Har ki gatt neh kouu jaane – Raag Bihagara – Ang 537

SGGS Angg 537.

Raag Bihagara M.9

Sikh tradition holds that Guru Nanak Dev Ji, visited east India during his udasis. It is said that Guru Ji visited Kolkata on 2nd January 1510, and stayed at the spot where Gurdwara Bari Sangat is located. At that time, there was an epidemic and many people were dying of some incurable diseases. The people were quite broken in spirit, and Guru Ji stayed on for about 12 days.

Guru Ji advised the people to take common sense precautions against infections, and to have unshaken faith in Naam. It is said that Guru Ji recited the Shabad at Angg 1189 Basant M.1, here.

“Chanchall cheet na paavat para; aavat jaaat na laage bara; dukh ghano mariye Kartara; bin Pritam ko kare na saara.”

(The fickle consciousness cannot cross over to the other shore; it is caught in non stop coming and going; I am suffering greatly, and am dying O Creator Lord; besides my Beloved, no one cares for me).

Sikh history further records that Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji on his return from Assam, visited the same spot sometime in April 1688.

This time the population was facing a terrible depression. People had lost jobs, money was scarce, businesses had shut down, and there was gloom everywhere.

Guru Ji told the Sanggat to have total faith in God, and said maya was very fickle. So long as they accepted God’s Will, prayed with sincerity and lived an honest life, these troubling times would pass over. Guru Ji recited this Shabad to the Sanggat there.

The Shabad applies at all times to all people.

No one knows (can fathom), the State (Limit) of the Lord; the yogis, the celibates, the penitents and many clever ones have failed to do so.

“Har ki gatt neh kouu jaane; jogi jati tapi pach harey aur baho logh sianey.” (rahao).

In an instant, He transforms the beggar into a king, and the king into a pauper; He fills what is empty, and empties what is full – such are His Ways.

“Shin meh rao rankk ko karaiye rao rankk kar darey; ritay bhare bhare sakhnave yeh ta ko bivharey.”

He Himself spreads out the expanse of His maya, and He Himself beholds it; He assumes so many wonderful forms and Sports in many ways, yet He remains detached from it all.

“Apni maya Aap pasaree Aape Dekhanharaa; nana roop dhare baho rangee sabh te rahe niaraa.”

Incalculable, Infinite, Beyond Fathom, Immaculate is He, who deludes (bharmaieyo can also mean restless flux), the entire world; Nanak says, O mortal, cast aside all doubts and cherish His Feet (Bani).

“Agannat Apaar Alakh Niranjan jeh sabh jagh bharmaieyo; saggal bharam tajj Nanak pranee Charan tahe chit laaiyo.”

Shabad Viakhya by Bhai Manjeet Singh Ji

Shabad Kirtan available on YouTube