Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
There is only One. And the One is found by the True Guru's grace — a gift that is always here, waiting for an open heart.
Look up. The sky itself is the great offering-tray. The sun and the moon are its lamps, and the stars are strings of shining pearls.
The scent of the forests is the incense, the wind is a giant waving fan, and every growing plant lays down its blossoms before You, O Light of all the world.
Guru Nanak looks up at the sky and sees the whole universe already worshipping.
This is the opening of Guru Nanak's Aartee. In a temple, an aartee is worship done by circling a tray of little lamps before an image. Nanak takes that tray and makes it as big as the sky. Gagan mai thaal — the sky is the tray.
Look at what fills it. The sun and moon are the lamps. The stars are pearls. The scent of sandalwood is the Dhoop, the incense. The wind is the chavro, the fan. Every plant offers its flowers. Picture lying in a field at night, with the whole sky glowing above you. It is all one great offering.
Creation itself is already worshipping, without ever stopping, before the jotee, the One who is Light.
When you look up at the night sky, what does it make you feel?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI