ਕਤਿਕਿ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਵਣੇ ਦੋਸੁ ਨ ਕਾਹੂ ਜੋਗੁ ॥
ਪਰਮੇਸਰ ਤੇ ਭੁਲਿਆਂ ਵਿਆਪਨਿ ਸਭੇ ਰੋਗ ॥
ਵੇਮੁਖ ਹੋਏ ਰਾਮ ਤੇ ਲਗਨਿ ਜਨਮ ਵਿਜੋਗ ॥
ਖਿਨ ਮਹਿ ਕਉੜੇ ਹੋਇ ਗਏ ਜਿਤੜੇ ਮਾਇਆ ਭੋਗ ॥
ਵਿਚੁ ਨ ਕੋਈ ਕਰਿ ਸਕੈ ਕਿਸ ਥੈ ਰੋਵਹਿ ਰੋਜ ॥
ਕੀਤਾ ਕਿਛੂ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਧੁਰਿ ਸੰਜੋਗ ॥
ਵਡਭਾਗੀ ਮੇਰਾ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਤਾਂ ਉਤਰਹਿ ਸਭਿ ਬਿਓਗ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਕਉ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਰਾਖਿ ਲੇਹਿ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਬੰਦੀ ਮੋਚ ॥
ਕਤਿਕ ਹੋਵੈ ਸਾਧਸੰਗੁ ਬਿਨਸਹਿ ਸਭੇ ਸੋਚ ॥੯॥
The beautiful verses above come from the Bani " Bara Maha" recited by Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji.The bani is a desciption on how one should
conduct himself throughout the 12 months. This bani is extremely powerful it can make the most harshest winter seem like beautiful spring!
Bara Maha bani teaches us one second without WaaheGuru Ji leads to long periods of misery while remembrance of God for one second
leads to great joy! In addition, this bani teaches the moments spent in Sadh Sangat are absolutely priceless.
Tomorrow marks the beginning of the month Kattak. The verses above teach us how we should conduct ourselves during this month.
Here are some lessons Guru teaches us in this month.
1) Do not forget WaaheGuru
2) Do good to others
3) Dont blame anyone
4)Keep a fear of separation ( rebirth) in ones heart
5)Avoid Mayas pleasures ( ex eat simple food, dont oversleep )
6)Break false attachments
7) Accept Gods will
8) Meet God in Sadh Sangat
9) Always beg to God
The month of Kattak is extremely special for Gursikhs because we have more opportunities to celebrate important holy events with
Sadh Sangat. In Kattak, Sri GUru Nanak Dev Ji came into this world, and Sri Guru Gobind SIngh Ji Maharaj left this world and
permanently gave gurguddi to Guru Granth and GUru Panth. Thus, this month is an opportunity for Gursikhs to come together
and praise WaaheGuru for all the gifts he has given to the panth.
Kattak is not only holy for Gursikhs , but is holy for other monothestic faiths as well. During this time Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha
where they increase their devotion to Allah through extra prayers and charity. Jews celebrate Sukkot in which they live a simple and modest
lifestyle for a month to teach them to be thankful and remember Yaweh is the sole provider. For the Catholics, Kattak is regarded as the "Month of the Rosary".
During this time Catholics commit themselves to spending more time meditating with a rosary ( mala). All these people from different faiths are making extra
efforts to celebrate this joyous month. Besides joining Sadh Sangat what are some spiritual practices we can include in our daily life to bring us closer to
WaaheGuru Ji in this auspicious month?
Perhaps in the month of Kattak we can dedicated some time to recite the bani Bara Maha everyday in the month
of Kattak, and afterwads make a determination to recite this bani at least once during the beginning
of each month. Within Gurghars across the globe it has become a tradition to recite Bara Maha during
Sangrad ( first day of every month). This is a great practice on a panthic level. On an individual
level we should make similar attempts. In addition to recting this bani at the begging of each
month according to the lunar calendar we can also recite this bani at the first of every month
according to the Gregorian Calendar as a motivation to do more Bhagti each month.
Bara Maha is an extremely beautiful bani if one can manage to recite it daily by all means they should do so.
If they cant fit this bani in their daily schedule then perhaps making an effort to recite this beautiful bani once a month
will be a great start. For a Gursikh, any time spent in remembering WaaheGuru is a time spent in Heaven. May WaaheGuru
allow this month to be a time of inspiration to increase our Bhagti throughout the year.
ਮਾਹ ਦਿਵਸ ਮੂਰਤ ਭਲੇ ਜਿਸ ਕਉ ਨਦਰਿ ਕਰੇ ॥
ਨਾਨਕੁ ਮੰਗੈ ਦਰਸ ਦਾਨੁ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰਹੁ ਹਰੇ ॥੧੪॥੧॥
WaaheGuru JI Ka Khalsa
WaaheGUru JI KI Fateh!
ਸਤਿਗੁਰਬਚਨਕਮਾਵਣੇਸਚਾਏਹੁਵੀਚਾਰੁ॥