Table of Contents
Akal Ustat is one of the greatest creations of the tenth Guru of the Sikhs i.e. Guru Gobind Singh Ji. It is the second bani in Sri Dasam Granth following Jaap Sahib. We are not here to get entangled in a debate about the authenticity of the Sri Dasam Granth; instead, we should focus on discussing the value of Akal Ustat.
01
of 08Meaning
Meaning of 'Akal' is 'Timeless' and 'Ustat' means 'Praise'. In Sanskrit we can spell it as 'अकाल स्तुति' or in Simple english 'Praise of Almighty'. So Akal Ustat is a poem in praise of Almighty, who is beyond the limit and impact of time. Guru Gobind Singh Ji praises God as 'Nirgun - without attributes' and 'Sargun with attributes' in this Bani.
02
of 08The structure and style of Akal Ustat
Its various portions have been written at different times but the underlying unity is also explicit and is clearly reflected in its spirit, its style and its thought pattern. It contains twelve units namely: Swayya, Kabit, Choupai, Totak, Toman, Diragh Tribhangi, Dohra, Naraj Padhuri, Bhujangi Proyat, Puamal and Laghu Naraj Swayyas occur twice. Padhuri Chhand and Kabit—all repeated three times.
Each metre is to express the certain mood, the certain theme and the certain situation. There is richness, fullness in the words one can feel luxurient fluency and the musicalness of the vocabulary each time when going through it. Swiftness and openness are possibly the greatest values of this poetic saga. Guru Gobind Singh looks like he is creator who paints picture not only by ideas, but by words that at the same time give out a language of sound—music.
It is said that 'First four lines of Akaal Ustat were written by the hand of Guru Gobind Singh Ji himself - "Utaar Khaase Daskhat Ka. Paatsaahee Dasveee."
03
of 08Akal Ustat Path
Path of Akal Ustat begins with
ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ ਉਤਾਰ ਖਾਸੇ ਦਸਖਤ ਕਾ ॥ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹੀ ੧੦॥
ਅਕਾਲ ਪੁਰਖ ਕੀ ਰਛਾ ਹਮ ਨੈ ॥
ਸਰਬ ਲੋਹ ਦੀ ਰਛਿਆ ਹਮ ਨੈ ॥
ਸਰਬ ਕਾਲ ਜੀ ਦੀ ਰਛਿਆ ਹਮ ਨੈ ॥
ਸਰਬ ਲੋਹ ਜੀ ਦੀ ਸਦਾ ਰਛਿਆ ਹਮ ਨੈ ॥੧॥ਆਗੇ ਲਿਖਾਰੀ ਕੇ ਦਸਖਤ ॥
Format of Akal Ustat in Beginning feels like that of Jaap Sahib e,g,
ਸਭ ਕੋ ਕਾਲ ਸਭਨ ਕੋ ਕਰਤਾ ॥ ਰੋਗ ਸੋਗ ਦੋਖਨ ਕੋ ਹਰਤਾ ॥
ਏਕ ਚਿੱਤ ਜਿਹ ਇਕ ਛਿਨ ਧਿਆਇਓ ॥ ਕਾਲ ਫਾਸ ਕੇ ਬੀਚ ਨ ਆਇਓ ॥੧੦॥
Other famous verses in this Bani includes 'Manas Ki Jaat Sabhe Ekai Pehchanebo"
ਕੋਊ ਭਇਓ ਮੁੰਡੀਆ ਸੰਨਿਆਸੀ ਕੋਊ ਜੋਗੀ ਭਇਓ
ਕੋਊ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਚਾਰੀ ਕੋਊ ਜਤੀਅਨ ਮਾਨਬੋ ॥
ਹਿੰਦੂ ਤੁਰਕ ਕੋਊ ਰਾਫਜੀ ਇਮਾਮਸਾਫੀ
ਮਾਨਸ ਕੀ ਜਾਤ ਸਬੈ ਏਕੈ ਪਹਚਾਨਬੋ ॥ ... Read More
It also includes famous lines of Sri Guru Gobind Singh that calls almighty with 'Tuhi Tuhi Tuhi Tuhi' multiple times:
ਜਤਸ ਤੁਹੀ ॥ ਬ੍ਰਤਸ ਤੁਹੀ ॥ ਗਤਸ ਤੁਹੀ ॥ ਮਤਸ ਤੁਹੀ ॥੧੮॥੬੮॥
ਤੁਹੀ ਤੁਹੀ ॥ ਤੁਹੀ ਤੁਹੀ ॥ ਤੁਹੀ ਤੁਹੀ ॥ ਤੁਹੀ ਤੁਹੀ ॥੧੯॥੬੯॥
ਤੁਹੀ ਤੁਹੀ ॥ ਤੁਹੀ ਤੁਹੀ ॥ ਤੁਹੀ ਤੁਹੀ ॥ ਤੁਹੀ ਤੁਹੀ ॥੨੦॥੭੦॥ ... Read More
and a typical rewriting of "Mahishasura Mardini Stotram" in Tva Prasad Deergh Tribhangi Chhand
ਤ੍ਵਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ ਦੀਰਘ ਤ੍ਰਿਭੰਗੀ ਛੰਦ ॥
ਦੁਰਜਨ ਦਲ ਦੰਡਣ ਅਸੁਰ ਬਿਹੰਡਣ ਦੁਸਟ ਨਿਕੰਦਣ ਆਦਿ ਬ੍ਰਿਤੇ ॥
ਚਛਰਾਸੁਰ ਮਾਰਣ ਪਤਤ ਉਧਾਰਣ ਨਰਕ ਨਿਵਾਰਣ ਗੂੜ ਗਤੇ ॥
ਅਛੇ ਅਖੰਡੇ ਤੇਜ ਪ੍ਰਚੰਡੇ ਖੰਡ ਉਦੰਡੇ ਅਲਖ ਮਤੇ ॥
ਜੈ ਜੈ ਹੋਸੀ ਮਹਖਾਸੁਰਿ ਮਰਦਨ ਰੰਮ ਕ ਪਰਦਨ ਛਤ੍ਰ ਛਿਤੇ ॥੨੧੧॥ ... Read More
04
of 08The spiritual significance of chanting Akal Ustat
Akal Ustat includes the 3rd Amrit Sanchar Baani 'Tavparsad Savaiye', in which Guru Ji attacks the practice of fake rituals and stresses true love for the Almighty.
This pious bani also includes the famous verse "Maanas Kee Jaat Sabhai Ekai Pehachaanbo" which translates to "Recognize the entire human race as one." Guru Ji heavily stresses the equality of mankind - which is a core value of Sikhism.
05
of 08Akal Ustat Path Benefits
There is a story behind the creation of Akal Ustat. When first reciting this Baani Guru Sahib went into a meditative trance in which They repeated the words 'Tuhi! Tuhi!' 'Only You, Only You' thousands of times. When Guru Sahib Ji opened their eyes they instructed the scribe to keep 16 of these meditations and leave the rest. But Guru Sahib Ji said any Sikh who recited Akaal Ustat will get the blessings of reading 'Tuhi! Tuhi!' a thousand times.
This is a bani purely composed in praise of lord in easy to understand wording. It helps you to achieve the meditative state with 'Sehaj Birti'.
06
of 08Recitation Time
Amrit Vela or Morning!
As it Contains Tva Prasad Svaiye which is already listed under Daily Nitnem of a Sikh, we can consider 'Morning' is best time to Recite Akal Ustat.
There is no boundation of time in Sikhi except the accepted Nitnem Banis e.g. Japji Sahib, Jaap Sahib, Tvaprasad Svaiye, Chaupai Sahib, Rehras Sahib, Kirtan Sohila. There are few other Gurbani Path which are recited on special occasions e.g. Laavan (on wedding occasion) and Ramkali Sadd (on Death Ceremony). However all Gurbani is to provide peace of mind and can be recited anytime.
07
of 08Criticism
Akal ustat has the praise of 'Chandi' or 'Durga' from Chhand 211-230. Scholars who doesn't believe in Dasam Granth says, "Guru Gobind Singh Ji cannot praise a goddess with such qualities that are described in Akal Ustat. Guru Ji cannot even advise us to read such a poetic composition. This is against the doctorine of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Those who will praise Chandi/Durga etc. who will praise and worship her, will acquire the qualities of Chandi. This composition is in accordance with the teachings of the Vedas, Shastras, Simritis, but it is fundamentally against the teachings of Gurbani."
08
of 08PDF with Meaning in Punjabi (Translation)
You can download below pdf to Read complete Path of Akal Ustat alongside Punjabi Language translation by Dr. Rattan Singh Jaggi.
