KIRTAN CHAUNKIS at Harmandir Sahib/Raag Kalyaan
In the Indian scheme of music, Raags have strict times fixed at which they can be sung. In Gurbani Kirtan however, great leeway is generally used as the Shabads which are sung are Timeless and can be read/sung at any time.
At Sri Harmandir Sahib, Shabads from all 31 Raags in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (SGGS Ji) are sung during various chaunkis.
Asa Ki Vaar di Chaunki – 3am – 6am – In addition to Asa (Assa) Ki Vaar, Shabads are sung in the Raags like Asa (Assa), Ramkali, Bhairo, Parbhati, Gauri (Gauree) and Devgandhari.
Anand di Chaunki from 6am to 10 am – First the entire Anand Sahib 40 Pauris are sung, followed by Shabads in Raags like Gujri, Todi, Suhi and Tukhari.
Charan Kamal di Chaunki from 10am to 4pm – Also known as Bilawal (Bilawaal) di Chaunki. During this session, Shabads are sung in Raags like Bilawal, Majh, Wadhans, Gaund, Sarangh and Mali Gaura.
Sodar Ki Chaunki – 4pm to 7p – It is also known as Sandhi Parkash. Shabads are sung from Raags like Sri Raag, Dhansari (Dhansaree), Jaistri (Jaitshree), Bairari, Maru and Asa.
Sukh Asan or Kalyaan di Chaunki – 7pm to 10pm. Shabads are sung from Raags Kalyaan, Kanrah, Bihagra, Sorath, Tilang, Nat Narayan, Kedara, Malaar, Asa and Jajawanti.
At the end, Kirtan Sohila or Song of Praise is recited.
RAAG KALYAAN – SGGG Ji – Ang 1319-1326
Kalyan means fortunate, auspicious, salvation, joy, bliss, wealthy.
The word Kalyaan is used in Gurbani especially in Raag Kalyaan in the sense of eternal joy and liberation from all bondages.
Guru Ramdas Ji has 7 Chaupadas-Dupade, 6 Astpadhian in Raag Kalyaan.
Guru Arjun Dev Ji has 10 Dupade. There are 23 Shabads in Raag Kalyaan over 8 Angs from Anggs 1319 to 1326.
In the final three Shabads by Guru Arjun Dev Ji, Guru Ji uses the word Kalyaan to mean eternal joy, bliss and salvation:
Angs 1322 (Shabad 8):
ਮਨਿ ਤਨਿ ਜਾਪੀਐ ਭਗਵਾਨ ॥
Within my mind and body I meditate on the Lord God.
ਗੁਰ ਪੂਰੇ ਸੁਪ੍ਰਸੰਨ ਭਏ ਸਦਾ ਸੂਖ ਕਲਿਆਨ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
The Perfect Guru is pleased and satisfied; I am blessed with eternal peace and happiness. ||1||Pause||
ਸਰਬ ਕਾਰਜ ਸਿਧਿ ਭਏ ਗਾਇ ਗੁਨ ਗੁਪਾਲ ॥
All affairs are successfully resolved, singing the Glorious Praises of the Lord of the World.
ਮਿਲਿ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਸਿਮਰੇ ਨਾਠਿਆ ਦੁਖ ਕਾਲ ॥੧॥
Joining the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, I dwell upon God, and the pain of death is taken away. ||1||
ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਮੇਰਿਆ ਕਰਉ ਦਿਨੁ ਰੈਨਿ ਸੇਵ ॥
Please take pity on me, O my God, that I may serve You day and night.
ਨਾਨਕ ਦਾਸ ਸਰਣਾਗਤੀ ਹਰਿ ਪੁਰਖ ਪੂਰਨ ਦੇਵ ॥੨॥੫॥੮॥
Slave Nanak seeks the Sanctuary of the Lord, the Perfect, Divine Primal Being. ||2||5||8||
Ang 1323 (Shabad 9):
ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਮੇਰਾ ਅੰਤਰਜਾਮੀ ਜਾਣੁ ॥
My God is the Inner-knower, the Searcher of Hearts.
ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਪੂਰਨ ਪਰਮੇਸਰ ਨਿਹਚਲੁ ਸਚੁ ਸਬਦੁ ਨੀਸਾਣੁ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Take pity on me, O Perfect Transcendent Lord; bless me with the True Eternal Insignia of the Shabad, the Word of God. ||1||Pause||
ਹਰਿ ਬਿਨੁ ਆਨ ਨ ਕੋਈ ਸਮਰਥੁ ਤੇਰੀ ਆਸ ਤੇਰਾ ਮਨਿ ਤਾਣੁ ॥
O Lord, other than You, no one is all-powerful. You are the Hope and the Strength of my mind.
ਸਰਬ ਘਟਾ ਕੇ ਦਾਤੇ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਦੇਹਿ ਸੁ ਪਹਿਰਣੁ ਖਾਣੁ ॥੧॥
You are the Giver to the hearts of all beings, O Lord and Master. I eat and wear whatever You give me. ||1||
ਸੁਰਤਿ ਮਤਿ ਚਤੁਰਾਈ ਸੋਭਾ ਰੂਪੁ ਰੰਗੁ ਧਨੁ ਮਾਣੁ ॥
Intuitive understanding, wisdom and cleverness, glory and beauty, pleasure, wealth and honor,
ਸਰਬ ਸੂਖ ਆਨੰਦ ਨਾਨਕ ਜਪਿ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਲਿਆਣੁ ॥੨॥੬॥੯॥
all comforts, bliss, happiness and salvation, O Nanak, come by chanting the Lord’s Name. ||2||6||9||
Ang 1323 (Shabad 10):
ਹਰਿ ਚਰਨ ਸਰਨ ਕਲਿਆਨ ਕਰਨ ॥
The Sanctuary of the Lord’s Feet bring salvation.
ਪ੍ਰਭ ਨਾਮੁ ਪਤਿਤ ਪਾਵਨੋ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
God’s Name is the Purifier of sinners. ||1||Pause||
ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਜਪਿ ਨਿਸੰਗ ਜਮਕਾਲੁ ਤਿਸੁ ਨ ਖਾਵਨੋ ॥੧॥
Whoever chants and meditates in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, shall undoubtedly escape being consumed by the Messenger of Death. ||1||
ਮੁਕਤਿ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਅਨਿਕ ਸੂਖ ਹਰਿ ਭਗਤਿ ਲਵੈ ਨ ਲਾਵਨੋ ॥
Liberation, the key to success, and all sorts of comforts do not equal loving devotional worship of the Lord.
ਪ੍ਰਭ ਦਰਸ ਲੁਬਧ ਦਾਸ ਨਾਨਕ ਬਹੁੜਿ ਜੋਨਿ ਨ ਧਾਵਨੋ ॥੨॥੭॥੧੦॥
Slave Nanak longs for the Blessed Vision of God’s Darshan; he shall never again wander in reincarnation. ||2||||7||10||
The 6 Astpadhis in Raag Kalyaan (Chakka) by Guru Ramadas Ji are all addressed to Ram – the All Pervading Lord – the Ramiya hoya.
The rahao of the 1st Astpadhi stresses that the mann can only be drenched with love for God with Naam, and this Naam is received by absorbing the Guru’s matt.
ਰਾਮਾ ਰਮ ਰਾਮੋ ਸੁਨਿ ਮਨੁ ਭੀਜੈ ॥
Hearing the Name of the Lord, the All-pervading Lord, my mind is drenched with joy.
ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਰਸੁ ਮੀਠਾ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਸਹਜੇ ਪੀਜੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
The Name of the Lord, Har, Har, is Ambrosial Nectar, the most Sweet and Sublime Essence; through the Guru’s Teachings, drink it in with intuitive ease. ||1||Pause||
The rahao of the 2nd Astpadhi says one needs to touch his mann with the Guru’s Shabad (Transformer) which can elevate the useless slag like mind into something precious.
ਰਾਮ ਗੁਰੁ ਪਾਰਸੁ ਪਰਸੁ ਕਰੀਜੈ ॥
O Lord, please bless me with the Touch of the Guru, the Philosopher’s Stone.
ਹਮ ਨਿਰਗੁਣੀ ਮਨੂਰ ਅਤਿ ਫੀਕੇ ਮਿਲਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪਾਰਸੁ ਕੀਜੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
I was unworthy, utterly useless, rusty slag; meeting with the True Guru, I was transformed by the Philosopher’s Stone. ||1||Pause||
In the 3rd Astpadhi, the rahao stresses that love for God develops as one recites His Name in satsanggat.
ਰਾਮਾ ਰਮ ਰਾਮੋ ਰਾਮੁ ਰਵੀਜੈ ॥
Chant the Name of the Lord, the Lord, the All-pervading Lord.
ਸਾਧੂ ਸਾਧ ਸਾਧ ਜਨ ਨੀਕੇ ਮਿਲਿ ਸਾਧੂ ਹਰਿ ਰੰਗੁ ਕੀਜੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
The Holy, the humble and Holy, are noble and sublime. Meeting with the Holy, I joyfully love the Lord. ||1||Pause||
In the 4th Astpadhi, the rahao says one should surrender his mind and body to the Guru, who implants Divine wisdom in you.
ਰਾਮਾ ਰਮ ਰਾਮੋ ਪੂਜ ਕਰੀਜੈ ॥
I worship and adore the Lord, the All-pervading Lord.
ਮਨੁ ਤਨੁ ਅਰਪਿ ਧਰਉ ਸਭੁ ਆਗੈ ਰਸੁ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਦ੍ਰਿੜੀਜੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
I surrender my mind and body, and place everything before Him; following the Guru’s Teachings, spiritual wisdom is implanted within me. ||1||Pause||
The rahao to Astpadhi no. 5 says, as you engage in sewa of the Satguru, he burns away your sins and blesses you in His Mercy.
ਰਾਮਾ ਮੈ ਸਾਧੂ ਚਰਨ ਧੁਵੀਜੈ ॥
O Lord, I wash the feet of the Holy.
ਕਿਲਬਿਖ ਦਹਨ ਹੋਹਿ ਖਿਨ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਮੇਰੇ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕੀਜੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
May my sins be burnt away in an instant; O my Lord and Master, please bless me with Your Mercy. ||1||Pause||
In the final Astpadhi (6), the rahao stresses the need to live in humility in the Guru’s Sharan.
ਰਾਮਾ ਹਮ ਦਾਸਨ ਦਾਸ ਕਰੀਜੈ ॥
O Lord, please make me the slave of Your slaves.
ਜਬ ਲਗਿ ਸਾਸੁ ਹੋਇ ਮਨ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਸਾਧੂ ਧੂਰਿ ਪਿਵੀਜੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
As long as there is breath deep within my mind, let me drink in the dust of the Holy. ||1||Pause||
Gurfateh
Manjeet Singh
August 12, 2023.
