- Oct 15, 2006
- 104
- 10
Some Scientific truths from Gurbani
Author: Prof. Inder Singh Ghagga1
Translated from Punjabi by Akashdeep Singh
If we study deeply the holy scriptures of the world, we will find only the order to dedicatedly follow ones leader without reasoning or questioning. It will seem that the use of ones own intelligence and thinking is not encouraged. If some thoughts do not seem to be justified by scientific and logical thinking, the followers are simply advised to accept those thoughts like an obedient slave. Acts like raising questions and trying to seek scientific justification are neither permitted nor seem to be considered important. Rather the whole strength will seem to be put on proving that religion and science are 2 different things and are strong opponents of each other. The majority of world has been viewing and listening to religion with this point of view. Perhaps they are helpless, because the views and messages that they have got in legacy had almost no scientific point of view. Under the influence of absence of scientific thinking and receiving none in the legacy, their preachers have strengthened the thought in common people that religion and science have no relation with each other.
The religion and religious structure of the place (India) where Sikhism has born and flourished are basically orthodox, undeveloped and non-scientific. Bearing the pain of slavery for centuries, the soul of the inhabitants of this place has died. The ability to think has been curbed by force, self-respect has been crushed. The Indian society as a whole has been turned into honorless, viewless and dareless society. When the hope of good days dies forever for a community and then some revered person from this slave community forecasts with a heavy heart,” O my countrymen! Now the shackles of your slavery can only be broken by some supernatural power. Only a great soul can end your sorrows. Only your God can come and save your religion. Less some miracle fulfills our wishes, there seems no hope... “ Such words when spoken in extreme despair and hopeless conditions render the community actionless. Where there is no light of hope from anywhere, there is no intelligence and conscience of ones own, personal and community strength is diminished, when being selfrespectless a person is bound to beg, then this thought repeatedly appears in ones mind that now only some miracle or power from the future can only end my woes.It appears that the belief in miracles has arisen exactly from such a state of mind. Powerful people do not have the useless hope in supernatural happenings and miracles; they have belief in their own intelligence and strength. People who have lost in all spheres of life will not be ready to even listen to the thoughts that contain knowledge, logic, debate and scientific viewpoint. When such conservatist thoughts make house inside ones brain it becomes almost impossible to get rid of them.
Analyzing with the above viewpoint, one can easily understand the commonness of suspicions (wahem), superstitions and the miracle ridden stories among Indian people. Most of this culture has shown affects on Sikh minds as well. Our Gurus words are: -
ਫੂਟੋ ਆਂਡਾ ਭਰਮ ਕਾ ਮਨਹਿ ਭਇਓ ਪਰਗਾਸੁ॥
ਕਾਟੀ ਬੇਰੀ ਪਗਹ ਤੇ ਗੁਰਿ ਕੀਨੀ ਬੰਦਿ ਖਲਾਸੁ॥੧॥
ਅਪੁਸਟ ਬਾਤ ਤੇ ਭਈ ਸੀਧਰੀ ਦੂਤ ਦੁਸਟ ਸਜਨਈ॥
ਅੰਧਕਾਰ ਮਹਿ ਰਤਨੁ ਪ੍ਰਗਾਸਿਓ ਮਲੀਨ ਬੁਧਿ ਹਛਨਈ॥੧॥
The egg of doubt has burst; my mind has been enlightened.
The Guru has shattered the shackles on my feet, and has set me free. ||1||
That which was upside-down has been set upright; the deadly enemies and adversaries have become friends.
In the darkness, the jewel shines forth, and the impure understanding has become pure. ||1||
Guru Nanak Dev ji chose the path of scientific thinking to break away the multiple levels of shackles of slavery. Though this path was very difficult and very long but was righteous. The main motive of our Gurus was not to vilify science or to give scientific explanations of everything. But yes, the path they chose, while expressing their views and imparting the Sikh knowledge to the followers, can be seen satisfying the scientific logic very well if we pay attention. With the same viewpoint they have simply thrown away the ancient miracle ridden useless stories into garbage. Through the blow of his writings Satguru ji has destroyed the useless and superstition ridden castle of rituals and stories filled with magical acts. Though Guru ji presented his own point of view bluntly, he never put scientific viewpoint away from sight. Glorious history is witness to the fact that it was this revolutionary change in human thinking which brought about the end to psychological, social and political slavery. Now let’s read and think upon those words from holy Gurbani through which Guru ji has rooted the superstition web and presented his scientific viewpoint to the Human kind.
(1) The views of religious leaders about the creation of the whole environment on earth do not match with each other. While someone among them has said that God has created the whole universe in just 7 days, some others have said that everything generated by just speaking the word “kunn” (ho ja – get created! ). Somebody told that a lotus flower bloomed in sea; Brahma came out of that flower and then created the whole environment/life. The Buddhist have said that this whole environment/life is created from the elements; nothing new is created in this world just changes forms. Someone else has said that all this visible spread of life and universe actually does not exist at all, it is just illusion of the eyes and just like a dream. Guru Nanak Sahib ji studied various views and contemplated on them. From that time till today, even the scientists have been publishing and releasing their research papers on the creation of life on earth; they have their own importance. Guru Nanak ji told that O my beloved ones! Even by trying millions of times it will not be possible to know how and when this whole universe was created. If anyone knows this truth, he is only the creator of the universe himself. He has not told this to anybody how this universe was created. The words of Guru ji are :
ਕਵਣੁ ਸੁ ਵੇਲਾ ਵਖਤੁ ਕਵਣੁ ਕਵਣ ਥਿਤਿ ਕਵਣੁ ਵਾਰੁ॥
ਕਵਣਿ ਸਿ ਰੁਤੀ ਮਾਹੁ ਕਵਣੁ ਜਿਤੁ ਹੋਆ ਆਕਾਰੁ॥
ਵੇਲ ਨ ਪਾਈਆ ਪੰਡਤੀ ਜਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਲੇਖੁ ਪੁਰਾਣੁ॥
ਵਖਤੁ ਨ ਪਾਇਓ ਕਾਦੀਆ ਜਿ ਲਿਖਨਿ ਲੇਖੁ ਕੁਰਾਣੁ॥
ਥਿਤਿ ਵਾਰੁ ਨਾ ਜੋਗੀ ਜਾਣੈ ਰੁਤਿ ਮਾਹੁ ਨਾ ਕੋਈ॥
ਜਾ ਕਰਤਾ ਸਿਰਠੀ ਕਉ ਸਾਜੇ ਆਪੇ ਜਾਣੈ ਸੋਈ॥
What was that time, and what was that moment? What was that day, and what was that date? What was that season, and what was that month, when the Universe was created? The Pandits, the religious scholars, cannot find that time, even if it is written in the Puraanas. That time is not known to the Qazis, who study the Koran. The day and the date are not known to the Yogis, nor is the month or the season. The Creator who created this creation-only He Himself knows.
The scientists have presented this progressive law in front of the world that there were just gases in this whole universe (speculation only), some pieces broke away from the Sun. With time those pieced became colder, it rained and biological form such as fungus was formed. Then micro-organism named Amoeba was formed. Amoeba broke down into 2 pieces, those 2 pieces further broke down to form 4 pieces, and those 4 pieces broke down to form 8 pieces... the process continued. (A similar process is responsible for making curd out of milk and can be noted even today). And then the water organisms were born. Down the line in this sequence the reptiles were born and then walking animals (bipeds) and birds were born. The most developed form of this sequence lying at the end is considered to be the Human Beings. This process has been in action from uncountable years and this theory is the well known theory of science. When Guru Nanak Dev ji’s attention came onto this topic, he had disclosed the same scientific fact more than 500 years ago. (...amazing isn’t it?). Read below those words from Gurbani: -
ਸਾਚੇ ਤੇ ਪਵਨਾ ਭਇਆ ਪਵਨੈ ਤੇ ਜਲੁ ਹੋਇ ॥
ਜਲਤੇ ਤ੍ਰਿਭਵਣੁ ਸਾਜਿਆ ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਮੋਇ ॥
From the True Lord came the air, and from the air came water. From water, He created the three worlds; in each and every heart He has infused His Light.
(2) The place on which we are living our lives, that is the earth, has been the source of Human curiosity from ages. On one hand science has been presenting its views on the other hand religious leaders have also been presenting their views according to their capabilities. Shasi Rahibraan (kuran tor te jamboor anjeel de reheyta) have told the earth to be flat and uneven and have told that the earth is stationary whereas the Sun is revolving around it. When the great scientists like Galileo discarded the common belief about earth and told that Earth is spherical, the Sun is stationary and it is the Earth which is revolving around it, ....the Christian leader at the time got enraged.Galileo was declared rebellious to the teachings of Bible and disobedient of the of order of Jesus Christ. Ruling power at that time was encouraged against Galileo and he was captivated in prison cell. Feeling pity after a long time he was released from the prison and was asked to beg for pardon for his statements. Galileo repeated again in front of the priest and the king – “Ask me to speak anything but not false. Sorry for being blunt but neither the earth has studied your bible nor has the instruction of Bible reached the Sun. What you say that Jesus has written has not been written after asking the Earth and Sun. The Earth has been revolving around the Sun in the past and it will continue to do so in the future, they will not be affected by what I write. The reason being that Sun and Earth are neither slaves of bible nor me. The truth is that the Earth is revolving, that is why we days and nights and different seasons......” Poor Galileo was once again captivated in the prison till the time life left his body.
It is very surprising to read the Hindu scriptures and I often wonder how the writers wrote this entertaining stuff. For example – earth has been made from the froth of the seas. Then the devils picked the Earth and ran away and the gods (devtey – there are several Gods in Hinduism) fought a battle with the devils and brought the earth back. Some of them even say the earth is stationary on the hood of a snake (sheshnaag) then surprisingly one can even find another version which says the earth is stationary on the horn of a white bull and when the bull transfers the earth from one horn to its other horn earthquakes occur.....These types of useless views and beliefs were heard and read by Guru Nanak Dev ji as well. Guru Nanak Dev ji boldly chose the side of truth and did not care what majority of people think and so he said:-
ਧੌਲੁ ਧਰਮੁ ਦਇਆ ਕਾ ਪੂਤੁ॥
ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਥਾਪਿ ਰਖਿਆ ਜਿਨਿ ਸੂਤਿ॥
ਜੇਕੋ ਬੁਝੈ ਹੋਵੈ ਸਚਿਆਰੁ॥
ਧਵਲੈ ਉਪਰਿ ਕੇਤਾ ਭਾਰੁ॥
ਧਰਤੀ ਹੋਰੁ ਪਰੈ ਹੋਰੁ ਹੋਰੁ॥
ਤਿਸ ਤੇ ਭਾਰੁ ਤਲੈ ਕਵਣੁ ਜੋਰੁ॥
The mythical bull is the law of nature, the son of compassion;
this is what patiently holds the earth in its place.
One who understands this becomes truthful.
What a great load there is on the bull!
So many worlds beyond this world-so very many!
What power holds them, and supports their weight?
Satguru ji is telling in these lines, O people! There is no white bull under the Earth rather it is held by the rule of the almighty. The mythical bull is nothing but Dharma of the Mother Nature which is embedded into the principle of compassion. If anybody can understand this astonishing greatness of the Almighty, that person will be considered closer to the real truth. Can anyone tell how much is the weight of the Earth? No bull can bear the gigantic weight of the Earth. Moreover, there are numerous other such earths. Who is holding them? Can you also tell me where the so called white bull is standing holding the earth on the horn as you say? That bull will need some surface to stand on. Let’s assume it is standing on some other earth, and then who is holding the earth on which this bull is standing?...it will need another earth and then another bull under it and so on. Where will you end this sequence? No my beloved! This earth is not on the horn of some bull but is bound by laws of nature in the space. The Almighty is great and he has stationed the Earth in the space without any visible support. Guru ji’s word are : -
ਪਉਣੁ ਉਪਾਇ ਧਰੀ ਸਭ ਧਰਤੀ ਜਲ ਅਗਨੀ ਕਾ ਬੰਧੁ ਕੀਆ॥
He created the air, and He supports the whole world; he bound water and fire together.
With his experience Satguru ji has even written this very clear, “O beloved! Why are you involved in this fight? In fact, Earth is also in motion; Sun is also in motion, including the galaxies the whole universe is in motion. If these become stationary the life will also stop.” Guru ji’s words are like this:-
ਮੁਕਾਮੁ ਤਿਸਨੋ ਆਖੀਐ ਜਿਸੁ ਸਿਸਿ ਨ ਹੋਵੀ ਲੇਖੁ ॥
ਅਸਮਾਨੁ ਧਰਤੀ ਚਲਸੀ ਮੁਕਾਮੁ ਓਹੀ ਏਕੁ ॥ ੭॥
ਦਿਨ ਰਵਿ ਚਲੈ ਨਿਸਿ ਸਸਿ ਚਲੈ ਤਾਰਿਕਾ ਲਖ ਪਲੋਇ ॥
ਮੁਕਾਮੁ ਓਹੀ ਏਕੁ ਹੈ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਸਚੁ ਬੁਗੋਇ ॥ ੮ ॥ ੧੭ ॥
Call permanent only the One, who does not have destiny inscribed upon His Forehead.
The sky and the earth shall pass away; He alone is permanent. ||7||
The day and the sun shall pass away; the night and the moon shall pass away; the hundreds of thousands of stars shall disappear.
He alone is permanent; Nanak speaks the Truth. ||8||17||
Satguru ji is giving further great scientific viewpoint and tells us :-
ਭੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਸੂਰਜੁ ਭੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਚੰਦੁ॥
ਕੋਹ ਕਰੋੜੀ ਚਲਤ ਨ ਅੰਤੁ॥
In the Fear of God, the sun shines, and in the Fear of God, the moon reflects.
They travel millions of miles, endlessly.
(3) Oceans have always been the articles of human curiosity. Thought like these have always wondered human mind- how deep is the sea, how big is it, what is hidden inside it and specially, how this whole mass of water is held on the earth when no levees and bounds are visible? In ancient stories people have even gone to the extent of writing - the ocean was whipped, the materials that humans desired where obtained from sea, that the earth has originated from the ocean, one saint named Agast (imaginary) got angry and drank the whole water of the oceans in one gulp and when the living beings on earth requested him he released the whole oceans that he drank via urinating.....etc. etc. Lets ask Satguru Nanak ji and see, “Saturgu ji ! can you please be kind and tell us how this whole mass of water is held on earth?” Here are the words of Satguru ji:-
ਭੀਤਰਿ ਅਗਨਿ ਬਨਾਸਪਤਿ ਮਉਲੀ ਸਾਗਰੁ ਪੰਡੈ ਪਾਇਆ ॥
ਚੰਦੁ ਸੂਰਜੁ ਦੁਇ ਘਰ ਹੀ ਭੀਤਰਿ ਐਸਾ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਪਾਇਆ ॥ ੨ ॥
There is fire within the plants which bloom; the ocean is tied into a bundle.
The sun and the moon dwell in the same home in the sky. You have not obtained this knowledge. ||2||
During older times dried grass or fodder used to be transferred from one place to the other by tying it in a thick big cloth. Using this vocabulary of tying the knot, Guru Nanak Dev ji is explaining, “O people! There are no levees or bounding walls around the huge waters of the oceans. Who can build such large and such number of walls? These waters are held from all the sides by the subtle law of nature of the Almighty. That water is stationary due to this law of nature otherwise it could have vanished long time ago, its here due to the attractive forces.
(4) The knowledgeable people (historically) of the world have only known to some extent about the single Earth, single moon, single sun. Glittering stars were a deep mystery. They could only dream about knowing and telling the society about the reality beyond the visible stars. The Sanatan granths (holy books of the Sanatan sect) wrote that there is pataal lok (underground world), maat lok (world on the surface of the earth) and aakaash lok ( the world in the sky) and did some imaginative thinking about heaven and hell, they were not capable of thinking beyond this. Islam and Christianity went a few steps ahead jumped to telling 14 tabaks or 18,000 aalams and then there is nothing beyond this!. Lets know the views of Guru Nanak Dev ji regarding this, which are as follows:-
ਪਾਤਾਲਾ ਪਾਤਾਲ ਲਖ ਆਗਾਸਾ ਆਗਾਸ ॥
ਓੜਕ ਓੜਕ ਭਾਲਿ ਥਕੇ ਵੇਦ ਕਹਨਿ ਇਕ ਵਾਤ ॥
ਸਹਸ ਅਠਾਰਹ ਕਹਨਿ ਕਤੇਬਾ ਅਸੁਲੂ ਇਕੁ ਧਾਤੁ ॥
ਲੇਖਾ ਹੋਇ ਤ ਲਿਖੀਐ ਲੇਖੈ ਹੋਇ ਵਿਣਾਸੁ ॥
After an immense and tiring search the authors of Vedas concluded that there are hundreds of thousands netherworlds under nether worlds and skies above skies. The Semitic texts say there are eighteen thousand worlds, but their Creator is One. However, the cosmos is so vast that it is beyond the scope of counting/measurement (i.e. beyond human comprehension)¾one would run out of numbers if one were to undertake the counting. Nanak salutes the Great One, as It alone knows the vastness Its creation.2
Satguru Nanak ji tells us that the counting digits finish but elements of the universe does not, In other words, they are countless and there is no possibility of counting them. Satguru ji further tells us in Jap baani:-
ਖੰਡ ਪਤਾਲ ਅਸੰਖ ਮੈ ਗਣਤ ਨ ਹੋਈ॥
There are countless worlds and nether regions; I cannot calculate their number.
ਕੇਤੇ ਇੰਦ ਚੰਦ ਸੂਰ ਕੇਤੇ ਕੇਤੇ ਮੰਡਲ ਦੇਸ ॥
ਕੇਤੇ ਸਿਧ ਬੁਧ ਨਾਥ ਕੇਤੇ ਕੇਤੇ ਦੇਵੀ ਵੇਸ ॥
ਕੇਤੇ ਦੇਵ ਦਾਨਵ ਮੁਨਿ ਕੇਤੇ ਕੇਤੇ ਰਤਨ ਸਮੁੰਦ ॥
ਕੇਤੀ ਆਖਾਣੀ ਕੇਤੀ ਆਬਾਣੀ ਕੇਤੇ ਪਾਤ ਨਰਿੰਦ ॥
ਕੇਤੀ ਆਸੁਰ ਤੀ ਸੇਵਕ ਕੇਤੇ ਨਾਨਕ ਅੰਤੁ ਨ ਅੰਤੁ ॥੩੫॥
So many Indras, so many moons and suns, so many worlds and lands. So many Siddhas and Buddhas, so many Yogic masters. So many goddesses of various kinds. So many demi-gods and demons, so many silent sages. So many oceans of jewels. So many ways of life, so many languages. So many dynasties of rulers. So many intuitive people, so many selfless servants. O Nanak, His limit has no limit! ||35||
(5) Satguru ji has presented before us very useful scientific viewpoints. Some people knew that butter can be extracted from milk by a following a method, jaggery and raw cane sugar can be made by slow boiling of the sugarcane juice, flowers have fragrance, you can see your image in the mirror but few knew the fact that there is fire inside the wood. One can find very often the references on these topics in Gurbani –
ਪਵਨਿ ਪਰੋਇਓ ਸਗਲ ਅਕਾਰਾ ਪਾਵਕ ਕਾਸਟ ਸੰਗੇ ॥
ਨੀਰੁ ਧਰਣਿ ਕਰਿ ਰਾਖੇ ਏਕਤ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਕਿਸ ਹੀ ਸੰਗੇ ॥ ੩॥
He has strung His Breath throughout the creation; He locked the fire in the wood. He placed the water and the land together, but neither blends with the other. ||3||
Satguru ji says that embedded in the thread of air (in the form of breath) all the bodies (organisms, vegetation etc.) are able to perform various activities, there is fire in the wood but is in control. The water of the oceans is enormous whereas the land is just about one-fourth of these waters. But see the surprising thing that the land does not dissolve into the oceans and vanish. They ocean and land are adjacent and are hand in hand with each other. Listen more –
ਪੁਹਪ ਮਧਿ ਜਿਉ ਬਾਸੁ ਬਸਤੁ ਹੈ ਮੁਕਰ ਮਾਹਿ ਜੈਸੇ ਛਾਈ ॥
ਤੈਸੇ ਹੀ ਹਰਿ ਬਸੇ ਨਿਰੰਤਰਿ ਘਟ ਹੀ ਖੋਜਹੁ ਭਾਈ ॥ ੧ ॥
Like the fragrance which remains in the flower, and like the reflection in the mirror, the Lord dwells deep within; search for Him within your own heart, O Siblings of Destiny. ||1||
ਫਲ ਕਾਰਨ ਫੂਲੀ ਬਨਰਾਇ ॥
ਫਲੁ ਲਾਗਾ ਤਬ ਫੂਲੁ ਬਿਲਾਇ ॥
ਗਿਆਨੈ ਕਾਰਨ ਕਰਮ ਅਭਿਆਸੁ ॥
ਗਿਆਨੁ ਭਇਆ ਤਹ ਕਰ ਮਹਨਾਸੁ ॥ ੩ ॥
ਘ੍ਰਿਤ ਕਾਰਨ ਦਧਿ ਮਥੈ ਸਇਆਨ ॥
ਜੀਵਤ ਮੁਕਤ ਸਦਾ ਨਿਰਬਾਨ ॥
Plants blossom forth to produce fruit.
When the fruit is produced, the flowers wither away.
For the sake of spiritual wisdom, people act and practice rituals.
When spiritual wisdom wells up, then actions are left behind. ||3||
For the sake of ghee, wise people churn milk.
Those who are Jivan-mukta, liberated while yet alive - are forever in the state of Nirvaanaa.
(6) Impressed by the strong heat and light of the Sun the knowledgeable people of the world have presented their guesses that Sun is very big and great, it is the source of life and has been created by God to give light...... It was not clear to the people why the Moon is bright but it does not create any heat. People where surprised – what kind of light is this which is not producing heat but seems like giving cool feeling? The ancient stories in Hinduism have told that Moon have been extracted form the ocean along with the 14 ratans (gems ). They might have thought, “ A light/material can only have cooling effect if has originated from the sea, hence their writings. Along with that Moon is often represented by them as an ornament in the hair of Shiva (who is considered to be a lord of destruction/death in Hindu religion) and most of the Indian community then started praying the Moon. Going a few steps ahead, some people even established relationship with Moon and started calling it “maternal uncle”. This was a surprising “maternal uncle” who was the “maternal uncle” of kids born 20 years ago and then also “maternal uncle” of the people who are born today – an evergreen/everlasting “maternal uncle”. The ladies starting singing songs in praise of the Moon before finishing the fast of “karva chauth” in Hinduism. “karva chauth” is a Hindu ritual in which the wives fast for the well being of their husbands and pray their husbands like gods. In Islam, the followers break their roja fast by sighting the Moon. Generally, “dooj ka chaand” is visible only by great luck, if it is not visible then the breaking of the fast gets postponed to the next day. People believe that when moon is not visible ( as part of its cycle) it is in some trouble and they donate to the Hindu priests so that the moon can be relieved of its woes. In their stories Moon becomes the accomplice of Indra (Hindu god of rain) to dishonor Saint Gautam’s wife and taking the form of a {censored} and crowed "{censored}-a-doodle-doo" at midnight so that Gautam could leave his house early thinking it was dawn ( he used to go to take bath in river Ganga every morning). Poor European people were deprived of these thoughts, due to the bad weather there isn’t so much enthusiasm, regret or part in their day to day life for Moon.
Satguru Nanak ji have not given so much similar glory to the so called “maternal moon uncle” of people. At a few places one can find common idiomatic sense of use but it has not been over glorified. People have even prepared “Moon Calendars”. The complete hijri year of Islam has been based on Moon. Satguru Nanak ji have praised Moon by calling it candle by the almighty. Guru Nanak Dev ji knew very well that the light from the moon is not of its own but is derived from Sun. Read the holy scientific words of Guru Nanak Dev ji –
ਭਾਰ ਅਠਾਰਹ ਮਾਲਣਿ ਤੇਰੀ ॥
ਚਉਰੁ ਢੁਲੈ ਪਵਣੈ ਲੈ ਫੇਰੀ ॥
ਚੰਦੁ ਸੂਰਜੁ ਦੁਇ ਦੀਪਕ ਰਾਖੇ ਸਸਿ ਘਰਿ ਸੂਰੁ ਸਮਾਇਦਾ ॥੬॥ (1033)
Your gardener is the vast vegetation of nature.
The wind blowing around is the chauree, the fly-brush, waving over You.
The Lord placed the two lamps, the sun and the moon; the sun merges in the house of the moon. ||6||
ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਮਿਲਹੁ ਆਪੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੁਤਾਰੇ ॥
ਸਸਿ ਘਰਿ ਸੂਰੁ ਦੀਪਕੁ ਗੈਣਾਰੇ ॥
ਦੇਖਿ ਅਦਿਸਟੁ ਰਹਹੁ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਗੀ ਸਭੁ ਤ੍ਰਿਭਵਣਿ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਸਬਾਇਆ ॥ ੩॥ (1041)
The Lord, the embodiment of bliss, incomparably beautiful, reveals the Perfect Guru. ||2||
He placed the lamps of the sun and the moon in the home of the sky.
He placed the lamps of the sun and the moon in the home of the sky.
(7) Knowing how deeply Satguru Nanak ji understood science, ones head spontaneously bows in his feet. In the present time a lot of scientific facts are coming to light due to the collaborative works by a lot of scientists. Only after building amazing laboratories for scientific research, having expensive and sophisticated equipment at hand and heavy monetary investment by the Governments is any new discovery made. Think about the time about 500 years from now, what was the state of the art at those times? There was no leisure of the present equipment in those times. Moreover, from the point of view of knowledge and psychological frame of mind the society was very backward. During such times of ignorance Guru Nanak Dev ji shined like a sun and put a light on almost every aspect of human life. Lets try to understand Satguru ji’s views on one more topic – Heat is the quality of fire, scholars have even considered fire as the part of Sun. If conditions are favorable, this fire burns to ashes everything that comes in its way in moments. If the same fire is confined and controlled it works like an obedient servant to work on numerous tasks for us. Whereas, if it goes uncontrolled and unconfined it turns everything that comes in its range to ash. The fire plays an important role in the weapons of mass destructions which humans have made. Fire (steam) also helps in operating the machines. Fire has been mentioned in various meanings in Gurbani. Lets try to understand its union with water.
ਕਾਸਟ ਮਹਿ ਜਿਉ ਹੈ ਬੈਸੰਤਰੁ ਮਥਿ ਸੰਜਮਿ ਕਾਢਿ ਕਢੀਜੈ ॥
ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਹੈ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਬਾਈ ਤਤੁ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਕਾਢਿ ਲਈਜੈ ॥ ੧ ॥
The potential energy of fire is within the wood; it is released if you know how to rub it and generate friction. In just the same way, the Lord's Name is the Light within all; the Essence is extracted by following the Guru's Teachings. ||1||
Perhaps not many people in those times knew that there is fire along with water inside human body. If the temperature of human body goes below or above normal body temperature, a doctor’s advice is needed at once. It is important for the human body to stay warm in order to digest food. See the wonders of gods’ nature, the raw flesh inside the stomach of various organisms, which eat raw meat, gets digested but the same flesh of the stomach walls and veins of human body remain intact. The infant inside a mother’s womb remains safe from this mechanism of breakdown as well. This bodily fire is known as “jathar agni” in literature. There is also another fire called “dava agni” which is the fire generated from the friction between dried bamboo sticks in the forests. It is believed that the mass destruction of the forests in the older times was due to this “dava agni” (the fire produced by friction between dried bamboos). According to Gurbani –
ਦਾਵਾ ਅਗਨਿ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਤ੍ਰਿਣ ਜਾਲੇ ਕੋਈ ਹਰਿਆ ਬੂਟੁਰ ਹਿਓਰੀ॥
The forest fire has burnt down so much of the grass; how rare are the plants which have remained green.
The birds fly away when the forests are in fire, but their young ones and eggs are burnt in the fire. The powerful and capable animals run away but the young ones and weak are left behind and burnt. A big number of elephants, cows, buffaloes and deer jump into water quickly and come out only when the fire is dead. A third type of fire is “badwa agni” which has been discussed less, because the place where this fire originates the reach of humans is next to impossible. When there is a storm in the sea, then the flames of this badwa agni can be seen from far. Very few times the survivor seamen or fishermen talk about this nerve wrecking natural disaster. Aren’t the wonders of nature great! One can see the fire getting produced automatically from wood (dry bamboo in forests), during sea storms the sea waves feel like flames of fire, the earth contains both fire and water inside it – the gases, burst outs of lava, earthquakes are visible examples of this.
Ones astonishment reaches top on seeing the fire inside water – the clouds collect and strike each other floating in air, then thunders can be heard from sky. People used to wonder what is this thunderous sound? Then get even more surprised to see that it is not just thunder but also a flashing light striking from the sky. This continues and sometimes this thunder and light from the sky fell on the earth and in a few moments burnt everything where it stuck. People got even more astonished- what was this…fire from water? Could anyone believe that water could ever catch/produce fire? Very few people have seen the fire of the oceans but this fire in the clouds floating in the sky has been seen by all. Everyone has seen this fire from the sky striking the earth and causing disasters. Dears readers our Guru ji has gone even beyond that to explain these things. Satguru ji tells us O my beloved there is fire in water and water is present in abundant amounts in fire. Common man could not know these things and scientist have come to know in recent times (as compared to Guru ji’s times) but Satguru ji knew this even 500 years ago. Read Guru ji’s words –
“ਪਉਣੈ ਪਾਣੀ ਅਗਨੀ” ਕਾ ਮੇਲੁ ॥ ਚੰਚਲ ਚਪਲ ਬੁਧਿ ਕਾ ਖੇਲੁ ॥ (152)
The union of air, water and fire - the body is the play-thing of the fickle and unsteady intellect.
ਜਿਨਿ ਕੀਤਾ ਮਾਟੀ ਤੇ ਰਤਨੁ ॥ “ਗਰਭ ਮਹਿ ਰਾਖਿਆ” ਜਿਨਿ ਕਰਿ ਜਤਨੁ ॥ (177)
He makes jewels out of the dust, and He managed to preserve you in the womb.
ਪਉਣੁ ਉਪਾਇ ਧਰੀ ਸਭ ਧਰਤੀ “ਜਲ ਅਗਨੀ ਕਾ ਬੰਧੁ ਕੀਆ” ॥ (350)
He created the air, and He supports the whole world; “he bound water and fire together”.
There is this formula in chemistry named H20 where “H” stands for Hydrogen and “O” stands for Oxygen. When both Oxygen and Hydrogen gases are present in their independent forms they support fire. Where Oxygen is required for combustion (fire), hydrogen is fire itself as it causes violent combustion or explosion on coming in contact with air. The hydrogen bombs can cause widespread destruction. Surprisingly enough, guess what will be formed when these 2 fire supporting gases are liquefied and mixed together? This will form the means of life on the earth –
ਪਹਿਲਾ ਪਾਣੀ ਜੀਉ ਹੈ ਜਿਤੁ ਹਰਿਆ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਇ ॥ (472)
First, there is life in the water, by which everything else is made green.
From the small droplet to the entire oceans all water is made up of these 2 gases. There is fire in water and water in fire. Life and death are hand in hand. There is poison in nectar and nectar in poison, the difference just lies in how they are used.
ਮਾਇਆ ਮਮਤਾ ਮੋਹਣੀ ਜਿਨਿ ਕੀਤੀ ਸੋ ਜਾਣੁ ॥
ਬਿਖਿਆ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਏਕੁ ਹੈ ਬੂਝੈ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਸੁਜਾਣੁ ॥ ੪੮ ॥ (937)
Know the One who created love and attachment to Maya, the Enticer.
One who realizes the all-knowing Primal Lord, looks alike upon poison and nectar. ||48||
ਸਾਗਰ ਮਹਿ ਬੂੰਦ ਬੂੰਦ ਮਹਿ ਸਾਗਰੁ ਕਵਣੁ ਬੁਝੈ ਬਿਧਿ ਜਾਣੈ ॥ (878)
ਉਤ ਭੁਜ ਚਲਤ ਆਪਿ ਕਰਿ ਚੀਨੈ ਆਪੇ ਤਤੁ ਪਛਾਣੈ ॥ ੧ ॥
The drop is in the ocean, and the ocean is in the drop. Who understands, and knows this?
He Himself creates the wondrous play of the world. He Himself contemplates it, and understands its true essence. ||1||
(8). One wonderful discovery among the various discoveries of science it the discovery of Atom. When fully exploited, this small microscopic element can create storms in oceans, can turn the Himalayas upside down and can turn the life filled Earth to lifeless. On the other hand when used for peaceful and productive purposes by confining the same atomic power to certain limit we can see that it seems working like an obedient servant for the human kind. Previously, enormous amount of coal was being burnt to produce the electricity required by big industries but now we can use just small amount of elements to produce atomic power which can run these heavy machines and industries day and night. The rockets which can travel far towards the starts and the moon cannot fly carrying the weight of fuels like petrol. This is also the wonder of atomic power that just a few kilograms of Uranium can push rockets to ultimate speeds. The atom is so small that it is not visible to the naked eye, thousands and lakhs of atoms can fit into a needle hole. If ones try to understand the mechanism of the atomic phenomenon in very simple words we can say that the scientists break one atom (nuclear fission) with the help of their apparatus. Then what?- seems like the atom has got angry and shows a phenomenon which creates enormous energy. The split parts of the atoms break other atoms and this continues further in the form of a chain reaction liberating enormous energy in the process. It depends on the humans how they use this enormous amount of energy – in the form of atoms bombs or in the form of atomic power plants producing electricity.
A small atom never rests. It has been told that electrons and neutrons in the atom are always revolving around the nucleus. The walls which seem made of concrete and cement also have these moving elements inside them. The trees, animals etc. also have this phenomenon. Do you think that the visibly non-living mountain which is standing in the same place from years is actually movement less? No my dear! It also has movement inside it but it is not visible to us and we cannot hear the sound of that movement. There are electrons inside the rocks as well. These “tireless warriors” (sub-atomic particles) are revolving forever and from ever without stopping, tiring, without drinking or eating (unlike us). They are here from the time this universe has been made and will be in motion like this forever. Comparing the size of the atom to the enormous energy it can produce one gets astonished. Therefore, Satguru ji has said :-
ਮਤਿ ਵਿਚਿ ਰਤਨ ਜਵਾਹਰ ਮਾਣਿਕ ਜੇ ਇਕ ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਸਿਖ ਸੁਣੀ॥ (jap)
Within the mind are gems, jewels and rubies, if you listen to the Guru's Teachings, even once.
ਜੋ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੰਡੇ ਸੋਈ ਪਿੰਡੇ ਜੋ ਖੋਜੈ ਸੋ ਪਾਵੈ॥ (695)
The One who pervades the Universe also dwells in the body; whoever seeks Him, finds Him there.
ਪ੍ਰਗਟੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਮਿਟਿਆ ਅੰਧਿਆਰਾ ॥ ਰਾਮ ਰਤਨੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਕਰਤ ਬੀਚਾਰਾ ॥੧॥ਰਹਾਉ॥ (1349)
The Divine Light has dawned, and darkness has been dispelled.
Contemplating the Lord, I have obtained the Jewel of His Name. ||1||Pause||
Satguru ji knew about the atom and its enormous power though there were no means to know and utilize the atomic power during those times. Satguru ji knew very well about the power inside the atoms. In the following lines from Gurbani satguru ji tells us – “O Beloved! Knowing and utilizing the enormous atomic power inside an atom, the humans can travel the universe in the flash of the eye and come back on earth. Utilizing the same atomic power various comforts and leisurely amenities can be gained but metal peace cannot be gained. The true everlasting peace of mind can only be obtained from the obedience of Satguru ji and living life according to the orders of Almighty. Related words from Gurbani are: -
ਪਰਮਾਣੋ ਪਰਜੰਤ ਆਕਾਸਹ ਦੀਪ ਲੋਅ ਸਿਖੰਡਣਹ ॥
ਗਛੇਣ ਨੈਣ ਭਾਰੇਣ ਨਾਨਕ ਬਿਨਾ ਸਾਧੂ ਨ ਸਿਧ੍ਯ੍ਯਤੇ ॥ ੨ ॥
(9.) Let know talk about the construction of human body, work power and death. All the scholars of the world agree to the fact that human body is made up of five constituents – soil, water, air, fire and space. The subtle wonder of the Almighty get the human body into action. If we dive deeper into this great wonder of the Almighty we will see how much inspiring it is. Who creates all the genes inside males and females in lakhs and crores of numbers? During the mating of a male and a female the sperm cells travel fast and enter the female cell. From millions of sperm cells only the fastest and strongest sperm cell gets to fertilize the female egg cell and then the female egg closes for more entries. There is just one in millions chance of more than one sperm cell entering the female egg cell. And then this microscopic organism starts growing and developing.
ਮਾ ਕੀ ਰਕਤੁ ਪਿਤਾ ਬਿਦੁ ਧਾਰਾ ॥ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਸੂਰਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਆਪਾਰਾ ॥
ਜੋਤਿ ਦਾਤਿ ਜੇਤੀ ਸਭ ਤੇਰੀ ਤੂ ਕਰਤਾ ਸਭ ਠਾਈ ਹੇ ॥ ੪ ॥ (1022)
From the union of the mother's egg and the father's sperm, the form of infinite beauty has been created. The blessings of light all come from You; You are the Creator Lord, pervading everywhere. ||4||
Then the small living organism grows and starts taking the shape of a human body. The care of this body inside a mother’s womb is taken according to the laws created by the Almighty. Guruji words are: -
ਜਿਨਿ ਕੀਤਾ ਮਾਟੀ ਤੇ ਰਤਨੁ ॥ ਗਰਭ ਮਹਿ ਰਾਖਿਆ ਜਿਨਿ ਕਰਿ ਜਤਨੁ ॥
He makes jewels out of the dust, and He managed to preserve you in the womb.
The process which continues later has been clearly explained by Satguru ji, read: -
ਜਿਨਿ ਤੂੰ ਸਾਜਿ ਸਵਾਰਿ ਸੀਗਾਰਿਆ ॥ ਗਰਭ ਅਗਨਿ ਮਹਿ ਜਿਨਹਿ ਉਬਾਰਿਆ ॥
ਬਾਰ ਬਿਵਸਥਾ ਤੁਝਹਿ ਪਿਆਰੈ ਦੂਧ ॥ ਭਰਿ ਜੋਬਨ ਭੋਜਨ ਸੁਖ ਸੂਧ ॥
ਬਿਰਧਿ ਭਇਆ ਊਪਰਿ ਸਾਕ ਸੈਨ ॥ ਮੁਖਿ ਅਪਿਆਉ ਬੈਠ ਕਉ ਦੈਨ ॥
ਇਹੁ ਨਿਰਗੁਨੁ ਗੁਨੁ ਕਛੂ ਨ ਬੂਝੈ ॥ ਬਖਸਿ ਲੇਹੁ ਤਉ ਨਾਨਕ ਸੀਝੈ ॥ ੧ ॥ (266)
Which translates to English as: -
He who fashioned, adorned and decorated you, -
in the fire of the womb, He preserved you.
In your infancy, He gave you milk to drink.
In the flower of your youth, He gave you food, pleasure and understanding.
As you grow old, family and friends are there,
to feed you as you rest.
This worthless person has not appreciated in the least, all the good deeds done for him.
If you bless him with forgiveness, O Nanak, only then will he be saved. ||1||
Satguru ji explains that “O beloved that you are just like a soil sculpture what are you so proud of?”
ਮਾਟੀ ਕੋ ਪੁਤਰਾ ਕੈਸੇ ਨਚਤੁ ਹੈ ॥ ਦੇਖੈ ਦੇਖੈ ਸੁਨੈ ਬੋਲੈ ਦਉਰਿਓ ਫਿਰ ਤੁਹੈ ॥ ੧ ॥ਰਹਾਉ॥
ਜਬ ਕਛੁ ਪਾਵੈ ਤਬ ਗਰਬੁ ਕਰ ਤੁਹੈ ॥ ਮਾਇਆ ਗਈ ਤਬ ਰੋਵਨੁ ਲਗਤੁ ਹੈ ॥ ੧ ॥
English translation:-
How does the puppet of clay dance?
He looks and listens, hears and speaks, and runs around. ||1||Pause||
When he acquires something, he is inflated with ego.
But when his wealth is gone, then he cries and bewails. ||1||
The human body has also been called wooden puppet whose control is in the hand of the owner who can make it dance he wishes.
ਕਾਠ ਕੀ ਪੁਤਰੀ ਕਹਾ ਕਰੈ ਬਪੁਰੀ ਖਿਲਾਵਨਹਾਰੋ ਜਾਨੈ ॥
ਜੈਸਾ ਭੇਖੁ ਕਰਾਵੈ ਬਾਜੀਗਰੁ ਓਹੁ ਤੈਸੋ ਹੀ ਸਾਜੁ ਆਨੈ ॥ ੩ ॥ (206)
English translation:-
What can the poor wooden puppet do? The Master Puppeteer knows everything.
As the Puppeteer dresses the puppet, so is the role the puppet plays. ||3||
If we like to divide the life a common human being into 10 parts and view it, lets ask Satguru ji about it –
ਪਹਿਲੈ ਪਿਆਰਿ ਲਗਾ ਥਣ ਦੁਧਿ ॥
ਦੂਜੈ ਮਾਇ ਬਾਪ ਕੀ ਸੁਧਿ ॥
ਤੀਜੈ ਭਯਾ ਭਾਭੀ ਬੇਬ ॥
ਚਉਥੈ ਪਿਆਰਿ ਉਪੰਨੀ ਖੇਡ ॥
ਪੰਜਵੈ ਖਾਣ ਪੀਅਣ ਕੀ ਧਾਤੁ ॥
ਛਿਵੈ ਕਾਮੁ ਨ ਪੁਛੈ ਜਾਤਿ ॥
ਸਤਵੈ ਸੰਜਿ ਕੀਆ ਘਰ ਵਾਸੁ ॥
ਅਠਵੈ ਕ੍ਰੋਧੁ ਹੋਆ ਤਨ ਨਾਸੁ ॥
ਨਾਵੈ ਧਉਲੇ ਉਭੇ ਸਾਹ ॥
ਦਸਵੈ ਦਧਾ ਹੋਆ ਸੁਆਹ ॥ (137)
Line by line the translation is: -
First, the baby loves mother's milk;
Second, he learns of his mother and father;
Third, his brothers, sisters-in-law and sisters;
Fourth, the love of play awakens.
Fifth, he runs after food and drink;
Sixth, in his sexual desire, he does not respect social customs.
Seventh, he gathers wealth and dwells in his house;
Eighth, he becomes angry, and his body is consumed.
Ninth, he turns grey, and his breathing becomes labored;
Tenth, he is cremated, and turns to ashes.
Similarly, Satguru ji has also explained the life activities like this –
ਦਸ ਬਾਲਤਣਿ ਬੀਸ ਰਵਣਿ ਤੀਸਾਕਾ ਸੁੰਦਰੁ ਕਹਾਵੈ ॥
ਚਾਲੀਸੀ ਪੁਰੁ ਹੋਇ ਪਚਾਸੀ ਪਗੁ ਖਿਸੈ ਸਠੀ ਕੇ ਬੋਢੇਪਾ ਆਵੈ ॥
ਸਤਰਿ ਕਾ ਮਤਿਹੀਣੁ ਅਸੀਹਾਂ ਕਾ ਵਿਉਹਾਰੁ ਨ ਪਾਵੈ ॥
ਨਵੈ ਕਾ ਸਿਹਜਾਸਣੀ ਮੂਲਿ ਨ ਜਾਣੈ ਅਪ ਬਲੁ ॥
ਢੰਢੋਲਿਮੁ ਢੂਢਿਮੁ ਡਿਠੁ ਮੈ ਨਾਨਕ ਜਗੁ ਧੂਏ ਕਾ ਧਵਲਹਰੁ ॥ ੩ ॥ (138)
At the age of ten, he is a child; at twenty, a youth, and at thirty, he is called handsome.
At forty, he is full of life; at fifty, his foot slips, and at sixty, old age is upon him.
At seventy, he loses his intellect, and at eighty, he cannot perform his duties.
At ninety, he lies in his bed, and he cannot understand his weakness.
After seeking and searching for such a long time, O Nanak, I have seen that the world is just a mansion of smoke. ||3||
So this was the brief explaination of the activities of life; that is - how the human beings develop physically and psychologically will living in the society. If one sees the above explaination of the life of a human being from scientific viewpoint it does not seem contradictory to science at all. Then comes the thought of the end of life i.e. death. Scientists do not directly accept the concept of soul and inner-self. The scienitist discuss only those things which can be examined in laboratory and which can be presented with proofs. Those constituents from which our bodies are formed get combined back with their origins after death, the scientists fully agree to this. Great Satguru ji has decribed this process also very boldly. One can also find comments on other views in Gurbani. If you compare Gurbani with the scriptures of other religions of the world, you will find that Guru Granth Sahib is closer to the science as compared to scriptures of other religions. What is death? The stopping of working of the constituents of body which bound the body together due to various reasons like old age, disease, accident etc. There are constituents of body which keep it in working condition and there are constituents which save the body from getting decomposed. A process of clean-up and maintainance always keeps running inside the body. Who gives these orders to the body? –inner-self, soul or some powers of the Almighty? What actually is it? When the body is death, where does the driver of the body go?
Satguru ji gives amazing scientific viewpoint on the issue of what happens after the death of the body and tells us, “O beloved! Who dies? Actually nobody dies; just the materials change their form. The bird of life flys away –
ਜਲ ਕੀ ਭੀਤਿ ਪਵਨ ਕਾ ਥੰਭਾ ਰਕਤ ਬੁੰਦ ਕਾ ਗਾਰਾ ॥
ਹਾਡ ਮਾਸ ਨਾੜੀ ਕੋ ਪਿੰਜਰੁ ਪੰਖੀ ਬਸੈ ਬਿਚਾਰਾ ॥ ੧ ॥ (659)
The body is a wall of water, supported by the pillars of air; the egg and sperm are the
The framework is made up of bones, flesh and veins; the poor soul-bird dwells within it. ||1||
Satguru further enlighten us- O beloved! air, water and fire etc. have been combined and a fickle brain has been put into the body made up of these. There are 9 holes put into it for operations, the 10th doors of knowledge is also inside. O knowledgeable Man! Contemplate on this point and decide who is dead?
ਪਉਣੈ ਪਾਣੀ ਅਗਨੀ ਕਾ ਮੇਲੁ ॥ ਚੰਚਲ ਚਪਲ ਬੁਧਿ ਕਾਖੇਲੁ ॥
ਨਉ ਦਰਵਾਜੇ ਦਸਵਾ ਦੁਆਰੁ ॥ ਬੁਝੁ ਰੇ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਏਹੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ ੧ ॥ (152)
The union of air, water and fire -the body is the play-thing of the fickle and unsteady intellect. It has nine doors, and then there is the Tenth Gate. Reflect upon this and understand it, O wise one. ||1||
ਦੇਹੀ ਮਾਟੀ ਬੋਲੈ ਪਉਣੁ ॥ ਬੁਝੁ ਰੇ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਮੂਆਹੈ ਕਉਣੁ ॥
The body is dust; the wind speaks through it. Understand, O wise one, who has died.
ਪਵਨੈ ਮਹਿ ਪਵਨੁ ਸਮਾਇਆ ॥ ਜੋਤੀ ਮਹਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਰਲਿ ਜਾਇਆ ॥
ਮਾਟੀ ਮਾਟੀ ਹੋਈ ਏਕ ॥ ਰੋਵਨਹਾਰੇ ਕੀ ਕਵਨ ਟੇਕ ॥ ੧ ॥
ਕਉਨੁ ਮੂਆ ਰੇ ਕਉਨੁ ਮੂਆ ॥ ….
The wind merges into the wind. The light blends into the light.
The dust becomes one with the dust. What support is there for the one who is lamenting? ||1|| Who has died? O, who has died?
ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਿ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਦਿਖਾਇਆ ॥ ਮਰਤਾ ਜਾਤਾ ਨਦਰਿ ਨ ਆਇਆ ॥ ੪॥੪॥
Says Nanak, the Guru has revealed God to me, and now I see that there is no such thing as birth or death. ||4||4||
So far its clear that soil gets combined with soil, water gets united with water, fire gets united with fire and air reached its destination as well. Nothing dies but just the constituents of human body got scattered and changed their forms. Then the questions arises where has that constituent gone which was laughing, crying, speaking and running inside this puppet made of soil, water, air etc.? Just like air, water, soil and fire got united back into their sources after death of body, is it not possible that this fifth element also gets united with its source? Yes! It is possible, Gurbani is hinting towards this, otherwise other elements are just 4 –
ਸੂਰਜ ਕਿਰਣਿ ਮਿਲੇ ਜਲ ਕਾ ਜਲੁ ਹੂਆ ਰਾਮ ॥
ਜੋਤੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਰਲੀ ਸੰਪੂਰਨੁ ਥੀਆ ਰਾਮ ॥ (846)
The rays of light merge with the sun, and water merges with water.
One's light blends with the Light, and one becomes totally perfect.
If we spill water on ground and watch it we can clearly see that the water is going back to the oceans seeping via the ground and evaporating into the air. We can clearly note the part of body gets combined with the soil after being buried or being burnt, but cannot see where the constituent fire of the body has gone. Its is clear that the lively body had heat (temperature) and it goes away as one dies and the body becomes cold. Why isn’t the fire leaving the body visible? Its is believed that the fifth element of the body goes back to the space (ether). Otherwise, what could be he meaning of,
ਨਾ ਕੋਈ ਮਰੈ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਜਾਇਆ ॥ ੪॥੧੦॥ (885)
No one dies; no one comes or goes. ||4||10||
Its is clear in Gurbani –
ਪੰਚ ਤਤੁ ਮਿਲਿ ਦੇਹੀ ਕਾ ਆਕਾਰਾ ॥ ਘਟਿ ਵਧਿ ਕੋ ਕਰੈ ਬੀਚਾਰਾ ॥੪॥
The five elements join together, to make up the form of the human body. Who can say which is less, and which is more? ||4||
Gurbani brings froth the question of the inner-self various times and shows the path,
ਸੁਨਹੁ ਰੇ ਤੂ ਕਉਨੁ ਕਹਾ ਤੇ ਆਇਓ ॥
ਏਤੀ ਨ ਜਾਨਉ ਕੇਤੀਕ ਮੁਦਤਿ ਚਲਤੇ ਖਬਰਿਨ ਪਾਇਓ ॥ ੧॥ਰਹਾਉ॥ (999)
Listen: who are you, and where did you come from?
You don't even know how long you will stay here; you have no hint of when you shall leave. ||1||Pause||
Satguru ji also explains us that this world is like a very weak castle made of paper. It has been put here by some processing over it. Just like paper gets wet and breaks after putting just a little water, think about life and death just like that –
ਕਾਗਦ ਕੋਟੁ ਇਹੁ ਜਗੁ ਹੈ ਬਪੁਰੋ ਰੰਗਨਿ ਚਿਹਨ ਚਤੁਰਾਈ ॥
ਨਾਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੀ ਸੀ ਬੂੰਦ ਪਵਨੁ ਪਤਿ ਖੋਵੈ ਜਨਮਿ ਮਰੈ ਖਿਨੁ ਤਾਈ ॥ ੪॥
This wretched world is a fortress of paper, of color and form and clever tricks.
A tiny drop of water or a little puff of wind destroys its glory; in an instant, its life is ended. ||4||
Satguru ji gives one more example and explains that O beloved your life is balanced between water and air. Meaning it is bound into a law of nature. For vision you have been provided with eyes and there are other organs as well. For whole life from birth till death all the needs and joys are fulfilled on this earth (utilizing the elements found on the earth). Whatever that Almighty wanted to give you, has been been put into the earth itself, use all this with proper means.
ਕੋਟਿ ਤੇਤੀਸ ਜਾਚਹਿ ਪ੍ਰਭਨਾ ਇਕ ਦੇਦੇ ਤੋਟਿ ਨਾਹੀ ਭੰਡਾਰ ॥
ਊਂਧੈ ਭਾਂਡੈ ਕਛੁ ਨ ਸਮਾਵੈ ਸੀਧੈ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਪਰੈ ਨਿਹਾਰ ॥ ੫॥ (503)
Guru ji takes the example from the common stories of those times and tells ---Three hundred thirty million gods also beg from you O Master! Still your treasures do not get empty. If we have a vessel turned upside-down we cannot get anything in it the ambrosial aectar from the Almighty can pour only into the upright one. ||5||
ਧਰਤੀ ਦੇਗ ਮਿਲੈ ਇਕ ਵੇਰਾ ਭਾਗੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਭੰਡਾਰੀ ॥ ੨॥
ਨਾ ਸਾਬੂਰੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਫਿਰਿ ਮੰਗੈ ਨਾਰਦੁ ਕਰੇ ਖੁਆਰੀ ॥ (1190)
You have made this Earth like a great dish of yours which the living beings get only once in their life. It is the great source of all the materials needed by mortals. But the mortal becomes unsatisfied, and begs for more; his fickle mind brings him disgrace.
ਨਾਨਕ ਸਚ ਦਾਤਾਰੁ ਸਿਨਾਖਤੁ ਕੁਦਰਤੀ॥੮॥
O Nanak, the True One is the Giver of all; He is revealed through His All-powerful Creative Nature. ||8||
O Human! Remember the creater of this whole universe. Whatever time you have got to spend on this earth, spend it with proper conscience and means and then return back, never forget the favors of the Almighty.
ਪਾਣੀ ਪ੍ਰਾਣ ਪਵਣਿ ਬੰਧਿ ਰਾਖੇ ਚੰਦੁ ਸੂਰਜੁ ਮੁਖਿ ਦੀਏ ॥
ਮਰਣ ਜੀਵਣ ਕਉ ਧਰਤੀ ਦੀਨੀ ਏਤੇ ਗੁਣ ਵਿਸਰੇ ॥ ੨॥ (877)
Binding together water and air, the Almighty infused the breath of life into the body, and made the lamps like the sun and the moon. The almighty has given us Earth to live and die on, but we have forgotten these blessings.
There are various greatnesses of the Almighty have Satguru ji have showered us with benevolence by explaining those greatnesses with scientific viewpoints. Even then Satguru ji always humbly called himself “nimana” or one with less wisdom. What Satguru ji have done is unique, the philosophy that Satguru ji gave us is great. Lets bow our heads to this greatness of Satguru ji and vow to walk the path which Satguru ji has shown us. To live our life according to the philosophy given by Satguru ji is the only real respect that we can give him.
ਹੋਰੁ ਸਰੀਕੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਕੋਈ ਤੇਰਾ ਤਿਸੁ ਅਗੈ ਤੁਧੁ ਆਖਾਂ ॥
ਤੁਧੁ ਅਗੈ ਤੁਧੈ ਸਾਲਾਹੀ ਮੈ ਅੰਧੇ ਨਾਉ ਸੁਜਾਖਾ ॥ (1242)
If there were any other equal to You, O Lord, I would speak to them of You.
If front of you I praise you. I am blind, but through your knowlege, I become the one with excellent-vision.
References:
1.Prof. Inder Singh Ghagga, “Gurbani Vich Vigyanik Sach”
2.Dr. Baldev Singh, “A Comparison between the Two Credos: Christian and Sikh”
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Khalsa ji, pardon my mistakes if any. Yours truly strives to improve with time.
Sat Shri Akaal,
-Akashdeep
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