Baajh Guru Dubaa Jag Saara

[Freed]

ਬਾਝ ਗੁਰੂ ਡੁਬਾ ਜਗੁ ਸਾਰਾ

Baajh Guru dubaa jag saara (Bhai Gurdas vaar 1 pauri 29)

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh !!

May Guru Sahib shower blessings on all on this Special Day - The Prakaash Purb of Jagat Guru, Sahib Sri Guru Nanak Sahib

To mark this day here are some images of Guru Nanak from the 18th and 19th century.

This first watercolour is a Pahari painting perhaps from the workshop of Mankot , dating from the second quarter of the 18th Century.

It depicts as inscribed on the back "Sri Nanak ji" - the depiction is markedly different from that which is usually seen. Guru Nanak is shown as an aged slight figure sat in meditation.

The most striking aspects are the 'Pothi' inscribed with what appears to be 'Satgur prasad' , the mala worn around the neck and on the wrist together with 2 bracelets and a ring in the left ear. Goswami states the ring is a reminder in the Indian tradition of The Master.

*Collection - Government Museum and Art Gallery - Chandigarh

This tinted brush drawing is also Pahari from the workshop of Nainsukh of Guler and dates from the last quarter of the 18th century.

It depicts Guru Nanak seated with saintly men and devotees perhaps performing keertan.

To my mind the drawing stresses the importance of Gurbani and Sadh Sangat. At its centre the drawing has a large 'Pothi' - with a 'morchhal' - a fan of peacock feathers and devotees bowing. The pothi is opened and you can read the glorious salok from Sri Sukhmani Sahib.

* From FareedKot Vala Teeka vol 1 page 641 (Sri Guru Granth Sahib - Raag Gauri Sukhmani - Guru Arjan Dev Ji

ang 293)

(Translation - Nikki-Guninder Kaur Singh 1995)

They to whom the Guru gives the eyeliner of wisdom, their dark ignorance disappears.

Through grace, we meet the faithful, says Nanak, our mind is enlightened.

Bhai Mardana is depicted with rabab and a younger devotee with cymbals, another aspect to note is the 'Kharavan' or wooden sandals placed on a plinth.

*Collection - Government Museum and Art Gallery - Chandigarh

This watercolour from the last quarter of the 18th century depicts as inscribed in persian characters, in a gold cartouche, above the painting "tasvir-i dervissh nanakshahi"

a picture of a Nanakshahi dervish.

This could be a painting of a devotee of Guru Nanak or it could be, as argued by Goswami, a likeness of Guru Nanak.

The aspects of the depiction that stand out are the seating postion , it is not crossed legged but with one knee raised and the other bent, and the red book in hand , not 'landscape' size pothi but an upright volume.

* Kapany Collection

In this last watercolour from the end of the 19th century, we have a more familiar depiction of Guru Nanak seated with Mardana. The painting shows the famous sakhi of when Guru Nanak stopped the boulder, rolled at him by Wali Kandhari ,with his open 'Panja'

The painting shows Wali Kandhari atop the hill with a devotee or perhaps Bhai Bala (??) and Bhai Mardana with rabab and Guru Nanak with outstretched palm or 'Panja'

*Collection - Government Museum and Art Gallery - Chandigarh

** All Pictures from ' I See No Stranger - Early Sikh Art and Devotion ' B N Goswamy , Caron Smith - Rubin Museum of Art, 2006

Hope you enjoyed the pictures - Once again Lakh Lakh Vadaai to all on this special day.

* Bhai Gurdas 'Gur Avataar' Vaar 1 Pauri 23

*from Varan Bhai Gurdas - Dr Jodh Singh - 1998 - pg 53

Gurfateh !

Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

[Gurbar Akaal]

Fantastic pictures! Thanks