GURBANI VISUALS

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#1.

ਜੈਸੇ ਜਲ ਮਹਿ ਕਮਲੁ ਨਿਰਾਲਮੁ ਮੁਰਗਾਈ ਨੈ ਸਾਣੇ ॥ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਭਵ ਸਾਗਰੁ ਤਰੀਐ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਵਖਾਣੇ ॥ ਰਹਹਿ ਇਕਾਂਤਿ ਏਕੋ ਮਨਿ ਵਸਿਆ ਆਸਾ ਮਾਹਿ ਨਿਰਾਸੋ ॥ ਅਗਮੁ ਅਗੋਚਰੁ ਦੇਖਿ ਦਿਖਾਏ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਤਾ ਕਾ ਦਾਸੋ ॥੫॥: Jaise jal mahi kamal niraalam muragaaee nai saane. Surti sabadi bhav saagar tareeai Nanak naam vakhaane. Rahahi ekaanti eko mani vasiaa aasaa maahi niraaso. Agam agochar dekhi dikhaae Nanak taa kaa daaso ||5||: The lotus flower floats untouched upon the surface of the water (ਪਾਣੀ ਨਾਲੋਂ ਨਿਰਾਲਾ ਰਹਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ), and the duck swims through the stream (i.e., without getting feathers wet - ਭਾਵ, ਉਸ ਦੇ ਖੰਭ ਪਾਣੀ ਨਾਲ ਨਹੀਂ ਭਿੱਜਦੇ); (similarly) says Nanak, meditating on the Lord's Name with the consciousness focused on the Shabd (ਸ਼ਬਦ ਵਿਚ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਜੋੜ ਕੇ ਨਾਮ ਜਪਿਆਂ ), one crosses over the terrifying world-ocean. One who enshrines the One Lord in his mind, remains unaffected by hope in the midst of hope (worldly desires), he lives isolated (ਇਕਾਂਤ i.e., while living in the world -in the midst of Maya - he remains uneffected by it). And the one who sees himself and inspires others to see the inaccessible and unfathomable Lord, says Nanak, I am his slave ||5|| (sggs 938).

#2.

ਜਿਉ ਆਕਾਸੈ ਪੰਖੀਅਲੋ ਖੋਜੁ ਨਿਰਖਿਓ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥ ਜਿਉ ਜਲ ਮਾਝੈ ਮਾਛਲੋ ਮਾਰਗੁ ਪੇਖਣੋ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥੨॥ ਜਿਉ ਆਕਾਸੈ ਘੜੂਅਲੋ ਮ੍ਰਿਗ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਭਰਿਆ ॥ ਨਾਮੇ ਚੇ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਬੀਠਲੋ ਜਿਨਿ ਤੀਨੈ ਜਰਿਆ ॥੩॥੨॥: Jiou aakaasai pankheealo khoj nirkhio n jaaee. Jiou jal maajhai maashalo maarag pekhano n jaaee. ||2|| Jiou aakaasai gharhooalo mrig trisanaa bhariaa. Naame che suaamee beethalo jin teenai jariaa ||3||2||: As the path of a bird’s flight across the sky cannot be seen. As the path of a fish through the water cannot be seen. ||2|| As the mirage leads one to mistake the sky for a pitcher filled with water ( more we move towards the mirage-water, we never find its limit or end)— so is God, says Naam Dev, who fits these three comparisons (i.e., He cannot be completely described; He is Infinite - His Limits cannot be found; etc.) ||3||2|| (sggs 525).

#3.

ਧਨਾਸਰੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੯ ॥ ਕਾਹੇ ਰੇ ਬਨ ਖੋਜਨ ਜਾਈ ॥ ਸਰਬ ਨਿਵਾਸੀ ਸਦਾ ਅਲੇਪਾ ਤੋਹੀ ਸੰਗਿ ਸਮਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਪੁਹਪ ਮਧਿ ਜਿਉ ਬਾਸੁ ਬਸਤੁ ਹੈ ਮੁਕਰ ਮਾਹਿ ਜੈਸੇ ਛਾਈ ॥ ਤੈਸੇ ਹੀ ਹਰਿ ਬਸੇ ਨਿਰੰਤਰਿ ਘਟ ਹੀ ਖੋਜਹੁ ਭਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਭੀਤਰਿ ਏਕੋ ਜਾਨਹੁ ਇਹੁ ਗੁਰ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਬਤਾਈ ॥ ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਬਿਨੁ ਆਪਾ ਚੀਨੈ ਮਿਟੈ ਨ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਕੀ ਕਾਈ ॥੨॥੧॥: Kaahe re ban khojan jaaee ...: Dhanaasaree Mahalaa 9. Why do you go looking (for God) in the forest? Although he is ever detached, he dwells everywhere. He even abides with you. ||1||Pause|| Like the fragrance which remains in the flower, and like the reflection in the mirror, the Lord dwells deep within (all). (Therefore) search for Him within your own heart, O brother. ||1|| the Guru has imparted this wisdom: outside (the body) and inside (the body), know that there is only the One Lord (pervading everywhere). O servant Nanak, without realizing one’s own (True) Self (Originality, Essential Nature - ਆਪਣਾ ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਪਰਖਣ ਤੋਂ ਬਿਨਾ etc.), the moss of doubt (ignorance of one's True Nature or Essential Being, etc.) cannot be eradicated (from the mind) ||2||1|| (sggs 684).
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#4.

ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਆਰਸੀ ਕੋਈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਵੇਖੈ ॥ ਮੋਰਚਾ ਨ ਲਾਗੈ ਜਾ ਹਉਮੈ ਸੋਖੈ ॥ ਅਨਹਤ ਬਾਣੀ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਸਬਦੁ ਵਜਾਏ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੀ ਸਚਿ ਸਮਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੪॥: Ih mann aarsee koee Gurmukh vekhai ...: This mind is like a mirror (or looking-glass, through which we can see our Originality, Authentic Nature, Aatmic Jeevan, etc., but); how rare are those who, by becoming the Gurmukh (spiritual beings), see themselves in it. The rust (of ego or Haume) does not stick to (the mind of) those who (by coming to the Sanctuary of the Guru) burn their ego (with ego burnt, they can see themselves through this mind-mirror). The Unstruck Melody of the Bani, the Pure Shabad resounds (within that person who has taken refuge in the Sanctuary of the Shabad-Guru, thus); through the Guru’s Shabad, he remains absorbed in the Truth ||4|| (sggs 115).

#5.

ਭਵਰੁ ਤੁਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਾਰਾ ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਹੋਵਉ ਹਰਿ ਚਰਣਾ ਹੋਹੁ ਕਉਲਾ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਦਾਸੁ ਉਨ ਸੰਗਿ ਲਪਟਾਇਓ ਜਿਉ ਬੂੰਦਹਿ ਚਾਤ੍ਰਿਕੁ ਮਉਲਾ ॥੪॥੩॥੪॥: Bhavar tumhaaraa ihu man hovo har charanaa hohu koulaa. Naanak daas oun sang lapataaiou jio boondahi chaatrik moulaa ||4||3||4||: Let this mind of yours be the bumble bee (bumble bee is known for its love for the flowers i.e., it is the lover of flowers - ਭੋਰਾ ਫੁੱਲਾਂ ਦਾ ਆਸ਼ਕ ਹੈ), and let the Lord's feet be the lotus flower (for the bumble bee of your mind). Says Nanak, (the Lord's) servent remains attached to them (the Lord's feet - His Name), and blossom forth like the song-bird upon finding the rain-drop. ||4||3||4|| (sggs 496).

#6.

ਲੋਭ ਲਹਰਿ ਸਭੁ ਸੁਆਨੁ ਹਲਕੁ ਹੈ ਹਲਕਿਓ ਸਭਹਿ ਬਿਗਾਰੇ ॥: Lobh lahari sabh suaan halak hai halkio sabhai bigaare: The waves of greed are like mad dogs with rabies. Their madness ruins all (those whom they bite - ਵੱਢਣਾਂ) (sggs 983).
ਜਿਉ ਕੂਕਰੁ ਹਰਕਾਇਆ ਧਾਵੈ ਦਹ ਦਿਸ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਲੋਭੀ ਜੰਤੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਈ ਭਖੁ ਅਭਖੁ ਸਭ ਖਾਇ ॥: Jiou kookar harkaaiaa dhaavai dah dis jaai. Lobhee jant n jaanaee bhakh abhakh sabh khaai: Like the mad dog running around in all directions, the greedy person, unaware, consumes everything, edible and non-edible alike (sggs 50).
ਬਿਨੁ ਸਿਮਰਨ ਕੂਕਰ ਹਰਕਾਇਆ ॥ ਸਾਕਤ ਲੋਭੀ ਬੰਧੁ ਨ ਪਾਇਆ ॥੬॥: Bin simran kookar harkaaiaa. Saakat lobhee bandhan paaiaa ||6||: Without meditating in remembrance on the Lord, one is like a mad dog. The greedy, Saakat (one separetd from the Truth) falls into entanglements ||6|| (sggs 239).

#7.

Credit: drawing of this visual by Charan Batra
Source: Full text of the article this visual is based upon is available at http://www.gurbani.org/articles/webart11.htm

#8.

ਅੰਦਰਹੁ ਅੰਨਾ ਬਾਹਰਹੁ ਅੰਨਾ ਕੂੜੀ ਕੂੜੀ ਗਾਵੈ ॥ ਦੇਹੀ ਧੋਵੈ ਚਕ੍ਰ ਬਣਾਏ ਮਾਇਆ ਨੋ ਬਹੁ ਧਾਵੈ ॥ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਮੈਲੁ ਨ ਉਤਰੈ ਹਉਮੈ ਫਿਰਿ ਫਿਰਿ ਆਵੈ ਜਾਵੈ ॥ ਨੀਂਦ ਵਿਆਪਿਆ ਕਾਮਿ ਸੰਤਾਪਿਆ ਮੁਖਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਕਹਾਵੈ ॥ ਬੈਸਨੋ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਮ ਹਉ ਜੁਗਤਾ ਤੁਹ ਕੁਟੇ ਕਿਆ ਫਲੁ ਪਾਵੈ ॥ ਹੰਸਾ ਵਿਚਿ ਬੈਠਾ ਬਗੁ ਨ ਬਣਈ ਨਿਤ ਬੈਠਾ ਮਛੀ ਨੋ ਤਾਰ ਲਾਵੈ ॥ ਜਾ ਹੰਸ ਸਭਾ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ਕਰਿ ਦੇਖਨਿ ਤਾ ਬਗਾ ਨਾਲਿ ਜੋੜੁ ਕਦੇ ਨ ਆਵੈ ॥ ਹੰਸਾ ਹੀਰਾ ਮੋਤੀ ਚੁਗਣਾ ਬਗੁ ਡਡਾ ਭਾਲਣ ਜਾਵੈ ॥ ਉਡਰਿਆ ਵੇਚਾਰਾ ਬਗੁਲਾ ਮਤੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਮੰਞੁ ਲਖਾਵੈ ॥:: Anadarahu annaa, baaharu anna...: Blind inwardly (blind from the mind - ਮਨੋਂ ਅੰਨਾ), and blind outwardly (from conduct or deeds - ਕਾਲੀਆਂ ਕਰਤੂਤਾਂ), he sings (ਝੂਠੀ ਮੂਠੀ) falsely. He washes his body, and draws ritual marks (on his body), and greatly runs after wealth. But (inspite of all this) the filth of his egotism is not removed from within, and over and over again, he comes and goes in reincarnation. Engulfed in sleep (sleeping in love with Maya - ਗ਼ਫ਼ਲਤਿ ਦੀ ਨੀਂਦ), and tormented by lust, he chants the Lord's Name with his mouth. He is called a Vaishnav (devotee of Vishanu), but he is bound to deeds of egotism; by threshing only husks, what can be gain (i.e., by thrashing just husks, no grains can be obtained)? Sitting among the swans, the crane does not become one of them; sitting there, he keeps staring at the fish. And when the gathering of swans look and see, they realize that they can never form an alliance with the crane (ਬਗਲਿਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦਾ ਜੋੜ ਫਬਦਾ ਨਹੀ). (Because) The swans peck at the diamonds and pearls, while the crane chases after frogs. The poor crane (eventually) flies away (from the gathering of swans), so that his secret (of his conduct, mentality, falsehood, etc.) will not be exposed. (sggs 960).
ਮਨਮੁਖ ਕਰਮ ਕਰੇ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਅਭਿਮਾਨਾ ॥ ਬਗ ਜਿਉ ਲਾਇ ਬਹੈ ਨਿਤ ਧਿਆਨਾ ॥:: Manmukh karam kare bahut abhimaanaa. Bag jiou laai behai nit dhiaanaa: Manmukhs (those in material or ego consciousness) perform their actions in much pride (arrogance, ਅਭਿਮਾਨ, etc.). (Acting in pride - ਹੰਕਾਰੀ ਹੋਇਆ) They sit, like storks, pretending to meditate (but, while pretending to be meeditating, stroks keep staring at fish or frogs!) (sggs 230).
ਉਦਕ ਮਾਹਿ ਜੈਸੇ ਬਗੁ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਮਾਡੈ ॥੧॥ ਕਾਹੇ ਕਉ ਕੀਜੈ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਜਪੰਨਾ ॥ ਜਬ ਤੇ ਸੁਧੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਮਨੁ ਅਪਨਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥:: Udak maahi jaise bagg dhiaan maadai. ||1|| Kaahai kaou keejai dhiaan japannaa. Jab te sudh naahee mann apnaa ||1||Rahaaou||: The heron (standing in the water) appears to be meditating, but it is concentrating on the water (to catch a fish). ||1|| Why do you practice meditation or chanting, when your mind is not pure? ||1||Pause|| (sggs 485).
ਮਨਹਠਿ ਜੋ ਕਮਾਵੈ ਤਿਲੁ ਨ ਲੇਖੈ ਪਾਵੈ ਬਗੁਲ ਜਿਉ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਲਾਵੈ ਮਾਇਆ ਰੇ ਧਾਰੀ ॥:: Mannhathi jo kamaavai til na lekhai paavai bagul jiou dhiaan laavai Maya re dhaaree: One who acts (performs religious acts, etc.) through stubbornness is of no account at all (his actions are of no avail); (because) like a crane, he pretends to meditate, but he is still stuck in Maya (i.e., he is Mayadhaaree - ਮਾਇਆ ਧਾਰੀ) (sggs 687)