Word Of The Day: raamdaas Sarovar

ਰਾਮਦਾਸ ਸਰੋਵਰੁ (raamdaas sarovar)
Meaning: The pool of God’s devotees.

Quote:
ਸੰਤਹੁ ਰਾਮਦਾਸ ਸਰੋਵਰੁ ਨੀਕਾ॥ ਜੋ ਨਾਵੈ ਸੋ ਕੁਲੁ ਤਰਾਵੈ   ਉਧਾਰੁ ਹੋਆ ਹੈ ਜੀ ਕਾ॥
saňtahu raamdaas sarovar neekaa. jo naavai so kul taraavai   udhaar hoaa hai jee kaa.
O saintly people! The pool of God’s devotees is very sublime. Whoever bathes in it, has his soul liberated, and his family and lineage are saved.
– Guru Arjan Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, Page 623

Message: After the pool of the Divine (Divinity) and the Guru (Gurbani), it is the pool of devotees – the company or the association with Guru-inspired and divine-centred people that helps us in the struggles of life. This company plays the role of a pool – a symbol of cleansing and purity – and helps us rid of our negativity and wrong perceptions.

Thus after the Guru and the Divine, the mentors we seek should be wise and humble people who can help us liberate ourselves from false knowledge. In this way, our family is also saved as the knowledge and right actions gained from associating with the right-minded people are passed down to future generations.

ਸੰਤ ਸਰੋਵਰ ਨਾਵੈ॥ ਸੋ ਜਨੁ ਪਰਮ ਗਤਿ ਪਾਵੈ॥
That person who bathes in the pool of the saintly people obtains the supreme status.
– Guru Arjan Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, Page 623

Etymology: Blend of raam (the Divine) + daas (slave, servant or devotee) and sarovar (pool).

Notes: Literally, ‘Raamdaas sarovar’ seems to refer to (Guru) Raam Daas’s pool, however it implies ‘the pool of the devotees’ (Raam meaning God, and Daas meaning servants or devotees). The verses given at the end of the message above, which are from the same hymn, clarify it. For further information and understanding please refer to the hymn in the Guru Granth Sahib, Page 623.