Gurbani : On Mahurat - Omens
You (Hindus) believe in omens, auspicious moments and good and bad days. Thereby you expect benevolent or disagreeable results but such moments are not accepted in Sikh religion1.
ਸੋਈ ਸਾਸਤ ਸਉਣ ਸੋਇ ਜਿਤ ਜਪੀਝ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਉ ॥
That is the essence of the scriptures, and that is a good omen, by which one comes to chant the Name of the Lord. (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 48)
ਸਗਨ ਅਪਸਗਨ ਤਿਸ ਕਉ ਲਗਹਿ ਜਿਸ ਚੀਤਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ ॥
Good omens and bad omens affect those who do not keep the Lord in the mind. (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 400)
ਪਰਭੂ ਹਮਾਰੈ ਸਾਸਤਰ ਸਉਣ ॥ ਸੂਖ ਸਹਜ ਆਨੰਦ ਗਰਿਹ ਭਉਣ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
God is my Shaastra and my favorable omen. In His Home and Mansion, I find peace, poise and bliss. ||1||Pause|| (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 1137)
ਨਾਮ ਹਮਾਰੈ ਸਉਣ ਸੰਜੋਗ ॥ ਨਾਮ ਹਮਾਰੈ ਤਰਿਪਤਿ ਸਭੋਗ ॥
The Naam is my auspicious omen and good fortune. The Naam is the sublime food which satisfies me. (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 1145)
ਛਨਿਛਰਵਾਰਿ ਸਉਣ ਸਾਸਤ ਬੀਚਾਰ ॥ ਹਉਮੈ ਮੇਰਾ ਭਰਮੈ ਸੰਸਾਰ ॥
ਮਨਮਖ ਅੰਧਾ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ॥ ਜਮ ਦਰਿ ਬਾਧਾ ਚੋਟਾ ਖਾਇ ॥
ਗਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਸਦਾ ਸਖ ਪਾਝ ॥ ਸਚ ਕਰਣੀ ਸਾਚਿ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਝ ॥8॥
Saturday: Contemplating good omens and the Shaastras, in egotism and self-conceit, the world wanders in delusion. The blind, self-willed manmukh in engrossed in the love of duality. Bound and gagged at death's door, he is beaten and punished. By Guru's Grace, one finds lasting peace. He practices Truth, and lovingly focuses on the Truth. ||8|| (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 841)
ਥਿਤੀ ਵਾਰ ਸਭਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਸਹਾਝ ॥ ਸਤਿਗਰ ਸੇਵੇ ਤਾ ਫਲ ਪਾਝ ॥
ਥਿਤੀ ਵਾਰ ਸਭਿ ਆਵਹਿ ਜਾਹਿ ॥ ਗਰ ਸਬਦ ਨਿਹਚਲ ਸਦਾ ਸਚਿ ਸਮਾਹਿ ॥
ਥਿਤੀ ਵਾਰ ਤਾ ਜਾ ਸਚਿ ਰਾਤੇ ॥ ਬਿਨ ਨਾਵੈ ਸਭਿ ਭਰਮਹਿ ਕਾਚੇ ॥7॥
ਮਨਮਖ ਮਰਹਿ ਮਰਿ ਬਿਗਤੀ ਜਾਹਿ ॥ ਝਕ ਨ ਚੇਤਹਿ ਦੂਜੈ ਲੋਭਾਹਿ ॥
ਅਚੇਤ ਪਿੰਡੀ ਅਗਿਆਨ ਅੰਧਾਰ ॥ਬਿਨ ਸਬਦੈ ਕਿਉ ਪਾਝ ਪਾਰ ॥
ਆਪਿ ਉਪਾਝ ਉਪਾਵਣਹਾਰ ॥ ਆਪੇ ਕੀਤੋਨ ਗਰ ਵੀਚਾਰ ॥8॥
ਬਹਤੇ ਭੇਖ ਕਰਹਿ ਭੇਖਧਾਰੀ ॥ ਭਵਿ ਭਵਿ ਭਰਮਹਿ ਕਾਚੀ ਸਾਰੀ ॥
ਝਥੈ ਸਖ ਨ ਆਗੈ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਮਨਮਖ ਮਝ ਅਪਣਾ ਜਨਮ ਖੋਇ ॥
ਸਤਿਗਰ ਸੇਵੇ ਭਰਮ ਚਕਾਝ ॥ ਘਰ ਹੀ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਸਚ ਮਹਲ ਪਾਝ ॥9॥
ਆਪੇ ਪੂਰਾ ਕਰੇ ਸ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਝਹਿ ਥਿਤੀ ਵਾਰ ਦੂਜਾ ਦੋਇ ॥
ਸਤਿਗਰ ਬਾਝਹ ਅੰਧ ਗਬਾਰ ॥ ਥਿਤੀ ਵਾਰ ਸੇਵਹਿ ਮਗਧ ਗਵਾਰ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਗਰਮਖਿ ਬੂਝੈ ਸੋਝੀ ਪਾਇ ॥ ਇਕਤ ਨਾਮਿ ਸਦਾ ਰਹਿਆ ਸਮਾਇ ॥10॥2॥
All the lunar days, and the days of the week are beautiful, when one contemplates the Shabad. If one serves the True Guru, he obtains the fruits of his rewards. The omens and days all come and go. But the Word of the Guru's Shabad is eternal and unchanging. Through it, one merges in the True Lord. The days are auspicious, when one is imbued with Truth. Without the Name, all the false ones wander deluded. ||7|| The self-willed manmukhs die, and dead, they fall into the most evil state2. They do not remember the One Lord; they are deluded by duality. The human body is unconscious, ignorant and blind. Without the Word of the Shabad, how can anyone cross over? The Creator Himself creates. He Himself contemplates the Guru's Word. ||8|| The religious fanatics wear all sorts of religious robes. They roll around and wander around, like the false dice on the board. They find no peace, here or hereafter. The self-willed manmukhs waste away their lives, and die. Serving the True Guru, doubt is driven away. Deep within the home of the heart, one finds the Mansion of the True Lord's Presence. ||9|| Whatever the Perfect Lord does, that alone happens. Concern with these omens and days leads only to duality. Without the True Guru, there is only pitch darkness. Only idiots and fools worry about these omens and days. O Nanak, the Gurmukh obtains understanding and realization; he remains forever merged in the Name of the One Lord3. ||10||2|| (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 842)
ਸਉਣ ਸਗਨ ਬੀਚਾਰਣੇ ਨਉਂ ਗਰਹ ਬਾਰਹ ਰਾਸਿ ਵੀਚਾਰਾ ॥ ਕਾਮਣ ਟੂਣੇ ਅਉਸੀਆਂ ਕਣ ਸੋਹੀ ਪਾਸਾਰ ਪਾਸਾਰਾ ॥
ਗਦੋਂ ਕੱਤੇ ਬਿਲੀਆਂ ਇਲ ਮਲਾਲੀ ਗਿਦੜ ਛਾਰਾ ॥ ਨਾਰਿ ਪਰਖ ਪਾਣੀ ਅਗਨਿ ਛਿਕ ਪਦ ਹਿਡਕੀ ਵਰਤਾਰਾ ॥
ਥਿਤ ਵਾਰ ਭਦਰਾਂ ਭਰਮ ਦਿਸ਼ਾਸ਼ੂਲ ਸਹਿਸਾ ਸੰਸਾਰਾ ॥ ਵਲ ਛਲ ਕਰ ਵਿਸਵਾਸ ਲਖ ਬਹ ਚਖੀਂ ਕਿਉਂ ਰਵੈ ਪਤਾਰਾ ॥
ਗਰਮਖ ਸਖ ਫਲ ਪਾਰ ਉਤਾਰਾ ॥8॥
The life led in the light of omens, the nine planets, the twelve signs of the zodiac; Incantations, magic divination by lines and by the voice is all futile. Cries of donkeys, dogs, cats, kites, blackbirds and jackals cannot control our lives. It is superstitious to draw good or bad omens from meeting a widow, a bare headed man, water, fire, sneezing, breaking wind, hiccups;. Lunar and week days, lucky-unlucky moments and going or not going in a particular direction If a women behaves like a prostitute and does every thing to please everybody, how can she be loved by her husband. The gurmukhs who reject all superstitions enjoy happiness with their Lord and get across the world-ocean. (Bhai Gurdas Ji, Vaar 5)
ਸਜਾ ਖਬਾ ਸਉਣ ਨ ਮੰਨਿ ਵਸਾਇਆ ॥ ਨਾਰਿ ਪਰਖ ਨੋ ਵੇਖਿ ਨ ਪੈਰ ਹਟਾਇਆ॥
ਭਾਖ ਸਭਾਖ ਵੀਚਾਰਿ ਨ ਛਿਕ ਮਨਾਇਆ ॥ ਦੇਵੀ ਦੇਵ ਨ ਸੇਵਿ ਨ ਪੂਜ ਕਰਾਇਆ॥
ਭੰਭਲ ਭੂਸੇ ਖਾਇ ਨ ਮਨ ਭਰਮਾਇਆ ॥ ਗਰਸਿਖ ਸਚਾ ਖੇਤ ਬੀਜ ਫਲਾਇਆ ॥8॥
The Gurmukhs never take to their heart the omen on the right or the left. They do not retrace their steps while seeing a man or woman. They do not pay attention to the crises of animals or sneezing. Goddess and gods are neither served nor worshipped by them. By not entangling in deceits, they do not allow their minds to wander. The Gursikhs have sowed the seed of truth in the field of life and have made it fruitful. (Bhai Gurdas Ji, Vaar 20)
ਸਿਖ ਅਨੰਨਯ ਪੰਡਿਤ! ਦਿਖ ਝਸੇ । ਗਰਹਿ ਤਿਥਿ ਵਾਰ ਨ ਮਾਨਹਿ ਕੈਸੇ ॥138॥
ਝਕ ਭਰੋਸਾ ਪਰਭ ਕਾ ਪਾਝ । ਤਯਾਗ ਲਗਨ ਅਰਦਾਸ ਕਰਾਝ ।...॥180॥
O Pundit, Sikhs do not know of anyone except one Lord. They do not accept curses, omens and auspicious days. They have faith in the One Lord. They give up omens and say Ardas. (Gur Bilas Pt. 6)
Bhai Nand Lal writes in Tausifosna that Guru Nanak Dev Ji was against ignorance and superstition.
ਜਿੱਦਲ ਗਰੀਕਨਲ ਬਹਾਰਿਲ ਰਸੂਮਾਤ ਵਲ ਆਦਾਤ ।
ਮਅੱਫਿਖਲ ਬਿਨਾਵਰੂਨਲ ਸ਼ਿਨਾਵਰੂਨਲ ਸ਼ਿਵਾਤਿਲ ਖਯੂਲ ਵਲ ਵਾਹਿਮਾਤ ।
People who are engrossed in doubt and are drowning in the sea of customs, Guru is against them and those who give up the superstitions Guru is with them. (Bhai Nand Lal Ji)
Notes
1) Treaties on Jotish (Astrology and palm reading) are full of such superstitions. If someone tries to live according to these, one cannot pass a single day in peace. History tells us that there were battles which were decisive for the Moslems and the Hindus. Moslems won those battles because Hindus were constrained by their belief in omens. The believers in omens lost their chance.
2) Guru Ji says, it is ignorance to believe that one gets emancipation if one dies on a certain lunar day. In fact one dies in dishonor, if one turns his back on Waheguru.
3) Some have really gone very far. Guru Amar Das Ji condemned omens, but these people have even composed a booklet (Sayings of Amar Das) and have tried their best to entrap the Sikh. Those Sikhs who believe on this ghost written booklet, in spite of the hymn of the Guru condemning the omens, are not very sensitive and foreseeing.
