Friday, December 30, 2005

"De Le GeRaa... ਦੇ ਲੈ ਗੇੜਾ..."


Last Monday, on Boxing Day, my family and I went to London to meet my brother's in-laws (as he will be getting married) to give "sagan" (a token) to show that we accept the girl and will stop the marital search. Similarly, the Saturday before, the girl's family came to our house and gave "sagan".

They are a nice family. While we were there they played a DVD of the song "De Le GeRaa" by Balvir Boparai. Waheguru! The song was played like three or four times! Everyone apart from me, my bhua and one or two other people got up and started to dance to the song. It seemed the song was a favourite for everyone and so everytime the song finished, it was replayed. I must admit the song did have a catchy tune. lol.


I didn't think much at the time. The next day I got up at Amrit-vela (early morning before sunrise) and combed my hair, and made my way to the bathroom to wash my hair and have a shower. Guess what happens? Is "Vaahe-Guroo, Vaahe-Guroo, Vaahe-Guroo..." going through my head? Is there a shabad going through my head? Or am I contemplating on Mool Mantr? No! "ਦੇ ਲੈ ਗੇੜਾ... ਦੇ ਲੈ ਗੇੜਾ... DE LE GERAA... DE LE GERAA..." is thumping out of my head. Sat Naam. (If you don't know what I am talking about, you can hear the song here: Nanane Goriye)

It was really disturbing! Autmatically the song, which I heard the evening before was going through my head at AMRIT-VELA. Thank God that while having a cold shower my mind was focused on Naam and I was loudly saying "VAAHE-GUROO, VAAHE-GUROO..."

Even throughout the day the song seemed to pop up in my head. It just shows the POWER OF LISTENING. It made me think why Guru jee places so much emphasis on "listening". In Japjee Sahib, pauree (stanza) 8 to 11 is all about "Listening" and the blessings one can recieve if he or she listens to Naam.
ਸੁਣਿਐ ਸਿਧ ਪੀਰ ਸੁਰਿ ਨਾਥ ॥
suNi-ai siDh peer sur naath.
Listening - one obtains the status of the Siddhas, the spiritual teachers, the heroic warriors, the yogic masters.

ਸੁਣਿਐ ਧਰਤਿ ਧਵਲ ਆਕਾਸ ॥
suNi-ai Dharat Dhaval aakaash.
Listening - one understand that the earth and skies are supported by Waheguru.

ਸੁਣਿਐ ਦੀਪ ਲੋਅ ਪਾਤਾਲ ॥
suNi-ai deep lo-a paataal.
Listening - one realises that Waheguru prevades in the oceans, the lands of the world and the nether regions of the underworld.

ਸੁਣਿਐ ਪੋਹਿ ਨ ਸਕੈ ਕਾਲੁ ॥
suNi-ai pohi na sakai kaal.
Listening- the fear of death cannot even touch you.

ਨਾਨਕ ਭਗਤਾ ਸਦਾ ਵਿਗਾਸੁ ॥
naanak bhagtaa sadaa vigaas.
O Nanak, the devotees (whose consciousness is joined to Naam) are forever in bliss,

ਸੁਣਿਐ ਦੂਖ ਪਾਪ ਕਾ ਨਾਸੁ ॥੮॥
suNi-ai dookh paap kaa naas. 8.
(Because) listening (to the Lord's Glorious Praises) one's pains and sins are erased. 8.

In a nutshell the Pauree tells us that by listening and attuning oneself to Waheguru's Praises and Naam, a "normal" person can obtain a high spiritual state. Through listening and attuning oneself to Waheguru one experiences that Waheguru is prevading in all the realms and galaxies, and is the support of the the land and sky. Through listening and attuning onself to Waheguru who is prevading everywhere one no longer has fear of death. These are the blessing of "Listening."

Gurbaani says:

ਸੁਰਤਿ ਸਤਿ ਸਤਿ ਜਸੁ ਸੁਨਤਾ ॥
surat sat, sat jas suntaa.
Those ears are True, and True are those who listen to Waheguru's Praises.


Why are our ears and listening so important? Note that a child which cannot hear, whose hearing is impaired or who is not able to listen, that child cannot speak. A child who cannot hear cannot speak. This a medical fact. A child may be born with a perfect mouth and tognue, yet if he or she cannot hear then they cannot speak.

A child, which has never heard someone speaking German, that child will not be able to speak German.
A child, which is raised hearing his mother, father or friends swearing and speaking foul language, that child also picks up to speak foul language and swear.
A child, which hears Naam and the Praises of Waheguru, that child is able to speak and sing the Praises of Waheguru.

The ears are connected to the brain (mind) and mouth. For this reason Guru Nanak Sahib jee in Japjee Sahib first emphasises "SunNaa," (listening) then Guru Sahib talks about "ManNaa," (obeying and following).

For this reason hearing Baani, listening to Kirtan and opening our ears to the truth is a fundamental part of Sikhi.


I was reflecting on the affect of the song "De Le GeRaa..." had on me. How blissful must the Beloved Gurmukhs who only listen to Gurbaani and Naam be? How peaceful and contentful must the Beloved Gurmukhs be, in whose mind only Gurbaani and Naam vibrates? How happy and radiant must the Beloved Gurmukhs be whose minds dance to the Praises of Waheguru through only listening to the Truth.

ਜੇਨ ਕੇਨ ਪਰਕਾਰੇ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਜਸੁ ਸੁਨਹੁ ਸ੍ਰਵਨ ॥
jen ken parkaare har har jas sunhu sravan.
By every means possible, listen to the Praises of the Lord with your ears.

ਸੁਨਿ ਸ੍ਰਵਨ ਬਾਨੀ ਪੁਰਖ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਮਨਿ ਨਿਧਾਨਾ ਪਾਵਹੇ ॥
sun sravan baanee purakh giaanee man niDhaanaa paavehe.
Listen with your ears to the Word of the Lord's Bani, the hymns of spiritual wisdom; thus you shall obtain the treasure in your mind.

Once my mum and I went to a Rainsbayee Kirtan. My mum told me that where she was sitting there was a 9-12 month year old boy. He got up and staggered towards my mum and sat in her laps. Every time the baby heard "Waheguru" the toddler would start smiling and moving his body and say "Waa-he-Gu-Roo". My mum was astonished at how the child was so radiant and with a smile on his face he was saying "Waahe-Guru... Waahe-Guroo..."

After a while the child's mother came over to my mum. My mum told the mother's child that this child is blessed and that everytime he hears "Waheguru" he starts to ecstatically move his arms, legs and head and repeating "Waheguru" as well. The mother was an Amritdhari SinghNee. She said that while she was pregnant she would play loud Simran on the tape player as well as do loud Naam Abhiyaas and Simran so that the child could hear and enjoy as well. When my mum told me this I was pleasantly shocked and thought how blessed that child must be to have a mother who gave the baby in the womb a chance to listen to Gurbaani, Keertan and Simran.

ਨੈਨੀ ਦੇਖਿ ਦਰਸੁ ਮਨੁ ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤੈ ਸ੍ਰਵਨ ਬਾਣੀ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੁ ਸੁਣਈਆ ॥
nainee dekh daras man triptai, sravan baaNee gur shabad suNa-ee-aa.
Gazing upon the Blessed Vision of His Darshan with my eyes, my mind is satisfied; with my ears, I listen to the Guru's Bani, and the Word of His Shabad.

ਸੁਨਿ ਸੁਨਿ ਆਤਮ ਦੇਵ ਹੈ ਭੀਨੇ ਰਸਿ ਰਸਿ ਰਾਮ ਗੋਪਾਲ ਰਵਈਆ ॥੬॥
sun sun aatam dev hai, bheene ras ras raam gopaal rav-ee-aa. 6.
Listening, listening, my soul is softened, delighted by His subtle essence, chanting the Name of the Lord of the Universe. 6.


To end with on Wednesday night I got ready to go to bed. I recited Sohilaa Sahib (bed-time prayer) and did small Ardaas. Then I went to bed. As I laid in bed a shabad kept going through mind. Shabad Kirtan is addictive and intoxicating. The shabad kept vibrating in my mind. I ended up getting up and going downstairs to get my vaaja out and play that shabad. Even in the morning, the next day, I woke up at Amrit-vela with the shabad vibrated my mind and came off my lips. The shabad was:

ਰਾਜੁ ਨ ਚਾਹਉ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਚਾਹਉ ਮਨਿ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਚਰਨ ਕਮਲਾਰੇ ॥
raaj na chaaho, mukat na chaaho, man preet charan kamlaare.
I do not seek power, and I do not seek liberation. My mind is in love with Your Lotus Feet.
(Ang 534, SGGS)

Read Full Shabad


You can download and listen to this shabad below:
Raaj Na Chaaho, Mukat Na Chaao
Sung by: Bhai Satwinder Singh & Bhai Harvinder Singh


I can definately say it is way better to wake up hearing Gurbaani and Simran in your mind rather than Bhangra or any other songs. :)

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wahegurooo!!

Oh my gosh bhaajee! I know exactly how u must have felt cos this exact thing happened to me!!!

Normally, with Guru Sahib's kirpa when I get up at Amrit Vela I will have some shabad gurbani going through my head after listening to it the previous day... but earlier this year, in January, when it was like Lohri time... I had 2 close family parties in one wkend, one on the sat and the other on the sun, so i had been listening to bhangra like ALLLLLL weekend... so when i got up on the mon morn.. i had the song "tedi pag vaaleya" in my head... it was such a catchy tune but i didnt realise it had affected me sooooo sooooooooo much!!! i was like OMG VAHEGUROOOO!!!! :-O

Ravjeet Singh said...

Oh cold showers, mann they so hard esspecially in winter pani is barf as its comming from outside... After watching that Sikhnet video it seems so easy till amrit vela HAHAHAHAHA Vahigurooo..........

Listen to this: Bhai Chattar Singh Jee

http://www.sikhnet.com/Sikhnet/music.nsf/e9da6ec9978726bc8725658f0001e37c/24c119e2b4a32ff287257099007c86ef!OpenDocument&Highlight=0,Raaj%20

ohh and Give my congrats to ur bro and family :)
Guroo Anng Sanng

Manvir Singh (UK) said...

Cheers Singh :)


Cold shower is good - but sometimes you need a warm shower :(

Especially when you have a cold (i suspect it might be a flu - i keep sneazing).

Udhaa i must say that cold shower for Kesh and face is good.

msingh said...

do you mean the "kesh on the fesh"?

(hehe)

Waheguru

Anonymous said...

very insightful singh ji.

Anonymous said...

good post - although the song is "De De Gera" - lol ;-)

Manvir Singh (UK) said...

Gurmukho... my dad, brother and I had a bit of argument over this.... whether the song is "DE LE GERA, or DE DE GERA."

On the internet i search for it, and it came up as "DE LE GERA" ... baake mera rab jaane.

Anonymous said...

naanak bhoudhiaa ganath n a(n)th ||
ba(n)dhhan ba(n)dhh bhavaaeae soe ||
paeiai kirath nachai sabh koe ||
nach nach hasehi chalehi sae roe ||
oudd n jaahee sidhh n hohi ||
nachan kudhan man kaa chaao ||
naanak jinh man bho thinhaa man bhaao ||2||


O Nanak, the tumblers are countless and endless.
The Lord binds us in bondage - so do we spin around.
According to their actions, so do all people dance.
Those who dance and dance and laugh, shall weep on their ultimate departure.
They do not fly to the heavens, nor do they become Siddhas.
They dance and jump around on the urgings of their minds.
O Nanak, those whose minds are filled with the Fear of God, have the love of God in their minds as well. ||2||

Sri Guru Granth Sahib ANG 465


ਤਿ੍ਰਯਾ ਰਾਗ ਸੁਨਿਹ ਚਿਤ ਲਾਇ ॥ ਸੁਨਹੁ ਲਾਲ ਸੋ ਜਮਪੁਰਿ ਜਾਇ ॥੧੭॥
"Those who listen to dirty lyrics and lustful tunes with attention, listen Nand Laal Ji, they will be punished by the angel of death."
(Rehatnama Bhai Nand Laal Singh Ji)- sayings of Guru Gobind Singh ji





maerae mohan sravanee eih n sunaaeae || saakath geeth naadh dhhun gaavath bolath bol ajaaeae ||1|| rehaao ||
O my fascinating Lord, let me not listen to the faithless cynic, singing his songs and tunes, and chanting his useless words. ||1||Pause||

Sri Guru Granth Sahib 820



satguroo binaa hor kachee hai banee.
Without the True Guru, other songs are false.


banee ta kachee satguroo baajhahu hor kachee banee.
The songs are false without the True Guru; all other songs are false.


kahday kachay sunday kachay kacheeN aakh vakhaanee.
The speakers are false, and the listeners are false; those who speak and recite are false.


har har nit karahi rasnaa kahi-aa kachhoo na jaanee.
They may continually chant, Har, Har with their tongues, but they do not know what they are saying.


chit jin kaa hir la-i-aa maa-i-aa bolan pa-ay ravaanee.
Their consciousness is lured by Maya; they are just reciting mechanically.


kahai naanak satguroo baajhahu hor kachee banee. ||24||
Says Nanak, without the True Guru, other songs are false. ||24||


gur kaa sabad ratann hai heeray jit jarhaa-o.
The Word of the Guru s Shabad is a jewel, studded with diamonds.


sabad ratan jit man laagaa ayhu ho-aa samaa-o.
The mind which is attached to this jewel, merges into the Shabad.


sabad saytee man mili-aa sachai laa-i-aa bhaa-o.
One whose mind is attuned to the Shabad, enshrines love for the True Lord.


aapay heeraa ratan aapay jis no day-ay bujhaa-ay.
He Himself is the diamond, and He Himself is the jewel; one who is blessed, understands its value.


kahai naanak sabad ratan hai heeraa jit jarhaa-o. ||25||
Says Nanak, the Shabad is a jewel, studded with diamonds. ||25||

Anonymous said...

Sat Nam Friend,

What a great example and explanation of Suni-ai Pauree. It's so meaningful. I'd just add here, since it's fresh on one's mind after reading your post, that everyone who hasn't heard Bibi Snatam Kaur Khalsa Ji's rendition titled.. 'Suni-Ai Celbration', MUST hear this. Her reverence and passion comes through so clear, just magnificent.

Karakara

Anonymous said...

wahiguru jee ka khalsa wahiguru jee ke fateh ,

veerjee for a particular reason i wanted to humbly ask you this question about amrit vela. With wahiguru's kirpa amrit vela was going normal, and recently we moved it messed stuff up when i take ishnan at amrit vela my dad gets distrubed it's quiet grief and confusing . I don't want to stop my amrit vela, i remember few years back i used to do amrit vela on the phone with one local bibi, guru's kipra wahiguru, but i remember my dad woke up and yelling at me, it was kindaa bad situation (he's temper is horrible) my amrit vela kinda stopped and now i am scared again i don't want to loose my amrit vela i can't affort to .. i just do naam abyiass & niteam without ishnana and it's hard because i keep feeling sleepy and i could barley do simran for 30 min it's dissappoiting i don't want this to continue. if you have any advice please help this dass . i am bit embrass to discuss this with the local gursikhs here. and therfore made the courage to ask someone else
bhul chuk maf.