Hymns of the Sikh Gurus

by Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh

  ‘This is the way, sister, to reach the Bridegroom.’

  4 If you lose your ego, then you gain the Groom,

  no other cleverness will do.

  When the Bridegroom casts the loving Gaze, that day is

  recorded, and the woman wins the nine treasures.

  Loved by her Bridegroom, she is the true bride,

  and she is the true sister of her brothers.

  She is coloured by her Beloved,

  immersed in tranquillity,

  saturated with love day and night,

  She is beautiful, she is radiant, she is brilliant,

  and she is called wise.

  Suhi Mahalla 1

  1 Which scales, which weights,

  which goldsmith should I call to assay You?

  Which Guru should instruct me?

  Whom should I approach to assess You?

  My Beloved, I do not know your limits,

  You pervade the earth, waters and the air above,

  You are ever present in all.

  2 If I were to use the scales of my mind,

  the weights of my consciousness,

  and the goldsmith of my service,

  If I were to weigh You within myself,

  then could I hold my consciousness in balance.

  3 You are the indicator, You are the weight,

  You are the scales, and You are the assessor.

  You observe, You recognize,

  and You are the dealer.

  4 The mind is ignorant, base and alienated,

  it flits from here to there.

  Nanak lives in such company,

  how can this fool ever find You?

  Rag Bilaval Mahalla 1

  1 It is no compliment if I call You a chief

  when You are our Sultan.

  I address You just as You direct me, my Guide,

  I am ignorant and do not know what to say.

  Grant me the wisdom to sing Your glory

  and to abide in Truth, as is Your Will.

  2 Whatever happens is of Your doing,

  and all is known to You.

  I do not know Your limits, my Sovereign,

  I am ignorant, what cleverness have I?

  3 What can I say?

  Whenever I try, I fail to express the Inexpressible.

  I can only say what pleases You,

  a sesame seed before Your greatness.

  4 There are so many dogs and I am a stray one,

  I bark to appease the hunger of this body.

  Nanak may lack devotion,

  but this cannot diminish the Husband’s Name.

  Bilaval Mahalla 1

  1 If I make of my mind a temple,

  and of my body a hermit’s robe,

  if I bathe in the fount of myself,

  If the One Word dwells in my breath,

  I will not return to the circle of life.

  Mother, my mind is pierced

  with love for the Compassionate One.

  But who can know another’s pain?

  The Divine is my only concern.

  2 You who are unfathomable, unknowable,

  ineffable, infinite, do watch over us.

  You pervade the waters and the lands and the air above,

  Your Light shines in each and every heart.

  3 All teaching, all wisdom, all enlightenment is Yours,

  all temples and shelters are Yours.

  My Sovereign, I know no one else but You,

  and I sing your glory forever.

  4 All creatures seek refuge in Your lap,

  responsibility for all rests with You.

  Whatever pleases You is good,

  This is all Nanak has to say.

  MORNING

  Jaap

  JAAP (with a long a) is a poetic offering to the Ultimate Reality. It is the obeisance to the Transcendent One by the Tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, and is from the Dasam Granth (Book of the Tenth Guru). In 199 verses, it is a marvellous profusion of divine attributes that flashed on the Guru’s artistic consciousness. He ends at verse 199 rather than at a round figure to signify that there is no culminating point. The outpouring of words saluting the Infinite Reality is dynamic, the rhythm most speedy, and so this morning prayer of the Sikhs becomes an important aesthetic medium for contemplating the Ultimate Reality.

  1 You have no trait, no trace whatsoever,

  no colour, caste or family.

  How to describe Your features or complexion,

  the lines on Your palms or Your garb?

  You are called eternal, self-illumined, of infinite power,

  Supreme among countless deities, Ruler among rulers,

  Guardian of the three worlds—gods, humans and

  demons, tiny blades of grass and towering forests

  all proclaim Your infinity.

  Who can recount all Your names?

  The wise name You from Your actions.

  2 Salutations to You, the Timeless

  Salutations to You, the Merciful

  Salutations to You, the Formless

  Salutations to You, the Incomparable

  3 Salutations to You, the Unattired

  Salutations to You, the Inexpressible

  Salutations to You, the Bodiless

  Salutations to You, the Unborn

  4 Salutations to You, the Invincible

  Salutations to You, the Indestructible

  Salutations to You, the Nameless

  Salutations to You, the Placeless

  5 Salutations to You who are beyond all deeds

  Salutations to You who are beyond all duties

  Salutations to You who are beyond all names

  Salutations to You who are beyond all places

  6 Salutations to You, the Unbeatable

  Salutations to You, the Fearless

  Salutations to You, the Unyielding

  Salutations to You, the Indomitable

  7 Salutations to You, the Formless

  Salutations to You, the Timeless

  Salutations to You, the Impenetrable

  Salutations to You, the Unfathomable

  8 Salutations to You, the Invincible

  Salutations to You, the Invulnerable

  Salutations to You, the Generous

  Salutations to You, the Boundless

  9 Salutations to You, the Absolutely Single

  Salutations to You, the Infinitely Countless

  Salutations to You who are beyond the five elements

  Salutations to You who are free of all entanglements

  10 Salutations to You who are free of action

  Salutations to You who are free of delusion

  Salutations to You who are free of place

  Salutations to You who are free of garb

  11 Salutations to You, the Nameless

  Salutations to You, the Desireless

  Salutations to You, the Immaterial

  Salutations to You, the Inviolable

  12 Salutations to You, the Immovable

  Salutations to You, the Insubstantial

  Salutations to You, the Invisible

  Salutations to You, the Unworried

  13 Salutations to You who are beyond all suffering

  Salutations to You who are beyond all depiction

  Salutations to You who are honoured in the three worlds

  Salutations to You who are our true Treasure

  14 Salutations to You, the Unfathomable

  Salutations to You, the Unshakeable

  Salutations to You, the All-encompassing

  Salutations to You, the Unborn

  15 Salutations to You, the Enjoyer of everything

  Salutations to You, the Pervader of everyone

  Salutations to You, the Colourless

  Salutations to You, the Absolute

  16 Salutations to You, the Incomprehensible

  Salutations to You, the Beautiful

  Salutations to You, the Supporter of oceans

  Salutations to Y
ou, the Unsupported

  17 Salutations to You, the Casteless

  Salutations to You, the Kinless

  Salutations to You, the Sectless

  Salutations to You, the Wonderful

  18 Homage to You who have no country

  Salutations to You who have no vesture

  Salutations to You who have no dwelling

  Salutations to You, the Unborn

  19 Salutations to You who bring death to all

  Salutations to You who grant mercy to all

  Salutations to You who permeate all

  Salutations to You who rule us all

  20 Salutations to You, our Annihilator

  Salutations to You, our Creator

  Salutations to You, our Destroyer

  Salutations to You, our Sustainer

  21 Salutations to You, the Luminous

  Salutations to You, the Mysterious

  Salutations to You, the Eternal

  Salutations to You, the Most Beautiful

  22 Salutations to You who have access to all

  Salutations to You who exist everywhere

  Salutations to You who contain all colours

  Salutations to You who shatter all forms

  23 Salutations to You, the Death of death

  Salutations to You, the Compassionate

  Salutations to You, the Colourless

  Salutations to You, the Immortal

  24 Salutations to You, the Ageless

  Salutations to You, the Maker of all

  Salutations to You, the Activator

  Salutations to You, the Free

  25 Salutations to You who have no kin

  Salutations to You who fear no one

  Salutations to You, the Merciful

  Salutations to You, the Compassionate

  26 Salutations to You, the Infinite

  Salutations to You, the Greatest of all

  Salutations to You, the Embodiment of Love

  Salutations to You, the Most Fortunate

  27 Salutations to the Annihilator

  Salutations to the Nurturer

  Salutations to the Creator

  Salutations to the Destroyer

  28 Salutations to the supreme Ascetic

  Salutations to the supreme Reveller

  Salutations to the Benevolent

  Salutations to the Sustainer of all

  29 Formless

  Incomparable

  Immovable

  Transcendent

  30 Without description

  Without attire

  Without name

  Without desire

  31 Inconceivable

  Mysterious

  Unassailable

  Fearless

  32 You are exalted in all three worlds

  You are the precious Treasure

  You encompass all three goals of life

  You were never born

  33 Infinite

  No beginning

  Invincible

  No origin

  34 Beyond birth

  Beyond caste

  Beyond matter

  Beyond fetters

  35 Unconquered

  Unbreakable

  Unchallenged

  Unshakeable

  36 Deep You are

  Friend You are

  Unencumbered

  Utterly free

  37 Enigmatic

  Unknowable

  Immortal

  Unbound

  38 Traceless

  Placeless

  Infinite

  The Greatest

  39 Without limits

  Without kin

  Totally independent

  Utterly unknowable

  40 Unreachable

  Unborn

  Insubstantial

  Intangible

  41 Beyond our vision

  Above all worries

  Beyond all actions

  Above all superstitions

  42 Unconquerable

  Fearless

  Firm as the mountains

  Deep as the ocean

  43 Immeasurable

  Supreme Treasure

  Of countless forms

  Yet One

  44 Salutations to the One revered by all

  Salutations to the Treasure of all

  Salutations to the God of gods

  Salutations to the formless Mystery

  45 Salutations to the Destroyer of death

  Salutations to the Preserver of all life

  Salutations to the One with access to all

  Salutations to the One present everywhere

  46 Sovereign, You have no body

  Vanquisher, You need no ally

  Salutations to the Sun of suns

  Salutations to the Glory of glories

  47 Salutations to the Moon of moons

  Salutations to the Sun of suns

  Salutations to the Song of songs

  Salutations to the Tune of tunes

  48 Salutations to the Dance of dances

  Salutations to the Sound of sounds

  Salutations to the Hand of hands

  Salutations to the Reason of reason

  49 Formless, nameless

  The beautiful universal Form

  Destroyer of all tyrants

  Bestower of all wealth and joy

  50 Stainless

  Immaculate

  Salutations to the Ruler of rulers

  To the supreme Form

  51 Salutations to the Yogi of yogis

  To the greatest Siddha

  Salutations to the King of kings

  To the Greatest of the great

  52 Salutations to the Wielder of weapons

  Salutations to the Hurler of missiles

  Salutations to the Knower of all

  Salutations to the Mother of the cosmos

  53 Without form, without doubts

  Not seduced by senses, not weakened by temptation

  Salutations to You, the Yogi of yogis

  Salutations to the highest Way

  54 Salutations to You, our constant Protector

  To the undaunted Vanquisher of evil-doers

  Salutations to You, the Sustainer of gods and demons

  To the most Righteous

  55 Salutations to the Dispeller of disease

  Salutations to the Incarnation of love

  Salutations to the Merchant of merchants

  Salutations to the Emperor of emperors

  56 Salutations to the most Beneficent

  Salutations to the most Revered

  Salutations to the Dispeller of disease

  Salutations to You, the Bestower of purity

  57 Salutations to You, the Sound of sounds

  Salutations to You, the Image of images

  Salutations to You, the Ground of our faith

  Salutations to You, the System of systems

  58 Ultimate Truth, Consciousness and Bliss

  Extinguisher of all

  Incomparable, formless

  Immanent in all

  59 Giver of spiritual energy, Giver of mental power

  Cause of all success

  Pervader of the underworld, the earth and skies above

  Destroyer of hosts of sins

  60 Highest of the high

  Unseen Giver of all we own

  Power behind us all

  Compassionate Giver

  61 Impervious, impenetrable

  Nameless, desireless

  Conquerer of all

  Present everywhere

  62 In water

  On land

  Fearless

  So mysterious

  63 Almighty

  Immutable

  Without country

  Without garb

  64 Unfathomable, unboundable

  Embodiment of bliss

  Salutations to You who are honoured by all

  Salutations to You who are the treasure of all

  65 Salutations to You, the absolu
te Commander

  Salutations to You, the supreme Conqueror

  Salutations to You, the Invincible

  Salutations to You, the Indestructible

  66 Salutations to You, the Timeless

  Salutations to You, the Autonomous

  Salutations to the One present in every land

  Salutations to the One present in every garb

  67 Salutations to the King of kings

  Salutations to the Designer of designers

  Salutations to the Ruler of rulers

  Salutations to the Moon of moons

  68 Salutations to the Song of songs

  Salutations to the Love of love

  Salutations to the Fury of furies

  Salutations to the Fire of fires

  69 Salutations to the Inflicter of disease

  Salutations to the Enjoyer of everything

  Salutations to the Conqueror of all

  Salutations to the Terrifier of all

  70 Salutations to the Omniscient

  Salutations to the Omnipotent

  Salutations to the supreme Sound

  Salutations to the supreme Image

  71 Salutations to the One who watches us all

  Salutations to the One who attracts us all

  Salutations to the One who contains all colours

  Formless, Annihilator of the three worlds

  72 Salutations to the Life of all lives

  Salutations to the Primal Seed

  Serene and undaunting

  Showering us all with gifts

  73 Embodiment of compassion

  Annuller of vice

  Always and ever You remain

  The source of spiritual energy

  74 Whose work is immortal