Alahania, a sorrowful Punjabi folk song, emphasizes the belief in IkOankar, the all-powerful force behind existence. It reflects on the transient nature of life, where attachment to worldly things leads to suffering and perpetuates the cycle of birth and death. However, those who meditate on IkOankar's divine essence and follow the teachings of wisdom find liberation. They embrace death as a natural part of existence and remain immersed in IkOankar's presence, radiating love and joy.

Explore Alahania (Mahala 3): https://bit.ly/tggsp-alahani-3

Featuring: Jasleen Kaur - ⁠⁠⁠https://sikhri.org/people/jasleen-kaur

Join Harinder Singh and Mo Dhaliwal as they delve into the profound experiences of the Third Ghallughara (large-scale massacre) in India in 1984 and beyond. This insightful conversation goes beyond mere recounting, aiming to illuminate diverse perspectives on Sikh history, politics, spirituality, and future aspirations. Don't miss out on this enlightening discussion! Harinder Singh (http://sikhri.org/people/harinder-singh)

Harinder Singh, Senior Fellow in Research and Policy at the Sikh Research Institute, speaks with Sukhman Singh, Co-Founder and Director of Ensaaf, delving into the occurrence, extent, and aftermath of the Sikh Genocide. Their dialogue seeks to illuminate the organized violence orchestrated by the Indian State against the Sikh community, resulting in numerous disappearances and extrajudicial killings. Ensaaf, a human rights organization, has meticulously documented close to 20,000 such instances, underscoring the widespread scale of the atrocities perpetrated.

Featuring:

Harinder Singh (https://sikhri.org/people/harinder-singh)

Sukhman Singh

Watch the discussion at: https://youtu.be/KjLZpLh3qGg

#SikhHistory #Sikhism #SikhCommunity #Sikh

Tune in to Whispers of the Beloved: Reflections in Spring, a heartwarming podcast episode that intertwines the breathtaking beauty of nature’s rebirth with the seeker’s profound spiritual journey. Immerse yourself in the vivid imagery and contemplative verses inspired by the timeless wisdom of Guru Nanak Sahib.

Join Inni Kaur on a poetic odyssey where each stanza echoes the eternal truth, guiding the spirit towards transcendence amidst the blossoming petals of spring and the transformative power of initiation.

Featuring: Inni Kaur (https://sikhri.org/people/inni-kaur)

Alahania is a mournful or sorrowful Panjabi folk song. When a person dies, friends and relatives usually visit the deceased’s family to share their sorrow and memories of their loved one’s life and deeds. Expressing such feelings creates the core of the folk poetic form Alahani. The Alahania composition revealed by Guru Nanak Sahib redirects and transforms the sorrow and grief of death and separation from loved ones into a serene state, urging the being to embrace the will of IkOankar (the Divine). By illustrating the insignificance and impermanence of the material world, this composition inspires the mind towards a perpetual connection with the eternal companion, IkOankar.

Explore Alahani (Mahala 1): https://bit.ly/tggsp-alahani

Featuring: Jasleen Kaur - ⁠⁠https://sikhri.org/people/jasleen-kaur

Join Santbir Singh and Sean Holden as they delve deeper into the captivating saga of Rani Jind Kaur in the concluding episode of this podcast series. In this installment, the nefarious machinations of the British against Rani Jind Kaur are starkly exposed. Exiled and subjected to a reduction in her rightful share from the Panjab treasury, Rani Jind Kaur pens a poignant letter to the British representative, Henry  Montgomery Lawrence. In her message, she laments the betrayal of trust, accusing them of unjustly stripping her of her possessions and separating her from her son. With heartfelt anguish, she implores for justice, invoking the sanctity of motherhood and appealing to the conscience of those who have perpetrated such cruelty upon her. 

Don't miss this riveting conclusion as Rani Jind Kaur's resilience and defiance against colonial oppression shine through in her unwavering struggle for justice.

Listen to the second and final part of the podcast series: https://bit.ly/RaniJindKaur

Tune in to Santbir Singh and Sean Holden as they delve into the captivating tale of Rani Jind Kaur, the last queen of Panjab, in the inaugural episode of this podcast series. But why is it crucial for us to unravel her narrative?

Understanding this epoch of Sikh history holds paramount significance, marking the advent of colonialism and its enduring impact on Sikh heritage. Rani Jind Kaur emerges as a pivotal figure within this historical milieu, embodying the complexities of Panjab's colonial encounter. Initially, she stood as a formidable adversary to the British, only to later find herself ensnared as their captive. Notably, Rani Jind Kaur occupies a unique space in Sikh history as one of the few prominent female figures whose stories have endured the passage of time. Often overshadowed by their male counterparts in historical narratives, the accounts of remarkable Sikh women like her have unfortunately been neglected. Despite the challenges, Rani Jind Kaur epitomizes resilience amidst the intricate web of political intrigues, steadfastly striving to preserve the sovereignty of the Sikh Kingdom.

Let's embark on a journey to unravel the enigma of Rani Jind Kaur, born in 1817 in Gujranwala, where the veil of her early life remains mysterious.

bit.ly/RaniJindKaur

Featuring:

Santbir Singh - https://sikhri.org/people/santbir-singh

Sean Holden

Introducing Paigham-i-Goya: Expression of Love, new translations of a selection of ghazals from Bhai Nand Lal “Goya.” Today’s podcast begins with a recitation of Bhai Nand Lal’s ghazal in Persian, followed by a new English transcreation, the result of a unique collaboration between Dr. Fatima Fayyaz and Dr. Nadhra Khan of Lahore University of Management Sciences, Damanpreet Singh, writer, and graduate student, and Inni Kaur of SikhRI, followed by a discussion between Daman and Inni about the beauty of the ghazal and the transcreation process.

Follow Damanpreet and Inni as they discuss their learnings and challenges while engaging with the words of Bhai Nand Lal. The unique and symbolic meanings that these ghazals reveal are a treat for those who yearn to get a glimpse into the court of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib.

Author: Bhai Nand Lal “Goya” 

Collection: Divan-i-Goya 

Transcreators: Fatima Fayyaz, Inni Kaur, Nadhra Khan, and Damanpreet Singh 

Persian Narrator: Gholamhossein Sajadi 

English Narrator: Ryan Gillis

Persian

درونِ‌ مردمکِ دیده دلربا دیدم
به هر طرف که نظر کردم آشنا دیدم

به گردِ کعبه و بتخانه هر دو گردیدم 
دگر نیافتم آنجا همین ترا دیدم 

به هر کجا که نظر کردم از روی تحقیق!
ولی بخانه دل خانه خدا دیدم 

گدایی درِ کوی تو به ز سلطانی ست
خلافتِ‌ دو جهان ترکِ مدعا دیدم 

مرا ز روزِ ازل آمد این ندا گویا
که انتهایِ جهان را در ابتدا دیدم

English Translation

I saw the Beloved within the pupil of my eye. 
Everywhere I looked, I saw the Beloved. 

I circumambulated both the K’abah and the temple. 
I found no one there and only saw You. 

I looked everywhere to seek the truth. 
But saw God’s home within the home of my heart. 

To be a beggar at Your threshold is worthier than any kingship. 
I realized that authority over the two worlds comes when desires are relinquished.

Goya, I’ve heard this calling ever since eternity.
That the summit of the world in the Origin. 

~~~

Featuring: ⁠Damanpreet Singh⁠, ⁠Inni Kaur⁠

#BhaiNandLal #Ghazal #Persian #Ghazal #Sikhism #GuruGobindSingh

Revealed to Baba Sundar, the great-grandson of Guru Amardas Sahib, Sadd holds great significance in the Sikh funeral ceremony and is recited during final rites.

In this composition, Baba Sundar records the last instructions from Guru Amardas Sahib for the Sikhs to observe when the Guru departs. These instructions cover spiritual and social guidance, interwoven with a historical narration.

'Sadd' refers to an invitation, a call, or a heartfelt cry, particularly within the Panjabi culture, where it invokes the imagery of calling out loudly to a loved one. When Guru Amardas Sahib (1479-1574 CE) realized that the time had come for him to leave the earthly realm, he sent an invitation to his family and disciples, conveying the message of his departure as per the call from IkOankar (the Divine). Explore Anand Sahib: https://bit.ly/TGGSP-Sadd

Featuring: Jasleen Kaur - ⁠https://sikhri.org/people/jasleen-kaur

The date of Guru Nanak Sahib's birth is immaterial. Our focus needs to be on the Infinite Wisdom; that’s Prakash Purab. In Sikhi, it's not about the birth date; it’s about the profound ideas, and what we do with these ideas — the impacts they generate — are what truly matters.

Featuring ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Harinder Singh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ask a question today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SikhRI.org/Ask⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Last week, The Guru Granth Sahib Project launched the annotation of pauris thirty-one to forty of Anand Sahib by Guru Amardas Sahib (1479-1574 CE) in Rag Ramkali, a musical mode that evokes compassion. In the Sikh tradition, Anand Sahib is of such great significance that the entire composition or a portion (first five pauris and last pauri) is recited or sung to conclude all congregational and private ceremonies. Explore Anand Sahib: https://bit.ly/Anand-Sahib-31

Featuring Inni Kaur: https://sikhri.org/people/inni-kaur