We are conditioned from the childhood to consider ਮੰਗਲਵਾਰ or Tuesday as Ashubh (unfortunate, inelegant, bad, untoward, potentious, evil, ill-omened, ill-boding, unfavorable, inauspicious, calamity, ill-luck, and so on.). Consequently, people say don’t do this and don’t do that on this day.
This is all Bharam-Baad (ਭਰਮ-doubts, illusions…), totally contrary to the Gurbani.
In fact, in the Gurbani, the term “Mangal-ਮੰਗਲ” is considered Good – “Mangal-ਮੰਗਲ” meaning auspiciousness, happiness (ਖੁਸੀ-ਖੇੜੇ), and so on. Furthermore, this term “Mangal-ਮੰਗਲ” often associates with Anand (ਅਨੰਦ-Bliss). That is, when we feel happy, satisfied, blissful, joyous, in ecstasy, etc., we often express it by saying as all “Anand-Mangal” (ਅਨੰਦ-ਮੰਗਲ). These two terms (“Anand-Mangal“-ਅਨੰਦ-ਮੰਗਲ) appear together in many verses In the Gurbani. For example:
- ਮਹਾ ਅਨੰਦ ਮੰਗਲ ਰੂਪ ਤੁਮਰੇ ਬਚਨ ਅਨੂਪ ਰਸਾਲ ॥: (O Lord!) You are of the Embodiment of Supreme Bliss (ਆਨੰਦ-ਸਰੂਪ) and Joy (ਮੰਗਲ-ਰੂਪ), Your Word is Beautiful, and Tasteful (sggs 680).
Why most of the Sikhs (if not all) don’t understand the merit of “Mangal“? Because – as the Gurbani asserts – we don’t know the way to control our Bikaars or evil passions (“Panch Chor“: lust, anger, greed, attachment, and pride). In other words, to realize the importance of “Mangal“, the Gurbani challenges us to know the nature of all the evil passions (Bikaar) – how they operate, or how they function, or how they assoult us, and how to control them. This will require perfect Understanding of the Gurbani – Aatamic-Giaan – through constant and sincere Shabad-Vichaar. In other words, we need to become the Gurmukh (the person who understands the Gur-Shabd, Aatamic-Giaan or Gurmat… and lives it each and every breath: “ਸਾਸ ਸਾਸ”).
- ਮੰਗਲਵਾਰੇ ਲੇ ਮਾਹੀਤਿ ॥ ਪੰਚ ਚੋਰ ਕੀ ਜਾਣੈ ਰੀਤਿ ॥: On Tuesday (i.e., Through “Tuesday” , the Gurbani Teaches us), attain the importance (glory, greatness, grandeur, etc., of the Gur-Shabad – Aatmic-Giaan, Gurmat…). And (through the Teaching of the Gur-Shabad) learn to control “Panch Chor” [lust, anger, greed, attachment, and pride (along with their countless variations)]. (sggs 344).
So, there is the condition as to how and when “Mangal” turns auspicious, that is, we must control “Panch Chor” [lust, anger, greed, attachment, and pride (along with their countless variations such as, enviousness, stubbornness, selfishness, and so on)].
Since the Mayadhaaree mind (Mayaic consciousness) has no interest in understanding Aatmic-Giaan of the Gurbani, there is no way for us to control “Panch Chor“. The result is our foolish beliefs such as this day is good and that day is bad, and so on. The Gur-Shabad repudiates all this foolishness of our blind-mind.
- ਮਾਇਆਧਾਰੀ ਅਤਿ ਅੰਨਾ ਬੋਲਾ ॥ ਸਬਦੁ ਨ ਸੁਣਈ ਬਹੁ ਰੋਲ ਘਚੋਲਾ ॥: Mayadhaaree ati annaa bolaa. Sabadu n sunaee bahu rol ghacholaa (sggs 313).