Who says 'Sri Granth'
is Guru?
Manvir Singh
Khalsa
In 2004 we celebrated the 400th anniversary of the
first prakaash of the Aad Granth Sahib Ji.
In 2004 we celebrated 400 years of the completion
of Aad Granth Sahib Ji, which was dictated and compiled
by Guru Arjan Dev Ji.
In 2004 we celebrated that for 400 years we have been
bestowed upon us an invaluable treasure by Vaheguru.
However, amongst the celebrations, the joy and atmosphere
of optimism and enlightenment, there are certain groups
of people who are cunningly and cleverly trying to
break the stability of the Sikh Panth (nation) and
make vulnerable Sikhs turn away from Sri Guru Granth
Sahib Ji to make them into gullible customers of fake
holy men and self proclaimed Satgurus.
Radha Soamis, Nirankaris (known as Narakdharis),
the RSS, Piaara Singh Bhaniaara, Naamdharis (Kookas),
Ashutosh (Noormeliaa), and a growing number of "Sants"
and fake "holy men", are some of those who
spread the cancer of luring uneducated Sikh women
and their families into becoming their followers,
in an attempt to weaken the Panth (Nation) of Guru
Gobind Singh Ji.
Guru Granth Saheb ji being carried to Harimandar
Saheb
"How can a 'book' be your Guru?"
and "Which Guru said that 'Shabad Guru' is the
Guru of the Sikhs?" are common challenges made
to Sikhs by the followers of these self-proclaimed
Satgurus to Sikhs.
"Gurus and holy men have come in the past, they
are here now, and there will be more in the future.
You don't need Guru Granth Sahib."
"Take [the initiation of] Naam
and accept the living Guru as your Guru. Without a
Guru you cannot attain salvation. A "book"
alone cannot do anything! You must have someone to
explain it to you!"
Those that doubt Guru Granth Sahib Ji to be the Guru
of the Sikhs and who instead have been lured in by
the sweet talk and appearance of self-proclaimed god
men fire these questions at us. However, the paradox
is that they claim Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is not
a Guru and that Gurbaani (the Divine Word revealed
through the Guru) cannot enlighten us or liberate
us. On the other hand, most of these self-proclaimed
fake Satgurus give 'Naam' to their followers on initiation.
'Naam' given by these fake god men consists of shabads
(divine hymns) or words, which are from Sri Guru Granth
Sahib Ji and are given in private to the followers
to recite in secret and not to tell anyone else what
they have been given. The sermons of these fake God
men expand on shabads from Gurbaani. Why? If they
believe Gurbaani contains no salvation then why us
it in preaching?
"How can a 'book' be your Guru? Which Guru said
the 'Shabad Guru' is the Guru of the Sikhs?"
The fools who ask this are ignorant about Gurbaani.
Not only did Guru Gobind Singh Ji declare Guru Granth
Sahib Ji is the Guru but even the Sikh Gurus before
him declared that the Shabad Guru, Gurbaani, is the
Guru.
Guru Nanak Sahib Ji says,
jYsI mY
AwvY Ksm kI bwxI qYsVw krI igAwnu vy lwlo ]
"As the Lord's word comes to me, Lalo, so I deliver
it." (Ang 722, SGGS)
Gurbaani has been revealed by Vaheguru through the
human living Gurus. Vaheguru spoke through Guru Nanak
Sahib Ji. Even Guru Nanak Sahib Ji states that his
Guru is the 'Shabad', the Divine Word. Guru Ji says:
sbdu guru
suriq Duin cylw ]
"The Divine Word is the Guru, and my mind in
reflective meditation, the disciple" (Ang 943,
SGGS).
The self-proclaimed fake Satgurus say that without
them the world will go mad and that they cannot get
salvation. However, one day they will die. Another
Guru will come. Then he will die and another Guru
will come. But the Guru of Gurus, Guru Nanak Sahib
Ji says:
sbdu gur pIrw gihr gMBIrw ibnu sbdY jgu baurwnw ]
"The profound and unfathomable 'Shabad' is his
Guru and spiritual guide. Without the 'Shabad' the
world is gone mad." (Ang 635, SGGS)
The Shabad Guru is everlasting.
The Kings who lived 400 years ago have all died and
others take the throne.
The Kings who live 200 years ago have all died and
new ones are born and appointed.
However, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is the only King
of Kings who still with us after 400 years.
The Shabad Guru has not died nor will die in the
future. The Shabad Guru is eternal. Why choose a Guru
who will die one day and you will end up having to
choose another Guru. Why not choose a Guru who will
never die and will be forever with you?
Guru Amar Daas Sahib Ji, the Third Nanak, goes one
step forward in describing Gurbaani, the Shabad, the
Divine Word, as the embodiment of the Truth, the embodiment
of Vaheguru (the wondrous Lord) Himself. Where there
is the Word of God, there is God Himself. Where is
there is the Truth, there the True One pervades:
s`c KMif
vsY inrMkwru]
"In the realm of truth (where truth pervades),
there pervades the Formless Lord." (Ang 8, SGGS)
vwhu vwhu bwxI inrMkwr hY iqsu jyvfu Avru n koie]
"Hail, Hail, the Word of the Guru, which is the
embodiment of the Formless Lord Himself; there is
none other, nothing else to be reckoned equal to it."
(Ang 515, SGGS)
Guru Raam Daas Sahib Ji, the Fourth Nanak, proclaims:
bwxI gurU
gurU hY bwxI ivic bwxI AMimRq swry]
'Baani', the Word of God, is the Guru, the Guru is
Baani, in 'Baani' is Amrit, the nectar of life."
(Ang 982, SGGS)
Not only is Gurbaani the Guru and the Guru is Gurbaani,
but also within Gurbaani, within the Shabad Guru Vaheguru
has placed Amrit, the nectar of life. People say who
says that the Shabad Guru is the Guru of the Sikhs
and argue where is the proof that Sri Guru Gobind
Singh Ji left eternal Guruship with Sri Guru Granth
Sahib Ji. The Guru himself has said, well my Guru
is Gurbaani! If we follow the true path of the Gurus
then Gurbaani is our Guru as well.
Guru Arjan Dev Sahib Ji, the Fifth Nanak, reiterates
the message of the First Nanak that whatever is written
in Gurbaani, the message of the Shabad Guru, is not
from the Guru himself but it is direct from Vaheguru:
hau Awphu
boil n jwxdw mY kihAw sBu hkmwau jIau]
"I myself know not what to say; all I speak is
what the Lord commands/" (Ang 763, SGGS)
Through Gurbaani, the Shabad, the Divine Word, Vaheguru
speaks to us. The Formless Vaheguru communicated to
the world through speaking through the das saroop
(ten bodies) of Guru Nanak Sahib Ji. Now the Formless
communicates to us through the written word. The Guru
is the embodiment of Vaheguru Himself.
If we still have doubt whether Sri Guru Granth Sahib
Ji is just a mere "Book", then Sri Guru
Arjan Dev Ji's voice speaks to us through Sri Guru
Granth Sahib Ji and says:
poQI prmysr
kw Qwnu]
"The Divine Scripture (Sri Granth Sahib) is the
meeting place where one can meet the Transcendent
Lord God." (Ang 1226, SGGS)
The Guru is saying that it is not just a "book",
but recognises it as the 'meeting place to meet the
Transcendent Lord God'.
Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaaj does not say anything
new when he said the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Gurbaani,
the Shabad, the Divine Word is the Guru. Time after
time the Sikh Gurus explained and re-emphasised that
the Shabad, that Gurbaani is the Guru. Sri Guru
Gobind Singh Ji beautifully said when leaving eternal
Guruship with Shabad Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji:
dUsrw rUp
gRMQ jI jwn, aun ky AMg myro kr mwn]
jo isK gur drSn kI cwh, drSn kroN gRMQ jI Awh]
jo mn swQ cwho kr bwq, gRMQ jI pVy bIcwry swQ]
jo muJ bcn sunn kw cwhy, gRMQ jI pVy suxy icq lwih]
myro rUp gMRQ jI jwn, ies mn Byd nhIN kC mwn]
"The Granth is second myself (referring to Sri
Guru Granth, not Dasam Granth which was compiled later
by Bhai Mani Singh), it should be taken for me. A
Sikh who wants to see me, should a look at the Granth.
One who wishes to talk to me, should read the Granth
and think it over. One who is anxious to listen to
me talk, he or she should read the Granth and listen
to its recitation with attention. Consider the Granth
as my ownself. Have not the least doubt about it."
Bhai Chaupa Singh Ji and Bhai Prahlad Singh Ji were
some of the Gursikhs present when Guruship was left
with Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and they have recorded
what Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji's instructions were
at the time.
Bhai Prahlad Singh Ji records Sri Guru Gobind
Singh Ji saying in a Rehatnaama:
AwigAw BeI
Akwl kI qbY clwXo pMQ] sB isKn ko hukm hY guru mwinXo
gRMQ] gurU gRMQ jI mwnXo pRgt gurW kI dyh] jo pRB
ko imlbo chY Koj sbid mY lyh]
"The Will of God hath ordained the order of the
Khalsa. This is the final commandment to all the Sikhs:
accept the Granth as the Guru. Deem the revered Guru
Granth as the visible body of the Gurus. Whosoever
desires to feel Vaheguru's presence search and merge
in the Revelation itself."
This command by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji has also
been recorded by Giani Gian Singh Ji in his book,
"Tavaareek Khalsa" (1891), pg. 365.
Bhai Chaupa Singh Ji who was also present at Sri
Hazoor Sahib, Nander, when guruship was left with
Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji states:
jo gur kw
isK AKwey, Aqy Sbd gRMQ swihb jI dw guru krky nw mMny,
AwpxI mwieAw dy hMkwr ivc glqwn rhy]
"One who claims to be a Sikh of the Guru, but
does not accept Guru Granth Sahib Ji as the Guru,
they will forever remain deluded by their egotistical
attachment to Maya (the relative world)."
As long as we hold on the support of Gurbaani, no
power can shake the ground we stand on.
As long as we read and understand Shabad Guru, Guru
Granth Sahib Ji, no group, person or government can
make us tremble.
As long as we remain faithful to the Guru Granth and
the Guru Panth (Sikh Nation), no power in the world,
no cancer in the world, no problem in the world can
touch our shadows.
The day we let go of Shabad Guru, Guru Granth Sahib
Ji; the day we turn our back on our Father, Guru Gobind
Singh Ji; the day we stop respecting, reading, understanding
and living Gurbaani then we are finished and we would
have dug our own graves.
gur kI
kIriq jpIAY hir nwau ]
gur kI Bgiq sdw gux gwau ]
gur kI suriq inkit kir jwnu ]
gur kw sbdu siq kir mwnu ]2]
"This is the Guru's Praise, to chant the Name
of the Lord.
This is devotion to the Guru, to sing forever the
Glorious Praises of the Lord.
This is contemplation upon the Guru, to know that
the Lord is close at hand.
Accept the Word of the Guru's Shabad as Truth. ||2||"
(Ang 897)
Awpy siqguru
myly pUrw ]
scY sbid mhwbl sUrw ]
Awpy myly
dy vifAweI scy isau icqu lwiedw ]9]
"The Perfect Lord Himself unites them with the
True Guru.
Through the True Word of the Shabad, he makes them
brave spiritual heroes.
Uniting them with Himself, He bestows glorious greatness;
He inspires them to focus their consciousness on the
True Lord. ||9||" (Ang 1060)
May Vaheguru bless us all.
Be inspired and inspire others
manvir_singh_khalsa@yahoo.co.uk
