Sarab Rog Ka Aukhad Naam
Naam is the panacea of all ‘maladies’
The term malady is in quotation marks. Its interpretations is critical in understanding the message of this pankti.
Guru Ji, here, is not speaking of physical ailments. Sri Guru. Granth Sahib (SGGS) is not an almanac for the treatment of physical ailments or disabilities. It’s not a medical compendium. It is much more than that. It’s much higher than that. The human body is perishable. It cannot last forever. We are sent on earth under a ‘terminal covenant’, a lease. Some come on a short lease, others are on longer tenures. There is no such thing as a ‘freehold entity or domain’ Everyone is on a tenure.
SGGS is a vast, fathomless ocean for washing away the maladies of the mind and spirit. Above all it is s spiritual guide, with no equal. SGGS Ji addresses the barrier/wall of duality between the mind (which has a tendency to look outward) and the consciousness (jyot) which Akal Purkh (Timeless Lord, God) infused within the body at the time of our birth.
By constant reference to this almanac of spiritual redemption, we can cleanse our minds of the film of pollution over the manas (aspect of the mind engaged with the outside world). Only after that will the ‘bibek buddhi’ (discerning intellect) come into motion. The discerning mind/intellect will be able to discriminate between good and evil, right and wrong,
In respect of physical prowess and well being, the Sikh Gurus encouraged and regularly operated sessions of physical exercises, sports and competitions.
Alongside spiritual enhancement, Guru Angad Dev encouraged physical fitness and to this end he introduced and established ‘mall akharas’ (wrestling pitches) and other sports, including martial arts. He stressed that a healthy body is a prerequisite for a healthy mind. This discipline became s norm and continued in the times of the successor Gurus.
Guru Arjan Dev encouraged Sikhs to trade in horses with a view to making them proficient in horsemanship and related skills. He himself was an accomplished horseman and an archer.
Guru Har Rai and medicinal herbs
Guru Har Rai maintained fruit orchards, and also grew medicinal herbs. He established a research centre and a herbal hospital to care for healing the sick (humans and animals).
It’s a well known fact that Guru Ji supplied rare herbs to treat Prince Dara Shikoh (son of emperor Shah Jahan) suffering from serious case of food poisoning.
Guru Gobind Singh the most well known example of a saint soldier, in addition to spiritual enhancement, laid great stress on physical fitness and promoted disciplines in sports, wrestling, archery, shooting and martial arts.
The human body is a perishable commodity. Whilst greater stress is on the alignment of the mind and spiritual enlightenment, a healthy body is essential to facilitate this. The human body is a means to an end. A healthy body and a healthy mind are a precious boon not to be wasted. A healthy life style with the guidance of Satguru would develop Bibek Buddhi (a spiritually orientated and discerning mind). The road to ‘multi’ (redemption) is through maintaining a healthy lifestyle, which must become the means to a spiritual end, that is, redemption, liberation, with the blessings of the Spiritual Guide SGGS.