Little Known Facts about Guru Granth Sahib
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Script: Guru Granth Sahib is the first sacred text
written in the Punjabi script mistakenly called Gurmukhi script. Guru Arjun Dev
Ji recorded, on page 432, Asa Mohalla Pehla, Patti Likhi, that Guru
Nanak invented the alphabet. It contains all the 35 letters along with their
sounds. The first line is supposed to be the wisdom of 7-year-old Nanak when
the teacher explained him “lande” script’s
letter sassa, and Guru Nanak spoke to his teacher: “sassai soi
srishat jin saaji sabna sahib ek bhaia ... “ (p. 432) O Pandit! The letter
‘S’ (sassa) tells us that the Lord, who has created this Universe is the true
master of all the beings. The lives of those have been blessed whose heart
remained fully imbued with His service. Thus the complete script of Punjabi
language which exists today was invented by Guru Nanak and its correct name
should be “Nanaki”.
The Language: The terse and concise language invented and used by
Guru Nanak varied throughout his life. He modified the dialects and languages,
which he came across during his travels but wrote in the same grammatical order
evolved by him. The true meaning of each word depended on the way it was
written and it could not be conveyed by the spoken word: Dr. R.W. Lightner, the
first Director of Education Punjab wrote, “Gurumukhi, however, is not a name
for a mere character as is supposed both by the natives including now even the
Sikhs themselves and by Europeans. Etymologically and historically, it is
the name of language which flowed from the mouth of Guru Nanak.” (“History
of Indigenous Education” in the Punjab 1879, page 31-32).
It is logical to conclude that
Guru Nanak did not record the Bhagat Bani in the language uttered by the
various saints, but wrote it in the language of Guru Granth Sahib. The sole
exception being shabads and slokas of Baba Farid, which were in
chaste Punjabi. Even today, many times the compositions of Kabir and Ravidas
are sung on the radio and the language is not that of Guru Granth Sahib but the
original Hindi version. In the words of Janet Lang, under the title of “The
Guru Granth Sahib Ji is Divine”, on the Internet records: “It is
scientifically impossible for any known being to write a book with all the
qualities found in the Guru Granth Sahib: It is written using very deeply
profound words obtained from over 16 languages. Its words are more profound
than that of any other Book on the Planet. The words from over 16 incompatible
languages are incorporated in a way that they make perfect sense.”
Guru Nanak’s persona as
recorded in Guru Granth Sahib: Fifth
Nanak, Guru Arjun Dev ji, who compiled the Guru Granth Sahib knew that the most
difficult aspect of religion which the Sikhs will have to understand would be
the realisation that Guru Nanak and the successor Gurus were one jyot.
He commenced a tradition, the morning after the installation of “Pothi Sahib” -
the forerunner of Guru Granth Sahib in the sactum sactorum of Darbar
Sahib in 1604. The congregation of Sikhs led by him carried the volume in a
decorated palanquin from its overnight resting place 3 hours before sunrise.
They moved in a procession, singing and reciting specific lines from the Granth
Sahib. The lines were from his special composition - Swaiye Sri Mukhabak
Mohalla 5, page 1385 (Swaiyas from the holy mouth of fifth Nanak)
and from swaiyas composed by Bhats - his court poets (1389-1409). These swaiyas
not only eulogise but describe as to who was Guru Nanak, what was his relation
to the Primal Lord, on the one hand, and the successive Gurus on the other.
Every morning, since then, the
Sikhs have been reciting selections from the Swaiyas. We cannot
interpret the history of the Gurus and their mission if we fail to understand
the implication of as to who was Guru Nanak according to the recordings in the
Guru Granth Sahib.
In the “odes” of “Rai Balwand
and Satta”, in Raag Ramkali, on page 966-968 there is a detailed note about the
Gurus. An abridged version describing our Gurus is as under:
“Nanak established the Lord’s
kingdom and laid a strong foundation of the fortress of Truth. Nanak placed the
‘Royal Crown’ over Lehna’s head (Guru Angad) who used to partake the Nectar of
the True Name. Guru Nanak placed the soul illuminating powerful sword of his
instruction in Lehna’s mind. During his lifetime Guru Nanak made obeisance unto
his disciple. Guru Nanak, while alive gave the aspostolic mark (to Angad) ...
same is the Divine Light; same are the ways; only the body changed. The
sovereignty of Guru Angad was proclaimed and the True Creator confirmed it.
Changing his body, Nanak has occupied the Throne, which has hundreds of branches...
Such is mother Khivi’s spouse (Guru Angad) who sustains the world. Nanak made
the Ganges flow in reverse direction, and people say: What has he done?” God
incarnate Nanak, the Lord of the world, uttered the Supreme Truth aloud, and
Lord Himself “blended” Nanak with Himself. Guru Amar Das obtained the same
apostolic mark, the same throne and the same Court. He was approved like his
“father” and “grandfather” (Nanak). Blessed, Blessed is Guru Ram Das for He who
created you also embellished you. O, what a miracle that Creator Lord has
Himself established you. You rid all who come to you, of greed, lust, and
attachment with all their ramifications.... You are Nanak, Your are Angad and
You are Guru Amar Das. The four Gurus illumined their own times and then came,
Arjun their very soul. Guru Arjun is seated on Nanak’s throne and see how
sparkles his star-studded canopy. From where the sun rises to where it sets,
the Guru illumines all the four corners of the Earth.”
Swayas Sri Mukhvaak Mohall
5: In this bani Guru Arjun is
describing the relation of Guru Nanak and Akal Purukh. At the end of first four
Sawayyas Guru Arjun Dev Ji recorded that “Guru Nanak alone has been accepted at
the door of the Primal Lord as His equal and what can one tongue of (Guru
Arjun) recite except Wonder, Wonder, Wonder ever Wonderful. Last line of fifth sawayya
is whosoever meets with the Divine Guru Nanak, is rid of both birth and death.
(5) Whosoever worships the Divine Guru Nanak saves all his generations. (6)
Those who worship the Divine Guru Nanak do not enter the cycle of birth or
death again. (He is not cast into the womb again.) (7) Those who worship the
Divine Guru Nanak are liberated (emancipated) forever, here and hereafter. (8)
In the darkness a lamp has been lit by revalation of religion of Your ever
glorious Name. In all parts of the World Your servant Nanak has become manifest
as Guru God Himself. (9).
Guru Nanak and other Gurus
in the Sawayyas of Bhatts: (Page
1387-1409). Some of the important lines besides those from Sawayyas of Sri
Mukhbak Mohalla 5 which are sung before the installation of Guru Granth
Sahib at the Darbar Sahib, three hours before sunrise ever since 1604 are:
(i) “Tretai tae maaniyo Ram Raghuvansh Kaha-yo Duapar
Krishan Murar Kans Kirtaarath Kee-yo
Kalijug
Paramaan Nanak Gur(u), Angad Amar Kahaa-yo Sri Guru Raaj Abachal Atal Aad
Purakh Farmaiyo” p. 1390
In the Treta
Age (yug) You were called Ram of the Raghu Dynasty. In the Duapar Age
You became Krishna and provided deliverance to Kans. In the Kali Age You are
called Nanak, Angad and Amar Das. The Primal Lord has commanded that your rule
will remain immovable and eternal.
(ii) “Aap naraa-in kalaa Dhaar jag meh parvar-yeo.
Nirankar aakaar jot jag mandal kari-yeo.” p. 1395.
The Lord
Himself wielded His Power and made Himself manifest on the Earth of the Solar
System.
(iii) “tou satgur chahu jugee aap aapey parmesar.”
p. 1406.
You are the
True Guru of the four Ages. You yourself are the Lord.
(iv) “Jot roop Har aap Guru Nanak Kahiyo” p.
1408.
The
Embodiment of the Lord Himself was called Guru Nanak.
(v) “Japio Jinn Arjun Dev Guru phire sankat jone
garabh naa aaiyo.” p. 1409.
Whosoever
meditates on Guru Arjun, does not pass through the distress of the cycles of
births and deaths.
(vi) “bhan Mathura kachh bhed nahee Gur Arjun partakh-y
Har.” p. 1409.
Mathura Bhatt says: There is
no difference between God and Guru Arjun the visible Lord.
Guru Arjun included this
eulogy to ‘himself’ for a mystic purpose. It is clear that this eulogy does not
pertain to the person who was martyred on the order of Emperor Jahangir. It is
for the “Light of the Lord Himself” which had entered Guru Nanak and was now
embodied in Guru Arjun. It is clarified further that Guru Arjun indeed
personified the Lord Himself.
We have to firmly understand
that it was the “Light of the Lord Himself” that had transformed a mortal Nanak
into “Guru” Nanak. Guru Nanak passed on this Light to Lehna transforming him
into Guru Angad a few weeks/days before Nanak, the mortal, left this world. It
was this “light” which transformed eighteen year old Arjun into Guru Arjun;
eleven year old Hargobind into Guru Hargobind; fourteen year old Hari Rai into
Guru Hari Rai; five year old Harkrishan into Guru Harkrishan, and Nine year old
Gobind into Guru Gobind Singh.
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