Sangrand - Maagh

Thursday 13th January 2005 - Maagh.

Today is the first day of the month 'Maagh'. Guru Arjan Dev Ji Maharaaj have in the their compilation 'Baarah Maahaa ~ The Twelve Months' written about each month of the year in which They have given a description of what we go through and what we should aim to do each month.

The Shabad for this month,

maagh majan sa(n)g saadhhooaa dhhoorree kar eisanaan
In the month of Maagh, let your cleansing bath be the dust of the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy.

har kaa naam dhhiaae sun sabhanaa no kar dhaan
Meditate and listen to the Name of the Lord, and give it to everyone.

janam karam mal outharai man thae jaae gumaan
In this way, the filth of lifetimes of karma shall be removed, and egotistical pride shall vanish from your mind.

kaam karodhh n moheeai binasai lobh suaan
Sexual desire and anger shall not seduce you, and the dog of greed shall depart.

sachai maarag chaladhiaa ousathath karae jehaan
Those who walk on the Path of Truth shall be praised throughout the world.

at(h)asat(h) theerathh sagal pu(n)n jeea dhaeiaa paravaan
Be kind to all beings-this is more meritorious than bathing at the sixty-eight sacred shrines of pilgrimage and the giving of charity.

jis no dhaevai dhaeiaa kar soee purakh sujaan
That person, upon whom the Lord bestows His Mercy, is a wise person.

jinaa miliaa prabh aapanaa naanak thin kurabaan
Nanak is a sacrifice to those who have merged with God.

What Guru Ji is saying is that let it be the dust of the Sangat which is the company of the Holy be your cleansing bath. We should try and meditate and listen to the Name of the Lord, and encourage others to do the same. It is by doing this that the filth that we accumulated over lifetimes will be washed away and ego and pride is removed from your mind. Other vices such as sexual desire, anger and greed will also leave you. Those who walk on the Path of Truth shall be praised throughout the world. Be kind to everyone as this is more commendable than bathing at the sixty-eight sacred shrines of pilgrimage and the giving of charity. Guru Ji says that that person, upon whom the Lord bestows His Mercy, is a wise person and that Nanak is a sacrifice to those who have merged with God.

Dhan Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Ji Maharaaj.