Gurbani Word Of The Day: niraňjan

ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ (niraňjan)

Meaning: adjective: Immaculate, beyond the influence of Maya, the world and its traps; an adjective used for the Divine.

Quote:
ਸੋ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ ਹਰਿ  ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ   ਹਰਿ ਅਗਮਾ ਅਗਮ ਅਪਾਰਾ॥ 
ਉਹ ਵਿਆਪਕ -ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਮਾਇਆ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵ ਤੋਂ ਨਿਰਲੇਪ ਹੈ, ਉਹ ਹਰੀ -ਪੁਰਖ ਮਾਇਆ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਵ ਤੋਂ ਅਲੇਪ ਹੈ, ਉਹ ਹਰੀ (ਮਨ ਦੀ) ਪਹੁੰਚ ਤੋਂ ਪਰੇ ਹੈ, (ਇੰਦ੍ਰੀਆਂ ਦੀ) ਪਹੁੰਚ ਤੋਂ ਪਰੇ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਪਰੇ ਤੋਂ ਪਰੇ (ਭਾਵ, ਮਨੁਖੀ ਸੂਝ ਸਮਝ ਤੋਂ ਵੀ ਪਰੇ) ਹੈ।

so purakh niraňjan  hari purakh niraňjan  
hari agmaa agam apaaraa.
The all-pervading Being is immaculate, the divine Being is beyond the influence of Maya, beyond the reach (of the mind), beyond the reach (of sensory organs) and boundless (beyond human intellect). -Guru Ram Das, Guru Granth Sahib, 10

Message: In the quote above, the Divine has been described as immaculate. In human perspective, this word means being free from immorality, fault, flaw or impurity. It means being pure. The purity of the Creator is, however, beyond human comprehension He cannot be fully described. He is unrivalled.

Unable to describe His perfection, we focus on who He is and how He can help us be true to Him.

Explanation: He is the Creator. In the play of His creation, whatever pleases Him comes to pass. He created the universe. He fashioned it. He can also destroy it.

He is all pervading. He is in every one of us and everywhere. He is both Master and servant. He is the Giver and taker. As He gives us life and love, He also takes away our sadness and sorrow.

He is limitless and infinite. No way can we speak of all of His virtues, nor can we describe them. Countless devotees have praised Him from time immemorial. They worship Him in various ways – through prayer, chants, rituals, austerities, doing charity.

Divine blessings are always overflowing. It is, however, only those who abide by His will, who receive His grace.

Are we humble enough before the Divine to accept His will over ours? Can we shed our egos and surrender completely to His will?

Etymology: From Sanskrit niraňjan, blend of nir, a prefix (without, beyond) + aňjan (anointing, ointment) → Punjabi aňjan (kohl, representing Maya, worldly temptations and snares).