Waaheguru: The Gurmantra
As discussed in the second part of this article, the Guru's business is two fold: (1) to impart Self-knowledge (Aatma-Gian) to remove the seeker's veil of ignorance of the Self, and (2) to give the seeker Gurmantra (the Word of Shabad or Divine Name) whose unbroken chanting or meditation brings about mental-control called inner Purity. Both of these essentials of Spirituality have been provided to us by Baabaa Nanak — the Gurbani for Self-knowledge, and the "Waaheguru" (or Vaaheguru) as the Gurmantra.
God has countless Names. Some of these Names scattered throughout the Gurbani include Waahu Waahu, Waahe Jee-o, Guru Guru, Gur Gur, Har Har, Siva Siva, Gobind Gobind, Raam Raam, Nirankaar, Saahib, Gopaal, Allah, Parmaatamaa, Bhagwaan, Satnaam, Naaraain, and so on.
• Bani mantar mahaa purkhan kee manahi utaaran maan kayu: The Bani, the Word of the Supreme Being, is the Mantra to rid the man of his mental ego (sggs 1208).
• Man tan antari Hari Hari Mant. Nanak bhagtan kai ghar sadaa anand: The Mantra of God's Name, Har, Har, is deep Within my mind and body. O Nanak, eternal bliss fills the home of God's devotees (sggs 802).
• Raam Naam Mant hirdai daivai Nanak milan subhaaye: The Mantra of the Raam Naam is enshrined Within the heart, O Nanak, and we merge with Him so easily (sggs 444).
• Guri mantraa Shabad sach deetaa Ram....: The Guru has given the Mantra of the Shabad (Naam), the True Word of God. Meditating on this True Shabad, I sing the songs of joy, and my mind is rid of anxiety. I have found that God, who never leaves; forever and ever, He sits with me (sggs 576).
• Siva siva karat sagal kar jorahi sarab maiaa thaakur teree dohee: Everyone calls upon You with their palms pressed together, chanting Your Name, "Siva Siva". O Merciful Lord, everyone cries out for Your Help (sggs 207).
The Gurbani (1430 pages of SGGS) is given to us so that we can attain true Spiritual Understanding. For the specific purpose of Naam Japa, however, it is said that Baabaa Nanak gave us a very short and sweet, a four-syllable word "Waaheguru" as Gurmantra, which is to be repeated or meditated upon day and night while eating, walking, working, standing, sitting, talking, etc.
• Saasi saasi simarahi Gobind. Mann antar kee utrai chind: With each and every breath, meditate in remembrance on God, and the anxiety within your mind will depart (sggs 295).
• Simrayu dini rain saas giraasaa: Day and night, remember God with every breath and morsel (sggs 177).
Where does this one Word of Shabad come from? Although scattered throughout the SGGS in various names as discussed above, the full form of this Mantra, "Waaheguru", was revealed by the realized Bhattas in their Bani incorporated near the end of the SGGS. It was also mentioned in the writings of Bhai Gurdaas, the scriber of the SGGS.
• Sat saach nivaas sri nivaas aad purakh sadda tuhee waheguru waheguru waheguru wahi jee-o: You are forever True, the Home of Excellence, the Primal Supreme Being. Waaheguru, Waaheguru, Waaheguru, Waahe Jee-o (sggs 1402).
• Waheguru Gurmantar hai jap hayumai khoyee: Waaheguru is the Gurmantar; by meditating on it, one loses his false ego (Bhai Gurdaas, Vaar 13, Payuree 2).
• Keeyaa khel bad melu tamaasaa Waaheguru teree sabh rachnaa: You have formed and created this World-Play, this great game. O Waaheguru, this is all You, forever (sggs 1403).
Knowing the meaning of the Mantra is very helpful when one is concentrating on it. Then he will know when he reaches the goal which the Mantra is supposed to produce Within him. The word Waaheguru simply means "the Wonderful Lord" — Waahe means wonderful and Guru means the Lord. As the meaning implies, the Mantra is essentially meant for praising God through chanting, Kirtan, Naam Simran, Bhagti or meditation.
• Poorai Satgur Shabad sunaayaa. Trai gun mete chauthe chit laayaa: The Perfect Satguru has revealed the Shabad; it eradicates the three qualitied Maya, and attunes the consciousness to the fourth state, Chauthaa Pad (sggs 231).
• Bhaj mann mere eko naam. Jeeya tere kai aavai kaam. Raini dinas gun gaayu ananta. Gur poore kaa nirmal mantaa: Meditate, O my mind, on the One Name. It alone will be of use to your soul. Night and day, sing the Glorious Praises of the Infinite God, through the Pure Mantra of the Perfect Guru (sggs 193).
For a deeper understanding of the word Waaheguru, we can also look at its four syllables individually. These four syllables are "Waawaa", "Haahaa", "Gaggaa", and "Raaraa". As revealed on the page 435 of the SGGS, these four syllables represent the Names of the same One Absolute Being. For example, Waawaa represents Waasudev, Haahaa represents Hari, Gaggaa represents Gobind, and Raaraa represents Raam. Also, all these different names of the same One Timeless Reality have repeatedly been used throughout the Gurbani; which suggests that this Mantra is not only condensed into a short and sweet form, but also very potent!
• Wawai waaree aaee moorhe Waasudeyu tudh veesariaa. Ih welaa na lahasi moorhe phiri toon jamm kai was paiaa: Wawaa: Your turn has come, you fool, but you have forgotten God (Waasudev). This opportunity will not come again, you fool; you will fall under the power of death's messenger (sggs 435).
• Haahai Hari kathaa boojh toon moorhe taa sadaa sukh hoee. Manmukhi parhe tetaa dukh laagai bin satigur muktee na hoee: Hahaa: Understand the Sermon of God (Hari), you fool; only then you will attain eternal peace. The more the Manmukhs (material beings) read, the more pain they suffer. Without the True Guru, liberation is not obtained (sggs 435).
• Gaggai Gobind chiti kari moorhe gallee kinai na paayaa. Gur ke charan hirdai vasaae moorhe pishlai gunah sabh baksh laiaa: Gaggaa: Keep God (Gobind) in your mind, you fool; by mere words, no one has ever attained Him. Enshrine the Guru's feet within your heart, you fool, and all your past sins will be forgiven (sggs 435).
• Raarai Raam chit kari moorhe hirdai jin kai ravi rahiaa. Gir parsaadee jinee Raam pashaataa Nirgun Raam tinee boojh laiaa: Raaraa: Center your consciousness on God (Raam), you fool; abide with those whose hearts are filled with Him. By Guru's Grace, those who recognize Him, understand the Absolute Being (sggs 435).
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As discussed in the second part of this article, the Guru's business is two fold: (1) to impart Self-knowledge (Aatma-Gian) to remove the seeker's veil of ignorance of the Self, and (2) to give the seeker Gurmantra (the Word of Shabad or Divine Name) whose unbroken chanting or meditation brings about mental-control called inner Purity. Both of these essentials of Spirituality have been provided to us by Baabaa Nanak — the Gurbani for Self-knowledge, and the "Waaheguru" (or Vaaheguru) as the Gurmantra.
God has countless Names. Some of these Names scattered throughout the Gurbani include Waahu Waahu, Waahe Jee-o, Guru Guru, Gur Gur, Har Har, Siva Siva, Gobind Gobind, Raam Raam, Nirankaar, Saahib, Gopaal, Allah, Parmaatamaa, Bhagwaan, Satnaam, Naaraain, and so on.
• Bani mantar mahaa purkhan kee manahi utaaran maan kayu: The Bani, the Word of the Supreme Being, is the Mantra to rid the man of his mental ego (sggs 1208).
• Man tan antari Hari Hari Mant. Nanak bhagtan kai ghar sadaa anand: The Mantra of God's Name, Har, Har, is deep Within my mind and body. O Nanak, eternal bliss fills the home of God's devotees (sggs 802).
• Raam Naam Mant hirdai daivai Nanak milan subhaaye: The Mantra of the Raam Naam is enshrined Within the heart, O Nanak, and we merge with Him so easily (sggs 444).
• Guri mantraa Shabad sach deetaa Ram....: The Guru has given the Mantra of the Shabad (Naam), the True Word of God. Meditating on this True Shabad, I sing the songs of joy, and my mind is rid of anxiety. I have found that God, who never leaves; forever and ever, He sits with me (sggs 576).
• Siva siva karat sagal kar jorahi sarab maiaa thaakur teree dohee: Everyone calls upon You with their palms pressed together, chanting Your Name, "Siva Siva". O Merciful Lord, everyone cries out for Your Help (sggs 207).
The Gurbani (1430 pages of SGGS) is given to us so that we can attain true Spiritual Understanding. For the specific purpose of Naam Japa, however, it is said that Baabaa Nanak gave us a very short and sweet, a four-syllable word "Waaheguru" as Gurmantra, which is to be repeated or meditated upon day and night while eating, walking, working, standing, sitting, talking, etc.
• Saasi saasi simarahi Gobind. Mann antar kee utrai chind: With each and every breath, meditate in remembrance on God, and the anxiety within your mind will depart (sggs 295).
• Simrayu dini rain saas giraasaa: Day and night, remember God with every breath and morsel (sggs 177).
Where does this one Word of Shabad come from? Although scattered throughout the SGGS in various names as discussed above, the full form of this Mantra, "Waaheguru", was revealed by the realized Bhattas in their Bani incorporated near the end of the SGGS. It was also mentioned in the writings of Bhai Gurdaas, the scriber of the SGGS.
• Sat saach nivaas sri nivaas aad purakh sadda tuhee waheguru waheguru waheguru wahi jee-o: You are forever True, the Home of Excellence, the Primal Supreme Being. Waaheguru, Waaheguru, Waaheguru, Waahe Jee-o (sggs 1402).
• Waheguru Gurmantar hai jap hayumai khoyee: Waaheguru is the Gurmantar; by meditating on it, one loses his false ego (Bhai Gurdaas, Vaar 13, Payuree 2).
• Keeyaa khel bad melu tamaasaa Waaheguru teree sabh rachnaa: You have formed and created this World-Play, this great game. O Waaheguru, this is all You, forever (sggs 1403).
Knowing the meaning of the Mantra is very helpful when one is concentrating on it. Then he will know when he reaches the goal which the Mantra is supposed to produce Within him. The word Waaheguru simply means "the Wonderful Lord" — Waahe means wonderful and Guru means the Lord. As the meaning implies, the Mantra is essentially meant for praising God through chanting, Kirtan, Naam Simran, Bhagti or meditation.
• Poorai Satgur Shabad sunaayaa. Trai gun mete chauthe chit laayaa: The Perfect Satguru has revealed the Shabad; it eradicates the three qualitied Maya, and attunes the consciousness to the fourth state, Chauthaa Pad (sggs 231).
• Bhaj mann mere eko naam. Jeeya tere kai aavai kaam. Raini dinas gun gaayu ananta. Gur poore kaa nirmal mantaa: Meditate, O my mind, on the One Name. It alone will be of use to your soul. Night and day, sing the Glorious Praises of the Infinite God, through the Pure Mantra of the Perfect Guru (sggs 193).
For a deeper understanding of the word Waaheguru, we can also look at its four syllables individually. These four syllables are "Waawaa", "Haahaa", "Gaggaa", and "Raaraa". As revealed on the page 435 of the SGGS, these four syllables represent the Names of the same One Absolute Being. For example, Waawaa represents Waasudev, Haahaa represents Hari, Gaggaa represents Gobind, and Raaraa represents Raam. Also, all these different names of the same One Timeless Reality have repeatedly been used throughout the Gurbani; which suggests that this Mantra is not only condensed into a short and sweet form, but also very potent!
• Wawai waaree aaee moorhe Waasudeyu tudh veesariaa. Ih welaa na lahasi moorhe phiri toon jamm kai was paiaa: Wawaa: Your turn has come, you fool, but you have forgotten God (Waasudev). This opportunity will not come again, you fool; you will fall under the power of death's messenger (sggs 435).
• Haahai Hari kathaa boojh toon moorhe taa sadaa sukh hoee. Manmukhi parhe tetaa dukh laagai bin satigur muktee na hoee: Hahaa: Understand the Sermon of God (Hari), you fool; only then you will attain eternal peace. The more the Manmukhs (material beings) read, the more pain they suffer. Without the True Guru, liberation is not obtained (sggs 435).
• Gaggai Gobind chiti kari moorhe gallee kinai na paayaa. Gur ke charan hirdai vasaae moorhe pishlai gunah sabh baksh laiaa: Gaggaa: Keep God (Gobind) in your mind, you fool; by mere words, no one has ever attained Him. Enshrine the Guru's feet within your heart, you fool, and all your past sins will be forgiven (sggs 435).
• Raarai Raam chit kari moorhe hirdai jin kai ravi rahiaa. Gir parsaadee jinee Raam pashaataa Nirgun Raam tinee boojh laiaa: Raaraa: Center your consciousness on God (Raam), you fool; abide with those whose hearts are filled with Him. By Guru's Grace, those who recognize Him, understand the Absolute Being (sggs 435).
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