The Ginan Gist – By Karim Maherali. Brief note about the raag (tune) by Aly Sunderji.
The Holy Qur’an mentions the need to seek the means of approach (wasila) to God:
“O ye who believe! Do your duty to Allah, seek the means of approach unto Him, and strive in his cause: that ye may prosper.”(5:35)
This Ginan highlights that the wasila alluded to above are the Pirs who are either the Imams themselves or those appointed by them to perform the role of Piratan. The Path leading to salvation is indeed narrow and one must constantly be vigilant lest the soul is led astray into the wilderness. All ritual actions performed outside the obedience of the Pir are futile.
ek tīrath vedhaṇā pīr shams gazī sadhaṇā
| Artists | (without music) |
| Karim Bhoja | |
| Artist | (with music) |
| Nargis Balolia | https://youtu.be/dpxL-IbeG5Q |
Transliteration, Translation and Commentary
| ek teerath vedhddaa peer shams gaazee sadhnnaa tusaa naavo naavo naavannaa veeraa naavannaa……………….1 |
Admonishing a caravan going for the teerath, Pir Shams, the Ghazi says: bathe if you would, bathe, bathe if you would.
Comment: Teerath is the pilgrimage event of the Hindus wherein they perform bathing in the rivers Ganges and Yamuna. In this verse Pir Shams is making mockery remarks at the pilgrims hinting that they are engaged in a futile pilgrimage and that they ought to perform the real pilgrimage alluded in the next verse. Ghazi is the epithet of Pir Shams meaning ‘conqueror’.
| naate dhote sejeeyaa jeene gurdhaa farmaayaa keeyaa or nahee naavnnaa nahee naavnnaa……………………….2 |
The ones who have been cleansed through following the commands of the Guide have indeed washed and bathed themselves. There is no other bathing besides this.
| raaho rah chalo tusaa peer puchhee raah chalo ujadd pag nahee paavnnaa na paavnnaa……………………3 |
Proceed along the Path. Seek and ask the Pir the way and proceed along the Path. Do not set your feet in a deserted place or wilderness.
| peer shams arvaah parbodhnnaa manhatthee ruhaane samjaavannaa – e samjaavnnaa…………..4 |
Pir Shamsh preaches (or guides) the (good) souls and persuades the arrogant or stubborn souls.
| esaa dar medde saaheb raajedhaa sadhddaa suidhe dhafe veech hastee maavnnaa veeraa maavnnaa………..5 |
The doorstep(or courtyard) of my Lord is very narrow. It is like passing an elephant through the eye of the needle.
| peer shams gaazee boleeyaa fal sache yaare moman paavnnaa veeraa paavnnaa……………6 |
Pir Shams, the Ghazi says: the genuine momins will attain the fruits, o brothers, the courageous ones will indeed attain.
Holy Qur’an:
“Allah hath promised to believers, men and women, gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein, and beautiful mansions in gardens of everlasting bliss. But the greatest bliss is the good pleasure of Allah: that is the supreme felicity.” (9:72)
Brief note about the raag (tune) aspect of this Ginan by Aly Sunderji
The above ginan is composed predominantly in Raag Bilaawal, although depending on the singer, the notes change slightly and include or exclude certain notes, predominantly singers tend to include the Tivr Madhyam (Sharp Ma) thus changing the mood of the composition more towards that of a Kalyaañ feel. The traditional samay (time) for bilaawal is between 6-9 AM, on the flip side, the samay for Raag Yaman is evening time. Another note very worthy of mentioning is the concept of rhyme and rhythm in this ginan, this is one such ginan where Pir Shams had deliberately changed the pronunciation of his name to fit in with the rhyme. In the Khojki as well as the most commonly used book “Mahaan Ismaili Sant Pir Shamshudin Rachit Ginano no Sangrah” (Bombay 1952) printed by Mukhi Lalji Devraj, the Pir’s name appears as શમસ rather than શમ્સ as usually spelled. In the first verse Pir MaaBaap refers to himself as “Shamas Gaazi” this was one of his pennames, other popular pennames being: Shams Chot and Shams Kalandar. I thank my colleague Sridevi Maharaj for her assistance in academic research related to the notations of this ginan.
Ginan Series – By Karim Maherali
 Ginan: Saahebjee tu(n) more man bhaave – O Imam! You are dear to my heart (mind) - The Ginan Gist – By Karim Maherali. Brief note about the raag (tune) by Aly… Ginan: Hu(n) re piyaasi piya tere darshanki – I thirst, o Beloved, for a vision of You - The Ginan Gist – By Karim Maherali. Brief note about the raag (tune) by Aly… Munaajaat: Ya Aly Khoob mijaalas jeenat karke – O Aly, in the fair assembly gloriously adorned - Munaajaat Gist: By Karim Maherali. Brief note about the raag (tune) by Aly Sunderji. A… Ginan: Hetesu(n) milo re munivaro – With love and affection meet, O the best of ascetics - This Ginan highlights the ultimate purpose of our existence: to enjoy the Vision of God Ginan: Shahnaa khat aayaa viraa Jampudeep maa(n)he – The Imam’s letter has arrived in the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent - This Ginan is called a Talika Ginan. 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Ginan: Unchaa re kot bahu vechana – Your abode is at an elevated fort far away - This Ginan highlights the need to constantly be aware and engage in the quest for the ultimate purpose and meaning which is crowned by the gift of Darshan (Vision) Ginan: Ham dil khaalak Allah sohi vase ji – My heart is the creation and Allah resides therein - This Ginan highlights the esoteric dimension of our Tariqah with respect to the notion of a Perfect Man as a macrosm of creation in whose heart the entire creation is reflected and in whom the Divine fully manifests and hence expresses the Divine will par excellence.  Ginan: Dur desh thee aayo vannjaaro – You have come from a distant country, o travelling trader - This Ginan highlights the transitory nature of our existence in this world by way of the imagery of a travelling trader and that all our actions are dealings with the world and are a means of attaining the ultimate objective of meeting the Imam. Ginan: Satna sarovar saraasar bhariya – The Lake of truth is brimful - This Ginan highlights the importance of keeping the soul constantly refreshed and protected through the proper observance of rites and rituals and ethical conduct Ginan: Til bhaar tulannaa – Sesame seed’s weight will be accounted for - This Ginan is about what will happen to the souls when they depart from this world highlighting the nature of accountability and the provisions that one needs to take along with him/her to enjoy the felicity of the hereafter. Ginan: Ek teerath vedhddaa – Admonishing a caravan going for the teerath - The Ginan Gist – By Karim Maherali. 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