Var Sri Bhagauti Ji
  Also known as Chandi di Var
Var Sri Bhagauti Ji can be found in the Dasam Granth and is third in a trilogy of compositions about the goddess Durga. It is one of the few compositions written by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in punjabi and it is regarded as one of most significant compositions in this language. It narrates the exploits of the goddess Durga as she battles the demons to wrestle control of the lands of the gods.
 
It was a tradition in the olden days to recite poetry and vars of chivalry, courage and super human exploits on the eve of battle to imbue the courageous spirit and vigor needed to face the enemy. Having this in mind, Guru Gobind Singh Ji wrote these compositions to fill the Sikhs with a martial spirit when they went into war and not because of any admiration for the goddess.
It has been suggested by some that Guru Gobind Singh Ji may have worshipped Durga and thus wrote this var as an ode to her. Anyone with even the slightest knowledge of Sikhism or the tenth Guru will know that this is absolutely absurd. For Guru Sahib Ji worshipped the One true Lord and none else. At the beginning of this composition Guru Gobind Singh Ji is very careful to state this. In the first verse Guru Sahib Ji evokes God with the name of Bhagauti and then calls upon the nine Gurus by name to assist and protect him. Guru Sahib Ji then recounts how God then created the whole universe. It should be noted that at a time when most of civilization regarded the world to be flat Guru Sahib Ji states that God created the worlds without pillars or support . Guru Sahib Ji then states quite clearly that Durga (as well as Sri RamChandra Ji and Bhagwan Krishan Ji) obtained her power and strength from the One Timeless Lord.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji has written :

 
Mai ‘n’ ganays(i) pritham manaaoo(n), kisn bisn kabhoo(n) nh dhiaaoo(n)
Kaan sunay pahichaan ‘n’ thin so, liv laagee more pag in so

I do not praise or hail Ganesh nor do I let the thought of Vishnu or any incarnations of Vishnu enter my mind. I know of their existence, but I do not ever worship them. May my prayers and thoughts always be in the immaculate, holy feet of the Lord (the one and only).

Mhaa kaal rakhvaar hamaaroo , Mhaa(n) loh mai kinkar thaaro
Apnaa jaan karo rakhvaar , ba(n)h(i) gahay kee laaj bichaar

I pray to my protector, the one that brings death to Death (the deity ‘Klal’; which was worshipped in the past). Oh unbreakable one, I am your slave. Make me your slave oh Lord and watch over me. (I have come to your sanctuary) So preserve my honour.

The Var Bhagauti Ji is the mukh vaak of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, that is, it is a composition as uttered by Guru Sahib Ji and the descriptions of war and battle are the most stunning (although some impact is lost due to translation) and Guru Sahib Ji heaps praise on all who are brave and courageous, whether they are the gods or demons.

 

  Verse 1 - 10 Verse 11 - 20 Verse 21 - 30 Verse31 - 40 Verse 41 - 50 Verse 51 - 55
      Home