Following is a recording of Guru Tegh Bahadur's shabad "Ab Main Kaun Upao Karoon" that I recently finished mastering. The original recording was made in 1999. This is the first of six shabads I collaborated with Pandit Rajendra Prasanna, an eminent classical musician from Delhi. The shabad is sung in Raag Dhanasri, and a downloadable version of this shabad, like others, is available on Reverbnation. Hopefully I will post some more shabads from that collaboration, and from others that I currently am in.

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound...” So begins one of the most beloved hymns of all times, a staple in the hymnals of many denominations, New Britain or “45 on the top” in Sacred Harp. The author of the words was John Newton, the self-proclaimed wretch who once was lost but then was found, saved by amazing grace.

Newton was born in London July 24, 1725, the son of a commander of a merchant ship which sailed the Mediterranean. When John was eleven, he went to sea with his father and made six voyages with him before the elder Newton retired. In 1744 John was impressed into service on a man-of-war, the H. M. S. Harwich. Finding conditions on board intolerable, he deserted but was soon recaptured and publicly flogged and demoted from midshipman to common seaman.

Finally at his own request he was exchanged into service on a slave ship, which took him to the coast of Sierra Leone. He then became the servant of a slave trader and was brutally abused. Early in 1748 he was rescued by a sea captain who had known John's father. John Newton ultimately became captain of his own ship, one which plied the slave trade.

Although he had had some early religious instruction from his mother, who had died when he was a child, he had long since given up any religious convictions. However, on a homeward voyage, while he was attempting to steer the ship through a violent storm, he experienced what he was to refer to later as his “great deliverance.” He recorded in his journal that when all seemed lost and the ship would surely sink, he exclaimed, “Lord, have mercy upon us.” Later in his cabin he reflected on what he had said and began to believe that God had addressed him through the storm and that grace had begun to work for him.

For the rest of his life he observed the anniversary of May 10, 1748 as the day of his conversion, a day of humiliation in which he subjected his will to a higher power. “Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ’tis grace has bro’t me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.” He continued in the slave trade for a time after his conversion; however, he saw to it that the slaves under his care were treated humanely.

In 1750 he married Mary Catlett, with whom he had been in love for many years. By 1755, after a serious illness, he had given up seafaring forever. During his days as a sailor he had begun to educate himself, teaching himself Latin, among other subjects. From 1755 to 1760 Newton was surveyor of tides at Liverpool, where he came to know George Whitefield, deacon in the Church of England, evangelistic preacher, and leader of the Calvinistic Methodist Church. Newton became Whitefield’s enthusiastic disciple. During this period Newton also met and came to admire John Wesley, founder of Methodism. Newton’s self-education continued, and he learned Greek and Hebrew.

He decided to become a minister and applied to the Archbishop of York for ordination. The Archbishop refused his request, but Newton persisted in his goal, and he was subsequently ordained by the Bishop of Lincoln and accepted the curacy of Olney, Buckinghamshire. Newton’s church became so crowded during services that it had to be enlarged. He preached not only in Olney but in other parts of the country. In 1767 the poet William Cowper settled at Olney, and he and Newton became friends.

Cowper helped Newton with his religious services and on his tours to other places. They held not only a regular weekly church service but also began a series of weekly prayer meetings, for which their goal was to write a new hymn for each one. They collaborated on several editions of Olney Hymns, which achieved lasting popularity. The first edition, published in 1779, contained 68 pieces by Cowper and 280 by Newton.

Among Newton’s contributions which are still loved and sung today are “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds” and ”Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken,” as well as “Amazing Grace.” Composed probably between 1760 and 1770 in Olney, ”Amazing Grace” was possibly one of the hymns written for a weekly service. Through the years other writers have composed additional verses to the hymn which came to be known as “Amazing Grace” (it was not thus entitled in Olney Hymns), and possibly verses from other Newton hymns have been added. However, these are the six stanzas that appeared, with minor spelling variations, in both the first edition in 1779 and the 1808 edition, the one nearest the date of Newton’s death. It appeared under the heading Faith’s Review and Expectation, along with a reference to First Chronicles, chapter 17, verses 16 and 17.

On a plane ride once, I started talking to the family sitting next to me. We talked about praising God and hymns, and I asked them their favorite song. They told me the story of John Newton and I came back and listened to this song and read it. Ever since then, this has become my favorite English songs ... reminds me of Guru Nanak's lines, "If everyone sings Lord's praises, he will not become bigger or smaller." We sing his praises for ourselves, not for him. And John Newton pours this out from a personal perspective:

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

Shabads from the Asa ki vaar

Here is a list of some Asa ki Vaar recordings that I like. Also notice our blog post related to this topic: Asa KI Vaar or Asa DI Vaar?

The first recording one is done by Bhai Baljeet Singh and Bhai Gurmeet Singh with tanti saaz (although a better mastering job is definitely possible here):

Asa ki Vaar - Bhai Baljeet Singh, Bhai Gurmeet Singh

The second one by Bhai Gurmeet Singh Shaant starts with a melodius Bhinni Rainariye in an ever majestic and hopeful taal Deepchandi:

Asa ki Vaar - Bhai Gurmeet Singh Shaant

At Gurmatchanan.com there is a compilation of Asa ki Vaar from various Ragis: Gurmatchanan.com Asa ki Vaar. Others that I like here are:

Asa ki Vaar - Bhai Rajinder Singh
Asa ki Vaar - Bhai Inderjeet Singh
Asa ki Vaar - Bhai Kirpal Singh
Asa ki Vaar - Bhai Tejinder Singh
Asa ki Vaar - Bhai Taralbir Singh
Asa ki Vaar - Bhai Sukhwinder Singh

Some rare recordings:
Asa ki Vaar - Bhai Lal
Asa ki Vaar - Bhai Surjan Singh

For the classical music enthusiast, its worth noting that several morning Raags are used in Asa ki Vaar; I have yet to hear an Asa ki Vaar sung entirely in Raag Asa.

For example the following is just the beginning of Asa ki Vaar -- a polished recording, but the flute starts with Asa Maand not Asa (thats a usual problem when you ask an Indian classical musician to play Asa, they do Asa Maand). Notice how Asa transitions into Bilawal in the middle.
Asa ki Vaar - Bhai Balwinder Singh

Other resources:
Info on Asa ki vaar: http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Asa_di_Var
Text and Translation - http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Asa_di_var_Page_1

Katha - Asa ki Vaar - Sant Singh Maskeen
Videos
A nice series of videos of Bhai Ravinder Singh singing Asa ki Vaar:










Another one worth mentioning features the classic Bhai Surjan Singh ...



... who sings the omnipresent "Jo Mangeh Thakur" as part of Asa ki vaar:

In the beginning of the Guru Granth Sahib which contains the teachings of Guru Nanak and several other saints, Ekonkar is followed by 7 words which define Ekonkar, and then those 7 words are followed by Gurprasad. This collection of words defining Ekonkar and its path, are called the Mool Mantra. Total of 9 words including ekonkar and gurprasad. 

Here are those words and the meanings of those words:

Ekonkar - one Om shape
Satnaam - true name or true identity or plainly truth
Karta Purakh - Creator, personality that creates
Nirbhau - Without fear, fearless
Nirvair - Without enmity,
Akaal Moorat - Timless shape or just timeless
Ajuni - pronounced Ajooni, Joon is cycle of birth of death, Ajooni is "one who is unaffected by the cycle of birth and death"
Saibhang - Self existing (from vedic 'svyam bhu' -- self existing)
Gur prasaad - Guru's blessing or gift (attained by Guru's blessing)