Shri Krishan ji is that Light within us, through which we experience the world.
This is the Light that not only illuminates the world but also reveals to us who we are. Whatever thoughts we think, whatever feelings we feel, it is through the Light that we even know what they are!
Today we are celebrating the arrival of his physical form, whom we see as the character in the epic of Mahabharat.
Even though I have painted a physical form, the Light has no visible shape or form but we call it Light because within it, we see everything, including ourselves.
This Light which paints all that we can know of, cannot itself be painted. My words and paintings merely point towards it.
In Guru Granth Sahib, we see the veneration of the Light itself, as well as the physical form. This is why the tradition of Sikh Art is incomplete without the painting of both this Light and its physical form.
Whenever I paint, I always have some hymns from Guru Granth Sahib that I meditate on while painting. I want to share 4 of these with you.
You will see elements of these expressed in the paintings above. See if you can identify these elements!
I hope you enjoy the paintings and I hope you enjoy listening to the shabads below.
Guru Nanak Dev ji reveals who Shri Krishan ji Maharaj is, the Light within –
ਏਕ ਕ੍ਰਿਸ੍ਨੰ ਤ ਸਰਬ ਦੇਵਾ ਦੇਵ ਦੇਵਾ ਤ ਆਤਮਹ ॥
The One Krishan ji is the Light within all the great beings, and the Light within us.
ਆਤਮੰ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਬਾਸ੍ਵਦੇਵਸ੍ਯ ਜੇ ਕੋਈ ਜਾਨਸਿ ਭੇਵ ॥
The Light within is Shri Krishan ji, if anyone recognizes this secret within themselves.
ਨਾਨਕ ਤਾ ਕੋ ਦਾਸੁ ਹੈ ਸੋਈ ਨਿਰੰਜਨ ਦੇਵ ॥੪॥
Guru Nanak Dev ji says I am the servant of that Pure Light.
Listen to Guru Angad Dev ji’s version of this shabad –
Dwarika City which was built by Shri Krishan ji Maharaj was invaded by Mohammad Shah in 1241, who destroyed the temples there.
This was 29 years prior to Sant Nam Dev ji’s birth. This was a time of foreign invasions of India.
At this time, Sant Nam Dev ji visits Dwarika and has a conversation with Shri Krishan ji, upon arriving –
ਹਲੇ ਯਾਰਾਂ ਹਲੇ ਯਾਰਾਂ ਖੁਸਿਖਬਰੀ ॥
Hey Friend! Your news brings joy.
ਬਲਿ ਬਲਿ ਜਾਂਉ ਹਉ ਬਲਿ ਬਲਿ ਜਾਂਉ ॥ ਨੀਕੀ ਤੇਰੀ ਬਿਗਾਰੀ ਆਲੇ ਤੇਰਾ ਨਾਉ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
I am a sacrifice to You. Absolute devotion to You is small, whereas Your Identity is vast.
ਕੁਜਾ ਆਮਦ ਕੁਜਾ ਰਫਤੀ ਕੁਜਾ ਮੇ ਰਵੀ ॥ ਦ੍ਵਾਰਿਕਾ ਨਗਰੀ ਰਾਸਿ ਬੁਗੋਈ ॥੧॥
Where did You come from? Where are You going now? Where will You go? In Dwarika city, Krishna, You speak the Truth.
ਖੂਬੁ ਤੇਰੀ ਪਗਰੀ ਮੀਠੇ ਤੇਰੇ ਬੋਲ ॥ ਦ੍ਵਾਰਿਕਾ ਨਗਰੀ ਕਾਹੇ ਕੇ ਮਗੋਲ ॥੨॥
Krishna, Your turban is beautiful and Your speech is so sweet, why have You arrived in the city of Dwarka as a Mughal?
ਚੰਦੀ ਹਜਾਰ ਆਲਮ ਏਕਲ ਖਾਨਾਂ ॥ ਹਮ ਚਿਨੀ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹ ਸਾਂਵਲੇ ਬਰਨਾਂ ॥੩॥ ਅਸਪਤਿ ਗਜਪਤਿ ਨਰਹ ਨਰਿੰਦ ॥ ਨਾਮੇ ਕੇ ਸ੍ਵਾਮੀ ਮੀਰ ਮੁਕੰਦ ॥੪॥੨॥੩॥
You are the Master of all worlds, permeating each one. You are my King, o dark-skinned Krishna. You are Lord of the Horses, Surya (Dispeller of Darkness), You are the Lord of the Elephants, Indra (Consciousness), You are the Lord of Men, Brahma (Expanding Awareness). You are my Master, the King of All Beings and their Liberator.
Listen to this shabad –
Guru Nanak Dev ji sings the praises of Shri Krishan ji and describes his beautiful eyes and his youthful appearance –
ਤੇਰੇ ਬੰਕੇ ਲੋਇਣ ਦੰਤ ਰੀਸਾਲਾ ॥ ਸੋਹਣੇ ਨਕ ਜਿਨ ਲੰਮੜੇ ਵਾਲਾ ॥
Your eyes are beautiful, your teeth are beautiful, beautiful is your nose and long hair.
ਕੰਚਨ ਕਾਇਆ ਸੁਇਨੇ ਕੀ ਢਾਲਾ ॥ ਸੋਵੰਨ ਢਾਲਾ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨ ਮਾਲਾ ਜਪਹੁ ਤੁਸੀ ਸਹੇਲੀਹੋ ॥
Golden body, decorated with Vajyanti garland, chant Krishna’s name, o sisters fair.
ਜਮ ਦੁਆਰਿ ਨ ਹੋਹੁ ਖੜੀਆ ਸਿਖ ਸੁਣਹੁ ਮਹੇਲੀਹੋ ॥
You will not have to stand at the door of death, if you listen to this teaching with care.
ਹੰਸ ਹੰਸਾ ਬਗ ਬਗਾ ਲਹੈ ਮਨ ਕੀ ਜਾਲਾ ॥
Listening, the hypocrites are transformed into Saintly Swans; their mind’s entanglements tear.
ਬੰਕੇ ਲੋਇਣ ਦੰਤ ਰੀਸਾਲਾ ॥੭॥ ਤੇਰੀ ਚਾਲ ਸੁਹਾਵੀ ਮਧੁਰਾੜੀ ਬਾਣੀ ॥
Your eyes are beautiful, beautiful are your teeth. Your gait is graceful, sweet is the way you speak.
ਕੁਹਕਨਿ ਕੋਕਿਲਾ ਤਰਲ ਜੁਆਣੀ ॥
Your speech is like the song of the Kokila songbird, and your rising youth is at its peak.
ਤਰਲਾ ਜੁਆਣੀ ਆਪਿ ਭਾਣੀ ਇਛ ਮਨ ਕੀ ਪੂਰੀਏ ॥
Youth appealed to you, so you took this form, seeing which may the heart be content.
ਸਾਰੰਗ ਜਿਉ ਪਗੁ ਧਰੈ ਠਿਮਿ ਠਿਮਿ ਆਪਿ ਆਪੁ ਸੰਧੂਰਏ ॥
Like the elephant, you walk slowly, enjoying yourself, mincing, step by step.
ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰੰਗ ਰਾਤੀ ਫਿਰੈ ਮਾਤੀ ਉਦਕੁ ਗੰਗਾ ਵਾਣੀ ॥
Lakshmi walks in your love, intoxicated, your speech is like the river Ganga, pure.
ਬਿਨਵੰਤਿ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਦਾਸੁ ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਤੇਰੀ ਚਾਲ ਸੁਹਾਵੀ ਮਧੁਰਾੜੀ ਬਾਣੀ ॥੮॥੨॥
Says Nanak, I am the servant of Hari, Your walk is graceful and your speech has a special allure.
Listen to this shabad –
Sant Nam Dev ji expresses joy and praises the birth of Shri Krishan ji –
ਧਨਿ ਧੰਨਿ ਓ ਰਾਮ ਬੇਨੁ ਬਾਜੈ ॥ ਮਧੁਰ ਮਧੁਰ ਧੁਨਿ ਅਨਹਤ ਗਾਜੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Blessed, blessed is that Flute which the Lord plays. The sweet, sweet unstruck sound current sings forth.
ਧਨਿ ਧਨਿ ਮੇਘਾ ਰੋਮਾਵਲੀ ॥ ਧਨਿ ਧਨਿ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨ ਓਢੈ ਕਾਂਬਲੀ ॥੧॥
Blessed, blessed is the wool of the sheep; blessed, blessed is the wool blanket worn by Shri Krishna.
ਧਨਿ ਧਨਿ ਤੂ ਮਾਤਾ ਦੇਵਕੀ ॥ ਜਿਹ ਗ੍ਰਿਹ ਰਮਈਆ ਕਵਲਾਪਤੀ ॥੨॥
Blessed, blessed are you, O mother Devaki, into your home the Akal Purakh, the Husband of Mata Lakshmi, was born.
ਧਨਿ ਧਨਿ ਬਨ ਖੰਡ ਬਿੰਦ੍ਰਾਬਨਾ ॥ ਜਹ ਖੇਲੈ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਨਾਰਾਇਨਾ ॥੩॥
Blessed, blessed are the forests of Vrindavan, where Shri Narayana played.
ਬੇਨੁ ਬਜਾਵੈ ਗੋਧਨੁ ਚਰੈ ॥ ਨਾਮੇ ਕਾ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਆਨਦ ਕਰੈ ॥੪॥੧॥
He plays the flute, and herds the cows, Nam Dev’s Master plays happily.
ਮੇਰੋ ਬਾਪੁ ਮਾਧਉ ਤੂ ਧਨੁ ਕੇਸੌ ਸਾਂਵਲੀਓ ਬੀਠੁਲਾਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
O my Father, Husband of my Mother, Lakshmi, blessed are You, long-haired, dark-skinned, Vishnu.
ਕਰ ਧਰੇ ਚਕ੍ਰ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਤੇ ਆਏ ਗਜ ਹਸਤੀ ਕੇ ਪ੍ਰਾਨ ਉਧਾਰੀਅਲੇ ॥
You hold the Sudarshan Quoit in Your hand; You came down from Vaikunth (where You reside), and saved the life of the Elephant (who was attacked, and was trapped in the tight jaws of a crocodile).
ਦੁਹਸਾਸਨ ਕੀ ਸਭਾ ਦ੍ਰੋਪਤੀ ਅੰਬਰ ਲੇਤ ਉਬਾਰੀਅਲੇ ॥੧॥
In the court of Duhshasan, You saved the honor of Dropadi, when her clothes were being removed.
ਗੋਤਮ ਨਾਰਿ ਅਹਲਿਆ ਤਾਰੀ ਪਾਵਨ ਕੇਤਕ ਤਾਰੀਅਲੇ ॥
You saved Ahliyaa (who was turned to stone), the wife of Gautam; how many have You purified and carried across?
ਐਸਾ ਅਧਮੁ ਅਜਾਤਿ ਨਾਮਦੇਉ ਤਉ ਸਰਨਾਗਤਿ ਆਈਅਲੇ ॥੨॥੨॥
Such a lowly outcaste as Nam Dev has come seeking Your Sanctuary.
Listen to this shabad –