Vaisakh

Vaisakh is a second month in the Nanakshahi calendar. This month coincides with April and May in the Gregorian calendar and is when the crop is harvested in Punjab. Vaisakhi is the most important festival in the Sikh calendar and it takes place on the first lunar month of Vaisakh, which falls on April 14 each year. On this day the Khalsa was created and much celebration takes place worldwide in the form of Samagams, Nagar Kirtan, Gatka exhibitions, Akand Paths, and so on.

Also during this month, the second son of Guru Gobind Singh, Sahibzada Jujhar Singh was born on 9 April 1691. On the 18th, the Sikhs celebrate the birthday of Guru Angad Dev, the second Sikh Guru and Guru Tegh Bahadur the ninth Sikh Guru.

On the 16th of this month, Guru Angad and Guru Har Krishan took leave for their higher abode and passed the Guruship to Guru Amar Das and Guru Tegh Bahadur respectively.

Important Events during this month

April

* April 14 (1 Vaisakh) - Vaisakhi
* April 16 (3 Vaisakh) - "Joti Jot" of Guru Angad Dev
* April 16 (3 Vaisakh) - "Gur Gadi" of Guru Amar Das Ji
* April 16 (3 Vaisakh) - "Joti Jot" Guru Har Krishan Ji
* April 16 (3 Vaisakh) - "Gur Gadi" of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji
* April 18 (5 Vaisakh) - Birth of Guru Angad Dev Ji
* April 18 (5 Vaisakh) - Birth of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji

May

* May 2 (19 Vaisakh) - Birth of Guru Arjan Dev Ji
* May 15 (1 Jeth) - The end of the month Vaisakh and the start of Jeth

Vaisakh in the "Sri Guru Granth Sahib"

from [http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=KeertanPage&K=133&L=15&id=5471 SGGS page 133/4]

ਵੈਸਾਖਿ ਧੀਰਨਿ ਕਿਉ ਵਾਢੀਆ ਜਿਨਾ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਬਿਛੋਹੁ ॥
ਹਰਿ ਸਾਜਨੁ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਵਿਸਾਰਿ ਕੈ ਲਗੀ ਮਾਇਆ ਧੋਹੁ ॥
ਪੁਤ੍ਰ ਕਲਤ੍ਰ ਨ ਸੰਗਿ ਧਨਾ ਹਰਿ ਅਵਿਨਾਸੀ ਓਹੁ ॥
ਪਲਚਿ ਪਲਚਿ ਸਗਲੀ ਮੁਈ ਝੂਠੈ ਧੰਧੈ ਮੋਹੁ ॥
ਇਕਸੁ ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਨਾਮ ਬਿਨੁ ਅਗੈ ਲਈਅਹਿ ਖੋਹਿ ॥
ਦਯੁ ਵਿਸਾਰਿ ਵਿਗੁਚਣਾ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਬਿਨੁ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥
ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮ ਚਰਣੀ ਜੋ ਲਗੇ ਤਿਨ ਕੀ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਸੋਇ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਕੀ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਮਿਲਹੁ ਪਰਾਪਤਿ ਹੋਇ ॥
ਵੈਸਾਖੁ ਸੁਹਾਵਾ ਤਾਂ ਲਗੈ ਜਾ ਸੰਤੁ ਭੇਟੈ ਹਰਿ ਸੋਇ ॥੩॥

vaisaakh dhheeran kio vaadteeaa jinaa praem bishhohu|| har saajan purakh visaar kai lagee maaeiaa dhhohu||
puthr kalathr n sa(n)g dhhanaa har avinaasee ouhu|| palach palach sagalee muee jhoot(h)ai dhha(n)dhhai mohu||
eikas har kae naam bin agai leeahi khohi|| dhay visaar viguchanaa prabh bin avar n koe||
preetham charanee jo lagae thin kee niramal soe|| naanak kee prabh baenathee prabh milahu paraapath hoe||
vaisaakh suhaavaa thaa(n) lagai jaa sa(n)th bhaettai har soe ||3||

In the month of Vaisaakh, how can the bride be patient? She is separated from her Beloved.
She has forgotten the Lord, her Life-companion, her Master; she has become attached to Maya, the deceitful one.
Neither son, nor spouse, nor wealth shall go along with you-only the Eternal Lord.
Entangled and enmeshed in the love of false occupations, the whole world is perishing.
Without the Naam, the Name of the One Lord, they lose their lives in the hereafter.
Forgetting the Merciful Lord, they are ruined. Without God, there is no other at all.
Pure is the reputation of those who are attached to the Feet of the Beloved Lord.
Nanak makes this prayer to God: ""Please, come and unite me with Yourself.""The month of Vaisaakh is beautiful and pleasant, when the Saint causes me to meet the Lord. ||3||

ources

* [http://www.sikhitothemax.com/Page.asp?SourceID=G&PageNo=&ShabadID=358&Format=2 Page 133 of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib on "SikhiToTheMAX"]
* [http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=133&english=t&id=5450#l5450 Page 133 of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib on "Sri Granth"]

External links

* [http://www.arcd95.dsl.pipex.com/khalsa/news6.htm www.dsl.pipex.com]
* [http://www.sikhcoalition.org/SikhismCalendar.asp www.sikhcoalition.org]