Sri Nanak Parkash - Post 003

Now we find the invocation to the first Guru, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. A painting from a manuscript is posted above showing Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji with his companions Bhai Bala Ji fanning the Guru in a standing position while Bhai Mardana Ji is playing the Rabab. The word Sri is a term used for a respectable individual and will be repeated again and again in front of the names of many individuals in the Historical Granths. It is not to be confused with a name but an Honourable title such as titles given out in the west such as Sir, Dame, Lord, etc.

The fifth stanza in the first Adhyai begins with the invocation to the great Guru;

ਦੋਹਰਾ ॥ ਸ਼੍ਰੀ ਨਾਨਕ ਪੁਰੁਸ਼ੋਤਮੰ ਪਰਮ ਪਰਾਵਰ ਨਾਥ । ਯੁਗਲ ਚਰਨ ਮਮ ਬੰਦਨਾ ਧਰ ਪਰ ਧਰਿਕਰਿ ਮਾਥ ॥੫॥
Couplet - Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji you are greater then the greatest beings in creation. You are the leader (Nath) of the the greatest of beings to have ever lived including the demi gods. I pay my respect to the two holy feet of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji by placing my forehead to the earth in reverance to you. 5.

ਸ੍ਵੈਯਾ ॥ ਬਰ ਚਾਰ ਪਦਾਰਥ ਦਾ ਬਰ ਚਾਰ ਬਿਚਾਰ ਕੋ ਮੂਰ ਉਦਾਰ ਸੁਹਾਵੈਂ ।
ਉਪਕਾਰਿ ਸਖਾ ਸੁਖਕਾਰ ਸਦਾ ਤਮ ਪਾਰ ਕਰੈਂ ਉਰ ਮੋਂ ਬਸ ਜਾਵੈਂ ।
ਅਘ ਜਾਲਨਿ ਤੇ ਜਮ ਜਾਲਿਨਿ ਤੇ ਕਲਿ ਕਾਲਨ ਤੇ ਤਤਕਾਲ ਛੁਟਾਵੈਂ ।
ਅਰਬਿੰਦ ਬਿਖੇ ਗੁਨ ਏ ਸਭਿ ਹੋਹਿਂ ਤਬੈ ਉਪਮਾ ਪਗ ਸ਼੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰ ਪਾਵੈਂ ॥੬॥

Savaiya - Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji a devotee is able to gain the four greatest virtues of Dharam (Religious action), Arth (Acquisition of wealth and worldly possessions), Kama (fulfillment and enjoyment of desires) and Moksh (liberation from the cycle of birth and death) from your holy feet. Your feet is the sanctuary from where deliberation takes place and one is able to propagate the radiance of knowledge within. Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji were the great being who manifest on the earth for the assistance of others and forever granted a feeling of peace. Those people who are able to propagate the feet of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji within their heart will be able to eradicate their ignorance and safely swim across this worldly ocean to liberation. The feet of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji are able to eradicate the sins of an individual, the pain and suffering of Kaljug (the current age of ignorance) and the noose of death from the angel of death (Jamdhoot). Bhai Santokh Singh Ji says that if a person is to have all of the good virtues similar to a lotus blossom (This metaphor is given as a lotus blossom remains in the dirt but unaffected by its surroundings and focuses totally on the son, in the was a Sikh should be untouched by the surroundings and focus on the Guru) then only then can they propagate and gain the praise for the holy feet of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. 6.