03-Feb-2005, 21:05 PM
|
 | | | | Enrolled: Jan 22nd, 2005 Location: kuwait
Posts: 383
| |
Liked 452 Times in 166 Posts
| |  | |
| Re: My understanding of 3rd Pauri of Japji Sahib
S. Amarpal Singh ji The gist of Japji can be understood properly only in the background of the religions that were practiced when Guru Nanak appeared on the scene. Hindus and Muslims were then two major mutually-opposing faiths, each group claiming to be the follower of the true faith and the other as nonbeliever. And followers of Guru Nanak belonged to these religions only. In accordance with the order already indicated, where Guru Nanak prepared our mind for spiritual flight. After detailing rituals and His Hukam in first and second stanza, Guru Nanak wanted to make sure that before he set off the spiritual flight, mind of people is not stained with any confusion. So he presents his dialogue in third stanza on various sermons prevailed during his ministry. He says millions and millions of people have created innumerable articles and tales most of which lead people to worship sun, moon, fire, snake, ocean, mountains, stones, plantations and other inanimate objects etc. thus created more and more confusions. However, without the true guide people could not realize the Truth. Thus they were following useless pursuit. Moreoever, the creator of these articles or tales presents them in such a way that devotee start worshipping them only instead of God. Thus they not only have divided mankind into different religions and races but divided authority of God even to different deities by worshiping them and lead themselves to intolerances. In this stanza Guru Nanak has selected some of the most talked and believed expressions of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, out of millions of expressions made by millions of devotees as Creator, Destroyer and Reviver. He says some are signing that it is Brahma who is the creator of the universe. Some are singing it is Vishnu who is provider of sustence and it is Shiva who is destroyer. But he says in first line whosoever has been blessed by His Hukam only sings that it is God and only God who is creator, destroyer and reviver. And it is His Hukam only which prevails and not authority of any of above deities.Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/jap-ji-sahib/350-japji-sahib-pauri-3-a.html Gaavaei ko taan hovai kisaei taan, Gaavaei ko daat jannaei neesan
Those blessed with inborn power of knowledge sing virtues of God; Whereas others sings of the boundless bounty (of different avatars deities etc), Knowing this a mark of their Generosity to be.
Gaavaei ko gun vade-aa-ee chaar, Gaavaei ko vidya vikhom veechaar.
Some sing vishnu's glorious excellences and exalted state; Some glorify Him through deep philosophic intricacies. (This line is dedicated to vishnu who was considered as philospher)
Gaavaei ko saaj karay tan khay, Gaavaei ko jee laei fir dayh.
Some sing vishnu fashions the body out of mud and matter and then when he desires reduces it to dust. Some sing Shiva that He takes away the life and then restores it (When He desires)
Gaavaei ko jaapaei disaei duir. Gaavaei ko vaikhaei haadraa huduir.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=350
Kathnaa kathi na aavaei toat. Kath kath kathi koati koat koat.
There is no end of the expressions of God; Millions upon Millions continue discoursing expression of glory without an end.
Daydaa dayh layday thak paa-eh. Jugaa jugantor khaa-ee khaa-eh.
(though people pray to other than Him) The Great Giver constantly gives (His gifts) those who receive get tired of receiving. Through the ages the partakers partake His gifts.
Hukami Hukom cholaa-ey raaho. Nanak vigsaei way-parvaa-o.
(But inspite of all confusion) He is the commander, By His commandments He runs this universe. Saint Nanak! He is ever blissful and carefree (because He is not attached).
The most enchanting attribute of God is that inspite of their not worshipping Him, He is Bountiful. He gives to the mankind endless gifts with Grace and delight. Mankind may get tired while receiving these gifts, but God is ever happy in showering His blessings on the mankind. Let us take the case of the gift of “One Breath.” For everyman has these “breaths” which in sense are numbered. Beyond that not even a single “Breath” can be attained by any means of wealth or power. It is said; Alexander the Great fell seriously ill en route to his country from India. Two Royal most eminent physicians with him declared the ailment to be incurable. Still Alexander begged for life for a few moments to reach his home to tell his mother that he had fulfilled her blessings to conquer the world in twelve years. In lieu thereof Alexander offered half of his empire to the physicians. But they expressed their helplessness and Alexander died on the way to home at the predestined moment. Can any deity or other elements give them gift of single breath.
It will be quite useful to mention some of the other point of view expressed by other Avtars, Prophets, Seers (Pirs), and Paigambers. Islam had their own perspective, so do the Buddha and Mahavir. By Islamic perspective spectacle of beautiful sceneries created in the universe is considered absolute power of God, whereas as per Gurbani, this is only one of His Power. Buddha and Mahavir’s perception is that communion with Him can only be set up by staying away from eye-catching sceneries of nature. Sri Krishan who is accepted by ancient rishis as 16 powers Avtar, believed life is a leela (sport) (and he took it accordingly) whereas for Purshotam Ram who is accepted as 14 powers Avtar, life was only principle and for the sake of principle he stayed away from his wife Sita with no fault of hers, but through Guru Nanak “Anant kalah hoey thakar chadiya - infinite powers, perfection and the fruitful rewards of God got exposed.” - Guru Granth ang.1081.2. For Guru Nanak life was principle as well as play but with principle. Tenth Guru Nanak (Guru Gobind Singh) proved this by making battlefield as play with principle by applauding Bhai Ghanneia who was serving water and applying bandage to the injured soldiers of the enemy in the battlefield. So Guru started the system, what now is called as Red Cross?
Regards Sahni Mohinder  |