GEMSOF GURBANI

Guru Granth Sahib ji – 3

Guru Nanak’s realization that God is one for all humanity and that he is Emanent and Benevolent was a step forward to put his theory of Equality or Sanjhiwalta. For God all human beings are equal and He doesn’t make any discriminations. The ground reality was very different those powerful and mighty had divided the world according to their scales of benefit. At the time of his birth the Society was so much divided and there was darkness all over because those victims of inequality had accepted their status in the Society as doomed or as fate will. Much before Guru Nanak’s time from 11^th to 12^th century onwards a wave of Bhakti movement started in India at various places and most of these Bhaktas were people belonging to lower castes and the right of education or study of Shastras was denied to them. The urge to praise God and the realization of  the Truth that He is the only ‘One’ for all was so strong that they started attracting people with their singing of praises for the Lord. During Guru Nanak’s travels in India he collected their hymns and these were passed on from one Guru to the next. Thus at the compilation of Guru Granth Sahib these hymns were added and made a permanent feature and symbol of equality. This was the first lesson of Guru Nanak that we have to maintain Equality of Human beings and regard the sanctity of the creation of Lord. From the list given below we can see that Guru Sahiban being Sikh themselves gave the same respect to all these Bhaktas who came not only from different parts of India but belonged to different religion and castes.

  Sheikh Farid----Punjab------------1173-1268 ------ ---------        Muslim

  Kabirji------------Uttar Pradesh------1388-------------- ------        Weaver

  Ravidas----------Uttar Pradesh----13^th century--------------        Chamar 

  Parmanand-----Maharashtra------- not known

  Naamdev--------Maharashtra ------birth -1270    --------------     calico printer

  Trilochan --------Maharashtra------birth -1260------------------    Brahmin

  Dhanna----------  Rajasthan---------birth -1415-------------------    Jaat

  Beni       --------- Uttar Pradesh ---not known

           Sain       ---------Uttar Pradesh---- 14^th century----------------- Barber (Nai)

Bhikan   ----------- not known                          -----------------------

Jaidev--------------Bengal -----------1170 -------------------------      Brahmin

Pipa---------------Bengla/Bihar -----1525------------------------        Brahmin

Ramanand -----Uttar Pradesh-----          ---------------------------    Brahmin

Sadhna       ------Sindh                 13^th century------------------       Butcher

Surdas ------------AwadhUP   -------not known

Mardana---------Punjab ---------Guru Nanak’s companion------- Mirasi

Satta &Balwand Punjab---------Guru Arjun ji’s period  ---------   Doom

Sunder------------  Punjab-------Guru arjun ji’s period -----------Bhalla khatri

11 Bhatt----------- Punjab-------Guru Arjun ji’s period----------- Bhatt Brahmin

The same respect is given to all these bhaktas irrespective of their caste and religion while we pay obeisance to Granth Sahib ji in any gurudwara anywhere in the World. Thus we pay respect to this tenet of equality in human beings at the same time. Any discrimination should be removed from our mind forever. This tenet is the foundation of Sikhism that leads humanity to the belief of equality and universal brotherhood and this also unites man to the Brahm and His Will.