gun nidhaan amrit har naamaa har Dhi-aa-ay Dhi-aa-ay sukh paa-i-aa jee-o.
The Ambrosial Name of the Lord is the Treasure of Excellence. Meditating, meditating on the Lord`s Name, I have found peace.
SGGS 103
Reciting His ‘Naam’ ought to be the most important deed of the human birth. The Amrit (Ambrosial Nectar) is realized by a Saint or a Gurmukh all the time as the Naam continuously flows in their Hirda. The very significance of ‘Naam’ and ‘Naam-Simran’ is least understood amongst common people.
This write up is presented to help understand the true meaning of ‘Naam’, and the very significance of it for us in the light of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. A common person is steered away from the source (God) by the illusions of materials (maya).
The role of religion as widely understood is limited to the rituals and traditions surfacing the essence of spirituality.
adhi-aatam karam jay karay naam na kab hee paa-ay.
You may perform religious rituals, and still never obtain the Naam, the True Name of the Lord.
SGGS 33 – Guru Amar Daas
bin satgur har naam na labh-ee lakh kotee karam kamaa-o.
Without the True Guru, the True Name of the Lord is not found, even though people may perform hundreds of thousands, even millions of rituals.
SGGS 40 – Guru Raam Daas Ji
We are so much indulged in materialistic desires, and the soul is grounded amongst all these to the vanishable maya.
aytay ras sareer kay kai ghat naam nivaas
These pleasures of the human body are so numerous; how can the Naam, the Name of the Lord, find its dwelling in the heart?
SGGS 15 – Guru Nanak Dev
The gurbani reminds us again and again to stay away from the fruitless desires, and make worth of this human life by reciting His Naam.
The ‘Naam’ is defined in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (the holy book of Sikhs) as –
ik nirankaaree naam aaDhaar
Live by the Support of the Naam, the Name of the Formless Lord.
SGGS 144 – Guru Nanak Dev
raam naam jap aykankaar.
Chant the Name of the One and Only Lord.
SGGS 185 – Guru Arjun Dev
The ‘Naam’ clearly implies the Name of the One and only One Supreme-being. How should one get attuned to His true name?
SGGS Ji guides us further –
satgur daataa har naam kaa parabh aap milaavai so-ay
The True Guru is the Giver of the Name of the Lord. God Himself causes us to meet Him.
SGGS 39 – Guru Ram Daas
satgur mantar dee-o har naam.
The True Guru has given me the Mantra of the Lord`s Name.
SGGS 196 – Guru Arjun Dev
One can only be blessed with ‘Naam’ from a True Master or Puran Satguru.
amrit naam satgur dee-aa.
The True Guru bestows the Ambrosial Naam, the Name of the Lord.
SGGS 352 – Guru Nanak Dev
The Guru pours the ambrosial nectar of ‘Naam’ in a devotee’s soul, and initiates the connection for the soul in separation.
satgur kar deenee Dhur kee chhaap.
The True Guru has set the Seal of the Primal Lord.
SGGS 430 – Guru Arjun Dev
satgur daataa naam kaa pooraa jis bhandaar.
The True Guru is the Giver of the Naam; His Treasure is perfect and overflowing.
SGGS 49 – Guru Arjun Dev
ayk naam ko thee-o poojaaree mo ka-o achraj gureh dikhaa-i-o.
I have become a worshipper of the One Name; the Guru has shown me this amazing wonder.
SGGS 209 – Guru Arjun Dev
A True Master, or True Satguru instills ‘Naam’ in a devotee’s heart. This again is possible only through His blessings. One gets blessed with ‘Naam’ only if destined so.
gur parsaad ko virlaa paavai jin ka-o lilaat likhi-aa Dhur bhaa-o
By Guru`s Grace, a rare few obtain it; upon their foreheads, the pre-ordained destiny of loving devotion is written.
SGGS 669 – Guru Ram Daas
The true devotee tastes the Holy Nectar – Amrit in countless forms. Once the devotee is blessed with ‘Naam’, it becomes extremely important to stay truthful all the time. ‘Naam’ and Truthful living (‘Sachiari Rehat’) work together in order for us to get us the space in the House of the Lord.
Truthful living implies controlling vices – lust, anger, ego, greed, attachment, slandering, jealousy, whispering, selfishness, and various other effects of materials. It is extremely important to stay aware of these.
kalijug meh Dharhay panch chor jhagrhaa-ay.
In this Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the five thieves instigate alliances and conflicts.
SGGS 366 – Guru Raam Daas Ji
The ridding of vices on own for a common person is extremely difficult, and is truly impossible without a True Master. It is the greatest blessing for a common being to meet a True Master.
kirpaa kar satguroo milaa-ay.
Granting His Grace, He leads us to meet the True Guru.
SGGS 161 – Guru Amar Daas Ji
A true Master eliminates the darkness, and shows the divine path of Truth to the devotees. SGGS Ji quotes
saaDh kai sang un bha-ojal tari-aa sagal doot un saaDhay jee-o.
SGGS 183 – Guru Arjun Dev
In the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, they cross over the terrifying world-ocean, and conquer all their evil passions.
The humble devotee of the Lord with total faith in the Guru starts tasting the bliss out of the recitation of His Naam. The Guru pours the limitless blessings on to the true devotee (if devotee surrenders in complete to the Guru).
gur sabad dirhaavai rang si-o bin kirpaa la-i-aa na jaa-ay.
The Guru has lovingly implanted the Word of His Shabad within me. Without His Grace, it cannot be attained.
SGGS 65 – Guru Amar Daas Ji
The recitation of Naam typically starts from iterating it with the tongue. One has to do it with total love (prema-bhagti). The routine makes a great impact on the continuity and level of amrit. A devotee should be totally committed to His Naam with no miss.
A single day’s miss sets you back by a week. Once again it is Gur-Parsadi wonder, and happens only with Gur-Guru-Kirpa.
kar kirpaa parabh aapnee japee-ai amrit naam.
Please grant Your Grace, God, that we may meditate on Your Ambrosial Naam.
SGGS 46 – Guru Arjan Dev Ji
Recitation of Naam with breaths (swas-swas) is a step further that multiplexes the gains by thousand (x1000) times.
simra-o din rain saas giraasaa.
remember Him in meditation, day and night, with every breath and every morsel of food.
SGGS 177 – Guru Arjan Dev Ji
This is where the devotee starts experiencing the ‘Khumari’, and enjoys every fraction of time during simran with His blessings. One can do this practically all the time.
amrit naam mahaa ras peenay.
he drinks deeply of the most sublime essence of the Ambrosial Naam.
SGGS 201 – Guru Arjun Dev
Daas remembers going through tremendous joy when doing this especially going back and forth to work. The mind starts separating itself from the worldly attachments, and begins to realize the effect of Naam-rupi daru. The SGGS Ji quotes –
saas saas simrahu gobind. man antar kee utrai chind.
With each and every breath, meditate in remembrance on the Lord of the Universe, and the anxiety within your mind shall depart.
SGGS 295 – Guru Arjan Dev Ji
The essence of Naam pours Amrit here in the forms of laughters and crying (with love). This blissful state is indescribable.
rang haseh rang roveh chup bhee kar jaahi. parvaah naahee kisai kayree baajh sachay naah.
In the Lord`s Love, they laugh, and in the Lord`s Love, they weep, and also keep silent. They do not care for anything else, except their True Husband Lord.
SGGS 473 – Guru Nanak Dev Ji
This state is beyond a common person’s perception, and people often choose to slander the bhagats. But it does no harm to the devotee, rather elevates them further.
nindkaa kay muh kaalay karay har kartai aap vaDhaa-ee
The Lord, the Creator, blackens the faces of the slanderers, and increases the glory of the Guru. .
SGGS 307 – Guru Ram Daas
The bhagats progress next to Naam-Simran in ‘mind’ with His blessings. This multiplexes the gains further by thousand (x1000) times from swas-swas. It is extremely difficult to instill the Naam-Simran in mind.
This is a common problem experienced by the devotees. But Guru Kirpa does wonders here.
har kirpaa tay sant bhayti-aa naanak man pargaas. (page 293, Guru Arjun Dev)
By the Lord`s Grace, I have met the Saint; O Nanak, my mind is enlightened.
kar kirpaa maylaa-i-an har naam vasi-aa man aa-ay.
Granting His Grace, God unites us with Himself. The Name of the Lord comes to abide within the mind.
SGGS 30 – Guru Amar Daas Ji
The blessed ones with the Gurparsadi Naam succeed here with Gur-Guru-Kirpa. A Sant-Satguru pours the holy nectar in the mind of the devotee, and sanitizes it by eliminating all wasteful thoughts.
gur bhaytay sahj paa-i-aa aapnee kirpaa karay rajaa-ay.
Meeting with the Guru, intuitive balance is obtained, when God, in His Will, grants His Grace.
SGGS 68 – Guru Amar Daas
hamaaree pi-aaree amrit Dhaaree gur nimakh na man tay taaree ray.
My Beloved has brought forth the blessings of nectar. The Guru has not held it back from my mind, even for an instant.
SGGS 404 – Guru Arjun Dev
The bhagat goes through several experiences here, and eventually gets blessed with ‘Samadhi’ state. A Bhagat often goes through samadhi postures here. The body parts start moving under His Control.
The saints have commonly carried the samadhi-postures in isolation (typically in Bhoraas-secluded basements), and as a result it has turned out to be a unknown experience amongst common people.
But Gurbani says –
ratan lukaa-i-aa lookai naahee jay ko rakhai lukaa-ee.
The jewel is concealed, but it is not concealed, even though one may try to conceal it.
SGGS 608 – Guru Ram Daas
One ought to follow His Hukam here, and should not try to stop it or hide it. Any actions to stop these postures is going against His Will. These postures are meant to communicate various teachings for a devotee, and are part of the self-realization process.
Daas remembers going through several heavenly wonders (Alokik Nazare) here with the kirpa of Sant-Satguru Baba Nariender Singh Ji.
Daas was totally ignorant about the spiritual path (bhagti-marag), and experienced hard time doing swas-swas simran.
The blessings of Baba ji initiated naam-simran for daas straightway in the mind. Daas remembers listening to Nitnem only for first few minutes, and then would go in Samadhi.
The soul would launch for its real home. Sometimes hours would pass-by, and then the soul would come back to the body in a very awakened state.
The devotee of the Lord comes across a state, where all possible kinds of foods are presented to him in Samadhi. The taste of these cannot be compared to any man made (or cooked) foods.
har naam hamaaraa bhojan chhateeh parkaar jit khaa-i-ai ham ka-o taripat bha-ee. The Lord`s Name is my food; eating the thirty-six varieties of it, I am satisfied and satiated.
SGGS 593 – Guru Amar Daas
The saints taste the sublime essence of His Naam-Amrit in many forms through Guru Kirpa.
gur parsaad paavai amrit Dhaaraa.
By Guru`s Grace, the Ambrosial Nectar flows into us.
SGGS 478 – Bhagat Kabeer Ji
The Amrit flows down through devotees’ Dasam Dawar as if it is raining.
jhim jhim varsai amrit Dhaaraa. man peevai sun sabad beechaaraa.
Slowly, gently, drop by drop, the stream of nectar trickles down within. The mind drinks it in, hearing and reflecting on the Word of the Shabad.
SGGS 102 – Guru Arjan Dev Ji
The bhagats saturate themselves with Amrit all over. The devotee learns all this in samadhi abhias with Guru-kirpa.
SGGS Jii quotes –
amrit sinchahu bharahu ki-aaray ta-o maalee kay hovhu.
Irrigate your fields with the Ambrosial Nectar, and you shall be owned by God the Gardener.
SGGS 1171 – Guru Nanak Dev
The Naam-Amrit also pours on the tongue, and the bhagat enjoys this holy nectar with infinite thanks to the Guru and the Lord.
amrit rasnaa pee-o pi-aaree
O dear beloved tongue, drink in the Ambrosial Nectar.
SGGS 180 – Guru Arjun Dev
The heavenly taste of Naam-Amrit cannot be described. It is for us to seek for and experience ourselves with Guru-kirpa.
so jaanai jin chaakhi-aa har naam amolaa.
He alone knows its taste, who tastes the essence of Priceless Name of the Lord.
SGGS 808 – Guru Arjun Dev
Again, one has to be very careful to stay away from desires in complete, and stay under his Hukam. You desire for nothing but Him, and He puts all of His at your disposal. If the devotee stays the course with Gur-Guru Kirpa with a truthful living, the Guru blesses the devotees next with Naam-Simran in Hirda.
upaa-ay kitai na labh-ee gur hirdai har daykhaa-ay.
He cannot be found by any other means; the Guru will show you the Lord within your heart.
SGGS 234 – Guru Ram Daas
The Naam becomes a part and parcel of the Bhagat’s hirda here. The continuum of Naam-Simran prevails in the hirda also referred as “Ajapp-a-jaap”.
hirdai naam nit har ras bhog.
The Naam, the True Name of the Lord, is constantly within the heart, and one enjoys the sublime essence of the Lord.
SGGS 162 – Guru Amar Daas
The Ajapp-a-jaap simran goes on in a Bhagat’s hirda all the time. The gains multiply further by 1000 times compared to doing simran in mind. The devotee (bhagat) often goes through sahaj samadhi experiences here.
hirdai kamal pargaasi-aa laagaa sahj Dhi-aan.
The heart-lotus blossoms forth, and they intuitively center themselves in meditation.
SGGS 26 – Guru Amar Daas
A state comes when the hirda of the bhagat blossoms, and he actually sees the red lotus blossom in samadhi. Often the hirda grows to a bigger size, and the devotee realizes it. The size of astral body also grows, and sometimes it goes as big as the size of a big house.
As the devotee stays the course with unmeasurable humility and puran sachiari rehat, he goes through ‘kundalni’ experience, the ‘trikuty’ (trinity) opens, and the tenth heavenly door exposes. The heavenly drop of Amrit referred as Ek-Boond Amrit (per SGGS Ji) enters in the trikuty. The bhagat realizes the salvation here, and is forever immortal.
ayk boond gur amrit deeno taa atal amar na mu-aa.
The Guru has blessed me with the one drop of Ambrosial Nectar, and so I have become stable, unmoving and immortal – I shall not die.
The saint experiences the melodious anhad-shabad during exposure of tenth door. This anhad melody stays on for ever if the saint stays the course with sachiari rehat.
anhad sabad dasam du-aar vaji-o tah amrit naam chu-aa-i-aa thaa.
The Unstruck sound current of the Shabad vibrates and resounds in the Tenth Gate; the Ambrosial Naam trickles down there.
SGGS 1002 – Guru Arjun Dev
The saint goes through the utmost blessings of the Almighty, the soul gets showered with Puran-Param Parkash – Golden Divine Light. The bhagat sees this often in samadhi, and also comes across his golden astral body facing him. This body is totally naked, the way it originally appeared during birth. This is where the bhagat merges in the Divine one, and this state is referred as ‘Jyotei-Jyote Samayia’.
saaDh moorat gur bhayti-o naanak mil saagar boond nahee an hayraa.
I have met the Lord, through the Embodiment of the Holy Saints. The drop of water merges into the ocean, and now it cannot be distinguished as separate again.
SGGS 827 – Guru Arjan Dev Ji
The humble saint goes through Sun-Samadhi (deep-silent-meditation) experience here with Guru’s blessings. This is a very higher state of samadhi abhias, where bhagat spends his samadhi time in dargah (the House of Lord).
sargun nirgun nirankaar sunn samaaDhee aap.
He possesses all qualities; He transcends all qualities; He is the Formless Lord. He Himself is in Primal Samaadhi.
SGGS 280 – Guru Arjun dev
The humble saint goes through many other heavenly experiences with Gur-Guru kirpa. Besides all these, a bhagat is always the lowest of the lowest, and stays in utmost humility.
aapas ka-o jo jaanai neechaa. so-oo ganee-ai sabh tay oochaa.
One who sees himself as lowly, shall be accounted as the highest of all.
SGGS 266 – Guru Arjan Dev Ji
The saint starts witnessing and speaking the brahmgyan – the wisdom of the Lord. The Brahmgyani state prevails here. He is under total Will of the God here, and speaks less typically. Whenever he speaks it is the Lord speaking in him.
The Lord serves His saints here, and the saints go through further tests here. He puts everything at the Brahmgyani’s disposal, and offers His own throne.
The brahmgyani realizes that he is still the dust of His feet, and always longs for space in his feet. The thirty-three crore (3.3 million) devtas lost at this state, and dwelled in the Ego.
They started calling themselves as the gods, and made people worship them. The devtas got removed from the dargah.
A devoted brahmgyani with the limitless humbleness wins over the test here, and becomes totally pure. He is decorated with Param Padvi of Atal Brahmgyani.
This is where he is blessed as a True Master or a Puran Satguru. The brahmgyani enjoys the purest form of Amrit: Atam-Ras here.
aatam ras barahm gi-aanee cheenaa.
The brahmgyani enjoys the Atam Ras Amrit.
aatam ras jih jaani-aa har rang sehjay maan.
SGGS 272 – Guru Arjan Dev Ji
One who knows the taste of the Lord`s sublime essence- Atam Ras, intuitively enjoys the Lord`s Love.
The Guru Nanak Patshah got blessed with this Padvi during his three day meeting with the Lord (in Bayeen River in India).
A Puran Brahmgyani goes Ek Drisht (carries a singular vision) like the Lord, and becomes the true embodiment of the truth (the godly divine qualities).
Then Guru Nanak cames out of the river, and was chanting –
“Na koi Hindu Na Musalmaan”
No one is a Hindu or a Muslim, it is all Him in everyone.
naa ham hindoo na musalmaan.
I am not a Hindu, nor am I a Muslim.
SGGS 1136 – Guru Arjun Dev
A Brahmgyani’s hirda grows infinite. He has his divine shattar (divine umbrella) all over the universe.
barahm gi-aanee kaa sagal akaar.
The brahmgyani effects the entire creation.
SGGS 273 – Guru Arjun Dev
barahm gi-aanee pooran purakh biDhaataa.
The brahmgyani is the Perfect Supreme Being, who orchestrates all.
SGGS 273 – Guru Arjan Dev Ji
The True Master or Brahmgyani blesses anyone who comes to his company with total faith regardless of colour, caste, creed, region, or even religion.
chahu varnaa ka-o day updays.
He gives instruction to people of all castes and social classes.
SGGS 274 – Guru Arjun Dev
A common person finds the most peace in the company of such saints or brahmgyanis. Whosoever gets blessed by the brahmgyani, can get the salvation. The key here is that one has to put in total faith in the saint. A fraction of a doubt or duality can set you back.
charan kaval hirdai geh naanak bhai saagar sant paar utree-aa.
Nanak holds tight to the Lord`s Lotus Feet in his heart; thus the Saints cross over the terrifying world-ocean.
SGGS 203 – Guru Arjun Dev
jaa kai hirdai dee-o gur naamaa. kaho naanak taa kai sagal niDhaanaa.
SGGS 186 – Guru Arjan Dev Ji
Those whose hearts are filled with the Lord`s Name by the Guru – says Nanak, all treasures come to them.
The Puran Brahmgyani is blessed with His divine vision, and a single blink of his vision can change the destiny of the devotees. The Lord has put the key in the hands of a Puran Brahmgyani. Once the True Master changes someone’s destiny, even the Lord Himself would not alter it.
santan hath raakhee koonjee.
The Saints hold the key to it in their hands.
SGGS 893 – Guru Arjun Dev
mayree baaNDhee bhagat chhadaavai baaNDhai bhagat na chhootai mohi.
The devotee can release anyone from my bondage, but I cannot release anyone from his.
SGGS 1252 – Bhagat Namdev
The true devotee follows the divine teachings of San-Satguru. He practically lives through teachings of SGGS Ji in complete without any kind of Duality (Dubidha), and essentially becomes a physical representation of it (A Puran Brahmgyani) and tastes the essence of it “Atam Ras -Amrit” all the time.
satgur vich amrit naam hai amrit kahai kahaa-ay.
The Ambrosial Nectar of the Naam, the Name of the Lord, is within the True Guru.
SGGS 1424 – Guru Raam Daas Ji
amrit naam seetal man gahai.
The mind seizes the cooling, soothing, Ambrosial Nectar of the Naam.
SGGS 1142 – Guru Arjun Dev
Daas is a low-life ant and seeker of dust of all the Saints / Brahmgyanis (from past and present). Daas has no words to thank the Lord for blessing this neech (sinner) with the company of Puran Brahmgyani Baba Ji, and the sadh-sangat. The only desire left is – “May the Lord keep this paapi in His service by blessing with the company of His saints till the last breath”.
santeh charan hamaaro maathaa nain daras tan Dhoor parahu.
that my forehead may touch the feet of the Saints, and my eyes may behold the Blessed Vision of their Darshan, and my body may fall at the dust of their feet.
SGGS 828 – Guru Arjan Dev Ji
mo ka-o tooN na bisaar too na bisaar. too na bisaaray raam-ee-aa.
Please do not forget me; please do not forget me, please do not forget me, O Lord.
SGGS 1292 – Bhagat Naam Dev Ji
This write-up is based on all actual experiences, and is made possible only by the Guru and Gur-Kirpa.
A Humble Servant