“Ek onkar satnam kartapurakh
Nirmoh nirvair akaal murat
Ajuni sabham
Guru parsad jap aad sach jugaad sach
Hai bhi sach nanak hose bhi sach”
When these words hit the surface of your ears, what comes to your mind? Is it the serenity and tranquility that you experience at the Golden Temple? Is it the teachings of Guru Nanak that resonate with you? Or is it the feeling of absolute divinity? For us, it’s all of the above!
Gurbani, also known as the divine word, is the collection of hymns and verses from the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib. It is considered the ultimate guide to a Sikh’s spiritual journey, and its verses are not only significant but also immensely beautiful. Gurbani has the power to heal, inspire and enlighten people from all walks of life. In this blog, we will explore the significance and beauty of the verses of Gurbani.
Significance of Gurbani:
-
It brings us closer to the divine:
Gurbani is the word of God, and reading or reciting it brings us closer to the divine. It is believed that the verses of Gurbani have the power to purify our souls and connect us with the supreme power. When we recite the verses of Gurbani, we are filled with a sense of peace and calmness that comes from within.
-
It guides us on the path of righteousness:
Gurbani is a source of wisdom that guides us on the path of righteousness. It teaches us the importance of living a life of truth, compassion, and love. The verses of Gurbani help us overcome our fears and insecurities and lead us toward a life of purpose and meaning.
-
It provides us with inner strength:
Gurbani is a powerful source of inspiration that provides us with inner strength during difficult times. The verses of Gurbani remind us that we are never alone and that the divine power is always with us. It gives us the courage to face our fears and overcome them.
-
It teaches us to respect all religions:
Gurbani teaches us to respect all religions and beliefs. It recognizes the divine power in all religions and encourages us to learn from them. The verses of Gurbani promote the idea of universal brotherhood and unity among all people.
The beauty of Gurbani:
-
The language:
The verses of Gurbani are written in beautiful and poetic language that touches the heart and soul. The language used in Gurbani is simple yet powerful, and it conveys profound truths in a way that is easy to understand.
-
The rhythm:
The verses of Gurbani have a beautiful rhythm that flows like a river. The rhythm of Gurbani is soothing and calming and has a therapeutic effect on the mind and soul.
-
The melody:
Gurbani is often sung in a melodious voice that adds to its beauty. The melody of Gurbani is both enchanting and mesmerizing, and it creates a sense of peace and tranquility in the mind.
-
The message:
The verses of Gurbani convey a message of love, compassion, and unity. The message of Gurbani is universal, and it applies to people of all religions and beliefs. The verses of Gurbani inspire us to be better human beings and to live a life of purpose and meaning.
Although Gurbani happens to be a collection of 5,894 hymns, this Shabad is one of the most renowned ones.
“Ek onkar satnam kartapurakh
Nirmoh nirvair akaal murat
Ajuni sabham
Guru parsad jap aad sach jugaad sach
Hai bhi sach nanak hose bhi sach
Soche soch na ho wai
Jo sochi lakh waar
Chhupe chhup na howai
Je laai har lakhtaar
Ukhiya pukh na utari
Je banna puriya paar
Sahasyanpa lakh woh hai
Ta ek na chale naal
Ke ve sach yaara hoi ae
Ke ve kude tutte paal
Hukum rajai chalna nanak likheya naal”
Ek onkar satnam kartapurakh:
This verse is the beginning of the Sikh holy scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib. It means “There is one Creator, Truth is its name, it creates everything.” It highlights the belief in the oneness of God and the universality of truth. The word “Ek” means “one,” “Onkar” represents the divine sound of creation, “Satnam” means “Truth is its name,” and “Kartapurakh” means “the Creator of all.”
Nirmoh nirvair akaal murat:
This verse means “It is without hate, without enmity, immortal.” It describes the nature of the Creator as one that is beyond human emotions and death. “Nirmoh” means “without hate,” “Nirvair” means “without enmity,” and “Akaal Murat” means “immortal form.”
Ajuni sabham:
This verse means “It is unborn and self-existent.” It emphasizes the idea that the Creator is eternal and beyond the cycle of birth and death. “Ajuni” means “unborn,” and “Sabham” means “self-existent.”
Guru parsad jap aad sach jugaad sach:
This verse means “By the Guru’s grace, meditate on the True Name, which was true in the beginning and will always be true.” It emphasizes the importance of seeking the guidance of the Guru and meditating on the Name of the Creator. “Guru Parsad” means “By the Guru’s grace,” “Jap” means “meditate,” “Aad Sach” means “True in the beginning,” and “Jugaad Sach” means “True throughout the ages.”
Hai bhi sach nanak hose bhi sach:
This verse means “It is true now, and it will always be true, says Nanak.” It reiterates the idea that the truth of the Creator is eternal and unchanging.
Soche soch na ho wai jo sochi lakh waar:
This verse means “No matter how much one thinks and reflects, one cannot even imagine it, even though one may try a hundred thousand times.” It emphasizes the incomprehensibility of the Creator and the limitations of human understanding. “Soche soch” means “thinks and reflects,” “Lakh waar” means “a hundred thousand times.”
Chhupe chhup na howai je laai har lakhtaar:
This verse means “It cannot be hidden, even if someone tries to hide it, it is obtained only by the grace of the Creator.” It emphasizes that the realization of the Creator is not something that can be concealed or achieved through one’s own efforts alone, but only through the grace of the Creator. “Chhupe chhup” means “hidden,” and “Har lakhtaar” means “by the grace of the Creator.”
Ukhiya pukh na utari je banna puriya paar:
This verse means “One cannot be satisfied even by fasting, even if one crosses over the ocean.” It emphasizes that the hunger for the Creator cannot be quenched by material things or physical acts, but only through spiritual realization. “Ukhiya pukh” means “hunger and thirst,” and “Banna puriya paar” means “crossing over the ocean.”
Sahasyanpa lakh woh hai:
This verse means “The Creator is described in countless ways.” It emphasizes the infinite nature of the Creator and the many ways in which people try to describe and understand the divine.
Ta ek na chale naal:
This verse means “But none of them can fully capture the essence of the Creator.” It emphasizes the idea that while people may try to describe the divine in many ways, no description can fully capture the vastness and complexity of the Creator.
Ke ve sach yaara hoi ae:
This verse means “Who is a true friend of the Creator?” It highlights the question of what it means to be a true devotee of the divine and to live a life that is in alignment with the Creator’s will.
Ke ve kude tutte paal:
This verse means “Who can break the bonds of falsehood?” It emphasizes the idea that living in accordance with the Creator’s will requires breaking free from the illusions and falsehoods that prevent people from seeing and experiencing the truth of the divine.
Hukum rajai chalna nanak likheya naal:
This verse means “Nanak writes that we must walk in accordance with the divine will.” It emphasizes the importance of aligning one’s actions and way of being with the will of the Creator. It suggests that true spiritual realization comes not from seeking to control or manipulate the divine, but from surrendering to the divine will and living in accordance with it.
As we mentioned earlier the beauty of Shabad is the essence of positivity that it inculcates within the hearts and minds of the listeners, now imagine hearing this every morning and not only this but tons of other soul-enriching hymns from the Gurbani on the same device! Yes, Saregama has come up with the Saregama Mini Gurbani, a device with 100 Spiritual Paths and Holy Shabad Gurbani of gurus by various Ragis that shall make your day more pleasant and filled with positivity. Don’t believe us?
Have a look at it yourself //www.saregama.com/carvaanmini/gurbani