Source
of unending joy
Rag Gaudi Deepki
The
word ‘rag’ denotes the musical measure.
Almost the whole Gurbani is in the verse form in various rags then
prevalent in Indian music. The word/s
following the word ‘rag’ indicate/s the name of the rag of the succeeding
Gurbani.
Mahla 1
The
word ‘Mahla’ literally means body. All
the Sikh Gurus whose writings have been included in Sri Guru Granth Sahib have
written in the name of ‘Nanak’. It was
Light-form of Guru Nanak himself which continued in the succeeding nine Gurus
and thereafter continues in Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Thus the word ‘Mahla’ indicates embodiment of
Guru Nanak. The numerical number
following the word ‘Mahla’ represents the successive Guru who is the author of
the rendering that follows the title viz. Mahla 1 means Guru Nanak Dev Ji,
Mahla 4 means Guru Ram Das Ji and Mahla 5 means Guru Arjan Dev Ji.
Guru
Sahib first of all gives the description of Almighty that He is one, ‘Om’ is
his unstruck sound and He is uniformly present everywhere.
One,
Om
(the primal sound,
the) All-Pervasive.
It is difficult to have total
comprehension of The Almighty. This can
only be attempted with the assistance of Guru.
(Perception
can be had as),
True
Guru’s prasad.
Guru
Nanak Dev Ji commenting on the human way of life, states that pious is the
person whose disposition is one of reverence towards Almighty. One ought to engage himself in singing
praises of all actions of The Almighty and live in ever-remembrance of Him:
Ghar where praises (are) uttered,
(And) contemplations are of (the) Creator.
(In) that ghar sing (the)
Sohila (and)
Ruminate (Name of the real) Originator. ll 1 ll
Every individual must spend as much
time as possible in singing of the virtues of Almighty:
You (all) sing,
(The) Sohila of my Fearless (Lord).
This
methodology is the prime and original source of happiness for which any price
paid would not only be less but negligible:
I (am prepared to) sacrifice (myself,
for the) Sohila (by) which,
Prevails happiness forever. ll 1 ll Pause.
