Gurbani Word Of The Day: Nagar

ਨਗਰੁ (nagar)
Meaning: noun: Literally, town or city, but here, the body.

Quote:
ਕਾਮਿ ਕਰੋਧਿ ਨਗਰੁ ਬਹੁ ਭਰਿਆ   ਮਿਲਿ ਸਾਧੂ ਖੰਡਲ ਖੰਡਾ ਹੇ॥
kaam karodh nagar bahu bhariaa   mil saadhoo khaňḍal khaňḍaa he.
The body is filled to the brim with anger and lust; I have broken them into bits by meeting with the Sage, the Guru. – Guru Ram Das, Guru Granth Sahib, 13

Message: This body of ours is a creation of the Divine. His presence as well as our ego that separates us from Him, resides in this same body. His potential virtues and attributes as much as our potential vices such as wrath and excessive desire also exist in this body.

As a devotee, one salutes and bows before the Divine with folded hands in thankfulness and gratitude for blessings one receives. With sustenance and support from the Divine, one lives in peace.

On the other hand, where egoism or ‘self-centredness’ prevails, one lives in fear and illusion and as if pricked by thorns, is continuously in pain. The further one moves away from the Divine and His wisdom, the greater is the pain and discomfort.

One can relieve this pain if the choice is made to establish a connection with the Divine, to be humble and open to receiving the guidance.

Seek the Guru’s wisdom and through its understanding and practice, establish a connection with the One who will replace fear and suffering with peace and serenity.

We are weak but we belong to the Powerful. Call Him and seek His support.

Etymology: From Sanskrit nagar (town) → Pali nagar → Prakrit ṇagar → Gurbani nagar (town, symbolic of the body).