ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>BIL&#256VAL K&#298 V&#256R</TITLE> <style type="text/css"> .BODY { background-color: #EAF1F7; background-image: url('images/gtbh.jpg'); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; background-position: center; color: #0066CC;} .C1{text-align: justify;color: #0066CC;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .BIB{text-align: center;color: #000099;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .CONT{text-align: right;color: #FF0000;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} </style><META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="BILVAL,VR"> <META http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></HEAD> <BODY class="BODY" oncontextmenu="return false" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false"> <FONT ALIGN="JUSTIFY" FACE="Tahoma"> <p class="C1">&#65279BIL&#256VAL K&#298 V&#256R, by Gur&#363 R&#257m D&#257s, is one of his eight <i>v&#257rs</i> in a corpus of twenty-two included in the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib. It occurs in R&#257ga Bil&#257val, and consists of thirteen <i>pau&#7771&#299s</i> or stanzas, each comprising five lines, with the exception of <i>pau&#7771&#299</i> 10 which is of six lines. To the <i>pau&#7771&#299s</i> which are of Gur&#363 R&#257m D&#257s's composition, <i>&#347lokas</i> were added by Gur&#363 Arjan at the time of the compilation of the Holy Book. In its present form, each <i>pau&#7771&#299</i>, except <i>pau&#7771&#299</i> 7 which has three <i>&#347lokas</i> prefixed to it, is preceded by two <i>&#347lokas</i>. Of these twenty-seven <i>&#347lokas</i>, two are of the composition of Gur&#363 N&#257nak, one of Gur&#363 R&#257m D&#257s and the remaining of Gur&#363 Amar D&#257s. R&#257ga Bil&#257val is the melody of bliss which, as the poem stresses, consists in contemplation on the Divine Name. This constant remembrance of God becomes possible only through the grace and guidance of the Gur&#363. He who takes refuge in the Gur&#363 acquires the wealth of <i>n&#257m</i> or Divine Name thereby attaining the state of <i>sahaj</i>, the highest state of spiritual progress in which ignorance and dualism are expelled. Such a person called a <i>gurmukh</i>, i. e. one turned towards the Gur&#363, is honoured everywhere and by all. By pursuing the teachings of the Gur&#363, he becomes a <i>j&#299van-mukta</i>, i. e. one who has attained liberation while still living. The <i>V&#257r</i> reiterates some of the basic principles of Sikh thought. God has created this universe and sustains it. He is eternal and formless, self-existent and all pervading, and yet transcendent. He cannot be conceived or explained in empirical terms. He is the Lord of the universe and His Will governs all. He through His grace releases men from the cycle of birth and death. The human soul partakes of the Divine, but man becomes ignorant of his true origin because of the influence of <i>m&#257y&#257</i> and his <i>haumai</i> or egoity. Contemplation on His Name by following the Gur&#363's counsel is the only way to overcome <i>haumai</i>. He who has overcome his ego becomes permanently attuned to the Ultimate Reality. On the ethical plane, the poem denounces vices such as pride, slander, avarice and attachment. Truthfulness, humility and purity of thought are recognized as prized virtues.</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1">Bishan Si&#7749gh, Gi&#257n&#299, <i>B&#257&#299 V&#257r&#257&#7749 Sa&#7789&#299k</i>. Amritsar, n. d.<BR> </ol><p class="CONT">Surain Si&#7749gh Wikh&#363<br></p><BR> </font> <img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""> </HTML></BODY>