The desert is very dry and spread across thousands of square miles. People living in this desert suffer immensely from the heat and desert storms. There is only one silver lining. There is a very beautiful garden within this desert. This garden seems small from outside but is huge, once you enter it. It's got several zones and each zone has ponds and wells of different kinds. These ponds and wells are full of pure water and though the water looks same from outside, but it tastes different in all ponds and wells.

This one lucky fellow once entered the garden to swim and drink water of one particular kind of pond. Several of these ponds are spread in different zones of the garden.

He entered the first zone and found this beautiful pond in the depths of this zone. As soon as he saw it, he dashed forward to jump in it. The cool water of this pond made him forget all the heat he had endured all these years. The water was very tasty.

Then he found out that there were a few more ponds in other zones. In the second and fourth zone there were 1 pond each but the third and fifth zones had two ponds each. In case of third zone, one pond was big and the other one quite small as compared to the other. In the fifth zone both of the ponds were of equal size and equally beautiful and full of clean water. Only one other zone had two ponds and another beautiful zone has even three ponds (the third pond is a small one but equally life-giving). This lucky fellow could not contain his joy and just could not get enough of it.

He made it a point to swim in all these ponds and drink water from them all, every single day, for the next few days. He got a lot of Anand and is now determined to try out other kinds of ponds and wells. Lucky fellow! Share some with us too, you lucky fellow!

Spectators are many, who view these ponds from outside but only the very fortunate ones actually get to immerse themselves in these ponds and drink the pure life-giving water from these ponds. The problem is that everyone can't immerse in these ponds. One needs to know how to swim in these ponds. Only experienced swimmers can teach others.

Kulbir Singh

Wonderful story! Its stange how you chose to write about gardens just last night I was thinking about Sri guru Jis secret garden. I was specifically thinking about the following beautiful Gurvak
ਸਭੁ ਤਨੁ ਮਨੁ ਹਰਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਮਨੁ ਖਿੜਿਆ ਹਰਿਆ ਬਾਗੁ ॥
VaaheGuru!

The sakhi you posted reminds of a puratan sakhi. One day a Gursikh apporached Sri Guru Raam Das Sahib Ji and said " True King,and protector of the meek this world is inflamed with Anger and Lust. How can we escape the flames of this world? Sri Guru ji responded when a forest catches on fire the deers jump into the cool lake to escape the burning fire likewise in this inflamed world a Gursikh jumps in to the sangat to stay cool from this inflamed world.

ਜਗਤੁ ਜਲੰਦਾ ਰਖਿ ਲੈ ਆਪਣੀ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਧਾਰਿ ॥ ਜਿਤੁ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਉਬਰੈ ਤਿਤੈ ਲੈਹੁ ਉਬਾਰਿ ॥
ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਸੁਖੁ ਵੇਖਾਲਿਆ ਸਚਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਬੀਚਾਰਿ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਸੁਝਈ ਹਰਿ ਬਿਨੁ ਬਖਸਣਹਾਰੁ ॥੧॥

No doubt the world is in flames and MahaRaj Ji has shown us the way through GUrmat Naam Abhyiaas to escape these flames. May Sri Guru Ji keep us in the cool pond and garden of genunie sadh sangat and keep us away from the fire maya-dhari world.

Can anyone tell, what ponds Daas is referring to? Consider it to be a Bujhaarat.

Kulbir Singh

What is a Bujhaarat, please?

Bujhaarat means a riddle.

Kulbir Singh

Thanks Veerji,
ponds of Amrit Naam/ Gurbani Shabad

Are these ponds Guru Sahib's banian?

I think the pond is Bani?

Please be more specific.

Kulbir Singh

Vaheguroo!

Seems like the ponds are those in which once you've obtained Darshan, you can't stop yourself from the urge of wanting more? So its being said in a metaphoric way, the fact that we all know that once you've obtained Darshan, the "phal" from it is much more to it than you've heard, and it's addicting. Like said in the story, that once he was drinking the water from the ponds, or in this case the Amrit of Guroo Saheb's Bani and pyaar, he couldn't stop. And just like that, we can't stop once we've fell in love and experienced that one sip of pure Amrit and seen that one glimpse of Darshan.

Just a guess


Tegh Kaur

vaheguroo,

This joonee and world is like a long, harsh desert, people suffer and toil in it's heat, never finding peace, they go from one place to another trying to find their inner peace, but all they do is sink under the weight of vikaars, maya, distractions.

the ponds in the above mentioned story is the nirmolak heera of sikhi, bani and naam.

bani and naam are such a thing that, if someone where to immerse themselves in it completely, then they would completely forget all their worldly problems and issues, and only feel the peaceful vibes of naam. Not everyone however knows how to swim in these pools, not everyone knows how to get the full maximum laha of bani and naam, because in the case of bani, they need to first get santhiya and in the case of naam, they need to get naam drir, so they know the know-how of japping naam.



ਗਉੜੀਗੁਆਰੇਰੀਮਹਲਾ ੩ ॥
ਮਨਮੁਖਿਸੂਤਾਮਾਇਆਮੋਹਿਪਿਆਰਿ ॥
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿਜਾਗੇਗੁਣਗਿਆਨਬੀਚਾਰਿ ॥

ਸੇਜਨਜਾਗੇਜਿਨਨਾਮਪਿਆਰਿ ॥੧॥
ਸਹਜੇਜਾਗੈਸਵੈਨਕੋਇ ॥
ਪੂਰੇਗੁਰਤੇਬੂਝੈਜਨੁਕੋਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

ਅਸੰਤੁਅਨਾੜੀਕਦੇਨਬੂਝੈ ॥
ਕਥਨੀਕਰੇਤੈਮਾਇਆਨਾਲਿਲੂਝੈ ॥
ਅੰਧੁਅਗਿਆਨੀਕਦੇਨਸੀਝੈ ॥੨॥

ਇਸੁਜੁਗਮਹਿਰਾਮਨਾਮਿਨਿਸਤਾਰਾ ॥
ਵਿਰਲਾਕੋਪਾਏਗੁਰਸਬਦਿਵੀਚਾਰਾ ॥
ਆਪਿਤਰੈਸਗਲੇਕੁਲਉਧਾਰਾ ॥੩॥

ਇਸੁਕਲਿਜੁਗਮਹਿਕਰਮਧਰਮੁਨਕੋਈ ॥
ਕਲੀਕਾਜਨਮੁਚੰਡਾਲਕੈਘਰਿਹੋਈ ॥
ਨਾਨਕਨਾਮਬਿਨਾਕੋਮੁਕਤਿਨਹੋਈ ॥੪॥੧੦॥੩੦॥

daas

Bhai Randhir Singh Ji mentions when someone listens to Gurmat Naam then they have the ability to travel and bathe in invisible sacred sarovars in both physical creation and turiya gun. Perhaps this is what you are referring to?

Preetam Singh, Gurman Sing, Sahib Singh?

Guru Granth Sahib jee is the garden

Zones are different raags

Ponds are beautiful vaars!!

Vah Vah!! Kia khoob bujharat!

Some raags have more than one vaar and raamkalee even has three vaars. Even though the last one is only 2 angs but is still amazing.

Preetam Singh

Very well Preetam Singh! You got the answer correctly.

The desert is this world and the garden is Siri Guru Granth Sahib jee, the only source of relief in this world. The zones are the different Raags in Guru Sahib and the particular ponds mentioned in this story are the 22 Vaars.

There were many hints in the story that alluded towards the 22 Vaars. It was mentioned that 3rd and 5th zones have 2 ponds each. The 3rd zone is Raag Gauri which has 2 Vaars - Mahalla 4 and Mahalla 5. The fifth zone is Raag Gujri and this Raag too has two Vaars - Mahalla 3 and Mahalla 5. Another zone or Raag that has 2 Vaars is Raag Maaroo. The lucky Raag that has 3 Vaars is Raag Ramkali.

The Mehima or greatness of the Vaars is beyond description. What should one write and where should one begin writing about them. The pre-requisite to having Anand of 22 Vaars is Santhiya. If one is not fluent in 22 Vaars, then it is hard to derive maximum Anand because then it's even hard to do Paath (due to very Mehingi (difficult) Baani) let alone understand it.

The hardest Vaars are of Raag Maajh, Raag Gujri Mahalla 5, Raag Jaitsree, Raag Maaru Dakhne, Raag Saarang and Raag Malaar. Rest of them are intermediate or easy to read.

Someone asked a question recently as to how to become an Akhand Paathi. Well, one can't be classified as an Akhand Paathi if one is not fluent in all 22 Vaars and Bhagat Baani. So, one should focus hard on these Baanis to become a successful Paathi.

When Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh jee first came into Sikhi, he became a Baavra (Divaana, crazy) by reading 22 Vaars and Bhagat Baani, day and night. He used to lose consciousness while doing these Paaths and even in his class he used to read 22 Vaars and Bhagat Baani, instead of focussing on his studies. From this we learn that if we want to have Darshan of Vaheguru jee, we too should get into some crazy Paath of Punj Granthi, 22 Vaars, and Bhagat Baani.

It is possible to do 22 Vaars everyday for few days. If that's hard, one can attempt to do 22 Vaars within a week or even in 22 days i.e. one Vaar a day. Then one can switch to Bhagat Baani in the same way. Punj Granthi should be done every single day, no matter what. This is for such people who are serious of Darshan of Vaheguru jee and ones who don't want to come back in this world again.

Below is a chart that can be of help to those lucky seekers of Vaheguru, who want to do Paath of 22 Vaars. This chart shows the Ang information of 22 Vaars. It is beneficial to do 22 Vaars from Siri Guru Granth Sahib jee or Senchis of Guru Sahib as opposed to the Pothis that have only 22 Vaars because this way the Vaar Naqsha (mapping) as it appears in Siri Guru Granth Sahib jee, becomes impressed on the mind.



Bhul Chuk dee Muaafi jee.

Kulbir Singh

I think one can think on this message from Gurbanee to understand the answer to the
Riddle.

The message is as

ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ਘਰੁ ਦੂਜਾ ੨ ॥ ਆਪੇ ਰਸੀਆ ਆਪਿ ਰਸੁ ਆਪੇ ਰਾਵਣਹਾਰੁ ॥ ਆਪੇ ਹੋਵੈ ਚੋਲੜਾ ਆਪੇ ਸੇਜ ਭਤਾਰੁ ॥੧॥ ਰੰਗਿ ਰਤਾ ਮੇਰਾ ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਰਵਿ ਰਹਿਆ ਭਰਪੂਰਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਆਪੇ ਮਾਛੀ ਮਛੁਲੀ ਆਪੇ ਪਾਣੀ ਜਾਲੁ ॥ ਆਪੇ ਜਾਲ ਮਣਕੜਾ ਆਪੇ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਲਾਲੁ ॥੨॥ ਆਪੇ ਬਹੁ ਬਿਧਿ ਰੰਗੁਲਾ ਸਖੀਏ ਮੇਰਾ ਲਾਲੁ ॥ ਨਿਤ ਰਵੈ ਸੋਹਾਗਣੀ ਦੇਖੁ ਹਮਾਰਾ ਹਾਲੁ ॥੩॥ ਪ੍ਰਣਵੈ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਤੂ ਸਰਵਰੁ ਤੂ ਹੰਸੁ ॥ ਕਉਲੁ ਤੂ ਹੈ ਕਵੀਆ ਤੂ ਹੈ ਆਪੇ ਵੇਖਿ ਵਿਗਸੁ ॥੪॥੨੫॥

There are many similar quotes from Gurbaanee like this and ultimately we learn from
Gurbaanee as

"KISNu KAHEEYE NANAKAA SAB KICh AAPE AAP.............Vaar Raag Aasaa

Bhul Chuk Maaf

Daas

Prakash.s.Bagga

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa,
Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,
Dhan dhan Waheguru Ji..dhan dhan Waheguru Ji Parwasa, for the wonderful Gurbani guidance, and inspiration, especially from Veer Kulbir Singh Ji, and Veer Preetam Singh Ji, whose posts always seem so well versed with Gurmat, and Gurbani.
Bhul chuk muaf
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa,
Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,

Excellent topic.

Could you also list what you consider difficult banis in a similar format (bani name, raag, ang number etc) Please also further state which banis you consider very difficult and fairly difficult.
You have mentioned 22 vaars, bhagat bani already, Solak sehaskrtit can be added to the list...

ਆਸਾਮਹਲਾ੫||
ਏਕੁਬਗੀਚਾਪੇਡਘਨਕਰਿਆ||
ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਨਾਮੁਤਹਾਮਹਿਫਲਿਆ||੧||
ਐਸਾਕਰਹੁਬੀਚਾਰੁਗਿਆਨੀ||
ਜਾਤੇਪਾਈਐਪਦੁਨਿਰਬਾਨੀ||
ਆਸਿਪਾਸਿਬਿਖੂਆਕੇਕੁੰਟਾਬੀਚਿਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁਹੈਭਾਈਰੇ||੧||ਰਹਾਉ||
ਸਿੰਚਨਹਾਰੇਏਕੈਮਾਲੀ||
ਖਬਰਿਕਰਤੁਹੈਪਾਤਪਤਡਾਲੀ||੨||
ਸਗਲਬਨਸਪਤਿਆਣਿਜੜਾਈ||
ਸਗਲੀਫੂਲੀਨਿਫਲਨਕਾਈ||੩||
ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਫਲੁਨਾਮੁਜਿਨਿਗੁਰਤੇਪਾਇਆ||
ਨਾਨਕਦਾਸਤਰੀਤਿਨਿਮਾਇਆ||੪||੫||੫੬||

Aasaa, Fifth Mehla:
There is a garden, in which so many plants have grown.
They bear the Ambrosial Nectar of the Naam as their fruit. ||1||
Consider this, O wise one,
by which you may attain the state of Nirvaanaa.
All around this garden are pools of poison, but within it is the Ambrosial Nectar, O Siblings of Destiny. ||1||Pause||
There is only one gardener who tends it.
He takes care of every leaf and branch. ||2||
He brings all sorts of plants and plants them there.
They all bear fruit - none is without fruit. ||3||
One who receives the Ambrosial Fruit of the Naam from the Guru
- O Nanak, such a servant crosses over the ocean of Maya. ||4||5||56||

Vahegurrrrrooooooooooo

-Upkaar Singh

Not to long ago, as the original owners of these Gardens were moved away from it, and they were taken control by outsiders. Seeing the spirit of those who resided in the Gardens, the outsiders thought that they should change the garden, and add poisonous wells to it, in order to confuse the residents. Unfortantly, they realized that the Garden was set up in such a perfect, uniform matter that no pond or well could be added between any of the existing ones. So, they thought to add these poisonous ponds, at the back end of the garden, so after one visited this garden, after enjoying all the fresh water, they would continue there journey to the poisinous wells, thinking that it was part of the garden. When the original residents gained control of the Gardens again, they all were very confused. They came together, and realized that many of these wells had been added by outsiders, and collectively got rid of them. Fortunately, All of these wells were removed but one, which still remains.