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The rainy season is associated with this Raag.

Guru Nanak Dev ji tells us,

Page: 1254: ……I hear the thunder in the clouds, my mind is soothed with the love of my Lord. The rain pours and my mind is drenched in Divine love.

For this painting, I chose to depict the grey clouds gathering and it’s beginning to rain. This raaga is associated with the rainy season.

The dark grey clouds have gathered once again….ready for a monsoonal down pour…..
The Guru says ….just as the rain quenches the parched earth ….he also longs to be soaked in the down pour of Divine love.

~ Dr Navjeet Kaur

A man keen to learn about Sikhism came to Punjab to understand the faith better. he was greatly enlightened by the Sikh religion. Reportedly, he’s been touring several historic sites and learning about Sikh history. In one of his visits to a Gurdwara Sahib, he did 84 Japji Sahib Paaths at Gurdwara Sahib Goindwal.

The man received immense respect from people on social networks. One person stated he lived just a few blocks away from the Gurdwara but might have never even done a single Japji Sahib Paath. However, the man was inspired after looking at the picture of the English man and has decided to come back to Sikhi.

The man has appeared to inspire a number of persons who are blessed to be born as Sikhs but fail to value it. We should encourage everyone with a righteous spiritual longing to go for that virtuous treasure. The practice at Goindwal Sahib is a great opportunity to dwell in the Shabd of Gurbani.

Dhan Sikhi! Dhan Khalsa!

~ Source: Daily Sikh Updates

At the age of 14 he was only with the Maharaja for a few months when one day he was asked to accompany the Maharaja for a hunt.

As they entered the forest, suddenly a man-eating lion jumped on him and threw him on the ground.

Hari Singh was completely caught unaware and did not even have the opportunity to draw his sword. But he got hold of the jaw of the lion and with great force flung the lion away, and withdrawing his sword, with one blow severed the lion’s head. The Maharaja and the other courtiers were extraordinarily amazed at this feat.

From that day onwards Hari Singh was given the appellation of “Nalwa” by the Maharaja, who acknowledged that Hari Singh had killed the lion similar to the way King Nall used to hunt (King Nall was a very brave king and was known for his audacity to kill lions and other dangerous animals with his bare hands, and hence the Maharaja adorned Hari Singh with that title i.e. “Nall-wa”- ‘like Nall’ )

Baron Hugel, a European traveller, writes in his book, “Travels in Kashmir & the Punjab”: – ” I surprised him by knowledge whence he had gained the appellation of Nalwa, and of his having cloven the head of a tiger, who had already seized him as its prey. He told the Diwan to bring some drawings and gave me his portrait, in the act of killing the beast.”

Source: Daily Sikh Update

#DidYouKnow Bertrand Russel was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950 and said this on Guru Granth Sahib Ji & Sikhism, “If some lucky men survive the onslaught of the third world war of atomic and hydrogen bombs, the SIKH religion will be the ONLY means of guiding them.

It has the capability, but Sikhs have not brought out, in broad daylight, the splendid doctrines of their religion, which has come into existence for the benefit of entire mankind.”

Russell was asked that he was talking about the third world war, but isn’t this religion capable of guiding mankind before the third world war?

In reply, Russell said, “Yes, it has this capability, but the Sikhs have not brought out in the broad daylight, the splendid doctrines of this religion which has come into existence for the benefit of the entire mankind. This is their greatest sin and the Sikhs cannot be freed of it.”

What Bertrand was most impressed with was that Sikhism does not have a doctrine of evangelism, that it does not go out to try to subvert and convert. He thought that Sikhs should go out and propagate their great faith.

~ Source: Punjab 2000

The ideal time to recite this raag is in the mid day.
Guru Arjan Dev ji

Ang 1220:
We shall merge again into the one from whom we came….He is the Essence of being.

So for this painting I tried to depict a small part merging into the the whole.
That is the finite droplets of water merging with the infinite ocean..

~ Dr Navjeet Kaur

Both the partridge and the full moon are associated with this raag.

It is considered auspicious to recite the raag during the full moon.

Guru Arjan says:
Ang 1122
When will the night pass? Asks the Chikvi bird. I will find peace only when the rays of the sun shine on me.

So in composing this painting, I wanted to incorporate those things that are associated with this raag….the Partridge and the full moon….you will notice at the bottom of the painting is the silhouette of the Chikvi as if it is looking at the moon….asking when will the night pass?

When will the Sun shine again?

In the sky birds in flight are returning to their nests…the full moon is framed by the branches….and holds its place in the center of the painting.

~ Dr Navjeet Kaur