Today we are celebrating the first ever prakash of Guru Granth Sahib.
My painting depicts the Darbar (court) of Guru Granth Sahib ji, inside the Harimandir Sahib complex. After Guru Arjun Dev ji completed the scripture, it was installed in Harmandir Sahib, Golden Temple.
Guru Granth Sahib ji contains the writings of the Saints of medieval India, as well as the writings of several of the Gurus in the sikh tradition. Its central thrust is Truth and it contains practical spirituality – to meet with the Truth and then to perform responsible actions in a manner whereby you lose yourself in that process.
Naturally, in the hymns of Guru Granth Sahib ji, we see a blend of devotion to the Truth, responsible actions and meditation, and criticism of irresponsible actions, including the self-deceptive habits we all have. Each hymn of Guru Granth Sahib ji leads the reader towards these fundamentals of life, these higher values associated with truthful living.
Even though Guru Granth Sahib ji had been a source of teaching for the sikhs since its first prakash, the official status of “Guru” was given to this scripture by Guru Gobind Singh ji before he passed away.
Regardless of whether I paint the Gods, the Gurus or the Guardians, I always listen to the hymns from Guru Granth Sahib ji, alongside it. Many artworks I have produced are a direct consequence of doing so, where the inspiration came from my meditations on these hymns.
In my daily life as well, my north star is the practical spirituality that is described in Guru Granth Sahib ji. I am always scrutinizing my behaviour, my habits and my thoughts, and testing them on the standard set within the hymns.
My goal in life is to be the servant of Truth, and to lose myself deeply in its devotion, with each breath.
Hopefully my art inspires you to serve the Truth, as well as becoming Kings and Queens of your respective domains.
Shri Krishan ji is that Light within us, through which we experience the world.
This is the Light that not only illuminates the world but also reveals to us who we are. Whatever thoughts we think, whatever feelings we feel, it is through the Light that we even know what they are!
Today we are celebrating the arrival of his physical form, whom we see as the character in the epic of Mahabharat.
Shri Krishan ji – Banke Loi
Shri Krishan ji – The Light Within
Even though I have painted a physical form, the Light has no visible shape or form but we call it Light because within it, we see everything, including ourselves.
This Light which paints all that we can know of, cannot itself be painted. My words and paintings merely point towards it.
In Guru Granth Sahib, we see the veneration of the Light itself, as well as the physical form. This is why the tradition of Sikh Art is incomplete without the painting of both this Light and its physical form.
Whenever I paint, I always have some hymns from Guru Granth Sahib that I meditate on while painting. I want to share 4 of these with you.
You will see elements of these expressed in the paintings above. See if you can identify these elements!
I hope you enjoy the paintings and I hope you enjoy listening to the shabads below.
Guru Nanak Dev ji reveals who Shri Krishan ji Maharaj is, the Light within – ਏਕ ਕ੍ਰਿਸ੍ਨੰ ਤ ਸਰਬ ਦੇਵਾ ਦੇਵ ਦੇਵਾ ਤ ਆਤਮਹ ॥ The One Krishan ji is the Light within all the great beings, and the Light within us.
ਆਤਮੰ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਬਾਸ੍ਵਦੇਵਸ੍ਯ ਜੇ ਕੋਈ ਜਾਨਸਿ ਭੇਵ ॥ The Light within is Shri Krishan ji, if anyone recognizes this secret within themselves.
ਨਾਨਕ ਤਾ ਕੋ ਦਾਸੁ ਹੈ ਸੋਈ ਨਿਰੰਜਨ ਦੇਵ ॥੪॥ Guru Nanak Dev ji says I am the servant of that Pure Light.
Listen to Guru Angad Dev ji’s version of this shabad –
Dwarika City which was built by Shri Krishan ji Maharaj was invaded by Mohammad Shah in 1241, who destroyed the temples there.
This was 29 years prior to Sant Nam Dev ji’s birth. This was a time of foreign invasions of India.
At this time, Sant Nam Dev ji visits Dwarika and has a conversation with Shri Krishan ji, upon arriving –
ਬਲਿ ਬਲਿ ਜਾਂਉ ਹਉ ਬਲਿ ਬਲਿ ਜਾਂਉ ॥ ਨੀਕੀ ਤੇਰੀ ਬਿਗਾਰੀ ਆਲੇ ਤੇਰਾ ਨਾਉ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ I am a sacrifice to You. Absolute devotion to You is small, whereas Your Identity is vast.
ਕੁਜਾ ਆਮਦ ਕੁਜਾ ਰਫਤੀ ਕੁਜਾ ਮੇ ਰਵੀ ॥ ਦ੍ਵਾਰਿਕਾ ਨਗਰੀ ਰਾਸਿ ਬੁਗੋਈ ॥੧॥ Where did You come from? Where are You going now? Where will You go? In Dwarika city, Krishna, You speak the Truth.
ਖੂਬੁ ਤੇਰੀ ਪਗਰੀ ਮੀਠੇ ਤੇਰੇ ਬੋਲ ॥ ਦ੍ਵਾਰਿਕਾ ਨਗਰੀ ਕਾਹੇ ਕੇ ਮਗੋਲ ॥੨॥ Krishna, Your turban is beautiful and Your speech is so sweet, why have You arrived in the city of Dwarka as a Mughal?
ਚੰਦੀ ਹਜਾਰ ਆਲਮ ਏਕਲ ਖਾਨਾਂ ॥ ਹਮ ਚਿਨੀ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹ ਸਾਂਵਲੇ ਬਰਨਾਂ ॥੩॥ ਅਸਪਤਿ ਗਜਪਤਿ ਨਰਹ ਨਰਿੰਦ ॥ ਨਾਮੇ ਕੇ ਸ੍ਵਾਮੀ ਮੀਰ ਮੁਕੰਦ ॥੪॥੨॥੩॥ You are the Master of all worlds, permeating each one. You are my King, o dark-skinned Krishna. You are Lord of the Horses, Surya (Dispeller of Darkness), You are the Lord of the Elephants, Indra (Consciousness), You are the Lord of Men, Brahma (Expanding Awareness). You are my Master, the King of All Beings and their Liberator.
Listen to this shabad –
Guru Nanak Dev ji sings the praises of Shri Krishan ji and describes his beautiful eyes and his youthful appearance – ਤੇਰੇ ਬੰਕੇ ਲੋਇਣ ਦੰਤ ਰੀਸਾਲਾ ॥ ਸੋਹਣੇ ਨਕ ਜਿਨ ਲੰਮੜੇ ਵਾਲਾ ॥ Your eyes are beautiful, your teeth are beautiful, beautiful is your nose and long hair.
ਕੰਚਨ ਕਾਇਆ ਸੁਇਨੇ ਕੀ ਢਾਲਾ ॥ ਸੋਵੰਨ ਢਾਲਾ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨ ਮਾਲਾ ਜਪਹੁ ਤੁਸੀ ਸਹੇਲੀਹੋ ॥ Golden body, decorated with Vajyanti garland, chant Krishna’s name, o sisters fair.
ਜਮ ਦੁਆਰਿ ਨ ਹੋਹੁ ਖੜੀਆ ਸਿਖ ਸੁਣਹੁ ਮਹੇਲੀਹੋ ॥ You will not have to stand at the door of death, if you listen to this teaching with care.
ਹੰਸ ਹੰਸਾ ਬਗ ਬਗਾ ਲਹੈ ਮਨ ਕੀ ਜਾਲਾ ॥ Listening, the hypocrites are transformed into Saintly Swans; their mind’s entanglements tear.
ਬੰਕੇ ਲੋਇਣ ਦੰਤ ਰੀਸਾਲਾ ॥੭॥ ਤੇਰੀ ਚਾਲ ਸੁਹਾਵੀ ਮਧੁਰਾੜੀ ਬਾਣੀ ॥ Your eyes are beautiful, beautiful are your teeth. Your gait is graceful, sweet is the way you speak.
ਕੁਹਕਨਿ ਕੋਕਿਲਾ ਤਰਲ ਜੁਆਣੀ ॥ Your speech is like the song of the Kokila songbird, and your rising youth is at its peak.
ਤਰਲਾ ਜੁਆਣੀ ਆਪਿ ਭਾਣੀ ਇਛ ਮਨ ਕੀ ਪੂਰੀਏ ॥ Youth appealed to you, so you took this form, seeing which may the heart be content.
ਸਾਰੰਗ ਜਿਉ ਪਗੁ ਧਰੈ ਠਿਮਿ ਠਿਮਿ ਆਪਿ ਆਪੁ ਸੰਧੂਰਏ ॥ Like the elephant, you walk slowly, enjoying yourself, mincing, step by step.
ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰੰਗ ਰਾਤੀ ਫਿਰੈ ਮਾਤੀ ਉਦਕੁ ਗੰਗਾ ਵਾਣੀ ॥ Lakshmi walks in your love, intoxicated, your speech is like the river Ganga, pure.
ਬਿਨਵੰਤਿ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਦਾਸੁ ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਤੇਰੀ ਚਾਲ ਸੁਹਾਵੀ ਮਧੁਰਾੜੀ ਬਾਣੀ ॥੮॥੨॥ Says Nanak, I am the servant of Hari, Your walk is graceful and your speech has a special allure.
Listen to this shabad –
Sant Nam Dev ji expresses joy and praises the birth of Shri Krishan ji – ਧਨਿ ਧੰਨਿ ਓ ਰਾਮ ਬੇਨੁ ਬਾਜੈ ॥ ਮਧੁਰ ਮਧੁਰ ਧੁਨਿ ਅਨਹਤ ਗਾਜੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ Blessed, blessed is that Flute which the Lord plays. The sweet, sweet unstruck sound current sings forth.
ਧਨਿ ਧਨਿ ਮੇਘਾ ਰੋਮਾਵਲੀ ॥ ਧਨਿ ਧਨਿ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨ ਓਢੈ ਕਾਂਬਲੀ ॥੧॥ Blessed, blessed is the wool of the sheep; blessed, blessed is the wool blanket worn by Shri Krishna.
ਧਨਿ ਧਨਿ ਤੂ ਮਾਤਾ ਦੇਵਕੀ ॥ ਜਿਹ ਗ੍ਰਿਹ ਰਮਈਆ ਕਵਲਾਪਤੀ ॥੨॥ Blessed, blessed are you, O mother Devaki, into your home the Akal Purakh, the Husband of Mata Lakshmi, was born.
ਧਨਿ ਧਨਿ ਬਨ ਖੰਡ ਬਿੰਦ੍ਰਾਬਨਾ ॥ ਜਹ ਖੇਲੈ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਨਾਰਾਇਨਾ ॥੩॥ Blessed, blessed are the forests of Vrindavan, where Shri Narayana played.
ਬੇਨੁ ਬਜਾਵੈ ਗੋਧਨੁ ਚਰੈ ॥ ਨਾਮੇ ਕਾ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਆਨਦ ਕਰੈ ॥੪॥੧॥ He plays the flute, and herds the cows, Nam Dev’s Master plays happily.
ਮੇਰੋ ਬਾਪੁ ਮਾਧਉ ਤੂ ਧਨੁ ਕੇਸੌ ਸਾਂਵਲੀਓ ਬੀਠੁਲਾਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ O my Father, Husband of my Mother, Lakshmi, blessed are You, long-haired, dark-skinned, Vishnu.
ਕਰ ਧਰੇ ਚਕ੍ਰ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਤੇ ਆਏ ਗਜ ਹਸਤੀ ਕੇ ਪ੍ਰਾਨ ਉਧਾਰੀਅਲੇ ॥ You hold the Sudarshan Quoit in Your hand; You came down from Vaikunth (where You reside), and saved the life of the Elephant (who was attacked, and was trapped in the tight jaws of a crocodile).
ਦੁਹਸਾਸਨ ਕੀ ਸਭਾ ਦ੍ਰੋਪਤੀ ਅੰਬਰ ਲੇਤ ਉਬਾਰੀਅਲੇ ॥੧॥ In the court of Duhshasan, You saved the honor of Dropadi, when her clothes were being removed.
ਗੋਤਮ ਨਾਰਿ ਅਹਲਿਆ ਤਾਰੀ ਪਾਵਨ ਕੇਤਕ ਤਾਰੀਅਲੇ ॥ You saved Ahliyaa (who was turned to stone), the wife of Gautam; how many have You purified and carried across?
ਐਸਾ ਅਧਮੁ ਅਜਾਤਿ ਨਾਮਦੇਉ ਤਉ ਸਰਨਾਗਤਿ ਆਈਅਲੇ ॥੨॥੨॥ Such a lowly outcaste as Nam Dev has come seeking Your Sanctuary.
My painting of Guru Amar Das ji highlights Ram Naam in action.
When we are talking about Ram Naam, we are talking about Responsible Actions and Meditation, Seva and Simran.
While I was painting Guru Amar Das ji Maharaj, I wanted to show Guru ji in a state of tranquility, and show how his profound sense of peace and total freedom spills out into everything he does.
This is seva.
Guru Nanak Dev ji ki bani – ਧੌਲੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਦਇਆ ਕਾ ਪੂਤੁ ॥ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਥਾਪਿ ਰਖਿਆ ਜਿਨਿ ਸੂਤਿ ॥ Dharma is the son of Compassion, and together with Patience, it maintains the world.
Guru Nanak Dev ji says that Dharma or Responsibility is born of Kindness. Only that action can be considered Dharmic or Responsible, which comes from kindness, from compassion.
When Bhai Kanhaiya ji was feeding water to both the Sikh and Mughal soldiers on the battlefield, he did so out of compassion.
Bhai Kanhaiya ji
Compassion forms the basis of Seva.
When we are talking about Responsible Actions or Seva, and when we are talking about compassion, we must look at our lives and evaluate how responsible and compassionate we are in our day to day activities. This includes eating and what we eat.
When people think about Seva, they never think about eating. Eating is something we do 3 times a day. Many people eat less, only once a day. Many people eat more, up to 4-5 times.
One type of Seva is what we prepare for others. The other seva is what we choose to eat.
Ancient humans had to eat whatever they could find. But modern technologies have made survival much easier. Now that our survival is taken care of we can eat a little more responsibly.
What we eat can be Seva in itself.
We may say it is our personal choice what we eat. But we must understand that this “personal choice” has many victims involved.
These victims feel pain.
But their screams happen behind closed doors so we do not hear them. Their right to life is trampled upon, when we choose to eat them or what comes out of their bodies.
When we eat in a way where we don’t take their life and we don’t take what comes out of their bodies, then this is a great Seva.
Guru Angad Dev ji was the second guru of the Sikhs. His contributions towards the development of the Gurmukhi script is one of the highlights of this painting.
Guru Angad Dev ji – The Graceful One
You might notice that Guru ji is doing something in this painting. You might notice that he is in meditation.
What is meditation?
Fundamentally, meditation is a process whereby you lose yourself.
Guru Angad Dev ji ki bani – ਅਖੀ ਬਾਝਹੁ ਵੇਖਣਾ ਵਿਣੁ ਕੰਨਾ ਸੁਨਣਾ ॥ See without eyes. Hear without ears.
ਪੈਰਾ ਬਾਝਹੁ ਚਲਣਾ ਵਿਣੁ ਹਥਾ ਕਰਣਾ ॥ Walk without feet. Do without hands.
ਜੀਭੈ ਬਾਝਹੁ ਬੋਲਣਾ ਇਉ ਜੀਵਤ ਮਰਣਾ ॥ Speak without tongue. This is living with true freedom*.
(* Guru ji uses the phrase “dead while alive”. When you are dead, you are free from the bondage of life. So he is talking about that state of freedom from life while you are still alive.)
Guru Granth Sahib, 726
This is not a theory. This is a practical way of living.
This is observable within yourself, if you pay attention, and it will transform how you view all of life and how you live it.
Take a few minutes and do it with me now.
When you look within yourself, you will see there are sensations of the body.
Feel your hand from the inside, you will feel subtle vibrations, blood flow and maybe even a heartbeat in your hand.
Now within your mind, there are a stream of thoughts and emotions.
As you are reading this, there may even be a string of this exact sentence you are now reading, being said in your mind.
All of these you can see very easily.
But what may be hidden from view is that there is something behind the thoughts and emotions.
There is a feeling of self, that I exist, that I am watching these sensations in my hand and thinking my thoughts.
While reading this, you might think, I am reading it. There is an ‘I’ – the reader who is reading this sentence.
There is the thought or sensation you are feeling and then there is a separate observer feeling the thoughts and sensations.
This is the ‘I’.
Just like how you are becoming aware of this sentence, become aware of the sense of the reader, who is reading the sentence.
Can you see that ‘I’, that reader?
Many of us may not be able to see it at first, and may need to retry.
If you cannot, start again from the bodily sensations and then see your thoughts and feelings, and then see that there is a sense that someone is aware of those sensations, thoughts and feelings.
Become aware of that ‘I’.
If you lose it, go back and try again.
Become aware of the ‘I’ until it is just like any other object, like a thought or the feeling of an itch on your skin.
Again, I am not speaking theoretically or philosophically. This is something you can see within yourself.
Just like you can see this sentence on the screen, you can see there is a feeling of someone reading it.
It is a feeling like any other, albeit more subtle.
If you take a few minutes to look within, you will feel your bodily sensations, you will see your thoughts come and go, and you will also see your sense of self.
This ‘I’ also has its story, which we have connected to it.
I – have this body and these eyes, ears, hands, etc
I – hold such position in society
I – have been through this and that
I – am misunderstood, whom no one seems to get
I – have done so much for my family
This is who I am, we think.
Become aware of that feeling.
Become aware of that ‘I’ who was previously feeling the sensations of the body and thinking the thoughts, become aware of it, until it is also being felt or seen just like the sensations and thoughts.
When you see that this ‘I’ is also seen then in that moment, there is no ‘I’ that sees, but rather there is simply the act of seeing, there is no ‘I’ that hears, there is simply act of hearing, there is no ‘I’ that walks, there is simply the act of walking, there is no ‘I’ that does things, there is simply the act of doing.
ਅਖੀ ਬਾਝਹੁ ਵੇਖਣਾ ਵਿਣੁ ਕੰਨਾ ਸੁਨਣਾ ॥ See without eyes, Hear without ears.
You are no longer identified with the body. You are no longer identified with the contents of your mind, including your sense of self, I. There is simply pure awareness. Seeing, hearing, walking, doing, are simply happening.
The Ninth Guru of the Sikhs and the Protector of the world, Guru Tegh Bahadur ji, was born today. The portrait of Guru ji that you see below is part of a larger painting. I have made some small improvements to this piece and have made it available to purchase just Guru ji’s portrait.
Guru Tegh Bahadur ji – Meditating in Bakala
Guru Tegh Bahadur ji had many great insights to share with us. I have been contemplating his teachings for quite some time. Today I want to share one of his hymns with you.
Guru ji says –
ਜਾਗ ਲੇਹੁ ਰੇ ਮਨਾ ਜਾਗ ਲੇਹੁ ਕਹਾ ਗਾਫਲ ਸੋਇਆ ॥ Wake up! O mind, wake up! Why are you asleep unconsciously?
ਜੋ ਤਨੁ ਉਪਜਿਆ ਸੰਗ ਹੀ ਸੋ ਭੀ ਸੰਗਿ ਨ ਹੋਇਆ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ Your body which has been with you till now, will not stay with you in the end.
ਮਾਤ ਪਿਤਾ ਸੁਤ ਬੰਧ ਜਨ ਹਿਤੁ ਜਾ ਸਿਉ ਕੀਨਾ ॥ ਜੀਉ ਛੂਟਿਓ ਜਬ ਦੇਹ ਤੇ ਡਾਰਿ ਅਗਨਿ ਮੈ ਦੀਨਾ ॥੧॥ Your mother, father, children and relatives, whom you love, will throw your body into fire, when you pass away.
ਜੀਵਤ ਲਉ ਬਿਉਹਾਰੁ ਹੈ ਜਗ ਕਉ ਤੁਮ ਜਾਨਉ ॥ These relationships are there only while you are alive, know them [as an activity of the body, which will perish].
ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਨ ਗਾਇ ਲੈ ਸਭ ਸੁਫਨ ਸਮਾਨਉ ॥੨॥੨॥ Guru Tegh Bahadur ji says – sing the praises of Consciousness, all these things [body and its relationships] are a dream [within consciousness].
– Guru Granth Sahib, 726
Your parents, your aunts and uncles, your children, your other relatives, your teachers, your religious leaders, your employers, your governments, none of these are going to remain.
They cannot support you forever. They will either change with time or pass away.
Your body too, will pass away.
There is only one authority in the world that will support you till the end.
The only thing that will support you is Consciousness.
Consciousness is the screen where the story of your life is being played out.
If everything in your life was a lie, if all that you knew was fake, if everything you held dear turned out to be a smoke show, the only thing real in all this is Consciousness.
The experience may be false but the awareness of the experience can never be false. What you see may be fake, but the fact that you are seeing it, is not fake.
If you don’t think the world is fake, just give it some time, the world will show you its fakeness. People will reveal themselves to you in due time.
But Consciousness – This is the one thing you can rely on as 100% real in all instances of your life.
Along with the option to purchase prints, there is a longer contemplation in the link below, which you can listen to, as you watch the painting unfold.
