ਚਿਤ ਸਿਮਰਨੁ ਕਰਉ ਨੈਨ ਅਵਿਲੋਕਨੋ ਸ੍ਰਵਨ ਬਾਨੀ ਸੁਜਸੁ ਪੂਰਿ ਰਾਖਉ ||
chit simran karo nain avilokano sravan baanee sujas poor raakho |
(My prayer is that) in my consciousness I continue remembering You; with my eyes, I continue beholding You; and keep Your Bani (Divine Word) and Your beautiful Praises filled in my ears.
ਮਨੁ ਸੁ ਮਧੁਕਰੁ ਕਰਉ ਚਰਨ ਹਿਰਦੇ ਧਰਉ ਰਸਨ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਭਾਖਉ ||੧||
man su madhukar karo charan hirde dharo rasan amrit raam naam bhaakho |1|
May my mind continue being the bumble bee, enshrining Your lotus-feet within my heart, and with my tongue, may continue chanting life-giving Name of God. ||1||
ਮੇਰੀ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿਉ ਜਿਨਿ ਘਟੈ ||
meree preet gobind sio jin ghattai |
(I am fearful that may) my love for the Lord of the Universe never decrease.
ਮੈ ਤਉ ਮੋਲਿ ਮਹਗੀ ਲਈ ਜੀਅ ਸਟੈ ||੧|| ਰਹਾਉ ||
mai tau mol mehagee lee jeea sattai |1| rahaao |
I paid for it dearly, in exchange for my soul. ||1||Pause and reflect||
ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਬਿਨਾ ਭਾਉ ਨਹੀ ਊਪਜੈ ਭਾਵ ਬਿਨੁ ਭਗਤਿ ਨਹੀ ਹੋਇ ਤੇਰੀ ||
saadh-sangath binaa bhaao nehee oopjai bhaav bin bhagat nahee hoe teree |
(But this) love does not well up without the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy; and without this love, Your devotional worship cannot be performed.
ਕਹੈ ਰਵਿਦਾਸੁ ਇਕ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਉ ਪੈਜ ਰਾਖਹੁ ਰਾਜਾ ਰਾਮ ਮੇਰੀ ||੨||੨||
kehai ravidaas ek bentee har sio paij raakhahu raajaa raam meree |2|2|
Ravi Daas offers this one prayer unto the Lord: O Lord, my King! (I have to Your sanctuary) please preserve and protect my honour. ||2||2||
(Ang 694)
Friday, February 18, 2011
Bhagat Ravidaas Sahib Jee...
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Illegal detention and murder of Young Sikh...
Shaminder Singh (Shera) a young 24 year old Sikh from a poor family and the only Amritdhari Sikh in Bagguwal village was singled out for being an Amritdhari and picked by police in Nawanshahar district on 31st October 2010. Shaminder Singh was the only son, who supported his elderly mother and two sisters.
He was mercilessly thrashed and subjected to third-degree torture for 18 days as he refused to admit involvement in waging war against the Indian state. No case was registered against him. According to his own words reported on television he would have been eliminated by the Indian Police in a police encounter, as has happened with thousands of young Amritdharis since 1984. He overheard the police officers planning to eliminate him and managed to escape from police custody on 18 November.
He was later arrested from Sri Patna Sahib where he revealed he had become the victim of police torture. Luckily for him the media listened and reported on his experience. A report published in the Hindustan Times on 3rd December 2010 forced the Panjab and Haryana High Court into action. Following an investigation the court ordered a penalty of Rs 1 lakh on the state of Panjab for illegally detaining him and subjecting him to third-degree torture. The court also directed the state government on 3rd January to take care of Shaminder Singh.
Video Part 2
Two weeks later, after giving his television news interview, on 17th January Shaminder Singh and his brother Harwinder Singh were going to the Gurdwara Sahib in Bagguwal village when they were attacked by about 9-10 unidentified men with sharp edged weapons. It has been widely reported that the finger of blame is pointing squarely at the police. Shaminder Singh was admitted to hospital where he died several days later.
On 30th January the Punjab government (who were ordered by the Court to take care of Shaminder Singh) ordered a probe into the circumstances leading to the death of Shaminder Singh. This followed considerable media and other pressure.
It is unfortunate that an innocent Amritdhari Singh was not just falsely accused of crimes, he was then tortured, and after being proven innocent was murdered by an unidentified gang. According to reports, no Jathedaar, Mahapurkh or politician attended Shaminder Singh's family nor have any of them raised a cry against this injustice and oppression.
May Guru jee bless us all with the strength to speak and stand up for the truth.
TO HELP
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Celebrating Valentines' Day?

Recently my dad asked someone whether they celebrate St. Valentine's Day. The Panjabi person, who is of Sikh heritage, said "Yes, I do. I buy my wife flowers on this day." My dad explained that Valentine's Day marks the martyrdom day of Saint Valentine who fell in love with a woman who came to visit him in jail. He then asked, "Do you observe the Shaheedi (martyrdom) day of Guru Arjan Dev jee or Guru Tegh Bahadar jee?" The person replied, "No." My dad replied, "So, being born in a Sikh family you observe the martyrdom and day of a Christian saint who fell in love with a woman but not those of your Gurus, who sacrificed their lives for truth and love of God, and with whose blessings we are free and alive today?"
May Guru jee guide us in walking the Guru's Path.
Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!
“Bhai Manvir Singh”, “Bhai Manvir Singh”, “Bhai Manvir Singh”.
“Bhai Manvir Singh UK”, “Bhai Manvir Singh UK”, “Bhai Manvir Singh UK”.
“Manvir Singh Khalsa”, “Manvir Singh Khalsa”, “Manvir Singh Khalsa”.
“Manvir Singh”, “Manvir Singh”, “Manvir Singh”.
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
ਨਾਮ ਵਿਚ ਕੀ ਹੈ? । What is in a name?
Translation:
My son sent me a letter from UK notifying me that I had become a grandfather. I was full of joy and rejoiced. I went to the Gurdwara Sahib and did Ardaas for thanking Waheguru for blessing me with a grandson and prayed that may the Great Guru blesses him with the gift of Sikhi, Naam and seva of the Panth.
In short space of time I arrived to the UK to meet my son and family. When I arrived, I told my son "Let's go to the Gurdwara and do Naam Sanskaar (the Sikh naming ceremony)." My son replied, "Father, I have already kept my son's name, we don't need to go to the Gurdwara." I was shocked and said, "What name have you kept?" My son replied, "Robin". I lowered my head in shame and said, "Being born in a Sikh family you have turned your back on your faith, customs and heritage to choose a Christian name? I feel shame that has happened in my family - may the Guru forgive me! I did Ardaas that may my grandson become a servant of the Panth and instead he is named after Christians! Waheguru!"
I asked my son who gave you such an idea to name him Robin. He told me that his next door neighbours, who are a white English couple, suggested the name. The neighbours apparently are very close to my son and daughter-inlaw and constantly suggested naming the baby Robin. My son said he eventually accepted their suggestion. He told me that he could not change it, even if he wanted to, as he had registered it with the registration office and it was written on his birth certificate.
A few months later the next door couple were blessed with a baby son. They went to the hospital to collect the baby and brought him home. On the arrival of the baby a party was held at their home. Our family were also invited. I attended the party with my son. During the party the couple asked all the family and friends gathered for suggestions baby names. I jumped to the chance and suggested that they name their son 'Pal Singh'. The couple looked baffled. I repeated the name. The couple then replied, "It is a lovely name. However, we are Christians. I am sure it would be a nice name for a Sikh child, but as we are Christians we are looking to name him a Christian name". My son looked at me and went quiet.
When we got home, my son lowered his head and asked for forgiveness. "I have been a fool! I followed the suggestion of those people to name my son. Yet I didn't realise that they would never sacrifice their identity and religion for us." With Great Guru's blessings, the next day the whole family went to the Gurdwara Sahib for doing Naam Sanksaar. My grandson was blessed with the name 'Surinder Pal Singh'.
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From the above story we learn the message that we should be proud of who we are not sacrifice our identity. A name is very powerful. Sri Guru Gobind Singh jee named his four sons - Ajeet (unbeatable), Jujhaar (fighter), Zoravar (powerful) and Fateh (victory). What beautiful and powerful names. Truly they lived up to their names. What face can we show the Guru if we sacrifice our children's names to name them after Christian apostles, disciples and saints (e.g. Steven, Simon, Nick, David, Paul, Gavin etc). May Guru jee awaken our spirits and give us the strength to follow the true path.
Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!
Thursday, February 03, 2011
A poor man's generous heart...
Guru Ramdas Sahib jee was doing kaar-sewa (construction service) of the sarovar (holy pool) at Sri Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar. A lot of sangat used to help out in the digging of the sarovar and doing other kinds of sewa. There was a Sikh called Bhai Soma Arora, who used to earn his living by selling 'ghungraniyaan' (a snack made from chick peas) in Amritsar.
One evening Guru Sahib saw Bhai Soma jee and asked him how much vattee (profit) he had made. He came over to Guru Sahib and did matha tek and with extreme humility he answered Guru Sahib. Guru jee asked him to hand over his all day’s earnings. Without any hesitation at all, Bhai Soma jee placed all he had at the feet of Great Guru, Guru Ramdas jee.
Bhai Soma jee was a very poor person and was struggling to get by. The next day, Guru jee asked him how much he had earned and asked him to give all his earnings to him. Guru jee kept doing this for 5 days. Bhai Soma jee who was always broke, did not have any doubts on Guru Sahib. He trusted Guru Sahib 100% and believed that Guru Sahib knows better.

Guru Sahib’s divine words of calling Soma, Soma Shah, forced the great force of Vaheguru’s power to come in action. Within days Soma became a shah. He became a shah of not only of worldly money but also of the greatest wealth of all, Naam (the Name of the Lord).
This is a great saakhi and we can learn a lot from this. We all know that all that we have has been given to us by Satguru but yet when it is our turn to do some seva or give back something to Guru Sahib or his Panth, we find thousand reasons not to do so. We become selfish. May Guru Sahib give us the wisdom of Bhai Soma Shah jee.
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Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
A story about a lady's prayer...
In September 1960, I woke up one morning with six hungry babies and just 75 cents in my pocket. Their father had left them. The boys ranged from three months to seven years; their sister was two. Their Dad had never been much more than a presence they feared. Whenever they heard his tyres crunch on the gravel driveway they would scramble to hide under their beds. He did manage to leave $15 a week to buy groceries. Now that he had decided to leave, there would be no more beatings, but no food either. If there was a welfare system in effect in southern Indiana at that time, I certainly knew nothing about it.
I scrubbed the children until they looked brand new and then put on my best home made dress, loaded them into the rusty old 51 Chevy and drove off to find a job. The seven of us went to every factory, store and restaurant in our small town. But no luck. The children stayed crammed into the car and tried to be quiet while I tried to convince who ever would listen that I was willing to learn or do anything. I had to have a job.

I raced home and called the teenager down the street that baby-sat for people. I bargained with her to come and sleep on my sofa for a dollar a night. She could arrive with her pyjamas on and the children would already be asleep.This seemed like a good arrangement to her, so we made a deal. That night when the little ones and I knelt to say our prayers, we all thanked God for finding Mummy a job.. And so I started at the Big Wheel.
When I got home in the mornings I woke the baby-sitter up and sent her home with one dollar of my tip money-- fully half of what I averaged every night. As the weeks went by, heating bills added a strain to my small wage. The tyres on the old Chevy had the consistency of penny balloons and began to leak. I had to fill them with air on the way to work and again every morning before I could go home.
One bleak fall morning, I dragged myself to the car to go home and found four tyres in the back seat. New tyres! There was no note, no nothing, just those beautiful brand new tyres. Had angels taken up residence in Indiana ? I wondered. I made a deal with the local service station. In exchange for his mounting the new tyres, I would clean up his office. I remember it took me a lot longer to scrub his floor than it did for him to do the tyres. I was now working six nights instead of five and it still wasn't enough.
Christmas was coming and I knew there would be no money for toys for the children . I found a can of red paint and started repairing and painting some old toys. Then I hid them in the basement so there would be something for Santa to deliver on Christmas morning. Clothes were a worry too. I was sewing patches on top of patches on the boys pants and soon they would be too far gone to repair.
On Christmas Eve the usual customers were drinking coffee in the Big Wheel. There were the truckers, Les, Frank, and Jim, and a state trooper named Joe. A few musicians were hanging around after a gig at the Legion and were dropping nickels in the pinball machine. The regulars all just sat around and talked through the early hours of the morning and then left to get home before the sun came up.
When it was time for me to go home at seven o'clock on Christmas morning, to my amazement, my old battered Chevy was filled full to the top with boxes of all shapes and sizes. I quickly opened the driver's side door, crawled inside and knelt in the front facing the back seat. Reaching back, I pulled off the lid of the top box. Inside was whole case of little blue jeans, sizes 2-10! I looked inside another box: It was full of shirts to go with the jeans. Then I peeked inside some of the other boxes. There was candy and nuts and bananas and bags of groceries. There was food for baking, and canned vegetables and potatoes. There was pudding and Jell-O and cookies, pie filling and flour. There was whole bag of laundry supplies and cleaning items. And there were five toy trucks and one beautiful little doll.
As I drove back through empty streets as the sun slowly rose on the most amazing Christmas Day of my life, I was sobbing with gratitude. And I will never forget the joy on the faces of my little ones that precious morning. Yes, there were angels in Indiana that long-ago December. And they all hung out at the Big Wheel truck stop.
THE POWER OF PRAYER.. I believe that God only gives three answers to prayer:
1. 'Yes!'
2. 'Not yet.'
3! have something better in mind.'
You may be going through a tough time right now but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that you cannot imagine. This prayer is powerful, and prayer is one of the best gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Birth Day of Baba Deep Singh Jee...

ਧੰਨ ਉਹ ਧਰਤੀ ਧੰਨ ਉਹ ਬਾਪੂ, ਧੰਨ ਵਡਭਾਗੀ ਮਾਈ ।
ਢੰਗ ਜਿਉਣ ਦਾ ਜਿਸਦਾ ਪੁੱਤਰ, ਦੱਸ ਗਿਆ ਸਦੀਆ ਸਾਈਂ ।
"Blessed is that land, blessed is that father, blessed is the great mother. Who's son has shown the way to live, for centuries to come."
(Punjabi folk saying)
Related link:
* A Glimpse at the life of Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Jee
Dhan Hai Guru, Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!
Friday, January 21, 2011
"Why the hell do I?"...
Bernard Shaw used to tell a story about his father, whom he was delighted to watch shaving everyday. One day the five year old Shaw looked up and asked the old man "Daddy, why do you shave?"
The father looked at his small son for a full minute and then threw the razor out of the window, saying, "Why the hell do I?" He never did again.
Sunday Tribune, dated 6th December, 1970 (Editorial)
Bernard Shaw too maintained full beard all his life and did not shave. Hopefully, our brothers and sisters who still cut their hair and shave would be as sensible as Shaw's father.
Kulbir Singh
Taken from www.GurmatBibek.com
Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Young girl doing Keertan...
Sweet keertan by young Prabh Simran Kaur in a Nagar Keertan in India.
Part 2 of video.
Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!
Saturday, January 08, 2011
Dhan Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Jee...

Happy Gurpurb to everyone.
Chapter Name | Download link | Pages |
Foreword | 6 | |
Introduction | 4 | |
Guru Gobind Singh: Birth and Early Life | 1 | |
Unparalleled Sacrifice of His Father | 2 | |
Difficulties Which the Guru Faced | 2 | |
Problems concerned with Hindus | 4 | |
Religious Reform | 6 | |
Tav-Prasad(i) Kabit | 13 | |
Social Reform | 4 | |
Political Condition of the Hindus | 3 | |
From Where and for Whom the Guru Started His Mission | 2 | |
Basic Tenets of the Guru | 4 | |
Guru's Support to the Hill-Rajas | 1 | |
The 'Story' of Naina Devi | 1 | |
Foundation of the Khalsa | 4 | |
The Guru's Way of Life | 3 | |
Opposition of the Guru by the High-Caste Hindus | http://www.laladaulatrai.com/ | 3 |
The Attack of Aurangzeb's Army | 6 | |
After the Battle of Chamkaur | 6 | |
The Epistle of Victory | 6 | |
Meeting Banda Bahadur | 6 | |
Outstanding Qualities of the Guru | 5 | |
Philosophy of Guru Gobind Singh | 10 | |
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753 kb | 102 | |
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11,717kb | 192 |
Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!
Monday, January 03, 2011
Holland Family Sikhi Camp 2010...
From 27th to 30th December 2010 the first Sikh Family Camp was held at Guru Nanak Sahib Gurdwara in Amsterdam, Holland. In the past great Gurmukhs like the late Bhai Sahib Rajinder Singh jee (Dudley, UK) and the late Bhai Sahib Rama Singh jee (UK) visited Holland and inspired countless people in following the Guru's Path. With the blessings of Guru Sahib and the Saadh Sangat the camp was really successful.
About 80 local children and 40 adults attended the week long camp. The camp included classes for parents/adults, Gatka, keertan, discussions, questions and answers, and history. Local sevadaars contributed with the classes. The camp started 10am with Simran, Ardaas, Hukamnama and Gurbani vichaar. The daily programme was two classes, physical activities, question and answer session, and ending with keertan and Rehraas Sahib. The hunger and thirst for Sikhi shown by all the Sangat was inspirational.
Some photos from the camp:
Satguru Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee.

Simran in the morning.

The young children loved doing keertan and doing Simran. Even when the Raagis were doing keertan, the children rush to the front to sit near them and to sing along aloud.
Elder class doing activities based on Shaheedi of the Chhote Sahibzaadey.
Elder class doing activities based on Shaheedi of the Chhote Sahibzaadey.

Bhenji Harsimrat Kaur (UK) teaching keertan.

Bhenji Daljeet Kaur (UK) teaching keertan.
Bhai Jaspal Singh (UK) teaching keertan.
Local Raagi Jatha Singh teaching Tablaa to the youngsters.

Young children playing Sikhi version of Duck and Goose game.

Elder girls discussion class.
Elder boys discussion group.

Dastaar tying.

Langar break.

Younger group's discussion class.

Veer Kulvinder Singh (Holland) playing "Sleeping and sitting" game.

Children watching a Sikhi film.

Bhai Karam Singh (Holland) teaching Gatka.

Youth learning Gatka during the activities.
Evening Diwaan.

Keertan in evening.
Sangat and local Raagi Jatha doing seva in the Guru Ghar kitchen.
Photo with local Guru Ghar Raagi jatha. The jatha had a lot of pyaar and humility and made an effort to help out in the camp. It was inspiring to hear that the Raagis do Seva of washing dishes because they said their Keertan and Paatth they do will not be accepted in Akaal Purakhs Dargaah (Court) because they are paid to do it, so they do voluntary seva of cleaning and washing for Guru jee.

Photo with Bhaji Jaswinder Singh, main camp organiser, and Veer Rajpal Singh.
Charanjeet Bhaji, a Hindu Panjabi who stopped cutting his hair during the camp and now wishes to take Amrit. Bhaji has become Nitnemi and does regular Paatth and sevaa at the Guru Ghar.

Bhai Sahib and his wife wish to take Amrit. With Guru jee's kirpaa Bhai Sahib stopped colouring his beard and his wife took the step to try wearing a Keski during the camp. Vaheguru.

Group photo of the elder girls and ladies group.
Bhai Sucha Singh jee and Mata jee. Very Chardi Kalaa local Gurmukhs. Mata jee was very inspiring. She did Langar seva throughout the camp. Vaheguru.
Group photo with Guru Ghar Sevadaars.
More photos of camp on Bhenji Harsimrat Kaur Flickr.
For more information on other camps in UK and Europe, check Share Sikhi facebook.
Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Voice of Truth...
Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Transformation - Story of Giani Sukha Singh...
Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!