Bhai Dharam Singh Zakhmi & Jatha

ਮਾਝ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥
Majh Mehala 5 ||
Maajh, Fifth Mehl:

ਕਹਿਆ ਕਰਣਾ ਦਿਤਾ ਲੈਣਾ ॥
Kehia Karana Dhitha Laina ||
As You command, I obey; as You give, I receive.

ਗਰੀਬਾ ਅਨਾਥਾ ਤੇਰਾ ਮਾਣਾ ॥
Gareeba Anathha Thaera Mana ||
You are the Pride of the meek and the poor.

ਸਭ ਕਿਛੁ ਤੂੰਹੈ ਤੂੰਹੈ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਤੇਰੀ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਕਉ ਬਲਿ ਜਾਈ ਜੀਉ ॥੧॥
Sabh Kishh Thoonhai Thoonhai Maerae Piarae Thaeree Kudharath Ko Bal Jaee Jeeo ||1||
You are everything; You are my Beloved. I am a sacrifice to Your Creative Power. ||1||

ਭਾਣੈ ਉਝੜ ਭਾਣੈ ਰਾਹਾ ॥
Bhanai Oujharr Bhanai Raha ||
By Your Will, we wander in the wilderness; by Your Will, we find the path.

ਭਾਣੈ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਗਾਵਾਹਾ ॥
Bhanai Har Gun Guramukh Gavaha ||
By Your Will, we become Gurmukh and sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord.

ਭਾਣੈ ਭਰਮਿ ਭਵੈ ਬਹੁ ਜੂਨੀ ਸਭ ਕਿਛੁ ਤਿਸੈ ਰਜਾਈ ਜੀਉ ॥੨॥
Bhanai Bharam Bhavai Bahu Joonee Sabh Kishh Thisai Rajaee Jeeo ||2||
By Your Will, we wander in doubt through countless lifetimes. Everything happens by Your Will. ||2||

ਨਾ ਕੋ ਮੂਰਖੁ ਨਾ ਕੋ ਸਿਆਣਾ ॥
Na Ko Moorakh Na Ko Siana ||
No one is foolish, and no one is clever.

ਵਰਤੈ ਸਭ ਕਿਛੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਭਾਣਾ ॥
Varathai Sabh Kishh Thaera Bhana ||
Your Will determines everything;

ਅਗਮ ਅਗੋਚਰ ਬੇਅੰਤ ਅਥਾਹਾ ਤੇਰੀ ਕੀਮਤਿ ਕਹਣੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ਜੀਉ ॥੩॥
Agam Agochar Baeanth Athhaha Thaeree Keemath Kehan N Jaee Jeeo ||3||
You are Inaccessible, Incomprehensible, Infinite and Unfathomable. Your Value cannot be expressed. ||3||

ਖਾਕੁ ਸੰਤਨ ਕੀ ਦੇਹੁ ਪਿਆਰੇ ॥
Khak Santhan Kee Dhaehu Piarae ||
Please bless me with the dust of the Saints, O my Beloved.

ਆਇ ਪਇਆ ਹਰਿ ਤੇਰੈ ਦੁਆਰੈ ॥
Ae Paeia Har Thaerai Dhuarai ||
I have come and fallen at Your Door, O Lord.

ਦਰਸਨੁ ਪੇਖਤ ਮਨੁ ਆਘਾਵੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਮਿਲਣੁ ਸੁਭਾਈ ਜੀਉ ॥੪॥੭॥੧੪॥
Dharasan Paekhath Man Aghavai Naanak Milan Subhaee Jeeo ||4||7||14||
Gazing upon the Blessed Vision of His Darshan, my mind is fulfilled. O Nanak, with natural ease, I merge into Him. ||4||7||14||

https://searchgurbani.com/amrit_keertan/shabad/1236/kehi-aa_kurunaa_dhithaa_lainaa/line/21

Bhai Dharam Singh Zakhmi was a very renowned Sikh ragi of the 1960’s and 1970’s. Bhai sahib became an Amritdhari (baptised) Sikh in 1947. He spent many years studying Gurbani and was an excellent and erudite speaker. In particular, Bhai sahib was very familiar with the Bani of the Dasam Granth as well as the ghazals of Bhai Nand Lal. Often Bhai sahib and his jatha (group) would sing Persian ghazals by Bhai Nand Lal accompanied by the beautiful translations of Bhai Megh Raj Garib ji.

Bhai sahib belonged to the village of Manko in District Jalandhar. The village is close to Shamchaurasi, home to the famous Pakistani Khayal singers Salamat Ali Khan and Nazakat Ali Khan. Bhai Sahib was often referred to as ‘Shamchaurasiwale’ or belonging to Shamchaurasi. Even though he had received the gift of music from his forefathers, Bhai sahib studied Gurmat Sangeet under the guidance of Prof. Darshan Singh Komal, another giant in the world of Gurmat Sangeet.

Bhai ji never entered the service of any Gurdwara or institution in his lifetime. He and his Jatha travelled extensively, delighting Sikh Sangats in various parts of India and abroad. In particular Bhai sahib visited Singapore, where the foresight of the local Prabhandaks (managers) in the 1960s resulted in his being extensively recorded. The Jatha was unique in in its rendition of Gurbani. A key feature of their singing was the fact that their ucharan (enunciation) of Bani was always crystal clear. While the Jatha was very sophisticated musically and rigorously adhered to the rules of Raga and Tala, at no point did they ever let the Raga overpower the Shabad, which is the hallmark of a good exponent of Gurmat Sangeet.

https://www.sikhnet.com/gurbani/artist/bhai-dharam-singh-zakhmi