Rabindranath Tagore, a revered poet, saint, and the first Indian to win the Nobel Prize, composed India’s National Anthem.

Renowned actor Balraj Sahni once asked Tagore to write an anthem for the world. In response, Tagore humbly acknowledged that Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, had already sung an anthem — not just for the world but for the entire universe — in the 16th century.

Guru Nanak’s Universal Anthem, known as Aarti, translates as follows:

The sky is Your platter, The sun and moon are Your lamps, The stars in the sky are Your pearls, The sandalwood fragrance is incense, The wind is the fan, the whole forest is Your flowers. What a wondrous Aarti this is!O Destroyer of fear, this is Your ceremony of light. The unstruck sound current of the Shabad (Your Name) resounds like temple drums. You have a thousand eyes, yet none belong to You. You have countless forms, yet none are truly Yours. You have thousands of feet, noses—yet You have none.I am mesmerized by Your divine play. Your light illuminates all, And that light shines forth by the Guru’s grace. This, O Lord, is the Aarti that truly pleases You.O Lord, bestow the water of Your mercy upon Nanak, the thirsty songbird, so he may dwell in Your Name.

This hymn beautifully expresses the presence of a singular divine light radiating through countless eyes, forms, feet, and voices, manifesting in every aspect of creation — stars, flowers, birds, and the very air we breathe.

Humans alone have been gifted with intellect by the Almighty, while all other living and non-living beings exist and perish in their natural cycles. Yet, instead of using this intellect to recognize the divine light within all, we often sow division — spreading duality, hatred, and conflict through societal, religious, and national boundaries, leading to wars and repression.

To make this world a more harmonious place, change must begin at the grassroots level. I feel blessed to be part of the WEMM (Woodland Ecumenical and Multi-Faith Ministries), which is actively working to transcend divisions and unite people. This commitment was vividly demonstrated at the grand opening of the new Muslim Mosque in Woodland on Feb. 28. The presence of people from diverse faiths made the occasion truly memorable.

This event brought me immense joy and a deep sense of peace, as it was a powerful reminder of the Almighty’s light uniting us all. Such moments strengthen our connections, creating ripple effects of harmony that can extend beyond our community — to neighboring cities, states, countries, and ultimately, the entire universe, as Guru Nanak described in his Universal Anthem.