Baramaha
The Sikh Calendar: Baramaha
Guru Nãnak Dev recited Baramahã at Kartãrpur (Rãvi) soon before his mergence with the Light Eternal. The artist has drawn paintings based on Bãrãmahã, depicting different seasons. The pangs of seperation, longing for the divine lover, the intense desire for union of the Soul with the Supreme Being are some of the themes portrayed in these paintings.
Chetu
In Chetu agreeable is the spring and beautiful the bumble-bee. The forests are flowering in front of my door. May my love return home. How can the bride obtain peace when her Spouse comes not home With the distress of separation her body is wasting away. The beauteous cuckoo sings on the mango-tree. How can I bear the.pain of my mind ? The black-bee is flitting on. the blossoming bough. How can I survive ? I am dying, 0 mother. Nãnak, in Chetu peace is easily obtained, if the wife obtains God as her Spouse in her home.
Vaisakh
Pleasant is Vaisakhu, when the tree bough adorns itself anew. The bride is anxious to see God at her door, Come my love, come. Take Thou pity on me. Come home, 0 my Beloved and ferry me across the difficult world ocean. Without Thee I am not worth even a shell. Who can appraise my worth, if I please Thee I see Thee and show Thee to others, 0 my Love, 0 Lord, I know Thee not afar, I believe Thee to be within me and realise I Thine presence. Nãnak, whosoever obtains the Lord in Vaisakhu; His soul is satiated with the Name’s meditation.
Jethu
Sublime is the month of Jethu. Why should I forget my Beloved ? The earth bums like a furnace. The bride prays to her Lord. The bride makes supplication and utters His praise. Singing the Lord’s praise, I become pleasing to Him. The Detached Lord bides in the true mansion. If He permits me to go to Him, then will I go to Him. Unhonoured and powerless is the bride. How can she obtain peace without her Lord In Jethu, 0 Nänak, she who knows her Lord, becomes like Him and grasping virtue through His grace, she meets with Him
Asaru
Good is the month of Asaru, when the sun blazes in the sky. The earth suffers sorrow and is parched and heated like fire. The heat dries up moisture and men die in anxiety. Even then the sun wearies not in his task. The sun’s chariot moves on, the wife looks for the shade and the grass-hoppers chirp in the forest. She, who departs, tying the bundle of sins, suffers hereafter and she, who remembers the True Lord, obtains peace. Nãnak, my death and life are with the Lord, to whom I have surrendered this soul of mine.
Savan
In Sãvan, be thou happy, 0 my soul. The season has come when the clouds rain. I love my Spouse with my soul and body, but my Darling has gone abroad. My beloved comes not home. I am dying with the sorrow of separation. The flash of lightning terrifies me. Lonely is my couch and I am greatly grieved. I am dying of pain, 0 my mother. Say, without God, how can sleep and appetite come to me ? The raiment affords my body no comfort. Nãnak, she alone is the chaste bride, who merges in the being of her Beloved Spouse.
Bhadau
In Bhädau, the bride in the bloom of youth strays in doubt, but she afterwards regrets. The ponds and meadows are filled with water. It is the rainy season the time of merry-making. It rains during the dark night, How can the young bride have peace ? The frogs and peacocks shriek. ‘Beloved, my beloved’ cries and shrieks the pied-cuckoo and the snakes go about biting. The mosquitoes sting and the pools are filled to the brim. Without her Lord, how can the wife obtain comfort ? I will ask my Guru and walk accordingly
Asuni
In Asuni, come 0 my Beloved. Thy wife is repining herself to death. If the Lord makes her meet, then alone can she meet with Him, but the bride is ruined by the love of another. When the bride is disfigured by falsehood, then the Spouse forsakes her. Then bloom the reed and tamarix diocia. Summer is left behind and the winter season lies ahead. Seeing this play my mind wavers. All over the ten sides the boughs are green and verdant. That which slowly ripens, is sweet. Meet thou me, 0 my Love in Asuni. The True Guru has become my mediator.
Kataki
In Kataki, what pleases the Lord, that is recorded in the mortal’s destiny. The lamp, which is lit by quintessence; That easily burns. Love is the oil of the lamp, that unites the bride with her Groom. The bride is in bliss and bloom. She, whom sin kills, becomes not fruitful at her death. When killed by virtue, then dies she really. They, whom Thou, 0 Lord, blesseth with Thy Name and devotional service, sit in their own home. Even then their hope rests on Thee. Says Nänak, 0 Lord, open the shutters of Thy door and meet me. A moment, now, is like six months to me.
Manghar
Good is the month of Manghar for those, who merge in the Lord’s Being, by singing His praise. The virtuous wife utters the Lord’s praise. My ever-stable love is pleasing to me. Moveless, wise and Omniscient is my Creator-Lord, but the whole world is moveable. They, who possess the virtue of the gnosis and meditation, merge in the Lord’s Being. They are pleasing the Lord and the Lord is pleasing to them. The songs, music and the poems of poets have I heard, but it is through the Lord’s Name that sorrow flees. Nanak, only that bride is dear unto her Groom, who in His presence performs the hearty service of her Beloved
Pokhi
In Pokhi, the snow falls and the sap of the forest and grass dries up. 0 Lord, why comest Thou not ? Thou abidest within my soul, body and mouth. God, the Life of the world is permeating my mind and body. Through the Guru’s word, enjoy I His Love. The Lord’s Light is contained in the egg-born, the foetusborn, the sweat-born, the earth-born and all the hearts. O Lord of compassion, the Beneficent one, bless me with Thy vision and grant me understanding, that I may obtain salvation. Nãnak, with love and pleasure, God, the Enjoyer enjoys the bride, who bears Him love and affection.
Maghi
In the month of Maghi I become immaculate by realising that the place of pilgrimage is within me. I have easily met my Friend, by enshrining His virtues and merging in His Being. Hear Thou me, 0 my darling and beauteous Lord; Thine merits I have enshrined in my mind, If it please Thee, I shall bathe in Thy tank. The Ganges, Jamna the confluence of three streams, seven oceans, charity, alms and worship are contained in the Lord’s Name. I realise that the One Lord is pervading every age. Nãnak, in Maghi, the ablution at the sixtyeight holies is contained in the meditation of the Supreme elixir of the Lord’s Name.
Phalguni
In Phalguni, the soul of those, to whom Lord’s love is pleasing is in bloom. She, who effaces her self-conceit night and day abides in spiritual bliss. When it pleases Him, efface I the worldly love from my mind and the Lord mercifuly comes to my home. Though I may wear many garbs, yet without Love, I shall find not a place in His mansion When my Beloved so wished, I decorated myself with garlands, string of pearls, perfumes and raiments of silk. Nãnak, the Guru has united me with God and I, the bride have obtained my Groom in my very home