Sukhmani Sahib Hari Om

[Dimple Belousson]

Ihave been chanting the Maha Mantra for some time now. But the question that keeps popping up in my mind is that - Why was I born into a Sikhism family ? Does not the fact that I was born into a Sikhism family mean that I should chant Vaheguru instead of the Maha-Mantra ? Otherwise why would have I been born into a Sikhism family ?

For me, accepting Krishna consciousness was not hard, but being its member became a challenge. I was born to Sikh parents, married into a Hindu Punjabi family. My transformation from Randeep Anand to Radhika Krpa Devi Dasi, an initiated Krishna devotee in ISKCON, was the most decisive moment of my life. I was quite apprehensive of taking a right path at that crossroad of life. Inspiration, courage, and determination played a vital role. I had to confront queries, doubts, arguments that were often hit with a view to defy. Not ready to be defeated I stood the trial, as I was amidst two different faiths. I sought a solution which could pacify all. With the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and my spiritual master His Holiness Gopala Krishna Goswami, I immersed myself in the study of Sri Guru Grantha-sahib (the religious scripture of Sikhs) as well as Bhagavad-gita As It Is. I prayed to Sri Sri Radha Syamasundar to let me derive a conclusion that would satisfy all the rivals. They answered my prayers enlightening me to fathom the depth of both the scriptures. I could now clear most of the doubts and suspicions quite authentically quoting from the scriptures.

Translation: God is one and is realized by the grace of the guru. Absolute Truth Om is the creator of Brahma. Brahma stored Om in his heart, in his consciousness. Absolute Truth is the creator of mountains and eras (yugas). From the Absolute Truth came the Vedas, and Omkara is the word that liberates. By following the instructions of the guru and chanting Omkara the living entity achieves liberation. Hear and ponder the meaning of Om; it is the essence of the three worlds. Listen O pandey! Why do you pen down all the worldly deeds; write, by the mercy of the guru, only about the name of Rama and Gopala.

Nabhi kamal te brahma upaje veda padahi mukhi kanthi savari

ta ko antu na jai lakhna avata jat rahai gubari

Pritama kiu bisarahi mere prana adhara

Jaki bhagati karahi jana pure muni jana sevahi gura vicari1

Kanvala naina madhura baina koti saina sanga sobha kahata ma jasoda jisahi dahi bhatu khahi jiu.

Dekhi rupa ati anupu moha maha maga bhai kinakani sabada jhanatakara khelu pahi jiu.

kala kalama hukamu hathi kahahu kaunu meti sakai isu bramhu jnanu dhyanu dharata hiai cahi jiu.

sati sacu srinivasu adi purukhu sada tuhi vahiguru vahiguru vahiguru vahi jiu 16

Translation: You have lotus like eyes, sweet words like honey, and millions of associates who glorify You. You are that Krishna, whom Mother Yasoda lovingly feeds curd and rice. Seeing Your most beautiful face she is captivated by motherly affection, and when You plays Your anklets and waist-belt make a melodious tinkeling sound. The pen that writes the order of death is in Your hand O Lord! Tell, who can escape it? Shiva and Brahma etc., want to bear the knowledge and meditation given by You within their hearts. You are the embodiment of Absolute Truth. Goddess Laxmi is Your maidservant and You are the oldest person (adi purusha), parabrahman. You are vaheguru, vaheguru, vaheguru. I glorify You eternally. 16

Rama nama parama dhama sudha budha nirikara besumara sarabara kao kahi jio

sudhara cita bhagata hita bhekhu dhario hirnakhsu hario nakh bidari jiu

sakha cakra gada padama apai aupu kiso chadama aparamapara parabhrama lakhai kaunu tahi jiu

pita basan kuda dasana pria sahita kantha mala

mukutu sisa mora pankha cahi jiu

bey vazira bade dhira dharma anga alakha

agama khelu kia apnai uchahi jiu

akatha katha kathi na jai tini loka rahia

samai sutaha sidha rupa dhario sahana kai sahi jiu

The followers of Sikh tradition chant Satanama vaheguru. The meaning of word vahaguru is described by Bhai Gurdasaji in his book Vara. He is the one who penned down the Guru Grantha-sahib while the fifth guru Sri Arjunadevaji recited it. In the section of 1 of Vara, pavdi 49 he says:

Translation: In Satya-yuga to attain the Lord, meditation on the Vasudeva form is advocated. The letter v of vaha guru reminds of Vishnu. In Dvapara-yuga Hari Krishna appeared; the letter h of vaha guru reminds of Hari. In Treta-yuga Rama appeared; the letter r of vaha guru reminds of Rama. In Kali-yuga came Nanaka as a guru to make others chant Govinda. The letter g of vaha guru reminds of Govinda. Thus the four yugas have concluded this. The four letters combined together to form this mantra (vaha guru). By chanting this mantra the living entity goes back from where he has come.

Translation: Falsehood his tongue does not touch and for a glimpse of the Lord his heart longs. His eyes do not look at the beauty of other women, and he serves the saints and remains in their association

Translation: He works with no aspiration for fruits. He is only engrossed in devotion and kirtana of the Supreme. One who Within his heart and by the activities of his body is always remembering Gopala. He is compassionate to all.

Translation: He is determined in devotional service and also makes others chant the holy names. Nanaka says, such a Vaishnava attains the liberation (parama gati). He is immersed in the color of bhakti, and stays away from the company of the wicked.

Translation: All doubts in his mind are destroyed. He realises that the Lord is everywhere and worships Him. One who washes the dirt of contamination of this world in the association of saintly devotees, his wisdom is the best.

Translation: That devotee who serves the Lord following proper rules and regulations, who surrenders all activities of the body and mind in service and love of the Lord, who enshrines the lotus feet of the Lord within the recesses of his heart, Nanaka says only such a devotee can obtain God.

These revelations put at rest all the doubts instilling a novel, innovative approach. Vaisnavism is no wonder the language of Sikhism. Such literary endeavors build up bridges and break walls leading to communal harmony, peace, and universal brotherhood, with the core no doubt being Krishna consciousness.

Radhika Krpa Devi Dasi is a disciple of His Holiness Gopala Krishna Goswami Maharaja. She is an author of a book of devotional poetry and Vaishnavism in Sikhism from which this article was compiled. She lives with her family in Delhi.

The fact that you were born into a Sikh family is that, because of your previous birth's desires.. So there is nothing wrong in following Sikhism or chanting Vaheguru.. however, krsna has also seen a sincere desire in you of much better things for the future life or births (which probably you are not aware yet), that He has given you the knowledge and insight into the Maha Mantra now, which you have respectfully accepted and following already.

I am a punjabi and have great regard for all the Sikh Gurus. I have been studying Guru Granth Sahib along with Bhagavad Gita from a long time. In my understanding, Sikhism is nothing but covered Vaishnavism.

It talks about Krishna/Govind/Madhav/Rama in whole bani. All the Sikh gurus have always respected Sri Krishna but due to politics interference in the religion now it is being shown that they they spoke something different. If you want to understand Gurubani properly then one need to become a Vaishnava to really see how Gurus actually tried to make people understand that Krishna is supreme Lord. There is no difference between Waheguru and Krishna. You can say two different names of the same Almighty Lord.

DO you know that Sikhism is an offshoot of HInduism only. The teachings are the same. In fact, I have a video someone sent on whatsapp where the gurus are saying that Sikh granths are also saying Krsna is supreme. Give me your phone number on my personal window, I will share with you.

Suppose it didnt say also, chanting the mahamantra is beyond all religions - it has to do with the soul. Our body is sikh or muslim or christian, this birth one faith, next birth another. Soul is unchanging, and its soul's business to go back to Godhead, which the mahamantra facilitates.

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