In September on the 15th of September, it is the Sangrand of Assu (ਅੱਸੂ, meaning the month name Assu). On this day, Sikhs celebrate the changing of the month. As we know, through the Bani of Baramaha, Sahib Sri Guru Arjan Dev Sahib Ji has taught us. We are not worshipping the moon, the sun, or the change of the month; instead, we are taking teachings for this month so we can hopefully implement them in our lives and continue to walk on the path of spirituality.

You can view the list of all Sangrand dates for each month in the current year. You can also see the English calendar dates for Sangrand in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, October, November, and December for the current year.

The Teachings of Sangrand of Assu

Understanding Assun Prem Omahada

In Baramaha, it is described as Assun (ਅੱਸੂਨ, meaning Assu month). “Assun Prem Omahada Keo Meliyai Harjai” (ਅੱਸੂਨ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਉਮਾਹੜਾ ਕਿਉ ਮਿਲੀਐ ਹਰਜਾਇ). So in this month of Assu, Assun Prem Omahada (ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਉਮਾਹੜਾ), Prem (ਪ੍ਰੇਮ) is love, and Omahada (ਉਮਾਹੜਾ) is enthusiasm, excitement, a want, and motivation to develop.

Developing Love and Motivation During Sangrand of Assu

During Sangrand of Assu or in this month of Assu, we have developed love (Prem, ਪ੍ਰੇਮ) and motivation (Omahada, ਉਮਾਹੜਾ). We have this enthusiasm to meet our Lord, our husband Lord Akal Purakh Vaheguru (ਅਕਾਲ ਪੁਰਖ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ). Keo Meliyai Harjai (ਕਿਉ ਮਿਲੀਐ ਹਰਜਾਇ), how do we meet him, Harjai (ਹਰਜਾਇ)? How do we go and meet our husband, Lord Akal Purakh Vaheguru? We have developed love, motivation, and enthusiasm to meet our husband, the Lord, in the month of Assu.

Hearing Akal Purakh Vaheguru During Sangrand of Assu

Further still, Keo Meliyai Harjai (ਕਿਉ ਮਿਲੀਐ ਹਰਜਾਇ) asks, how can we meet our husband, Lord Akal Purakh Vaheguru? During the Sangrand of Assu or in this month of Assun Assu (ਅੱਸੂਨ ਅੱਸੂ), we meet him by developing Prem (ਪ੍ਰੇਮ), by developing love.

Assun (ਅੱਸੂਨ), if you separate the Word, becomes “aa sun” (ਆ ਸੁਨ), which means to listen, not just in one direction, but to listen and hear Akal Purakh Vaheguru from everywhere, from all parts of creation. We know Akal Purakh Vaheguru exists in all creation. We focus our concentration on the tun (ਤੁਨ), on the sound, on the vibration of the Shabad (ਸ਼ਬਦ), of the sound of Akal Purakh Vaheguru.

We can hear the sound of Akal Purakh Vaheguru from everywhere, not just from within ourselves but from every part of creation. So in this month of Assu Assun (ਅੱਸੂਨ ਅੱਸੂ), I can hear Akal Purakh Vaheguru everywhere. Why? Because I have developed that enthusiasm, that motivation, my love, my Prem (ਪ੍ਰੇਮ), is complete. That is how I have found Harjai (ਹਰਜਾਇ) Akal Purakh Vaheguru, who exists. Jai (ਜਾਇ) can also be translated to Jive (ਜੀਵ), meaning all creatures, all creation. Harjai (ਹਰਜਾਇ) refers to Hari Akal Purakh Vaheguru, who is existent in all creation.

The Tale of True Love

Learning from the Tale during Sangrand of Assu

Sometimes, we reflect on ourselves and have moments where we feel genuine love for Akal Purakh Vaheguru. We think that our love is complete, our heart is pure, and our heart is clean. There is an example, a tale, that helps us understand this. We may have been in different situations similar to this.

Once, a spiritual person was reading his prayers outside in his garden. As he was reading, he saw a husband and wife, a couple walking down the street, showing great love toward each other. As this person read his prayers, his mind focused on the couple’s love. He stopped his prayers and started shouting at them, blaming them for his loss of concentration.

The couple didn’t realize he was shouting at them. When they understood, they asked why. The man said he was in loving devotional prayer for his husband, Lord, and their actions distracted him. The couple replied that they were so engrossed in each other that they didn’t realize he was shouting.

They told him, “If you had true love for your husband Lord, the Almighty, your love would be so strong that you wouldn’t be distracted by us.” This was a teaching for him, showing that true love is so strong it remains undistracted by external factors.

Applying the Lesson during the Sangrand of Assu

This tale teaches us to develop love so that nothing breaks our concentration or distracts us from our devotion to the Almighty. This is the type of Prem (ਪ੍ਰੇਮ) Guru Sahib teaches us about.

Conclusion

Unbroken Love in Assu

During the Sangrand of Assu or in this month of Assu (ਅੱਸੂ), our love should be developed to remain unbroken so we can continually hear and experience Akal Purakh Vaheguru (ਅਕਾਲ ਪੁਰਖ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ) from all creation. Because of the love we have created, our enthusiasm has grown, and we long for the complete experience of the Almighty Lord, where we are completely liberated and one with them, with the blessings of Hari Parameshwar (ਹਰੀ ਪਰਮੇਸ਼੍ਵਰ) Akal Purakh Vaheguru.

Har (ਹਰ), who is present everywhere, blossoms us from within, removing negativities, and is also Harjai (ਹਰਜਾਇ), present in all creatures. So during the Sangrand of Assu or in this month of Assu (ਅੱਸੂ), we should develop enthusiasm for oneness with our husband, Lord Akal Purakh Vaheguru, by developing unbreakable love. Then we can hear Akal Purakh Vaheguru from all creation because we are the same.

The Teachings of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib Ji During the Sangrand of Assu

Guru Arjan Dev Sahib Ji (ਗੁਰੂ ਅਰਜਨ ਦੇਵ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜੀ) has blessed us with the Bani (ਬਾਣੀ) of Baramaha (ਬਾਰਹਮਾਹਾ) and teaches us at the start of this month in this way.

The Sangrand of Assu marks the beginning of the month of Assu in the Sikh calendar. It is significant because it represents a time for reflection and spiritual growth, as taught in the Bani of Baramaha by Guru Arjan Dev Ji. Sikhs are encouraged to develop a love (Prem) and enthusiasm (Omahada) to connect with Akal Purakh Vaheguru, the Almighty Lord. This time is not about worshipping celestial bodies like the sun or moon but about internalizing spiritual teachings and implementing them daily.

The phrase “Assun Prem Omahada Keo Meliyai Harjai” is a line from the Baramaha Bani by Guru Arjan Dev Ji. It highlights the essence of the month of Assu, emphasizing the development of love (Prem) and enthusiasm (Omahada) as a means to unite with the Almighty Lord (Harjai, referring to Akal Purakh Vaheguru). It encourages Sikhs to cultivate these qualities to deepen their spiritual connection and strive for oneness with the divine.

Developing an unbreakable love for Akal Purakh Vaheguru involves cultivating a deep and sincere connection with the divine through prayer, meditation, and self-reflection. Guru Arjan Dev Ji’s teachings encourage Sikhs to focus on the vibration of the Shabad (the Word) and listen to the divine presence in all creation. This spiritual journey requires consistency, devotion, and an open heart to experience love and oneness with Akal Purakh Vaheguru.

The couple’s tale illustrates that true love and devotion are so strong that they remain undistracted by external factors. In the story, a spiritual person becomes distracted by a couple’s love while praying and blames them for his lack of focus. The couple responds that their love for each other is so profound that they are unaware of his shouting. This teaches that if one’s love for the Almighty is true and deep, it will be unwavering and undisturbed by outside influences, emphasizing the need for genuine, heartfelt devotion in spiritual practice.

The Bani of Baramaha, composed by Guru Arjan Dev Ji, provides spiritual guidance for each month of the year. In the context of Assu, it offers teachings on developing love (Prem) and enthusiasm (Omahada) to seek and unite with Akal Purakh Vaheguru. It emphasizes the importance of listening to the divine presence in all creation and striving for a deep, unbreakable connection with the Almighty. The Bani serves as a framework for spiritual growth and reflection throughout the month.