Spnadmin Jee
My intention is not to sadden you but to learn further from you. My concern is whether guru sahib is really trying to tell us tale of Brahma that he is punished and if punished then why guru sahib is glorifying this name on other pankties.
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I wanted to discuss all the episodes step by step but you are really discourging me.
best regards
sahni
sahni ji
ਬ੍ਰਹਮੈ ਗਰਬੁ ਕੀਆ ਨਹੀ ਜਾਨਿਆ ॥
Barahmai garab kī▫ā nahī jāni▫ā.
Brahma acted in pride, and did not understand.
ਬੇਦ ਕੀ ਬਿਪਤਿ ਪੜੀ ਪਛੁਤਾਨਿਆ ॥
Beḏ kī bipaṯ paṛī pacẖẖuṯāni▫ā.
Only when he was faced with the downfall of the Vedas did he repent.
So who is the Brahma who acted in pride and was faced with the downfall of the Vedas? In Hindu philosophy it is rather the destruction of dharma, which refers to downfall of the “cosmic order.” Arshi ji has given us part of the explanation. Brahama/Prajapati, lord of all creatures, created all the beings of the world through incestuous relations with his sister. She tried to escape his advances by changing into various animals, and he would change into the male of the pair and mate with her. In that way all the creatures were created. The creation story then is one of unrepentant trickery and lust. But that is not the only story where the wiles of Brahma threaten dharma. Brahma also entered into a conspiracy with Vishnu as part of an argument with Shiva regarding who of the Trimurti was the most powerful. Shiva created a lingam of immeasurable length. Brahma convinced Vishu to change into a swan, while he Brahma changed into a boar, and both set off in opposite directions to find the beginning and end of Shiva’s fulsome manhood. Vishnu conceded defeat eventually and confessed the trick to Shiva; but Brahma refused to confess or admit defeat. Both stories end with Sarasvati and Shiva placing a curse on Brahma because of his egotism and boundless lust.
So how could Guru Nanak be critical of Brahma in one story and glorifying Brahma in Japjisahib ji. The question can be resolved this way. He is doing neither. He is not criticizing nor is he glorifying!
In
ਬ੍ਰਹਮੈ ਗਰਬੁ ਕੀਆ ਨਹੀ ਜਾਨਿਆ ॥
Barahmai garab kī▫ā nahī jāni▫ā.
Brahma acted in pride, and did not understand.
ਬੇਦ ਕੀ ਬਿਪਤਿ ਪੜੀ ਪਛੁਤਾਨਿਆ ॥
Beḏ kī bipaṯ paṛī pacẖẖuṯāni▫ā.
Only when he was faced with the downfall of the Vedas did he repent.
Guru Nanak is merely holding a mirror to a belief system and acknowledging that this is what his audience worshiped: Brahma who threatened the cosmic order by egotism, trickery and lust. In his wake, humans also defile the cosmic order through pride and depravity. However, the horrible, destructive pride of the world can be resolved.
ਜਹ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਸਿਮਰੇ ਤਹੀ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨਿਆ ॥੧॥
Jah parabẖ simre ṯahī man māni▫ā. ||1||
Remembering God in meditation, the mind is conciliated. ||1||
ਐਸਾ ਗਰਬੁ ਬੁਰਾ ਸੰਸਾਰੈ ॥
Aisā garab burā sansārai.
Such is the horrible pride of the world.
Now Gur Nanak has made the analogy between the all-too-human Brahma and humans themselves. We destroy dharma with our cleverness, and it is all grounded in ego. Yet our reconciliation is possible:
ਜਿਸੁ ਗੁਰੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਗਰਬੁ ਨਿਵਾਰੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Jis gur milai ṯis garab nivārai. ||1|| rahā▫o.
The Guru eliminates the pride of those who meet Him. ||1||Pause||
None of this contradicts the tuk which you quoted from Japji Sahib - Pauri 35
ਕੇਤੇ ਬਰਮੇ ਘਾੜਤਿ ਘੜੀਅਹਿ ਰੂਪ ਰੰਗ ਕੇ ਵੇਸ ॥
Keṯe barme gẖāṛaṯ gẖaṛī▫ahi rūp rang ke ves. … There is no contradiction because this is not one Brahma. It is not the Brahma/ Prajapati, but many "so many Brahmas"
ਬਰਮੇ Barme is the plural of Brahma. What does so many Brahmas tell us? The tuk is part of the pauree of Gian khand where the so-many Brahmas are the whole of creation that swirls in buzzing confusion, along-side the Indras, Krishnas and Shivas, winds, fires, and waters, moons and suns, Sidhs and yogis, dem-gods and demons, rulers and languages, The pauree ends:
ਕੇਤੀਆ ਸੁਰਤੀ ਸੇਵਕ ਕੇਤੇ ਨਾਨਕ ਅੰਤੁ ਨ ਅੰਤੁ ॥੩੫॥
Keṯī▫ā surṯī sevak keṯe Nānak anṯ na anṯ. ||35|l
His creation has no limit, he is without limit. It is Waheguru who is glorified, not Brahma, and it is for Gian or wisdom to sort through in order to achieve the spiritual wisdom that reigns supreme.