There is such a thing as Amritvela

There is such a thing as Amritvela
October 19, 2011 08:33AM

Many times we hear from some individuals that there is no such thing as Amritvela and that any time when one can engage in Naam Gurbani, that time becomes Amritvela. While this is true that anytime when one indulges in Naam Gurbani, that time is Dhan (auspicious), but according to Gurbani, the last pehar (quarter) of the night has been designated as perfect time to meditate on Naam and do Sifat-Salah (praises) of Vaheguru.

ਸਲੋਕੁ ਮ:1 ॥
ਸਬਾਹੀ ਸਾਲਾਹ ਜਿਨੀ ਧਿਆਇਆ ਇਕ ਮਨਿ ॥
ਸੇਈ ਪੂਰੇ ਸਾਹ ਵਖਤੈ ਉਪਰਿ ਲੜਿ ਮੁਏ ॥
ਦੂਜੈ ਬਹੁਤੇ ਰਾਹ ਮਨ ਕੀਆ ਮਤੀ ਖਿੰਡੀਆ ॥
ਬਹੁਤੁ ਪਏ ਅਸਗਾਹ ਗੋਤੇ ਖਾਹਿ ਨ ਨਿਕਲਹਿ ॥
ਤੀਜੈ ਮੁਹੀ ਗਿਰਾਹ ਭੁਖ ਤਿਖਾ ਦੁਇ ਭਉਕੀਆ ॥
ਖਾਧਾ ਹੋਇ ਸੁਆਹ ਭੀ ਖਾਣੇ ਸਿਉ ਦੋਸਤੀ ॥
ਚਉਥੈ ਆਈ ਊਂਘ ਅਖੀ ਮੀਟਿ ਪਵਾਰਿ ਗਇਆ ॥
ਭੀ ਉਠਿ ਰਚਿਓਨੁ ਵਾਦੁ ਸੈ ਵਰ੍ਆਿ ਕੀ ਪਿੜ ਬਧੀ ॥
ਸਭੇ ਵੇਲਾ ਵਖਤ ਸਭਿ ਜੇ ਅਠੀ ਭਉ ਹੋਇ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਮਨਿ ਵਸੈ ਸਚਾ ਨਾਵਣੁ ਹੋਇ ॥1॥

The above Shabad very beautifully explains how important the Amritvela time is. The Shabad can be broadly translated as follows:

1-2)Those who do Sifat-Salah and meditate (on Vaheguru) with one-mind; only such persons are perfect kings because they fight to death, when the time is right. Fighting to death here means, to battle the inner vices at Amritvela, with the weapons of Naam and Sifat-Salah.

3-4) By the second quarter of the day, the mind's intelligence and focus gets scattered; the mind gets stuck in the deep ocean (of Maya) and can't come above water.

5-6) In the third quarter of the day, the hunger and thirst start clamouring i.e. one gets hungry and thirsty and for this reason engages in eating food. And then when the eaten food is digested, one asks for more food and this way friendship with food remains.

7-8) By the end of the fourth quarter, one gets sleepy and soon goes into the dream world. Then when he gets up, the same circle of Maya starts all over again; the Jeev acts as if he is going to live for 100 more years.

9-10) The ones who live in the divine Fear of Vaheguru, all 8 Pehars of the day, all their time becomes successful. The true bathing occurs only when the Vaheguru resides in the mind.

The above Shabad, makes it clear that all day, the Jeev is stuck in the works of Maya. It's only at Amritvela, i.e. the last quarter of the night that one gets a chance to engage in some Sifat Salaah of Vaheguru. If this time too is spoiled and wasted in sleeping, then the whole day is gone waste. Those who keep Amritvela, their day too becomes successful as the second last Pankiti of this Shabad makes it clear.

Without Amritvela, one's Sikhi cannot stay alive and one always remains a slave of evil vices. One has hope of becoming emancipated only if one follows Guru Sahib's teachings including Amritvela Naam Abhyaas Kamaaee.

Kulbir Singh