Monday 25 February 2008

The Power of Amrit


When Bhai Jaita Ji (who became Bhai Jeevan Singh after taking Khande-ki-Pahul) came from Delhi bringing Guru Tegh Bahadar Ji's severed head to the tenth Guru, Gurujee asked, "Oh Bhai Jaita, tell how many people gathered at Chandi Chownk, to see my father be beheaded?"

Bhai Jaita Ji replied, "There were hundreds and thousands."

Guru Ji then asked, "How many Sikhs of Guru Nanak were standing in the crowds?"


Bhai Jaita Ji with tears in his eyes replied, "O Guru Ji, I couldn't recognise who was a Sikh or who was not a Sikh, there were thousands of people but I couldn't see any Sikhs distinct from the crowd."


The Tenth Guru, replied, "Don't worry! I will soon give the Sikhs, such a beautiful distinct image that my Sikhs will be recognised in crowds of thousands and throughout the world."


Amrit derives from two words, 'Am' and 'Mrit'.
'Am' means water. 'Mrit' is making a dead person alive.
Amrit', the water or nectar, which makes a dead person alive.


When Guru Gobind Singh Ji gave the Sikhs the Amrit of the Khanda Bata, he made the spiritually dead people alive, he instilled a new lease of spirit, which transformed sparrows into hawks, foxes into lion, and made the Sikhs fearless of death. Sikhs became part of the Khalsa army and resisted against injustice and sacrificed their lives in battles against opression and tranny.

In 1739, Nadir Shah came from Afghanistan to invade, plunder and loot the land of India.


As the army entered through Panjab, the Sikhs would attack the armies at night time.
The Sikhs would raid their looted wealth and riches.
The Sikhs would free the innocent Hindu sisters and mothers and return them to their respective homes.

Nadir Shah asked Zakriya Khan (hostile person towards sikhs), the Governor of Panjab, about the Sikhs. "Who are these people who dare to attack my soldiers and plunder me?", he asked.

Zakriya Khan replied, 'These are the followers of a man called, 'Guru Nanak'. Their homes are their saddles and they visit their holy shrine in the middle of the night only to disappear before the first light of day.'

Nadir Shah asked, "What gives them the strength to dare to challenge me and my large armies?"

Zakriya Khan replied, "Their Guru has given them Amrit, 'the nectar of immortality'. Drinking this they become fearless of death."

Nadir Shah with curiosity said, "How do you know this?"

Zakhriya Khan replied, "Those people who used to walk pass me, with their head down and would say "Salam"… Those same people after taking Amrit, still walk passed me, but now they don't hold their head down, nor do they say "Salam". Instead they walk past, looking into my eyes. You are one King, but they are all Kings."

Such is the power of Amrit!

If an old man takes Amrit he becomes fearless of death, like Baba Deep Singh Ji who at the age of 75 died fighting with his head on his hand.

If a young child takes Amrit, he becomes fearless of death, like Sahibzada Baba Zorawar Singh, who at the age of 8, didn't lower his turban to Wazir Khan and instead was bricked alive with his younger brother aged 5, Sahibzada Baba Fateh Singh Ji.

If a woman takes Amrit, she becomes fearless of death, like Mata Bhag Kaur Ji who led 40 Sikhs into victory in battle against an army of thousands.

Would you stay Nir-gura (without a Guru) till you die?

Or would you like to take the spiritual life-giving gift of Khande-ki-pahul, Amrit of the double-edged sword, and become the Sikh of the Guru, declaring allegiance for solely Sri Granth Sahib Ji and the Guru Khalsa Panth?

Have you felt the 'Power'?

How to meet waheguru


One day gursikhs called Bhai Bhagvaan Daas, Bhai Bodla Malik, Pirthee Mal, Dalloo Bhagat, Shyaam Daas and Sunder came to the darbar of Guru Hargobind Sahib. They did matha tek to Guru Sahib and pleaded before Guru Sahib to show them the way to swim across this terrible ocean i.e. unity with Vaheguru.


It is written in the Sikh history that Guru Sahib gave them the following lessons to attain unity with Vaheguru:

1) Make a dharamshaala (Gurdwara) in your town.
2) Get up at amritvela and assemble at the Dharamshaala.
3) Do Naam abhyaas during amritvela.
4) After Naam abhyaas recite Gurbani.
5) Then spend some time to discuss and interpret the meanings of Gurbani.
6) Perform ardaas at the end of the diwaan.
7) During the day earn your living through honest means.
8) Never subscribe to dishonesty and fraud.
9) During the evening time assemble at the Dharamshaala.
10) Recite Rehraas Sahib and do kirtan.
11) After ardaas return to your homes and sleep after doing Sohila.
12) Help out poor people who need help.
13) Celebrate Gurpurabs.
14) Keep your mind humble and kill your ego.


The Sikhs who had done benti obeyed the hukams of Guru Sahib and this is how they swam across this terrible ocean of life and death.

The Power of Gurbani

All of Gurbani is a magic potion sent directly from God to us mortals through the light of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Gurbani touches the soul and purifies our whole being taking us from the darkness to the light. Each shabad touches our soul and emotions in different ways. That is why most of Gurbani is in Raags to emphasise on the feelings created by the shabad. Gurbani is a healer of the soul and is the only medication that will get us out of darkness.

The real purpose of Gurbani is to get you in union with God but each bani has a set focus and mood:

Jap Ji Sahib: All wisdom of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is in this Bani, it helps strengthen our soul. (Just like a person doing training with weights gets stronger, the more Jap Ji Sahibs you do the stronger your soul will become)

Shabad Hazaare: When you feel lonely or separated from God, recite this bani to give you peace.

Jaap Sahib: This bani increases our vitality, courage, power, strength and self-esteem.

Tav Prasad Swaiya: When you feel unsatisfied, read this bani to reverse the mood and feel content.

Chaopaee Sahib: When you feel you are in danger, or you feel weak against the dark energies of life, read this bani to receive protection.

Anand Sahib: This bani is a soothing healer bringing bliss and happiness to your soul.

Rehiras Sahib: This is to be recited in the evenings to add energy to our being.

Kirtan Sohila: This Bani removes the fear of death, it also eliminates negativity around our being.

Sukhmani Sahib: This bani brings peace and comfort to our mind. Listening to Sukhmani Sahib once a day can change our destiny from misery to prosperity.

I have just narrated Some compositions that Guru Ji has written for inspiration and support for us mere mortals… buts it’s up to us to read them and experience the benefits for ourselves!