THE GURBANI DEFINES THE Pardhan

The word Pardhan (pronounced as Pardhaan) has a general meaning (a leader, Aagoo, chief, a distinguished person, etc.) as understood by most of the people, and also a special meaning as indicated by the Gurbani.

The Gurbani gives us the exact meaning and significance of this word, and the true qualification of a Pardhaan. Secondly, this blog is limited to a Spiritual standpoint only. However, the fundamental principles can be applied to other situations as well.

• ਸਚੁ ਵਰਤੁ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਤੀਰਥੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਇਸਨਾਨੁ ॥ ਦਇਆ ਦੇਵਤਾ ਖਿਮਾ ਜਪਮਾਲੀ ਤੇ ਮਾਣਸ ਪਰਧਾਨ ॥: Sach varat santokh teerath giaan dhian isnaan. Daya devta khimaa japmaalee te manas pardhaan: The most excellent people (Pardhaan) are those persons who make truth their fasting, contentment their pilgrim-station, cognition and meditation their ablution, compassion their deity, and forgiveness their rosary (sggs 1245).
• ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਜਸੁ ਗਾਇਆ ਪਰਮ ਪਦੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਤੇ ਊਤਮ ਜਨ ਪਰਧਾਨ ਜੀਉ ॥: Hari hari jas gaya param pad paya te ootam jan pardhaan: They, who sing Lord’s praise, gain the supreme rank. They are the sublime and Pardhaan amongst men (sggs 446).
• ਜਿਨਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸਿਉ ਚਿਤੁ ਲਾਇਆ ਸੇ ਪੂਰੇ ਪਰਧਾਨ ॥: Jinaa satgur siyu chit laya se poore pardhaan: Perfect Pardhaan are those who fix there mind with the True Guru (sggs 45).
• ਜਿਨ ਮਨਿ ਵਸਿਆ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਸੇ ਪੂਰੇ ਪਰਧਾਨ ॥: Jin man vasya paarbrahm se poore pardhaan: Perfect Prdhaan are they in whose heart the exalted God dwells (sggs 45).
• ਅਚਾਰਵੰਤਿ ਸਾਈ ਪਰਧਾਨੇ ॥: Achaarvant seyee pardhaane: He alone is Pardhaan who is well-conducted (sggs 97).
• ਜਿਨਾ ਸਾਸਿ ਗਿਰਾਸਿ ਨ ਵਿਸਰੈ ਸੇ ਪੂਰੇ ਪੁਰਖ ਪਰਧਾਨ ॥: Jin saas giraas na visrai se poore purukh pardhaan: They, who with every breath and morsel do not forget God, are the perfect Pardhaan persons (sggs 313).
• ਸੋ ਪੂਰਾ ਪਰਧਾਨੁ ਜਿਸ ਨੋ ਬਲੁ ਧਰੈ ॥: So poora pardhaan jis no bal dharai: He alone is perfect and Pardhaan, within whom God enshrines His might (sggs 958).
• ਸੀਲਵੰਤਿ ਪਰਧਾਨਿ ਰਿਦੈ ਸਚਾਵੀਆ ॥: Seelvant pardhaan ridai sachaaveeya: Those who have become sweet-natured, and in whose mind the truth abides are the true Pardhaan (sggs 964).
• ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ਮੁਹਬਤਿ ਇਕ ਸਿਉ ਤੇ ਮਾਣਸ ਪਰਧਾਨ ॥੨॥: Jina muhabat ik siyu te manas pardhaan |22|: They who bear true love for God, are alone the Pardhaan persons ||2|| (sggs 1102).
• ਧਨਵੰਤੇ ਸੇਈ ਪਰਧਾਨ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਜਾ ਕੈ ਨਾਮੁ ਨਿਧਾਨ ॥੪॥੧੭॥੩੦॥: Dhan vante seyee pardhaan. Nanak ja kai naam nidhaan ||4||17||30||: They alone are wealthy and Pardhaan, within whom is enshrined the treasure of God’s Name ||4||17||30|| (sggs 1144).

Does this happen? That is, do we find Pardhaans with these qualifications? Very rarely! To the contrary, we all routinely hear and read stories or witness scenes such as corruption, etc… at all levels of the society, including religious places and institutions.

• ਕਾਲੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਜੋਗੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਨਾਹੀ ਸਤ ਕਾ ਢਬੁ ॥ ਥਾਨਸਟ ਜਗ ਭਰਿਸਟ ਹੋਏ ਡੂਬਤਾ ਇਵ ਜਗੁ ॥ ਕਲ ਮਹਿ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਾਰੁ ॥ ਅਖੀ ਤ ਮੀਟਹਿ ਨਾਕ ਪਕੜਹਿ ਠਗਣ ਕਉ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: Kaal naahee jog naahee naahee sat kaa dhab. Thaanasatt jag bharisat hoy doobahaaiv jag. Kal mahi raam naam saar. Akhee ta meetahi naak pakarrahi thagan kou sansaar ||1|| rahaaou ||: No, no, this is not the time, when people know the way to Yoga and Truth. The holy places of worship in the world are polluted, and so the world is drowning. In this Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Lord’s Name is the most sublime. Some people try to deceive the world by closing their eyes and holding their nostrils closed. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 662).

“Polluted” with what? With falsehood, corruption, empty rituals, dogmas, misrepresentation of the religious principles, criminal activities, made up stories (ਮੰਨ ਘੜੰਤ ਗੱਲਾਂ), stupidity, and so on. Not just in isolated case, but throughout the “world” (“ਜਗ”).

Just look around what’s happening in the world! Selfishness, falsehood, corruption, fanaticism, greed, hatred, divisions, sectarian violence, wars, conflicts, deception, untruth, etc., are on the rampant. World history is witness to the slaughtering of countless innocent people in the name of religion and God.

The world seems to be drowning indeed! Then it should not come as a surprise to read or hear the Gurbani declaring: “The holy places of worship in the world are polluted, and so the world is drowning”. As a matter of fact, these places have become dens of mammon worshippers, and the whole “world is drowning”.

• ਅੰਧਾ ਆਗੂ ਜੇ ਥੀਐ ਕਿਉ ਪਾਧਰੁ ਜਾਣੈ ॥ ਆਪਿ ਮੁਸੈ ਮਤਿ ਹੋਛੀਐ ਕਿਉ ਰਾਹੁ ਪਛਾਣੈ ॥: Andhaa aagoo je theeai kiou paadhar jaanai. Aap musai mati hochheeai kiou raah pachhaanai: If a blind man (blindede by the love of Maya, etc.) is made the leader, how will he know the way (right path of life – ਜੀਵਨ-ਸਫ਼ਰ ਦਾ ਸਿੱਧਾ ਰਸਤਾ – etc.). (Because of) his inadequate understanding (ਹੋਛੀ ਅਕਲ ਦੇ ਕਾਰਨ), he himself is being plundered (by evil inclinations – ਵਿਕਾਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਹੱਥੋਂ – etc.); how will (the one who follows such a blind leader – ਉਸ ਦੀ ਅਗਵਾਈ ਵਿਚ ਤੁਰਨ ਵਾਲਾ ਵੀ) know the way? (sggs 767).