Apr 25, 2024
Apr 25, 2024
“Gaau gaau ree dhulahanee ma(n)galachaaraa.
Maerh gireh aae raajaa raam bhataaraa.1.Rahaau.” — (SGGS, Pg. No.482)
Translation: Sing, sing, O brides (five sense organs) of the Lord, the marriage songs of the Lord. The Lord, my King, has come to my house as my Husband. 1. Pause.
This is a very bold statement by Kabir Ji, and this should not to be taken in the biological context. The statement is in a purely metaphorical context. Here Kabir Ji considers self as the bride, and God as the bridegroom. This metaphor has been traditionally employed by devotees to refer to themselves as female and refer to divine as the male. In their thinking all human beings are bride and God is sole bridegroom. It is a declaration of the ultimate achievement of purpose of life. In fact it is Kabir Ji’s expression of the experienced communion. Just as the Indian bride at the time of wedding, dresses in red color, Kabir Ji says that he has dyed himself red.
“Tun rai-nee mun pun rap kar hau paachau tat baraatee.
Raam rai siau bhaavar laihau aatam teh rung raatee.1.” — (SGGS, Pg. No.482)
Translation: I make my body the dying vat, and within it (Naam is water, devotion is the dye), I dye my mind (dye of virtues, red in color of love). I make the five virtues my marriage guests [Truth (=Sat), Contentment (=Santokh), Compassion (=Daya), Righteousness (=Dharam), Spiritual Virtues (=Daivee Gun as Humility (=Nimrata etc.)]. I take my marriage vows with the Lord, my King; my soul is imbued with His Love.
Now Kabir Ji describes the bridal pavilion where the ceremony will be solemnized as:
“Naabh kamal meh bedhee rach le braham giaan auchaaraa.
Raam rai so dhoolahu paio as baddabhaag hamaaraa. 2.” — (SGGS, Pg. No.482)
Translation: In the lotus of my breath (taking the breath to the navel), I have made my bridal pavilion, and the Mantras of divine wisdom of God are being chanted to solemnize the wedding. I have obtained the Lord King as my Husband - such is my great good fortune.
Kabir Ji then shares with us the details of wedding guests list as:
“Sur nar mun jan kautak aae koat tetees aujaanaa(n).
Kaeh Kabir moh biaaeh chale hai purakh ek bhagavaanaa. 3.2.24.” — (SGGS, Pg. No.482)
Translation: The angles, holy men, silent sages, and the 330,000,000 deities have come in their heavenly chariots (which represents the spiritual flight of deities) to witness this spectacle. Says Kabir, I have been taken in marriage by the One Supreme Being, the Lord God.
Kabir Ji, had earlier used the words like Raja Raam, Raam Rai for God, but the word Raam could be implied for the seventh avatar of Vishnu, known as Raam, the son Dasrath. Now in the last line he clarifies leaving no doubt, that Raam that he referring to is the omnipresent Supreme Being.
For the doubters of this interpretation Kabir Ji has also clarified elsewhere as:
“Har mero pir hbau har kee bahureeaa.” —(SGGS, Pg. No.483)
Translation: The Lord is my Husband, and I am the Lord's bride.
Now, let us ask Kabir Ji to share with us how this was achieved? He answers by saying:
“Tun mun dhan girahu saup sareer.
Soiee suhaagan kahai kabir.3.23.” — (SGGS, Pg. No.328)
Translation: One who surrenders her body, mind, wealth, home and self - she is the true soul-bride, says Kabir.
Kabir Ji says that he gave a new construct to his mind and body with Naam. That Naam permeated his inner mind and it gave birth to love for divine. Let us ask Kabir, can you share with us what is the feeling of this experience and the achievement? Kabir Ji provides the answer as:
“Raam Kabira aek bhaae hai koe n sakai pashhaanee.6.3” —(SGGS, Pg. No. 969)
Translation: The Lord and Kabir have become one. No one can tell them apart.
Here, we see Kabir Ji is declaring that he has become one with God and no one can distinguish them apart. Now, he is enjoying celestial bliss and will not be reincarnated again as shared by him. He shares with us the blessed feeling of the achievement:
“Dha(n)n suhaagan jo peea bhaavai.
Kaeh kabir fir janam na aavai. 3.8.30.”
(SGGS, Pg. No.483)
Translation: Blessed is the soul-bride, who is pleasing to her Husband Lord. Says Kabir, she shall not have to be reincarnated again.
Becoming the bride of God is merging with God and it is the ultimate purpose of human life. Kabir Ji attained it, and he has shared his experiences for our inspiration.
References:
1. www.Sikhitothemax.com
2. Singh, Bhai Vir. Santhya Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Volume 6
3. Singh, Prof. Sahib. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Darpan, Volume 3
4. Das, Nirmal. Songs of Kabir from the Adi Granth
5. Dharwadkar, Vinay. Kabir The Weaver’s Songs