Chandi di vaar path karn nal ki hunda a

CORRECT TIME FOR THE PRAYER CALLED CHANDI DI VAAR

Baba Ji used to recite the prayer called Chandi di Vaar daily, as

part of his Nitnem. This is a prayer composed by the tenth Guru,

describing a battle between demons and the Goddess called Chandi. It

is usually recited by Sikhs during war. Many a time, a question would

arise in his mind as to, how many times and at what time one should

recite the prayer of Chandi di Vaar? Baba Ji asked many Saints and

sadhus regarding this question, but could not get a satisfactory answer.

One evening, at his room in the fields, after reciting the evening

prayer of Rehras, Baba Ji went on to recite the prayer of Chandi di

Vaar. After completing this prayer, he prepared to retire by saying his

last prayer of Sohila. It was a moonlit night and the doors of the room in

which he was sitting, were open. As he had just lain down, he noticed

two men approaching at a short distance. Baba Ji thought to himself,

that if these pedestrians were just travellers, he would offer them food

and shelter for the night and if they were robbers, then he would

challenge them in combat. No sooner had this thought entered his mind,

than miraculously one of the Singh’s came beside him and grabbed his

feet. The other one seized Baba Ji’s head and pinned him down onto

the bed. Baba Ji used to tell us, ‘‘I was unable to move from the bed. A

thought entered my mind that these two, who have moved faster than

the speed of light in order to grasp me are neither robbers nor travellers.

These two must be Shaheed Singhs (the immortal souls of Sikh martyrs).

I began to recite the Mool mantar. I had only uttered the Mool mantar

twice when the Singh who held my head down, let go, followed by the

second Singh who was holding my feet.”

Baba Ji got up and the Shaheed Singh explained, ‘‘We did not

come here to fight with or seize you, but to answer your question,

regarding the correct time to recite the prayer of Chandi di Vaar. As

you thought about offering us a fight, we came and immediately seized

you, as we did.” The Shaheed Singh continued, ‘‘If you start reciting

the prayer of Chandi di Vaar after sunset then, one must keep reciting it

continuously through the night until dawn. Two or more Singhs may

take turns to recite this prayer through the night, it is all right to do so.

One must sit upon a clean mat or bed, bathing before reciting the prayer.

An oil lamp lit with clarified butter should be kept alight throughout the

night. During the day, one can recite Chandi di Vaar as many times as

one wants. There is no specific practice to reciting the prayer except

that one reads the prayer with devotion and understanding.” After

explaining these instructions, the Singh’s disappeared through the doors

towards the direction they came from.

- Sant Baba Harnam Singh Ji Rampur Khera Wale