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Guru Granth Sahib
Composition, Arrangement & Layout
ਜਪੁ | Jup
ਸੋ ਦਰੁ | So Dar
ਸੋਹਿਲਾ | Sohilaa
ਰਾਗੁ ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ | Raag Siree-Raag
Gurbani (14-53)
Ashtpadiyan (53-71)
Gurbani (71-74)
Pahre (74-78)
Chhant (78-81)
Vanjara (81-82)
Vaar Siri Raag (83-91)
Bhagat Bani (91-93)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਝ | Raag Maajh
Gurbani (94-109)
Ashtpadi (109)
Ashtpadiyan (110-129)
Ashtpadi (129-130)
Ashtpadiyan (130-133)
Bara Maha (133-136)
Din Raen (136-137)
Vaar Maajh Ki (137-150)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗਉੜੀ | Raag Gauree
Gurbani (151-185)
Quartets/Couplets (185-220)
Ashtpadiyan (220-234)
Karhalei (234-235)
Ashtpadiyan (235-242)
Chhant (242-249)
Baavan Akhari (250-262)
Sukhmani (262-296)
Thittee (296-300)
Gauree kii Vaar (300-323)
Gurbani (323-330)
Ashtpadiyan (330-340)
Baavan Akhari (340-343)
Thintteen (343-344)
Vaar Kabir (344-345)
Bhagat Bani (345-346)
ਰਾਗੁ ਆਸਾ | Raag Aasaa
Gurbani (347-348)
Chaupaday (348-364)
Panchpadde (364-365)
Kaafee (365-409)
Aasaavaree (409-411)
Ashtpadiyan (411-432)
Patee (432-435)
Chhant (435-462)
Vaar Aasaa (462-475)
Bhagat Bani (475-488)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗੂਜਰੀ | Raag Goojaree
Gurbani (489-503)
Ashtpadiyan (503-508)
Vaar Gujari (508-517)
Vaar Gujari (517-526)
ਰਾਗੁ ਦੇਵਗੰਧਾਰੀ | Raag Dayv-Gandhaaree
Gurbani (527-536)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਿਹਾਗੜਾ | Raag Bihaagraa
Gurbani (537-556)
Chhant (538-548)
Vaar Bihaagraa (548-556)
ਰਾਗੁ ਵਡਹੰਸ | Raag Wadhans
Gurbani (557-564)
Ashtpadiyan (564-565)
Chhant (565-575)
Ghoriaan (575-578)
Alaahaniiaa (578-582)
Vaar Wadhans (582-594)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸੋਰਠਿ | Raag Sorath
Gurbani (595-634)
Asatpadhiya (634-642)
Vaar Sorath (642-659)
ਰਾਗੁ ਧਨਾਸਰੀ | Raag Dhanasaree
Gurbani (660-685)
Astpadhiya (685-687)
Chhant (687-691)
Bhagat Bani (691-695)
ਰਾਗੁ ਜੈਤਸਰੀ | Raag Jaitsree
Gurbani (696-703)
Chhant (703-705)
Vaar Jaitsaree (705-710)
Bhagat Bani (710)
ਰਾਗੁ ਟੋਡੀ | Raag Todee
ਰਾਗੁ ਬੈਰਾੜੀ | Raag Bairaaree
ਰਾਗੁ ਤਿਲੰਗ | Raag Tilang
Gurbani (721-727)
Bhagat Bani (727)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸੂਹੀ | Raag Suhi
Gurbani (728-750)
Ashtpadiyan (750-761)
Kaafee (761-762)
Suchajee (762)
Gunvantee (763)
Chhant (763-785)
Vaar Soohee (785-792)
Bhagat Bani (792-794)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ | Raag Bilaaval
Gurbani (795-831)
Ashtpadiyan (831-838)
Thitteen (838-840)
Vaar Sat (841-843)
Chhant (843-848)
Vaar Bilaaval (849-855)
Bhagat Bani (855-858)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗੋਂਡ | Raag Gond
Gurbani (859-869)
Ashtpadiyan (869)
Bhagat Bani (870-875)
ਰਾਗੁ ਰਾਮਕਲੀ | Raag Ramkalee
Ashtpadiyan (902-916)
Gurbani (876-902)
Anand (917-922)
Sadd (923-924)
Chhant (924-929)
Dakhnee (929-938)
Sidh Gosat (938-946)
Vaar Ramkalee (947-968)
ਰਾਗੁ ਨਟ ਨਾਰਾਇਨ | Raag Nat Narayan
Gurbani (975-980)
Ashtpadiyan (980-983)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਲੀ ਗਉੜਾ | Raag Maalee Gauraa
Gurbani (984-988)
Bhagat Bani (988)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਰੂ | Raag Maaroo
Gurbani (889-1008)
Ashtpadiyan (1008-1014)
Kaafee (1014-1016)
Ashtpadiyan (1016-1019)
Anjulian (1019-1020)
Solhe (1020-1033)
Dakhni (1033-1043)
ਰਾਗੁ ਤੁਖਾਰੀ | Raag Tukhaari
Bara Maha (1107-1110)
Chhant (1110-1117)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕੇਦਾਰਾ | Raag Kedara
Gurbani (1118-1123)
Bhagat Bani (1123-1124)
ਰਾਗੁ ਭੈਰਉ | Raag Bhairo
Gurbani (1125-1152)
Partaal (1153)
Ashtpadiyan (1153-1167)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਸੰਤੁ | Raag Basant
Gurbani (1168-1187)
Ashtpadiyan (1187-1193)
Vaar Basant (1193-1196)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸਾਰਗ | Raag Saarag
Gurbani (1197-1200)
Partaal (1200-1231)
Ashtpadiyan (1232-1236)
Chhant (1236-1237)
Vaar Saarang (1237-1253)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਲਾਰ | Raag Malaar
Gurbani (1254-1293)
Partaal (1265-1273)
Ashtpadiyan (1273-1278)
Chhant (1278)
Vaar Malaar (1278-91)
Bhagat Bani (1292-93)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕਾਨੜਾ | Raag Kaanraa
Gurbani (1294-96)
Partaal (1296-1318)
Ashtpadiyan (1308-1312)
Chhant (1312)
Vaar Kaanraa
Bhagat Bani (1318)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕਲਿਆਨ | Raag Kalyaan
Gurbani (1319-23)
Ashtpadiyan (1323-26)
ਰਾਗੁ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਤੀ | Raag Prabhaatee
Gurbani (1327-1341)
Ashtpadiyan (1342-51)
ਰਾਗੁ ਜੈਜਾਵੰਤੀ | Raag Jaijaiwanti
Gurbani (1352-53)
Salok | Gatha | Phunahe | Chaubole | Swayiye
Sehskritee Mahala 1
Sehskritee Mahala 5
Gaathaa Mahala 5
Phunhay Mahala 5
Chaubolae Mahala 5
Shaloks Bhagat Kabir
Shaloks Sheikh Farid
Swaiyyae Mahala 5
Swaiyyae in Praise of Gurus
Shaloks in Addition To Vaars
Shalok Ninth Mehl
Mundavanee Mehl 5
ਰਾਗ ਮਾਲਾ, Raag Maalaa
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<blockquote data-quote="Harjas Kaur Khalsa" data-source="post: 81111" data-attributes="member: 2125"><p>Gurbani does NOT say the Hindu Trimurti were mere human Kings. It very expressly says they are gods.</p><p></p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">ਦੇਵੀ ਦੇਵਾ ਮੂਲੁ ਹੈ ਮਾਇਆ ॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">dhaevee dhaevaa mool hai maaeiaa ||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">The source, the root, of the gods and goddesses is Maya. </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple"></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">ਸਿੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਸਾਸਤ ਜਿੰਨਿ ਉਪਾਇਆ ॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">sinmrith saasath jinn oupaaeiaa ||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">For them, the Simritees and the Shaastras were composed. </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple"></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">ਕਾਮੁ ਕ੍ਰੋਧੁ ਪਸਰਿਆ ਸੰਸਾਰੇ ਆਇ ਜਾਇ ਦੁਖੁ ਪਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੨॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">kaam krodhh pasariaa sansaarae aae jaae dhukh paavaniaa ||2||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">Sexual desire and anger are diffused throughout the universe. Coming and going, people suffer in pain. ||2|| </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple"></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">ਤਿਸੁ ਵਿਚਿ ਗਿਆਨ ਰਤਨੁ ਇਕੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">this vich giaan rathan eik paaeiaa ||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">The jewel of spiritual wisdom was placed within the universe. </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple"></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਮੰਨਿ ਵਸਾਇਆ ॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">gur parasaadhee mann vasaaeiaa ||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">By Guru's Grace, it is enshrined within the mind.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">~SGGS Ji p. 129</span></p><p></p><p></p><p>Allow me to address certain erroneous interpretations:</p><p></p><p>~Many people seem to think that God or gods should be "godly" and thus conform to a set of cultural preconditions.</p><p></p><p>Okay, of course Vaheguru is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient (All-powerful, All-pervading, All-knowing). So why do these demi-gods run around acting like people? And so from the description, people think these gods are mythological.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Let me try to make this a bit clearer. First, Hinduism is a conglomeration of many philosophies some of which don't even agree. So to say, Hinduism is this, Hinduism is that is a generalization and may not be entirely accurate. Even Gurbani mentions the different Vedas and the disputes among scholars. But just to the simple definition of God or gods, lets look closer, because I think a majority of misunderstandings derive from people having a differnt conception of what it means.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Gurbani doesn't say there are no gods. It says that all creation, including the gods derives from the Supreme uncreated Parabrahm. If you read the Vedic texts or the Mahabharata, you will see the explanation given for the Supreme as exactly like that given in Gurbani. The difference is in major schools some will say the Supreme is Brahma, and other Vishnu. Gurbani says that the Supreme is beyond even Brahma and Vishnu. It doesn't say Brahma and Vishnu are mythological figures of human minds. It goes to the crux of the argument in the different Hindu schools and says the Ik Oangkar Satinaam is the Supreme, not the manifestations which are born into Time in order to manifest, and thus caught in the materiality of Time, the three gunas and Maya.</p><p></p><p>That is a fundamentally different description.</p><p></p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">ਖਿਨ ਮਹਿ ਥਾਪਿ ਉਥਾਪਨਹਾਰਾ ॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">khin mehi thhaap outhhaapanehaaraa ||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">In an instant, He establishes and disestablishes. </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue"></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">ਆਪਿ ਇਕੰਤੀ ਆਪਿ ਪਸਾਰਾ ॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">aap eikanthee aap pasaaraa ||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">He Himself is the One, and He Himself is the Many.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue"></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">ਲੇਪੁ ਨਹੀ ਜਗਜੀਵਨ ਦਾਤੇ ਦਰਸਨ ਡਿਠੇ ਲਹਨਿ ਵਿਜੋਗਾ ਜੀਉ ॥੩॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">laep nehee jagajeevan dhaathae dharasan ddithae lehan vijogaa jeeo ||3||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">Filth does not stick to the Giver, the Life of the World. Gazing upon the Blessed Vision of His Darshan, the pain of separation departs. ||3||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">~SGGS Ji p. 108</span></p><p></p><p></p><p>The Oneness of the God in Gurbani has never been described in isolation. The One is many, and the many are one. Contrast that with the Creator God of the Abrahamic tradition. But the older traditions among Abrahamic religion which have been suppressed tell something similar to traditional Vedanta, that there is a Primary nirgun Creator God which is unmanifest, and that creation is the result of lower emanations (sargun manifestations) but that ultimately all is a part of that Primary nirgun. In the Gnostic tradition which has greatly influenced Buddhism, and was itself greatly influenced by Zoroastrianism and Vedanta the cross-cultural parallels are unmistakeable. The nirgun, unfathomable God created. And in that sargun manifest appearance of material creation were gods of varying levels of spiritual development, some of who could themselves "create." The creator god of this world, in the Gnostic tradition is called "sakla" meaning fool, because he thought that he alone was God, and thus sinned against the hierarchy. He was called the blind god, because he could not see that he too, was material manifestation of a deeper and more profound reality. </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Indigo">ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਮੂਲੁ ਵੇਦ ਅਭਿਆਸਾ ॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Indigo">brehamaa mool vaedh abhiaasaa ||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Indigo">Brahma is the founder of the study of the Vedas. </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Indigo"></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Indigo">ਤਿਸ ਤੇ ਉਪਜੇ ਦੇਵ ਮੋਹ ਪਿਆਸਾ ॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Indigo">this thae oupajae dhaev moh piaasaa ||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Indigo">From him emanated the gods, enticed by desire. </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Indigo"></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Indigo">ਤ੍ਰੈ ਗੁਣ ਭਰਮੇ ਨਾਹੀ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਵਾਸਾ ॥੧॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Indigo">thrai gun bharamae naahee nij ghar vaasaa ||1||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Indigo">They wander in the three qualities, and they do not dwell within their own home. ||1||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Indigo">~SGGS Ji p. 230</span></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਦੀਸੈ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਪਸਾਰੁ ॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">guramukh dheesai breham pasaar ||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">The Gurmukh sees God pervading everywhere. </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue"></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਤ੍ਰੈ ਗੁਣੀਆਂ ਬਿਸਥਾਰੁ ॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">guramukh thrai guneeaaan bisathhaar ||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">The Gurmukh knows that the universe is the extension of the three gunas, the three dispositions. </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue"></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਾਦ ਬੇਦ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">guramukh naadh baedh beechaar ||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">The Gurmukh reflects on the Sound-current of the Naad, and the wisdom of the Vedas. </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue"></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਰ ਪੂਰੇ ਘੋਰ ਅੰਧਾਰੁ ॥੧॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">bin gur poorae ghor andhhaar ||1||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">Without the Perfect Guru, there is only pitch-black darkness. ||1||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">~SGGS Ji p. 1270</span></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkRed">ਸੁੰਨਹੁ ਸਪਤ ਪਾਤਾਲ ਉਪਾਏ ॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkRed">sunnahu sapath paathaal oupaaeae ||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkRed">From the Primal Void, He created the seven nether regions. </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkRed"></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkRed">ਸੁੰਨਹੁ ਭਵਣ ਰਖੇ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਏ ॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkRed">sunnahu bhavan rakhae liv laaeae ||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkRed">From the Primal Void, He established this world to lovingly dwell upon Him. </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkRed"></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkRed">ਆਪੇ ਕਾਰਣੁ ਕੀਆ ਅਪਰੰਪਰਿ ਸਭੁ ਤੇਰੋ ਕੀਆ ਕਮਾਇਦਾ ॥੧੦॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkRed">aapae kaaran keeaa aparanpar sabh thaero keeaa kamaaeidhaa ||10||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkRed">The Infinite Lord Himself created the creation. Everyone acts as You make them act, Lord. ||10|| </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkRed"></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkRed">ਰਜ ਤਮ ਸਤ ਕਲ ਤੇਰੀ ਛਾਇਆ ॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkRed">raj tham sath kal thaeree shhaaeiaa ||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkRed">Your Power is diffused through the three gunas: raajas, taamas and satva.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: DarkRed">~SGGS Ji p. 1038</span></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਬਿਸਨੁ ਮਹਾਦੇਉ ਤ੍ਰੈ ਗੁਣ ਰੋਗੀ ਵਿਚਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਕਾਰ ਕਮਾਈ ॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">brehamaa bisan mehaadhaeo thrai gun rogee vich houmai kaar kamaaee ||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva suffer from the disease of the three gunas - the three qualities; they do their deeds in egotism.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple"></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">ਜਿਨਿ ਕੀਏ ਤਿਸਹਿ ਨ ਚੇਤਹਿ ਬਪੁੜੇ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸੋਝੀ ਪਾਈ ॥੨॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">jin keeeae thisehi n chaethehi bapurrae har guramukh sojhee paaee ||2||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">The poor fools do not remember the One who created them; this understanding of the Lord is only obtained by those who become Gurmukh. ||2||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Purple">~SGGS Ji p. 735</span></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>If we have the misconception that devtas are "godly" in the respect that they are parallel to the Parabrahm, and their failure to not be caught in Maya and the three gunas makes them "no longer gods" we won't understand what Gurbani is saying.</p><p></p><p>Gurbani says the creation itself is made from the three gunas and Maya. Gurbani says the gods were made from the material manifestation of the three gunas and Maya. How can we be "shocked" because the gods clearly manifest lower qualities mixed with higher? Are they not a mirror of ourselves?</p><p></p><p></p><p>The other issue, is that from the modern Western scientific educational system, many people have a world-view which does not see any "gods." We look with microscopes and telescopes and... they're not there. So we tend to think they're fake, or unreal and so we call them "mythologies."</p><p></p><p></p><p>So here, I will diverge to share some things which someone of Native American ancestry would know, which is a decidedly distinct world-view from the Western. So please don't patronize me with comments about how English translations of Gurbani are errorneous and lead to a misunderstanding about the Hindu concepts in Sikh religion. I acknowledge that English translations are lacking and Gurbani can only be truly understood in the original Gurmukhi, and I am no Gurmukhi scholar. However, the interpretation I have is not based on the English translation, but on my years of studying Vedanta and Buddhist concepts, and something else... my awareness as a descendant of the peyote people of other worlds, and the entities which inhabit dimensions of our realm which are almost imperceivable. So I absolutely understand the truth of what Gurbani is saying about many devas and many realms, heaven and hell realms and Mahadevas. I don't look up at the sky and think "where are the gods?" I know that if someone opens his consciousness, he will lose the moorings of this materiality and perceive what is not perceived by scientific instrumentation alone. There are ancient gods. And they've always been a part of this creation. It has not to do with enlightenment to know this. But equally, it does not pertain to enlightenment not to know this. Gurbani says they are real. Ancient history of religions of the majority of human cultures have always known this. Only in modern societies with the dominance of the Abrahamic tradition is there a world-view which offends indigenous spiritual sentiments and tramples thousands of years of intuitive knowledge as "worthless," "hallucinatory," and "mythological."</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">ਦੇਵੀ ਦੇਵਾ ਪੂਜਹਿ ਡੋਲਹਿ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਨਹੀ ਜਾਨਾ ॥ </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">dhaevee dhaevaa poojehi ddolehi paarabreham nehee jaanaa ||</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">You worship gods and goddesses, but you do not know the Supreme Lord God.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="color: Blue">~SGGS Ji p. 332</span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Harjas Kaur Khalsa, post: 81111, member: 2125"] Gurbani does NOT say the Hindu Trimurti were mere human Kings. It very expressly says they are gods. [INDENT][COLOR="Purple"]ਦੇਵੀ ਦੇਵਾ ਮੂਲੁ ਹੈ ਮਾਇਆ ॥ dhaevee dhaevaa mool hai maaeiaa || The source, the root, of the gods and goddesses is Maya. ਸਿੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਸਾਸਤ ਜਿੰਨਿ ਉਪਾਇਆ ॥ sinmrith saasath jinn oupaaeiaa || For them, the Simritees and the Shaastras were composed. ਕਾਮੁ ਕ੍ਰੋਧੁ ਪਸਰਿਆ ਸੰਸਾਰੇ ਆਇ ਜਾਇ ਦੁਖੁ ਪਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੨॥ kaam krodhh pasariaa sansaarae aae jaae dhukh paavaniaa ||2|| Sexual desire and anger are diffused throughout the universe. Coming and going, people suffer in pain. ||2|| ਤਿਸੁ ਵਿਚਿ ਗਿਆਨ ਰਤਨੁ ਇਕੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥ this vich giaan rathan eik paaeiaa || The jewel of spiritual wisdom was placed within the universe. ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਮੰਨਿ ਵਸਾਇਆ ॥ gur parasaadhee mann vasaaeiaa || By Guru's Grace, it is enshrined within the mind. ~SGGS Ji p. 129[/COLOR][/INDENT] Allow me to address certain erroneous interpretations: ~Many people seem to think that God or gods should be "godly" and thus conform to a set of cultural preconditions. Okay, of course Vaheguru is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient (All-powerful, All-pervading, All-knowing). So why do these demi-gods run around acting like people? And so from the description, people think these gods are mythological. Let me try to make this a bit clearer. First, Hinduism is a conglomeration of many philosophies some of which don't even agree. So to say, Hinduism is this, Hinduism is that is a generalization and may not be entirely accurate. Even Gurbani mentions the different Vedas and the disputes among scholars. But just to the simple definition of God or gods, lets look closer, because I think a majority of misunderstandings derive from people having a differnt conception of what it means. Gurbani doesn't say there are no gods. It says that all creation, including the gods derives from the Supreme uncreated Parabrahm. If you read the Vedic texts or the Mahabharata, you will see the explanation given for the Supreme as exactly like that given in Gurbani. The difference is in major schools some will say the Supreme is Brahma, and other Vishnu. Gurbani says that the Supreme is beyond even Brahma and Vishnu. It doesn't say Brahma and Vishnu are mythological figures of human minds. It goes to the crux of the argument in the different Hindu schools and says the Ik Oangkar Satinaam is the Supreme, not the manifestations which are born into Time in order to manifest, and thus caught in the materiality of Time, the three gunas and Maya. That is a fundamentally different description. [INDENT][COLOR="Blue"]ਖਿਨ ਮਹਿ ਥਾਪਿ ਉਥਾਪਨਹਾਰਾ ॥ khin mehi thhaap outhhaapanehaaraa || In an instant, He establishes and disestablishes. ਆਪਿ ਇਕੰਤੀ ਆਪਿ ਪਸਾਰਾ ॥ aap eikanthee aap pasaaraa || He Himself is the One, and He Himself is the Many. ਲੇਪੁ ਨਹੀ ਜਗਜੀਵਨ ਦਾਤੇ ਦਰਸਨ ਡਿਠੇ ਲਹਨਿ ਵਿਜੋਗਾ ਜੀਉ ॥੩॥ laep nehee jagajeevan dhaathae dharasan ddithae lehan vijogaa jeeo ||3|| Filth does not stick to the Giver, the Life of the World. Gazing upon the Blessed Vision of His Darshan, the pain of separation departs. ||3|| ~SGGS Ji p. 108[/COLOR][/INDENT] The Oneness of the God in Gurbani has never been described in isolation. The One is many, and the many are one. Contrast that with the Creator God of the Abrahamic tradition. But the older traditions among Abrahamic religion which have been suppressed tell something similar to traditional Vedanta, that there is a Primary nirgun Creator God which is unmanifest, and that creation is the result of lower emanations (sargun manifestations) but that ultimately all is a part of that Primary nirgun. In the Gnostic tradition which has greatly influenced Buddhism, and was itself greatly influenced by Zoroastrianism and Vedanta the cross-cultural parallels are unmistakeable. The nirgun, unfathomable God created. And in that sargun manifest appearance of material creation were gods of varying levels of spiritual development, some of who could themselves "create." The creator god of this world, in the Gnostic tradition is called "sakla" meaning fool, because he thought that he alone was God, and thus sinned against the hierarchy. He was called the blind god, because he could not see that he too, was material manifestation of a deeper and more profound reality. [INDENT][COLOR="Indigo"]ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਮੂਲੁ ਵੇਦ ਅਭਿਆਸਾ ॥ brehamaa mool vaedh abhiaasaa || Brahma is the founder of the study of the Vedas. ਤਿਸ ਤੇ ਉਪਜੇ ਦੇਵ ਮੋਹ ਪਿਆਸਾ ॥ this thae oupajae dhaev moh piaasaa || From him emanated the gods, enticed by desire. ਤ੍ਰੈ ਗੁਣ ਭਰਮੇ ਨਾਹੀ ਨਿਜ ਘਰਿ ਵਾਸਾ ॥੧॥ thrai gun bharamae naahee nij ghar vaasaa ||1|| They wander in the three qualities, and they do not dwell within their own home. ||1|| ~SGGS Ji p. 230[/COLOR][/INDENT] [INDENT][COLOR="Blue"]ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਦੀਸੈ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਪਸਾਰੁ ॥ guramukh dheesai breham pasaar || The Gurmukh sees God pervading everywhere. ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਤ੍ਰੈ ਗੁਣੀਆਂ ਬਿਸਥਾਰੁ ॥ guramukh thrai guneeaaan bisathhaar || The Gurmukh knows that the universe is the extension of the three gunas, the three dispositions. ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਾਦ ਬੇਦ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ guramukh naadh baedh beechaar || The Gurmukh reflects on the Sound-current of the Naad, and the wisdom of the Vedas. ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਰ ਪੂਰੇ ਘੋਰ ਅੰਧਾਰੁ ॥੧॥ bin gur poorae ghor andhhaar ||1|| Without the Perfect Guru, there is only pitch-black darkness. ||1|| ~SGGS Ji p. 1270[/COLOR][/INDENT] [INDENT][COLOR="DarkRed"]ਸੁੰਨਹੁ ਸਪਤ ਪਾਤਾਲ ਉਪਾਏ ॥ sunnahu sapath paathaal oupaaeae || From the Primal Void, He created the seven nether regions. ਸੁੰਨਹੁ ਭਵਣ ਰਖੇ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਏ ॥ sunnahu bhavan rakhae liv laaeae || From the Primal Void, He established this world to lovingly dwell upon Him. ਆਪੇ ਕਾਰਣੁ ਕੀਆ ਅਪਰੰਪਰਿ ਸਭੁ ਤੇਰੋ ਕੀਆ ਕਮਾਇਦਾ ॥੧੦॥ aapae kaaran keeaa aparanpar sabh thaero keeaa kamaaeidhaa ||10|| The Infinite Lord Himself created the creation. Everyone acts as You make them act, Lord. ||10|| ਰਜ ਤਮ ਸਤ ਕਲ ਤੇਰੀ ਛਾਇਆ ॥ raj tham sath kal thaeree shhaaeiaa || Your Power is diffused through the three gunas: raajas, taamas and satva. ~SGGS Ji p. 1038[/COLOR][/INDENT] [INDENT][COLOR="Purple"]ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਬਿਸਨੁ ਮਹਾਦੇਉ ਤ੍ਰੈ ਗੁਣ ਰੋਗੀ ਵਿਚਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਕਾਰ ਕਮਾਈ ॥ brehamaa bisan mehaadhaeo thrai gun rogee vich houmai kaar kamaaee || Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva suffer from the disease of the three gunas - the three qualities; they do their deeds in egotism. ਜਿਨਿ ਕੀਏ ਤਿਸਹਿ ਨ ਚੇਤਹਿ ਬਪੁੜੇ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸੋਝੀ ਪਾਈ ॥੨॥ jin keeeae thisehi n chaethehi bapurrae har guramukh sojhee paaee ||2|| The poor fools do not remember the One who created them; this understanding of the Lord is only obtained by those who become Gurmukh. ||2|| ~SGGS Ji p. 735[/COLOR][/INDENT] If we have the misconception that devtas are "godly" in the respect that they are parallel to the Parabrahm, and their failure to not be caught in Maya and the three gunas makes them "no longer gods" we won't understand what Gurbani is saying. Gurbani says the creation itself is made from the three gunas and Maya. Gurbani says the gods were made from the material manifestation of the three gunas and Maya. How can we be "shocked" because the gods clearly manifest lower qualities mixed with higher? Are they not a mirror of ourselves? The other issue, is that from the modern Western scientific educational system, many people have a world-view which does not see any "gods." We look with microscopes and telescopes and... they're not there. So we tend to think they're fake, or unreal and so we call them "mythologies." So here, I will diverge to share some things which someone of Native American ancestry would know, which is a decidedly distinct world-view from the Western. So please don't patronize me with comments about how English translations of Gurbani are errorneous and lead to a misunderstanding about the Hindu concepts in Sikh religion. I acknowledge that English translations are lacking and Gurbani can only be truly understood in the original Gurmukhi, and I am no Gurmukhi scholar. However, the interpretation I have is not based on the English translation, but on my years of studying Vedanta and Buddhist concepts, and something else... my awareness as a descendant of the peyote people of other worlds, and the entities which inhabit dimensions of our realm which are almost imperceivable. So I absolutely understand the truth of what Gurbani is saying about many devas and many realms, heaven and hell realms and Mahadevas. I don't look up at the sky and think "where are the gods?" I know that if someone opens his consciousness, he will lose the moorings of this materiality and perceive what is not perceived by scientific instrumentation alone. There are ancient gods. And they've always been a part of this creation. It has not to do with enlightenment to know this. But equally, it does not pertain to enlightenment not to know this. Gurbani says they are real. Ancient history of religions of the majority of human cultures have always known this. Only in modern societies with the dominance of the Abrahamic tradition is there a world-view which offends indigenous spiritual sentiments and tramples thousands of years of intuitive knowledge as "worthless," "hallucinatory," and "mythological." [INDENT][COLOR="Blue"]ਦੇਵੀ ਦੇਵਾ ਪੂਜਹਿ ਡੋਲਹਿ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਨਹੀ ਜਾਨਾ ॥ dhaevee dhaevaa poojehi ddolehi paarabreham nehee jaanaa || You worship gods and goddesses, but you do not know the Supreme Lord God. ~SGGS Ji p. 332[/COLOR][/INDENT] [/QUOTE]
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