Friday, July 31, 2009

Why I bow to the “WORD” as enshrined in SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB?

In the Word I dwell!
In the Word I live!
In the Word I Trust!
To the Word I bow!

Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji!
Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Ram Das Ji!

In many internet comments, writings, discussions and writings one of the topic that has caught my attention is about why Sikhs bow to Sri Guru Granth Sahib? The comments from non-Sikhs are like well that is like an idol worship since we are bowing and worshipping a holy book like an object. There in lies the problem with the non-Sikhs since they don’t seem to get, that basically Sikhs are bowing to the Word of God, which is the living Guru and give a respect to the spoken word of God called Shabad. Yes, a mere worship without having the understanding of the words and not living the life according to teh words of wisdom of Gurus, Bhagats, Sadhus, Saints as enshrined in the Guru Granth Sahib would be close to an idol worship. But I think Sikhs know this basic differnce. Here is what I got when I did a search in the Guru Granth Sahib for “WORD”:

http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Search&Param=english

Guru Granth Sahib describes in very easy ways as to why the Word is important, How should the word be spoken and how one surrounds his or her life around the words of the Guru.

http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=2&english=t&id=34#l34

ਮੁਹੌ ਕਿ ਬੋਲਣੁ ਬੋਲੀਐ ਜਿਤੁ ਸੁਣਿ ਧਰੇ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥
मुहौ कि बोलणु बोलीऐ जितु सुणि धरे पिआरु ॥
Muhou kė bolaṇ bolī▫ai jiṯ suṇ ḏẖare pi▫ār.
What words can we speak to evoke His Love?
ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਵੇਲਾ ਸਚੁ ਨਾਉ ਵਡਿਆਈ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥
अम्रित वेला सचु नाउ वडिआई वीचारु ॥
Amriṯ velā sacẖ nā▫o vadi▫ā▫ī vīcẖār.
In the Amrit Vaylaa, the ambrosial hours before dawn, chant the True Name, and contemplate His Glorious Greatness.

http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=3&english=t&id=127#l127

ਕੀਤਾ ਪਸਾਉ ਏਕੋ ਕਵਾਉ ॥
कीता पसाउ एको कवाउ ॥
Kīṯā pasā▫o eko kavā▫o.
You created the vast expanse of the Universe with One Word!
ਤਿਸ ਤੇ ਹੋਏ ਲਖ ਦਰੀਆਉ ॥
तिस ते होए लख दरीआउ ॥
Ŧis ṯe ho▫e lakẖ ḏarī▫ā▫o.
Hundreds of thousands of rivers began to flow.

http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=2&english=t&id=44#l44
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਾਦੰ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਵੇਦੰ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਰਹਿਆ ਸਮਾਈ ॥
गुरमुखि नादं गुरमुखि वेदं गुरमुखि रहिआ समाई ॥
Gurmukẖ nāḏaʼn gurmukẖ veḏaʼn gurmukẖ rahi▫ā samā▫ī.
The Guru's Word is the Sound-current of the Naad; the Guru's Word is the Wisdom of the Vedas; the Guru's Word is all-pervading.


http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=4&english=t&id=160#l160

ਅਖਰੀ ਨਾਮੁ ਅਖਰੀ ਸਾਲਾਹ ॥
अखरी नामु अखरी सालाह ॥
Akẖrī nām akẖrī sālāh.
From the Word, comes the Naam; from the Word, comes Your Praise.
ਅਖਰੀ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਗੀਤ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਹ ॥
अखरी गिआनु गीत गुण गाह ॥
Akẖrī gi▫ān gīṯ guṇ gāh.
From the Word, comes spiritual wisdom, singing the Songs of Your Glory.
ਅਖਰੀ ਲਿਖਣੁ ਬੋਲਣੁ ਬਾਣਿ ॥
अखरी लिखणु बोलणु बाणि ॥
Akẖrī likẖaṇ bolaṇ bāṇ.
From the Word, come the written and spoken words and hymns.
ਅਖਰਾ ਸਿਰਿ ਸੰਜੋਗੁ ਵਖਾਣਿ ॥
अखरा सिरि संजोगु वखाणि ॥
Akẖrā sir sanjog vakẖāṇ.
From the Word, comes destiny, written on one's forehead.
ਜਿਨਿ ਏਹਿ ਲਿਖੇ ਤਿਸੁ ਸਿਰਿ ਨਾਹਿ ॥
जिनि एहि लिखे तिसु सिरि नाहि ॥
Jin ehi likẖe ṯis sir nāhi.
But the One who wrote these Words of Destiny-no words are written on His Forehead.

http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=4&english=t&id=188#l188

ਸੁਅਸਤਿ ਆਥਿ ਬਾਣੀ ਬਰਮਾਉ ॥
सुअसति आथि बाणी बरमाउ ॥
Su▫asaṯ āth baṇī barmā▫o.
I bow to the Lord of the World, to His Word, to Brahma the Creator.

http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=8&english=t&id=348#l348

ਸਰਮ ਖੰਡ ਕੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਰੂਪੁ ॥
सरम खंड की बाणी रूपु ॥
Saram kẖand kī baṇī rūp.
In the realm of humility, the Word is Beauty.
ਤਿਥੈ ਘਾੜਤਿ ਘੜੀਐ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਅਨੂਪੁ ॥
तिथै घाड़ति घड़ीऐ बहुतु अनूपु ॥
Ŧithai gẖāṛaṯ gẖaṛī▫ai bahuṯ anūp.
Forms of incomparable beauty are fashioned there.
ਤਾ ਕੀਆ ਗਲਾ ਕਥੀਆ ਨਾ ਜਾਹਿ ॥
ता कीआ गला कथीआ ना जाहि ॥
Ŧā kī▫ā galā kathī▫ā nā jāhi.
These things cannot be described.
ਜੇ ਕੋ ਕਹੈ ਪਿਛੈ ਪਛੁਤਾਇ ॥
जे को कहै पिछै पछुताइ ॥
Je ko kahai picẖẖai pacẖẖuṯā▫e.
One who tries to speak of these shall regret the attempt.
ਤਿਥੈ ਘੜੀਐ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਮਤਿ ਮਨਿ ਬੁਧਿ ॥
तिथै घड़ीऐ सुरति मति मनि बुधि ॥
Ŧithai gẖaṛī▫ai suraṯ maṯ man buḏẖ.
The intuitive consciousness, intellect and understanding of the mind are shaped there.
ਤਿਥੈ ਘੜੀਐ ਸੁਰਾ ਸਿਧਾ ਕੀ ਸੁਧਿ ॥੩੬॥
तिथै घड़ीऐ सुरा सिधा की सुधि ॥३६॥
Ŧithai gẖaṛī▫ai surā siḏẖā kī suḏẖ. ||36||
The consciousness of the spiritual warriors and the Siddhas, the beings of spiritual perfection, are shaped there. ||36||
ਕਰਮ ਖੰਡ ਕੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਜੋਰੁ ॥
करम खंड की बाणी जोरु ॥
Karam kẖand kī baṇī jor.
In the realm of karma, the Word is Power.

http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=8&english=t&id=376#l376

ਘੜੀਐ ਸਬਦੁ ਸਚੀ ਟਕਸਾਲ ॥
घड़ीऐ सबदु सची टकसाल ॥
Gẖaṛī▫ai sabaḏ sacẖī taksāl.
and mint the True Coin of the Shabad, the Word of God.

Here is another beautiful line about who is a Gurmukh? A living expression of Guru’s spoken word. I mean how easy can it get for anyone to understand.

http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=12&english=t&id=515#l515


ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਪਰਗਟੁ ਹੋਇ ॥੪॥੨॥
जन नानक गुरमुखि परगटु होइ ॥४॥२॥
Jan Nānak gurmukẖ pargat ho▫e. ||4||2||
O servant Nanak, the Lord is revealed through the Gurmukh, the Living Expression of the Guru's Word. ||4||2||

In “WORD” we dwell!
http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=17&english=t&id=737#l737


ਏਕੁ ਸਬਦੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੀਐ ਜਾ ਤੂ ਤਾ ਕਿਆ ਹੋਰਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
एकु सबदु बीचारीऐ जा तू ता किआ होरि ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
Ėk sabaḏ bīcẖārī▫ai jā ṯū ṯā ki▫ā hor. ||1|| rahā▫o.
I dwell upon the One Word of the Shabad. You are mine-what else do I need? ||1||Pause||
ਜਾਇ ਪੁਛਹੁ ਸੋਹਾਗਣੀ ਤੁਸੀ ਰਾਵਿਆ ਕਿਨੀ ਗੁਣੀ ॥
जाइ पुछहु सोहागणी तुसी राविआ किनी गुणीं ॥
Jā▫e pucẖẖahu sohāgaṇī ṯusī rāvi▫ā kinī guṇī.
Go, and ask the happy soul-brides, "By what virtuous qualities do you enjoy your Husband Lord?
ਸਹਜਿ ਸੰਤੋਖਿ ਸੀਗਾਰੀਆ ਮਿਠਾ ਬੋਲਣੀ ॥
सहजि संतोखि सीगारीआ मिठा बोलणी ॥
Sahj sanṯokẖ sīgārī▫ā miṯẖā bolṇī.
We are adorned with intuitive ease, contentment and sweet words.
ਪਿਰੁ ਰੀਸਾਲੂ ਤਾ ਮਿਲੈ ਜਾ ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਸੁਣੀ ॥੨॥
पिरु रीसालू ता मिलै जा गुर का सबदु सुणी ॥२॥
Pir rīsālū ṯā milai jā gur kā sabaḏ suṇī. ||2||
We meet with our Beloved, the Source of Joy, when we listen to the Word of the Guru's Shabad." ||2||

http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=18&english=t&id=775#l775


ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਰ ਮੈਲੁ ਨ ਉਤਰੈ ਬਿਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਕਿਉ ਘਰ ਵਾਸੁ ॥
बिनु गुर मैलु न उतरै बिनु हरि किउ घर वासु ॥
Bin gur mail na uṯrai bin har ki▫o gẖar vās.
Without the Guru, this pollution is not removed. Without the Lord, how can there be any homecoming?
ਏਕੋ ਸਬਦੁ ਵੀਚਾਰੀਐ ਅਵਰ ਤਿਆਗੈ ਆਸ ॥
एको सबदु वीचारीऐ अवर तिआगै आस ॥
Ėko sabaḏ vīcẖārī▫ai avar ṯi▫āgai ās.
Contemplate the One Word of the Shabad, and abandon other hopes.

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