To deepen our understanding and thus to deepen our Spiritual living, the SGGS (Sri Guru Granth Sahib) has used many examples and similes including seasons, festivals, and so on. For example:
Similarly, there is also the mention of the festival of "Holi" in the SGGS. The purpose of this Reflection is not to get into the history, popularity or rituals associated with the festival of Holi, but, from a spiritual standpoint, try to reflect upon as to how the SGGS would like us to celebrate it.
HOLI
India being the ancient country, it has many festivals. Some of these festivals are very ancient and also extremely popular. Holi (pronounced Holee, holI), is one of them. It is also known as the festival of colors. Celebrated on the full moon day of Phaagun (or Phaggan), it is particularly more popular in north India. People from all walks of life — irrespective of religion, caste, age, and gender — celebrate Holi. It is spring time in India, flowers and fields are in bloom and the people go wild running on the streets and smearing each other with paint and throwing powered colors (Gulaal etc.), colored water and dye around in an atmosphere of great good humor and exuberance, with dancing and singing. Also, bonfires are lit during Holi in a prominent public places. Plenty of Bhang (cannabis/intoxicant) taking in various ways also goes on this day! For example, a special drink is prepared called Thandai which can be laced with Bhang, which actually contains small amounts of marijuana. People invite each other to their houses for Thandai, feasts and celebrations. There are many stories and folklore associated with the festival of Holi. Known originally as "Holika", it has been mentioned in very early religious works. It is also known as Holikotsava.
Based on these, in nutshell, the festival of Holi essentially signifies to reaffirm togetherness and the burning (or eradication) of the evil passions: lust, anger etc., and their numerous variations such as selfishness, hatred, enviousness, and all rest of the negative tendencies and actions, and the victory of righteous forces over demonic forces. Apparently, Holi has lost its original significance over the years long ago.
HOLA MAHALLA
In lieu of the traditional Holi, Guru Gobind Singh Ji (the Tenth Guru of the Sikhs) revived the spirit of Holi and weaved its essence into a festival called "Hola Mahalla. Pronounced Holaa Mahallaa (holw mh~lw), this annual festival of Sikhs was created by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in his own way. At the time Guru Gobind Singh Ji introduced it, he was battling the Mughal empire and the hill kings. On this day, he held a military parade of the Sikhs, who came out in their best and went through a sort of mock battle at the historic township of Anandpur Sahib. It was to remind the people of togetherness, brotherhood, valor and defense preparedness. Hola is the masculine form of the feminine Holi. Hola Mohalla usually falls in March (spring season in India) a day after Holi. Although, initially, Anandpur Sahib played host to Hola Mahalla, now it is also replicated at other Gurdwaras worldwide.
The author is not a historian. Therefore, instead of quoting hearsay or somebody else's accounts, the following eyewitness accounts of this festival at Anandpur Sahib are based on the author's own visits to Holla Mahalla in his childhood, around 1950s-1960s.
FROM THE SPIRITUAL STANDPOINT, THE SGGS ON CELEBRATING HOLI
From spiritual standpoint, the SGGS tells us as to how one can go about celebrating Holi. That is, by serving saints. Now the question is: how one can go about serving saints? By washing their clothes? By feeding them with delicacies? By chauffeuring them around in fancy cars or flying them first-class? By building them Ashrams? By donating them money, expensive cars, planes or land? By following them blindly? By massaging their feet? By touching their feet? None of these — according to the SGGS.
Then how is one to serve the saints (God's true companions, God's true devotees, Satsang, Saadh-Sangat etc.? As indicated in the SGGS, one is to serve the saints by the Divine Name (Naam-Simran, meditation) — holI kInI sMq syv. Here is the the rest of the Gur-Shabad.
Cultivating association with God's true devotees (Satsang) is indicated to exalt one. This seems to be the rationale of the tremendous emphasis laid in the SGGS on cultivating the company of the devout or saintly persons (Satsang) in Spiritual life as it ensures definite Growth. As they are constantly in tune with God, the mind becomes cleansed of its baser tendencies in their presence.
A WORD ON THE WORD "SANT"/"SAINT"
It appears that in the SGGS the word Sant is used in three ways: for God, for the Guru, and for God's true devotees. Further, wherever it is used to indicate God's true devotees (call them Sant, Saadhoo, Braham-giaanee, a Holy person, or something else), it is not used to indicate a specific person wearing a specific robes and/or exhibiting a specific external appearance (outward signs etc.). He is not fettered by ceremonies, taboos and rituals. He is pure in thought, word and deed (Mann, Bachan and Karam). He is a man of Perfection who lives a dedicated life of remembering God, helping others remember Him and act in His name, and always looking for opportunities to serve God through selflessly serving humanity. Thus, he is the spiritual force who touches the inner lives of others in transforming ways. He is the one who has completely "conquered" his mind, living liberated (Jeevanmukta), Enlightened (Gurmukh). He is the person of total non-attachment, full Awareness (non-mechanical), wisdom, understanding, ethics, truth (Sach Khand), Sahaj, peace, calm, serenity, tranquility, centeredness, selflessness, humility, compassion, contentment, collectedness, poise, self-mastery, and so on. He is even-minded and simple-hearted: he is neither cunning, nor corrupted, nor scheming, etc.
In nutshell, Sant simply means who has become the Whole (Saabat, Pooraa or Pooran). Such a true devotee does not exist as himself but he exists as the entire Creation or the Universe, as the Whole. His ego (Haume) is completely lost. He is the Complete or Perfect Being ("Pooranam Purkhah").
This is where the Indian word of "Sant" or "Saadhoo" differs from the western word of "saint". The western word "saint" comes from the root "sanctus", meaning sanctioned by the church (Pope!). To put it mildly, this is not only ridiculous but also meaningless. How anybody can sanction or certify a saint? Nobody can issue certificates for saints. Either one has become a saint or he has not. So the word "Sant" or "Saadhoo" does not mean a saint in that way — the western way. A Sant or Saadhoo is not certified by any government or an institution. He is a person who has lost himself in the Whole.
Thus, to be a Sant or a Holi person (or a saint, for lack of a better word in English) is to be living in a totally different dimension — the dimension of authentic Spirituality. But as the SGGS points out, it is rare to be a Sant in the true sense of the word. A Sant has moved from the biological dimension (Manmukhtaa) to the Spiritual dimension (Gurmukhtaa). In other words, he is the person who has taken the quantum leap from Manmukhtaa to Gurmukhtaa, from materiality to immateriality, from falsehood (Asatt) to Truth ( Satt), from outer to Inner, from visible (Drisht) to Invisible (Adrisht), from time to Timelessness (Akaal), from fleeting or temporary to Permanent or Eternal, from ego (Haume) to egolessness, from conditioned state to Unconditioned state (Uncorrupted, Uncontaminated), and so on. He is the Jeevanmukta (living liberated, twice born, reborn, or truly alive person). He has cleansed his heart of dross of evil passions (Kaam, Krodh, Lobh etc.), and thus made his conduct Immaculate. His every act is done with the right (Spiritual) attitude; for he is established in the Spiritual Realm.
Clearly, it is very difficult to become a Sant. His way is very arduous. No wonder the SGGS calls such persons "rare", "few and far between", and so on! It's not that the world is without them, but there are not too many of them. Because a saint's way is like walking on a two-edged sword!
But still there is huge crowd of Sants in the Sikh community now-a-days!!! Not only in India, they are also pullulating Gurdwaras all over the world, specially in the West. It is easy money, tax free! Additionally, when western currency is converted to Indian, it multiplies! Also, when one is presented as a Sant in the media, one's nefarious activities become obscured.
As Sikhism is a way of life, Sikhs are to remember and emphasize three practices in their individual and corporate life: (1) Kirat Karnee, (2) Vand Shaknaa, and (3) Naam Japnaa. First, "Kirat Karnee" is the righteous way of living which includes honest or truthful way of work (to righteously work for what you eat) side by side with the search of the Truth. Second, "Vand Shaknaa" is giving or sharing with others in the society who are less fortunate. And third is "Naam Japnaa", which is to engage in serious remembrance or contemplation on God (meditation or Naam-Simran). If one so lives a Spiritual Life, Baabaa Nanak says, "he knows the path".
Now let's pause for a moment and analyze. If a so-called Sant (or saint) does not engage in earning honest living, he is simply a freeloader, a thief (i.e., a fake or counterfeit Sant). Furthermore, if he does not truthfully work to earn his living then their is no question of him sharing with others!!! In other words, if one is devoid of "Kirat Kamaaee", he will remain devoid of the practice of "Vand Shaknaa"! In turn, in the absence of both "Kirat Kamaaee" and "Vand Shaknaa", he cannot honestly practice Naam Japnaa! Now perhaps we can appreciate as to why Baabaa Nanak thunders forth the following declaration:
— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org
[Home] [Article Menu]