ਤਾ ਕਉ ਬਿਘਨੁ ਨ ਕੋਊ ਲਾਗੈ ਜਾ ਕੀ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਆਗੈ ਅਰਦਾਸਿ ॥੧॥
No obstacles block the path of one who prays before God. ||1||
(Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Ang 444)
What is an Ardaas?
An Ardaas is the way in which we can ask the Creator to aid us in whatever it is we are seeking support in.
Why do an Ardaas?
There will be many times in our lives where we feel that the weight of the world is bearing too heavy on our shoulders. When we feel down and low, we can come to Him for support, guidance & peace. The Guru takes this even further, however. Here in Guru Gobind Singh Jis 11th Hukam, they are instructing us to perform an Ardaas before undertaking any task. This is twofold – not only does it provide us with a foundation with which we can successfully carry out the task, but it prevents us doing tasks that we should not do. It is an interesting one. What if a robber does an Ardaas before robbing somebody’s house? The Creator (as explained to us in Gurbani) does not have preferential treatment for anybody. We are all the same in His eyes. No matter how sinful we may be, He still retains love for us. He is completely free of care, tension & sits quietly and patiently. Thus, how do we get His attention?
ਜਾਇ ਪੁਛਹੁ ਸੋਹਾਗਣੀ ਤੁਸਾ ਕਿਉ ਕਰਿ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਆਇ ॥
I go and ask the happy soul-brides, "How did you come to meet God?"
ਓਇ ਵੇਪਰਵਾਹ ਨ ਬੋਲਨੀ ਹਉ ਮਲਿ ਮਲਿ ਧੋਵਾ ਤਿਨ ਪਾਇ ॥੧॥
They are care-free and do not speak; I massage and wash their feet. ||1||
(Guru Ram Das Ji, Ang 41)
The truth is, the Creator Lord is without want, desires and hope in His essence. However, Gurbani tells us that if there is anything that He craves, it is love & devotion. An Ardaas, done with love and devotion, has the power to grab His attention. Every great Sikh story you have ever heard, whether that be Baba Deep Singh Ji or Bhai Sukha/Mehtaab Singh Ji, it started off with an Ardaas. Baba Deep Singh Ji did an Ardaas in front of their Creator to ask that they only give their life in the feet of Sri Guru Raam Daas Ji at Sri Harmandir Sahib and look at what happened. There is no doubting the power of the Ardaas, if done correctly.
What does Gurbani instruct us to ask for?
We can examine this question through the Shaheedi of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji. Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the 5th Guru, was tortured for days by the Mughal empire (for not converting to Islam). Upon the final day of torture, whilst they were sitting on a burning hot plate with boiling sand streaming down their face, they asked their Creator for one thing. The same thing that they asked their Creator for since the beginning of Sikhi:
ਤੇਰਾ ਕੀਆ ਮੀਠਾ ਲਾਗੈ ॥
Your actions seem so sweet to me.
ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਪਦਾਰਥੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਮਾਂਗੈ ॥੨॥੪੨॥੯੩॥
Nanak begs for the treasure of the Naam, the Name of the Lord. ||2||42||93||
(Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Ang 394)
At the end of the day, only that which pleases the Creator is going to come to pass. Whether we like it or not, we are playing characters in His game. Asking for worldly possessions/happiness is futile because the Guru has already told us that everything here is an illusion. Think of all the people that walk around without doing an Ardaas - they seem to be very successful in worldly terms. However, what does everybody seem to lack? Inner peace. That fire that burns inside everyone that is never satiated always retains control. Until, you realise that the cooling sensation of His Name is the perfect antidote for the raging fire that burns within. This is the essence of Sikhi; not to ask for temporary illusions but to ask for the permanent loving embrace of His Name. When we begin to do Ardaas and ask for inward peace rather than outward happiness (which is as temporary as the weather) then we may begin to feel the power of doing an Ardaas.
How to do an Ardaas?
Guru Gobind Singh Ji blessed the Sikhs with a written format within which we start the Ardaas. Whatever we ask for is completely up to us however we must always remember to do so with a clean mind/heart. To do an Ardaas and have deceit/corruption attached with it will only bring sorrow in the end. For those that do not know how to read Gurmukhi/perform an Ardaas, state the name of and focus your consciousness on the Sikh Gurus and as many Shaheed Singh/Singhniya (martyrs of the faith) that you can think of. Once you have done this, proceed with asking your Lord whatever you want. He has nourished you since the beginning of time, He dances within your inner temple. Don't be afraid of Him, embrace Him. The reason we first remember the Gurus is because without them, what would we know? They are the knowledge, love and devotion behind our Ardaas. Also, to forget of those great souls that sacrificed their lives to give us this beautiful way of life would be a travesty. When we begin to start every day with the Ardaas of ‘Sarbat da Bhalla’ (well-being for all) in addition to asking for the love of His Name, His powers will know no limit.
ਪਤਿਤ ਉਧਾਰਣੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਮੇਰਾ ਮੋਹਿ ਤਿਸ ਕਾ ਭਰਵਾਸਾ ॥
My True Guru is the Savior of sinners; I have placed my trust and faith in Him.
ਬਖਸਿ ਲਏ ਸਭਿ ਸਚੈ ਸਾਹਿਬਿ ਸੁਣਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੀ ਅਰਦਾਸਾ ॥੨॥੧੭॥੪੫॥
The True Lord has heard Nanak's prayer, and He has forgiven everything. ||2||17||45||
