Dear Cyber Sangat,
Vaheguru ji ka khalsa, Vaheguru ji ki fateh.
Gurbani is very rich with metaphors. Metaphors are like the angles of the prism. They give us the glimpse of the depth and richness given to the words by the great linguists, Our Gurus.
Kasturi (musk) is a kind of perfume thats derived from musk oil found in male musk deer. This metaphor is used quite a few times in SGGS.
This scent, a “musky” extract derived from a miniature antler-less male deer which originates deep in the Himalayan mountains. Moschus moschiferus is a relatively harmless animal weighing just twenty-five pounds and standing twenty inches in height. The musk deer secretes valued musk scent during the night or in early hours.The scent pod of the male musk deer has been sought after for centuries and its aroma is considered one of the most popular scents throughout history, dating back to ancient Roman, Persian, Chinese and asian cultures. This site has a little description of the musk deer as well.http://www.indiasite.com/wildlife/mammals/muskdeer.html
Now lets see how this metaphor is related to our sikh way of life. The legend goes that the musk deer wanders around trying to locate where the musk scent is coming from. Little does it know that it comes from within.
In the same way we humans wander about all our lives looking for IK ONG KAAR without realising that THE SOURCE dwells within. Hence, as the musk scent is secreted at early hours of the day, the ones who are asleep can not enjoy its scent. We as humans wander around looking for NAAM- SAT-( Objective reality) without realising that the quest to seek NAAM- SAT begins from within which needs NAAM SIMRAN and its understanding through contemplation and introspection.
As someone said, 'When we change the way we look at things, then the things we look at change'.
This Shabad is by Guru Raam Daas Ji in Raag Gauree on Pannaa 309
pauVI ]
pourree ||
Pauree:
kwieAw kotu Apwru hY AMdir htnwly ]
kaaeiaa kott apaar hai a(n)dhar hattanaalae ||
The human body is a great fortress, with its shops and streets within.
gurmuiK saudw jo kry hir vsqu smwly ]
guramukh soudhaa jo karae har vasath samaalae ||
The Gurmukh who comes to trade gathers the cargo of the Lord's Name.
nwmu inDwnu hir vxjIAY hIry prvwly ]
naam nidhhaan har vanajeeai heerae paravaalae ||
He deals in the treasure of the Lord's Name, the jewels and the diamonds.
ivxu kwieAw ij hor QY Dnu Kojdy sy mUV byqwly ]
vin kaaeiaa j hor thhai dhhan khojadhae sae moorr baethaalae ||
Those who search for this treasure outside of the body, in other places, are foolish demons.
sy auJiV Brim BvweIAih ijau JwV imrgu Bwly ]15]
sae oujharr bharam bhavaaeeahi jio jhaarr mirag bhaalae ||15||
They wander around in the wilderness of doubt, like the deer who searches for the musk in the bushes. ||15||
My 2 cent
Tejwant
