Vaaran Bhai Gurdaas

From SikhiPedia

Vaaran Bhai Gurdas is the name given to the 40 Vaaran (chapters) of writing by Bhai Gurdaas Ji. They have been referred to as the "Key to the Sri Guru Granth Sahib" by Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth Sikh Guru. Bhai Gurdaas was a first cousin of Mata Bhani, mother of Guru Arjan Dev Ji. He was the first scribe of Guru Granth Sahib Ji and a scholar of great repute. From his work its clear that he had mastery of various Indian languages and had studied many ancient Indian religious scriptures.

In Macauliffe's "The Sikh Religion," he makes the following remark to express the importance place by the Guru on Bhai Sahib's work: "The Guru, probably to make trial of his learned and able scribe Bhai Gurdaas, whose compositions he admired, offered to insert them in the Granth; but Bhai Gurdaas said that they were not worthy of such honour. The Guru complimented him on his modesty and ability, and said that whoever read the Bhai's writings should acquire spiritual profit and instruction and faith in the teachings of the holy Gurus."

Each of the 40 chapters of "Vaaran Bhai Gurdas" consists of a differing number of Pauris (sections, paragraphs). The composition is a collection of detailed commentary and explanation of theology and the ethics of Sikh beliefs as outlined by the Gurus. It explains the Sikh terms like sangat, haumai, "Gun", Gurmukh and Manmukh, Sat, Naam, etc. Many of the principles of Sikhism are explained in simple terms by Bhai Sahib and at times in many different ways.

The following is a quote from this collection of pauris:

ਜੋਗ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਗੁਰਸਿਖ ਗੁਰ ਸਮਝਾਇਆ॥ ਆਸਾ ਵਿਚਿ ਨਿਰਾਸਿ ਨਿਰਾਸੁ ਵਲਾਇਆ॥ ਥੋੜਾ ਪਾਣੀ ਅੰਨੁ ਖਾਇ ਪੀਆਇਆ॥

ਥੋੜਾ ਬੋਲਣ ਬੋਲਿ ਨ ਝਖਿ ਝਖਾਇਆ॥ ਥੋੜੀ ਰਾਤੀ ਨੀਦ ਨ ਮੋਹਿ ਫਹਾਇਆ॥ ਸੁਹਣੇ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਜਾਇ ਨ ਲੋਭ ਲੁਭਾਇਆ॥15॥ (Vaar 20)

[edit]