Funhe M.5
Angg 1361-1363
Phunhe or Funhe M.5, is a fairly long Bani of 23 padas by Guru Arjun Dev Ji.
In this Bani, the word “Harihan” appears many times. In fact this long Bani does not conclude pada 23 with the Signature “Nanak” but with Harihan.
Harihan has been variously interpreted. It is a combination of two words, “Hari” (God) and “haan” meaning “Yes God,” or “Dear God” “O Loving God”.
The word Phunhe/Punhay or Funhe means to repeat as in
“punhe punhe balihaar.” (Ang 248).
As stated earlier, the word Harihan is repeated many times in this Bani.
The Bani records a conversation between two satsangans (jeev isteris). One is a Suhagan and has lovingly merged into the Lord. The other is a seeker, still on the path. She makes all kinds of silly mistakes on the path to Union. For example, in pada 3, she says:
“Sakhi kajal haar tambol sabhe kich saajeiya; solhe kiye shingaar ke anjan paajiya” i.e. she feels her external decorations will make her attractive to the Lord.
“ਸਖੀ ਕਾਜਲ ਹਾਰ ਤੰਬੋਲ ਸਭੈ ਕਿਛੁ ਸਾਜਿਆ ॥
O my companion, I have prepared everything: make-up, garlands and betel-leaves.
ਸੋਲਹ ਕੀਏ ਸੀਗਾਰ ਕਿ ਅੰਜਨੁ ਪਾਜਿਆ ॥
I have embellished myself with the sixteen decorations, and applied the mascara to my eyes.”
It is He who will decorate you with gunn. These gunn please Him and He decides when to lodge Himself in your mind. The Suhagan says “Je ghar aave Kantt ta sabh kich paaiyeh; Harihan Kante baaj shingaar sabh birtha jaaiyeh.” (pada 3)
“ਜੇ ਘਰਿ ਆਵੈ ਕੰਤੁ ਤ ਸਭੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਪਾਈਐ ॥
If my Husband Lord comes to my home, then I obtain everything.
ਹਰਿਹਾਂ ਕੰਤੈ ਬਾਝੁ ਸੀਗਾਰੁ ਸਭੁ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਜਾਈਐ ॥੩॥
O Lord! Without my Husband, all these adornments are useless. ||3||”
The Suhagan gently rebukes her, guides her and clears the many cobwebs in the mind of the seeker.
The conversation is delightfully described by Guru Ji with Divine Insight.
In pada 9, the seeker expresses fear about the fierce lightning like maya which can scorch you. Her focus is still on external fears. “Upar banne akaash talle dhar sohtee; deh dis chamke bijjal mukh ko johtee.”
“ਊਪਰਿ ਬਨੈ ਅਕਾਸੁ ਤਲੈ ਧਰ ਸੋਹਤੀ ॥
The sky above looks lovely, and the earth below is beautiful.
ਦਹ ਦਿਸ ਚਮਕੈ ਬੀਜੁਲਿ ਮੁਖ ਕਉ ਜੋਹਤੀ ॥
Lightning flashes in the ten directions; I behold the Face of my Beloved.”
She is quite desperate and says “Khojat phiro bidesh Pio katt paaiyeh.”
“ਖੋਜਤ ਫਿਰਉ ਬਿਦੇਸਿ ਪੀਉ ਕਤ ਪਾਈਐ ॥
If I go searching in foreign lands, how can I find my Beloved?
The Suhagan tells her the search is internal. You have to build the destiny upon your forehead and blend into Him within yourself. “Harihan je mastakk hovay bhaag ta Daras samaaiyeh.” (pada 9).
“ਹਰਿਹਾਂ ਜੇ ਮਸਤਕਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਭਾਗੁ ਤ ਦਰਸਿ ਸਮਾਈਐ ॥੯॥
O Lord! If such destiny is inscribed upon my forehead, I am absorbed in the Blessed Vision of His Darshan. ||9||”
It is after this, in pada 10, that the Suhagan tells the seeker about that unique place called satsanggat. She gushes “I have seen all places, but none can compare to you; as the Lord Himself has established you, (“Aape sanggat sadh bahale Aape vidha karavhe.”– Ang 550) you are exalted and glorious; the city of the slaves of the Lord (Raam de dassan di Puri), is prosperous, well populated and Infinite; O Lord, Nanak says, bathing at the sacred pool of Raam Dass (Raam de dass i.e. satsanggat), your sins are washed away.
“Dithe sabhe thaav nahi Tudh jehiya; Badho Purakh Bidhate ta tu sohiya;Vasdee saggan apaar anoop Ramdaspur;Harihan Nanak kasmal jahe naaiyeh Raamdas Sar.” (pada 10).
“ਡਿਠੇ ਸਭੇ ਥਾਵ ਨਹੀ ਤੁਧੁ ਜੇਹਿਆ ॥
I have seen all places, but none can compare to You.
ਬਧੋਹੁ ਪੁਰਖਿ ਬਿਧਾਤੈ ਤਾਂ ਤੂ ਸੋਹਿਆ ॥
The Primal Lord, the Architect of Destiny, has established You; thus You are adorned and embellished.
ਵਸਦੀ ਸਘਨ ਅਪਾਰ ਅਨੂਪ ਰਾਮਦਾਸ ਪੁਰ ॥
Ramdaspur is prosperous and thickly populated, and incomparably beautiful.
ਹਰਿਹਾਂ ਨਾਨਕ ਕਸਮਲ ਜਾਹਿ ਨਾਇਐ ਰਾਮਦਾਸ ਸਰ ॥੧੦॥
O Lord! Bathing in the Sacred Pool of Raam Daas, the sins are washed away, O Nanak. ||10||”
Sikh tradition says Guru Arjun Dev Ji wrote this pada in Praise of Amritsar.
But Gurbani tells us at many places in SGGS Ji that your filth can be washed off in satsanggat.
At Angg 623, Guru Ji says “Santo Ramdas sarovar nika; jo naave so kulh taravhe udhar hova hai jee ka.”
“ਸੰਤਹੁ ਰਾਮਦਾਸ ਸਰੋਵਰੁ ਨੀਕਾ ॥
O Saints, the purifying pool of Ram Das is sublime.
ਜੋ ਨਾਵੈ ਸੋ ਕੁਲੁ ਤਰਾਵੈ ਉਧਾਰੁ ਹੋਆ ਹੈ ਜੀ ਕਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Whoever bathes in it, his family and ancestry are saved, and his soul is saved as well. ||1||Pause||
In the same Shabad Guru Ji emphasises, “Sant sarovar naave; so jan paramgatt paavhe.”
“ਸੰਤ ਸਰੋਵਰ ਨਾਵੈ ॥
One who bathes in the healing pool of the Saints,
ਸੋ ਜਨੁ ਪਰਮ ਗਤਿ ਪਾਵੈ ॥
that humble being obtains the supreme status.”
In the Shabad “Ramdas sarovar natey; sabh utray paap kamate “(Ang 625), Guru Ji stresses “sadhsang malh lathi”.
The conversation continues. In pada 15, the seeker has come to some realisation. She knows she is hopelessly caught in the false fragrance of maya, and is held tight by the maya lotus. She pleads with the Suhagan “Hai koyee aisa meet je torhe bikham gaanth?”
“ਹੈ ਕੋਊ ਐਸਾ ਮੀਤੁ ਜਿ ਤੋਰੈ ਬਿਖਮ ਗਾਂਠਿ ॥
Is there any such friend, who can untie this difficult knot?”
The answer the Suhagan gives is from the Guru. Only the Lord can tear those bonds and Unite you, the separated one with Himself. “Nanak Ek Sridhar Naath je tutte ley saanth.” (pada 15)
“ਨਾਨਕ ਇਕੁ ਸ੍ਰੀਧਰ ਨਾਥੁ ਜਿ ਟੂਟੇ ਲੇਇ ਸਾਂਠਿ ॥੧੫॥
O Nanak, the One Supreme Lord and Master of the earth reunites the separated ones. ||15||”
In pada 16, the seeker is now in a frenzy. She loves the Lord. She runs in all directions seeking help; the five evil passions greatly torment her, and she asks how can they be destroyed? “Dhaavho dasaa anek prem Prabh kaarne; panch sataave doot kavan bidh maarne.”
“ਧਾਵਉ ਦਸਾ ਅਨੇਕ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕਾਰਣੇ ॥
I run around in all directions, searching for the love of God.
ਪੰਚ ਸਤਾਵਹਿ ਦੂਤ ਕਵਨ ਬਿਧਿ ਮਾਰਣੇ ॥
The five evil enemies are tormenting me; how can I destroy them?”
The Suhagan answers those questions. Shoot them with the sharp arrows of meditation on the Name of the Lord; (the Suhagan exclaims) Dear Lord the way to slaughter these terrible sadistic enemies is revealed by the Perfect Guru (Shabad). “Tikhan baan chalaiye Naam Prabh dhiaaiyeh; Harihan maha bikhaadi ghaat Puran Gur paaiyeh.”
“ਤੀਖਣ ਬਾਣ ਚਲਾਇ ਨਾਮੁ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਧ੍ਯ੍ਯਾਈਐ ॥
Shoot them with the sharp arrows of meditation on the Name of God.
ਹਰਿਹਾਂ ਮਹਾਂ ਬਿਖਾਦੀ ਘਾਤ ਪੂਰਨ ਗੁਰੁ ਪਾਈਐ ॥੧੬॥
O Lord! The way to slaughter these terrible sadistic enemies is obtained from the Perfect Guru. ||16||”
Read the entire Bani of Phunhe a few times and reflect upon it. Relate the questions by the seeker as if they are from you and be delighted by the answers given by the Satguru in the voice of the Suhagan.
Shabad Veechar by Manjeet Singh
16 September 2023.
