Bhai Gurdas Ji – the great saint scholar, scribe and philosopher of Sikhi In the Sikh Panth, Bhai Gurdas Ji’s writings hold a very special place. They are often called gurbani di kunji (the key to gurbani), because they help explain difficult Shabads in clear, everyday
Read MoreWe just don’t believe in the Abrahamic version(s). It’s a favourite line of Sikh social media influencers attempting to explain the Sikh belief in Akal Purakh to the public: “We don’t believe that God is a man in the sky.” What they mean to say is
Read MoreIn Gurbani, many letters have special pronunciation marks beneath them, such as the Udaat symbol, the yakash symbol, etc.When these symbols are present, the pronunciation of the word changes. (1) Udaat ਗੁਣ ਰਾਸਿ ਬੰਨੑਿ ਪਲੈ ਆਨੀ ॥Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang: 372 ਠਗਿ ਮੁਠੀ ਕੂੜਿਆਰ ਬੰਨੑਿ
Read MoreWithin Gurbani, many rules are written in a very clear and beautiful way. By understanding them properly, they can be followed easily. Examples from Gurbani: ਰਾਗੁ ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ ਮਹਲਾ ਪਹਿਲਾ ੧ ਘਰੁ ੧॥Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang: 14 ਗੂਜਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੩ ਤੀਜਾ॥Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji,
Read MoreWho are “we”?Philosophies such as Advaitism distill our existence until “we” no longer remain, and what is left is the mere idea of existence, void of any actual Being to experience this state. According to these philosophies, “I” and “we” are illusions; and when we achieve our goal
Read MoreWho was Chandrahans? His name has appeared in Siri Guru Granth Sahib jee at least once. Following is the pankiti where his name appears: ਸਭੁ ਹੈ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਹੈ ਪਸਰਿਆ ਮਨਿ ਬੀਜਿਆ ਖਾਵਾਰੇ ॥ ਜਿਉ ਜਨ ਚੰਦ੍ਰਹਾਂਸੁ ਦੁਖਿਆ ਧ੍ਰਿਸਟਬੁਧੀ ਅਪੁਨਾ ਘਰੁ ਲੂਕੀ ਜਾਰੇ ॥੬॥ In everything
Read MoreIntroductionAlmost every Sikh knows the lines: ਸੁ ਕਹੁ ਟਲ ਗੁਰੁ ਸੇਵੀਐ ਅਹਿਨਿਸਿ ਸਹਜਿ ਸੁਭਾਇ ॥ਦਰਸਨਿ ਪਰਸਿਐ ਗੁਰੂ ਕੈ ਜਨਮ ਮਰਣ ਦੁਖੁ ਜਾਇ ॥੧੦॥ However, many Sikhs are unaware that they are using ਟਲ instead of the correct word, ਕਲ. Printed Birhs today contain the word ਟਲ which is a misprint. As
Read MoreDhru was born to the first wife of Raja Uttanpad. The king had two wives, but he was most fond of the second one. Dhru had a step-brother from his stepmother, the second wife of the king. Since the king was more fond of Suruchi, the
Read MoreThere are several pankitis in Gurbani alluding towards an elephant that was saved from an octopus. Presented below is the brief story of how the elephant was saved by Vaheguru. Hopefully, this will enable us to understand many pankitis of Gurbani more clearly. Gajj means elephant.
Read MoreGurbani verses on Kindness to All Beings and Abstaining from Meat Gurbani says to be kind towards all beings. The unnecessary killing of animals for one’s taste buds, when it is not essential for human survival, goes against this: ਅਠਸਠਿ ਤੀਰਥ ਸਗਲ ਪੁੰਨ ਜੀਅ ਦਇਆ ਪਰਵਾਨੁ
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