Gems of Gurbani

Guru Granth Sahib

Asa di waar   10

Guru Nanak ji is contemplating on the four ages of time period that according to Hindu belief is established according to the prevalent social conditions and the behavior of people of that particular time period. These time periods are known as satyug, treta, duapar and kalyug. Guru Nanak says: there is but only one cart and that is prime human body and its driver is the Almighty. The knowledgeable know this that the changes take place and in every age we see some human characteristics. In golden age or satyug the contentment is the cart and piety or righteousness is the cart puller. In the silver age or treta yug self restrain is the carriage and the power is the cart puller. In the brass age or duapar the penance is the carriage and the truth is the cart puller. In the Iron Age or kalyug fire is the carriage and the falsehood is the cart puller.

Guru Nanak says with references from Vedas: according to Sam Vedas the God is white robed and in this golden age everyone desired truth, dwelt in truth and was absorbed in truth. Rig Vedas say that in the silver age God’s hold was everywhere and he was the Supreme One amongst all Gods and Godesses. By meditating on His Name the sins departed and O Nanak man obtained salvation. In the time of Yujur Veda or the duapar age Kanhaiya Krishan of Yadava tribe seduced Chandravali by force and he brought the paarjat tree ( one of the five trees that were obtained from churning the ocean to get elixir for Hindu Gods and goddesses to make them immortal) and indulged in merry-making with the milk-maids of Brindaban. In the darkage or Iron Age the Atharva Veda became prominent and the God was being called Allah. Turks and Pathan started ruling and Hindus started obeying by wearing blue robes. By reading and studying the four Vedas what you learn are four doctrines but if you only cherish the love of One God and meditate on the Name of One God and become humble O Nanak, you will find salvation.

Guru Nanak says: I sacrifice myself to you O lord who has remembered me and given me all the experiences of this world, given the spiritual knowledge, given the kajal of Your wisdom that through these eyes I could see the realities of the world. All those dealers who abandon the Lord and look for someone else will get drowned. The True Guru is a ship and all those who realize get ferried across the ocean because of His benediction. Don’t be like a Simmal tree that stands erect like an arrow with thick foliage. But all the birds that home for it get disappointed because its fruits are without flavor; flowers are nauseating and leave are useless. Sweetness and humility O Nanak are like essence of merits and virtue. Everyone bows for himself none will bow for others.

 Remember the weighing balance that side lowers that has weight in it. The sinner lowers twice like a deer hunter. Bowing will not help if the mind is full of filth. You read the evening prayers from books, you argue, you worship stones and sit in trance like a crane (bagula). With your mouth you utter falsehood and recite the mantras three times a day. Your wear a rosary around your neck and frontal mark (Tilak) on your forehead and carry two sets of loin cloth (Dhoti). If you know the nature of the True Lord then you should know that all these rites and rituals are in vain. Nanak says meditate on the Lord without Him no one can show you the way. All your adornments and beauty will stay back when it is time to depart. This was Guru Nanak’s sarcastic commentary on the rituals propagated by Brahman to misguiding people into superficial ceremonies that lead to superstitions.