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| 'Know the light within, not the caste' | | | E.Rajesh Pathak
The Bhakti Movement [cult of devotion] gained prominence in the medieval period gave one after other so many greatest of saints. Considered to be spanned between 1318 A.D. and 1643 A.D., Bhakti kala[period] gave one such saint- Guru Nanakdev, the founder of Sikhism. Progressive and far ahead of his time, he expounded Sikh-philosophy by adopting the best of noble doctrines of Dharma easily be grasped by all, and that could be beneficial to the welfare of common man either. Therefore, the evils like untouchability, parda pratha[practice of keeping women behind the veil] and dogmatic restrictions over the consumption of food have no place in the Sikh-philosophy. Guru Nanakdev held idol-worship as an aberration from the true Dharma. However, he believed in the existence of God, and esteemed 'Harinama' as a basic mantra [Guru Grantha Sahib P-1040]. Nanakdev preached- 'Know the light within the man, not his caste.
At the time of death when your destiny, henceforth, would finally be determined, nobody would ask your caste then.'[janhu jyoti, na puchhahu jaati, aage jaati na hai].Going ahead, according to what he preached, he initiated the tradition of 'sangat'[religious mass-congregation] and 'pangat' [religious mass-feast]in order to bring to an end the distinction made on the basis of rich-poor and high-low caste.
Guru Nanak was predominantly a singer adopting Samvedic[ a branch of Veda consisted of religious teaching in verse form]ways of composition. Guru-Vani is more notably based only on Samved genre, which later gained the form of holy book , Shri Guru Granth Sahib. Shri Guru Granth Sahib begins with 'Oum' preceded by 'One' [? ] , preaching that God is one. According to Nanak 'Omkar' is the one who created mountain, Time and Vedas. One who grants Moksha [enlightenment] and sustains the man to life. He further reveals that God is the absolute divine bliss; Who is beyond all description.
If ink is made of sea, pen is made of trees and mouth is made of hundreds of tongues to describe God, He would remain indescribable even then. Referring to Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, he says that a mother gives birth to three great disciples- One is the creator of universe; another, it's preserver and third is its destroyer. [Granth Sahib- P-07]
By the virtue of his divine insight he realized the ultimate truth that God is basically formless, without attributes and all-pervading. Yet for the well-being of humanity and whole universe He incarnates attributive form time and again.
He preached that Maya [illusion] and five defects [attachment, malice, ego, lust and anger] are the most inveterate impediments in the path of spiritual salvation. To overcome these impediments one must observe 'Righteousness' and undergo 'Namjapa' [chanting the name of chosen deity] under the guidance of a right guru [spiritual master].
Guru Nanak had a deep faith on Vedas. Regarding Vedas as very fountainhead of divine-wisdom, he says that- "As with the illumination of a lamp the darkness disappears, so with the knowledge of Vedas get dispelled the mazes of the mind. When sun rises, moon hides. Likewise, when divine wisdom dawns upon an individual his ignorance departs."[Granth Sahib-P-1240]
And as for Yoga, his view on its subtle aspect was remarkably logical, down to earth. The terms like 'Sushmna' and 'Anahatnada' of Yoga-Science could be seen in his literary works. He knew that the path of 'Hathayoga' [severe austerity] is not meant for the common people or family-man, he therefore suggested 'Sahaj-Yoga' for them.
He believed not in inflicting punishment to the body or deliberately suffering pain in order to attain moksha. But, "He only is a true ascetic who is engrossed in 'Harinama' or God"- was his creed [Granth Sahib;P-1283, 1332]. So also, he was strongly opposed to the begging, regardless of condition under which it is supposed to be practiced. Not only he, but all the other later Sikh Gurus laid great emphasis on the significance of physical- labor and held it on high esteem. It is because of this no Sikh is found to be a beggar.
Actually, to preach what true human-religion is to people then deluded with the dogmatic rituals and segregated into the myriads of religious creeds that Guru Nanak took the incarnation on the earth.
And, lastly, when a time came to choose his successor, setting a precedent that "how the vision of a guru should be", he consecrated more able Angadji on the highest seat of guru than his own son, Chandji, who was, unlike Angadji, unmarried too. Then, a few days later, on 1st October 1539 this great soul departed to the heavenly abode. |
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