Shri Krishan ji – The Light Within

Artist's Notes

“When the mind forgets, it is burdened. However when the mind understands, then it merges into Hari Ekankar.”

– Guru Nanak Dev ji (Guru Granth Sahib, 222)

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!

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.

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.

(Guru Granth Sahib, 1353)

Sant Nam Dev ji expresses joy and praises the birth of Shri Krishan ji, the physical form –

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.

(Guru Granth Sahib, 988)

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 Nam Dev’s (my) Master, the King of All Beings and their Liberator.

(Guru Granth Sahib, 727)