The Sangat of saints is an amazing Sarovar. Taking a dip in this Sarovar makes a crow into a cuckoo; a heron into a swan.
Sri Bala Sandhur Vaach..
Sri Guru Angad Dev ji listen, Guru ji left us in Dhruv’s dimension. He went alone towards Sach Khand. I was not able to see it for myself. I will tell you what I had heard from Guru Nanak Dev ji, though. The Giver of Joy reached Sach Khand in the blink of an eye. It was a beautiful creation. There were many types of beautiful gardens there. The branches had many tasty fruits hanging from them. The flowers were beautiful, arranged in lines. Bees hummed over the flowers. They sang the praises of Hari all the time. Swans, parrots, cuckoos and other birds sang in sweet voices. The first door of Sach Khand is beautiful. It had diamonds and other gems in it. The Shalok Mukti (ones who are entitled to live in Sach Khand as a Mukti) Bhagats were in that area. They were without pain. They were always in joy. Vices and desires did not touch them, even in their dreams. Their hearts were illuminated with Brahmgyaan. There were beautiful homes there made of gold in that area. Manis were embedded in the homes which shined bright. The Ataris were made of crystal. The seats were made of sandalwood. Pearls hung radiantly from the doors. When Guru Nanak Dev ji came there, all of the Bhagats bowed to Guru ji and praised him in many ways. They looked at Guru ji’s form and became peaceful. Guru ji then went on from there.
At the second door, the praises of the homes were great. In the courtyards, there were many Manis. They were multi-coloured. The Bhagats lived amongst them. The ones who had achieved Saroop Mukti (who were in the same from as the Bhagavan). They wore yellow clothes and were the Shyam colour. They were really beautiful. It was like a blue stone and the sun shinning on it in the morning. They wore earrings in the shapes of fish. They were radiant. They had four arms and four armlets on them. They wore golden bracelets and rings. On their heads, they had golden and radiant crowns. Their hairs were round and black, looking attractive. Guru ji came to these Bhagats next. The Bhagats got up and met Guru Nanak Dev ji with love. They folded their hands and bowed to Guru ji. They felt the highest bliss meeting Guru ji. They praised Guru ji: “you are the Aad (beginning), Anaad (without beginning); you give to all and make them happy. You spread the glory of Naam in the whole world. You protect the Bhagats in every Yuga.” Hearing their sweet words, Guru ji spoke to them and travelled on from there. He wanted to see the Parmeshwar.
The Light of the Bedis then went to where the Sameep Mukti Bhagats (in the presence of Parmeshwar) lived. Their glory could not be said. They received the Darshan of Parmeshwar all the time. When the Deena Nath (the Master of the poor and humble) arrived there, the Sameep Mukti Bhagats got up and came to meet Guru Nanak Dev ji with love.
Guru ji then went to the Darbar of Sri Prabhoo ji. It was brighter than Kots of suns. The rubies and sapphires were really bright. They were embedded into the walls. The pillars were made of gold. The pillars had rubies and crystals in them. It made one surprised to see all of the emeralds, gold and diamonds embedded in them. The cuts on the gems were amazing. Strands of pearls hung beautifully. They looked like suns hanging. You could see the pearls reflecting within each other. Purple gems were carved into lotus flowers. Kamadeva was embarrassed to see them. Onyxes were carved to make bees. They could not be described. In the middle of the Darbar, the canopy was beautiful. The ropes were made of silk. The glory of Sach Khand could not be described by any Kavi, poet. It was where mind, words and body reached their limits. How can one understand the beauty and state of Sach Khand? These words are used to make the mind understand. I am trying to explain it. There were many green emeralds and black Manis in Sach Khand. The red rubies, were indescribable. The floor was beautiful. The mind was lost in them. It was so amazing.
The Singhasan (the seat of Akaal Purakh) was in the middle. It was really beautiful. Kots of suns could not compare to it. The Sat, Chit and Anand, Akaal Purakh sat on this throne. It was like the illumination of all the lightening; like all of the clouds collected; all of the suns gathered in one place; many Brahmas gathered in one place; many moons gathered together; a mountain of blue sapphires. The feet of Parmeshwar were like lotuses. The nails were so beautiful that many moons were lost in front of them. The Munis and Jogis focused on them. They would be in Samadhi and be one with the Dhyaana. The anklets were beautiful. When they clanked, they gave peace to all 3 Loks. The legs of Akaal Purakh were like the banana trees. When Akaal Purakh would walk, the walk was mesmerizing. The thighs were thick and strong. The clothes were yellow. The waist had bells of Manis around it. The abdomen had 3 lines. The navel was deep and looked like a whirlpool in the Ganga and Yamuna. It was the well of Kamadeva. The waist was strong. The arms were long like elephant trunks. They were the ones that destroyed sinners and gave power to the Bhagats. There were armlets on the arms, rings on the fingers and bracelets on the wrists. This was so beautiful to look at. Weapons were in the hands of Akaal Purakh. Sinners would run away seeing this. Akaal Purakh had 4 beautiful arms. The shoulders were wide and big, like a bull. He wore yellow clothes on his body. There was a yellow cloth around his neck. They looked like lightening. Around the neck was the Vajanti Mala. The neck was shaped like a conch and had 3 lines in it. The chin was beautiful. There was nothing more beautiful than this. Only one who could see this would know. Akaal Purakh’s words were sweet and soft. He slightly smiled, which was priceless. His face was like billions of moons. The earrings were shaped like fish. His eyes were like lotus petals, wide and beautiful. The eyes would destroy the 3 illnesses of the Bhagats. His sight was full of compassion and blessings. It was sharp and full of blessings. The hair was curled and black. The bees weren’t even that dark. His forehead was wide. The crown was beautiful and radiant. The Chattar over his head made the moon shy. Chaurs were waved from every direction. It was like many suns making the radiance. Who can speak of the radiance? Kots of Shaishnaags and Shardas would give up, trying to praise Akaal Purakh. The Vedas call him Nayt (this is not your end). The wisest scholars and Kavis could not know the end of this form. What can I say about his form? I am unwise. It is like an ant trying to swim across the ocean. How can an insect lift the Sumer Mountain? How can a human know the depths of space? His power created the whole universe. Maya and Brahma were created from this power. Akaal Purakh was their support. One hair of Akaal Purakh had many Vishnus in them. Those many Vishnus created many Shivas and Brahmas. Who can think of this? The hairs of Akaal Purakh were like the branches of the Sequoia tree. The leaves were the many galaxies and universes. Creation, sustenance and destruction occurred in them. Akaal Purakh created the 3 Devs (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) in every universe.
The place where the King of the universe sat, the Giver of Joy to Sikhs, Guru Nanak Dev ji, came there. Guru Nanak Dev ji folded his hands and bowed to Akaal Purakh. He laid on the floor like a stick and then got up. Sri Akaal Purakh ji smiled and spoke sweet words: “in the world, Kaliyuga has been forming its crocked ways. It is like a jungle on fire. The people are engrossed in desired and vices. The dark winds blow hard. Hypocrisy and attachment along with other vices, these are the flames. The humans are burning and yelling out for help. The heat is hurting everyone. I have sent you like a cloud. The sweet Keertan you sing is the rumbling of the clouds. The praise of the Naam is the water in the cloud. It destroys the fires of Kaliyuga. The Bhagti is the coolness. To understand one’s own form, that is the peace. The humans are burning. You came into the world to destroy the hypocrisy. Have you completed your task or are some places still left?” Hearing Sri Akaal Purakh ji’s words, Guru Nanak Dev ji, the Giver of Joy to Sikhs, spoke: “in the 18 islands of the ocean, the glory of your Name has spread there. Jamboo Dveep (India) has many places where your Bhagti has spread. I am going to the 9 Khands of the earth now. I will give the wisdom to the ones who are in pain now. In the 7 Dweeps (continents), the glory of the Naam will be heard. They will chant the Naam. Bhagti and the glory of the Naam will erase the weight of the sins and pain. They will sing the glories of the Naam and destroy the sins of their many births.” The Karta Purakh spoke to the Giver of Joy: “sing the glory of the Naam, which will be deserving of saving the people. Sing the glory from your mouth once and then go to the world to give the people this wisdom.” Guru Nanak Dev ji heard this and sang the Bani in Asa Raag:
Sri Mukhvaak..
Raag Asa Mahala 1 Ghar 1 So Dar..
How is That Door of Yours, and how is That Home, in which You sit and take care of all? The Sound-current of the Naad vibrates there for You, and countless musicians play countless instruments there for You. There are so many Ragas and Raagnis; so many minstrels sing hymns of You. Wind, water and fire sing of You. The Righteous Judge of Dharma sings at Your Door. Chitragupta, the angels of the conscious and the subconscious who keep the record of actions, and the Righteous Judge of Dharma who reads this record, sing of You. Shiva, Brahma and the Goddesses along with Beauties you created, ever adorned by You, sing of You. Indra, seated on His Throne, sings of You, with the deities at Your Door. The Siddhas in Samadhi sing of You; the Sadhoos sing of You in contemplation. The Jattis (Lakshan, Gorakh, Hanuman, Bheesham, Bharo, Datta Treya), the Satis, and the Santokhis (content) sing of You; the (52) Birs sing of You. The Pandits, the religious scholars (Vyaas, Prashar, Agusta, etc.) who recite the Vedas, the Rikhishwars, with the supreme sages of all the ages, sing of You. The Mohinis, the enchanting heavenly beauties who entice hearts in Swarga, in this world, and in the Pataals (underworld), sing of You. The jewels created by You, and the sixty-eight Teeraths sing of You. The brave and mighty warriors sing of You. The spiritual heroes and the four sources of creation sing of You. The worlds, solar systems and galaxies, created and arranged by Your Hand, sing of You. They alone sing of You, who are pleasing to Your Will. Your devotees are drenched in the taste of your Bhagti. So many others sing of You, they do not come to mind. O Nanak, how can I think of them all? That True Lord is True, forever True, and True is His Name. He is, and shall always be. He shall not depart, even when this Universe which He has created ceases to exist. He created the world, with its various colors, species of beings, by the use of various forms of Maya. Having created the creation, He watches over it Himself, by His Greatness. He does whatever He pleases. No one can issue any order to Him. He is the King, the King of kings, the Supreme Lord and Master of kings. Nanak remains subject to His Will. ||1||
(SGGS 8-9)
It was as though Guru ji was the idol of love, singing in Raag Asa. After singing the So Dar Shabad, Guru Nanak Dev ji bowed in the Ashtanga way. The round (without beginning and end), single state, the radiance of Kots of suns, the aggregate light of the lightening; how can they compare? That is how the form of Akaal Purakh ji was. Sri Akaal Purakh ji heard his glory from Guru Nanak Dev ji and was happy. He smiled and said: “go back to the world and do what you need to do. Fulfill your mission of why you took on a human form. Destroy the pains of the people of the world. When Sikhi will spread everywhere, then come back to me. The ones who commit sin, destroy their sins and hypocrisy. Give the wisdom of “Satnam.” Destroy the pains of the Dharti.” Hearing the words of Sri Akaal ji, Guru Nanak Dev ji bowed to him. He folded his hands as he bowed. He then turned towards the earth. The Compassionate Master took on a human form. There was no other reason for him to come to earth other than to save the people from pain.
The ones who follow Guru Nanak Dev ji’s words, they are not afraid of the Jums. As Bhaavan’s feet were washed with water, that water became the Ganga; Bhageerath brought the Ganga to earth; that is how the Bani of Guru Nanak Dev ji was spread everywhere on earth. Within the Ganga, only the body bathes in it which destroys the sins. Within the Gurbani, the Sooksham body, the Munn, can bathe in it. Whoever bathes in the Gurbani with their Munns, their sins are destroyed and Mukti comes into their hands. The Ganga exists in one location and only flows in specific areas. Gurbani exists everywhere. It is accessible everywhere with ease. It is easy to bathe in it. The ones who recite it and read it, they are in bliss. The ones who don’t earn it, they lose in the world. The Satsangat is the great Ghatt (port/ steps of the Sarovar), where one can sit and bathe in Gurbani everyday. Kavi Santokh Singh folds his hands and bows to the Mine of Virtues.
Thus ends the Poorbaardh, the first half of the Nanak Prakash Granth.