|
Introduction
to the Book (extracted from the book itself as written by
the author):
The term ‘Guru’
is quite common in the Indian culture , but in Sikhism it enjoys a
very distinct meaning .Guru epitomizes a spiritual teacher who
enlightens his disciples for their all round development ,
inculcates in them devotion and Godly love , shows them a path of
righteousness and justice ,
heals them with the medicine of ‘Naam’ , refines their thought
processes leading them into a state of equipoise , instills in
them a spirit of service to his community and teaches them the art
of attaining liberation while leading the life of a householder.
Of what form is
the Sikh Guru ? What are his attributes ? Is it necessary for him
to manifest in physical form ? Who must Sikhs consider their Guru
? How does the Guru communicate with the masses ?
What strikes the
mind of a Sikh when he hears the term Guru ?Immediately the mind
shoots off to the Ten Sikh Gurus , from Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind
who seeded the Sikh religion and sprouted it into a dynamic faith
that has elevated and reformed millions of lives for more than
five centuries . Of what form then is the Sikh Guru who continues
to influence the consciousness of the masses long after he
discontinued His physical presence on earth ? It is vital to
comprehend the meaning of Guru in Sikhism . When we say that Sikhs
had ten Gurus or as the title of this book ‘The Ten Gurus – Life
and Teachings ’ does , are we really talking about ten different
inviduals or about individuals at all ?
As Guru Gobind Singh very
succinctly puts it for us in His composition ‘Bachitra Naatak’-
Nanak
metamorphosed into Angad,
and preached Sikhism around the
world.
He was then revered as Amardas,
just as a candle is lit from
another candle.
At time oppurtune of the boon,
Ramdas became the Guru,
While Amardas ascended the heavenly
abodes.
I recognise Angad as Nanak and
Amardas as Angad.
Amardas then became Ramdas.
While the fools have seen
them as distinct ,
the saints recognise them as
one .
Those who have deciphered the
similarity,
have attained liberation
while it has evaded the ignorant .
When Ramdas became one with
almighty,
Guruship was passed to Arjan
.
When Arjan passed into eternal
realms Hargobind took his place .
Hargobind gave way to Hari Rai .
Hari Rai’s son Hari Krishan then
became the Guru ,
To be followd by Guru Tegh Bahadur
.
(Bachitra
Naatak)
nwnk
AMgd ko bpu Drw ]Drm pRcur ieh jg mo krw ]
Amrdws
puin nwmu khwXo ]jn dIpk qy dIp jgwXo ]
jb brdwn
smY vhu Awvw ]rwmdws qb gurU khwvw ]
iqh
brdwn purwqn dIAw ] Amrdws surpur mgu lIAw ]
sRI nwnk
AMgid kir mwnw ] Amrdws AMgd pihcwnw ]
Amrdws
rwmdws khwXo ] swDin lKw mUVH nih pwXo ]
iBMn
iBMn sBhUM kr jwnw ] eyk rUp iknhUM pihcwnw ]
ijn jwnw
iqn hI isD pweI ] ibn smJy isD hwiQ n AweI ]
rwmdws
hr so iml gey ]gurqw dyq Arjnih Bey ]
jb Arjn
pRBu lok isDwey ] hirgoibMd iqh TW Tihrwey ]
hirgoibMd
pRB lok isDwry ] hrIrwie iqh TW bYTwry ]
hrIikRsn
iqn ky suq vey ]iqn ky qyg bhwdr Bey ]
(bic~qR nwtk)
Guru Gobind has thus emphasized
that the Ten Gurus are to be seen as one soul that transmigrated
from one body to another . It is the soul in them which is to be
looked upon as the guru and not their physical body .Though Sikhs
consider them God and might worship them , the Gurus themselves
always preached the existence of -
One Immanent and Transcendent God
Whose name is True , Who is the creator Himself, Fearless and
inimical to none , Who is beyond the cycle of births and deaths ,
Who is Self Illumined and Who is realised by His own grace .(Japji)
Guru Gobind Singh said -
Who was in the beginning and Who
will be in the end ,
Consider Him my Guru .
Chaupaee(Guru Gobind
Singh Ji)
Awd AMq eyko Avqwrw [
soeI gurU smiJE hmwrw [
cOpeI (gurU goibMd isMG jI)
So according to the Sikh Gurus
themselves God is only one . None of the Ten Gurus called
themselves incarnates or God , it is only the Sikh people who saw
them as incarnation of God . Though The Sikh doctrine and
scriptures, however , emphasize that God is beyond births and
deaths and strictly discards the concept of incarnation of God .It
is only because of the Divine qualities of the Ten Gurus that
Sikhs consider them to be no less than incarnates . They not only
preached but implemented the philosophy and ideals they believed
in , in their very own lives .Thus their lives are specimens to be
studied and looked upon at with an acute eye as lies hidden in
them the key to living a wholesome and meaningful life . The study
provides us with a clue as to how they were able to uplift
millions of lives from a state of moral degradation and set up a
system capable of reforming generations to be born . Though the
Guru manifested in physical form to start with , he acquired the
form of Word thereafter . Guru Gobind Singh after being convinced
that Sikhism was on a firm footing , concluded that the Sikh
religion no longer needed the leadership of a physical Guru . Sohe
declared the ‘Adi Granth ‘ to be the Sikh Guru forever and it thus
became ‘Sri Guru Granth Sahib’ . Guru Granth Sahib is held in deep
reverence by the entire Sikh community . They bow before it just
as they did before the ten Gurus , they keep their heads covered
when in itsd benign presence , wash their hands before touching it
, wrap it in a neat piece of cloth (Rumaalaa) . They also take the
‘Hukamnama’ from the holy granth each morning ,seeking divine
guidance . However emphais must be laid on the content of the
Granth and inculcating its actual message into our lives by making
a thorough reading of it and making an effort to undertand what it
really says . It is the reading and practical application of the
teachings contained therein , that would bring about any fruitful
upliftment in the quality of our life .
Such is the
Guru that He does not need to acquire a physical form for ever and
yet His teachings permeate the Sikh consciousness through the
power of His Word (Shabad) . Shabad or the Divine Word is the
message of God which has been delivered to us through Gur-Bani
preserved through the ages in ‘Adi Granth‘ which later became Guru
Granth Sahib , as ordained by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1708 .
Why divest an
effort to become intimate with the lives of these Divine
messengers? Because their lives embody the very principles they
taught. Guru Nanak wanted not mere philosophy but practical
application of the ideology called Sikhism . He felt that to make
any significant impact and bring about a long lasting spiritual
awakening and elevation of diseased human souls His message needed
to be deeply embedded in the socio cultural consciousness of the
masses, and for that to happen His message needed to be injected
across several generations. He thus chose to pass on the Divine
Light to Guru Angad and henceforth successively to each of the Ten
Gurus. When the Tenth Guru felt that Sikhism was on firm footing
and could survive and grow on its own, He declared that Sri Guru
Granth Sahib would be the Guru forever, obliterate all their
doubts and reveal to them the true purpose of life for ages to
come .
The life of each
of the Gurus was a specimen of a True Sikh’s life from and if we
succeed in applying even a tithe of the principles They taught ,
we would end up taking our lives to unconquered spiritual heights
. Each life of the Guru brought forth a distinct human quality
.While Guru Nanak was an idol of ‘Humility’ , Guru Angad
immortalized ‘Obedience’ , Guru Amardas fortified the spirit of
‘Equality’ , Guru Amardas demonstrated the essence of ‘Selfless
Devotional Service’ , Guru Hargobind was an apostle of ‘Justice’ ,
Guru Har Rai sanctified ‘Mercy’ , Guru Harkrishan idolized
‘Purity’ , Guru Tegh Bahadar was an ocean of ‘Calmness’ and Guru
Gobind Singh embodied ‘Royal Courage’ .
Guru Nanak
offered the way to attain God in His divine utterance Japuji.
“What words
should we recite to win His grace?
One must
recite His Name in the ambrosial morning
and
think about His greatness .”
There is indeed
a great wealth of knowledge in the divine hymns uttered by the Ten
Gurus that obliterate all doubts on how this life is to be lived
, what should be one’s priorities in life , what should be the
moral code of conduct and much more.Ordinary mortals treading the
path of spirituality can find solace in the direction that
Gur-Bani can provide to life.
Once Mardana
asked Guru Nanak whether objects given in charity please God. He
replied , “ Yes , helping the destitute , feeding the hungry ,
providing cloth to the naked makes the donor a recipient of God’s
grace , but one must donate out of one’s honest earnings .The one
who receives must accept only what suffices to fulfill his needs
and no more .” Guru Nanak denounced the caste system and
introduced the practice of Langar, the community Kitchen, where
people from all castes and creeds sat together to eat without any
distinction of social hierarchy. The food for the Langar was
prepared by the ‘Sangat’, the common people who belonged to all
social strata and offered free services and contributed food
materials out of their own free will. This custom went a long way
in removing caste bias and promoting equality of all. He advocated
earning out of one’s own hard work by fair and just means. During
his travels, while at Eminabaad he stayed in the house of a poor
carpenter Lalo, considered untouchable, declining the services
offered by the affluent Malak Bhagon. When Bhagon asked Guru Nanak
the reason for declining his royal food for an outcaste’s
offerings, He replied, “Lalo earns in a just way out of his own
labor and effort (Kirt) while you commit atrocities snatching away
the shares of poor and weak abusing the power you possess. His
food smells of milk but yours reeks of blood! ”
Once Shah Sharaf, a famous Sufi saint asked Him why He wore the
dress of a householder, which was unusual for a ‘fakir’ and why He
had not shaven His head? Guru Nanak replied, “One must indulge in
complete self surrender to God,crushing the cravings for pleasure
and deflating the ego. Then whatever dress one wears is holy.”
Regarding the shaving of head He answered, “It is the mind that
needs the shaving, not the head. And to be humble like dust that
kisses the feet of one and all, is the true shaving of one’s
mind.” Guru Nanak made five major journeys (Udaasis), through
which he traveled the planet spreading his message to the remotest
of habitats. He was truly a global saint and his influence was
felt across all political, cultural and social boundaries.
Guru Nanak took a revolutionary step
when he transferred the supreme seat of Sikhism, the Gur-Gaddi, to
Bhai Lehna, a benevolent Sikh, in preference to His own sons Baba
Sri Chand and Lakhmi Das and consecrated Him as the second Guru,
Guru Angad Dev. He thus established that the Gur-Gaddi, was a
responsibility and not merely a seat of power to be cherished for
lavish comforts, and could be held only by someone who had the
necessary attributes to take upon the challenge and do justice to
it. He thus defied the popular custom of hereditary transfer of
seats. Guru Nanak’s decision to continue the line of succession to
the tenth Guru is seen as a major contributing factor for the
emergence of Sikhism as a popular religion which survived the test
of times and attained a strong foothold in the state of Punjab and
across the Indian territory. Too many religions previous to it had
been consumed and lost into Hinduism as just another sects. The
ten Gurus played a vital role in winning for Sikhism the distinct
identity of a strong standalone religious force by delivering
Guru Nanak’s message to a much wider masses , establishing cities
, appointing religious messengers to spread His word ,
enlightening masses , building Gurdwaras where Sikhs could offer
prayers , fighting wars to defend the religion .
So lets venture
into the life of Guru Nanak and His successors hoping to learn
something that adds value to our lives .
Here are the Contents
of the Book :
Introduction
1.Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Factual Overview
Guru
Nanak's Incarnation
The
Detached Child
Who
Could Teach The All Aware ?
The
Sacred Thread
The
Carefree Shepherd
Snake
Provides Shade
The
Ideal Deal
The
StoreKeeper With Endless stocks
Disappearance into Vai River
Chapaatis of Milk And Blood
Encounter With Sajjan Thag
Watering His Fields From Haridwar
Kartarpur Is Established
Shivnabh Seeks Forgiveness
Kauda
Giant's Reformation
Journey
of Uttarakhand
Baba Budha Becomes A Sikh
God Is Omnipresent : the Miracle At Mecca
The Tale Of Chashma Sahib
The
Tale of Panja Sahib
Passing
Into Eternal Realms
2. Guru Angad Dev Ji
Factual Overview
Lahna
Ji is Born
Lahna
Ji Meets Guru Nanak
Tests
of Patience And Devotion
Lahna
Ji Becomes Guru Angad Dev
Humayun
in Guru Angad's Court
Shivnath, the Pretender , Gets Punished
Guru
Angad Shows Them the Right path
Accept Universal Will
The Master Of Gurmukhi
Merging Into Eternal Light
3. Guru Amar Das Ji
Factual
Overview
The Incarnation
His
Search for a Guru
How The
Guru Was Found
Attainment of
Guruship
An Idol Of
Humility
How Sikhs Reached
Their Guru
Bauli Sahib
Akbar is Blessed to
Win Chittaur
Baisakhi Carnival
Guru's Great Sikhs
Guru's Blessings
The Pretence of The
Saint
A Lesson To Mohri
Ji
Emperor Akabar
Visits Goindwal
From Guru Amardas
to Guru Ramdas
4.Sri Guru Ramdas Ji
Factual
Overview
Initial Days
Guru's Grace
How Guruship
Was Attained
Guru Ji's
Final Test For The Seat
Developing
Amritsar
Santokh Sar :
The Excavation
Amritsar
Sarovar : The Holy Nectar Appears
The Legend Of
Humility
Guru's Great Sikhs
Fifth Guru is
Chosen
5.Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji
Factual
Overview
Boon of
Guruship
Opposition By
Prithi Chand
Constructional Developments
Shri
Guru Granth Sahib Ji
Great
Sikhs of The Fifth Guru
Bhai Manj Ji
Bhai Behlo Ji
Bhai Ladda Ji
Bhai Buddu Ji
Bhai Samman Musan Ji
Other
Great Sikhs
Guru's
Sacrifice
Miraculous Faith Of a Lady From Kabul
6. Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji
Factual
Overview
Birth And
Childhood Days
Assassination
Attempts By Prithi Chand
Guruship and
Meeri Peeri
Bandi Chhor:
the Savious Of 52 kings
Chandu Dies
Like a Dog
The Miracles
of the Sixth Guru
Four Major
Battles
The Battle Of
Amritsar
The Battle of
Hargobindpur
The Battle Of
Gurusar Mehraj
The Battle of
Kartarpur
Bibi Deso is
Blessed With Seven Sons
Guru's
Absorption into Eternal Light
7. Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji
Factual Overview
Initial Days
Guruship and After
Daaraa in Guru's
Shelter
Benevolent Acts Of
Guru Ji
Ful- Keean Kingdoms
Devotee and God
Guru Abandons His
Son Ram Rai
Enemies Always
Failing To Reach Him
Langar : The
Community Kitchen
Mingling into
Divine Light
8. Sri Guru Harkrishan Ji
Factual Overview
Incarnation And
Guruship
Tender Age But
Grand Deeds
Conspiracies Of Ram
Rai
Aurangzeb's
Letter To The Guru
Consultations
on Emperor's Letter
A Dumb
Narrates Meanings of Geeta
Miracles In
Delhi
Guru Ends His
Earthly Sojourn
9. Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur
Ji
Factual
Overview
Early Days Of
Life
Tegh Bahadur
Ji Becomes The Guru
Guruship and
Threat to Life
Sri Anandpur
Sahib
Efforts to
Save Hinduism
Kashmiri Pandits
Cry For Help
Delhi Visit Of
Ninth Guru
The Guru's
Sacrifice
Bravery Of Sikhs
10. Sri Guru Gobind Singh
Factual Overview
Childhood Days
Shifting to
Anandpur : The First Sacrifice
The Battle of
Bhangani
Pathans Run Away
Guru's Win
Appearance of Devi
'Goddess'
Khalsa is Born
The Battle Of
Anandpur
Mad Elephant
Let Loose
Enemy
Defeated
Bhai
Ghanaya'a Exemplary Service
Cattle Of
Flour and Swearing In By The Kuran
Sikhs Disown
their Guru
The Battle Of
Chamkaur
Sacrifice of
Two Elder Sons
The Battle of
Muktsar
Banda Singh
Bahadur
Sri Guru
Granth Sahib Ji: The Guru Forever
|
