Topics, in depth
ਭਗਤੀ ਤੇ ਪ੍ਰੇਮBhagti and Prem
Devotion and the longing of love
What does it mean to love the Divine?
Editorial introductionDrafted with AI assistance for this site. Not Gurbani and not Babaji’s words.Awaiting review by a learned reader.
Discover
Gurbani's invitation to love is also a warning about its cost.
ਜਉ ਤਉ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਖੇਲਣ ਕਾ ਚਾਉ ॥ਸਿਰੁ ਧਰਿ ਤਲੀ ਗਲੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਆਉ ॥
Transliteration Jau tau prem khelaṇ kā chāu. Sir dhar talī galī merī āu.
Translation, editorial If you long to play the game of love, come into my lane with your head placed on your palm.
Babaji’s katha of this Ang
Bhagti (ਭਗਤੀ) is devotion; prem (ਪ੍ਰੇਮ) is love. In Gurmat they are not a soft alternative to the hard work of spiritual life. They are its heart. Gurbani is full of the voice of the soul-bride longing for her Beloved, and much of the Granth is the bani of bhagats, devotees from many backgrounds whose love the Gurus honoured.
Editorial introductionDrafted with AI assistance for this site. Not Gurbani and not Babaji’s words.
Understand
Head on the palm. To come into the lane of love ‘with your head on your palm’ is to bring nothing to bargain with. The image became a lived reality in Sikh history, from the Panj Pyare at Anandpur onwards. Babaji's lineage traces itself to Bhai Daya Singh Ji, the first to answer that call.
Birha, the pain of separation. The Granth holds two Barah Maha compositions: Guru Arjan Dev Ji's in Raag Majh and Guru Nanak Dev Ji's in Raag Tukhari. Babaji's Baramaha series has ten recordings; their titles do not say which composition each one covers. Both follow the soul through the twelve months of the year, each season colouring its longing. In Gurbani the ache of separation (birha) is not a failure of faith. It is often the sign that love is alive.
The language of the beloved. Babaji's katha on the Persian ghazals of Bhai Nand Lal Ji (‘Goya’), the poet at Guru Gobind Singh Ji's court, opens another register of devotion: the wine, the tavern and the beloved's face of the Persian mystical tradition, turned towards the Guru.
Devotion and daily life. In his Man Budh Atam series, Babaji's talks include ‘Bhagti Te Prem’ (devotion and love), ‘Bhagti De Marg’ (the paths of devotion) and ‘Bhagti Te Khaana’ (devotion and food), the last a reminder that devotion is shaped by ordinary disciplines like what and how we eat. His recent divan titled ‘ਭਜਨ ਅਤੇ ਭੋਜਨ ਸਹਿਜ ਨਾਲ’ (worship and eating, both with ease) makes the same link.
Babaji’s kathaLinked by the titles of the recordings and videos.
Explore Babaji’s katha
Katha of the Gurbani quoted here
Videos
ਨਾਮ ਦਾ ਭਰੋਸਾ l ਬਾਣੀ ਦੀ ਵਿਚਾਰ l ਮੁਕਤ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਹੋਈਏ l ਪੂਜਾ ਕਿਸ ਦੀ ਕਰੀਏ। ਸੰਤ ਬਾਬਾ ਜਗਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ ਹਰਖੋਵਾਲ
ਆਰਤੀ ਕੀਰਤਨ ਸ਼੍ਰੀ ਹਜ਼ੂਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜੀ l ਚੌਪਈ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਕੀਰਤਨ ਰੂਪ ਵਿੱਚ l ਅਰਦਾਸ l ਸੰਤ ਆਸ਼ਰਮ Sultanpur Lodhi Sunday
ਮਿੱਠੀ ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ। ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਦੇ ਪਰਉਪਕਾਰ। ਸੱਚਾ ਰੰਗ ਪਿਆਰ। Sant Baba Jagjit Singh Ji Harkhowal ll
ਗੁੱਸਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰਨਾ। ਕਥਾ ਕੀਰਤਨ ਦੀ ਮਹਾਨਤਾ। ਸਤਸੰਗਤਿ ਦੀ ਮਹੱਤਤਾ। Sant Baba Jagjit Singh Ji Harkhowal
ਸ਼ਰਧਾ ਭਗਤੀ ਪਿਆਰ. ਲੰਗਰ ਦੀ ਸੇਵਾ. ਸੇਵਕਾਂ ਦੇ ਪੜਦੇ ਕੱਜਣੇ. Sant Baba Jagjit Singh Ji Harkhowal .
ਮਹਾਂਪੁਰਖਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਯਾਦਾਂ। ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਦੀ ਖੇਡ। ਅਸਚਰਜ ਬਚਨ l Sant Baba Jagjit Singh Ji Harkhowal ll
Recordings with this in their title
Series on this theme
- ਬਾਰਹ ਮਾਹਾ Barah Maha10 recordings
- ਭਾਵਰਸਾਮ੍ਰਿਤ Bhavrasamrit5 recordings
- ਗ਼ਜ਼ਲਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਨੰਦ ਲਾਲ ਜੀ Ghazals of Bhai Nand Lal Ji5 recordings
From other teachers and makers
- Se Kinehiya: biography of Sant Baba Harnam Singh Ji (audiobook, part 13)Sant Sewa Singh Ji (author, as credited in the title). From another channel; curated by the Dera.
- Baba Nand Singh Ji: life story (documentary)Dr Tara Singh Aalam, Aalami Geet (as credited in the title). From another channel; curated by the Dera.
Editorial introductionDrafted with AI assistance for this site. Not Gurbani and not Babaji’s words.
How this connects
- ਗਿਆਨ Gian and Atma
Babaji's katha moves between Vedanta texts and the language of devotion. Gurbani holds knowledge and love together.
Where they pull apart. In Advaita Vedanta, knowledge is the means of liberation and devotion is often preparatory; Gurbani keeps love and grace at the centre, even in the highest states.
- ਸੇਵਾ Seva
Love of the Divine shows itself in care for the Divine's creation; seva is devotion with hands.
Questions for reflectionEditorial, offered for your own enquiry.
Reflect
- When have you felt longing for the Divine? What did it feel like, and what did you do with it?
- What would you be unwilling to give up for love?
- Does your devotion bargain? What are you hoping to receive?
A practice for this week
Listen to one month of the Barah Maha with its katha, ideally the month you are now in. Then, through the rest of that month, let its image return to you once a day. Let the season outside become a reminder of the longing inside.
Primary sourcesGurbani, and the texts Babaji has given katha on.
Go deeper
Gurbani on this page
- Ang 1412Saloks additional to the Vars (Salok Varan te Vadhik)
Texts Babaji has taught on this theme
- ਬਾਰਹ ਮਾਹਾ Barah Maha10 recordings
- ਕਬਿੱਤ ਸਵੱਯੇ Kabit Savaiye56 recordings
- ਭਾਵਰਸਾਮ੍ਰਿਤ Bhavrasamrit5 recordings
- ਗ਼ਜ਼ਲਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਨੰਦ ਲਾਲ ਜੀ Ghazals of Bhai Nand Lal Ji5 recordings
- ਮਨ ਬੁੱਧ ਆਤਮ Man, Budh, Atam (mind, intellect, self)9 recordings
- ਨਿਤਨੇਮ Nitnem banis8 recordings
- ਸੂਰਜ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ Sri Gur Partap Suraj Granth1,014 recordings
Found something mistaken or missing? Write to satnam@harkhowal.com.