He realized that in west’s eyes there are two traditional schools of arts in India – Hindu Architecture and Muslim Architecture. In his eyes those distinct styles belonged only to places of worships, but its extent did not apply to non-worship places as palaces, hospitals, forts, and residential places. Thus, his designs reflected fusion of these two schools, along with the western approach, while using the locally available building materials.
Basically, Guru Ji has made a bold declaration that everyone is asleep. Guru Ji has also defined what does he mean by asleep. Guru Ji is implying we have been lulled to sleep by our senses.. Guru Ji likens the life after birth to being asleep because what we see in dreams is not real, as it vanishes when we are awakened. Guru Ji feels the same with the material world experienced in human life as perishable and which cannot be taken with us after death.
Then the life becomes principled, ego is checked; watched over which will initiate its dissolution. Guru Ji says those who implement Guru’s teachings in their lives will look beautiful in the court of God. They let go of their own self or ego and bring God in their hearts.
As we saw remembrance is not self-driven but requires deliberate efforts. The human mind has on an average processes 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts a day. So, imagine how easy it is to get swayed by
these spontaneous thoughts. Therefore, having a thought not to forget is a very significant development that is a result of efforts and blessings.
The very purpose of introducing this shabad above by Kabir Ji is to share an eyewitness account of an enlightened person. As we have not personally experienced it, relating to it is difficult.
Guru Ji is sharing with us that we humans are packaged with both virtues and imperfections. Virtues are there as the Creator Himself dwells within each of us as the soul. Additionally, imperfections or faults are also present in each of us, as the Creator has imparted those within the human body too.
On the occasion of Parkash Purab of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, let us look at the fruitful and fruitless affairs as per Guru Ji’s own shabad. The Rahaao lines of the shabad convey its essential message, while the other lines are supporting statements plus clarifications to the central idea being conveyed in the Rahaao lines.
So, this Diwali time let us explore the metaphor of Deewa to get the insight that Guru Ji is sharing with us. We still have many alive from that generation who had exposure to Deewa in their real lives and can relate to it.
The historical novel book titled ‘The Last Queen’ by the famed author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni makes a fascinating read about the life and struggles of Maharani Jind Kaur known as Jindan, the youngest and the last queen of Sarkar (the Sikh empire).
Guru Ji reminds that the body is made of five elements, which upon death shall merge back into same source from where they originated. Guru Ji shares that the unique aspect of the human body is that God dwells within it, so He asks us to remember Him to cross the fearful worldly ocean.