ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>S&#256RA&#7748G 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 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">&#65279<i>S&#256RA&#7748G K&#298 V&#256R</i>, in the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib, is of the composition of Gur&#363 R&#257m D&#257s. It is set to be sung in S&#257ra&#7749g <i>r&#257ga</i> and hence the title <i>S&#257ra&#7749g k&#299 V&#257r</i>. Nine of the 22 <i>v&#257rs</i> included in the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib are composed in the musical mode of some of the current folk <i>v&#257rs</i> of those days, and Gur&#363 Arjan who compiled the Holy Book, recorded instructions as to the tune in which a particular <i>v&#257r</i> was to be recited. <i>S&#257ra&#7749g k&#299 V&#257r</i> is composed to the tune of the secular <i>v&#257r</i> of R&#257i Mahim&#257 and Hasn&#257, which depicts the rivalry and combat of these two feudal chiefs. It consists of 36 <i>pau&#7771&#299s</i>, 35 by Gur&#363 R&#257m D&#257s and one -35th- by Gur&#363 Arjan. To the <i>pau&#7771&#299s</i> Gur&#363 Arjan prefixed <i>&#347lokas</i> by all the four preceding Gur&#363s and by himself. All <i>pau&#7771&#299s</i> are of uniform length of five lines each. The <i>&#347lokas</i> are of varied length and are in different meters. <i>Pau&#7771&#299s</i> 1 and 34 each have three <i>&#347lokas</i> added to them; the rest have two <i>&#347lokas</i> each.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;What is the purpose of human life? This is the main theme of <i>S&#257ra&#7749g k&#299 V&#257r</i>. Accumulation of material means is subordinate to the contemplation of God's Name. A life filled with the love of God is truly blessed. This is the pervasive idea that runs through this <i>V&#257r</i>. The fourth <i>pau&#7771&#299</i>, for instance, speaks thus:</p> <blockquote class="C1"><p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Name of God is the fountain-head of all joy. We get real joy through the recital of His Name (<i>simran</i>). The gurmukh, one who faithfully follows the Gur&#363's instruction, always aspires to contemplate on God and thus to return Home honourably. His mind is ever occupied by the thought of God and he always recites His Name. The contemplation of God gives one power, over one's mind which, otherwise, flies like a bird in all directions. O N&#257nak! only those whom God blesses with His grace devote themselves to the meditation of His Name.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</blockquote></p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The contemplation of God is the only means of attaining spiritual bliss. Religious costumes and formalism, baths at holy places and observance of rituals cannot cleanse the mind. Only the individual blessed with the grace of God seeks the shelter of the Gur&#363, follows the path indicated by him and devotes himself to the constant remembrance of the Creator. The second <i>pau&#7771&#299</i> says:" The <i>gurmukh</i> is His own creation and He embodies His own virtues in him. This <i>gurmukh</i> uninterruptedly recites the word of the Gur&#363 and makes his mind the abode of God. The Divine flame is lit in him, his mind is liberated from delusion and he is no longer duped by <i>m&#257y&#257</i>. Those who are 'chosen' to be pious are led to meet the Gur&#363 by His grace. They accomplish <i>sahaj</i>, the ultimate state of equipoise, and remain saturated in the Name of God. "</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As the secular <i>v&#257r</i> eulogizes the qualities of physical prowess and valour, the spiritual <i>v&#257r</i> sings the praise of God. In <i>S&#257ra&#7749g k&#299 V&#257r</i>, glorification of God is sung in <i>pau&#7771&#299s</i> 1,4,5,6,8,9,10,11,13, and 36, the praise of the Gur&#363 in <i>pau&#7771&#299s</i> 19 and 20 and that of the <i>gurmukh</i> in <i>pau&#7771&#299s</i> 2,22,25, and 31. Structurally, a <i>v&#257r</i> generally consists of three parts. The first part narrates the causes that lead to the conflict. Here the cause is man's ego and his attachment to the mundane world.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The second part delineates the conflict. The conflict here is between good and evil. Love of the world pulls man in one direction and love of God in the other. Only the grace of God is the individual's Saviour. In resolution in the third part, the <i>V&#257r</i> describes God as the supreme master whose will prevails. The realization of this fact brings supreme bliss to man.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The language of <i>S&#257ra&#7749g k&#299 V&#257r</i> is Punjabi. In a simple style, the <i>V&#257r</i> enunciates the principles of a truly spiritual and ethical living. Some of its verses have become proverbs in literary Punjabi, e.g. <i>"ghale &#257vahi N&#257nak&#257 sade u&#7789hi j&#257hi</i> -- sent by Him we come (into this world), and we depart at His call, sayeth N&#257nak" (GG,1239), "<i>ak&#257l&#299 s&#257hibu sev&#299ai akal&#299 p&#257iai m&#257nu</i>-- through wisdom is Lord served, through wisdom is honour obtained" (GG,1245), "<i>gh&#257li kh&#257i kichhu hathahu dei N&#257nak r&#257hu pachha&#7751ahi sei</i>-- he who earns his bread by his labour, and is willing to share it with others, he, says N&#257nak, alone knows the way" (GG,1245). "<i>Par&#257&#299 am&#257&#7751 kiu rakh&#299ai dit&#299 h&#299 sukhu hoi</i>-- why usurp what belongs to another? By restoring it back will ye attain peace" (GG, 1249).</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"><i>&#346abd&#257rath Sr&#299 Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib</i>. Amritsar, 1975<BR> <li class="C1"> Amole, S.S., <i>B&#257&#299 V&#257r&#257&#7749 Sa&#7789&#299k</i>. Amritsar, 1944<BR> <li class="C1"> Nar&#257i&#7751 Si&#7749gh, Gi&#257n&#299, <i>B&#257&#299 V&#257r&#257&#7749 Sa&#7789ik</i>. Amritsar, 1915<BR> </ol><p class="CONT">Charan Si&#7749gh Gill<br></p><BR> </font><img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""></HTML></BODY>