THITI with the variation THITTIN is a title shared by three different compositions, one each by Guru Nanak, Guru Arjan, and Kabir, in the Guru Granth Sahib. According to the traditional Indian calendar, thitt (Skt. tithi) denotes a day or a date of the lunar cycle of the month. In Brahmanical ritualism, certain lunar days acquired sanctity for being associated with some deity or incarnation of God or goddess and began to be observed as especially auspicious. The Thiti hymns discountenanced the notion of one day being more propitious than the others. All days, they reiterate, are auspicious if devoted to God’s remembrance and to good deeds.
Guru Nanak’s Thiti, in Raga Bilaval, comprises twenty-six-line stanzas, each with an additional verse of rahau (pause). Through the days of the waning half of the lunar month, the poem brings spiritual and moral truths home to man. The Supreme Being, unborn and unfathomable, is the creator of all gods and goddesses, Vedas and Sastras. He is realized through the guidance of the Guru.
Fasts and ritual bathing, asceticism and yogic practices are of little avail. One is adjured instead to repeat God’s Name and adopt truthful living. Thus, knowledge will be attained, and through self-realization, duality ended. Says Guru Nanak:
“mamatajal te rahai udasa pranavati, nanak ham take dasa”
—he who is not entangled by attachment, Nanak bows to him as a slave (GG, 840).
Guru Arjan’s Thiti, in Raga Gauri, consists of seventeen pauris (stanzas), with a sloka added to each.
Proceeding from ekam, i.e., the first day of the waning half of the lunar month, the poem goes on to amavas, the last day of the dark half of the month; thereafter, referring to purnima, the full-moon day, it stresses, stanza after stanza, the supremacy of the path of devotion. Meditation on the Divine Name eliminates attachment and ego. It banishes ignorance and evil and brings humility, discernment, and bliss. Through God’s grace, one’s heart and body are purified. The Name revealed by the Guru liberates one from the cycle of births and deaths, and one attains union with the Divine.
Everyone, irrespective of the varna or caste he belongs to, can win liberation by repeating the Name: “Aatn brahmanu siidii baisu udharai simari chandal” (GG, 300). Kabir, in his Thiti—employing tithis of the waxing half of the month—urges the need to know Reality from illusion and sets forth love of the Lord as the way to break the circuit of transmigration. The yogic practices are considered futile, for they only beget ego. One must instead devote oneself to remembering the Lord God (verses on the first day of the moon); one must transcend the three states to attain the fourth, ultimate state of bliss (third day); and one must control the capricious mind and shun lust and wrath.
Blessed is he who drinks the nectar of the Lord’s love (fifth day). Discipline the nine doors of the body and keep a check on your many desires (“naumi navai duar kau sadhi bahati manasa rakhahii bandhi”) (GG, 343-44). On ekadasi, the eleventh day, take to one single direction and thereby avert the pangs of rebirth. On the full-moon day, you will attain equipoise and see the full moon rise in the sky.
References:
- Shabdarth Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Amritsar, 1964
Thiti Hymns in the Guru Granth Sahib—a collection of compositions that challenge ritualistic exclusivity and affirm that every day can be sacred when devoted to the remembrance of the Divine. These hymns, attributed respectively to Guru Nanak, Guru Arjan, and Kabir, use the concept of “thiti” (from the Sanskrit tithi, meaning a lunar day) to refute the idea that certain days possess inherent holiness by ritual alone. Instead, they proclaim that if one lives in constant communion with God, every day is auspicious.
The Significance of “Thiti”
- Etymology and Context:
In traditional Indian calendrical terms, tithi denotes a specific phase or date of the lunar cycle. In many Brahmanical rituals, certain tithis become celebrated as especially sacred because of their association with deities or mythological events. The Thiti hymns in the Guru Granth Sahib, however, discount this notion. They assert that external markers—whether one day is labeled holy or not—fall short of true spirituality. - Core Message:
The underlying teaching is that genuine devotion is not confined to ritual observances or the celebration of particular lunar days. Rather, spiritual merit and inner transformation arise from everyday remembrance of God’s Name (Naam Simran) and ethical living. In this way, the Thiti hymns democratize spirituality, making every day a potential arena for divine encounter.
Guru Nanak’s Thiti Hymn in Raga Bilaval
- Structure & Composition:
Guru Nanak’s Thiti is composed in Raga Bilaval and is structured with twenty-six-line stanzas, each completed by an additional verse (rahau) that serves as a reflective pause. This precise structure not only embodies rhythmic discipline but also mirrors the cyclical nature of time—a reminder that no moment is intrinsically more sacred than the next. - Spiritual Themes:
- Continuous Remembrance: Guru Nanak stresses that one must cultivate a state of continuous divine remembrance rather than restricting devotion to select days.
- Egalitarian Devotion: By emphasizing that every day, irrespective of its designation in the lunar calendar, is auspicious when one lives in truth and devotion, the hymn challenges the ritual hierarchy prevalent in contemporary society.
- Practical Implications:
The hymn urges practitioners to reject a mindset that awaits a special occasion for worship. Instead, it calls for an ongoing, all-encompassing commitment to the Divine—which, in Sikh understanding, is the gateway to transcending ego and realizing oneness with the Creator.
Guru Arjan’s Contribution in Raga Gauri
- Musical and Lyrical Features:
Guru Arjan’s Thiti is set in Raga Gauri, lending the composition a soulful, meditative tone that deepens the contemplative experience. This version contains a series of pauris (stanzas) appended with a sloka that resonates with the overall message of the text. - Key Themes:
- Transcendence of Ritual: Guru Arjan refines the teaching by pointing out that ritual bathing, fasting, or observing specific lunar days hold little promise unless one imbibes the inner truth reflected in God’s Name.
- Centrality of Devotion: His verses reiterate that the path to self-realization lies in internalized devotion and an unwavering ethical life, not in external ceremonial observances.
- Practical Guidance:
The composition acts as a reminder for the community that while tradition and rituals may hold ritualistic value, they only become spiritually efficacious when coupled with sincere remembrance of and love for the Divine.
Kabir’s Thiti: Challenging Illusion
- Distinctive Approach and Emphasis:
Kabir’s Thiti, employing the symbolism of the waxing half of the lunar month, offers a complementary yet distinctive perspective within the Guru Granth Sahib. Kabir challenges the adherents to discern reality from illusion, asserting that mere ascetic practices or ritualistic austerity do not suffice in attaining spiritual liberation. - Core Teachings:
- Illusion vs. Reality: Kabir decries the ineffective repetition of bodily practices, instead urging his listeners to seek truth through the inward realization of the Divine.
- Transformation Through Divine Love: He emphasizes that true liberation is achieved only when one transcends worldly attachments by dedicating oneself wholeheartedly to the remembrance of God.
- Practical Implications:
In Kabir’s view, love for the Lord must be the guiding principle—an ethos that rejects the ego’s lure and understands that the cycle of transmigration is broken only by authentic union with the Divine.
Unified Message and Contemporary Relevance
- Collective Purpose of the Thiti Hymns:
Despite the variations in musical mode and stylistic nuances among the contributions of Guru Nanak, Guru Arjan, and Kabir, the Thiti hymns share a common thread: they all advocate for a spirituality that is lived every day. They emphasize that the divine is not confined to isolated moments or days—it is ever-present, waiting to be realized by those who earnestly seek Him in every waking moment. - Spiritual and Ethical Implications:
The hymns collectively encourage the devotee to: - Reject Superficial Ritualism: True insight and liberation cannot be procured solely by observing prescribed religious days.
- Embrace Continuous Devotion: The regular remembrance of the Divine Name and adherence to moral principles is the path to true enlightenment.
- Foster Universal Brotherhood: By asserting that all days are sacred when dedicated to God, they lay the foundation for an egalitarian vision that transcends ritual and caste barriers.
- Modern-Day Application:
In today’s fast-paced and often fragmented world, the Thiti hymns offer a vital reminder that spirituality must be a continuous, integrated practice. They encourage modern practitioners to cultivate mindfulness and compassion in every moment—transforming daily life into an ongoing sacred ritual. Concluding Reflections
The Thiti Hymns in the Guru Granth Sahib stand as a bold proclamation that the divine is not restricted to certain days on the lunar calendar but is an ever-present, accessible reality when a devotee lives in constant remembrance of God. Through the harmonized voices of Guru Nanak, Guru Arjan, and Kabir, these texts dismantle the hierarchy of ritual and elevate the importance of an internal, lived spirituality. They challenge us to see beyond external observances and to embrace a practice that transforms every day into a celebration of divine grace, universal love, and inner truth.
