Meri preet Gobind seyo jin ghatte – Raag Dhanaasree – Ang 694

 SGGS Angg 694.

Raag Dhanaasree – Bhagat Ravidas Ji.

Love for God is essential before one can hope for Darshan and Merger into Him.
At the beginning stages, this love wells up slowly in the Sikh. Some insights are given to him as he does satsang and sewa of the Guru.
Then in His Grace, God Himself bestows love upon the Sikh.
“Nanak preet layee Prabh Aape.” (Ang 826).

It is this love which breaks down the barriers and bondages of maya and, with the Grace of the Guru, leads to Union. Guru Gobind Singh Ji says:
“Jin prem kiyo tin hi Prabh paiyo.”

Since God is Formless, the love is centred around Gurbani, which is essentially Nirankar Ji Himself.
“Vah Vah Bani Nirankar hai tis jevad avar no koye.” (Ang 515).

Thus at Angg 312, Guru Amardas Ji tells us:
“Nanak Aape mel lahe jis nu Shabad laaye pyar.”

In this Shabad, Bhagat Ravidas Ji tells us about his love for God and shares some priceless experiences.

Bhagat Ji starts by telling us what he does daily.

In my heart I remember You in meditation, with my eyes I see You (everywhere), I fill my ears with Your Sublime Praises contained in Your Bani; my mind is like a bumble bee (always seeking Your Fragrance and the Honey of Your Name), I enshrine Your Feet (Bani) in my heart, and with my tongue, I chant the Ambrosial Name of the Lord.

“Chit simran karo nainn avlokno sarvan Bani Sujass purh rakho; mann so mudhkar karo Charan hirday rakho rassan Amrit Raam Naam bhakho.”

I pray my love for the Lord does not ever decrease (Bhagat Ji uses the word “jinh.” In Punjabi it means “who.” In Sanskrit and in Hindi, it can mean, “I hope it does not” – Bhai Vir Singh Sri Guru Granth Sahib Kosh); I paid for it dearly with many strikes upon my soul. (Gurbani says Naam will cleanse you. It is an excruciating process to undergo this karmic cleansing as your bondages are broken sahaj subhai by the Guru. Thus Bhagat Kabir Ji says one who can withstand this cleansing/ purification, through the Shabad is verily my Guru, and I his slave).

“Kabir chote suheli sel ki laagat leh usaas; chote sahare Shabad ki taas Guru mai daas.” (Slok 183 – Angg 1374).

The Gurus and Bhagats have told us at many places in SGGS Ji, it is a “bikham marag” and only the Grace of the Guru can purify you. Once you are purified and rendered “pura” then with His Grace, the gurmukh merges in to the Pura Lord. (Ang 1412):
“Purey ka kiya sabh kich Pura ghat vadh kich nahi; Nanak gurmukh aisa jaane Purey mahe samaahi.”)

“Meri preet Gobind seyo jin ghatte; mai to mol mahngèe leyi jee satte.” (rahao).

Without Sadhsanggat love for the Lord does not well up, and without this love, no true worship of Yours can be performed; Ravidas makes this one prayer to God O Lord King, please preserve my honor and dignity.

“Sadhsanggat bina bhao nahi upjay bhav bin bhagat nahi hoye Teri; kahe Ravidas eik benti Har seyo paij rakho Raja Raam meri.”

Shabad Viakhya by Bhai Manjeet Singh Ji

Shabad Kirtan available on YouTube