Chully – Handful of Water

Literally, Chully (ਚੁੱਲੀ) is to take a handful of water for external cleansing at the so called religious places (e.g. ritual cleansing of mouth or face – ਕੁਰਲੀ etc.).

Specifically, at the so called ‘Sarovars’ or Tirath Asthaan (even at local Gurdawars), ignorant people take Chully of water from filthy ponds, etc., and put it in their mouth, throw on their eyes, sprinkled on top of their head, wash their feet and arms, and so on.

Using this worldly example of Chully, Baabaa Nanak in the Gurbani expounds the Bibek or Wisdom (Divine Knowledge, Aatam-Giaan) to the seekers of Truth.

First off, keeping the external body clean is a good practice in personal hygiene — a common sense. The Gurbani does not advocate not to keep the body clean.

However, on account of an utter ignorance of the Gurmat (Wisdom, Giaan, Upadesh or Way of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS), many have turned the external cleanliness into a religious ritual (Karamkaand) — equating the outer neatness and cleanliness with the mental Purity (Purity of thoughts) or Divine Life!

The Way of the SGGS or Sikhi assertively rejects such deluded thinking that external cleansing will make you pure.

• ਤਨਿ ਫਿਟੈ ਫੇੜ ਕਰੇਨਿ ॥ ਮਨਿ ਜੂਠੈ ਚੁਲੀ ਭਰੇਨਿ ॥ ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਚੁ ਧਿਆਈਐ ॥ ਸੁਚਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਤਾ ਸਚੁ ਪਾਈਐ ॥੨॥: (Pujaaree) commit evil deeds with their polluted bodies (corrupt mind, thinking…). With filthy mind, they keep doing ‘Chully’. O Nanak! remember (think, meditate) the Truth. If you are pure (within), then you will obtain Truth ||2|| (sggs 472).

Although one can wash the external body (Ishnaan), or rinse the inside of his mouth, etc., with Chully of water; however, Baabaa Nanak says water cannot wash the consciousness or the mind (the mins’s Bikaar: lust, anger, greed…).

• ਪਾਣੀ ਚਿਤੁ ਨ ਧੋਪਈ ਮੁਖਿ ਪੀਤੈ ਤਿਖ ਜਾਇ ॥: You may drink water to quench your thirst, (but) the water cannot wash your consciousness (mind’s Bikaar, crookedness etc.). (sggs 1240).
• ਮਨਿ ਮੈਲੈ ਸਭੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਮੈਲਾ ਤਨਿ ਧੋਤੈ ਮਨੁ ਹਛਾ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥: When the mind is filthy, everything is filthy; by washing the body, the mind is not cleaned (sggs 558).

For example, mouth rinsing (including washing of feet, arms, etc.) is one of the actions carried out for performing Wudu (partial ablution) by Muslims. Off course, the idea was to make intention (Niyyah) in the heart (i.e., to purify the heart, or mind…); for it is an action of the pure heart or mind and not of the tongue that matters!

Also, there is a ritual called  ‘Panj Ishsanaanaa’ or ‘Panj Ishnan’ pretty common in Sikhs (‘five washings’ – washing of two hands, two feet, and the face before entering a Gurdwara building, or before reciting Paath, etc.).

Again, there is nothing wrong with cleaning hands, feet, mouth, etc. The Gurbani does not advocate not to keep the body clean.

However, to equate the outer neatness and cleanliness with Inner Purity or Divine Life is rejected by the Gurbani.

Because, it is nothing but trickery of the mind ridden with Pakhand, foolishness, illusion, doubt (ਭਰਮ), deception, falsehood, utter ignorance of the Way of the SGGS or the Gurbani’s Wisdom.

• ਵਸਤ੍ਰ ਪਖਾਲਿ ਪਖਾਲੇ ਕਾਇਆ ਆਪੇ ਸੰਜਮਿ ਹੋਵੈ ॥ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਮੈਲੁ ਲਗੀ ਨਹੀ ਜਾਣੈ ਬਾਹਰਹੁ ਮਲਿ ਮਲਿ ਧੋਵੈ ॥ ਅੰਧਾ ਭੂਲਿ ਪਇਆ ਜਮ ਜਾਲੇ ॥ ਵਸਤੁ ਪਰਾਈ ਅਪੁਨੀ ਕਰਿ ਜਾਨੈ ਹਉਮੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਦੁਖੁ ਘਾਲੇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਤੁਟੈ ਤਾ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਵੈ ॥: (The man who daily) washes his clothes and his body (and only by keeping the clothes and body clean) thinks himself as he has becomes an ascetic, (but he is) unaware of the inner filth staining (his mind), (while he) tries and tries to wash off the outer (dirt of the body), (that foolish, mentally) blind man is lost (from the straight Way of life) and he is trapped in the trap of Bikaar (lust, anger, greed, etc.). He suffers in egotism (Haumai) because he thinks (this fleeting body) and other objects are his own. O Nanak! (When) by becoming the Gurmukh (man’s) false ego-sense (Haumai) is dispelled, then he remembers the divine Naam (Wisdom), (sggs 139).
• ਜਿਨ ਕੈ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਮੈਲੁ ਕਪਟੁ ਹੈ ਬਾਹਰੁ ਧੋਵਾਇਆ ॥ ਕੂੜੁ ਕਪਟੁ ਕਮਾਵਦੇ ਕੂੜੁ ਪਰਗਟੀ ਆਇਆ ॥: Those whose hearts are filled with the filth of deception, wash themselves on the outside. They practice falsehood and deception (in daily life), and their falsehood becomes apparent. (sggs 1243).

Such trickery of the Mayaic mind is out-rightly rejected by Baabaa Nanak in the outset of the SGGS.

• ਭਰੀਐ ਹਥੁ ਪੈਰੁ ਤਨੁ ਦੇਹ ॥ ਪਾਣੀ ਧੋਤੈ ਉਤਰਸੁ ਖੇਹ ॥ ਮੂਤ ਪਲੀਤੀ ਕਪੜੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਦੇ ਸਾਬੂਣੁ ਲਈਐ ਓਹੁ ਧੋਇ ॥ ਭਰੀਐ ਮਤਿ ਪਾਪਾ ਕੈ ਸੰਗਿ ॥ ਓਹੁ ਧੋਪੈ ਨਾਵੈ ਕੈ ਰੰਗਿ ॥: Water cleanses my stained physical self (external body). Soap cleanses my stained garments. (Beyond the stained physical self or the garments) my intellect is stained by vices. The cleansing of which (i.e. intellect) is by imbuing in Naam (Wisdom / Virtues). (sggs 4).

The Gurbani is ‘Brahm Beechaar‘ (‘ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਬੀਚਾਰ’). There is no place for Karamkaand (rituals) in Brahm-Vichaar (Reflections on the Universal Energy or Rabb).

• ਲੋਗੁ ਜਾਨੈ ਇਹੁ ਗੀਤੁ ਹੈ ਇਹੁ ਤਉ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਬੀਚਾਰ ॥: People think that the (Gur-Shabad) is (an ordinary) song, but it is a “Brahm Beechaar”. (sggs 335).

Those who think otherwise apparently take the Gur-Shabad to be just a song or ‘ਗੀਤੁ’ — who either don’t understand the Gurbani, or don’t want to understand it, or don’t consider SGGS as their Guru (Giaan-Guru…). 

Furthermore, apparently, such people blindly follow the manufactured stories (ਗੱਪ ਕਹਾਣੀਆਂ) or Karamkaand (rituals) propagated by the illiterate and greedy Pujaaree-groups or the Pujaaree system, which has assertively been rejected in the Gurbani by all the Gurus and the Bhagats centuries ago…).

The aim or goal of the Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS is to mend our deluded mind (thinking – Soch…), nature, habits etc. and bring about a change in the society.

Consider the following Shabad of Baabaa Nanak:

• ਨਾਨਕ ਚੁਲੀਆ ਸੁਚੀਆ ਜੇ ਭਰਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਸੁਰਤੇ ਚੁਲੀ ਗਿਆਨ ਕੀ ਜੋਗੀ ਕਾ ਜਤੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਣ ਚੁਲੀ ਸੰਤੋਖ ਕੀ ਗਿਰਹੀ ਕਾ ਸਤੁ ਦਾਨੁ ॥ ਰਾਜੇ ਚੁਲੀ ਨਿਆਵ ਕੀ ਪੜਿਆ ਸਚੁ ਧਿਆਨੁ ॥ ਪਾਣੀ ਚਿਤੁ ਨ ਧੋਪਈ ਮੁਖਿ ਪੀਤੈ ਤਿਖ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਪਾਣੀ ਪਿਤਾ ਜਗਤ ਕਾ ਫਿਰਿ ਪਾਣੀ ਸਭੁ ਖਾਇ ॥੨॥ : O Nanak! (Chully of mere water can NOT bring purity in spiritual life, however). If a human being knows (true Chully), then these are the True Chully. True  Chully for a scholar is of ‘Giaan’ or Wisdom (i.e, the scholar’s erudition is pure if there is Wisdom within him). Chully for For a Brahmin (Pujaaree, religious leader…) is of contentment and Cully for the householder is of high conduct and service. The Chully for a king is of Justice and thee Chully for an educated or learned person is of focus on Truth. The mind cannot cleansed with water, you drink it to quench thirst. (But instead of purification with the Chully of water, the illusion of Sootak or impurity should be created because) water produces the whole world and water destroys it all. (sggs 1240).

In essence Baabaa Nanak in the foregoing Shabad is reminding us of our real duties (responsibilities, ਅਸਲੀ ਫਰਜ਼…):

1. The Pujaaree and Religious leaders should not be impatient or intolerable, they should be content.
2. Let the householder spend a portion of earnings for the upliftment of the society.
3. It is the king’s duty to protect his subjects and to rule honestly.
4. It is the duty of an educated person to make people aware through his knowledge. Always raise the voice of truth, etc.

Here is an another eye-opening Shabad of Baabaa Nanak in which he imparts Wisdom to the corrupt priest-class (Pujaaree) and ruling-class.

• ਹਕੁ ਪਰਾਇਆ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਉਸੁ ਸੂਅਰ ਉਸੁ ਗਾਇ ॥ ਗੁਰੁ ਪੀਰੁ ਹਾਮਾ ਤਾ ਭਰੇ ਜਾ ਮੁਰਦਾਰੁ ਨ ਖਾਇ ॥ ਗਲੀ ਭਿਸਤਿ ਨ ਜਾਈਐ ਛੁਟੈ ਸਚੁ ਕਮਾਇ ॥ ਮਾਰਣ ਪਾਹਿ ਹਰਾਮ ਮਹਿ ਹੋਇ ਹਲਾਲੁ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਗਲੀ ਕੂੜੀਈ ਕੂੜੋ ਪਲੈ ਪਾਇ ॥੨॥: To violate or usurp someone’s right or taking away something that rightfully belongs to others is like eating pork for a Muslim and beef for a Hindu. The ‘Guru Pir‘ (Spiritual Guide) would standby only if the follower does not make unlawful living. Mere talk does not lead to heaven; liberation (from vices/Bikaar) lies in God realization. If you add spice to unlawfully earned food, it does not become Halal (lawful). Nanak, false talking begets only falsehood. ||2|| (sggs 141).

Thus, in nutshell, washing, Ishanaan (bathing), Chully etc., as recommended in the Gurbani is of the mind, for the mind, and by the mind!

• ਹਰਿ ਜਲੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਮਨੁ ਇਸਨਾਨੀ ਮਜਨੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਭਾਈ ॥: Hari (Naam: Wisdom, Virtues, Truth…) is the immaculate Water; the mind that has bathed (in this immaculate Water of Hari Naam, such Ishnan) bath  is pleasing to the Satiguru. (sggs 505).

Only such washing, Ishanaan (bathing), Chully etc. can bring the inner purity (Divine Life, Gurmukh Lifestyle – ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਵਿਚ ਸੁੱਚ …)!

Therefore, the Gurbani has painstakingly explained the need to understand the difference between one’s external or gross body (‘ਬਿਦੇਹੀ’-Bidehee; Pindaa-ਪਿੰਡਾ…), and the Inner body (i.e., mind, ‘ਦੇਹੀ ਗੁਪਤ’-Gupat Dehee or Kaaiaa, subtle body…). The external body has a temporary existence.

• ਦੇਹੀ ਗੁਪਤ ਬਿਦੇਹੀ ਦੀਸੈ ॥: Dehee (ਦੇਹੀ – subtle body within) is hidden; Bidehee (ਬਿਦੇਹੀ – gross, external body) is seen (sggs 900).

Upon dying in Shabad, it Awakens to Wisdom transcending Maya or duality, Bikaar, worries, disaster, calamity, violence, distress, tumult, etc. 

• ਸਹਸੈ ਜੀਉ ਮਲੀਣੁ ਹੈ ਕਿਤੁ ਸੰਜਮਿ ਧੋਤਾ ਜਾਏ ॥ ਮੰਨੁ ਧੋਵਹੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਲਾਗਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਉ ਰਹਹੁ ਚਿਤੁ ਲਾਇ: So long the mind is in the grip of ਸਹਿਮ (doubt, worry, skepticism, etc., born of from our love for Maya), it is rendered filthy. By no ਸੰਜਮਿ (Jugati – external tact, skill, device, knack, etc.) this filth of the mind can be cleansed. Attach yourself to the Shabad (Gur-Giaan…), continue to fix your consciousness on Hari (-Naam: Wisdom, Virtues, Truth…), and (like this) wash your mind (sggs 919).

Then he knows what the true ‘Chully’ is, which brings about purity of the mind (thinking), Aatmak, or Gurmukh Lifestyle, Wisdom (Amrit-Giaan) and Virtues (ਗੁਣ) — Truth (ਸਤ), honesty (ਇਮਾਨਦਾਰੀ), contentment (ਸੰਤੋਖ), mercy (ਦਯਾ), patience (ਧੀਰਜ), Sahaj (ਸਹਜ-Natural State of Being), Wisdom (ਗਿਆਨ), humility (ਮਨ ਨਿਮਾਣਾ, ਬੁਧਿ ਗਰੀਬੀ), sweat speech (ਮਿਠ ਬੋਲੜਾ) …

• ਕਲਰ ਕੇਰੀ ਛਪੜੀ ਕਊਆ ਮਲਿ ਮਲਿ ਨਾਇ ॥ ਮਨੁ ਤਨੁ ਮੈਲਾ ਅਵਗੁਣੀ ਚਿੰਜੁ ਭਰੀ ਗੰਧੀ ਆਇ ॥ ਸਰਵਰੁ ਹੰਸਿ ਨ ਜਾਣਿਆ ਕਾਗ ਕੁਪੰਖੀ ਸੰਗਿ ॥ ਸਾਕਤ ਸਿਉ ਐਸੀ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਹੈ ਬੂਝਹੁ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਰੰਗਿ ॥: The crow (Bikaaree or Mayaic mind…) rubs and washed itself in the pool of the saline land (pool of Bikaar: lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride etc.). (As a result) the mind and body remains polluted with demerits (Bikaar, delimited consciousness…), just as a crow’s beak always remains filled with filth. Associating with the crow-minded (i.e., Saakat: those separated from their Mool, Mayadhaaree, Manmukh …), the soul-swan (i.e. mind) did not respect the Pool of the Gur-Giaan or spiritual Wisdom). Such is the love with the Saakat. O Enlightened one! Understand (the true Way of life) through the Divine love. (sggs 1411).
• ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਭਾਗਹੀਨ ਮਤਿ ਫੀਕੇ ਨਾਮੁ ਸੁਨਤ ਆਵੈ ਮਨਿ ਰੋਹੈ ॥ ਕਊਆ ਕਾਗ ਕਉ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਰਸੁ ਪਾਈਐ ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤੈ ਵਿਸਟਾ ਖਾਇ ਮੁਖਿ ਗੋਹੈ ॥੩॥ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਸਰੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਸਤਿਵਾਦੀ ਜਿਤੁ ਨਾਤੈ ਕਊਆ ਹੰਸੁ ਹੋਹੈ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਧਨੁ ਧੰਨੁ ਵਡੇ ਵਡਭਾਗੀ ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਰਿਦੈ ਮਲੁ ਧੋਹੈ ॥੪॥੨॥: Those unfortunate persons, misguided by bad advice, are of shallow intellect; upon hearing Naam (Giaan-Wisdom, Virtues…) they feel enraged in their minds. Just as a crow gets satisfied eating filth instead of good food, similarly these evil people, forsaking Amrit of Naam, are satiated by indulging in vices. ||3|| The Satiguru (True Wisdom-ਸੱਚਾ ਗਿਆਨ), who always speaks truth, is like the pool of Giaan-Amrit, bathing in which, a crow like mind becomes immaculate like a swan (i.e. Enlightened, Virtuous). Nanak, extremely blessed and very fortunate are those who, through the Guru’s teachings (Giaan-Wisdom), wash away the filth of their Hearts with Naam realized through the Gurmat (Upadesh or Message of the Guru’s Shabad). ||4||2|| (sggs 493).

Simply put: For a Sikh (student, learner or ਸਿਖਿਆਰਥੀ of the SGGS), the Wisdom of the Gurmat is the Way of life.

• ਅੰਤਰਿ ਜੂਠਾ ਕਿਉ ਸੁਚਿ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਸਬਦੀ ਧੋਵੈ ਵਿਰਲਾ ਕੋਇ ॥: If (someone) is impure within, (he) cannot become pure (without washing the mind with Shabad). How rare is the person who washes (his mind) with the Shabad (Wisdom, Upadesh, Sikhiaa, Naam…). (sggs 1344).

In short, if WE ARE WILLING TO TAKE and PRACTICE, the SGGS provides us Wisdom (Giaan), which:

• protects Sikhs from deception, fraud, hypocrisy or Pakhand,
• makes Sikhs Wise, just, rational or discreet (ਤਰਕਸ਼ੀਲ, ਵਿਵੇਕੀ),
• inspires Sikhs to be ONLY good human being,
• motivates Sikhs to pursue higher education,
• makes Sikhs prudent and brave,
• builds high character, originality and conviction,
• inspires to live a pious life (the Gurmukh Lifestyle),
• removes delusion, doubts, fear and Karamkaand,
• leads people to the straight path of Truth,
• does good to the society,
• rejects Jaat Paat (casteism), inequality, injustice, and so on.

The following Shabad of Baabaa Nanak will challenge (ਲਲਕਾਰ) our mind forever:

• ਨ ਭੀਜੈ ਰਾਗੀ ਨਾਦੀ ਬੇਦਿ ॥ ਨ ਭੀਜੈ ਸੁਰਤੀ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਜੋਗਿ ॥ ਨ ਭੀਜੈ ਸੋਗੀ ਕੀਤੈ ਰੋਜਿ ॥ ਨ ਭੀਜੈ ਰੂਪੀ ਮਾਲੀ ਰੰਗਿ ॥ ਨ ਭੀਜੈ ਤੀਰਥਿ ਭਵਿਐ ਨੰਗਿ ॥ ਨ ਭੀਜੈ ਦਾਤੀ ਕੀਤੈ ਪੁੰਨਿ ॥ ਨ ਭੀਜੈ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਬੈਠਿਆ ਸੁੰਨਿ ॥ ਨ ਭੀਜੈ ਭੇੜਿ ਮਰਹਿ ਭਿੜਿ ਸੂਰ ॥ ਨ ਭੀਜੈ ਕੇਤੇ ਹੋਵਹਿ ਧੂੜ ॥ ਲੇਖਾ ਲਿਖੀਐ ਮਨ ਕੈ ਭਾਇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਭੀਜੈ ਸਾਚੈ ਨਾਇ ॥੨॥ (God) is NOT won over (i.e. pleased, made happy etc.) with singing ragas, playing Naad or reading Vedas (i.e. religious books). (God) is NOT won over by meditation, debating knowledge or doing any means of Yoga. (God) can’t be won over even if you just sit there crying. (God) is NOT won over (on you) even when engaged in beauty, riches and pleasures. (God) is NOT won over by ritual bathing at Teerath (shrines) or wandering naked (in jungles, mountaintops etc.). (God) is NOT won over with giving alms (Daan). (God) is NOT won over by fighting and dying as a warrior in battle (i.e., by becoming a martyr or Shaheed). (God) is not won over even if you are mixed with dust. The test (of good and bad of people) is done according to what’s in the mind. O Nanak! (God) is pleased only through the True Naam (Wisdom or Giaan). (sggs 1237).