There is an english edition of Nitnem translated by Harbans Singh Doabia that also contains a chapter called 'The Next World' wherein he describes the fate of the soul after death. His explanations are in english but he leaves the quotes to back up his descriptions in gurmukhi. I don't understand gurmukhi enough to know how well his arguments are backed up by the scripture. Therefore I ask the opinions of the forum on the veracity of his commentary. Frankly I was puzzled and not sure what to think.
First, although he says the sinner suffers further transmigrations after death, he also explicitly describes the sinner going to Hell and being punished there. Isn't this a contradiction?
Also, he says there are supernatural entities as follows. There is the angel of death called "Izrael" that drags the soul to the afterlife. There are two angels called "Chitr" and "Gupt" who record the person's deeds throughout life. And finally there is an entity called "Dharam Raj" with a special dispensation from God to judge the individual for Hell/transmigrations or staying in God's court.
Now, my impression has always been that SGGS is poetry, and employs poetic metaphors throughout. For example, when Japji says that there are so many Brahmas, Shivas, Krishnas, etc. it does not mean that there are literally multiple Shivas running around. That would be more absurd than the idea of a single Shiva, which is absurd indeed. So Dharam Raj is simply the personification of a certain principle of the universe and not a literal supernatural judge. Similarly, there is no literal Hell but the imagery might be used by Muslim Bhagats because of the particulars of their Abrahamic faith. It doesn't necessarily mean that Sikhism adopts any of that wholesale.
So what is going on here? Does Harbans have an overly literal analysis of the scripture? Or do I need to do ALOT more study of what Sikhism actually teaches, especially with regard to the afterlife?
First, although he says the sinner suffers further transmigrations after death, he also explicitly describes the sinner going to Hell and being punished there. Isn't this a contradiction?
Also, he says there are supernatural entities as follows. There is the angel of death called "Izrael" that drags the soul to the afterlife. There are two angels called "Chitr" and "Gupt" who record the person's deeds throughout life. And finally there is an entity called "Dharam Raj" with a special dispensation from God to judge the individual for Hell/transmigrations or staying in God's court.
Now, my impression has always been that SGGS is poetry, and employs poetic metaphors throughout. For example, when Japji says that there are so many Brahmas, Shivas, Krishnas, etc. it does not mean that there are literally multiple Shivas running around. That would be more absurd than the idea of a single Shiva, which is absurd indeed. So Dharam Raj is simply the personification of a certain principle of the universe and not a literal supernatural judge. Similarly, there is no literal Hell but the imagery might be used by Muslim Bhagats because of the particulars of their Abrahamic faith. It doesn't necessarily mean that Sikhism adopts any of that wholesale.
So what is going on here? Does Harbans have an overly literal analysis of the scripture? Or do I need to do ALOT more study of what Sikhism actually teaches, especially with regard to the afterlife?