BRIDAL MYSTICISM

I am the bride; the Creator is my Husband
Lord. I adorn myself to His liking. When
it pleases Him, He enjoys me. My
body and mind are joined to the
True Lord (sggs 1128).


The purpose of human life is to love the omniscient Divine. We can do so through many mental states. These various states can be lumped up in the following headings: Shaant Bhaava (tranquility), Daas Bhaava (master and a servant relationship), Sakhaa Bhaava (friendship or comradeship), Vatsalya Bhaava (affection, like between mother and child), and Maadhuriya Bhaava (bridal mysticism — sweetness, as between lover and beloved). On a material platform, these relationships are based on selfishness. However, on the Spiritual platform, they are purely based on selfless love (Bhagti or devotion). The whole idea of all methods of Self-realization is to revive our consciousness of these eternal states by actively loving the Divine Factor within, leading to man's redemption from bondage.

hir ismrq sdw hoie Anµdu suKu AMqir sWiq sIql mnu Apnw: Hari simarat sadaa hoi anand sukh antari saanti seetal manu apanaa: Meditating on God, you will find Bliss and Peace forever deep Within, and your mind will become tranquil and cool (sggs 860).
qU myrw Twkuru hau dwsu qyrw]quJ ibnu Avru nhI ko myrw: Too meraa thaakur hayu daas teraa. Tujh bin avar nahee ko meraa: O Lord, You are my Master; I am Your slave. Without You, I have no one at all (sggs 1144).

imqRü ipAwrw nwnk jI mY Cif gvwieAw rMig ksuMBY BulI: Mitru piaaraa Nanak jee mai shad gavaaiaa rangi kasunbhai bhulee: I abandoned and lost my Frioend, the Divine Beloved, O Nanak; I was fooled by the transitory color of the safflower-- deceptive Maya or world-appearance (sggs 963).

qUM myrw ipqw qUMhY myrw mwqw]qUM myrw bMDpu qUM myrw BRwqw]qUM myrw rwKw sBnI QweI qw Bau kyhw kwVw jIau: Toon meraa pitaa toon hai meraa maataa. Toon meraa bandhap toon meraa bharaataa. Toon meraa rakhaa sabhnee thaayee taa bhaayu kehaa kaaraa jeeyu: O Lord, You are my Father, and You are my Mother. You are my Relative, and You are my Brother. You are my Protector everywhere; why should I feel any fear or anxiety? (sggs 103).

kvl nYn mDur bYn koit sYn sMg soB khq mw jsod ijsih dhI Bwqu Kwih jIau]dyiK rUpu Aiq AnUpu moh mhw mg BeI ikMknI sbd Jnqkwr Kylu pwih jIau: Kaval nain madhur bain koti sain sang sobh kahat maa jasod jisahi dahee bhaat khaahi jeeo. Dekhi roop ati anoop moh mehaa magg bhaee kinkanee sabad jhanatakaar khel paahi jeeo: You are lotus-eyed, with sweet speech, exalted and embellished with millions of companions. Mother Yashoda invites You to eat the sweet rice. Gazing upon Your supremely beautiful form, and hearing the musical sounds of Your silver bells tinkling, she was intoxicated with delight (sggs 1402).
mY kwmxu myrw kMq krqwru]jyhw krwey qyhw krI sIgwr: Mai kaaman meraa kant kartaar. Jehaa karaae tehaa karee seegaar: I am the bride; the Creator is my Husband Lord. I adorn myself to His liking (sggs 1128).
ijnw iprI ipAwru ibnu drsn ikau iqRpqIAY]nwnk imly suBwie gurmuiK iehu mnu rhsIAY: Jinaa piri piyaar bin darsan kiyu tripteeyai. Nanak milai subhaaye gurmukh ih man rahaseeyai: Those who are in love with their Divine Beloved, how can they find satisfaction without His Darshan (Self-realization)? O Nanak, the Gurmukhs (Spiritual beings) meet Him with ease, and his mind blossoms forth in joy (sggs 1422).

To experience the bridal mysticism, all souls are considered as female in relation to the Supreme Being, who is considered the only man (Purukh or Purushottama). The lives of all God-immersed souls or Rasik Bhagatas (lovers of the Divine Name) who have reveled in this form of mysticism testify to this. As indicated in the Gurbani (SGGS) as well, those engrossed in the Bliss of the Divine Love consider the one Divine as Beloved or Husband, and rest as His soul-brides. In other words, considering one's soul as the lover or bride and the Divine Being as her Beloved or Husband, one surrenders the false ego and then maintains this relationship to eternity.

kyqI nwir vru eyku smwil: Ketee naari var ek samaal: There are so many brides of the One Divine Beloved - consider this (sggs 932).
Twkuru eyku sbweI nwir: Thaakur ek sabaaee Naar: There is one Husband Lord, and all are His brides (sggs 933).
sbid rqy haumY geI soBwvMqI nwir]ipr kY BwxY sdw clY qw binAw sIgwru: Sabadi ratte houmai gaee sobhaavantee naari: Attuned to the Divine Name (Word or Shabad), the soul-bride is rid of egotism, and she is glorified. She walks steadily in the way of His Will; thus her decorations become meaningful (sggs 651).
syj suhwvI sdw ipru rwvY hir vru pwieAw nwir: Sej suhaavee sadaa pir raavai har var paaeiaa naar: Her couch becomes beautiful, and she constantly enjoys her Divine Beloved; for she has Realized the Divine Beloved (sggs 651).
imil pRIqm suKu pwieAw soBwvMqI nwir: Mil preetam sukh paaiaa sobhaavantee naari: Meeting with my Divine Beloved, I have found peace; I am most beautiful and happy soul-bride (sggs 755).
rwm rwm rwm rMig rwqy rs risk gtk inq pIjY: Raam raam raam rang raate ras rasik gatak nit peejai: Those who are imbued with the Love of the Divine Name continually drink in this essence as a Rasik — the lover of the Divine (sggs 1323).
The Gurbani is among many unique exemplars of bridal mysticism. To spread the glory of the Divine Love or Pure devotion, there are numerous hymns throughout the Gurbani representing exceptional works in the genre of bridal mysticism — written by those reveled in this form of selfless Love, steeped in the Bliss of the Divine experience by constantly remembering Him. It is said that bridal mysticism (Maadhuriya Bhaava) is the all-rounded, most intimate, highest ecstasy and most exalted expression of pure Transcendental Love. Also, the bridal mysticism is considered to be inclusive of all the qualities of other "Bhaavas" or "Rasas", where all other Bhaavas attain their Spiritual Perfection.

nIhu mihMjw qaU nwil ibAw nyh kUVwvy fyKu]kpV Bog frwvxy ijcru iprI n fyKu: Neehu mahinjaa taou naal biaa neh koorraave dekh. Kaparr bhog daraavane jichar piree na dekh: I am in love with You; I have seen that other love is false. Even clothes and food are frightening to me, as long as I do not see my Divine Beloved (sggs 1094).
jwlau AYsI rIiq ijqu mY ipAwrw vIsrY]nwnk sweI BlI prIiq ijqu swihb syqI piq rhY: Jaalayu aisee reet jit mahi piyaaraa veesrai. Nanak saayee bhalee preet jit sahib setee pat rahai: Burn away those rituals which lead you to forget the Beloved Lord. O Nanak, sublime is that love, which preserves my honor with my Lord (sggs 590).
PrIdw glIey ickVu dUir Gru nwil ipAwry nyhu]clw q iBjY kMblI rhW q qutY nyhu]24] iBjau isjau kMblI Alh vrsau myhu ]jwie imlw iqnw sjxw qutau nwhI nyhu]25]: Freedaa galeeeye chikarr doori ghari naal piaare nehu. Chalaa ta bhijai kambalee rahaan ta tuttai nehu. Bhijou sijo kambalee allah varasou mehu. Jaai milaa tinaa sajanaa tuttaou naahee nehu: Fareed, the path is muddy, and the house of my Beloved is so far away. If I go out, my blanket will get soaked, but if I remain at home, then my heart will be broken. Let my blanket may get soaked, drenched with the downpour of the Lord's Rain. But I am going out to meet my Divine Beloved, so that my heart will not be broken (sggs 1379).
kbIr lwgI pRIiq sujwn isau brjY logu Ajwnu]qw isau tUtI ikau bnY jw ky jIA prwn: Kabeer laagee preeth sujaan sio burujai log ajaan. Taa sio toottee kiou banai jaa ke jeea paraan: Kabeer, I am in love with the All-knowing Divine; the ignorant ones try to hold me back. How could I ever break with the One, who owns our soul and breath of life (sggs 1376).
ijn AMdir pRIiq iprMm kI ijau bolin iqvY sohMin: Jiin aandari preeti piram kee jiou bolan tivai sohann: Those whose inner beings are filled with the Love of their Divine Beloved, look beautiful as they speak (sggs 301).
mY min qin pRymu iprMm kw ATy phr lgMin: Mai mani tani prem piramm kaa athe pahar lagann: My mind and body are imbued with the Love of my Divine Beloved, twenty-four hours a day (sggs 301).
bwir ivfwnVY huMms DuMms kUkw peIAw rwhI]qau sh syqI lgVI forI nwnk And syqI bnu gwhI: Baar viddaanarrai hummas dhummus kookaa peeaa raahee. Taou sah setee lagarree doree Nanak anad setee banu gaahee: In this wondrous forest of the world, there is chaos and confusion; shrieks emanate from the highways. I am in love with You, O my Divine Beloved; O Nanak, now I can cross the jungle joyfully (sggs 520).
ipRA pRym shij min Andu Drau rI: Pria prem sahaj mani anadu dharou ree: Loving the Divine Beloved, the mind is filled with celestial bliss (sggs 389).
ijin ipru rwivAw sw BlI suhwgix: Jin pir raaviaa saa bhalee suhaagan: She who enjoys her Beloved, is the good Soul-bride (sggs 561).
ipru pwieAVw bwlVIey Anidnu shjy mwqI rwm: Pir paaiarraa baalarreeeye anadin sahaje maatee raam: When the young, innocent bride finds her Divine Beloved, she is automatically intoxicated with Him, night and day (sggs 771).
kwmix min soihlVw swjn imly ipAwry rwm: Kaaman man sohilarraa saajan mile piaare raam: The mind of the soul bride is very happy, when she meets her Friend, her Divine Beloved (sggs 772).
hir AMik smwxI jw pRB BwxI sw sohwgix nwry: Har anki samaanee jaa prabh bhaanee saa sohaagan naarae: She merges into the Being of her Beloved, when she becomes pleasing to God; she is the happy, blessed Soul-bride (sggs 1107).
ipru rwvy rMig rwqVIey ipr kw mhlu iqn pwieAw rwm: Pir raave rang raatarreeye pir kaa mahal tin paaiaa raam: Ravishing her Divine Beloved, soul-bride is imbued with His Love; she experiences His Presence within (sggs 771).
mYfw mnu rqw AwpnVy ipr nwil: Maiddaa manu rattaa aapanarre pir naal: My mind is attuned to the Love of my Divine Beloved (sggs 1014).
suinbo sKI kMiq hmwro kIAlo Ksmwnw: Sunibo sakhee kanti hamaaro keealo khasamaanaa: Hear, O my companions, my Divine Beloved, My Husband, has possessed me (sggs 372).
imrqk khIAih nwnkw ijh pRIiq nhI BgvMq: Miratak kaheeahi Nanakaa jih preet nahee bhagavant: He is likened to a corpse, O Nanak, if one does not love the Divine (sggs 253).
sunhu lokw mY pRym rsu pwieAw: Sunahu lokaa mai prem Rasa paaiaa: Listen, O people: I have tasted the elixir of Divine love (sggs 370).
Thus, bridal mysticism is a characteristic of Pure Love or devotion (Bhagti), not lust; for Love and lust are two totally opposite feelings. Simply put: bridal mysticism is acting in a way that is pleasing to the Divine Will (Eternal Law or Hukam). Other characteristics of Pure devotion include abandoning of all desires and fear, keeping devotion unadulterated, being steadfast in devotion to the One Divine only, and keeping mind engaged in meditation and deep reflections.

guxvMqI shu rwivAw inrguix kUky kwie]jy guxvMqI QI rhY qw BI shu rwvx jwie ]1]myrw kMqu rIswlU kI Dn Avrw rwvy jI]1]rhwau] krxI kwmx jy QIAY jy mnu Dwgw hoie]mwxku muil n pweIAY lIjY iciq proie: Gunvantee sahu raaviaa nirguni kooke kaai. Je gunvantee thee rahai taa bhee sahu raavan jaai. Meraa kant risaaloo kee dhann avaraa raave jee. Karanee kaaman je theeai je manu dhaagaa hoi. Maanak muli na paaeeai leejai chit paroi: The virtuous bride enjoys (realizes) her Divine Beloved; but one without the Divine virtues (who wanders around) uselessly cries out. If she were to become virtuous, then she too could enjoy her Divine Beloved. (The soul-bride who understands that) My Divine Beloved is the Source of all Happiness; she then does not wander around to enjoy anyone else (in search of happiness). O soul-bride, cultivate good conduct; make your mind the thread, and string the Jewel (of the Divine Name) on your consciousness through this thread of your mind within. No one can purchas this Jewel for any price outside (sggs 557).
jy loVih vru kwmxI nh imlIAY ipr kUir: Je lorrahi var kaamanee nah mileeai pir koori: If you long for your Divine Beloved, O soul-bride, you must know that He is not met by falsehood (sggs 17).

sic imlhu vr kwmxI ipir mohI rMgu lwie: Sach milahu var kaamanee piri mohee rang laai: Through Truth, meet your Divine Beloved, O soul-bride. He has embellished me with His love (sggs 58).

clu clu sKI hm pRBu prboDh gux kwmx kir hir pRBu lhIAw: Chal chal sakhee hamm prabh parabodhah gun kaaman kar har prabh laheeaa: Let us go, O my fellow devoted souls, and understand our Divine; with the Divine virtue, let us obtain Him (sggs 836).
nwnk qy sohwgxI ijn@w gurmuiK prgtu hoie: Nanak tae sohaaganee jinaa gurmukh paragat hoe: O Nanak, the Gurmukhs (Spiritual beings) are the happy, virtuous Soul-brides; God is revealed to them (sggs 1412).
—T. Singh

Article Source : http://www.gurbani.org/webart141.htm