Raag Assa – Ang 360-363 @Damansara Darbar

 With Guru Ji’s Kirpa, Shabad Vichaar of Raag Assa began from Angg 360, Shabad no. 38 till Ang 363 at Damansara Darbar on Sunday, 25 June, 2023 by Bhai Manjeet Singh Ji.

Shabad no. 38 begins with the line,
“Gurh kar gyan dhyan kar dhaave kar karni kass paiyeh.”

As the final line of this Shabad shows, this Shabad is addressed to Bharthar Jogi by Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

There are 5 Shabads in SGGS Ji all by Guru Nanak Dev Ji which are addressed to Bharthar Jogi. Each Shabad points out the futility of yogic practices and rituals. None of these can help to cleanse or stabilise the mind and subdue it. Only Naam in the Guru’s Sharan is effective and when there is Gur Parsad, the mind is calmed and soothed and is put in a state of Sahaj. It is this state of Sahaj (Beyond the influence of maya) that one is blessed with (Param Padh), Union with the Divine in the Daswa Dwar.

It was yogic practice to do various pranyams and rituals and sit in special asanas with closed eyes. To reach a “climax” of their efforts, yogis drank some alcohol to reach a state of intoxicated bliss. To them, this was the anand of the Daswa Dwar. The yogis used to distil the alcohol themselves.

In Shabad no 38, Guru Ji uses the imagery of a distillation process. There is sugar (molasses) to ensure fermentation. Some roots, special bark of trees, flowers and fruits are mixed in a beaker. The beaker is heated with a fire underneath. Some steam is released. It rises and condenses in the funnel system. A wet cloth is used on the glass funnels to let condensation take place. The condensed liquid is then collected at the end of the funnel line and that is drunk by yogis to reach “anand.”

Guru Ji uses this imagery and substitutes with sincere effort, spiritual wisdom and good conduct. Instead of fire to heat the beaker, Guru Ji says the beaker is the body. As spirituality rises, instead of a wet cloth to cool the steam, it is Love (“prem ka pocha”) for the Divine One which will cool the body.

The imagery is fascinating and revolves around the final “extraction” of truly intoxicating Amrit Naam, with Gur Parsad.