Introduction
Bhai Gurdas ji was born at Basarke Gillan, a small village in Amritsar district of Punjab, His father Bhai Ishar Das was the youngest brother of third Guru Amar Das ji. He was born in Bhallan clan of Khatri caste. He was a merely child of 5 years when his mother Jivani passed away. He also lost his father at the age of 12 years and after that he came under the care of Guru Amar Das Ji, Under the patronage of Guru Amar Das ji, he learnt Sanskrit, Brij Bhasha, Persian and Punjabi at Sultanpur Lodhi and eventually began preaching. He spent the early years of his life at Goindwal and Sultanpur Lodhi and obtained knowledge from the scholars and swamis who continuously visited the town while journeying on Delhi-Lahore Road. He later moved to Varanasi, where he studied Sanskrit and Hindu Scriptures. After the death of Guru Amar Das ji, next Guru Ram Das ji made him a Sikh missionary at Agra. In 1577,Bhai Gurdas contributed his labour in excavating the Sarovar at Durbar Sahib. Twenty years later, he went on an expedition to East Kartarpur and recited many of his early hymns to Emperor Akbar, who was pleased by their spiritual content and found no anti-muslim tone in them. After the death of Guru Ram Das,Bhai Gurdas formed a close relationship with his successor Guru Arjan Dev ji, whom he regarded as his Mama (maternal uncle. He also led a group of Sikhs to Gwalior, where Mughal Emperor Jahangir, our of jealousy of growing popularity among the masses had imprisoned Guru Hargobind Sahib ji. He was also sent to preach Sikhism in Kabul, Kashmir, Rajputana and Varanasi and even Sri Lanka where he preached the name of Guru among the masses showing them the true way of life.
He completed Adi Granth as a scribe working ceaselessly for a period of 19 years with other four scribes- Bhai Haria, Bhai Sant Das, Bhai Sukha and Bhai Manasa Ram. His other works in Punjabi are collectively called Varran Bhai Gurdas and Kabits, a form of poetry in Braj language. He was initially though to have been the author of 556 Kabits but a discovery by Bhai Vir Singh in 1939 unearthed 119 additional Kabits written by him. He also became head of Akal Takht that was instituted by Guru Hargobind on June 15, 1606. The foundation stone of this building was laid down by Guru Hargobind himself. When Guru Hargobind was arrested in December 1612 at Gwalior he, who was custodian of Akal Takht till that time, entrusted the responsibility to Bhai Gur Das ji appointing him as the First Jathedar of Akal Takht while the responsibility of performing services at Harmandir Sahib was given to Bhai Buddha. He passed away at Goindwal on 25 August 1636 and Guru Hargobind Sahib ji personally performed the ceremonial service at his funeral.
As Bhai Gurdas was the first scribe of Adi Granth so it is clear that he had mastery over Indian languages and had studied many ancient Indian religious scriptures. It is said that the motivation for Gurdas to write the first Var was due to Guru Arjan Dev ji, who requested him to compose an authentic work of literature documenting and detailing life of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Scholarship has agreed that the Vaars were composed between sixty years period between the late 16th century and around 1630. Rahuldeep Singh Gill argues that Vaars must have been written after the compilation and installation of Guru Granth Sahib Ji in 1604 A.D . He bases his inference on this fact that none of the Vaars have been incorporated in Adii Granth and some events refrenced in them took place in the early 17th Century and some of them were written partly to combat the nascent Mina sect. It was likely that the number of Vaars reached 40 as this number is considered auspicious in Sikhism, being the number of stanzas in Japji Sahib and Anand(u) Sahib. The full title of the work is given in one manuscript dated 1782 A.D as : Varan Gian Ratnawali Bhai Gurdas Bhalle ka Bolana. The work consists of 40 chapters in which each chapter consists of Pauris or stanzas. Each chapter may have different number of Pauris or stanzas. Thematically this composition is a collection of detailed commentary and explanation of theology and the ethics of religious beliefs as outlined by the Gurus. It elaborates the terms like Sangat, haumai, Gun, Gurmukh, Manmukh, Sat, Naam and it also mentions a names of prominent Sikhs who had been associated with the Gurus and helped in spreading the Sikh Faith. Each Vaar begins with invocation and Mangalacharan.
Vaar-I
Pauri 1 Invocation
I bow before the Guru( Guru Nanak Dev), who recited the Satnam Mantra.
Getting (the creatures) across the world ocean He raptly merged them in liberation. He destroyed the fear of transmigration and decimated the malady of doubt and separation. The world is only illusion which carried with it much of birth, death and sufferings. The fear of the rod of Yama is not dispelled and the sakts, the followers of the goddess have lost their lives in vain. Those who have caught hold of the feet of the Guru have been liberated through the true word. Now being full of devotion they celebrate the gurpurbs and their acts of remembrance of God, charity and holy ablutions, inspire others too. As someone sows, so he reaps.
Pauri-2 Creation of the World
First of all when no breath and body was there nothing was visible in pitch darkness. The body was created through the blood (of mother) and semen (of father) and he five elements were joined judiciously. Air, water, fire and earth were put together. The fifth element sky(void) was kept in between and creator God, the sixth one, invisibly permeated among all. To create a human body, five elements and twenty five qualities opposite to each other were joined and mixed. Four life originating mines (egg, foetus, sweat born and vegetation) and four types of speech- para, pasynti, madhyama and vaikhari- were assimilated into each other and the drama of transmigration was enacted. Thus eighty four lacs of species were created.
Pauri-3 Grandeur of Human Birth
Of the eighty four lacs life, classes, birth as a human is the best. Eyes behold, ears listen to and the mouth speaks sweet words. Hands earn livelihood and feet take towards the holy congregation. In human life alone by the rightful earning, out of one’s savings, other needy ones are fed. Man by becoming Gurmukh- Guru oriented, makes his life meaningful, he reads Gurbani, and makes others understand the significance of Gurbani. He satisfies his companions and takes the holy water touched by their feet, i.e he inculcates complete humility. Humbly touching of the feet should not be repudiated because in the dark age, this quality is the only asset of the human personality. People of such a conduct will swim the world-ocean and also get along other disciples of the Guru.
Pauri-4 : Causes of Creation
All pervading Onkar through His One Word created the whole expansive cosmos. Through the five elements, as the quintessence He permeated in the three worlds and their denominations. That creator could not be seen by anyone who to expand Himself created the infinite nature(prakriti). He made myriads forms of nature. In His each hair He gathered up millions of worlds. And then in one universe he comes in ten of forms. He has created many a dear personality such as Vedavyas and Muhammad dear to the Vedas and Katebas respectively. How wonerfully the one nature has been expanded into many.
Pauri-5 The Yugs
The four Ages (yugs) were established and the first three were given names Satyug, Treta, Dvapar. Fourth one was Kaliyug. And four castes came to be known as the kings of four ages- Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra became dominant in each age. In Satyug, Vishnu is said to have come to earth as Hanssavaar and explained the problems pertaining to metaphysics. Nothing but one soham-Brahm was discussed and pondered upon. Getting indifferent to maya, people would praise one Lord. They would go to forests and pull on life by eating natural vegetations. On the one hand the world was perishing away and on the other life current would go stably.
Pauri-6- The Yugs continued.
In Treta in the Sun-dynasty descended in the form of the Kshatriya (Ram) a great incarnation. Now the nine portions of age lessened and illusion, attachment and ego inflated. In Dvapar, Yadava dynasty came to the forefront with incarnation of Lord Krishna was manifested to the people but because of the lack of good conduct. Age by Age, the life span of man went on decreasing. In the Rigveda the conduct of the brahmin and the ideas about the actions done facing the East was discussed. Kshatriyas became related to the Yajurveda and started pouring charities while facing the South. The Vaisyas embraced the Samveda and bowed to the West. Blue dress for Rigveda, yellow for Yajurveda, and for singing the hymns of Samveda wearing of white dress became a tradition. Thus three duties of three Ages were enunciated.
Pauri-7 As above
Kaliyug became prevalent as the fourth age in which the low instincts gripped the whole world. People became reluctant in performing the duties enjoined in Rig, Yajur and Samveda. The entire earth got enticed by mammon and the antics of the Kaliyug put everyone into delusion. Hatred and degeneracy engrossed the people and ego burnt one and all. Nobody now worships anyone and the sense of respect for the younger and elder has vanished into thin air. In this cutter age the emperors are tyrants and their Satraps butchers. The justice of three ages has become extinct and now whosoever gives something as bribe, gets justice. The mankind has become wanting in dexterity of action.
Pauri-8 – Six Philosophies
Having churned the duties enjoined in four vedas, the seers have delineated the six Sastras. Whatever was described by Brahma and Sanak, people recited and followed. Many think over while reading and singing, but only one among millions understands and reads between the lines. Many read and sing but surprisingly none comprehends it. It is also surprising that every age has dominant colour but how in Kaliyug there are myriad of colours (castes). That the duties of all the three yugas have been abandoned is known to everybody but the confusion persists. As the four vedas have been defined, the description of six philosophies( Sastras) also complements them. They all eulogise their own view point.
Pauri 9 - Nyaya
Speculating seriously, seer Gautam has put forth the story of the Rigveda. After churning the thoughts, in the Nyaya school, God has been defined as the efficient cause of all the causes. Everything is under His control and in His order, no order whatsoever of anybody else is accepted. He is the beginning and at the end of this creation yet in this Shastra He is shown separate from creation. No one has seen or known the Creator, and rather people have indulged in the expansive delusions of prakriti( nature). Not realising that soham parbrahm, the jiv is mistaken in understanding Him as a man (full of falacies). The Rigveda exhorts the knowledgeable people that supreme Lord is everything and none else can be compared with Him. Without true Guru this understanding cannot be attained.
Pauri- 10 Mimansa
Pondering deeply over the Yajurveda, rishi Jamini put forth his postulates. Ultimate decision will be arrived at according to the actions performed through the body which will reap whatever it has sowed. He established the theory of Karma and explained transmigration as controlled by Karma. Because of its fallacy of ad infinitum, the doubts are cleared and the Jiv goes on wandering in the labyrinth of Karmas. Karma is the practical aspect of the world and the maya and Brahm are identical. This school of thought (Shastras) while stirring the ingredients of Yajurveda, mixes delusions with the Supreme reality the Brahma. And establishes strongly the ritualism which further accepts coming in and going from the world as the result of Karma bondage. Without the True Guru, the doubts cannot be dispelled away.
Pauri-11 Vedanta
Badarayan Vyas recited Vedanta Sutras after churning and researching the thought frame of Samaveda. He put up before the self (atman) as identical to indescribable Brahma. He is invisible and the jiv wanders here and there in its delusions of self- conceit. By establishing the self as the Brahm he is in fact established one’s own self as worthy of worship and therefore remained unknown to the mysteries of loving devotion. Churning of the Vedas could not obtain peace for him and he started scorching one and all in the heat of its ego. The rod of Maya always hung over his head and he suffered extremely because of the constant fear of Yama- the god of death. Having obtained knowledge from Narad, he recited Bhagvat and thus eulogised God. Without surrender before the Guru none could get across the world ocean.
Pauri- 12 Sankhya
With the passing away of Dvapar, the canopy of kingdom now came over the head of Kaliyuga. Atharavaveda got established and people now would go on eulogising, facing the north direction. As a substance of the hymns of Athravaveda, the Sankhys sutras were recited by Kapil muni. Get imbued with the great knowledge and go on pondering over the stable and transitory. Despite of millions of efforts, without knowledge nothing can be attained. Karma and Yoga are activities of the body and both of these are momentary and perishable. Analytical wisdom creates the supreme delight and the illusions of birth and death come to an end. Theh Guru-oriented get emerged in the real self.
Pauri-13 Vaishekhak
By churning of the Athavrvaveda, the guru-oriented (Kanad) in his Vaisesik recited about gunas- the quality of matter. He produced the theory of sowing and reaping and told that at appropriate time only, one would attain the fruit. Everything operates in His divine will and whosoever accepts the divine will stabilizes his self in equanimity. The Jiva must understand that nothing happens of its own and we ourselves are responsible for our good and bad actions, and hence nobody as good or bad should be lodged in mind. Rishi Kanad has said that as you sow, so shall you reap. Listen to the injustice of the Satyug that only because of a single evil-doer the whole world will suffer. In the treta, the whole city suffered because of one evil-doer and in dvapar this suffering was limited to one family and the family underwent the ignominy. But in Kaliyuga only he suffers who commits evil deed.
Pauri-14 Naga-Seshnag Patanjali.
Gurmukh Patanjali- the supposed incarnation of Sheshnaga, very thoughtfully recited, the Naga-Shastra, Yoga Shastra ( Patanjal Yogasutras. He told in consonance with Atharvaveda that illusion cannot be erased without Yoga. It is similar to the fact where we know that without cleansing of the mirror, the face cannot be seen in it. Yoga is cleansing praxis through which the surati gets absorbed into the unstruck melody. Eighteen Siddhis and nine treasures fall at the feet of a Gurmukh Yogi. In Kaliyuga, Patanjali talked about fulfillment of desires that remained unfulfilled in three yugas. The complete achievement of yogic bhakti is that you have everything quickly.
Pauri-15 Prevalent Ideas about the Yugas
Since time immemorial, on account of the bondage of unfulfilled desires, the jiv has been suffering transmigration. Time and again, the body is changed, but the mystery of this change can be comprehended by becoming knowledgeable. Engrossed in duality in Satyuga, the jiv entered into the body in treta. Getting caught in karma bondage in treta. He was born in dvapar and remained writhing and wriggling. Even the performance of the duties of three ages does not dispel the fear of birth and death. The jiv reincarnates in Kaliyuga and gets entangled in the karmas. Lost opportunity does not come again.
Pauri-16 Activities in Kaliyuga
Now listen to the discipline of kaliyuga wherein nobody cares for the rituals. Without loving devotion none will get any place anywhere. Because of the disciplined life in the previous ages, the human form has been obtained in Kaliyuga. Now if this opportunity slipped, no occasion and place would be made available. As has been said in Atharvaveda, listen to the deeming features of Kaliyuga. Now devotion full of feeling only is acceptable- yajna, burnt offerings, and worship of the human guru was the discipline of the earlier ages. If somebody now, in spite of being a doer, erases from his self this sense and prefers to be called lowly, only then he can remain in the good books of the Lord. In Kaliyuga, only repeating the name of Lord is considered grand.
Pauri-17 Anarchy of the Ages
During the down fall of an age, people setting aside the duties of the age behave contrary to their nature. The world gets engrossed in remorseful activities and sin and corruption prevail. Different sections of the society develop hatred for one another and finish themselves through squabbles as the bamboos, due to their mutual friction, producing fire burn themselves as well as others. Condemnation of the knowledge starts and in the darkness of ignorance nothing remains visible. From that knowledge of Vedas which gets man across the world ocean even the knowledgeable people get away. So long God does not descend on earth in the form of true Guru, no mystery can be understood. The Guru and God are one; He is the true master and the whole world craves for Him. He rises like the Sun and the darkness is dispelled.
Pauri-18 Baudh Faith or Intellectualism
In Kaliyuga one finds intellectualism incarnate, but discriminating between knowledge and ignorance is nowhere. Nobody interdicts anybody and everyone is behaving according in his whims . Someone instructs for the worship of the inert rocks and some guide people to worship tombs. Due to Tantra-mantra and such hypocrisies, the tensions, anger and quarrels have increased. In the rat race of selfish ends, different religions have been promulgated. Someone is worshipping moons, someone sun and someone worshipping earth and sky. Someone is propitiating air, water, fire and yama- the god of death. These are all religious hypocrites and are tossing in delusions.
Pauri- 19 Of garbs and guises
In view of the prevailing lassitude in the world, four varnas and four ashrams were established. Then ten orders of ascetics and twelve orders of yogis came into being. Further Jangams, the wanderers, sramanas and Digambars also started their disputations. Many categories of brahmins came into being who propounded Shastras, Vedas and Puranas contradicting one another. The mutual irreconcilability of the six Indian philosophies further added many hypocrisies. Alchemy, tantra, mantra and miracles became everything for people. By getting divided into myriad sects they produced a horrible look. They all were deluded by kaliyug.
Pauri- 20 Muslim Faith
When varied sects got prevalent, then Muhammad the beloved of God was born. The nation got divided into seventy two divisions and many types of enmity and opposition erupted. The world was bound to roza, id, namaz and the like. Pirs, paigambars, aulias, gaus, and quatabs came into being in many countries. The temples were replaced by mosques. Less powerful were killed and thus the earth became replete with sin. Armenians and Rumis were declared apostates(kafirs) and they were decimated in the battle fields. The sin became ubiquitous all around.
Pauri-21 Hindu- Muslim Conflict
There are four castes of Hindus and four sects of Muslims in the world. The members of both religions are selfish, jealous, proud, bigoted and violent. The Hindus make pilgrimage to Benares , the Muslim to Kabba or Mecca. Circumcision is dear to a muslim while sandal mark and sacred thread to the Hindus. The Hindus invoke Rama, the Muslims Rahim, but in reality there is only one God. Since they have forgotten the vedas and katebas, worldly greed and devil have led them astray. Truth hidden from both, the brahmins and maulvis kill one another by their animosities. None of them shall find liberation from transmigration.
Pauri-22 Justice of Waheguru
God himself is the justice for the disputes about the duties of the four ages. He himself is the paper, the pen and the scribe. Without Guru is all darkness and people are killing one another. The sin pervades all around and the mythological ox supporting the earth is weeping and wailing day and night. Without compassion, getting unnerved, it is descending towards nether world to get lost. Standing on one foot, it is feeling the load of sins. Now this earth cannot be upheld without the saints and no saint is available in the world. Religion in the form of ox is crying beneath.
Pauri-23 Guru Avatar
The benefactor Lord listened to the cries of humanity and sent Guru Nanak to this world. He washed His feet, eulogised God and got his Disciples drink the ambrosia of his feet. He preached in this dark age that Saragun( Brahm) and Nirguna (Parbrahm) are the same and identical. Dharma was now established on its four feet with all the four castes through fraternal feeling were converted into one caste of humanity. Equating the Prince with poor he spread the etiquette of humbly touching the feet. Inverse is the game of the beloved, he got the egoist high heads bowed to feet. Baba Nanak liberated this dark age and recited the mantra of satnam for one and all. Guru Nanak came to redeem the Kaliyuga.
Pauri-24 First episode of Guru Nanak Dev Ji
First of all Baba Nanak obtained the gate of the grace of Lord and then He underwent and earned the rigorous discipline( of heart and mind). He fed Himself with sand and swallow-wort and made stones His bed. He offered His full devotion and then set up proximity with God. Baba reached the region of truth wherefrom he received Naam, the storehouse of nine treasures and humility. In his meditation, Baba found the whole earth burning with fire of lust and anger. Without Guru there is utter darkness and he heard the cries of the common men. To further understand the people, Guru Nanak donned robes in their manner and preached them to be detached from pleasure and pain. Thus he went to depurate humanity on earth.
Pauri-25 Lack of love and affection at pilgrim centres.
Baba came to the pilgrimage centres and by participating in the ceremonies there he observed them minutely. People were busy in performing the rituals of the ceremonies but since being bereft of loving devotion, they were of no avail. Having gone through the Vedas and Smritis one finds that Brahma also has nowhere written about the sentiments of love. To find out the same the satyug, treta, dvapar, etc have been screened. In Kaliyuga, the pitch darkness prevails in many guises and hypocritical ways have been started. Through garbs and guises one cannot reach the Lord; He can be reached through self-effacement. The special feature of the Sikh of the Guru is that he goes beyond the framework of caste-classification and moves in humility. Then his toilsome labour gets acceptable at the door of the Lord.
Pauri-26 Contemporary Times
Celebates, ascetics, immortal anchorites, the siddhs, naths and teacher- pupils were available in abundance. Many varieties of gods, goddesses, munis, bhairvas, and other protectors were there. In the name of ganas, gandharvas, fairies, kinnars, and yaksas, many dragnets and dramas were enacted. Seeing raksas, demons, deities in their migration people were totally in the clutches of duality. All were engrossed with ego, and the thoughts were getting drowned along with their teachers. Even after minute research, the guru-oriented were nowhere to be found. All the sects, pirs, paigambars, of the Hindus and the Muslims were seen by Baba Nanak. Blinds were pushing blinds into well.
Pauri-27 Rise of Guru Nanak
With the emergence of the true Guru Nanak, the mist cleared and the light scattered all around. As if the Sun rose and the stars disappeared, the darkness was dispelled. With the roar of the lion in the forest flocks of escaping deer now cannot have endurance. Wherever Baba put his feet, a religious place was set up. Every home had become a place of Dharma where singing and chanting of Almighty’s name is all around. Baba liberated all four directions and nine divisions of earth. Gurmukh has emerged in this Kaliyuga- the dark age in the form of Guru Nanak Dev.
Pauri-28 Journey to Sumer Mount
Baba Nanak visualized all the expansive nine divisions of the earth. Then he climbed up to the Sumer mountain where he came across a group of Siddhs. The mind of the eighty four Siddhs and Gorakh filled with surprise and doubts. Siddhas asked Guru Nanak what power has brought you here? Guru Nanak replied that for coming to this place, I have remembered the Lord with loving devotion and meditated upon Him deeply. Siddhas asked O young man, tell us your name. Baba replied O respected Nath ! This Nanak has attained this position through the remembrance of the name of the Lord. By calling oneself lowly, one attains the high position.
Pauri-29 Discussion with the Siddhs.
Siddhs asked again O Nanak ! How are the dealings on the mother earth. By this time all Siddhs understood that Nanak had come to earth to deliver it from the sins of Kaliyuga. Baba replied O repected Nath Ji, the truth is dim like the moon and the falsehood like deep darkness. The darkness of the moonless night of the falsehood has spread around and I, in order to search for the truthful world have undertaken this journey. The earth is engrossed with sin and its support, the dharma in the form of ox is crying and rescuing for respite. In such circumstances, when Siddhs, the adepts have taken refuge in the hills how the world can get redeemed. Yogis also bereft of knowledge and simply applying ashes to their bodies are lying down unconcerned. Without Guru, the entire world is getting drowned.
Pauri-30 Miserable plight of India
O God ! In Kaliyuga, the mentality of the jiv has become like the mouth of dog which always seeks the dead to eat. The Kings are sinning as if the protective fence itself is devouring the crop of the field. Bereft of knowledge, the blind people are uttering falsehood. Now, the Gurus are dancing to the tunes of disciples. The students now sit at home and the teachers go to their abodes. Quazis take and enjoy bribes, and thus have lost their high regard and position. Man and woman love each other for riches may that come from anywhere. The sin has become ubiquitous inthe entire world.
Pauri-31 Test of Guru
The Siddhs thought in their mind that this body should in all circumstances adopt philosophy of Yoga. Such a yogi in Kaliyuga will brighten the name of our sect. One of the Nathsi gave a begging bow to fetch water in it. When Baba came to the stream for water, he saw rubies and jewels in it This true Guru was unfathomable supreme Purusha and who could bear with his effulgence. He, remaining uninfluenced returned to the group with reply that in the stream there is no water. Through the power of the Word, he overcame the Siddhs and propounded his altogether new way of life. In kaliyuga, instead of yogic exercises the name of the Lord who is beyond all sufferings, is the only source of delight.
Pauri-32 At Mecca
Donning blue attire then Baba went to Mecca. He held the staff in his hand, pressed a book under his armpit, caught hold of a metal pot and mattress. Now he sat in a mosque where the hazis (pilgrims) have gathered. When Baba Nanak slept in night spreading his legs towards the alcove of the mosque at Kaba. The Qazi named Jivan kicked him and asked who was this infidel enacting blasphemy. Why this sinner is sleeping his legs spread towards God or Khuda. Catching hold of his legs he moved his legs in another direction but behold the miracle, the whole of Mecca moved with Nanak’s legs. All got surprised and they all bowed.
Pauri-33 Discussion with the Qazis
Qazi and Maulvis gathered and began discussing religion with him. A great fantasy has been created and no one could understand its mystery. They asked Baba Nanak to open and search in his book whether Hindu is great or the Muslim. Baba replied that without good deeds both will wail. Only by being a Hindu, or a Muslim one cannot be accepted in the court of the Lord. As the colour of Safflower is transitory and is washed away in water, likewise the colours of religiosity are also temporary. Followers of both the faiths denounce Ram and Rahim in their expositions. The whole world is following the ways of Satan.
Pauri-34 Triumph at Mecca
His wooden sandals were kept as a memory and he was worshipped in Mecca. Go anywhere in the world, you would not find a place bereft of the name of Baba Nanak. Without discrimination of Hindu or Muslim, in every house, the Baba is worshipped. When the Sun rises it cannot be eclipsed and it lightens the entire world. When the lion roars in the jungle the flocks of deer flee. If someone wants to conceal moon by putting before it a platter, it cannot be hidden. From rising to setting directions that is from east to west, all the nine divisions of earth bowed before Baba Nanak. He diffused his power in the whole world.
Pauri-35 – Visit to Baghdad
From Mecca Baba went to Baghdad and camped outside the city. Firstly Baba himself was in form of Timelessness and secondly, he had his companion Mardana- the rebeck player. For Nanaa in his own style Baba gave call, heeding to which the whole world went into absolute silence. The whole city became quiet and lo! To behold it, the Pir of the town was also mesmerized. Observing minutely he found in form of Baba Nanak, an exhilarated faquir. Pir Dastgir asked him, which category of faquir you belong to and what is your descent and parentage. Mardana replied He is Nanak, who has come in Kaliyuga and he deems God and His faquirs as one. He is known in all the directions besides earth and sky.
Pauri- 36 Manifest power.
The Pir debated and came to know that this faquir is much more powerful. Here in Baghdad he has shown a great miracle. Meanwhile Baba Nanak talked about myriads of nether worlds and skies. Pir Dastgir asked to show him whatever he had seen. Guru Nanak taking along with him the son of the Pir melted into thin air. And in a wink of eye visualized him the upper and lower worlds. From the nether world he brought a bowl full of sacred food and handed it over to Pir. This manifesr power of the Guru cannot be made to hide.
Pauri-37= Cycle of the true Name.
After making Baghdad bow, all of Mecca and Medina also bowed. He subjugated the eighty four siddhaas and hypocrisy of the six schools of Indian Philosophy. Hundreds of thousands of underworlds, skies, earths and the whole creation were conquered. Subjugating all nine realms, he established the cycle of Satnaam- the true name. All the gods, demons, deities, and the recording angels, Chitr and Gupt bowed at his feet. Indra and his nymphs sang auspicious songs. The world filled with bliss as Guru Nanak came to give deliverance in the Age of Darkness. Hindus and Muslims alike bowed before him.
Pauri-38 – Reaching Kartarpur
Then Nanak returned to Kartarpur where he put aside his attire of a Recluse. Now putting on a household’s attire, he sat splendidly on a cot. He made the Ganges flow in opposite direction as he chose Angad for leading the people after him rather than his own sons, who did not obey the commands and turned hostile and unstable. When Baba uttered hymns, the light would spread dispelling the darkness. Discussions for the sake of knowledge and the melodies of unstruck sound were never heard before. Sodar and Arti were sung and Japu ji in the ambrosial hours of early morning. Guru Nanak saved the people from the clutces of tantra, mantra and Atharvaveda.
Pauri-39 Shivratri fair at Batala
Hearing about the Shivaratri Fair, Baba came to Achal Batala. To have his glimpse the whole humanity swarmed the place. More than riddhis and siddhies, the money started pouring in like rain. Seeing this miracle, yogis got furious. When some devotees were paying obeisance before Guru, yogis anger deepened and they hid their metal pot. The devotees having lost their pot forgot their devotion as their attention now was in the pot. The omniscient Baba found and handed over the pot to the devotees. Witnessing this Yogis were more furious.
Pauri-40 Discussion with the Siddhs
All the Yogis getting irritated grouped together and invited Baba to have debate with them. Yogi Bhangar Nath asked why have you put vinegar in milk ? The spoiled milk cannot be churned into butter. Why have you put off religious garb and attired yourself in a household way. Nanak replied, ‘ O Bhangar Nath your mother seemed unmannerly’. She has not cleaned the inner self of your body pot properly that is why your clumsy thoughts have burnt our flower of flower that was to sprout into a fruit. You while distancing and repudiating household life, go again to those householders for begging. Except their offerings you do not get anything.
Pauri-41 Miracles of the Siddhs
Hearing this, the Yogis snarled loudly and invoked many spirits. They said in Kaliyuga Bedi Nanak has trampled and driven away the six schools of Indian Philosophy. Saying thus, the Siddhs counted all sorts of medicines and started making tantric sounds of the mantras. Yogis transformed themselves into various forms such as lions, tigers and performed many juggles. Some of them even got wings and flew like birds. Some started hissing like a snake and some poured our fire from their mouth. Bhangar Nath plucked the stars and many floated on water on their deer skin. The fire of desires of the Siddhs could not be put off.
Pauri- 42 Queries of Siddhas
Siddhas spoke, ‘ Listen O’ Nanak! You have shown miracles to the world. Why are you shying to show some of them to us’. Baba replied, ‘ O respected Nath ! I have nothing worth to offer you. I have no support save of the Guru or God, holy congregation and the Word’. That Parmatman who is all in all and full of benedictions for all and the earth with all the material on it is transitory. The siddhs exhausted themselves with the tantra-mantras but the world of Lord did not allow their powers to come up. The Guru is the giver and no one can measure his bounties. Ultimately the humbled yogis submitted before the true Guru Nanak.
Pauri-43 Grandeur of the True Name
Baba further said, ‘O respected Nath ! Please listen to the truth I utter. Without the true Name no else miracle I have. I may wear the clothes of fire and build my house in the Himalayas. I may eat iron and make earth move to my orders. I may expand myself so much that I could push the earth. I may weigh the earth and the sky against few grams of weight. I may have so much power that I push aside anybody just by saying. But without true name these all are momentary like the shadows of the clouds’.
Pauri-44 Discussion with Siddhs and tour of Multan
Baba had discussions with the siddhs and because of the energy of the Shabads those siddhs attained peace. Conquering the Shivratri fair Baba made the followers of six philosophies before him. Now, speaking benign words, the siddhs said Nanak your achievement is great. You, emerging like a superman in kaliyuga have diffused the light of knowledge all around. Getting up from that fair, Baba went to the pilgrimage of Multan. In Multan, the Pir presented a bowl full of milk up to the brim that indicated that there are already enough faquirs in Multan. Baba took a jasmine flower from his bag and floated it on the milk indicating that he has not come to put somebody in trouble. It was such a scene as if the Ganges was merging with the ocean.
Pauri-45 Guru Angad
After the journey of Multan, Baba Nanak came back to Kartarpur. His impact increased leaps and bounds and he made people of Kaliyuga utter Name. Desiring anything except the Name of the Lord is invitation to multiplying sufferings. In the world he established the authority of his doctrines and started a religion devoid of any impurity. During his life time he waved the canopy of Guru seat on the head of Lahina or Guru Angad and merged his own light into him. Guru Nanak now transformed himself. This mystery is incomprehensible for anybody that awe inspiring Nanak accomplished a wonderful task. He converted his body into a new form.
Pauri-46 Guru Amar Das
With the same mark and same canopy he radiated on the throne. The power Guru Nanak had is now with Guru Angad and he was publicly proclaimed all over. Guru Angad left Kartarpur and scattered his light while sitting in Khadur. Action seeds of previous births sprout; all other ingenuities are false. Whatever Guru Angad got from Guru Nanak, now came to the house of Guru Amar Das. Having received the celestial gift from Guru Angad, the Guru in the form of Guru Amar Das occupied the Throne. Guru Amardas founded Goindwal. The wondrous play could simply cannot be described. Gift received from the earlier Gurus further enhanced the grandeur of the Light.
Pauri-47 Guru Ram Das and Guru Arjan Dev
Liabilities of the previous births have to be settled and the thing goes to the house it belongs to. Now Guru Ram Das of Sodhi clan seated on the Guru seat is called the True Guru. He got dug the entire holy tank and here settling down at Amritsar, he spread his light. Wondrous is the play of the God who can cause Ganges to flow in opposite direction and to merge in the ocean. You get your own; given nothing cannot bring you anything. Now the Guruship entered the house of Arjan who, to say was son of Guru Ram Das, but, through his good deeds he proved to be worthy of the Guru-seat. This Guruship would not go beyond Sodhis because none else can bear this unbearable. The thing of the House should remain in the House.
Pauri-48 Guru Hargobind
From Guru Nanak to Guru Arjan five pirs were there who drank from the five cups of truth, contentment, compassion, dharma, and discerning wisdom, and now the sixth pir is holding the Guruship. Arjan transformed himself into Hargobind and sat majestically. Now the Sodhi lineage has started and they all will show themselves turn by turn. This Guru, the vanquisher of armies, is very brave and benevolent. The Sikhs prayed and asked that they have seen the Six Guru and how many more are to come. The true Guru, the knower of the unknowable told the Sikhs to listen. The lineage of the Sodhis have been put on the sound base. Four Gurus more will come to earth.
Pauri-48 Waheguru Mantra
In Satyuga, Vishnu came in the form of Vasudev is said to have incarnated, so V of Vahiguru reminds of Vishnu. The true Guru of Dwapar age is said to be Harikrishna, so H of Vahiguru recalls Hari. In the treta yuga was Lord Rama and R of Vahiguru tells that remembering Ram’s Name will lead to joy and happiness. In Kaliyuga, Gobind is in the form of Nanak, hence G of Vahiguru reminds of Gobind as his name gets recited. The recitations of all the four ages subsume in Panchayan that is the soul of the common man. By joining four letters Vahiguru came into being. The jiv or soul merges again in its origin.
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