Prem Bhakti Analysis

Building on the theme of the preceding verse pertaining to prem pīḍā (pangs of love) and lāy (intense desire), this verse contends that a love-stricken heart is indeed the temple of prem bhakti or loving devotion for the Lord. As the intensity of prem bhakti engulfs the a(n)tar (inner self), leading to a fixation and passion for the Beloved, concludes the verse, one should engage in incessant remembrance of the Beloved.

The word bhagtī, used in the above verse is same as the Sanskrit word bhakti, which means, ‘devotion’, ‘adoration’, ‘worship’. Bhakti is not about blind love - rather, it is about being blind in love. The relationship between prem and bhakti is analogous to that of air and wind – just as wind is a current or flow of air, likewise, bhakti is an active expression of love in the form of worship or it is love in action. Therefore, love and action are two important aspects of bhakti. The third significant aspect of bhakti is mystical or spiritual knowledge, according the definition of the word bhakti provided …show more content…
The bidding, sās usāse em ja(n)pīe – remember Him with every breath, a significantly important and frequently repeated teaching in the Ginans, pertains to internalization of dhikr, and in a broader sense, it relates to constant assimilation and integration of dhikr or remembrance within one’s life, even during the execution of one’s secular responsibilities and tasks. This, the incessant remembrance of the Beloved, engenders the state of iḥsān – conscious awareness of Allah at all times. The attainment of such a state is not possible without strict and steadfast adherence to the mode of spiritual drill and discipline of dedicated engagement in dhikr, prescribed by the Satguru – indeed a lifelong commitment on the part of the