ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>VAIR&#256G</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="VAIRG"> <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">&#65279VAIR&#256G, usually <i>bair&#257g</i> or sometimes <i>vir&#257g</i> in Punjabi, is derived from Sanskrit <i>vair&#257gy&#257</i> meaning "change or loss of colour, growing pale; disgust, aversion, distaste for or loathing of freedom from all worldly desire, indifference to worldly objects or to life ; asceticism," or analysed as <i>vi</i> (prefix denoting disunion, separation, division) + <i>r&#257g</i> (act of colouring or dyeing, colour, hue, tint, dye especially red colour, redness; any feeling or passion especially love, affection or sympathy for; vehement desire of, interest, joy, delight in; musical note, harmony, melody; loveliness, beauty). Simply stated, <i>vair&#257g</i> has been defined as a mental state or attitude implying "detachment from and indifference to all things that stimulate desire, arouse the passion and strengthen any of the other virtues or vices." Thus defined <i>vair&#257ga</i> may be desirable or otherwise depending on what its practitioner desires or disapproves. However, the term is more often than not employed to connote freedom from all worldly desires and indifference to worldly objects and to life itself. It is thus considered as synonymous with renunciation and asceticism.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Asceticism, which is the consequence of <i>vair&#257g</i>, is a value acknowledged in many advanced religions including Christianity and Islam. In traditional Indian religions it is at the core, and has given rise to numerous sects of anchorites and hermits. All these indulge in ritual practices of their respective order. One of the sects of Vai&#7779&#7751av anchorites is named <i>Bair&#257g&#299</i> (Skt. Vair&#257gin). Sanny&#257s&#299s (Skt. sanny&#257sin), torn from worldly affairs, seek liberation by renunciation, meditation or repeated chanting of certain <i>mantras</i> aloud or <i>sotto voce</i>.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sikhism introduced significant changes in the traditional concept of <i>vair&#257g</i>. For the Gur&#363 the world and worldly life were not to be despised because they were the manifested part of the Ultimate Reality. God created earth as <i>dharams&#257l</i>, i.e. premises for right action (GG. 7) and human birth is a rare chance fox God-realization (GG.12). Disinterested participation and not renunciation is therefore the right path. <i>Vair&#257g</i> must be differentiated from <i>ty&#257g</i> (renunciation) and <i>sanny&#257s</i> (monasticism). Mere abandonment of property means nothing so long as the mind remains chained to desire. <i>Vair&#257g</i> implies freedom from desire other than a craving for nearness to God.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In Punjabi speech <i>vir&#257g (vair&#257g)</i> is also used for yearning, love sickness or sadness caused by separation. <i>Bair&#257g</i> in this sense is also used by the Gur&#363s in their hymns to express deep longing for God. Gur&#363 R&#257m D&#257s, N&#257nak IV, says, "Come, meet me O God ; I have been separated for long ; my mind is full of <i>bair&#257g</i>, my eyes moist with love," (GG, 449). Gur&#363 Arjan also sang, <i>mani bair&#257g bhai&#257 darsanu dekhanai k&#257 ch&#257u</i>--- "my mind craves, anxious to have a glimpse" (GG, 50). <i>Vair&#257g</i> in Sikhism thus connotes not renunciation and escapism, but living a life of rightful activity with a longing to win God's pleasure. Says Gur&#363 N&#257nak, "Countless <i>bair&#257g&#299s</i> talk of <i>bair&#257g</i>; but <i>bair&#257g&#299</i> is he whom the lord likes" (GG, 634).</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;According to Gur&#363 R&#257m Das, "True <i>bair&#257g&#299s</i> are those fortunate ones who, living in their houses with their families in a trance of equipoise, imbued in Lord's name and concentrating on <i>&#346abda</i>, the Gur&#363's Word, serve the True Lord" (GG,1246): To quote Gur&#363 N&#257nak again, "a householder, <i>bair&#257g&#299</i> at heart, who dyed in truth and God's fear sips the nectar of true knowledge, feels no other hunger" (GG, 21).</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Three things are necessary for the cultivation of true <i>vair&#257g</i>--- Gur&#363, faith and God's grace. As Kab&#299r says in the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib, "One does not have detachment (<i>vair&#257g</i>) without the true Gur&#363 even if one wishes and craves for it" (GG,1104). For the Sikh Gur&#363s' Word (<i>gurb&#257&#7751&#299</i>) is the true Gur&#363 who shows him the right path. Unwavering faith in the Gur&#363 is, however, necessary. Doubt (<i>dubidh&#257</i>) being antithesis of faith is a great hinderance to true <i>vair&#257g</i>, as says Gur&#363 N&#257nak," so long as there is even an iota of <i>dubidh&#257</i>, detachment (<i>vair&#257g</i>) cannot be attained" (GG, 634). But ultimately, everything depends on God's will and pleasure, that is <i>nadar</i>, a basic concept in Sikhism. Neither Gur&#363 nor <i>gi&#257n</i> (true knowledge) nor <i>vair&#257g</i> is found without God's grace. As already said, "countless talk of <i>vair&#257g</i> but <i>vair&#257g&#299</i> is he whom He wills so to be" (GG, 634).</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"> Jodh Si&#7749gh, Bh&#257&#299, <i>Gurmati Nir&#7751aya</i>. Patiala, 1990<BR> <li class="C1"> Sher Si&#7749gh, <i>The Philosophy of Sikhism</i>. Lahore, 1944<BR> </ol><p class="CONT">Pritam Si&#7749gh Safeer<br></p><BR> </font> <img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""> </HTML></BODY>