Begam Pura-ਬੇਗਮ ਪੁਰਾ

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To create a world as ‘Begam Pura‘ (‘ ਬੇਗਮ ਪੁਰਾ ‘) was the dream of the Gurus and Bhagat Ravidas. When the entire humanity becomes walking ‘Begam Pura‘, the entire world becomes ‘Begam Pura‘ world where the Divine Hukam (Cosmic System-Law-Rule-Order of Nature) is followed, not of any scheming priest/clergy (Pujaaree), rulership etc. To create this ‘Begam Pura‘ world demands great courage and unparalleled sacrifices.

The entirety of the Gurbani enshrined within the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) addresses the human Mind.

All contributors of the Bani (ਬਾਣੀ) who are included in the SGGS were excellent communicators, poets, and presenters. Their unique and revolutionary Bani effectively expresses the subtlety of their spiritual experiences. They draw the reader’s attention, awaken slumbering senses, amplify enlightening Message contained within the Guru Shabad, capture subtle nuances of spirituality – they create imagery in the mind and make the reader see things in a new way resulting in improved understanding.

Begam Pura (ਬੇਗਮ ਪੁਰਾ) – Realm of the mind without sorrow

Literally,
– Begam or Begum (ਬੇਗਮ), from Arabic/Persian ‘Be-ਬੇ’ = without, and ‘Gam-ਗਮ’ = sorrow, anxiety etc.
– Pura (ਪੁਰਾ) = (town, city), from from Sanskrit ‘Pur’, and from Prakrit ‘Pura’ (pronounced Puraa).

Imagine a place where there is neither sorrow, anxiety, suffering, misery, worry, terror, caste-based hierarchy, burden of paying taxes, danger of committing transgressions, no fear of any sort etc.

‘Begam Pura‘ signifies that place without sorrow – the place of happiness, Joy, peace, bliss, freedom, Virtues, calm, truthfulness etc. In such dwelling of ‘Begam Pura‘ one realizes what real liberation is. In a nutshell, it is a spiritual Avastha of Turiya pada, Sach Khand etc where their is Anand and oneness with the All-pervading Creator. In this ideal state, no one would face discrimination based on caste (Jaat Paat), color, sex, faith or other factors. Everyone would be treated equally. With such change, there would be no need for concern for everyone can exercise their human rights.

That being said, ‘Begam Pura‘ is not about a place, but about a vision or mindset. In a nutshell, to put it in words it’s about becoming a walking Begampura – creating that space in my mind which is a mental sorrowless world for myself. The Gurbani (SGGS) assures we all have this power within each person to create and become a walking ‘Begam Pura‘. Creation of ‘Begam Pura‘ at the microcosmic world of each and every human-individual will turn into the macrocosmic ‘Begam Pura‘ of the world.

Bhagat Ravidas proclaims he Lives in this ‘Begam Pura‘, Here and Now. Having said that, Bhagat Ji declares only those are his friends who dwell in this realm of Sach Khand, Here and Now.

‘BEGAM PURA’ of the entire world

Gurmat is a beacon of unity in the entire world. It envisions this entire world become ‘BEGAM PURA’. Therefore, the Gurmat or Sikhi of Baba Nanak asks us to develop and realize that STATE OF MIND of ‘BEGAM PURA’ in which NO one is treated as a second or third class citizen, all are considered EQUAL…‘ – ‘ਦੋਮ ਨ ਸੇਮ ਏਕ ਸੋ ਆਹੀ… :

  • ਬੇਗਮ ਪੁਰਾ ਸਹਰ ਕੋ ਨਾਉ ॥ ਦੂਖੁ ਅੰਦੋਹੁ ਨਹੀ ਤਿਹਿ ਠਾਉ ॥ ਨਾਂ ਤਸਵੀਸ ਖਿਰਾਜੁ ਨ ਮਾਲੁ ॥ ਖਉਫੁ ਨ ਖਤਾ ਨ ਤਰਸੁ ਜਵਾਲੁ ॥੧॥ ਅਬ ਮੋਹਿ ਖੂਬ ਵਤਨ ਗਹ ਪਾਈ ॥ ਊਹਾਂ ਖੈਰਿ ਸਦਾ ਮੇਰੇ ਭਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਕਾਇਮੁ ਦਾਇਮੁ ਸਦਾ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹੀ ॥ ਦੋਮ ਨ ਸੇਮ ਏਕ ਸੋ ਆਹੀ ॥ ਆਬਾਦਾਨੁ ਸਦਾ ਮਸਹੂਰ ॥ ਊਹਾਂ ਗਨੀ ਬਸਹਿ ਮਾਮੂਰ ॥੨॥ ਤਿਉ ਤਿਉ ਸੈਲ ਕਰਹਿ ਜਿਉ ਭਾਵੈ ॥ ਮਹਰਮ ਮਹਲ ਨ ਕੋ ਅਟਕਾਵੈ ॥ ਕਹਿ ਰਵਿਦਾਸ ਖਲਾਸ ਚਮਾਰਾ ॥ ਜੋ ਹਮ ਸਹਰੀ ਸੁ ਮੀਤੁ ਹਮਾਰਾ ॥੩॥੨॥: (Bhagat Ravidas says) ‘Baygum Pura‘, ‘the city without sorrow’ – SPIRITUAL STATE OF MIND – in which I now reside. In that place or state of mind (ਆਤਮਕ ਅਵਸਥਾ) there is neither any suffering nor worry. In that state of mind there are no worries and no taxes on possessions (because there is no worldly property). In that state of mind there is no fear of committing sins, or any dread of spiritual decline. ||1|| Now I have found a very pleasant place to reside, where there is always peace and calm. ||1||Pause|| This state of mind is an everlasting dominion. No one is treated there as a second or third class citizen, all are considered EQUAL. That city or state of mind is populous and eternally famous. Those who live there are so blessed with the wealth of Naam (Wisdom / Virtues) that they feel themselves wealthy and satiated. ||2|| In that state of bliss they go about as they please. They are familiar with God’s presence, therefore, nobody prevents them from realizing Him. Ravidas, a cobbler who has been liberated, says, whosoever lives in this town — Enlightened State of Mind — is my friend (‘Sahari’). ||3||2|| (sggs 345).

The most precise and concise definition of ‘heaven‘ is found in the foregoing Shabad of the revolutionary Bhagat Ravidas. While going through this Shabad ‘Begam Pura Sehar Ko Nau’ (‘ਬੇਗਮ ਪੁਰਾ ਸਹਰ ਕੋ ਨਾਉ’), one easily gets the feeling of ‘what heaven can be like’ – a state of the mind in which no sorrow can reach. And this state is Here and Now, NOT after death or somewhere in the sky!

A person who instills the Divine Virtues/Qualities within oneself and performs his/her duties truthfully is always residing in ‘heaven’, Here and Now. There is no other heaven, above, below, to the left or right.

By confusing and manipulating the gullible, innocent, fearful and greedy people and giving them false beliefs, the self-serving priestly class (Pujaaree) rob them of everything. The Gurbani asks the entire humanity to learn and wake up from this slumber of ignorance. The words of Bhagat Ravidas convey a profound invitation to the entire humanity to shift from a world of suffering to a realm of the Divine bliss/joy, Here and Now.

Message of universal oneness, brotherhood…

The enlightening Message of the Gurbani enshrined within the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS) is that the One Creator ( One Truth / Hukam) shines through all of creation: rivers and mountains, plants and animals, the sun, the moon and all the stars, and you and I — all are expressions of this One Reality.

That said, the Gurmat’s (teaching/Wisdom of the SGGS) ONENESS is relational, ethical and participatory because Creation, individuality, and sentient experience are real and significant, not illusory, impersonal, and abstract. In other words, ONENESS in Sikhi/Gurmat of Baba Nanak refers to the sole existential framework within which Creation functions (Hukam that permeating our very existence) rather than some impersonal oneness grounded in insentience.

‘Begam Pura‘ is the casteless, classless and stateless society that we need today. The Gurbani (SGGS) proclaims:

  • ਹੁਣਿ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਹੋਆ ਮਿਹਰਵਾਣ ਦਾ ॥ ਪੈ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਕਿਸੈ ਰਞਾਣਦਾ ॥ ਸਭ ਸੁਖਾਲੀ ਵੁਠੀਆ ਇਹੁ ਹੋਆ ਹਲੇਮੀ ਰਾਜੁ ਜੀਉ ॥੧੩॥ : Now the Merciful (Truth-Creator) has issued His Hukam (Cosmic System-Law-Rule-Order of Nature) that no one would be persecuted or harassed by anyone. All would live harmoniously in peace under the benevolent Cosmic Rule/regime of co-existence in humility. ॥13॥ (sggs 74).
  • ਭੈ ਕਾਹੂ ਕਉ ਦੇਤ ਨਹਿ ਨਹਿ ਭੈ ਮਾਨਤ ਆਨ ॥ ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਸੁਨਿ ਰੇ ਮਨਾ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਤਾਹਿ ਬਖਾਨਿ ॥੧੬॥ : One who neither frightens anyone nor is afraid of anyone else: Says Nanak, listen, O mind! Call that person as a spiritually Wise. ॥16॥ (sggs 1427).
  • ਕਬੀਰ ਜੋਰੁ ਕੀਆ ਸੋ ਜੁਲਮੁ ਹੈ ਲੇਇ ਜਬਾਬੁ ਖੁਦਾਇ ॥ : Kabir, to use force on anyone is an act of cruelty and such act of cruelty will deny me God Realization. (sggs 1375).

This Message of universal oneness and brotherhood is the basis of Sikhi or Gurmat (SGGS). Baba Nanak presented a philosophy that rejected all existing religions and their crafty priest classes. He instead offered a universal humanitarian perspective that recognized all creation as functioning under one law (the Divine Hukam). Thus, Baba Nanak united the world under one understanding and described all people as brothers and sisters with One Father – the One Creator.

  • ਪਰਥਾਇ ਸਾਖੀ ਮਹਾ ਪੁਰਖ ਬੋਲਦੇ ਸਾਝੀ ਸਗਲ ਜਹਾਨੈ ॥ : Great persons may be speaking about or addressing certain narrative, but the Teaching/Message in those is applicable for the spiritual betterment of ALL of mankind/humanity. (sggs 647).
  • ਸਭੇ ਸਾਝੀਵਾਲ ਸਦਾਇਨਿ ਤੂੰ ਕਿਸੈ ਨ ਦਿਸਹਿ ਬਾਹਰਾ ਜੀਉ ॥੩॥ : (O God!) All are part and parcel of You. None is beyond You. ||3|| (sggs 97).
  • ਨਾ ਕੋ ਬੈਰੀ ਨਹੀ ਬਿਗਾਨਾ ਸਗਲ ਸੰਗਿ ਹਮ ਕਉ ਬਨਿ ਆਈ ॥੧॥ : No one is my enemy, no one is a stranger to me, I have BECOME ONE with the entirety of the humanity. ||1|| (sggs 1299).

Ending

Such heavenly world – ‘Begam Pura‘ – can not be created by mere singing ‘Begum Pura‘ alone, listening to Kirtan, nonsensical religious rituals, Nagar Kirtans on the birth anniversary of Gurus/Bhagats, waving naked swords at another section of the society, waging wars, inciting hatred and killing in the name of religion and God, destroying brotherhood, and so on.

To give practical form to this living ‘Begam Pura‘ of Bhagat Ravidas, Baba Nanak started preparation himself which was carried out by all subsequent Gurus. But, there is no obstacle that was not placed in the way of Baba Nanak and rest of the Gurus by the then Brahman Pujaaree (priest) class. But that did not deter them!

Instead, as we know, Baba Nanak set off on long journeys (ਪ੍ਰਚਾਰ ਫੇਰੀਆਂ) to different countries and foreign lands, urging people to become residents of ‘Begam Pura‘. For this, even though he had to grind the mill as a prisoner; Guru Arjan was tortured to death; Guru Teg Bahadur was beheaded, Guru Gobind Singh was stabbed to death and his two sons were walled alive and two killed in the battle field. But all Guru Sahiban did not back down. In addition, Sikh history records the numerous executions of Sikhs who refused to abandon their faith or its vision of rebuilding the world as ‘Begam Pura‘. Bhai Banda Singh Bahadur whom Guru Gobind Singh appointed as a Sikh leader, was tortured to death along with thousands of Sikh soldiers by the Mughals. Bhai Banda Bahadur’s four year old son Ajay Singh’s liver/heart was torn out of the child’s body and stuffed into Banda Singh Bahadur’s mouth. Why? The reason was that creating a world as ‘Begam Pura‘ was not pleasing to both the priest (Pujaaree) and the rulerships of the time. The truth is that it is not pleasing to priest and rulerships even today:

  • ਕਲਿ ਕਾਤੀ ਰਾਜੇ ਕਾਸਾਈ ਧਰਮੁ ਪੰਖ ਕਰਿ ਉਡਰਿਆ ॥ ਕੂੜੁ ਅਮਾਵਸ ਸਚੁ ਚੰਦ੍ਰਮਾ ਦੀਸੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਕਹ ਚੜਿਆ ॥ : ‘Kali’ (corrupt state of the mind) is like a sharp knife. Kings (and their officers) who protect the people are behaving like butchers (ਜਾਲਮ). The true principle of Dharma is as if taken wings and flown away. The falsehood all around seems to have spread like a pitch dark night (of Masya). The moon of truth is nowhere to be seen! (sggs 145).
  • ਕਾਦੀ ਕੂੜੁ ਬੋਲਿ ਮਲੁ ਖਾਇ ॥ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਜੀਆ ਘਾਇ ॥ ਜੋਗੀ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਨ ਜਾਣੈ ਅੰਧੁ ॥ ਤੀਨੇ ਓਜਾੜੇ ਕਾ ਬੰਧੁ ॥੨॥ : The clergy of the Muslim faith was corrupt, the Brahman was murderous and the Yogi UN-Enlightened. These three (clergy) had become the root cause for the Spiritual wreckage and desolation that mankind had come to endure. (sggs 662).

Let us all – by reading the Gurbani ourselves, understanding and accept the enlightening Message of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, and living it in daily life – establish brotherly harmony within and without and become worthy of being called residents of ‘Begam Pura‘ world.

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