Columnists
The Month of Phalgun
[February 13 - March 13]
Poems translated from Punjabi by GURMEET KAUR
1 Guru Nanak [Raag Tukhaari GGS:1109]
In the month of Phalgun – culminating
Love of the beloved
My heart’s delight
Mind rejoices
Day and Night
Self
Melts away
Affairs untangle
By thy
Grace
Let
My heart abode
Become thy
Place
Came to an end
Empty
Sacraments
Countless
Affectations
That led me astray
Virtues
Have
Adorned me
My beloved
Has
Sought me
Nanak,
The Guru has bestowed
This Unity
The Soul bride
Finds the beloved
In her own dwelling
In the month of Phalgun – culminating.
2 Guru Arjan [Raag Maajh GGS: 136]
In the month of Phalgun – culminating
Bliss
Abounds the soul bride
Who receives the beloved
Merciful
Companions
Help her to meet thee
Her heart-home
Is beautiful
Afflictions flee
Longings
Are fulfilled
Lord himself upholds her
Singing
With the saintly ones
Exuberance surrounds her
Unmatched
Is His presence
None others influence her
Resolved
Affairs of life and beyond
An absorption unwavering
Freedom
From the circle
Of coming and going
Sheltered
At your feet
Bereft on my own
Nanak,
Praise
Such a one
Who is swayed by none
In the month of Phalgun – culminating.
February 13, 2012
Conversation about this article
1: Ash (India), February 13, 2012, 7:41 AM.
Nice poetry ...
2: Mohan Singh (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), February 13, 2012, 5:25 PM.
Desi calendars starts the with Kartik month, while both Barah Mah compositions in the Guru Granth start with Chet, the month of Spring. In this, our Gurus guide us how to maintain a spring-like atmosphere throughout the year within us and live a colorful life, and for that we have nitnem. The changing seasons do not change our routines as Sikhs - that is, unlike in Hinduism, no time is good or bad. Guru Amardas: "thitee vaar sayveh mugadh gavaar" - "Only idiots and fools worship or celebrate specific days" - [GGS:843]. "Thitee vaar" refers to days and dates as per the desi calendar. Many of our preachers fail to explain the true message in this teaching.