Naam tero aarti majjan murare – Raag Dhanasree – Ang 694

SGGS Ang 694

Raag Dhanaasree

Aarti is the concluding prayer in Hindu worship. A metal plate is used. On it is placed some divey, some flames, some flowers, incense, water and other sweets.

The aarti plate is placed before the deva statue and moved in circles by the pujari. Then the aarti plate is placed before the devotees. They cup their hands on the flame and then place their hands on their face. The blessings from the deva are said to be transferred to the devotee in this way.
That is Hindu belief.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji wrote His Aarti Shabad. It is found at Angg 663 in Raag Dhanaasree. The title (sirlekh), to this Shabad is Aarti.

In His Aarti, Guru Ji speaks adoringly of the Lord of all Creation, not of any deva. The praise is of His Nirgun roop and His Sargun roop.

“Nirgun aap Sargun bhi ohee” (Sukhmani Sahib).

Guru Ji speaks of the Aarti continuously taking place in the Cosmos. He also states this Aarti is going on within us too through anhad naad.

“Anhata Shabad vajant bheri”

In Raag Dhanaasree there are Shabads relating to Aarti by a few Bhagats. The Aarti Shabad by Bhagat Kabir Ji is found in Raag Parbhati. In all these Aarti Shabads the stress is on singing His Aarti through Naam, not by any physical ritual of aarti.

The beautiful Shabad herein is by Bhagat Ravidas Ji. Angg 694.

Bhagat Ji starts by declaring. “Lord, my aarti is Your Naam. It is my cleansing bath.”

“Naam tero aarti majjan murare”

Indeed, without Naam all other pasarey, worldly displays are jhuthey i.e. false and perishable.

“Har ke Naam bin jhuthey saggal pasarey” (Rahao)

The entire practice of prayer is contained in Naam.

Many people use a prayer mat, some grind sandalwood as an offering, some offer saffron (kesro) and sprinkle on the deva. To me Your Naam is all these things.

“Naam tera aasno Naam tero ursaa Naam tera kesro le chitkarey”

Some use water as worship, some grind and use sandalwood to worship. For me, all these forms of worship are contained in Your Name.

“Naam tera ambula Naam tero chandno ghass jappey Naam le tujhe ko charey”

Your Naam is the diva for me, the batee (wick), and Your Naam is the oil I pour into the lamp.

“Naam tera diva Naam tero batee Naam tero tel le mahe pasarey”

The radiance of Your Naam illuminates the entire world.

“Naam tere ki jote lagaiyee bheyo ujiaro bhavan saglarey”

Some use a thread to make a garland of flowers as an offering. For me, Your Naam is the thread and the garland of flowers.

All the eighteen weights of vegetation are jhuthey i.e. not pure enough to be used in Your offering.

“Bhaar atarah” is an old concept found in Hindusim. It is believed that if one leaf of all vegetation found in the world was weighed it would amount to eighteen mann, an old measure of weight. Here bhaar atarah is used as a poetic reference to all vegetation in the world.

“Naam tero taaga Naam phool maala bhaar atarah sagall jhutharey”

Since all creation is Yours what can I offer You? Your Naam is the only True Chaur (Chavar dhularey).

“Tero kiya tujhe kya arpho Naam tera tuhi chavar dhularey”

In doing Your Aarti, the focus of the world is on the eighteen Puranas, the 68 tiraths and the four sources of creation.

“Das atha athsathey charey khani eihe vartan hai saggal sansarey” i.e. the practice is based on physical terms.

But for me, (Ravidas), Your Sat Naam is the True Aarti and Your Bhog.

“Kahe Ravidas Naam tero Aarti Sat Naam hai Har bhog tuharey”

In this 4 pada Shabad, the great Bhagat Ji has used the word “Naam” 17 times to stress the Majesty and Importance of Naam.

Besides Naam all other devices and methods are “Har ke Naam bin jhuthey sagall pasarey”

Shabad Viakhya by Manjeet Singh 

Shabad Kirtan available on YouTube