In Praise of Saints - The Guru uses Symbolic Language to embellish the description

Most of the Scriptures of the different faiths, and different world cultures are found written in Symbolic Language and Myths, the riddles to solve. The idea behind appears to be is to embellish the description, to lay emphasis on the importance of the message being converyed and to make it more scholarly. The Sikh Scriptures are no exception. There are few Blessed Ones who go deep into the matter and unfold the riddles.

The following Composition of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Jee which conveys the Praise of the Creator Lord's devotees or Saints, mentions of the Saints body as "dharat sohavi", and their mind as "tal sohava" - literal meaning of the words used are - "beautiful lanscape"; and "beautiful pool". Having not understood the Symbolic meaning of the words "dharat" and "tal", all scholars have stated that the Guru referred to digging of the holy tank of Amritsar. But if we read the whole of the text, it does not collaborate with the literal meaning of the two words, but only conveys the praise of the Lord's devotee.

We all should be thankful to late Prof. (Dr) Sahib Singh Jee, who translated these words as "the beautiful bodies" with "beautiful mind" of the Saints, which adequately fits in with the purport of the whole of the Composition. Let us read the Composition.

"The Lord Himself has stood up to resolve the affairs of the Saints; He has come to complete their tasks. The Lord created their beautiful body (landscape), and the beautiful mind (pool); within it is contained the Ambrosial Name of God. The Ambrosial Name of God is filling my mind; all my assignments are successfully performed and my job is perfectly complete; thus all my desires are fulfilled. Congratulations are pouring in from all over the world; all my sorrows are eliminated. The Vedas and the Puraanas sing the Praises of the Perfect, Unchanging, Imperishable Primal Lord. The Transcendent Lord has kept His promise, and confirmed His nature; Nanak meditates on the Name of the Lord. 1
The Creator has given me the nine treasures, wealth and spiritual powers, and I do not lack anything. Eating, spending and enjoying, I have found peace; the gifts of the Creator Lord continually increase. His gifts increase and shall never be exhausted; I have found the Inner-knower, the Searcher of hearts. Millions of obstacles have all been removed, and pain does not even approach me. Tranquility, peace, poise and bliss in abundance prevail, and all my hunger is satisfied. Nanak sings the Glorious Praises of his Lord and Master, whose Glorious Greatness is wonderful and amazing. 2 .
It was His job, and He has done it; what can the mere mortal being do? The devotees are adorned, singing the Glorious Praises of the Lord; they proclaim His eternal victory. Singing the Glorious Praises of the Lord of the Universe, bliss wells up, and we are friends with the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. He Who created ths human mind (sacred pool) - how can His praises be recounted? The merits of the sixty-eight sacred shrines of pilgrimage, charity, good deeds and immaculate lifestyle, are found in this sacred pool of the human Mind. It is the natural way of the Lord and Master to purify sinners; Nanak takes the Support of the Lord abiding in him (SABDA). 3 .
The treasure of virtue is my God, the Creator Lord; what Praises of Yours should I sing, O Lord? The prayer of the Saints is, "O Lord and Master, please bless us with the supreme, sublime essence of Your Name." Please, grant us Your Name, grant us this blessing, and do not forget us, even for an instant. Chant the Glorious Praises of the World-Lord, O my tongue; sing them forever, night and day. One who enshrines love for the Naam, the Name of the Lord, his mind and body are drenched with Ambrosial Nectar. Prays Nanak, my desires have been fulfilled; gazing upon the Blessed Vision of the Lord, I live. 4 . 7 . 10 ."
(Suhi M.5, Chhand, page 783)