“She is the most beautiful among women who loves the Guru and wears this jewel on her forehead.”
– Guru Nanak Dev ji (Guru Granth Sahib, 54)
Mai Bhago ji – New Edition
Sikh paintings rarely show women that are dressed in 1700s clothing, however Bhagat’s sikh art shows authentic historical clothing. Buy prints of Mai Bhago ji for inspiration to achieve your goals, to serve the Guru, and to meditate.
Artist’s Notes
Mai Bhago ji, Mother Bhago, sought after Guru Gobind Singh ji’s blessings to have a son. But while travelling to Guru ji, she was distressed to hear that a group of 40 Singhs had deserted him during the Battle of Anandpur.
She rode to their gathering, made them realize their mistake and then set off along with them to find Guru Sahib, who was still being followed by the Mughals. They reached Khidrana, where a battle took place between the two armies.
In this battle, those 40 Singhs were all slain, Guru Sahib forgave them and they came to be known as the Chali Muktay, the liberated ones, and Khidrana came to be known as Muktsar.
Tragically, Mai Bhago ji’s husband and brothers were killed in this battle and so she dedicated her life to meditation and attained liberation.
After attaining liberation, Mata ji became detached from the physical world and its customs and traditions. She started to live her life free of all attachment to objects and any desire to do anything.
Kavi Santokh Singh ji explains that her spiritual state reached a point where she became even detached from basic things such as wearing of clothes.
This is when Guru Gobind Singh ji intervened and suggested to Mata ji that in order to preserve the honour of her family, she should cover her head and wrap herself with a shawl.
Mata ji obeyed Guru Sahib and continued to meditate on God until her last breath.
The Daughter turned Wife turned Warrior turned Saint, Mai Bhago ji’s story is very inspirational to those who are on the Path of the Saints.
For me Mai Bhago ji has been a constant inspiration to take action, to take charge, and make things happen. When I heard about the latter part of her life, she then also became an immense inspiration for me to meditate and to cultivate strong states of detachment.
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“Whatever speaketh the animals, the fish and the birds, other than Hari they speak of no one else.”
– Guru Arjun Dev ji (Guru Granth Sahib, 262)
Guru Arjun Dev ji – Spiritual Blossoming
Sikh paintings of Guru Arjan Dev ji Maharaj have never radiated with so much spiritual energy as Bhagat’s original painting. Buy prints to express your love for Guru ji.
Artist’s Notes
This painting developed over time as the result of reading Guru Arjun Dev ji’s bani and feeling the emotions expressed therein. I was moved to tears by the love Guru Maharaj expressed for Akal Purakh Sahib so I just had to create this portrait of my Gurudev.
ਹਉ ਨਾ ਛੋਡਉ ਕੰਤ ਪਾਸਰਾ ॥ ਸਦਾ ਰੰਗੀਲਾ ਲਾਲੁ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਏਹੁ ਮਹਿੰਜਾ ਆਸਰਾ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ I will never leave the intimacy of my Husband God. My Beloved Lover is always and forever colourful. He is my vital support. ||1||Pause||
– Guru Arjun Dev Ji, 761
ਨੈਣ ਅਲੋਇਆ ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਸੋਇਆ ਅਤਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਪ੍ਰਿਅ ਗੂੜਾ ॥ With my eyes I have seen him, resting within each and every heart; my Beloved is the sweetest ambrosia.
– Guru Arjun Dev Ji, 924
ਹਮਰੀ ਗਣਤ ਨ ਗਣੀਆ ਕਾਈ ਅਪਣਾ ਬਿਰਦੁ ਪਛਾਣਿ ॥ He did not count any accounts of my past actions, after seeing my current nature.
ਹਾਥ ਦੇਇ ਰਾਖੇ ਕਰਿ ਅਪੁਨੇ ਸਦਾ ਸਦਾ ਰੰਗੁ ਮਾਣਿ ॥੧॥ He gave me his hand, saved me, and made me his own; forever and ever, I am enjoying happiness. – Guru Arjun Dev ji, 619
I found myself listening to these shabads over and over as I painted. They filled me up with joy, peace and inspiration.
ਸਭ ਦਿਨਸੁ ਰੈਣਿ ਗੁਣ ਉਚਰੈ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਉਰਿ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਗੁ ॥ All day and night I chant the qualities of Hari, and in my heart, I become focused on the name of Hari, Hari, Hari.
ਸਭੁ ਤਨੁ ਮਨੁ ਹਰਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ ਮਨੁ ਖਿੜਿਆ ਹਰਿਆ ਬਾਗੁ ॥ Meditating on Hari, my body and mind are totally rejuvenated, and the garden of my mind has blossoms forth in lush abundance. – Guru Ramdas ji, 849
Inspired by Guru Ram Das ji’s hymn, I painted a lush, flowering, garden, with free-flowing birds, as a metaphor for the state of Guru Arjun Dev ji’s mind.
Each element of the garden and each article that Guru Arjun Dev ji is wearing, has spiritual significance and is a symbol of spiritual ideas and of hymns from Guru Granth Sahib.
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“Those who dwell in the realm of Divine Grace, their words are powerful with the ability to connect the listener with Ram. No one can take their power away. In this realm, dwell great warriors who have mastered their mind, body and senses. They are completely imbued with Ram. Where there is the Sun-like Ram, there is the Moon-like Sita, who threads coolness and tranquility in to the fabric of their being. Their beauty is beyond words!”
– Guru Nanak Dev ji (Guru Granth Sahib, 8)
Hanuman ji Meditating on Shri Ram ji
Artist’s Notes
This painting of Hanuman ji was inspired by the species of Indian monkeys named after him, known as ‘Hanuman Langur’.
Even though most people associate the image of Hanuman ji with ‘Rhesus Monkeys’, I thought it would be interesting to see Hanuman ji with the facial characteristics of the ‘Hanuman Langur’, with black-skin and white fur.
I painted this portrait of Hanuman ji in a meditative state, where most of my mental distractions had ceased and the mind came to rest in its own awareness.
In this state, there is a pool of cooling, soothing peace.
This pool erases all baggage of past actions, eases suffering in the present moment and gives one strength to face the future, head on!
Hanuman ji knew that through the chanting of Ram naam such a state can be achieved and perfected, and he was a master at maintaining such a perfect state.
Ever since I found this out about him, he has become an inspiration for me, as he inspires me to connect to God and access this pool of everlasting peace for myself.
Who is Hanuman ji?
Hanuman ji is an exalted Devotee of the Supreme God.
He is a major character in the Ramayan, the story of God, written by Sant Valmiki ji. His name, Hanuman, comes from his facial feature, and means ‘one with a prominent jaw’.
He is strong, heroic and assertive, always ready to take action, as well as loving, calm and innocent, and immersed in states of pure love.
He is an inspiration for warriors, strongmen and weightlifters, as well as devotees of God, who want to develop compassion.
He inspires us not only to do Meditation, bhakti, but also inspires us to be full of Energy, shakti, to exercise and to stay fit.
Hanuman ji inspires us to remain fully alert and be ready to take action.
Tyar bar tyar!
Sant Kabir ji’s Hymn
Sant Kabir ji gives Hanuman ji as an example of one of God’s devotees, who has become awake from the attachment to the transient world.
Kabir ji says that the highly intelligent priests, scholars, meditators, ascetics, etc, even though they read scriptural texts, meditate and perform penance, are not able to detach themselves, the way Hanuman ji and others have, through the chanting of Ram naam.
He sings –
ਜਾਗੈ ਸੁਕਦੇਉ ਅਰੁ ਅਕੂਰੁ ॥ ਹਣਵੰਤੁ ਜਾਗੈ ਧਰਿ ਲੰਕੂਰੁ ॥ Sukhdev ji is awake and so is Akroor ji. Hanuman ji is awake and so is Sugreev ji.
ਸੰਕਰੁ ਜਾਗੈ ਚਰਨ ਸੇਵ ॥ ਕਲਿ ਜਾਗੇ ਨਾਮਾ ਜੈਦੇਵ ॥੨॥ Shiv Shankar ji is awake, serving Ram ji’s feet. In Kaliyug, Nam Dev ji and Jai Dev ji are awake.
ਜਾਗਤ ਸੋਵਤ ਬਹੁ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਰ ॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜਾਗੈ ਸੋਈ ਸਾਰੁ ॥ There are many types of waking and sleeping, however, waking up from the transient world, through the teachings of a Guru, that is the best type of waking up.
ਇਸੁ ਦੇਹੀ ਕੇ ਅਧਿਕ ਕਾਮ ॥ ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਭਜਿ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ॥੩॥੨॥ Kabir ji says, this body will find it incredibly useful to meditate on the name of Ram ji.
(Guru Granth Sahib, 1194)
Sant Trilochan ji’s Hymn
In the story of God, Hanuman ji is the helper and messenger of God. He finds Sita ji, persuades her that he is Ram ji’s messenger, and delivers Ram ji’s message.
On the way out, he uproots Ravan’s forest and eats all the fruits. He gets captured by Ravan’s guards for tresspassing and is punished through torture.
Ravan’s guards light his tail on fire in order to punish him. Hanuman ji uses his burning tail to light Ravan’s fortress and surrounding buildings on fire.
However when Hanuman ji was a child, he was very mischievous. He once went into a gathering of Sadhus and Saints and stole their clothes as they were immersed in God, leaving only their underwear.
When Hanuman ji grew up, he ended up only wearing an underwear or loin cloth, and no other clothes, as the Pehlwans, the strong-men and wrestlers, of India do.
So Sant Trilochan ji sings –
ਦਾਧੀਲੇ ਲੰਕਾ ਗੜੁ ਉਪਾੜੀਲੇ ਰਾਵਣ ਬਣੁ ਸਲਿ ਬਿਸਲਿ ਆਣਿ ਤੋਖੀਲੇ ਹਰੀ ॥ 25 Hanuman ji burnt the fortress of Lanka, he uprooted Ravan’s forest, and brought medicinal herbs for the wounds of Lakshman ji, thereby pleasing God.
ਕਰਮ ਕਰਿ ਕਛਉਟੀ ਮਫੀਟਸਿ ਰੀ ॥੫॥ 12 However due to the consequences of his past actions, he wore no clothes except for a loin cloth.
ਪੂਰਬਲੋ ਕ੍ਰਿਤ ਕਰਮੁ ਨ ਮਿਟੈ ਰੀ ਘਰ ਗੇਹਣਿ ਤਾ ਚੇ ਮੋਹਿ ਜਾਪੀਅਲੇ ਰਾਮ ਚੇ ਨਾਮੰ ॥ 25 The consequences of past actions cannot be erased, dear wife, so this is why I chant the name of Ram ji.
The consequences of past actions will follow you, they can become a burden on you, and cause suffering.
The weight of your past will interfere with your future. Your past actions will hold you back from achieving greatness in the present.
However there is nothing you can do to change your past actions. There is nothing you can do to change their consequences.
What you can do, is alleviate the suffering they cause. You can remove their weight and be free from the suffering caused by your past.
Chanting Ram is the cure to the suffering of past actions. It is the way to remove the weight of the past.
When this burden stops bothering you, then you are free to express yourself fully in the present moment.
Through the chanting of Ram naam, Hanuman ji was able to cross the ocean in search of Lanka to find Mata Sita ji.
Through the chanting of Ram naam, Hanuman ji destroyed Ravan’s fortress and forests.
Through the chanting of Ram naam, Hanuman ji was able to bring medicine for Lakshman ji.
Through the chanting of Ram naam, Hanuman ji overcame all obstacles that came in his way and defeated his enemies.
Through the chanting of Ram naam, Hanuman ji became awake and aware in the present moment.
Trilochan ji is saying that this is why it is important to chant the name of Ram ji and meditate on him. And that this is why Trilochan ji, himself, meditates on Ram ji.
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“Wherever the Sadhus and Saints gather, they sing praises of Hari with music and poems. In their gathering there is peace and bliss. Only those obtain the company of Saints, who have good actions and habits.”
– Guru Arjun Dev ji (Guru Granth Sahib, 676)
Bhai Vir Singh ji
Sikh art of Bhai Vir Singh ji is so rare that artist Bhagat Singh Bedi wanted to promote Bhai Sahib, through Sikhi Art™.
Bhai Vir Singh ji was a giant in Punjabi literature. His works have rejuvenated Punjabi writing and have heavily influenced the Sikh psyche many generations after him.
Born in Amritsar in 1872, Bhai Vir Singh ji grew up training and learning Sikh scriptures in gurudwaras. He became fluent in multiple Indian languages, Punjabi, Urdu, and Sanskrit.
Bhai Vir Singh ji’s father, Sardar Charan Singh ji was also a poet, musician and writer. Following in his father’s footsteps, he used his novels and poems to teach the core dogmas of Sikhism.
Amidst the foreign and native pressures of politics and proselytizing, Bhai Sahib revitalized the Sikh and Punjabi culture through his literary art.
This painting was created upon commission, to revitalize the legacy of Bhai Vir Singh ji.
To commission art that enlivens the memory of your loved ones please contact artist Bhagat Singh.
“He is the Supreme Spirit, the God of Gods. For his devotee he came as Narsingh.”
– Bhagat Kabir Ji (Guru Granth Sahib, 1194)
Narsingh ji Liberates Bhagat Prahlaad ji
Narasimha or Narsingh ji, as I know him, is the ferocious man-lion attire of Vishnu ji. He represents some key qualities of God. Here are three. 1. Horrifying 2. Resides everywhere 3. Protector of loved ones
Narsingh ji is known for protecting Prahlada, or Bhagat Prahlaad ji, who was still a child when he was brutally tortured (to the brink of death) for several days because he refused to give up his religion ie his knowledge of God and his practice of meditating on him.
King Hiranyakaship or Harnakash wanted his son Prahlaad ji to rule his kingdom and spread the religion of their ancestors. Prahlaad ji however had been born outside the kingdom, in the home of and taught by, the enlightened, Narad ji.
So here’s a religious father, a man of faith, a spiritual man, who is desperately trying to keep his dying religion alive, and wants Prahlaad ji to carry forward the flame.
Prahlaad ji however had adopted Narad ji’s religion and he had become enlightened through Narad ji’s methodology. So his faith in this religion was quite strong.
Bhagat Prahlaad ji
However his desperate father could not see his enlightenment, nor was he enlightened himself. In total ignorance, he released several orders to wipe out the gatherings of the rival religion, from his kingdom. He also took many, many steps to convert Prahlaad ji back to his own faith, the very last desperate attempt of which, was torture and death.
Fast forward to the torture – Prahlaad ji was given poisons, thrown off cliffs and burned in bonfires. Having survived all methods of execution, made Harnakash very angry. He had broken all ties with his son at this point. He was no longer his son… maybe still 1% left?
This was the final moment, he was going to kill Prahlaad ji with his own hands.
Prahlaad ji’s main point was that God is everywhere if one looks for him.
Narsingh Narayan ji
Harnakash did not see this but at least was honest about it. Still he was desperate, he really did not want to see his son die so gave him one final chance.
A heated argument took place!
Fast forward to the throne room – He screamed again and again, “where is your God?”. Prahlaad ji said, “here and here and there, everywhere really”.
He broke everything that Prahlaad ji pointed towards but Harnakash did not see God.
Now completely fed up by his son’s nonsense and enraged to the point where he had destroyed half his throne room, he pointed one last time.
Harnakash pointed towards one of the giant pillars in the throne room, which was so big it could house a being larger than man. He thought if God is anywhere, he must be in this giant pillar. So he asked, “is your God in this pillar?”
Prahlaad ji could see that God was there also. So obviously he said, “yes”.
Harnakash broke the pillar and yet, no God appeared. This was the last straw…
“That’s it” Harnakash again screamed and rushed towards Prahlaad to kill him.
BOOM!
A pillar behind Prahlaad ji exploded and Narsingh ji burst forth!
Harnakash’s guards rushed to defend him. They fought with Narsingh ji. Other guards and soldiers heard the commotion and rushed in as well. They battled with death only to be consumed by it.
King Hiranyakaship
After defeating Harnakash’s army, Narsingh ji battled with Harnakash and then ripped him apart with his claws, thus liberating him from his human body.
Narsingh ji was so scary that Prahlaad ji could not face him and look at him. Prahlaad ji however recognized that it was God who had come in such a terrifying form. His love for God, his bhagati overpowered his fear, and he fell at the feet of Narsingh ji.
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