Gang Jamun

Bhagat Kabeer Sahib says:

• ਕਬੀਰ ਗੰਗ ਜਮੁਨ ਕੇ ਅੰਤਰੇ ਸਹਜ ਸੁੰਨ ਕੇ ਘਾਟ ॥ ਤਹਾ ਕਬੀਰੈ ਮਟੁ ਕੀਆ ਖੋਜਤ ਮੁਨਿ ਜਨ ਬਾਟ ॥੧੫੨॥: Kabeer gang jamun ke antre sahaj sunn ke ghaat. Tahaa Kabeerai mat keeyaa khojat muni jan baat. ||152|| (sggs 1372).

A popular English translation of the above verse available online is as follows:

“Kabeer, between the Ganges and Jamunaa Rivers, on the shore of Celestial Silence, There, Kabeer has made his home. The silent sages and the humble servants of the Lord search for the way to get there. ||152||”

Here in this Sloak, Kabeer Sahib is not talking about the Ganges (Gangaa-ਗੰਗਾ) and Jamunaa (ਜਮੁਨਾ) Rivers that flow in India. Neither he is talking about taking dip in their waters (Neer)!

Having said that, the foregoing English translation does not make much sense.

Then what is it that Kabeer Sahib is trying to tell us?

Like most of the Bani of Bhagat Kabeer Sahib, apparently the foregoing Salok of Kabeer Sahib is also condensed and impregnated with spiritual suggestions. Not easy to figure it out from its face value (without the earnest Vichaar). Unfortunately, to make easy money, many Ragi, Bhais, Pandit (scholars or ਵਿੱਦਵਾਨ) take short cuts, narrate weird stories, etc., thus do injustice to the Gurbani and misleading their listeners in the process.

Let’s give it a try to understand the purport of this Slok as much we can.

Gang (ਗੰਗ) = Gurmat, Aatam Giaan (ਆਤਮ ਗਿਆਨ), Bibek Budhi (ਬਿਬੇਕ ਬੁਧਿ, Discerning Intellect of the Gurmat), Gangaa of the Shabad-Vichaar, deep Sublime State (ਅਡੋਲ ਅਵਸਥਾ), the State beyond Mayaic thoughts (ਮਾਇਕੀ ਫੁਰਨਿਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਪਰੇ ਦੀ ਅਵਸਥਾ, ਸੁੰਨ-Sunn), Intuitively Balanced Mind, the Enlightened State (ਗਿਆਨ ਅਵਸਥਾ), The Gurmukh State, and so on.

In nutshell, it is the Pure or Immaculate mind, which is said to be as the “Gangaa Neer“.

• ਕਬੀਰ ਮਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਭਇਆ ਜੈਸਾ ਗੰਗਾ ਨੀਰੁ ॥ ਪਾਛੈ ਲਾਗੋ ਹਰਿ ਫਿਰੈ ਕਹਤ ਕਬੀਰ ਕਬੀਰ ॥੫੫॥ : O Kabeer! (Through Bhagti) upon mind becoming Pure as the “Gangaa Neer” ( i.e., the mind Free of Maya); the Divine follows after me, calling, “Kabeer! Kabeer!” ||55|| (sggs 1367).

Jamun (ਜਮੁਨ) = Manamat (ਮਨਮਤ or self-will, which is totally opposite of the Gurmat or Aatam Giaan), Ignorance, Manmukhataa (Mayadhaaree), Maya-ridden, doubt-ridden (Bharam-ਭਰਮ), the way of spiritual death (ਆਤਮਕ ਮੌਤ), Bikaar, Durmat (ਦੁਰਮਤ), worldliness, worldly Budhi, Kubudh, and so on.

Sahaj (ਸਹਜ) = Sahaj Avasthaa (ਸਹਜ ਅਵਸਥਾ), Natural State of Being, the Enlightened State, ਗਿਆਨ ਅਵਸਥਾ, and so on.

Sunn (ਸੁੰਨ) = Celestial Silence, the State of thoughtlessness, the State beyond ego or Mayaic thoughts (ਮਾਇਕੀ ਫੁਰਨਿਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਪਰੇ ਦੀ ਅਵਸਥਾ), ਅਡੋਲ ਅਵਸਥਾ, etc.

Matu (ਮਟੁ) = Home (ਟਿਕਾਣਾ), Inner Home, Nij Ghar, Mool, etc.

Essentially, Kabeer Sahib here appears to be talking about the Gang Budhi (Gurmat – Aatam Giaan, Spiritual Wisdom, Gurmukhataa…), and the Jamun Budhi (Manamat-ਮਨਮਤ, self-will, Mayaic intellect, Manmukhataa…).

Apparently, he seems to be suggesting that we should reverse the flow of our Jamun Budhi (Mayaic intellect…), and link it to the Gang Budhi (Gurmat-Aatam Giaan…) within. In other words, we should stop the flow of the Jamun Budhi and get submerged in the flow of the Gang Budhi.

By doing so we will get established in “Sahaj Sunn-ਸਹਜ ਸੁੰਨ”, the Real Home (ਟਿਕਾਣਾ) within, which is beyond the influence of Maya, duality, Bikaar, false ego-sense (Haumai), and so on.

Kabeer Sahib says he himself is established in That Home (Nij Ghar, Mool…).