ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>VA&#7692AHA&#7748S 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>VA&#7692AHA&#7748S K&#298 V&#256R</i>, in the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib, is by Gur&#363 R&#257m D&#257s. He has composed the largest number of <i>V&#257rs</i>, eight out of the twenty two included in the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib. The poetic stanza used is the usual <i>pau&#7771&#299</i>. There are 21 <i>pau&#7771&#299s</i> in all, interspersed with <i>&#347lokas</i> by Gur&#363 N&#257nak (3) and Gur&#363 Amar D&#257s (40). The <i>&#347lokas</i> epitomize the various aspects of the theme elaborated in the <i>pau&#7771&#299s</i> that follow. Each <i>pau&#7771&#299</i> consists of five verses, but the <i>&#347lokas</i> vary in length, from two lines to ten lines each. This <i>V&#257r</i> is included in the musical measure Va&#7693aha&#7749s and Gur&#363 Arjan, in the course of the compilation of the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib, added the direction that it is to be sung to the tune of the popular folk ballad of Lall&#257 and Bahl&#299m&#257. The parallel between the two <i>V&#257rs</i> extends nor merely to their musical and poetic style, but also to their content. Whereas Lall&#257 and Bahl&#299m&#257's V&#257r celebrates heroic virtues, <i>Va&#7693aha&#7749s k&#299 V&#257r </i> emphasizes spiritual values, and yet these are revealed in the latter to be complementary as they are generally in the Sikh tradition.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The characters in Lall&#257 and Bahl&#299m&#257's <i>V&#257r</i> assume symbolic significance in light of the argument developed in <i>Va&#7693aha&#7749s k&#299 V&#257r</i>. Bahl&#299m&#257 helps Lall&#257 in time of distress. When Lall&#257 defaults in his obligations, Bahl&#299m&#257 brings him round to the realization of his duty, shortcoming even by using force. The use of force is justified in the service of righteousness.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The conflict in <i>Va&#7693aha&#7749s k&#299 V&#257r</i> is between <i>ha&#7749s</i> (swan) and <i>bag</i> or <i>bagal&#257</i> (duckling), a real saint and an impostor, a Gur&#363-oriented person and a self-oriented one. In other words, the conflict here is between good and evil. The theme is treated in a contrapuntal manner---point counterpoint---building up to a crescendo, in which all doubts are removed, knowledge dawns and tensions are resolved in a harmony of bliss. Some of the opposites employed to work out the theme are swan/duckling, noble/ignoble, joy/sorrow, the honest teacher/the impostor, nectar/poison, life/death, comfort/ discomfort, contented/worried, pure/impure, heaven/hell, knowledge/ignorance, truly devoted/ pretender, cool/fiery, merit/demerit, the connoisseur/obtuse, truth/falsehood, male/female, delicious/ tasteless, friend/foe, etc.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The oneness, uniqueness and omnipresence of God, the significance of the Gur&#363, the ideal of peace and liberation, and an all-embracing love of mankind are the values emphasized in <i>Va&#7693aha&#7749s k&#299 V&#257r</i>. Each individual works out his own release, but he is reminded again and again that this is achieved by God's grace alone.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The <i>V&#257r</i> has a well designed structure. The <i>&#347lokas</i> that precede each <i>pau&#7771&#299</i> present the theme in its dual aspect. They are in the form of a proposition. The <i>pau&#7771&#299</i> that follows resolves the conflict. For instance, the <i>V&#257r</i> opens with the <i>&#347lokas</i> by Gur&#363 Amar D&#257s in which are introduced the opposite symbols of swan and duckling. But in the <i>pau&#7771&#299</i> that follows, Gur&#363 R&#257m D&#257s alludes to God Almighty Who is the Sole Doer, the Sole Giver and the All-Pervading Power, to whom everyone looks up to.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In the succeeding <i>&#347lokas</i> and <i>pau&#7771&#299s</i> it is made clear that those who follow the dictates of their <i>man</i> (baser self) get entangled in worldly temptations. Their lives are full of suffering and those who take refuge in the Word of Gur&#363, they attain peace and happiness. The rituals and outward show of saint liness are of no avail. Only the Gur&#363's <i>sabad</i> (Word) can save one.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The <i>V&#257r</i> ends with a serene note of hope, faith and confidence. God alone is the creator and destroyer. He pervades everywhere. None else can save or destroy us. Let us, therefore, leave everything to Him and get rid of all worries.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The language of the <i>V&#257r</i> is old Punjabi, with very little mixture of S&#257dh-B&#257kh&#257. This is in keeping with the accepted style of a <i>V&#257r</i> which should be in the spoken tongue of the masses. The figures of speech used are within easy comprehension of the common man.</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"><i>&#346abad&#257rth Sr&#299 Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib</i>. Amritsar, 1964<BR> <li class="C1"> S&#257hib Si&#7749gh, <i>Sr&#299 Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib Darpa&#7751</i>. Jalandhar, 1962-64<BR> <li class="C1"> Bishan Si&#7749gh, Gi&#257n&#299, <i>B&#257&#299 Var&#257&#7749 Sa&#7789ik</i>. Amritsar, n.d.<BR> </ol><p class="CONT">Swinder Si&#7749gh Uppal<br></p><BR> </font> <img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""> </HTML></BODY>