Painting of Guru Arjun Dev ji ~ Bhagat Singh

Guru Arjan Dev “The Lord Himself sits on the throne as Guru Arjun. The canopy of Guru’s greatness glows bright and illuminates all directions.” - Rai Balwand and Satta Doom (AGGS, 968) This painting shows Guru Arjun Dev ji peacefully meditating while being tortured. He was made to sit on a hot plate and had hot sand poured over his head and body. Even though Guru Sahib was put through immense pain, he was in profound peace with the moment, with the situation he found himself in.

Bhagat Singh / Sikhi Art What Shri Harimandir Sahib (Golden Temple) might have looked like before it was covered in gold and marble. Its humble origins are of mud and brick, surrounded only by a sacred pool (amritsar), trees and wildlife as it had yet to develop into a large urban community. These swans are the spiritually exalted gursikhs that swim in and drink from that abundant supply of amrit, which comes from the meditation of guru’s name.

Writes Bhagat Bedi, the painter:

These paintings are done in the style of a western, Italian painter Caravaggio. He was a master! A true genius! I was inspired from his work immensely and had been studying him for few years now, along with Rembrandt. He (and Rembrandt) had that ability to capture sad, tragic, meditative and contemplative moments really well. In his paintings there is death, there is depth and there is that no-thing element, the ability to send the viewer into the nirgun reality that very few painters are blessed with.

Even though I have been studying the writings of Guru Arjun Dev ji for years, I was particularly inspired by two shabads:

Sajanra mera sajanra nikat khaloira mera sajanra.
"Friend, my Friend, standing so near to me is my Friend!"

I really like the renditions sung by Bhai Harjinder Singh ji Srinagarwale. One day while I was listening to the shabads and contemplating Guru Sahib's martyrdom, I saw Guru Sahib and the scene of his torture. My eyes teared up and I began crying. I saw a glimpse of Guru Sahib and how he saw his beloved Sajanra right next to him, and everywhere, and how he remained by His side until his departure. It was a very moving moment and I knew I had to paint it.

 

ਹਉ ਨਾ ਛੋਡਉ ਕੰਤ ਪਾਸਰਾ ॥
I shall never leave my Husband Lord's side.

 

ਸਦਾ ਰੰਗੀਲਾ ਲਾਲੁ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਏਹੁ ਮਹਿੰਜਾ ਆਸਰਾ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
My Beloved Lover is always and forever beautiful. He is my hope and inspiration. ||1||Pause||
-- Guru Arjan Dev Ji Raag Soohee Ang 761

ਨੈਣ ਅਲੋਇਆ ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਸੋਇਆ ਅਤਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਪ੍ਰਿਅ ਗੂੜਾ ॥
With my eyes I have seen Him, sleeping upon the bed within each and every heart; my Beloved is the sweetest ambrosial nectar.
-- Guru Arjan Dev Ji Raag Raamkalee Ang 924


So I just meditated on those shabads a lot while working on the painting. It kept me inspired and kept the vision of Guru Arjun Dev ji alive in my heart.

 

Editor's note: This article was originally published on June 11th 2014