Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Vaheguroo Vaheguroo Vahegurooo Vahegurooo Vaheguroooo
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Raag Majh
RAAG Majh
Raag Majh - Musicology
Courtesy : Prof. Surinder Singh(www.rajacademy.com)
Introduction
Majha is a region in the state of Punjab in India. Punjab was and even today is divided into three different regions: Majha, Malwa and Duaaba. As with all countries; states and regions develop their own traditions, characteristics and reputations depending on their geographic surroundings, economy etc. The Majhail’s (People of Majha) were famous for their strong build and their hard working attitude because they worked in the army or very far from their homes in farms. A familiar example of this is the U.K (Scotland, Wales, Ireland and England), although part of the same country, they all have very different and varying traditions.
In Gurmatt Sangeet, there are many examples of the Sikh Guru’s using traditions already ingrained in peoples minds, to explain their message. An example of this is Aunsian.
Aunsian
Raag majh is based on aunsian. A rural tradition of waiting for a loved one and the hope and extreme pain or loneliness, felt while waiting. The western form of ausain is the picking off of flower petals one by one and is commonly known as “He loves me, He loves me not”. Drawing a row of lines on the floor and striking them out alternately rather then picking off petals plays Ausain.
Both these games symbolize the hope and pain of meeting your loved one who you are so desperate to meet. They also represent the anxiety that comes with not knowing the outcome and the uncertainty of whether your loved one will come or not. Even if the outcome is negative, the loved one is so dear to you that you will not feel anger but the longing to meet will become stronger and will make the relationship more close and dear.
Creation and Authorship of Raag Majh
Raag Majh is only found in Sahib Guru Granth Sahib ji and there is no evidence of Majh in any other old Granth or shasteras. That makes this raag unique and shows that it is the creation of the greatest maestro ever, Sahib Guru Arjun Dev ji.
Guru Arjun Dev ji, the younger son of the fourth Guru, Guru Ram Dass Ji was sent to Majha by his father, to attend a wedding. Guru ji was told that he would be given an order from his father, when he was to return. Guru ji had never left his family and father for such a long time before, and began to grow more and more anxious to come back. Guru Arjun ji was very creative from his early age and the Majha’s Aunsian tradition was very compelling to him. The longing to meet his great Guru and father was so great that he wrote three letters to his father. These letters contained the pain of separation and the anticipation, hope and joy of meeting. Those poetic messages become the first bani of Guru Arjun ji to meet Akal Purkh (GOD), and are under the heading of Raag Majh in Guru Granth Sahib ji.
In Guru Granth Sahib ji, Guru Arjun ji uses the emotions of pain, loneliness and expectation present in Raag Majh and aunsian to help the soul cry out to the mind in order to build an urge to meet beloved God. Guru Arjun ji used the feelings felt toward his father and Guru to explain the relationship that everyone has toward God. To make this relationship easier to understand Guru ji’s bani contains words like Father, Mother, Brother and Friend. This encourages us to examine our everyday relationships as an example to understand how to get close to Akaal Purkh.
Audio
COURTESY : www.rajacademy.com
Raag Majh - Musicology
Courtesy : Prof. Surinder Singh(www.rajacademy.com)
Introduction
Majha is a region in the state of Punjab in India. Punjab was and even today is divided into three different regions: Majha, Malwa and Duaaba. As with all countries; states and regions develop their own traditions, characteristics and reputations depending on their geographic surroundings, economy etc. The Majhail’s (People of Majha) were famous for their strong build and their hard working attitude because they worked in the army or very far from their homes in farms. A familiar example of this is the U.K (Scotland, Wales, Ireland and England), although part of the same country, they all have very different and varying traditions.
In Gurmatt Sangeet, there are many examples of the Sikh Guru’s using traditions already ingrained in peoples minds, to explain their message. An example of this is Aunsian.
Aunsian
Raag majh is based on aunsian. A rural tradition of waiting for a loved one and the hope and extreme pain or loneliness, felt while waiting. The western form of ausain is the picking off of flower petals one by one and is commonly known as “He loves me, He loves me not”. Drawing a row of lines on the floor and striking them out alternately rather then picking off petals plays Ausain.
Both these games symbolize the hope and pain of meeting your loved one who you are so desperate to meet. They also represent the anxiety that comes with not knowing the outcome and the uncertainty of whether your loved one will come or not. Even if the outcome is negative, the loved one is so dear to you that you will not feel anger but the longing to meet will become stronger and will make the relationship more close and dear.
Creation and Authorship of Raag Majh
Raag Majh is only found in Sahib Guru Granth Sahib ji and there is no evidence of Majh in any other old Granth or shasteras. That makes this raag unique and shows that it is the creation of the greatest maestro ever, Sahib Guru Arjun Dev ji.
Guru Arjun Dev ji, the younger son of the fourth Guru, Guru Ram Dass Ji was sent to Majha by his father, to attend a wedding. Guru ji was told that he would be given an order from his father, when he was to return. Guru ji had never left his family and father for such a long time before, and began to grow more and more anxious to come back. Guru Arjun ji was very creative from his early age and the Majha’s Aunsian tradition was very compelling to him. The longing to meet his great Guru and father was so great that he wrote three letters to his father. These letters contained the pain of separation and the anticipation, hope and joy of meeting. Those poetic messages become the first bani of Guru Arjun ji to meet Akal Purkh (GOD), and are under the heading of Raag Majh in Guru Granth Sahib ji.
In Guru Granth Sahib ji, Guru Arjun ji uses the emotions of pain, loneliness and expectation present in Raag Majh and aunsian to help the soul cry out to the mind in order to build an urge to meet beloved God. Guru Arjun ji used the feelings felt toward his father and Guru to explain the relationship that everyone has toward God. To make this relationship easier to understand Guru ji’s bani contains words like Father, Mother, Brother and Friend. This encourages us to examine our everyday relationships as an example to understand how to get close to Akaal Purkh.
Audio
COURTESY : www.rajacademy.com
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Tension Within Sangat
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Gems
I looked at her. She was so beautiful. Breathtakingly beautiful. Nay, she was beauty itself. She was wearing a bluish garment sparkling with light. Her face radiated peace and composure I had yet to experience on Earth.
She was standing besides a river. The sun was rising and the river reflected the dawn's beauty in all it's glory. The whole scene raptured me and filled me with awe.
She had a big bag which seemed to be half filled with stones. It was only when she pulled out one of the stones that I realized it was no ordinary
stone. No, it was a beautiful gem. I had never seen such a beautiful gem, surpassing the brilliance and the elegance of any gem on Earth.
Then she did a rather peculiar thing. She threw the gem into the river. Before I could say anything she did the same thing again. And again. And
again.
It was beyond me how such beautiful gems could be so easily discarded by her. Couldn't she see how precious, how valuable these gems
were?
Once in a while, she would put a gem into her pocket. But then she would go right back to dropping those beautiful gems, one after another, into the river.
Finally I broke out of my spell and said, "Who are you?".
She looked at me and her eyes sparkling with life and mirth, said, "I am you".
It completely shocked me to think that I could be that beautiful. "But", I stumbled, "I am ugly and dirty, you are pure…?"
I could feel her laughter inside. "I am your soul."
Like a flash of lightening, I completely understood her. I saw her and me as one. My dirt and ugliness were the false and fleeting me.
She was the true me. Like a jewel wrapped in rags,
I had hidden her from the world. Nay, I had hidden her from me.
There was complete understanding.
I didn't have to ask her about her curious behaviour of throwing gems. The gems were the priceless suaas (breaths) given to me. The ones I had spent on SIMRAN, she had put in her pocket and had became part of her treasure. The rest were uselessly thrown away.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
 | You scored as Sikhism. Your ideal religion is Sikhism. It is the fifth largest religion in the world, very similar to Hinduism and Buddhism. To you, God is timeless, non-dual, pure truth, and pure grace.
What is your ideal religion? created with QuizFarm.com |
Monday, September 18, 2006
Silent Eloquence
Silent Eloquence
I need not shout my faith.
Thrice eloquent are quiet trees
and the green listening sod:
Hushed are the stars,
whose power is never spent;
The hills are mute:
yet how they speak of God!
-Charles Hanson Towne
and the green listening sod:
Hushed are the stars,
whose power is never spent;
The hills are mute:
yet how they speak of God!
-Charles Hanson Towne
(had to cop this from my sisters space )
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Wedding time!!
One of my sweeeeet Bhenjis got married last weekend. Hope Guru sahib Shower them with lots of love and Gursikhijeevan.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Bhai Avtar Singh
An email I received :
Bhai Avtar Singhji returned from Toronto back to Delhi on 3 Sept. he has been diagnosed with Leukemia. The doctors in India have given him 2 months after they completed their test.Lets all Pray for his health.
Please do ardas for Bhai Sahib.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Comments
Everything is awesome. Sanjha Samagam was hype, Sadh Sangat samagam was hype, Yudh was hype (Although I Pref if Jarnail Singh won but the calgary singh was fastb). The keertans are nice but I think we should have more raag kirtan....raag is hype..we need more RAAG....thats my take on everything that happened the past few weeks...Oh i met some wonderful Gursikhs too....they came from as far as BC, New Mexico, England and Timbucktoo....truly blessed to meet some of them....I am looking for a job...anyone got hook ups in companies who need electrical engineering people please let a brother know ...
A few ppl asked me to write about the above events so there you go
A few ppl asked me to write about the above events so there you go
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