Political Power and God

At the time of birth of Guru Nanak ji in 15^th century the power of God was vested in the religious and political heads. Budhism had vanished from the soil of India but when it was established for almost six centuries the political heads made all the decisions for common man. Hinduism saw its rennainsance time after rooting out Budhism from India but the rennainsance saw even worst use of power by both religious and political heads. The Varna system became more stringest with division of society and large masses of humanity were used working as slaves and freedom of speech and dignity was snatched from them. Education was tabu and visiting temples was banned. Political system was weekened to such an extent by high caste that when Islamic invader came to India there was not enough brave men to fight them. Islamic invaders could easily establish their rule and force their rule and religion in this country. Guru Nanak challenged both the religious and political heads and preached his message that the only True King is the Lord Almighty. With his preachings Guru Nanak tried to vest the real power back to God so he used such names as; Patshah – Emperor who protects your honour and dignity. For Guru, God became Rajan Raja – King of Kings, Shanashah- Emperor. Guru saw Kings fighting with each other to deveour the kingdoms and established that it is only to obtain power over worldly territories. He also studied the human nature that power is attracting and has the ability to rule over the psyche of the human mind. So he gave political attribute like Rajan Raja to the God but this Emperor was True – Sacha Patshah because His Empire was everlasting – Nihchal which no other King could destroy. Even when the worldly Kings are no more the Rajan Raja will be forever there. Guru says; ‘My Lord is perfect. His beautiful palace is adorened with bright gems, rubies, pearls, diamonds, it is surrounded by golden fortress and it is abode of pleasure. His government is true – sachi usdi sarkar, He provides canopy so He is Chhatrpat, He is always glorious – Partapi. His abode is Sovereign because He is higher in sovereignity so His court is also at a very higher space – ucha taka Darbar.’ 

The house of Nanak because of its progressive outlook and a new trend of Guruship to promote the ideals of Guru Nanak were to witness many hardships because the worldly powers of Kings and Emperors were not easy with the idea of common man getting awareness of the True King that is God. The authority necessary to oppress the masses and appropriate wealth, making territories larger and larger and creating a sway over the psyche of people and appropriate God like powers wouldn’t allow a mere mystic saint who had realized the truth of the God to move around so easily. There were several conspiracies both from religious sphere of Hindus, Muslims and political powers like Himalayan rajas and Moghul forces to demolish the silent revolution that Guru Nanak and his succeessors were trying generating. The appropriation of Godly powers by Khaliphats in Arabia was used to capture powers, territories and convert people by force to Islam. Number of Asian countries became victim to these designs of Islamic powers. Same could have been the fate of India if Guru Nanak had not awakened the masses to the cruelities of both Political and religious powers not only of Moghuls but that of Hindus. It was time to put back that power in God’s Realm. The Moghul had unleashed such naked violence with so much destruction of human life and property in such a short time without the apparent fault of the sufferer that Guru Nanak himself saw with his own eyes as he was also captured in one such tyranic invasion of Babur. He admonishes the Almighty for letting such terror happen. In one of his verse in raag Asa page 360 he asks God: ‘Having captured Khurasan, Babur has terrified Hindustan. The creator does not take any blame on Himself and has sent the Moghul as death’s messenger. So much terror was inflicted upon people, O God, did’t you feel any compassion?’

It was not only the barbaric atrocities of the Moghuls but that of local Kings and their corrupt officials who not only terrorized the own people but ruined and damaged them to the state of downtrodden conditions that Guru Nanak tried to awaken because the honour, justice and positions were bought and sold. Imagine it was not easy to give an awakening call against Rulers and tyrant Emperor in that period where sword was mightier than reason. Guru Nanak had realized the power of Almighty and He was the only One who could speak through Nanak. In one of his verse Guru Nanak daringly awakens that dormant spirit in people. Refer the following verse in Raag Malhar Waar page 1288 GG;

Raje shihn mukkadam kutte II

Jaye jagayan baithe sutte II

Chakar nahda payan Ghau II

Rattu pittu kuttayoh chatt jao II

Guru tries to infuse an awakening against rulers who have become like man eater lion and their officials have become like dogs to pounce upon the left overs of flesh and blood of the dormant spirit of the people. In another verse he tries to awaken the self respet of the people. According to Guru Nanak slavery kills your self respect and makes man weak and coward. He says;

So jiveya jis man wassiya soi II

Nanak aur na jive koi II

Je jive patt lath jaye II

Sabuh haram jeta kich khave II (Waar majhh page 142 GG)

This revolutionary thinking of Guru Nanak was carried forward by his lineage of Nanaks who inherited his house (His word and preachings and his enlightenment).

Before his crowned martyrdom Guru Arjunji had not only transferred the Guruship to Guru Hargobind with a message that from now onwards the House of Nanak will be protected with sword. Guru Hargobind ji adorned Himself with two swords – Miri to symbolize worldly powers and Piri – to symbolize the realm of Timeless Being. He erected Akal Takht facing Golden temple at higher pedestal to dedicate and supplicate the Almighty Lord – the Timeless Being. This fusion of spiritual and temporal spirits to awaken the impulse in dormant humanity and make a throne for the Timeless being here on earth was enough to invigorate a religious ferver to stand against Tyrannical rulers and greedy officials of any decent. Since the movement was dedicated to the Timeless Being the impulse was not applied to win territories or kingdoms. So pure and serene thought to follow the Will of Almighty to create a society that will follow the Will or Hukam but stand on its own feet and fight tyranny and injustice. This impulse culminated in the creation of Khalsa.

Guru Gobind Singh ji have no contributions to Guru Granth Sahib apart from editing its final version and adding Ninth Guru Teg Bahadurji’s verses. But his other scriptures have full dedication to make the people follow the Godly Kingdom and to fight against the tyranny of worldly Kingdoms. He calls the Almighty Lord Rajan Raja the king of Kings but he brings Him amongst the poorest of the poor by calling Him Rankan rank. Not deviating from the house of Nanak and consolidating the oneness of Almighty, equality to all human beings and bringing Lord amongst the Poor by creating Khalsa and Five Beloveds (Punj Piayaras).

The martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadurji the father of tenth Guru was a great event, something of a great magnitude and consequences because the tyranny, intolerance and utter moral chaos of imposition and oppression existed. The tyrannical Emperor Aurangzeb had taken a vow to free Hindustan from infidels and make it an Islamic state. A dark stage of Kalyuga prevailed and all humanitarian values of justice and tolerance were on discount. A united force that was required to rise against these challenges for uinted action and resistance was in demoralized state. Society was fragmented and divided because of the bigotry of Hindu ruling class which constituted mostly of high caste people. The whole action and game plan of the Emperor was to convert Brahmins of Kashmere in first phase. Devoid of Priest class the rest had as it is no stand and will follow Islamization easily. The Brahmins of Kashmere decides to take Guru Teg Bahadur’s help. Guru Teg Bahadur ji were no more part of Hindu Belief system but he decided to help them because helping them was helping larger human interests of moral duty and safe guarding your own belief system. The interference of the State was equal to demolishing any other belief system that was of personal choice. Guru Teg Bahadurji was a true soldier of the house of Nanak that believed in ethical social order, and Sikh principles of tolerance and self giving service and freedom. Guru Teg Bahadurji sat in meditation for thirteen years before becoming Guru and built a power of inner strength that was not only to stand against this challenge of conversions but his physical and mental strength were so powerful that he could endure any tortures and stand on his convictions. The execution took in Delhi, at Chandni Chowk and the crowd that gathered there had no strength to resist it or even take hold of the body of the victim. This incident pained Guru Gobind Singh ji so much that he took upon himself to fight the tyranny. He wanted to create fearless, not showing back in the battlefield, dedicated to faith in One God, fighting injustice, cruelities to mankind kind of marshal race from the same downtrodden people. His fearless knights were supposed to be so brave that one could fight a million and quarter in battlefield. The enemy was like hawk for him and his humble God fearing birds shall fight this Hawk. Khalsa was created and the realm of the Almighty was established again. His concept of God though derived from the House of Nanak had crystalised. His creation Khalsa will rule when no discordant element will remain. Khasla means purest of the pure and purest of the pure is only God. When that God factor will be seen in humans His Kingdom will be fully established – raj karega khalsa, aki rahe na koi. Though sword was taken to fight the tyranny of the Rulers but Guru says; to take sword only when there is no other means left. He made sword equal to God and called it Sarabloh or Bhaguati because God alone has that power to create and destroy. When all other means fail God uses his power same way sword is the solution to fight tyranny and injustice. The idea of Marshal God comes from the thought that tyranny, intolerance could only be fought with sword and the ideal person to convert the downtrodden from their state of apathy and dormant spirit that they could fight only having an image of Marshal God. This Marshal God played both roles of savior – Rakha and fighter –Bir and Dilawar – brave and courageous. This Hero God was Chhatrang, Chhatri whom nobody could defeat and destroy. The military and Marshal Spirit had become the necessity to fight tyranny, injustice and intolerance otherwise the Sikh concept of God is that He is all powerful and doesn’t need to fight with weapons and make crusades to fight undesirable enemy. The presence of Marshal God is expressed through Bir-ras -- poetry to invoke heroism in common people. This poetry is also known as Waar in Guru Granth Sahib. Guru Gobind Singh’s Hero God is represented sword and banner – Asipan, Asidhuj, Asiketu, kharagketu. Ultimately the Power of God is in consideration. This whole representation is very close to Hindu mythology where Gods and Godesses are iconically shown as having multiple hands to fight evil.

Kirtan is an important feature in Sikhism; in fact all the eulogy and daily regular prayers are done in singing the hymns from Gurbani so this nomenclature of God is presented in such a manner that appeals to the mind of religiously conscious people. All these names are human concepts that may have developed variously at different juncture of history. Guru Nanak used traditionally used names to bring his message forward but for him they were only functional names. His only concept of God he explains in Mul –mantra and that he says is Satnaam. His name is only truth.