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Maa De Farz Part I
Maa De Farz Part 2
Maa De Farz Part 3
Jul 6, 2018: In this fourth part of Maa De Farz, Bhai Guriqbal Singh Ji continues to expand on the second Farz – when the baby is in mama’s belly! Remember the first farz happens before a woman is even pregnant (for the deets – see part 1 and part 2 above).
In this video, Bhai Guriqbal Singh Ji continues to elaborate on what a mother should do when a new soul has taken residence in her womb. Bhai Jee advises that an expecting mother should avoid watching TV, movies, reading novels, etc. because whatever we consume and whatever we feel (our social diet, if you will) directly affects the baby. These energies and vibrations reach the developing child. Therefore, if we desire to give birth to a Bhagat, Shaheed, or other holy being, then we should preoccupy ourselves with Bhagti. In this Katha, Bhai Guriqbal Singh Ji goes over two more examples of Bibiyan who received instructions (Bachan) from Holy people while pregnant, followed those Bachans, and gave birth to highly spiritual, elevated souls.
Example #1: Mata Damodari Ji’s request
One day, Mata Damodari Ji, one of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji’s wives, requested to Guru Hargobind Sahib Jee that she would like a Bhagti-Vali Rooh in her house. Principal Satbir Singh Ji wrote in Nirbhao Nirvair (can be found online at sikhbookclub.com – just search for the title of the book in the search bar), that Guru Hargobind Sahib Jee replied with four bachans:
1. Amrit Vele, ishnaan karke chaunkra marrna (Get up Amrit Vela, bathe, and sit chaunkri-maar aka “criss-cross applesauce”)
2. Guru Nanak Da Dhiyaan Dharna (Focus on Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Form)
3. Simran di Dhuni vich jurrna (Be Connected via Simran) 4. Din charreh, lorrh vande ann te bastar vande ne – ohna dee aseesa di lorrh (Once the sun comes out, give food and clothing to those who are in need and obtain their blessings)
Bhai Guriqbal Singh Jee goes into more detail about the second Bachan
Baba Nand Singh Ji said that doing Nirgun Bhagti (worshipping or devoting oneself to Formless Waheguru) is like an ant climbing a tower. On the other hand, Sargun Bhagti (worshipping or devoting oneself to Waheguru with Form) is like a bird flying up the tower. In other words, although both are acceptable modes of reaching the tower, it’s much faster to reach the tower by flying (through Sargun Bhagti) than climbing (through Nirgun Bhagti):
ਓਾਪਹਿ ਸੂਖਮ ਓਾਪਹਿ ਓਸਥੂਲਾ ]
aapeh sookham aapeh asathoolaa ||
He Himself is subtle and etheric; He Himself is manifest and obvious.
ਲਖੀ ਨ ਜਾਈ ਨਾਨਕ ਲੀਲਾ ]1]
lakhee na jaiee naanak leelaa ||1||
O Nanak, His wondrous play cannot be understood. ||1||
(Raag Gauree, Mehla 5, Ang 250)
Therefore, if the energy from watching TV or movies or reading books will affect the developing baby, then so will the energy from focusing on Guru Nanak Dev Jee’s form (Saroop):
ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਮਨ ਮਹਿ ਧਿਓਾਨੁ ]
gur kee moorat man meh dhiaan ||
Meditate on the image of the Guru within your mind;
ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਮੰਤ੍ਰੁ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨ ]
gur kai sabadh ma(n)tr man maan ||
let your mind accept the Word of the Guru’s Shabad, and His Mantra.
(Raag Gond, Mehla 5, Ang 864)
Moreover, in Baani as well as in Sikh history, we have been instructed to concentrate on Guru’s Form (Saroop), Guru’s Image (Moorat). Bhai Guriqbal Singh Jee gives two more examples from Bani:
ਬਿਨ ਦਰਸਨੁ ਗੁਰੁ ਮੂਰਤੋ ਭ੍ਰਮਤਿ ਫਿਰੇ ਲਖ ਜੂਨ ਚਉਰਾਸੀ[
bin dharasan gur moorato bhramat fire lakh joon chauraasee|
Without the glimpse of the manifest Guru, he wanders in the cycle of 8.4 million of species of life.
(Vaaran Bhai Gurdas Ji, Panna 40)
And,
ਤੇਰੇ ਬੰਕੇ ਲੋਇਣ ਦੰਤ ਰੀਸਾਲਾ ]
tere ba(n)ke loin dha(n)t reesaalaa ||
Your eyes are so beautiful, and Your teeth are delightful.
ਸੋਹਣੇ ਨਕ ਜਿਨ ਲੰਮੜੇ ਵਾਲਾ ]
sohane nak jin la(n)maRe vaalaa ||
Your nose is so graceful, and Your hair is so long.
ਕੰਚਨ ਕਾਇਓਾ ਸੁਇਨੇ ਕੀ ਢਾਲਾ ]
ka(n)chan kaiaa suine kee ddaalaa ||
Your body is so precious, cast in gold.
(Raag Vadhans, Mehla 1, Ang 566)
By following the four bachans of Guru Hargobind Sahib Jee while she was pregnant, Mata Damodari gave birth to a Mahapursh, Baba Gurditta Ji (!), Guru Sahib Ji’s eldest child.
Example #2: Devruti’s plea
Kapal Muni was in his mother’s womb – only in the first trimester of her pregnancy – when a bunch of Rikhis (Holy men) came to his parent’s house. Kapal Muni’s father was also a Rikhee. Kapal Muni’s mom, Devruti, served all the Rikhis food and water with great reverence. Afterwards, she stood in front of all the Rikhis, with her hands joined together (like we do for ardaas). She said, “Oh respected Rikhis, I have a request for you all. The five vices (kaam, krodh, lobh, moh, and ahankaar) don’t give my soul any peace or rest. Through my senses, they (the five poisons) come into my heart, and torture my soul.”
Bhai Guriqbal Singh Ji points out that it’s noteworthy that Devruti did NOT say, “Please, make this child a boy or I want a son.” Instead, she spoke on the spiritual level – on the level of the soul.
Bhai Guriqbal Singh Jee, in his humility, also said that he is also tortured by the five vices. When he feels like he loses it, he goes in front of Guru Granth Sahib Jee and starts to cry. He says, “Hey Maharaj! I’m trying to focus my mind on you. Please, I need your help – please put this (whatever is in my mind) aside and you come forward!” He gave the following example: If we feel like we’re bothered by someone (for whatever reason), then even when we’re doing paath, that person’s face comes into our consciousness over and over again. We mull over that person, what they’ve done to us, and ruminate in anger (or lust or attachment) – all while we’re trying to complete our Nitnem or paath. Bhai Jee recommends that at such a time, where we’re having trouble focusing on paath because that person (or persons) keep on cycling through our minds, we should fall in front of Satigur Ji and cry for help. Bhai Guriqbal Singh Ji does it. So did Devruti…
Devruti pleaded, “I have been caught in the net of Ego. Day and night, my life is suffering – I’m being tortured. Today, you’ve come to our home. Please, fill me with blessings.”
The Rikhis answered, “Oh Bibi! A child is in your womb. For the blessings you’re asking for, you need to do some work.”
Devruti was advised to do:
1. Three hours of Satsang 2. Three hours of Simran, alone, stopping all wandering thoughts – with total focus 3. Seva of Holy beings (Sadhu-Santa), without jealousy 4. Seva of all birds and animals that enter or stay in your Ashram (abode)
“If you do these things, we give you our word that such a soul will come that is itself free (mukht) and will set you free as well.”
Bhai Guriqbal Singh Jee goes on to reveal that the name of that great rooh, Kapal Muni, comes in Guru Granth Sahib Ji in Bhatta Ke Swayie, as someone who sings of the glories of Guru Nanak Dev Ji:
ਗਾਵਹਿ ਕਪਿਲਾਦਿ ਓਾਦਿ ਜੋਗੇਸੁਰ ਓਪਰੰਪਰ ਓਵਤਾਰ ਵਰੋ ]
gaaveh kapilaadh aadh jogesur apara(n)par avataar varo ||
Kapila (Kapal Muni) and the other Yogis sing of Guru Nanak. He is the Avataar, the Incarnation of the Infinite Lord.
(Bhatta Ke Svaiyay – Bhatt Kal, Ang 1389)
In fact, Guru Nanak Dev Ji actually visited Kapal Muni’s birthplace, by the Saraswati riverbank, and spent 15 days(!) there. The Rishis that lived there told Guru Nanak Dev Ji that they had been waiting for Him (Guru Nanak Dev Ji).
Rishis: “Our Kapal Muni Jee told us that in Kaljug, God will come Himself, in the form of Guru Nanak Dev Ji . He Himself will come to this place. In the Bhavikath Puran (a Hindu Holy-text that prophesied the future), it’s stated that God Himself will come in the form of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. We’ve been waiting for many seasons (Varriyah).”
Basically…
This is amazing! Because of what Devruti did while she was pregnant, she gave birth to someone SO great that His name is taken amongst other Bhagats in Baani, as someone who sings of the Greatness of Guru Nanak Dev Ji! Furthermore, Guru Nanak Dev Ji went to personally visit Kapal Muni’s birth place – the birthplace of His Piyaara Bhagat! Kapal Muni’s mom, Devruti, took the Rikhis’ Bachan so seriously that she fits this pangti in Baani, perfectly:
ਤਿਨ ਧੰਨੁ ਜਣੇਦੀ ਮਾਉ ਓਾਏ ਸਫਲੁ ਸੇ ]2]
tin dha(n)n janedhee maau aae safal se ||2||
Blessed are the mothers who gave birth to them, and fruitful is their coming into the world. ||2||
(Raag Aasaa, Bhagat Sheikh Fareed Ji, Ang 488)
And so did Mata Damodari Ji. They both took the second farz. of a mother, to Connect to the Supreme while the baby is developing in the womb, to heart… and what was the outcome? Blessed souls, Bhagats, who were completely devoted to Guru Jee.
The Message is Clear
What we do while pregnant MATTERS. A LOT. If we take the time to focus on Guru Jee and Sikhi while pregnant, those positive, high-energy vibrations will positively affect the developing child and can help bring more Bhagats into this world! One of the most important take-aways in both of these examples is that both mothers WANTED Bhagat-Rooha (devotees of God/Guru) as kids. They desired it so deeply that when they were given sound advice, they took it onboard and followed it to a T.
Let us follow in the footsteps of these great mothers, and 1) if we have the desire for children, let us desire children will follow a Gursikhi Jeevan; and 2) when examining history and sakhis, including Guru’s Bachan and Mahapurkh’s Bachan, let us have the eagerness and the willingness to do whatever we can to follow Bachan. Of course, this all happens with Guru’s Kirpa. At the same time, it’s also important to acknowledge that one huge part of Kirpa is putting in a request for said Kirpa (i.e. an ardaas) and another huge part is to put in our earnest effort to follow through with what education or instruction we’ve been given.
As mothers and mothers-to-be, this is just one (MASSIVE) way we can do our part in making the world a better place. Fortunately, it starts at home… in the first home our child will know in this world – our wombs!
Resources
One link to Bhai Guriqbal Singh Ji’s Maa De Farz part #4
Another link to Bhai Guriqbal Singh Ji’s Maa De Farz part #4
