Sikh Guru - Guru The Divine Light
WaheGuru Ji Ka Khalsa WaheGuru Ji Ki Fateh
| Before True Guru | |
| Guru Nanak Dev Jee | Guru Har Rai Jee |
| Guru Angad Dev Jee | Guru Harkrishan Jee |
| Guru Amar Das Jee | Guru Tegh Bahadur Jee |
| Guru Ram Das Jee | Guru Gobind Singh Jee |
| Guru Arjan Dev Jee | Guru Granth Sahib Jee (Last and Final Guru as Divine Scriptures) |
The word Guru is so popular in India that in order to understand the fundamental concept of 'guru' in Sikhi, one must first completely drive out of one's mind the prevalent popular notion of a guru. The popular term 'guru' often used for a Brahman, a yogic teacher or a guide or even a school teacher, has made the Guruship so cheap that a scholar describes these gurus as 'wicks which smell foul after the lamps are extinguished.'
The term 'Guru' in Sikhi is not used for a teacher or a guide or an expert or even a human body. The word Guru is composed of two terms GU means darkness and RU means Light.
In Sikhi the word 'Guru' is, thus, defined as the Light that dispels all darkness, and that is called JOT (Divine Light). Guru Nanak was, therefore, the EMBODIMENT of Divine Light:
'Gur Nanak Dev Govind roop.'
(Basant Mohalla 5, SGGSJ 1192, Guru Granth Sahib)
'Guru Nanak is embodiment of the Light of God.' |
The Guru in sikhi is a perfect Prophet or Messenger of God in whom the Light of God shines fully, visibly and completely. Guru is in union with Divine. Thus he ushers the devotees, the seekers of Truth into a spiritual birth. Through him the Glory of the Lord is transmitted to humanity. On account of his Divine prerogatives, the Guru, though human in form, is Divine in Spirit. Literally Guru Nanak's body was a platform from which God Himself spoke and delivered His message Gurbani (Divine Word). God manifested Himself through Guru Nanak:
'Gur meh aap samoai sabad vartaya.' (Var Malar ki Mohalla 1, SGGSJ 1279)
'In the true Guru (Nanak) He installed His Own Spirit Through him, God speaketh Himself.' |
In another place in Gurbani it is said:
'Gur meh aap rakhaya kartare.' (Maru Mohalla 1(15), SGGSJ 1024)
'In the body of Guru (Nanak) God revealeth Himself.' |
God is in the Guru and Guru is in God. Though God is everywhere and in everybody but His traits are illuminated through the Guru. The Jot (Divine Light) that enshrined Guru Nanak's body and the Primal Jot of God are, therefore, one and the same:
'Gur Nanak Nanak har soai.'
(Gaund Mohalla 5, SGGSJ 865)
'O Nanak, Jot of Nanak and God are one.' |
Again the Janamsakhis (biographies) reveal that God spoke to Guru Nanak and said:
'Mei aad parmeshar aur tu gur parmeshar.'
'I am the Primal God and thou art Guru God.'
Guru Nanak never claimed that only his disciples or devotees could get salvation or go to heaven. Since he was the embodiment of Divine Light, and as the Divine Light does not belong to any particular sect or religion, so he stood guarantee for the entire humanity, and said,"Whosoever meditates upon One God, the Formless, will get salvation."
'Jo jo japai so hoi punit Bhagat bhai lavai man hit.' (Gauri Sukhmani Mohalla 5, SGGSJ 290)
'He shall become pure whosoever repeateth His Name With devotion, affection and heartfelt love.' |
When Guru Nanak conferred Guruship on Bhai Lehna (later called Guru Angad), the JOT was passed on and Guru Angad too became the embodiment of Divine Light. In the same way all the nine Gurus were the embodiments of Gur Nanak Jot .
The tenth Master, Guru Gobind Singh then conferred the Guruship on Guru Granth Sahib (Holy Scripture), which too became the embodiment of Divine Light. Gur Nanak JOT is, therefore, enshrined and preserved in Guru Granth Sahib (it is no longer the Adi Granth, but only the Guru Granth), and it is the Living Guru for ever. For the Sikhs, the Guru Granth is the manifestation of the Guru's Spirit and through it, Guru Nanak lives on in the Sikh Faith.
Sikhi endeavors to uplift the human soul from the shackles of Maya (materialism). It aims at a virtuous life which leads to the ultimate realization of a state of Eternal Bliss.
The objective of Guru Nanak's Guruship was to give instructions in the True Name, to save humanity from immersing in the ocean of distress and misery arising out of worldly life, and to blend the human souls with their Creator, thus, emancipating them from the cycle of transmigration breaking all barriers and bonds of sufferings. This is the essential character of Sikh faith.
The law of Karma or fatalism is repugnant to Sikh Religion as it does not reconcile with the merciful trait of the Almighty Lord. There is no such thing in sikhi as eternal damnation or an everlasting pit of fire created by the revengeful God.
Guru's grace erases the blot of thousands of evil deeds of the past and the present. It is also the savior of the future. Meditation on Nam burns countless sins. Singing the glory of the Lord through the Divine Word, can redeem a repentant sinner and, thus, doctrine of Karma ceases to operate. Such is the splendor of Guru Nanak's doctrine of God's Grace and Compassion.
Ref: Sikh Religion by Sikh Missionary center
SGGSJ = Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee
Further Read:
1. Who is The SatGuru In Sikhi?
2. Meaning & Business Of The Guru
Excerpt:"The Guru grants the gift of the Shabad; O Nanak, that Soul contemplates and reflects upon
it (sggs 843). The Guru has lit the brilliant light of spiritual wisdom, and the darkness of ignorance
has been dispelled ||2|| (sggs 29). The Perfect Satguru has revealed the Shabad; it eradicates the
three qualitied Maya, and attunes the consciousness to the Fourth State, Chauthaa Pad (sggs 231). "
3. Karma
4. Aim of Life
This page was last modified on Wednesday, September 09, 2009 03:14:44 PM