Coming from a non practicing Sikh family I came into Sikhi in a later age.
Unfortunately I did not have formal lessons in learning Gurmukhi.
In fact, I learned to read Gurmukhi by listening to Kirtan .
Im still lazy in learning GUrmukhi properly; however, I find the following
video inspiring to learn Gurmukhi.
[
www.youtube.c...be_gdata_player]
What a wondeful video! I was disappointed that they did not finish the modern Gurmukhi alphabet.
They omitted the sounds which are usually used when reciting Arabic/persian words. Letters
such as gagga pehra bindi and Jijja pehra bindi are often used in Gurmat. For example
if we read the following pangti as written the proper meaning changes
ਜਮੁ ਜਾਗਾਤੀ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਕਰੁ ਲਾਏ ॥
Jaag means to wake and we say Jamdoots will wake us if we forget WaaheGuru.
But if we add zazza and gagga pehra bindi then the words Jaagat turns into Zakaat , and the meaning turns
into those who forget Waaheguru ( love another) they get taxed by death ( they die).
Gurmukhi is truly a cosmoplitan language as it purposely includes many languages. Gurmukhi
does not just mean knowing Punjabi. Gurmukhi contains numerous ancient languages.
In Puratan times, SInghs had an extensive Persian,Hindi, and Arabic vocabulary. They were familar
with the many dialects written in Gurbani. Unfortunately after the Indian partition the usage of many
Persian/Arabic words have become less popular among the SIkh population. This is a great misforture. Much
of Gurbani includes persian words. Before Guru Sahib departed he gave Hukum to Singhs that they
should learn the writings of Bhai GUrdAS Ji and BHai Nand SIngh Ji. Most of BHai Nand SIngh Jis writings
are in persian. These writings are a treasure of knowledge , but many of us are blind to these wonderful
mind awakening writings. There is a reason why Guru Sahib titled one of BHai Sahibs writings as ZINGIDINAMA.
In addition, one cannot recite Gurbani properly unless they have a basic understanding
of Arabic and Persian sounds in Gurbani.
Below I have a made an meager attempt to finish the prose in the video. Im uneducated so most likely
I have made some mistakes.
ਸ਼ਸ਼ਾ, "ਸ਼ਬਦ ਗੁਰੂ" ਸ਼ੁਧ ਉਚਰੋ ਖ਼ਖ਼ਾ , ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ ਬੋਲੀ ਨਾ ਛਡੋ ਗ਼ਗ਼ਾ, ਗ਼ਜ਼ਲਾਂ ਦਾ " ਗੁਰਮੁਖ ਗੋਯਾ" ਸਿਖਲੋ ਜ਼ਜ਼ਾ, ਜ਼ਿੰਦਗੀਨਾਮਾ ਓ ਜ਼ਫ਼ਰਨਾਮਹ ਪ੍ਯਾਰ ਨਾਲ ਪੜੋ ਫ਼ਫ਼ਾ, ਫ਼ਾਰਸੀ ਅਤੇ ਅਰਬੀ ਧੁਨੀ ਵੀ ਬੋਲੋ
Shasha, recite the Guru words with fluency
Khakha, do not let go of Khalsa Jargon
Ghgha, learn Ghalzals written by the Gurmukh Goya ( Bhai Nand SIngh Ji)
Zaza- With loving devotion recite Zindiginama and Zaffarnama
Faffa- Also recite the sounds of Arabic and Persian when reciting Gurbani
ਸਤਿਗੁਰਬਚਨਕਮਾਵਣੇਸਚਾਏਹੁਵੀਚਾਰੁ॥