want to stop the chain of Karam. Retaliating only causes this to continue. The Khalsa should only act in order to stop further harm and in order to return balance to the Righteous. Most of our personal enmity is due to pettiness and selfish desire.
We should look into our panth's history for lessons on this. During the Misl period, the Khalsa had banded together for their survival. When things began to look good for the Khalsa then there became inter-Misl dispute. The Ghanaiya Misl and Ramgarhia Misl had an agreement to evenly share the loot of Kasur taken from the Pathans. At one point, Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia's brother Maalee Singh became greedy and asked Dilay Raam (Kasur Courtier) to tell him where the secret wealth was hidden. Maalee Singh did not tell anyone about this secret wealth and Sardar Jassa Singh advised against it but upon Maalee Singh's insistence then Sardar Jassa Singh agreed to keep it secret as well. Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia took his brother's side instead of the Khalsa's agreement. This created dispute between the Panth. Elder Gursikhs like Sardar Charrat Singh wanted to interrogate Dilay Raam. This made Maalee Singh get scared and he ended up murdering Hirday Raam (Dilay Raam's Grandson) to protect the wealth.
This wealth was lost by the Ramgarhia Misl and ended up in the hands of the Sardar Charrat Singh. (Recorded in Pracheen Panth Prakash, Prasang 143-144)
Stand up for each other and the Adhab/Sathkaar (Respect) of Guru Sahib & Shastars. Learn to ask for forgiveness before the end of the day if you feel like you have wronged someone and in an event or situation that makes you feel unsettled then please discuss it with the people involved (it's going to be on your mind when you do paath or simran). Put your pride aside and see everyone's situations with compassion. It will prevent many disputes with this mindset.
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Please forgive any mistakes and suggest any corrections if required...
Guru Panth Ka Daas,
Aaeenaa
