THE UNDERSTANDING OF RAAG MALA - PART 1

THE UNDERSTANDING OF RAAG MALA - PART 1

These 84 (6 raags (masculine forms of raags), 30 raagnis (feminine forms) and 48 sons) were all sung with great love by Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji during the Bhog Ceremony of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The names of all of the above stated were written by Guru Sahib himself in Raag Mala. Guru Sahib personally read Raag Mala  during the Bhog ceremony of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (SGGS Ji)and commanded that those who read Raag Mala during the Bhog ceremony will not enter the cycle of 8.4 Million species. Satguru Sri Gobind Singh Ji himself wrote the the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (through Bhai Mani Singh Ji) commencing from Ek Oangkaar up to Athare Das Bees before bestowing SGGS Ji with the eternal Guru status and created the Khalsa Panth Sangat. Sat Sri Akal.

Preface: When Satguru Guru Arjan Dev Ji was compiling the Adi Granth, Guru Ji had finished writing the Mundavni when members of the sangat clasped their hands and requested Guru Ji that, since He is about to finalise the  compilation and writing of the Holy Scripture, to bless the sangat with a Garland of Love with which the sangat will be saved from the cycle of 8.4 million species. Guru Ji accepted the request and subsequently wrote the Raag Mala.

Note: The Raag Mala Bani is answers to questions from the Sikhs.

Raag = Love. Mala= Line. Rosary of Love. It contains lines of shabads which represent the beads and Love as the thread. Reading the shabads of the bani is the act of moving the beads. Those who read the shabads with love and immerse them in their hearts are saved from the transmigration (8.4 Million species) cycle.

Q: How do the five senses become pure?

rwg eyk sµig pMc brµgn ]

A: Raag Eaek Sang Panch Barangan

Raag = Love, Eaek = One God, Sang = with, Panch = five, Barangan = senses

Explanation: Through love with One God, the five senses (tongue, eyes, skin, nose, and ears) become excellent.

Q: Who speaks of the One Waheguru (God)?

sµig Alwpih AwTau nµdn ]

A: Sang Alaapehi Aatho Nandhan

Sang = congregation, Alaapehi = to recite, Aatho = eight quaters (24 hours), Nandhan = son

Explanation: The satsangat (the congregation of truth) utters or speaks of the One Timeless Being for 24 hours throughout day and night, to whom the entire world belongs. The world is considered the son of Vaheguru. 

Personal Note:  Day & Night are divided in to four quadrants, each as follows:

Day:  6:00 am to 9:00 am (Q1), 9:00 am to 12:00 pm (Q2), 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm (Q3), 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm (Q4).

Night: 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm (Q1), 9:00 pm to 12:00 am (Q2), 12:00 am to 3:00 am (Q3), 3:00 am to 6:00 am (Q4).

Q: How to initially (or at first), love God?

pRQm rwg BYrau vY krhI ]

A: Prathham Raag Bhairo Vai Karehee

Prathham = first, Raag = love, Bhairo = fear, Vai = him, Karahee = to do 

Explanation: Immerse first in God’s Fear before loving Him.

Q: How should God be uttered (praised)?

pMc rwgnI sµig aucrhI ]

A: Panch Raaganee Sang Oucharehee

Panch = great, Raaganee = love, Sang = with, Oucharehee = recite 

Explanation: Praise God with a superior level of love.

Q: How to obtain a state of Anand (Bliss/Ecstasy)

pRQm BYrvI iblwvlI ]

A: Prathham Bhairavee Bilaavalee

Prathham = beginning, Bhairavee= create fear, Bilaavalee = bliss

Explanation: Only by first immersing in fear (of God) can one be filled with Bliss.

Personal Note: The state of Anand (Bliss) is only achieved when spiritual wisdom is obtained upon the Grace/Blessings from the Guru. The Guru’s Grace can only be obtained when the disciple immerses in immaculate/pure fear and love for the Guru/God.

Q: How does duality rot (be destroyed)?

puMinAwkI gwvih bµglI ]

A: Punniaakee Gaavehi Bangalee

Punniaakee = intellect of virtuous people, Gaavehi = to sing, Bangalee = duality disappears

Explanation: Those virtuous people who do good deeds in life and sing God’s praises, their duality is destroyed.

Q: How to constantly concentrate in the Current of Naam?

puin AslyKI kI BeI bwrI ]

A: Pun Asalaekhee Kee Bhaee Baaree

Pun = pure, Asalaekhee = written in pure form, Kee = belonging to, Bhaee = become, Baaree = stream

Explanation: Those, who through the Guru, wrote the Pure Form (God) in their hearts; their concentration is cleaned in the river like current of Naam.

Personal Note: Constant concentration in the river like current of Naam is only possible when we do Naam Japna of the Pure Form (God) with love and blessings of the Guru, during which a cleansing of the mind of previous sins takes place. The blessing of the Guru (for a Sikh) can only be obtained through Amrit Sanskar.

Q: How can the Minds thought currents/waves be controlled?

ey BYrau kI pwcau nwrI ]

A: Eae Bhairo Kee Paacho Naaree

Eae = in this way, Bhairo = remain in fear, Kee = the, Paacho = five, Naaree = thought currents

Explanation: By living a life in fear of God (Sikhs who live In this way) the five thought currents of their minds which resemble five women are controlled. 

The five thought currents are:

1. Parman= The mind’s focus on all physical things which are visible to the eyes.

2. Viparjay= The minds tendency to act against Guru’s Instruction/Hukam.

3. Nindra =  A state of mind where it goes into a dream free - deep sleep.

4. Simritee = The recollection of past deeds.

5. Vekalap =  Fantasy or imagination. A desire for abundant returns despite a lack of effort.

Q: Tell us about the intrinsic characteristics/virtues of the five elements?

pMcm hrK idswK sunwvih ]

A: Pancham Harakh Dhisaakh Sunaavehi

Pancham = panch = five elements, am = me/my, Harakhdhi = delightful/pleasing, Saakh = story, Sunaavehi = to tell

Explanation: The five  elements speak of their intrinsic virtues  (Purity for Water, Merciful for Earth, Untouchable for Wind, Illuminating for Fire,  Unpricked nature or Stilllness  for Space (In this case , sky, which is part of space) to the Provider of Bliss  who is the Witness and Conscious Being.

Personal Note: The Gurmukhs are filled with the five virtues of the five elements, for example

1. As sky cannot be pricked, they remain unaffected by hurtful words.

2. As water remains pure, they remain pure despite cleaning sins of others.

3. As earth is merciful and does not punish those who dig it up, so are the Gurmukhs. They do not harbor ill feelings and remain patient towards those who hurt them.

4. As fire is illuminating, the Gurmukhs are also illuminated. They provide for anyone who seek their help without being judgemental.

5. As the wind remains untouchable and impartial in providing coolness to all, so do the Gurmukhs who remain untouched by the five vices; who are impartial  and unprejudiced in their dealings  with people.

Q: How to sing (praises) of Maya’s Lord Husband in one’s heart?

bµgwlm mDu mwDv gwvih ]1]

A: Bangaalam Madhh Maadhhav Gaavehi

Bangaalam = Ban = duality, Gaal = destroy, Am = in, Madhh = heart, Maadhahav= husband of Maya, Gaavehi = to sing 

Explanation: The Gurmukhs destroy duality and sing the praises of Maya’s Husband (God) in their hearts.

Q: How can God be considered as bestower of reward?

llq iblwvl gwvhI ApunI ApunI BWiq

A: Lalat Bilaaval Gaavehee Apunee Apunee Bhaanth

Lalat = beautiful, Bilaaval = bliss, Gaavehee = to sing, Apunee Apunee = according to their own, Bhaanth = method

Explanation: The (praises) of beautiful God is sung with bliss. The ritualist sing of Him in a way that He is the bestower of Fruits based on one’s Karma. The bhagats (devotees) sing of Him in a devotional manner and state of mind whereas the enlightened souls sing of Him as the Enlightener of the mind’s concentration. This is how God is considered as the Bestower of reward.

Personal Note: God bestows us with reward based on our deserving state of mind. If we are ritualists or believers of fruitive actions (karam kandis) then we will be rewarded accordingly based on our worldy wants and desires. Karam Kand is a part of Vedas. Further reading on this subject would be beneficial for better understanding of the subject matter. Similarly the devotees (bhagats) are rewarded based on the devotional worship of God with spiritual gifts. In the same context seekers of elightenment who worship God are rewarded accordingly.

Q: Who are the rightful/deserving?

Ast puqR BYrv ky gwvih gwien pwqR ]1]

A: Ast Putar Bhairav Kae Gaavehi Gaaein Paatar

Ast = eight, Putar = subject, Bhairav = by creating fear, Ke = they, Gaavehi = to sing, Gaaein = praise, Paatar = deserving

Explanation: Those (saints) who have managed control the eight (lust, anger, greed, attachment, ego-Rajo, Tamo, Sato) i.e the five vices and the three qualities of Maya, they have immersed in fear of God and became deserving by singing (His praises).

Personal Note: There are three qualities of Maya.

1) Rajo -This quality is  cause of attachment and ego.

2) Tamo -This quality causes anger.

3) Sato -This quality causes peace, compassion, giving & sharing, happiness etc.