Gurbani Section
Bara Maha, is a form of folk poetry in which the emotions and yearnings of the human heart are expressed in terms of the changing moods of Nature over the twelve months of the year. In this form of poetry, the mood of Nature in each particular month (of the Indian calendar) depicts the inner agony of the human heart which in most cases happens to be a woman separated from her spouse or lover.
Basant Ki Var, by Guru Arjan Dev, is the shortest of the twentytwo vars (holy poems composed in the style or tone of odes). Vars are heroic ballads included in the Guru Granth Sahib. Basant, is the Punjabi word for spring from which the musical measure the Var derives its title. Like Malhar (the raga of the rainy season) the The Basant Ki Var is an ancient seasonal raga - the raga of springtime.
DAKHNI ONKAR, or simply ONKAR, is a composition of 54 stanzas by the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, in the measure Raag Ramkali in Guru Granth Sahib. The full title of the bani is Ramkali Mahala 1 Dakhni Onkar. The composition appears on angs 929 to 938. The title is explained differently by different scholars. The word "Dakhan" means "south" and "Onkar" is a reference to "The Creator".
Jaap Sahib is the morning prayer of the Sikhs. The Prayer or Bani was composed by the tenth Sikh Master, Guru Gobind Singh. This Bani is one of 5 Banis that a Sikh must recite everyday and is recited by the Panj Pyare while preparing Amrit on the occasion of Amrit Sanchar (initiation), a ceremony held to admit initiates into the Khalsa. The Jaap Sahib is chronologically the first Bani (holy hymn of Guru) in the Dasam Granth, which is said to have been compiled by Bhai Mani Singh around the year 1734. The Jaap Sahib is reminiscent of Japji Sahib, and is chronologically recited at second, in the daily morning prayer of a Sikh.
Benti Chaupai or Chaupai sahib is a prayer or Bani composed by tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. This bani is present in Charitar 404 of Dasam Granth in Bani Ath Pakhyan Chairtar Likhyatey. This Bani is one of the five Banis recited by the initiated Sikh every morning. It is also a part of evening prayer of the Sikhs called Rehras sahib. The Benti Chaupee can be read at any time during the day to provide protection, positive focus and energy. It is short composition which usually takes less than about 5 minutes to recite at a slow pace; it is written in simple Punjabi language and can be easily understood by most speakers of this language.
Dukh Bhanjani Sahib which begins with the shabad "Dukh bhanjan tera naam" meaning "The Destroyer of Suffering is Thy Name". - A compilation of scripture which includes many shabads written by Fifth Guru Arjun Dev during the illness and healing of his young son Sixth Guru Hargobind.
and the beginning of the Japji Sahib Bani
Japji Sahib is the first sacred composition found in the main Sikh holy scripture called the Guru Granth Sahib. It is a famous and concise summary of Sikh philosophy which was compiled by the founder of Sikhism and the first spiritual guide of the Sikhs known worldwide as Guru Nanak.
