3. Unveiling the Wisdom of the Sacred Alphabet (part 2)
Hidden within the sounds of the sacred alphabet, are deep spiritual lessons, meant to guide us inward. Through these sacred letters Guru Nanak Dev Ji isn’t giving information; He’s offering wisdom that reshapes how we see ourselves and the world, showing us how to live with humility, kindness and love.
From ਜ, which teaches us to beg with humility after lifetimes of wandering, to ਧ, which reveals how the entire universe is suspended by the power of the Divine, these verses from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji show us the path to return to the Divine, step by step, letter by letter. Read on with an open heart to further uncover the magnificence of the Sacred Alphabet.
ੴ ਸਤਿਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਅਜੂਨੀ ਸੈਭੰ ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ ਜਪੁ ॥ ਆਦਿ ਸਚੁ ਜੁਗਾਦਿ ਸਚੁ ॥ ਹੈ ਭੀ ਸਚੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਹੋਸੀ ਭੀ ਸਚੁ ॥੧॥
ਜਜੈ ਜਾਨੁ ਮੰਗਤ ਜਨੁ ਜਾਚੈ ਲਖ ਚਉਰਾਸੀਹ ਭੀਖ ਭਵਿਆ ॥ ਏਕੋ ਲੇਵੈ ਏਕੋ ਦੇਵੈ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਦੂਜਾ ਮੈ ਸੁਣਿਆ ॥੧੧॥
Guru Nanak Dev Ji says that letter ‘ਜ’ invites us to become Jan, a humble servant of the Divine.
To become a Jan is to shed the Ego and approach the Divine as a beggar. One must become a beggar, meaning to be without ego, and reach a state where one lives in the world but remains dead to it (detached and unaffected). It means to obey the One (Sat Bachan), unwaveringly.
The world will call such a person mad. The world will laugh, as it has always laughed at devotees and will continue to do so. Those who walk the path of Truth have always faced mistreatment. Even Guru Nanak Dev Ji, in all His radiance, was called a “kurahiya,” meaning “one who has gone astray” or “a wrongdoer.”
And what do we ask for? Guru Nanak Dev Ji says that while becoming Jan, we must ask for the one sacred thing that we never found while wandering life after life through 8.4 million lifetimes. Now is the time to ask for it.
There is only One who gives everything, and it is that same One who takes everything back. “ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਦੂਜਾ ਮੈ ਸੁਣਿਆ"- He says, “I have heard there is no other.” Look at Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s nature. He does not make a claim or speak from pride; He humbly says, “I have heard.”
ਝਝੈ ਝੂਰਿ ਮਰਹੁ ਕਿਆ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ ਜੋ ਕਿਛੁ ਦੇਣਾ ਸੁ ਦੇ ਰਹਿਆ ॥ ਦੇ ਦੇ ਵੇਖੈ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਚਲਾਏ ਜਿਉ ਜੀਆ ਕਾ ਰਿਜਕੁ ਪਇਆ ॥੧੨॥
Guru Nanak Dev Ji says whatever a person truly needs, the Divine is already giving. And whatever you are not receiving, understand that you never truly needed it. You’re asking for it by mistake. The way your sustenance is meant to reach you is already written on your forehead, in your destiny. So why worry unnecessarily?
ਞੰਞੈ ਨਦਰਿ ਕਰੇ ਜਾ ਦੇਖਾ ਦੂਜਾ ਕੋਈ ਨਾਹੀ ॥ ਏਕੋ ਰਵਿ ਰਹਿਆ ਸਭ ਥਾਈ ਏਕੁ ਵਸਿਆ ਮਨ ਮਾਹੀ ॥੧੩॥
When we look with awareness (meaning when we are deeply connected to the Divine Word), we will see that there is no other. What is outside is also Him, and what is within is also Him.
ਟਟੈ ਟੰਚੁ ਕਰਹੁ ਕਿਆ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ ਘੜੀ ਕਿ ਮੁਹਤਿ ਕਿ ਉਠਿ ਚਲਣਾ ॥ ਜੂਐ ਜਨਮੁ ਨ ਹਾਰਹੁ ਅਪਣਾ ਭਾਜਿ ਪੜਹੁ ਤੁਮ ਹਰਿ ਸਰਣਾ ॥੧੪॥
‘ਟ’ teaches us that we should not waste time or engage in meaningless actions. We have been blessed with a limited number of breaths. We do not know when they will run out, or when we will have to depart. Yet even knowing this, we fool ourselves thinking, “I’ll do just this many prayers for now; there’s still plenty of life left to do prayers.” In doing so, we gamble with our lives.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji says: Do only those actions where victory is certain. By coming into the company of the holy congregation (saadh sangat), one begins to truly understand how to come into the shelter of the Divine.
ਠਠੈ ਠਾਢਿ ਵਰਤੀ ਤਿਨ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਚਰਣੀ ਜਿਨ੍ਹ ਕਾ ਚਿਤੁ ਲਾਗਾ ॥ ਚਿਤੁ ਲਾਗਾ ਸੇਈ ਜਨ ਨਿਸਤਰੇ ਤਉ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥੧੫॥
Guru Nanak Dev Ji says those hearts are peaceful, cool, and serene, whose consciousness is connected to the Feet of the Divine. They themselves are cool, and they offer this coolness (peace and serenity) to others as well. Their presence becomes soothing, not just for themselves, but for all who come near them. Guru Nanak Dev Ji says that such souls will be the ones who are liberated, who find true happiness, and who become blissful.
ਡਡੈ ਡੰਫੁ ਕਰਹੁ ਕਿਆ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ ਜੋ ਕਿਛੁ ਹੋਆ ਸੁ ਸਭੁ ਚਲਣਾ ॥ ਤਿਸੈ ਸਰੇਵਹੁ ਤਾ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਵਹੁ ਸਰਬ ਨਿਰੰਤਰਿ ਰਵਿ ਰਹਿਆ ॥੧੬॥
"Ḍanph" means showing off. Guru Nanak Dev Ji says, why put on a show, pretending, ‘I have so much,’ or ‘I am so great’? All of this is temporary and will eventually pass. Instead, serve the One who is present in all beings, who is not just around you, but woven into every cell of your being.
Just as the sky is all-pervading and endless, so too is the presence of the Divine, which is limitless, eternal, and always here.
ਢਢੈ ਢਾਹਿ ਉਸਾਰੈ ਆਪੇ ਜਿਉ ਤਿਸੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਤਿਵੈ ਕਰੇ ॥ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਵੇਖੈ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਚਲਾਏ ਤਿਸੁ ਨਿਸਤਾਰੇ ਜਾ ਕਉ ਨਦਰਿ ਕਰੇ ॥੧੭॥
Guru Nanak Dev Ji says it is the Divine who creates, and also the Divine who dissolves. He alone gives the command (hukum), and all beings move according to His command. But His command is not random - He gives it after looking at one’s actions (karma). Based on that, a soul receives a human body, and forms connections with specific beings in this life.
ਣਾਣੈ ਰਵਤੁ ਰਹੈ ਘਟ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਵੈ ਸੋਈ ॥ ਆਪੇ ਆਪਿ ਮਿਲਾਏ ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਨਰਪਿ ਜਨਮੁ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥੧੮॥
Guru Nanak Dev Ji says that it is He Himself who dwells within everyone. He is the One who sings His own praises through them, and He is the One who ends the cycle of birth and death, merging them back into Himself. In essence, it is Maharaj Ji Himself who is operating on both sides.
ਤਤੈ ਤਾਰੂ ਭਵਜਲੁ ਹੋਆ ਤਾ ਕਾ ਅੰਤੁ ਨ ਪਾਇਆ ॥ ਨਾ ਤਰ ਨਾ ਤੁਲਹਾ ਹਮ ਬੂਡਸਿ ਤਾਰਿ ਲੇਹਿ ਤਾਰਣ ਰਾਇਆ ॥੧੯॥
It is said that this world is like an ocean of illusion (bhavjal), and one must cross it by swimming through it, and not by merely walking across.
ਪੰਕਜੁ ਮੋਹ ਪਗੁ ਨਹੀ ਚਾਲੈ- In the mud of attachment, the feet cannot move. He says anyone who tries to walk through this ocean, will get stuck in this mud of attachment. So, the letter ‘ਤ’ teaches us: we must swim, not walk.
"O Waheguru, I don’t know how to swim, and neither do I have a boat or a paddle. I am drowning. You are the Master of the Universe, King of Kings, please carry me across.”
ਥਥੈ ਥਾਨਿ ਥਾਨੰਤਰਿ ਸੋਈ ਜਾ ਕਾ ਕੀਆ ਸਭੁ ਹੋਆ ॥ ਕਿਆ ਭਰਮੁ ਕਿਆ ਮਾਇਆ ਕਹੀਐ ਜੋ ਤਿਸੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਸੋਈ ਭਲਾ ॥੨੦॥
Guru Nanak Dev Ji teaches us to come into alignment with Divine Will (bhana), and even in that, not to complain, saying, "You caused this illusion”, or “You gave me attachment to Maya." To say, ‘What fault do I have in this situation?’ is a complaint, a grievance. Instead, whatever pleases Him, whatever He does, know within you that it is for your good.
The Divine is our Father, and He does nothing except what is ultimately good for us.
ਦਦੈ ਦੋਸੁ ਨ ਦੇਊ ਕਿਸੈ ਦੋਸੁ ਕਰੰਮਾ ਆਪਣਿਆ ॥ ਜੋ ਮੈ ਕੀਆ ਸੋ ਮੈ ਪਾਇਆ ਦੋਸੁ ਨ ਦੀਜੈ ਅਵਰ ਜਨਾ ॥੨੧॥
Guru Nanak Dev Ji says that true acceptance means realizing that the fault lies in my own actions.
Whatever I did, I am now receiving the results of that. I am receiving the fruit of my own karma. No one else is to blame.
ਧਧੈ ਧਾਰਿ ਕਲਾ ਜਿਨਿ ਛੋਡੀ ਹਰਿ ਚੀਜੀ ਜਿਨਿ ਰੰਗ ਕੀਆ ॥ ਤਿਸ ਦਾ ਦੀਆ ਸਭਨੀ ਲੀਆ ਕਰਮੀ ਕਰਮੀ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਪਇਆ ॥੨੨॥
ਧ teaches us that the Divine first expanded Himself and became the vast expanse of the sky (Akash), and then placed all His powers within it. Within this vastness, He created all the planets, worlds, moons, suns, stars, and more.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji says there is no end to His creation, and He has set all of it afloat in the vast sky without any visible support. What holds it up? His own Divine power.
There is no support beneath the Earth either. Some Hindu traditions suggest that the Earth stands on the horns of a bull- but then Guru Nanak Dev Ji asks: On what does the bull stand?
ਤਿਸ ਤੇ ਭਾਰੂ ਤਲੈ ਕਵਣੁ ਜੋਰੁ- Thus, the entire universe is upheld by the power of the Divine.
ਤਿਸ ਦਾ ਦੀਆ ਸਭਨੀ ਲੀਆ ਕਰਮੀ ਕਰਮੀ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਪਇਆ - And in everything, it is His own presence, His own color that pervades. It is He Himself who is working through all. Whatever we receive comes from Him alone, and based on our actions, He issues the command as to which path each soul is to be placed upon.
ਨੰਨੈ ਨਾਹ ਭੋਗ ਨਿਤ ਭੋਗੈ ਨਾ ਡੀਠਾ ਨਾ ਸੰਮ੍ਹਲਿਆ ॥ ਗਲੀ ਹਉ ਸੋਹਾਗਣਿ ਭੈਣੇ ਕੰਤੁ ਨ ਕਬਹੂੰ ਮੈ ਮਿਲਿਆ ॥੨੩॥
The letter ‘ਨ’ teaches that union with the Divine is attained only by the true brides.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji says that one who has never truly meditated, never longed for His vision, and only claimed union with Him through words is not a true bride. Maharaj Ji says: Be a true bride by being genuinely devoted, not just speaking of it. (Look at how our Divine Father lovingly explains what we should do and what we should avoid.)
ਪਪੈ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹੁ ਪਰਮੇਸਰੁ ਵੇਖਣ ਕਉ ਪਰਪੰਚੁ ਕੀਆ ॥ ਦੇਖੈ ਬੂਝੈ ਸਭੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਜਾਣੈ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਰਵਿ ਰਹਿਆ ॥੨੪॥
Parpanch refers to the entire creation made from the five elements.
It is said that the Supreme Divine manifested this entire parpanch in order to behold Himself. He sees from within and from without–He understands both internally and externally.
ਫਫੈ ਫਾਹੀ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਫਾਸਾ ਜਮ ਕੈ ਸੰਗਲਿ ਬੰਧਿ ਲਇਆ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਸੇ ਨਰ ਉਬਰੇ ਜਿ ਹਰਿ ਸਰਣਾਗਤਿ ਭਜਿ ਪਇਆ ॥੨੫॥
Guru Nanak Dev Ji says that the whole world is caught in the web of attachment (moh).
But the one who, from deep within, feels a genuine fear of falling back into the cycle of 8.4 million births is the one who will run toward the refuge of the Divine. The one who does not feel this fear within, cannot truly turn toward God.
Then Guru Nanak Dev Ji asks, “Who feels this kind of fear?” Only the one upon whom Divine Grace (mehr) has fallen.
So, to those who have not yet received the gift of Divine Nectar (Amrit), now is the time to decide. Don’t delay it by thinking ‘tomorrow’ or ‘next year.’
Guru Nanak Dev Ji says: for this journey, don’t walk, but run towards it.
ਬਬੈ ਬਾਜੀ ਖੇਲਣ ਲਾਗਾ ਚਉਪੜਿ ਕੀਤੇ ਚਾਰਿ ਜੁਗਾ || ਜੀਅ ਜੰਤ ਸਭ ਸਾਰੀ ਕੀਤੇ ਪਾਸਾ ਢਾਲਣਿ ਆਪਿ ਲਗਾ ॥੨੬॥
The letter ‘ਬ’ teaches that this entire play is being enacted by the Divine Himself. He has created the whole world with the five elements and is the One playing it out.
What is this play? (Back in the days, in the Punjab region, this game was played: There used to be a cloth like the Red Cross sign, with four sides and two dice. The dice had markings of two, four, and six. The dice were thrown together, and the number that appeared determined how many spaces a piece would move. The piece that reached the center was considered to have reached the goal, while the others kept circling around the four corners.)
In the same way, Guru Nanak Dev Ji says—”whoever connects to the Divine center by chanting the Divine Name (Naam Jap) reaches across and gets liberated, while the others keep wandering through the 8.4 million life forms.”
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- What does it mean for me personally to become a jan—a humble servant of the Divine?
- Where in my life do I still feel the need to show off? What would it mean to live in complete authenticity, free from appearances, serving only the One?
- What spiritual commitments or actions am I putting off for “tomorrow”? Have I been gambling with my own soul’s journey?
-Is my inner state cool and peaceful, or disturbed and restless? How can I become cool and peaceful?