Bhatt Mathura

Bhatt Mathura is the author of fourteen Swaiyas, out of which seven are in praise of Guru Ramdas the 4th Guru and the other seven in praise of Guru Arjan Sahib the 5th Guru. He was the great admirer of the house of Nanak and had immense faith in the Gurus. He was fully aware of the message of Gurbani (utterances of the Gurus) and has very intelligently used the typical vocabulary of the scriptures while describing the Holy Grace of the Gurus.

Being a scholar, Bhatt Mathura composed his Swaiyas in the language easily understood by the masses, which was the secret of his popularity. Bhatt Mathura was a staunch believer of the transmigration of the soul. He starts with Guru Nanak and traces the history of the first five masters. He goes to the extent of saying that God itself is residing in the form of Guru Arjan Sahib and God Almighty embeded his own light in the heart of Guru Nanak. He says:

He passed his light on to Guru Angad and the light merged in light.

Guru Angad with utmost humility, accepted Guru Amar Das as the True Master. He passed on his holy canopy to Guru Ram Das. Sayeth Mathura, only a glimpse of Guru Ram Das inspired Guru Arjan to follow the trail of sublimity. The entire universe acknowledged and saluted the greatness of Guru Arjan,

Benignly bestowed by the Lord itself. As long as the writ of the Lord on the forehead does not reveal itself, one lost in the mist of disbeiief, keeps yearning.

The world, sunk in the deep sea of Kalyug, disillusioned, without any hope or faith,

Says Mathura the poet, "The essence of the truth" Guru Arjan came to the world, to save all the sinners, And all those, who meditated on the Guru, - Were redeemed of the circle of births and deaths.

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Bhatt Mathura, Ang 1409.

Mathura and his father Bhikkhã were among the Bhatt or Brãhman bards who at­tended upon the Gurus and who composed panegyrics in their honour. Their prosodic form is savaiyya. Bhatt Mathurã was also trained in martial skills during the time of Guru Hargobind (1595-1644). He fell a martyr in the battle of Amritsar which, according to Bhatt Vahi Multàni Sindhi, took place on 14 April 1634.

Bani

ਜੋਤਿ ਰੂਪਿ ਹਰਿ ਆਪਿ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਕਹਾਯਉ ॥
Joṯ rūp har āp gurū Nānak kahā▫ya▫o.
The Embodiment of Light, the Lord itself is called Guru Nanak.

ਤਾ ਤੇ ਅੰਗਦੁ ਭਯਉ ਤਤ ਸਿਉ ਤਤੁ ਮਿਲਾਯਉ ॥
Ŧā ṯe angaḏ bẖa▫ya▫o ṯaṯ si▫o ṯaṯ milā▫ya▫o.
From him, came Guru Angad; His essence was absorbed into the essence.

ਅੰਗਦਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਧਾਰਿ ਅਮਰੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਥਿਰੁ ਕੀਅਉ ॥
Angaḏ kirpā ḏẖār amar saṯgur thir kī▫a▫o.
Guru Angad showed His Mercy, and established Amar Daas as the True Guru.

ਅਮਰਦਾਸਿ ਅਮਰਤੁ ਛਤ੍ਰੁ ਗੁਰ ਰਾਮਹਿ ਦੀਅਉ ॥
Amarḏās amraṯ cẖẖaṯar gur rāmėh ḏī▫a▫o.
Guru Amar Daas blessed Guru Ram Das with the umbrella of immortality.

ਗੁਰ ਰਾਮਦਾਸ ਦਰਸਨੁ ਪਰਸਿ ਕਹਿ ਮਥੁਰਾ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਬਯਣ ॥
Gur Rāmḏās ḏarsan paras kahi mathurā amriṯ ba▫yaṇ.
So speaks Mathura: gazing upon the Blessed Vision, the Darshan of Guru Ram Das, His speech became as sweet as nectar.

ਮੂਰਤਿ ਪੰਚ ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਗੁਰੁ ਅਰਜੁਨੁ ਪਿਖਹੁ ਨਯਣ ॥੧॥
Mūraṯ pancẖ parmāṇ purakẖ gur Arjan pikẖahu na▫yaṇ. ||1||
With your eyes, see the certified Primal Person, Guru Arjan, the Fifth Manifestation of the Guru. ||1||

ਸਤਿ ਰੂਪੁ ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਤੁ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਧਰਿਓ ਉਰਿ ॥
Saṯ rūp saṯ nām saṯ sanṯokẖ ḏẖari▫o ur.
He is the Embodiment of Truth; He has enshrined the True Name, Sat Naam, Truth and contentment within His heart.

ਆਦਿ ਪੁਰਖਿ ਪਰਤਖਿ ਲਿਖ੍ਯ੍ਯਉ ਅਛਰੁ ਮਸਤਕਿ ਧੁਰਿ ॥
Āaḏ purakẖ parṯakẖ likẖ▫ya▫o acẖẖar masṯak ḏẖur.
From the very beginning, the Primal Being has written this destiny upon his forehead.

ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਜੋਤਿ ਜਗਮਗੈ ਤੇਜੁ ਭੂਅ ਮੰਡਲਿ ਛਾਯਉ ॥
Pargat joṯ jagmagai ṯej bẖū▫a mandal cẖẖā▫ya▫o.
His divine light shines forth, dazzling and radiant; His glorious grandeur pervades the realms of the world.

ਪਾਰਸੁ ਪਰਸਿ ਪਰਸੁ ਪਰਸਿ ਗੁਰਿ ਗੁਰੂ ਕਹਾਯਉ ॥
Pāras paras paras paras gur gurū kahā▫ya▫o.
Meeting the Guru, touching the Philosopher's Stone, He was acclaimed as Guru.

ਭਨਿ ਮਥੁਰਾ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਸਦਾ ਥਿਰੁ ਲਾਇ ਚਿਤੁ ਸਨਮੁਖ ਰਹਹੁ ॥
Bẖan mathurā mūraṯ saḏā thir lā▫e cẖiṯ sanmukẖ rahhu.
So speaks Mathura: I constantly focus my consciousness on him; as sunmukh, I look to him.

ਕਲਜੁਗਿ ਜਹਾਜੁ ਅਰਜੁਨੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਸਗਲ ਸ੍ਰਿਸ੍ਟਿ ਲਗਿ ਬਿਤਰਹੁ ॥੨॥
Kaljug jahāj Arjan gurū sagal sarisat lag biṯrahu. ||2||
In this Dark Age of Kali Yuga, Guru Arjan is the Boat; attached to him, the entire universe is safely carried across. ||2||

ਤਿਹ ਜਨ ਜਾਚਹੁ ਜਗਤ੍ਰ ਪਰ ਜਾਨੀਅਤੁ ਬਾਸੁਰ ਰਯਨਿ ਬਾਸੁ ਜਾ ਕੋ ਹਿਤੁ ਨਾਮ ਸਿਉ ॥
Ŧih jan jācẖahu jagṯar par jānī▫aṯ bāsur ra▫yan bās jā ko hiṯ nām si▫o.
I beg from that humble being who is known all over the world, who lives in, and loves the Name, night and day.

ਪਰਮ ਅਤੀਤੁ ਪਰਮੇਸੁਰ ਕੈ ਰੰਗਿ ਰੰਗ੍ਯ੍ਯੌ ਬਾਸਨਾ ਤੇ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਪੈ ਦੇਖੀਅਤੁ ਧਾਮ ਸਿਉ ॥
Param aṯīṯ parmesur kai rang rang▫y▫ou bāsnā ṯe bāhar pai ḏekẖī▫aṯ ḏẖām si▫o.
He is supremely unattached, and imbued with the Love of the Transcendent Lord; he is free of desire, but he lives as a family man.

ਅਪਰ ਪਰੰਪਰ ਪੁਰਖ ਸਿਉ ਪ੍ਰੇਮੁ ਲਾਗ੍ਯ੍ਯੌ ਬਿਨੁ ਭਗਵੰਤ ਰਸੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਅਉਰੈ ਕਾਮ ਸਿਉ ॥
Apar parampar purakẖ si▫o parem lāg▫y▫ou bin bẖagvanṯ ras nāhī a▫urai kām si▫o.
He is dedicated to the Love of the Infinite, Limitless Primal Lord God; he has no concerns for any other pleasure, except for the Lord God.

ਮਥੁਰਾ ਕੋ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਸ੍ਰਬ ਮਯ ਅਰਜੁਨ ਗੁਰੁ ਭਗਤਿ ਕੈ ਹੇਤਿ ਪਾਇ ਰਹਿਓ ਮਿਲਿ ਰਾਮ ਸਿਉ ॥੩॥
Mathurā ko parabẖ sarab ma▫y Arjan gur bẖagaṯ kai heṯ pā▫e rahi▫o mil rām si▫o. ||3||
Guru Arjan is the All-pervading Lord God of Mathura. Devoted to His Worship, he remains attached to the Lord's feet. ||3||

ਅੰਤੁ ਨ ਪਾਵਤ ਦੇਵ ਸਬੈ ਮੁਨਿ ਇੰਦ੍ਰ ਮਹਾ ਸਿਵ ਜੋਗ ਕਰੀ ॥
Anṯ na pāvaṯ ḏev sabai mun inḏar mahā siv jog karī.
All the gods, silent sages, Indra, Shiva and Yogis have not found the Lord's limits -

ਫੁਨਿ ਬੇਦ ਬਿਰੰਚਿ ਬਿਚਾਰਿ ਰਹਿਓ ਹਰਿ ਜਾਪੁ ਨ ਛਾਡ੍ਯ੍ਯਿਉ ਏਕ ਘਰੀ ॥
Fun beḏ birancẖ bicẖār rahi▫o har jāp na cẖẖādi▫ya▫o ek gẖarī.
Not even Brahma who contemplates the Vedas. I shall not give up meditating on the Lord, even for an instant.

ਮਥੁਰਾ ਜਨ ਕੋ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਦੀਨ ਦਯਾਲੁ ਹੈ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਸ੍ਰਿਸ੍ਟਿ ਨਿਹਾਲੁ ਕਰੀ ॥
Mathurā jan ko parabẖ ḏīn ḏa▫yāl hai sangaṯ sarisat nihāl karī.
The God of Mathura is Merciful to the meek; He blesses and uplifts the Sangats throughout the Universe.

ਰਾਮਦਾਸਿ ਗੁਰੂ ਜਗ ਤਾਰਨ ਕਉ ਗੁਰ ਜੋਤਿ ਅਰਜੁਨ ਮਾਹਿ ਧਰੀ ॥੪॥
Rāmḏās gurū jag ṯāran ka▫o gur joṯ Arjan māhi ḏẖarī. ||4||
Guru Ram Das, to save the world, enshrined the Guru's Light into Guru Arjan. ||4||

ਜਗ ਅਉਰੁ ਨ ਯਾਹਿ ਮਹਾ ਤਮ ਮੈ ਅਵਤਾਰੁ ਉਜਾਗਰੁ ਆਨਿ ਕੀਅਉ ॥
Jag a▫or na yāhi mahā ṯam mai avṯār ujāgar ān kī▫a▫o.
In the great darkness of this world, the Lord revealed itself, incarnated as Guru Arjan.

ਤਿਨ ਕੇ ਦੁਖ ਕੋਟਿਕ ਦੂਰਿ ਗਏ ਮਥੁਰਾ ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਨਾਮੁ ਪੀਅਉ ॥
Ŧin ke ḏukẖ kotik ḏūr ga▫e mathurā jinĥ amriṯ nām pī▫a▫o.
Millions of pains are taken away, from those who drink in the Ambrosial Nectar of the Naam, says Mathura.

ਇਹ ਪਧਤਿ ਤੇ ਮਤ ਚੂਕਹਿ ਰੇ ਮਨ ਭੇਦੁ ਬਿਭੇਦੁ ਨ ਜਾਨ ਬੀਅਉ ॥
Ih paḏẖaṯ ṯe maṯ cẖūkėh re man bẖeḏ bibẖed na jān bī▫a▫o.
O mortal being, do not leave this path; do not think that there is any difference between God and Guru.

ਪਰਤਛਿ ਰਿਦੈ ਗੁਰ ਅਰਜੁਨ ਕੈ ਹਰਿ ਪੂਰਨ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਿ ਨਿਵਾਸੁ ਲੀਅਉ ॥੫॥
Parṯacẖẖ riḏai gur Arjan kai har pūran barahm nivās lī▫a▫o. ||5||
The Perfect Lord God has manifested itself; He dwells in the heart of Guru Arjan. ||5||

ਜਬ ਲਉ ਨਹੀ ਭਾਗ ਲਿਲਾਰ ਉਦੈ ਤਬ ਲਉ ਭ੍ਰਮਤੇ ਫਿਰਤੇ ਬਹੁ ਧਾਯਉ ॥
Jab la▫o nahī bẖāg lilār uḏai ṯab la▫o bẖaramṯe firṯe baho ḏẖā▫ya▫o.
As long as the destiny written upon my forehead was not activated, I wandered around lost, running in all directions.

ਕਲਿ ਘੋਰ ਸਮੁਦ੍ਰ ਮੈ ਬੂਡਤ ਥੇ ਕਬਹੂ ਮਿਟਿ ਹੈ ਨਹੀ ਰੇ ਪਛੁਤਾਯਉ ॥
Kal gẖor samuḏar mai būdaṯ the kabhū mit hai nahī re pacẖẖoṯā▫ya▫o.
I was drowning in the horrible world-ocean of this Dark Age of Kali Yuga, and my remorse would never have ended.

ਤਤੁ ਬਿਚਾਰੁ ਯਹੈ ਮਥੁਰਾ ਜਗ ਤਾਰਨ ਕਉ ਅਵਤਾਰੁ ਬਨਾਯਉ ॥
Ŧaṯ bicẖār yahai mathurā jag ṯāran ka▫o avṯār banā▫ya▫o.
O Mathura, consider this essential truth: to save the world, the Lord incarnated itself.

ਜਪ੍ਯ੍ਯਉ ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਅਰਜੁਨ ਦੇਵ ਗੁਰੂ ਫਿਰਿ ਸੰਕਟ ਜੋਨਿ ਗਰਭ ਨ ਆਯਉ ॥੬॥
Jap▫ya▫o jinĥ Arjan ḏev gurū fir sankat jon garabẖ na ā▫ya▫o. ||6||
Whoever meditates on Guru Arjan, shall not have to pass through the painful womb of reincarnation ever again. ||6||

ਕਲਿ ਸਮੁਦ੍ਰ ਭਏ ਰੂਪ ਪ੍ਰਗਟਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮ ਉਧਾਰਨੁ ॥
Kal samuḏar bẖa▫e rūp pargat har nām uḏẖāran.
In the ocean of this Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Lord's Name has been revealed in the Form of Guru Arjan, to save the world.

ਬਸਹਿ ਸੰਤ ਜਿਸੁ ਰਿਦੈ ਦੁਖ ਦਾਰਿਦ੍ਰ ਨਿਵਾਰਨੁ ॥
Basėh sanṯ jis riḏai ḏukẖ ḏariḏar nivāran.
Pain and poverty are taken away from that person, within whose heart the Saint abides.

ਨਿਰਮਲ ਭੇਖ ਅਪਾਰ ਤਾਸੁ ਬਿਨੁ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਕੋਈ ॥
Nirmal bẖekẖ apār ṯās bin avar na ko▫ī.
He is the Pure, Immaculate Form of the Infinite Lord; except for him, there is no other at all.

ਮਨ ਬਚ ਜਿਨਿ ਜਾਣਿਅਉ ਭਯਉ ਤਿਹ ਸਮਸਰਿ ਸੋਈ ॥
Man bacẖ jin jāṇi▫a▫o bẖa▫ya▫o ṯih samsar so▫ī.
Whoever knows him in thought, word and deed, becomes just like him.

ਧਰਨਿ ਗਗਨ ਨਵ ਖੰਡ ਮਹਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਸ੍ਵਰੂਪੀ ਰਹਿਓ ਭਰਿ ॥
Ḏẖaran gagan nav kẖand mėh joṯ savrūpī rahi▫o bẖar.
He is totally pervading the earth, the sky and the nine regions of the planet. He is the Embodiment of the Light of God.

ਭਨਿ ਮਥੁਰਾ ਕਛੁ ਭੇਦੁ ਨਹੀ ਗੁਰੁ ਅਰਜੁਨੁ ਪਰਤਖ੍ਯ੍ਯ ਹਰਿ ॥੭॥੧੯॥
Bẖan mathurā kacẖẖ bẖeḏ nahī gur Arjan parṯakẖ▫y har. ||7||19||
So speaks Mathura: there is no difference between God and Guru; Guru Arjan is the Personification of the Lord itself. ||7||19||

ਅਜੈ ਗੰਗ ਜਲੁ ਅਟਲੁ ਸਿਖ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਸਭ ਨਾਵੈ ॥
Ajai gang jal atal sikẖ sangaṯ sabẖ nāvai.
The stream of the Lord's Name flows like the Ganges, invincible and unstoppable. The Sikhs of the Sangat all bathe in it.

ਨਿਤ ਪੁਰਾਣ ਬਾਚੀਅਹਿ ਬੇਦ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਮੁਖਿ ਗਾਵੈ ॥
Niṯ purāṇ bācẖī▫ah beḏ barahmā mukẖ gāvai.
It appears as if the holy texts like the Puraanaas are being recited there and Brahma himself sings the Vedas.

ਅਜੈ ਚਵਰੁ ਸਿਰਿ ਢੁਲੈ ਨਾਮੁ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਮੁਖਿ ਲੀਅਉ ॥
Ajai cẖavar sir dẖulai nām amriṯ mukẖ lī▫a▫o.
The invincible chauri, the fly-brush, waves over his head; with his mouth, He drinks in the ambrosial nectar of the Naam.

ਗੁਰ ਅਰਜੁਨ ਸਿਰਿ ਛਤ੍ਰੁ ਆਪਿ ਪਰਮੇਸਰਿ ਦੀਅਉ ॥
Gur Arjan sir cẖẖaṯar āp parmesar ḏī▫a▫o.
The Transcendent Lord itself has placed the royal canopy over the head of Guru Arjan.

ਮਿਲਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਅੰਗਦ ਅਮਰ ਗੁਰ ਗੁਰੁ ਰਾਮਦਾਸੁ ਹਰਿ ਪਹਿ ਗਯਉ ॥
Mil Nānak angaḏ amar gur gur Rāmḏās har pėh ga▫ya▫o.
Guru Nanak, Guru Angad, Guru Amar Daas and Guru Ram Das met together before the Lord.

ਹਰਿਬੰਸ ਜਗਤਿ ਜਸੁ ਸੰਚਰ੍ਯ੍ਯਉ ਸੁ ਕਵਣੁ ਕਹੈ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੁ ਮੁਯਉ ॥੧॥
Harbans jagaṯ jas sancẖar▫ya▫o so kavaṇ kahai sarī gur mu▫ya▫o. ||1||
Their Praises echo and resound all over the world; who can possibly say that the Great Gurus are dead? ||1||

ਦੇਵ ਪੁਰੀ ਮਹਿ ਗਯਉ ਆਪਿ ਪਰਮੇਸ੍ਵਰ ਭਾਯਉ ॥
Ḏev purī mėh ga▫ya▫o āp parmesvar bẖā▫ya▫o.
When it was the Will of the Transcendent Lord itself, Guru Ram Das went to the City of God.

ਹਰਿ ਸਿੰਘਾਸਣੁ ਦੀਅਉ ਸਿਰੀ ਗੁਰੁ ਤਹ ਬੈਠਾਯਉ ॥
Har singẖāsaṇ ḏī▫a▫o sirī gur ṯah baṯẖā▫ya▫o.
The Lord offered him his Royal Throne, and seated the Guru upon it.

ਰਹਸੁ ਕੀਅਉ ਸੁਰ ਦੇਵ ਤੋਹਿ ਜਸੁ ਜਯ ਜਯ ਜੰਪਹਿ ॥
Rahas kī▫a▫o sur ḏev ṯohi jas ja▫y ja▫y jampėh.
The angels and gods were delighted; they proclaimed and celebrated Your victory, O Guru.

ਅਸੁਰ ਗਏ ਤੇ ਭਾਗਿ ਪਾਪ ਤਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਭੀਤਰਿ ਕੰਪਹਿ ॥
Asur ga▫e ṯe bẖāg pāp ṯinĥ bẖīṯar kampėh.
The demons ran away; their sins made them shake and tremble inside.

ਕਾਟੇ ਸੁ ਪਾਪ ਤਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਨਰਹੁ ਕੇ ਗੁਰੁ ਰਾਮਦਾਸੁ ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਪਾਇਯਉ ॥
Kāte so pāp ṯinĥ marahu ke gur Rāmḏās jinĥ pā▫i▫ya▫o.
Those people who found Guru Ram Das were rid of their sins.

ਛਤ੍ਰੁ ਸਿੰਘਾਸਨੁ ਪਿਰਥਮੀ ਗੁਰ ਅਰਜੁਨ ਕਉ ਦੇ ਆਇਅਉ ॥੨॥੨੧॥੯॥੧੧॥੧੦॥੧੦॥੨੨॥੬੦॥੧੪੩॥
Cẖẖaṯar singẖāsan pirathmī gur Arjan ka▫o ḏe ā▫i▫a▫o. ||2||21||9||11||10||10||22||60||143||
He gave the Royal Canopy and Throne to Guru Arjan, and came home. ||2||21||9||11||10||10||22||60||143||

~ Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Bhatt Mathura, Ang 1408/ 1409

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