Sukhmani Vichar Sangreh
A Review by Sadhu Singh
Author: Dr Mohinder Kaur Beweja
Publisher: Sikh Foundation, New Delhi
Price : Rs. 350/-; Pages: 460
Dr Mohinder Kaur Baweja is an eminent educationist and research scholar. She has many books and research papers to her credit that were sponsored by the UGC and ICSSR. She got the opportunity to attend many seminars and conferences abroad where she presented her research papers. At present she is profoundly interested in the research and interpretation of Gurbani. Sukhmani Vichar Sangreh is the outcome of her life-long personal experiences and life lived according to Gurbani tenets. She has inherited deep interest in Gurbani from her parents and manifested this in her writings.
Sukhmani Bani was composed by Guru Arjun Dev ji on the request of Baba Budha ji and Bhai Gurdas Ji. Its literal meaning is – to endow tranquility and peace to the mind. The central idea of Sukhmani has been expressed in the following couplet:
suKmnI suK AMimRq pRB nwmu ]
Bgq jnw kY min ibsRwm ]
– Guru Granth Sahib, p. 262
Sukhmani is a description of Naam that blesses the person with everlasting happiness of mind and body. This has been beautifully explained in the following Couplet:
ismrau ismir ismir suKu pwvau ] kil klys qn mwih imtwvau ]
suKmnI shj goibMd gun nwm ] ijsu min bsY su hoq inDwn ]
– Guru Granth Sahib, p. 295
Guru Sahib’s main objective in composing Sukhmani was to unite the people of this world with the Divine Power and the Bani clearly hints to the Life Force. Guru Sahib firmly asserts that Sukhmani would enrich the people beyond speculation in worldly riches and spiritual endowments. Moreover, Sukhmani gives a very clear-cut message to the whole mankind:
sBy swJIvwl sdwiein qUM iksY n idsih bwhrw jIau ]
Sukhmani has 24 Asatpadis and each Astpadi begins with a Salok. The Salok carries the central idea that is examined in detail in the Astpadi. The author has beautifully explained each Astpadi by giving instances and allusions from Gurbani in order to bring out the inner meaning of the padas. The explanations in the book have been given in a simple and everyday used Punjabi. This makes the meanings more explicit. In this way the teachings implicit in Sukhmani have been made more valuable and a guide to live life according to Gurmat tenets. What is Simran? Who is to be remembered time and again? How has Simran to be done? Who is a Sadh, a Sant, A Brahm Giani and a Jeewan Mukat? Such bothering questions to the Gur Sikhs have been convincingly answered in the Sukhmani. In conclusion Guru Sahib proclaims that those persons who act upon the teachings of Naam Jap, as has been explained in Sukhmani and they live according to these teachings, they are really blessed persons. This has been beautifully expressed:
dUK rog ibnsy BY Brm ] swD nwm inrml qw ky krm ]
sB qy aUc qw kI soBw bnI ] nwnk ieh guix nwmu suKmnI ]
Dr Mohinder Kaur Baweja has done a commendable job by publishing this book. The admirers of Gurbani, especially the Diaspora, would ever remain indebted to Dr Baweja, if the book is translated into English. It is strongly recommended that every Sikh should go through this book in order to grasp the deeper meaning of Sukhmani Sahib. It is guaranteed that the Gursikh would attain the position of a Jeevan Mukat and lead a happy and healthy life in this very world. The book should be a prize possession of each college and university library.
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