KnowThySelf

The Story of Gautam Rishi and Ahliya- Translated from Sri Gur Bhagat Mala Steek by Pandit Narain Ji Since olden days in Bharat India, there have been many ways to worship God. The devotees of God would carry out different practices as how their teacher would have told them to do. But the intentions were always to sing the praises of God. Amongst the devotees, there was one who was called Gautam Rishi. He is also mentioned in Gurbani, suKdyau prIK´qu gux rvY goqm iriK jsu gwieE ] Sukhadhaeo Pareekhyath Gun Ravai Gotham Rikh Jas Gaaeiou || Sukh Dayv and Preekhyat sing His Praises, and Gautam the rishi sings His Praise. SGGS: By Guru Arjan Dev Ji on Panna 1390 It means that however Gautam Rishi has sung the praises of Vaheguru, he must have become a beloved devotee of God. In Puranas, one of his story is mentioned and this is how the saints tell the story. Gautam used to worship Shivling-Shaligram. For many years, he did aggressive meditation. L...

Ganika the Prostitute- Translated from Sri Gur Bhagat Mala Steek by Pandit Narain Ji Ganika was a prostitute and she used to live in a market in the centre of a town. She used to commit adultery and other sins. Men were mesmerised by her beauty and her youth. Every evening, her house will be lit with candles and she will be dressed up with all kinds of jewelleries and beautiful dresses. Gurbani mentions, sUAw pVwvq ginkw qrI ] Teaching a parrot to speak the Lord's Name, Ganika the prostitute was saved. so hir nYnhu kI pUqrI ]2] That Lord is the light of my eyes. ||2|| ( rwgu goNf bwxI nwmdyau jIau kI Gru 2 Raag Gond, The Word of Naam Dayv Jee, Second House) Bhagat Naam Dayv Ji tells us that Ganika was saved teaching a parrot to say Lord’s Name. She was then known to be a God’s devotee herself. This was how her life changed for the better. How did this happen? One day, a saint came to her house. He had a parrot in his hand. It is said ...

THE UNDERSTANDING OF RAAG MALA - PART 2 Q: How to get rid of doubt? duqIAw  mwlkausk Awlwpih ] A: Duteeaa Maalkousak Aalaapehi Duteeaa = duality, Maal = rub/knead, Kao = why, Sak = doubt Explanation: Those who knead their duality (destroy it), why would they be doubtful; meaning doubt ceases to exist. Q: How to stop the five organs of actions? sµig  rwgnI  pwcau Qwpih ] A: Sang Raagnee Paacho Thaapehi Sang = with, Raagnee = love, Paacho = five action organs, Thapehi = stop, a state of stillness Explanation: (The Gurmukhs) stop or bring under control the five organs of actions by way of love. Personal Note: The five action organs (karm indryia) are   1) Mouth -organ of speech 2) Hands 3) Feet 4) Reproductive organ 5) Anus-Organ of excretion. Humans create karma with these five organs, hence the reason why they are called karm indriya. These five work under the leadership of the mind, which plans   and schemes all activities. ...

THE UNDERSTANDING OF RAAG MALA - PART 1 T hese 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, s...