Sikh Faith

Ardas

2007-10-01T14:04:00.000-05:00

I had a hard time remembering the sequence of Ardaas. Following is the technique I used. Off course you have to learn each stanzas

Before the first stanza starts remember

Ik Onkar, Waheguru ji ki fateh Sri Bhagauti ji sahaaye Vaar Sri Bhagauti Ji ki, Paatshaahee 10

then in the first stanza all the ten gurus and SGGS and it should start like ..

Pritham Bhagautee simar kai Gur Nanak layee{n} dhyaaye ...

then in the second stanza remember all the panj pyare , 40 mukte, remember their contribution/shaheediPanj piyaare

char sahibzaade, chaali mukte, hathhiyaan, japiyaan..

Now that all the gurus, panj pyares are done, in the third stanza meditate on the achievement of the all the male and female members of the Khalsa who laid down their lives for the religion

Jinha Singhaan, Singhaneeyaan ne, Dharam het sees dittey, bandd-bandd kataaye ..

In the fourth stanza a brief mention about the five takhts and other gurdwaras

Panjaa{n} takhtaa{n}, sarbat Gurdwareyaa{n} da dhyaan dhar ke bolo ji 'Waheguru'."

In first four stanzas of the Sikh prayer, there is no demand. We only remember our Gurus, martyrs, lovers of the God, our holy religious places etc. Now starting from fifth stanza we start requesting/begging (Yes we are literally beg in front of the guru )

Prithmey sarbat Khalsa ji kee ardaas hai ji....

In the sixth stanza we request the akal poorakh (Immortal being) for some gifts starting from Sikhee daan (Grant to Sikhs; the gift of discipleship), kes daan (the gift of hair),

In the seventh stanza we request for some qualities

Sikhaan da mann neevan, matt uchche..

In the eight stanza we ask guru to give us the darshan of all the seperated gurdwaras (e.g. nankana sahib in the partition of 1947)

Hey Akaal Purkh (O Immortal being), apney Panth dey sada shaayee daataar jeeo.......

and in the final stanza we do the ardaas for the keertan/path we did, prashad, birthday, bhog, etc. In this section i have seen different people using different quotes like

1.
asee khathae bahuth kamaavadhae a(n)th n paaraavaar
har kirapaa kar kai bakhas laihu ho paapee vadd gunehagaar
jaethaa samu(n)dh saagar neer bhariaa thaethae aougan hamaarae
dhaeiaa karahu kishh mihar oupaavahu ddubadhae pathhar thaarae
jeearraa agan baraabar thapai bheethar vagai kaathee
pranavath naanak hukam pashhaanai sukh hovai dhin raathee

This is my all time favorite. It depicts my mind so well. My grand-mom (dad's mom -dadhi) uses this during ardaas

2.
jagath jala(n)dhaa rakh lai aapanee kirapaa dhhaar
jith dhuaarai oubarai thithai laihu oubaar
(Page - 853 )

3.
aapae jaanai karae aap aapae aanai raas
thisai agai naanakaa khalie keechai aradhaas
(Page 1093)

4. This can be quoted when you mention about someone's sad demise
ghalae aavehi naanakaa sadhae out(h)ee jaahi ||1||
(Those who are sent, come, O Nanak; when they are called back, they depart and go)

Thoughts dump

2007-05-05T08:55:00.000-05:00

kabeer maeraa mujh mehi kishh nehee jo kishh hai so thaeraa
thaeraa thujh ko soupathae kiaa laagai maeraa

Such a simple verse, so true yet so difficult to implement for your entire life. One tries to implement it, attains success for some time but soon mind gets caught in the wind of distress, doubts and frustration. They say thoughts are faster than electricity. At one instant we are thinking of family and the other instant we are working, in the next moment we find and decide on buying a new car but before the thought gains momentum we cancel the idea in light of its performance, finance, mileage , and so on. The beauty is: all this happens in a second just like dreams. My childhood teacher once told me, the entire experience of your dream at any night happens in less than a second, probably our entire life is quite similar when watched at an altitude of 100 years....

meaera mujh meh kishh nahee jo kishh hai so thaeraa
thaeraa tujh ko soupathee kiaa laagai maeraa

Its yours o almighty whatever you gave, If i submit it back to you then nothing stays with me

Life becomes simple with this thought..

Do we really chant ?

2007-03-19T11:00:00.000-05:00

rwmu rwmu krqw sBu jgu iPrY rwmu n pwieAw jwie ]

raam raam karathaa sabh jag firai raam n paaeiaa jaae ||

The entire world roams around, chanting, ""Raam, Raam, Lord, Lord"", but the Lord cannot be obtained like this.

Agmu Agocru Aiq vfw Aqulu n quilAw jwie ]

agam agochar ath vaddaa athul n thuliaa jaae ||

He is inaccessible, unfathomable and so very great; He is unweighable, and cannot be weighed.

kImiq iknY n pweIAw ikqY n lieAw jwie ]

keemath kinai n paaeeaa kithai n laeiaa jaae ||

No one can evaluate Him; He cannot be purchased at any price.

gur kY sbid ByidAw ien ibiD visAw min Awie ]

gur kai sabadh bhaedhiaa ein bidhh vasiaa man aae ||

Through the Word of the Guru's Shabad, His mystery is known; in this way, He comes to dwell in the mind.

nwnk Awip Amyau hY gur ikrpw qy rihAw smwie ]

naanak aap amaeo hai gur kirapaa thae rehiaa samaae ||

O Nanak, He Himself is infinite; by Guru's Grace, He is known to be permeating and pervading everywhere.

Awpy imilAw imil rihAw Awpy imilAw Awie ]1]

aapae miliaa mil rehiaa aapae miliaa aae ||1||

He Himself comes to blend, and having blended, remains blended. ||1||

Monty - lived up to the expectation

2006-12-14T16:09:00.000-05:00

Lot of eyes must have got relaxed
Lot of boiling blood must have calmed down
Lot of questions must have got answered
Lots of anxiety converted into tranquility
Lot of family members must be rejoicing

Okay, let me cut the crap :). Madhusudhan Singh (Monty Panesar) finally performed and gave a befitting answer in first hour of the third test match. I am quite glad for one reason, at least he did not fumble like our Indian team and lived upto everyone's expectations. Although he managed to pick up 5 wickets, things don't look optimistic at the end of the day
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20929697-5001505,00.html

My first Ticket

2006-11-15T15:49:00.000-05:00

The way I drive, this was expected. I had got this speeding ticket somewhere in september and yesterday was the trial/arrangement (thats what the judge likes to call it) day. I had decided that I am going to plea for "No Lo", found out from the options listed on the Alpharetta site. Based upon earlier experiences of some of my friends i was expecting some kind of racisim especially during the entrance but I was glad that alpharetta court security judge didn't come up with any thing stupid/racialist like "you need to remove your turban", etc the way it happened for Tarun Singh
The court proceedings was pretty much a cake walk, spoke to the solicitor, she approved me for a NO LO, spoke to the judge, paid the fine and walked out.
I know I can't be careful, I can only hope that I atleast follow some basic rules of how to prevent from being noticed whenever you speed ;) Here's something which I got it from a website

" As a serving police officer, I can tell you when you are most likely to get stopped. There are a few rules you need to know in order not to get stopped.

Firstly motorway driving:
The rules on speeding are that no-one will take any notice of you if you are within 10% over the speed limit. ie 70mph + 7 = 77mph.
If you are in a group of cars that are, say, doing 85mph again we wouldnt take any notice.
But if you were on the motorway and doing 85-90mph on your own then we would be interested.
Anything over 85-90mph and you are deffinately going to get stopped.
Also a real old car doing 85mph+ will get stopped.
If you look really young and in a BMW for example, you will get stopped.
Weaving from one lane to another or staying in the outside lane all on your own, you will be stopped.
Having defective lights, indicators or a smoking exhaust, we will also have a chat with you.

City driving:
Same as the above as speed limit + 10% any over and your going to be pulled over.
Really slow driving, no lights etc.. youll be surprised what some people do.
Any swerving around indicates you just left the pub.
Any lads hanging out of the back window will also attract our attention.
Hope this helps and safe driving! "

Madhusudhan Singh, My wishes

2006-11-14T15:20:00.000-05:00

http://saabt.com/article.asp?article=1763

I agree with Amar Duggal on the news of racial discrimination against Monty Panesar. Fareed ji in Gurbani has said

ਫਰੀਦਾ ਬੁਰੇ ਦਾ ਭਲਾ ਕਰਿ ਗੁਸਾ ਮਨਿ ਨ ਹਢਾਇ ॥
फरीदा बुरे दा भला करि गुसा मनि न हढाइ ॥
fareedaa buray daa bhala kar gusaa man na hadhaa-ay.
Fareed, answer evil with goodness; do not fill your mind with anger.

So whomsoever made those remarks, god bless him

Monty, may Waheguru give you enough strength to accept all the discriminatory behaviour as Guru's Hukum and move on you with your karma. As always, something good has to come out of this. Shall pray that you come out Victorious from these tough times and victory for us means abiding by your faith, sticking to sikhi and its principles and continue to do what you are suppose to do. You are one of those individuals who will probably be looked upon as a Sikh pioneer and the next generation will draw inspiration from you and your game.

Nanak Naam Chardi kala Tere Bhaane Sarbat Da Bhala

2nd Pauree of Japji Sahib

2006-05-01T07:16:00.000-05:00

hukumi hovan aakkar hukum na kehaya jaai
- Only as per the instructions and order of the almighty, all the elements of the nature take different shapes and sizes. Every element in this universe like mountains, birds, human beings, plants have their distinct and unique features in terms of shapes, size, behaviour, etc. Everything carries its own significance and has its own limits.
- the command/order of the almighty is so huge that it is not possible to describe it (hukum na kehaya jaai) but still lets try to describe it in some way/

- Science has progressed to a great extent but even today it has not been able to create blood, still today it takes blood from different people and stores it in blood banks, in short it has to be believed that everything whatever happens in this world is with his order and with his wish.

hukumi hovan jee hukam mille vadi-aa-ee
- every soul is created by his command, and only by his command and wish a soul attains glory or becomes great.
Amongst every kind of species in this universe, you will find that some are really good and some are really bad. For example amongst stones diamonds are adored and admired but others are wandering around and do not carry as much significance/value. Flowers are of humongous types but rose and lotus are the ones which are loved by everyone.In birds, Cuckoo has a honey sweet voice and all love to hear it but if a crow speaks people hate it and will try to scare it away. In animals Cow is said to have a saintly nature and is treated holy but dog/pigs are used as a metaphor for bad deeds or. So in this way the almighty has the power to create and destroy souls and to glorify or condemn anyone.

hukum uttam neech hukum likh dukh sukh paayi
- only as per his command some are adored/admired and some are looked upon as downtrodden/low. Only as per his command one gets happiness or grief.
delete

ekna hukumi bakhsees ek hukumi sada bhavaiye
- As per the command of almighty, some get forgiven and are blessed while some wander aimlessly

hukmai andar sabh ko baahar hukam na ko-ay.
- Fish can only swim from one end of the ocean to the other end of ocean. If it wants to swim outside the ocean/river it cannot do it. So whatever limit or command has been given by almighty, one can only do that much and nothing beyond that. Even if someone is getting killed or doing good deeds it is all with his command and wishes. Nothing beyond his command can be done. No one can do anything without his wishes.

naanak hukmai jay bujhai ta ha-umai kahai na ko-ay.
- One who understand the command of almighty, then ego vanishes, "Main" mith jaandi hai.

about ego, kabeer ji has beautifully said in gurbani "jab lag meri meri kare tab lag kaaj ek nahi saare, jab meeri meeri mith jaaye tab kaj savare aaye". When "I" dies "You" (almighty) is born and then the almighty comes to solve all your problems and issues

- the moral of this pauree is everything is happening by the command of the universal creator, people have this illusion that they are doing or it is happening because of their capabilities but it is just a mental delusion and nothing else. So one who understands this universal truth that no one is capable of doing anything with his capabilities its everything because the almighty is doing it and it is absolutely as per his command then life becomes beautiful

First pauree of japji sahib

2006-04-28T06:13:00.000-05:00

jap
- name of bani. The first bani. it is a instruction here which says that do jab, but whose jab ?

aad sach jugaad sach, hai bhee sach, naanak hosee bhee sach
- Do jap of someone
- who was true before, in the primal ages when centuries were not even started,
- who was true even during jugaads (centuries)
- was is true even now and will be true forever

sochai soch na hovee, jé sochee lakh vaar
- Even if you think 100,000 times or taken bath in ganges
it is not going to happen*, man sucha nahi hoyega

chupai chup na hove-ee je laae rehaa liv taar
- By speaking lot of energy goes waste, sometimes you say ill about someone, so some sect of people in order to attain god they chose to stay silent.this is like equivalent of saying that god has given us life and i dont want to use. God has given us beautiful indiryaan (senses) we should use them in a good manner
By staying silent and complete absorbed you will not attain god, Even if you stay silent the mind has not stopped, is still speaking and is working on something or the other..
Instead speak little but speak meaning ful do not BS around. Dont vomit dirty mud out of your mouth, instead say a very small thing like the size of a grain but it should have a beautiful smell.

bhukhiaa bhukh na utree je bannaa pureeaa bhaar
- it was said by some sect (vaam-maargi) of society that we should satisfy our mind. give mind anything it craves for.It was believed that once mind is satisfied it will then move towards god but Human hunger never gets satisfied even if you tie tons and tons of food around your body and therefore this fact proved to be wrong. vaam-maargi's

sehas siaanpaa lakh hohi, taan ek na chalai naal

- If you are a learned person, have lot of intelligence, got lot of degrees, still you can't attain god. In front of the universal creator your education, your cleverness, and intelligence doesn't work.

kiv sachiaaraa hoeeai kiv koorrai tuttai paal
- So If nothing of above will work then how will I become sachiaar (pure) and our break the wall of falsehood ?

hukam razaaee chalnaa naanak likhiaa naal
- supreme god has written the orders for you and you should Live by them, accept it and proceed ahead in your journey of life. Do keep remembering him, praise him and thank him for having given you such an valuable incarnation of a human being.

Kabeer da chand

2006-04-27T17:37:00.000-05:00

One of kabeer's chandh which i came across in Giani sant Singh Maskeen's explaination of Japji Sahib's first pauree

gang nahaye jo nar tarr hai
mendak (frog) kyon na tarr hai jinke ganga mein ghar hain

shankh bajaye jo nar tarr hai
gadhe kon na tarr hai jinke shankh jaise surr hain

jath (hairs) badaye jo nar tarr hai
moor (peacock) kyon na tarr hain jinke lambe lambe parr (wings) hain

kehat kabeer suno re santo
wahi nar tar hainn jinke hirde mein har (god/ishwar)hainn

I am happy

2005-09-20T03:44:00.000-05:00

i am happy that i have pain in my heart
atleast then i go to my 'sache patshah' for his blessings

i am happy that i have problems
atleast then i go to my guru for its solution

i am happy that i have issues
atleast then i seek my 'kripa nidhan' for its resolution

i am happy that i cry
atleast then i go to my 'deen dayal' for happinness

i am happy that i have foes
atleast then i go to my 'satguru' for friends

hay akal purakh grant me everything that gets me closer to you
and seize all the worldly pleasures which recedes me from you

San Jose Gurudwara

2005-07-04T02:14:00.000-05:00

The gurudwara is spread across an area of 40 acres and costing around $10million. Annual donations to the San Jose gurudwara total about $1 million and in the next four to five years, the community hopes to raise another $10 million to build a 74,000 square feet prayer hall, a Sunday school and a museum.

Officer & A Gentleman - Jagjit Singh Aurora

2005-07-03T06:12:00.000-05:00

In olive green attire, he was a war hero liberating a shackled populace. As a politican, he fought for a people wronged in the 1984 riots.

Lt Gen (Retired) Jagjit Singh Aurora was the face of India's military power in 1971 when 93,000 Pakistani troops laid down arms before him in Dhaka in the biggest-ever war surrender

Born in February of 1916 at Kale Gujaran village in Jhelum district, now in Pakistan, Gen Aurora had his schooling at Mission School in Rawalpindi before he joined the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehra Dun.

His father Diwan Singh was an engineer in Jhelum (now in Pakistan) and mother a Sikh woman of Burmese origin.

Once dubbed as the best dressed man in the country for his impeccable dressing sense, Aurora was commissioned into the Indian Army in the first battalion of the 2nd Punjab Regiment in 1939.

He saw action in 1947-48, in 1948 Kashmir operations, when he led the same battalion in Pir Kalewa region of Rajouri district. Later, he commanded a brigade in the same sector.

He served in various staff appointments before being promoted to the rank of a Colonel and was posted as the Deputy Commandant of the Infantry School, Mhow. In February 1957, he was given the command of a brigade.

After attending a course at the National Defence College in 1960, he was appointed the Brigadier General Staff of a Corps Headquarters in the Eastern Sector.

Being promoted as a Major-General in February in 1963, Aurora was given the command of an Infantry Division. Later next year, he became the Director of Military Training at Army Headquarters.

He assumed charge of Deputy Chief of Army Staff in June 1966 with the rank of Lieutenant-General, the post which he held till April 1967. Then he was posted to the Eastern Sector as GOC of a Corps Headquarters. He took over as GOC-in-C, Eastern Command in 1969.

Historic moment

Gen Aurora decided the entire defense strategy for the battle. His main motive was to reach Dhaka in a short time where the army had established its defences. With the battle cry “Leave the highways and follow the by-ways” he moved along with his troops towards Dhaka. Within 13 days of the war Indian army forced Pakistan to lay down arms in Dhaka, then an Islamabad-administered territory.

East Pakistan fell to the Indian Army and Bangladesh was born.

Lt General A. A. K. (“Tiger”) Niazi, Commander of the Pakistani Forces in East Pakistan (Now Bangladesh) signing the surrender document for Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora. Watching the ceremony are Vice Admiral N Krishnan (FOC-in-C Eastern Naval Command), Maj Gen K V Krishna Rao (GOC, 8 Div - Behind the Vice Admiral), Air Marshal H C Dewan (AOC-in-C, Eastern Command) , Lt Gen Sagat Singh (GOC, IV Corps), Maj Gen J F R Jacob (Chief of Staff, Eastern Army Command) and Maj Gen Gandharv Nagra (GOC, 101 Communication Zone)

Gen Niazi finally signed in instrument of surrender on December 16, 1971 as 93,000 of his troops laid down arms.

Gen Aurora also became a key campaigner for justice for the victims of the 1984 riots. He was deeply pained with the sikh riots and strongly condemned the them. He had set up a Sikh Forum and the Citizens’ Justice Committee, comprising top judicial celebrities, to press for justice to the victims. After his death one of BRF member Dr. Subhash Thareja had published a full page advertisement as a salute to him and a condolence to the victims of 1984 riots.

Here’s the link for the same

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/Temp/thankyousir.pdf

Gen Aurora became a Rajya Sabha member in 1987 from Punjab. However in one of the rediff chats he says that he did not really enjoy his sojourn. He says that

“My six years in the Rajya Sabha were interesting though not as satisfying as the army service. The main reason being we did a lot of talking on some vital and quite often on points which did not merit much importance. On the whole, the achievements were very few. In the army even going on manoueveres carrying out sham-fighting gives greater satisfaction.”

He was awarded Param Vishisht Sewa Medal in 1971 and Padma Bhushan in 1972. He was also a member of the National Integration Council

About Indian Army

He felt the there is a dearth of brave and young people in the Indian army. He says “…government has to make the army more attractive, not only by giving larger pay and other emoluments but by giving the army officers the prestige that they deserve. I may mention that during the British days, a union commission officer when he went to visit any office he was offered a chair to sit down and due notice was taken of his problem which was expeditiously solved. Today, army officers are not given the status and prestige they deserve. This must be put right and more facilities provided to them to be able to live with their families if we want to improve the leadership of armed forces.”

He was as soldier who fought for 2 countries. The significance of keeping one’s head cool during war is very high. After his death one of the newspapers in Bangladesh quoted

“The late General lived for another 34 years, after achieving that glorious victory. It is a shame that independent Bangladesh did not give him due honour in his life time. However, we should not allow this military hero to slip into oblivion, for that entails the grave risk of forgetting the momentous events of December 1971. Our condolences for the bereaved family members of the late General.”

About Indian politics

Gen. Aurora believed that Indian politics is going through a bad phase However the Indian politicians are not as bad and as unprincipled as Pakistan politicians. He said that they should give due respect and recognition to the Indian army and its other 2 professional services (Navy and Air force).

I salute to this turbaned Sikh who with his gentle personality will prove as an inspiration to each and every Sikh .