In 2000, I started painting Sikh Art as a child of 11 years, for a local Gurudwara academy, at the request of the principal there.
In 2008, I started painting professionally, releasing the paintings of Mai Bhago ji and Baba Deep Singh ji to kick-start SikhiArt.com. This Classic Collection is available to purchase.
Last year in 2024, I finally completed the paintings of all 10 Gurus and Guru Granth Sahib, with the release of Darbar Guru Granth Sahib.
10 Gurus with Golden TempleDarbar Guru Granth Sahib
In the 90s, When I was 2-4 years old I did my first drawing of a horse. Fast forward to 2024, I released my painting of Bhai Bachittar Singh ji, which had been in the works since 2008-2009.
Bhai Bachittar Singh ji
Bhai Bachittar Singh ji’s painting underwent many variations before I settled into the final. Perhaps one day I will share the story of its development over the years, and show you how it changed and evolved. It is a painting that I am honoured to have been blessed with.
In 2024, I also completed my painting of Shri Narayan. This was another piece that had been in the works for quite some time, since 2012. It was based on a dream I had in 2011.
Shri Hari ji – The Source of Liberation
Unlike the painting of Bhai Sahib, the painting of Shri Hari ji was set right from the start. I kept adding layers upon layers of meaning on top of the original concept inspired by my dream.
Bhagat’s Youtube Shorts
During 2024, I also created many shorts where I discuss spiritual concepts that can be applied to our daily lives.
You can watch these shorts on my Youtube channel.
After Bhai Bachittar Singh ji and Shri Hari ji, my second last painting of 2024, features Hanuman ji meditating on Shri Ram ji.
Hanuman ji Meditating on Shri Ram ji
With this piece, I wanted to expand the original portrait and show the full scene that came to me during meditation.
There are many spiritual concepts that have been distilled down into this single image. Perhaps one day I will share how it developed and reveal the thought process behind this painting.
Now we are in the year 2025.
But we are not done with 2024 just yet.
There is one more painting I am releasing, which was completed in 2024. Keep an eye out for it in the next email.
In 2025, I wish that the Truth, within us all, continues to inspire me to paint the Gods, Gurus and Guardians, and whatever else it wants me to paint. I wish to serve it in any way I can.
Happy New Year!
Prints of all paintings are now available to purchase for your home.
Bhagat paints a Symbol of that Being which underlies reality, that Screen which displays the world and in whom the world is perceived, that which is within us and within others. His painting of Shri Hari ji points towards our true nature, the understanding of which liberates us from our crippling beliefs and worldly bondage.
So why paint the Formless Hari? Why paint the Screen as a person, a human being, specifically?
Find out in the ‘Artist’s Notes’ in the link below.
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.
Shri Krishan ji – Banke Loi
Shri Krishan ji – The Light Within
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 –
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.
“Wherever I look I see the Divine Light residing as the Union of Shiva and Shakti.”
– Guru Nanak Dev ji (Guru Granth Sahib, 21)
The Union of Shiva and Shakti
In this painting of Shiv-Shakti, the Spiritual Dimension is represented by Shiv ji, and the world, the Material Dimension is represented by Shakti ji.
Shiva and Shakti are the Spiritual and Material Forces of the Universe. In this painting, the Spiritual Force, Shiv ji, is represented by the open and spacious Cosmos and the Material Force, Shakti ji, is represented by the concrete and natural Earth.
These Forces have been personified and shown embracing each other because they are complementary forces. They work in unison, side by side.
Guru Nanak Dev ji ki bani – ਜਹ ਦੇਖਾ ਤਹ ਰਵਿ ਰਹੇ ਸਿਵ ਸਕਤੀ ਕਾ ਮੇਲੁ ॥ Wherever I look I see the Divine Light residing as the Union of Shiva – Spirit – and Shakti – Matter. (Guru Granth Sahib, 21)
The Saints viewed the world as created by the Union of Vishnu ji/Shiv ji (father spirit, paternal, patterns) and Lakshmi ji/Shakti ji (mother matter, maternal, materials).
When a Pattern is imposed on a Material, then it gives birth to beautiful shapes and forms. You take a stamp (pattern), add some ink (matter) and press it on some paper and you get beautiful shapes.
Similarly, when Spirit penetrates Matter, it gives birth to life, to Us, because we are composed of matter and spirit.
Our Body is made of Matter and our Mind is all Spirit.
Our Body consumes Material as Food and relies on Matter to survive. Our Mind consumes Spiritual as Food and relies on Spirit to survive.
(It is even more intertwined as our Body is organized according to certain Patterns of information and our Mind is projected from (brain) Matter, which in itself is ordered according to certain Patterns, which have evolved over millions of years.)
So we are children of the Great Father Spirit and Great Mother Matter.
You may call them Spirit/Pattern and Matter, you may call them Vishnu ji and Lakshmi ji, you may call them Shiv ji and Shakti ji, or you may call them Mahakal ji and Kalika ji.
ਸਰਬ ਕਾਲ ਹੈ ਪਿਤਾ ਅਪਾਰਾ ॥ ਦੇਬਿ ਕਾਲਿਕਾ ਮਾਤ ਹਮਾਰਾ ॥ Mahakal ji is my Limitless Father, Devi Kalika ji is my Mother. – Dasam Granth
Regardless of what names you give the spiritual and material dimensions of life, these are not phenomenon that you can just read about and know. They must be tasted within the body.
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