Is it Important to Study 'Gurbani'?

The pure belongs to the 'Wonderous Enlightener'. The victory belongs to 'Wonderous Enlightener'.

One day, a very interesting event unfolded on the lands of Anandpur Sahib during the days of the ‘Hola Mahalla’ festival. Guru Gobind Singh Ji was sitting high up in their ‘Bangla’ at Kesgarh Sahib from where the voice of a Sikh reciting Gurbani could be heard from one of the lower buildings during the hours before sunrise. This Sikh was reciting a scripture called ‘Oankar’ loudly but was mispronouncing the words of Gurbani. The 'Shabad' he was reciting was:

"(Through the letter) 'Dhadha', the faith of obtaining the perfect Lord in all religions is worthy of practice, the Lord who favours virtues and patience upon us.

(Through the letter) 'Dhadha': If the dust of such a practitioner's feet touches one's face and forehead, one is transformed from rusty iron (a polluted mind) into gold (pure).

Great! is the Support of the Earth; He Himself is not born; His measure and speech are perfect and True. Only the Creator Himself knows His own extent; He alone knows being the warrior Guru. ||3||”

(Raag Raamkalee, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 929)

Hearing the mispronunciation, Guru Ji called to the Sikh twice to focus and pronounce Gurbani correctly but the Sikh did not hear as he was occupied in his own world. Later on, Guru Ji had this Sikh disciplined and presented before him before asking him to repeat the line which he was heard mispronouncing in particular. When this Sikh repeated the certain line, he again mispronounced the words which Guru Sahib was displeased with. Guru Ji explained that one should recite Gurbani responsibly in the same way as they would look after one of their dear household possessions. Guru Ji stressed that mispronouncing the vowels or letters of Gurbani would also change the meaning of Gurbani and could even so in a disrespectful way. Guru Ji stressed to him the importance of pronouncing Gurbani as it is written in order for us to be able to gain its true meaningful message. Guru Ji explained that Gurbani (the words revealed by God) are the limbs of God and mispronouncing them is equivalent to breaking those limbs. Guru Ji emphasised that Gurbani should be read with concentration and contemplation. Witnessing Guru Ji explain how such profound depths could only be understood through something as simple as pronunciation, the Sikhs did a supplication to Guru Ji that without learning the meanings of Gurbani we cannot understand Gurbani adequately so please bless us with the gift of 'Arths' (the definitions of 'Gurbani'). Guru Ji promised the Sikhs that this time of study would come to be, but only once we are free from battles because Guru Ji was a target for both the Mughal empire and the Hill chiefs of their local area.

As time progressed to 1706 in history, Guru Ji had reached the town of 'Talwandi Sabo' (located near the city of Bathinda in the Bathinda district of Punjab, India). The spot where Guru Gobind Singh Ji stopped to rest was named ‘Damdama Sahib’ as this is where they took ‘dam’ which translates to breath (hence took a breather i.e rested). Seeing that the battle of Muktsar Sahib was over and Guru Ji was residing within the Malwa region of Punjab away from any threats, the Sikhs remembered the promise that Guru Ji had once made to them regarding the study of Gurbani. Thus, they requested Guru Ji to commence the teaching of Gurbani meanings. For this task, Guru Sahib sent 25 'Singhs' to 'Dhirmal' (who was the grandson of Guru Hargobind Ji) in Kartarpur Sahib who had the original 'Aad Granth Sahib Ji'. This manuscript was scribed by Bhai Gurdas Ji and compiled/uttered by Guru Arjan Dev Ji. (Kartarpur Sahib is a town, near the city of Jalandhar in the Jalandhar district of Punjab, India). Space had also been left blank within the Aad Granth Sahib by the fifth Guru for the revelations of Guru Tegh Bahadar Ji to be added at a later stage. However, Dhirmal stated that the 9th Guru had given him the Granth Sahib and challenged the Sikhs as to why Guru Gobind Singh Ji do not have another Granth Sahib scribed if they are 10th in the Guru lineage and supposed to have the same prowess as the previous Gurus.

The Sikhs returned empty handed to ‘Sabo Ki Talwandi’ and revealed Dhirmal’s challenge to Guru Ji. Taking the opportunity to erase any such doubts and standing tall to the challenge, Guru Ji recited the whole Aadh Granth Sahib Ji from memory over the next 9 months, 9 days, 9 ‘Gharris’ (3.6 hours) and 9 ‘pals’ (3.6 minutes). Bhai Mani Singh Ji was chosen to be the scribe for this task by Guru Ji, who questioned in humbleness how he will be able to fulfil such a great responsibility. Guru Ji blessed him by saying you need not to worry as your Kalam (pen) will write as a ‘Agami Kalam’ (a god gifted pen) which will flow with god’s grace. Sitting in ‘Bir Asan’ (where one would sit with the left knee crouched to the floor and the right knee raised) Guru Ji would utter the pure revelations from his mouth starting in the ‘Amrit Vela’ (which can be defined as the morning time before sunrise). They would then do ‘Katha’ (a detailed verbal explanation of the meanings) within the evenings of the Gurbani that would be scribed in the mornings.

The word Katha is union of two words and two meanings. The ‘K’ means ‘Sukh’ (pleasure) and the ‘tha’ means place. So as a combination, the meanings combine to interpret ‘the place where the message attributed to the form of pleasure (God) is dispersed’.  In addition to the Gurbani from the Aadh Granth Sahib Ji, Guru Gobind Singh Ji added Gurbani of the 9th Guru. Fascinating here is that according to historical sources and many manuscripts, there is also one line attributed to the 10th Guru too. This line is as follows:

"My strength has been restored, and the bondage has been set free; now, all attempts can now be successful. Nanak: everything is in Your hands, Lord; You are my (Helper) Support. ||54||"

(Salok Mahalla 9, Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 1429)

This line can be found in many manuscripts with the title ‘Mahalla 10’ even though this title is not found in the 'Damdami' Granth Sahib uttered by Guru Ji.

An interesting point here is that when Guru Hargobind Ji visited this exact location nearly 100 years before Guru Gobind Singh Ji, he had prophesised to Bhai Bidhi Chand Ji that ‘in our 10th form:

“Listening to their words, a 'Damdama' (place of rest) will be created in ‘Malva’. Close to 'Talvandi', 'a Kanshi' (school) will be constructed, where even the 'bull minded' (Lacking intelligence) will study and their minds will be favoured upon. I will sit there and utter this 'Granth' (scripture), whose binding will flourish within the world. There will be no difference in any letter, and though I am a servant, the power of God will be contemplated there.”

(Bhai Mani Singh, Gur Bilas Patshahi 6th)

This reference states the start of a 'Kanshi' (scriptural school) where the Aadh Granth Sahib will be scribed again and there will be no difference to any of the works compiled by the 5th Guru. Guru Hargobind Ji had stated that the whole scripture will be uttered from memory.

To be continued...

The pure belongs to the 'Wonderous Enlightener'. The victory belongs to 'Wonderous Enlightener'.

References: 1. Guru Granth Sahib Ji 1. Gur Bilas Paatshahi 6 - Bhai Mani Singh 2. Gur Bilas Paatshahi 10 - Bhai Sukha Singh 3. Tavarikh Guru Khalsa - Giani Gian Singh 4. Pracheen Panth Parkash - Rattan Singh Bhangu 5. Khalsa Jeevan - Sant Kartar Singh 6. Dakhni Onkar Katha - Sant Gurbachan Singh 7. Bhadron Sangrandh Katha - Sant Jarnail Singh 8. 'How Damdami Taksal Started' (Katha) - Sant Kartar Singh 9. Gurpartap Sooraj - Kavi Santokh Singh 10. Mahaan Kosh - Kaan Singh