The 22 Vaars Riddle

Introduction to the Riddle

Imagine a vast, barren desert, a place where the sun blazes fiercely and the air is dry and unforgiving. In this desert, the people endure hardships—facing the relentless heat and dust storms that seem to offer no respite. But amidst this arid wasteland, there exists something truly extraordinary: a beautiful garden, a sanctuary filled with life, peace, and an endless source of relief.

The garden, though small in appearance from the outside, is vast and profound once you enter. It contains a series of ponds and wells, each filled with cool, pure water. Though the water looks the same from afar, each pond offers a unique taste and experience—each one more refreshing than the last.

A fortunate soul ventures into this garden and finds themselves drawn to one particular pond. The water is so refreshing that they feel their suffering melt away. As they explore further, they discover more ponds, each situated in different zones of the garden, each zone offering its own distinct experience. The ponds are not just sources of refreshment, but also of wisdom and joy—each one leading to a deeper understanding of the world around them.

But there's a catch: not everyone can experience the true beauty of these ponds. Only those who understand how to navigate the garden can truly immerse themselves in its life-giving waters.

This is not just any ordinary garden, nor are the ponds simply pools of water. There is a hidden spiritual meaning to all that lies within it, and to truly experience the garden’s gift, one must understand its deeper significance.

Now, the riddle unfolds:

What is this garden, these zones, and these life-giving ponds? What are the keys to understanding their deeper significance, and who are the fortunate ones who can truly immerse themselves in the garden’s blessings?

Solution

The desert is this world, and the garden is Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the only source of relief in this world. The zones in the garden represent the different Raags (musical scales) in Guru Sahib, and the ponds mentioned in the story are the 22 Vaars.

The Vaars and Their Corresponding Zones

There were many hints in the story that alluded to the 22 Vaars. Below are some of the key references:

• The 3rd zone is Raag Gauri, which has 2 Vaars: Mahalla 4 and Mahalla 5.
• The 5th zone is Raag Gujri, which also has 2 Vaars: Mahalla 3 and Mahalla 5.
• Another zone or Raag with 2 Vaars is Raag Maaroo.
• The lucky zone with 3 Vaars is Raag Ramkali.

The Importance of Santhiya

The Mehima (greatness) of the Vaars is beyond description. What should one write and where should one begin? The key to experiencing the full Anand (bliss) of the 22 Vaars is Santhiya—mastery of the text and its meanings. Without being fluent in these Vaars, it becomes difficult to experience the full joy because the Baani is often difficult and intricate to understand.

The Hardest Vaars

The most challenging Vaars are found in the following Raags:

• Raag Maajh
• Raag Gujri Mahalla 5
• Raag Jaitsree
• Raag Maaru Dakhne
• Raag Saarang
• Raag Malaar

Other Vaars are considered intermediate or easier to read.

The Path to Becoming an Akhand Paathi

Someone recently asked, "How does one become an Akhand Paathi?" The answer is simple: one must be fluent in all 22 Vaars and Bhagat Baani. Only then can someone truly be classified as an Akhand Paathi, and this fluency is key to becoming a successful Paathi.

Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh Ji is a great example. When he first entered Sikhi, he became completely absorbed (Baavra) in reading the 22 Vaars and Bhagat Baani day and night. He was so immersed in his Paath that he would lose consciousness, even in class. From this, we learn that if we want to have the Darshan (vision) of Waheguru Ji, we too must engage deeply in Paath of Punj Granthi, the 22 Vaars, and Bhagat Baani.

Daily Practice of the 22 Vaars

It is possible to complete all 22 Vaars each day for a few days, though if that seems difficult, one can aim to do them in a week, or even in 22 days—one Vaar per day. After this, you can switch to Bhagat Baani in a similar manner. However, it is essential to recite Punj Granthi every single day, no matter what.

This practice is for those who are serious about achieving Darshan of Waheguru Ji and do not wish to return to this world again.

Helpful Chart for Paath of 22 Vaars

Below is a chart that can help seekers of Waheguru Ji in their Paath of the 22 Vaars. It is highly beneficial to recite them directly from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji or from Senchis (original manuscripts) of Guru Sahib, rather than from Pothis that only contain the 22 Vaars. This way, the Vaar Naqsha (mapping) that appears in the Guru Granth Sahib Ji will be imprinted on the mind.

Back to Gurmat Gyan (English) List