Teachers open the door, but ‘you must enter b’y ‘yourself.

Chinese proverb

Music and Mantras

Dhan Dhan Ram Das Gur

Dhan Dhan Raam Daas Gur, jin siria tineh savaariaa

Poore hoee karamaat, aap siranjana-haareah dhaariaa Sikhee ateh sangatee, paarabrahm

kar namaskaariaa Ata ataao atol too,

tayraa ant na paaravaariaa Jinee too sayviaa bhao kar, say tudh paar utaaria

Labh lobh kaam krodh moho, maar kadhe tudh saparavaariaa

Dhan so tayraa taan heh, sach tayraa pehsakaariaa

Nanak too lehenaa too heh, Gur Amar too veecharria

Guru ditta taa man saadhaariaa

Blessed, blessed is Guru Ram Das.

The Lord who created Thee, He alone has adorned Thee. Complete is Thy miracle.

The Creator Himself has installed Thee on the throne.

Deeming Thee as the Transcendent Lord,

Thine followers and congregations bow before Thee.

Thou art immovable, unfathomable, and immeasurable.

Thou hast no end or bounds.

They who serve Thee with love, Them Thou ferriest across.

Avarice, covetousness, sexual desire,

wrath and worldly love,

Thou hast beaten and driven out with all their ramifications. Praiseworthy is Thy place,

True are Thine bounties. Thou art Nanak, Thou art Angad, Thou art Guru Amar Das,

so do I deem Thee. When I saw the Guru,

then was my soul sustained.

Chattar Chakkar Vartee

Jaap Sahib:The Last Four Lines

Chattar chakkar vartee,

chattar chakkar bhugatay Suyumbhav subhang,

sarab daa sarab jugatay Dukaalang pranaasee,

dayaalang saroopay Sadaa Ang Sangay,

abhangang bibhootay.

Thou art pervading in all the four quarters of the universe,

Thou are the enjoyer in all the four quarters of the universe.

Thou art self-illumined and united with all. Destroyer of bad times

embodiment of mercy. Thou art ever within us.

Thou art the everlasting giver of undestroyable power.

Ardas Bhaee,

Amar Das Guru Amar Das Guru,

Ardas Bhaee Ram Das Guru,

Ram Das Guru Ram Das Guru,

Sachee Sahee

The prayer has been made to Guru Amar Das.

Guru Ram Das is the true guarantee the prayer has been.

Aad sach, jugaad sach, haibhay sach, Nanak hosee bhay sach

True in the beginning, true throughout the ages, Nanak the Infinite shall ever be true.

Har, Haray, Haree, Wahe Guru

The One, the Projected One,

the Merged One, the Ecstacy of God.

Sat Nam

Truth is the identity of God

Sa Ta Na Ma

Infinity, birth, death, re-birth.

Mukande

God as Liberator

Hum Dham, Har Har

We are the Universe brought to the earth,

We are exalted to. God

On the pronunciation of the mantra “Har”

The “a” in the mantra “Har” is pronounced like the “u” in “hug”. The “r” is produced in a special way with just the tip of the tongue touching the roof of the mouth, behind the front teeth, to make the “r” sound.

The mantra is chanted by pulling the navel in strongly and, as the air is forced from the lungs, the sound “Har” flows out with the breath, ending as the tip of the tongue touches the roof of the mouth.