Sunday, January 29, 2006

Episode 3 of India Travels: Amrit is Only with Grace of the Guru

Extracts from diary when I went to Panjab in June-August 2003:


It’s Day 3 of the trip. Saturday 28th June. I planned to beg for the gift of Amrit the next day at Sri Akaal Takhat Sahib (Amritsar). Amrit Sanchaars are held every Sunday and Wednesday at Sri Akaal Takhat Sahib (Amritsar) and Sri Keshgarh Sahib (Anandpur Sahib). However, we were unsure of the times. My Taayee jee (aunt) received Amrit from Sri Akaal Takhat Sahib in 1995. She said when she took Amrit the Amrit Sanchaar was in the evening and went into the night. However, I thought the Amrit Sanchaar was in the morning. Chalo, no one properly knew.


That night I was so excited. I went to sleep thinking of seeing the Guru-Roop Panj Piyaare and giving my head to Guru Sahib and pledging and committing my life to Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee and the Guru Khalsa Panth.
ਨੈਨ ਤਰਸਨ ਦਰਸ ਪਰਸਨ ਨਹ ਨੀਦ ਰੈਣਿ ਵਿਹਾਣੀਆ
nain tarsan daras parsan, neh neend raiN vihaaNee-aa.
My eyes long for the Blessed Vision of Your Darshan; the night passes, but I cannot sleep.
(Ang 542, SGGS)

Waking up at Amrit-vela I did Ishnaan (bathed) and also did Keshi Ishnaan (washed my hair). After doing my morning Nitnem I was so excited. I did Ardaas asking Guru Sahib bless me with the gift of Amrit and take me into it his arms so that I can serve him all my life.


Everyone thought that the Amrit Sanchaar will probably be at 3pm. So in accordance to that we got ready. I tied my Dastaar and wore my new Kurta. It felt like getting ready to go to a wedding. I prepared Karhaah Parshaad and asked everyone to gather together. We do some Paath, 6 Paurees of Anand Sahib, followed by Ardaas. As a family we prayed for Guru Sahib to bestow the gift of Amrit. Sat Naam. My cousin drove us to Amritsar. My Taayee jee and mum came with us. Throughout the whole 2 or 3 hour journey we sang various shabads. My Taayee and I would take turns to sing shabads and did Simran together. Waheguru.


We arrived Amritsar and I bought a Sarbloh (iron) Kirpaan and Sarbloh Karha. My cousin and I did panj-ishnaan (bathed face, feet and hands) in the Sarowar (tank of pool) at Sri Darbaar Sahib. We the moved towardes Sri Darbaar Sahib and donated some Karhaah Parshaad and did Mathaa Tek. I did Ardaas at Guru jee’s Feet that may He shower the blessing of the gift of Amrit and Naam.


Then went to Sri Akaal Takhat Sahib. Waheguru! We had MISSED the Amrit Sanchaar. The doors for the Amrit Sanchaar were closed 30 minutes ago. Waheguru! It was 12.30pm now. And the Amrit Sanchaar started at 12pm. In mind I said, “Guru Sahib, please, please grace me with your gift of Amrit, please take me into your service, please hold my arm and make me Your son.” However, it was not written in my Karam (destiny) to take Amrit that day. We ate Guru-Ka-Langar and drove back home. I felt really sad, however continued my Ardaas to Guru Sahib.

ਨਾਨਕ ਪੂਰੈ ਕਰਮਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਹਰਿ ਜੀਉ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰੇ ਰਜਾਇ
naanak poorai karam satgur milai, har jee-o kirpaa kare rajaa-e. 2
O Nanak, by perfect good karma, you shall meet the True Guru, and then the Dear Lord Waheguru, by His Sweet Will, shall bless you with His Mercy. 2
(Ang 591)

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

What pyaas, what shradha and what pyaar. Satnam Waheguru. Dear MSKhalsa ji, your story is about your craving for the love of Guru and it triggers the same craving in others. I feel blessed to have read this post of yours (this is my first time visit, although Ik Singh veerji were all praises for u for a long while). Sadly I've felt kinda distant from the True love. But this post, makes me look up in a positive direction.
Satguru Ang Sang!

Uttam Singh said...

Vaheguroo, guroo ji alone knows his plan

Anonymous said...

paaji ur amrit sanchar incident reminds me of my mums incident of when she went to Bham

but she didnt feel guilty (strange)

but now she wants to take it...
that day in Bham she left the gurdwara to go bak home to London, she waited in the cold for the coach 4 hrs but didnt feel like going inside the gurdwara in the warmth.

she sed 'rooh ni kitti' (her soul didnt permit)

i dont know about that :S what wud u suggest happened there / went wrong?

Manvir Singh (UK) said...

Bhaji/Bhenji I don't know to be honest.

Perhaps she was not ready to take Amrit at that particular time.

Effort & Grace.

Your mum made the effort (because she had travelled to b'ham), however Waheguru did not Will it.

To see this in a positive light, it may demonstrate that your mother needs to become internally stronger as well external Rehat preparation.

My humble suggestion would be:
1/ Live and conduct yourself as if you are an Amritdhari
2/ Do Nitnem, Simran and Sewa etc
3/ SANGAT - need support around you
4/ Need to keep external Rehat (uniform), i.e. wear Kirpan, Kachhera, Kangha etc and wear a Dastaar (turban - doesn't have to be big) to help the internal.

See how she feels and then Guru Willing if she feels ready then take Amrit.

I wouldn't look negatively at this. It could mean that if you are going to take Amrit then really really make sure that you are willing to pledge and commit yourself to the Guru. That means internally (i.e. faith and belief) and externally (i.e. wearing the Kakaars and Dastaar). Some people sadly believe only men should follow the hukam of tying a dastaar.

However, the Dastaar is how we crown ourselves as the Singhs and Kaurs who sit on the throne of commitment to our own higher consciousness. For men and women alike, this projective identity conveys royalty, grace, and uniqueness. It is a signal to others that we live in the image of Infinity and are dedicated to serving all. The turban doesn't represent anything except complete commitment. When you choose to stand out by tying your turban, you stand fearlessly as one single person standing out from six billion people. It is a most outstanding act.


Thats my humble opinion.