Nakatee ko thanggan badhadoo – Raag Assa – Ang 476

SGGS Angg 476

Raag Assa (Asa) Bhagat Kabir Ji.

Bhagat Ji tells us about the Vam Margi sect. Their conduct is the essence of maya, and their focus is sensuality, which is directly opposite to the Path preached by the Gurus and Bhagats.

The word “vam”, means left or crooked, whilst “marag” means path, thus a path devoid of ethics or morality.

The Vam Margis will gather at a secret place known only to their followers. They will sit, forming a circle. In the centre, a naked woman with a drawn sword stands. The Vam Margis adore the female principle in nature, and believe Shiva’s wife is the epitome of all shakti – power in the Universe.

They use five elements at their rituals, all starting with the letter “M”.
Madya, (wine), mansa (flesh), matsya (fish), mucira (parched grain) and maithuna (lustful indulgence).

The members light a fire, and sit around in a circle. They drink liquor, eat fish, flesh and grains and indulge in debauchery.

They indulge in tantric practices. A small smouldering piece of wood from a funeral pyre is taken. The leader reads some mantras and douses the fire with water. The resulting coal is used to draw the figure of someone they dislike or are paid to harm. At certain times the figure will be poked at certain organs with the intention that the victim will die.
All these abhorrent practices and rites reek of maya and have no whiff of spirituality in them.

Gurbani tells us any such practices will bring terrible karmic punishment.

Bhagat Ji uses the setting of a Vam Margi meeting to tell about maya and it’s terrible dangers.

Guru Amardas Ji says at Angg 39, there is no greater dukh than maya, and it makes you wander aimlessly in the world.

“Maya jevad dukh nahi sabh bhav thakey sansaar.”

In this Shabad, Bhagat Ji says, in one pot they put boiled chicken and in another pot they put wine; the five yogis of the tantric ritual sit around, and in their midst stands the noseless one, the shameless queen.

“Eikat patar bhar urkat kurkat eikat patar kar pani; aas paas pach jogiya bethay beech nakat de rani.” (Bhagat Ji uses “panch jogiya” to mean the five evil passions, kaam, krodh, lobh, moh and ahankaar. The word jogi means to unite. These persons are united with these five terrible passions. The noseless queen in maya. She is the rani, the queen of those passions. She is noseless to indicate lack of shame. Maya has no qualms about ethics or morals. It is common to say  “nakk vadeya jauu” to mean you shall be dishonoured or shamed).

In the rahao, Bhagat Ji says the bell (sounds of tumult and shameless practice) of maya rings loud in both worlds. (In contrast to the inner unstruck subtle sweet melody, heard by the Saintly ones); yet, some wise person of sagely wisdom has cut off your nose.

“Nakatee ko thanggan badhadoo; kinneh bibeki katti tu.” (rahao).

This noseless maya infests all, and kills and destroys everyone; (hiding behind the cloak of respectability), she says “I am the sister, and sister’s niece to everyone, and anyone who marries me, I become his hand maiden.”

Saggal mahe naktee ka vassa saggal marr auheree; saggliyan ki hao bahen bhanjee jinne baree tiss chehree.”

In contrast with the ruthless and shameless antics of maya, Bhagat Ji next describes the conduct of the Saints. The Saintly one says “my Husband is the Great One of discriminating wisdom, and He Himself bestows Sainthood; He stands by me always and no one else (evil passions and maya), comes near me.”

“Hamro Bharta (Guru Amardas Ji has stated at Angg 311, that the True Shabad is our Bharta, Spouse/Husband – “Sacha Shabad Bhattar hai sada sada raveh”) badho bibeki Aape Sant kahave; Oh hamare mathe kayem aur hamre nikatt na aave.”

When maya approaches the Saints, they cut off her nose and ears, and cut her to bits, and throw her away; Kabir says, she (maya) is the darling of the masses in the three worlds, but harbours enmity against the Saints.

“Nakko katee kanno katee kaat koot ke daree; Kahe Kabir Santan ki beirran teen lok ki pyaree.”

Shabad Viakhya by Bhai Manjeet Singh Ji

Shabad Kirtan available on YouTube