ਮਹਤੁ (mahat)
Meaning: adjective: Important, great.
Quote:
ਪਵਣੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਪਾਣੀ ਪਿਤਾ ਮਾਤਾ ਧਰਤਿ ਮਹਤੁ॥
pavaṇ guroo paaṇee pitaa maataa dharat mahat.
(For living beings) air is vital like guru, water is essential like father, and the earth is important like mother. – Guru Nanak Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, Page 08
Message: The couplet at the end of Jap Ji, begins with this interesting verse and says that, just as in life one has a mother, father, teacher and care givers, nature has provided earth as the mother, water as the father, air as the guru, and the two parts of 24-hour cycle – day and night – like two caregivers.
Water is essential like a father (sperm) to give life; the earth is important like a mother (gestation and feeding) to provide nourishment, and air (life-force) is vital as a guru to infuse life in us. Day provides the opportunity to earn a living whilst the night lulls us to rest as a caregiver. The world is thus like a theatre, where we all are actors playing our roles.
Each one sows the seeds of one’s actions and reaps the fruits accordingly. We are evaluated based on our deeds, good or bad. According to these deeds, some get closer to the Divine and others stray away and keep on wandering, like being sent for remedial training until one gets it right.
Those who work hard and seek spiritual advancement, living righteously, contemplating with love and dedication, and leading life in accordance with divine will, achieve spiritual stability and inner peace. Through their good actions and endeavours, they inspire countless more.
Etymology: From Sanskrit mahattv, noun (greatness) → Pali mahatt → Sihali mahat and Punjabi mahatt.
