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Prophecies about Guru Nanak in Hindu Vedas
Universal Redemptive Research Findings on the:
Prophet Guru Nanak - The Founder of Sikhism
Paper presented at the Assembly of World Religions in Washington DC Nov. 1997
His coming meticulously recorded in the Hindu Vedas and the Puranas
By: Bhai Kirpal Singh Gill
Founder: World Spiritual Foundation
Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh Faith, was born in Nankana Sahib near Lahore now in Pakistan in 1469 and breathed his last in 1539 at the age of 70. He was endowed with extra-ordinary spiritual powers from a very young age. The biographies on his life are replete with strange episodes of these miraculous occurrences.
As with many other universally known Prophets, he did not undergo any set formal education. On the very first day of his admission into the village school, he expounded a beautifully worded revelation in verse and set to a classical musical measure (raga) describing the various stages of life, interposed with a plethora of poignant Divine directions, every stanza starting with each letter of the Hindi language alphabet. The teacher then went over to his father and told him that instead of teaching Nanak, he had received through his noble young son, a profound lesson from God, on how best he the teacher could function better. This was remarkable indeed.
Through Guru Nanak's own genius and the spiritual illumination that came from his long spells of Meditation, there shaped the character of the creed which he was to proclaim to the world and which became the basis and foundation of the Sikh religion.
There were 9 other gurus (Prophets) that consecutively followed his lineage, all receiving Divine revelations but only under his name NANAK without attributing any such revelatory passages to their own names. This culminated in the 11th the last and eternal Guruship bestowed on the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS), which has been called the Mona, meaning the , silent Guru, being in book form, as recorded in the ancient Hindu and other such contemporary resources, the VEDAS. This thus has a millennial dimension which will come to light in the pages that follow.
Guru NANAK was one of the few, if not the only prophet who traveled widely outside the country of his birth, throughout the then known world. It is recorded in some detail of the four marathon trips mostly on foot, which he embarked upon in the four cardinal directions, the North, South, East and the West. To the North he scaled the Himalayan Ranges to enter deep into the Tibetan regions. To the East he went all the way into Burma now known as Myanmar, and to the South right down to the tip of the Indian sub-continent and on into Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and lastly to the West through Afghanistan and Iraq into Saudi Arabia entering Mecca and beyond into parts of Turkestan and the southern reaches of Russia. He left behind rare relics and other such signs, which have now been uncovered to prove the authenticity of his far flung travels.
Before he died he is credited to have made millions of followers within the ranks of the Hindus, Muslims, and Buddhists and those with no previous religious leanings. On his demise there was a tussle between his Muslim and Hindu devotees, as to who should claim his body for the usual burial and other such rites. It is recorded that the two parties agreed on a simple formula, to place a row of fresh flowers on either side of his body, one to belong to the Muslims and the other to the Hindus, and that whichever side the flowers would remain the fresher the next day, that side party would be eligible to claim his remains. When the following day arrived, the flowers on both sides were as fresh as ever, but the body had disappeared to merge into and become one with the elements!
Perhaps more than any Prophet in history Nanak's coming on Earth was predicted profusely with uncanny accuracy as recorded in some detail below. This has resulted after long and arduous research into the ancient doctrines many dating thousands of years before his actual birth. These are numerically listed below for ease of reference, not necessarily in chronological order. The Vedas and Puranas in which these direct references have been found recorded, are known to be amongst the oldest chronicles in the world. These references are as under:
1. In the Hindu epic the RIG VEDA
(i) In Mandala 7, Ush 5, Mantra 5 and Chapter 6
"Bee chakram prithoi aishai ta khestraaeh Vishnu mansai das sayaan
throvaah so asaya keeryo janaas oeroo khashatra so janama
chakaar (8)"
meaning
"when in the world the sinful ways will be on the rise and noble behavior will vanish, as the disappearance of the moon when on its wane on the darkest night, there will appear Vishnu as a prominent Prophet from the Keshatra Clan and will manifest in consecutive form through 10 Prophets to bring back the ways of virtue to the ailing world."
(ii) In the same Vedas, in another part even in the name NANAK and the clan he belongs to is recorded thus -
"Sri Nanak gureng vareng saklaath heythoo. Heitha samasth jagathaa va veithee kaetheng"
meaning
"For the preaching of religious ways and the earning of good karma, there will manifest Guru NANAK from the clan of the Veithees"
(iii) At another position in the same Vedas is entered under Mandala 1 Soothak 5 and in the 7th Mantra thus -
"Eeth eethei Vishnu reinn chakramei threihaa nathathei patham"
meaning
"The Prophet in the Kali Yuga will manifest three attributes. As an Avtar propounding Truth, as a Householder establishing family life and at the same time be a Raja Yogi"
2. The YUJAR VEDA
As in the RIG VEDA quoted above, in the YUJAR VEDA also the Prophet in the Kali Yuga will manifest three main characteristics thus -
"Vishnu bee chakrageih treithaa neikthei patham samudhseiaa paaeh
serei swahaa"
meaning
"Vishnu will appear again, manifesting three main characteristics, Avtarhood, Householder family life and be a Rajah Yogi as well"
Although in the above two quotations the name of Nanak does not directly appear, reference to being a householder family man, would point to him because he was among the first few Avtars (prophets) who was married and begetting children.
Incidentally in Hindu mythology, VISHNU is the primordial Godhead Prophet, who incarnates on Earth taking many differing forms and the ensuing names thereto.
3. In the BHAVEKHATH PURANA
"BHAVEKHATH" means "future foretelling". There are numerous places in this famous Hindu epic where the advent of Guru NANAK is directly alluded to. These instances are listed hereunder -
(i)
"Theraa bhaareng thereshtwah keli krethem maha krethyaa. Aeveng vaee
tharam parchaariang bhavekhthee thaa kalau. Thatha vei
loka rakheiaartheng maleishana naas heithwei paschmeitlheng subh
theisay vath wensei chei Nanaka naam nach rekhiang brahem
geaanaik manas bhavekhet kaloe skunth thatar verth kaleaah har (35)."
meaning
"In the Kali Yuga when goodness in the world is deteriorating there
will appear a Prophet from the Beithi clan named NANAK
who from birth will be endowed with extra-ordinary spiritual power.
He will preach on the nobility of life and the eradication of
the sinful ways"
(ii) In another portion of this book the following short cogent quotation supplies further pertinent information on the advent of Nanak
"Guru thaa Brahma, Guru raa Vishnu, Guru raa dev maheshra saakhyaar
Parbrehem Thasmei NANAK nameh"
meaning
"The Guru of the prophets, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiv ji is God
almighty himself. This very Creator will manifest itself as a human,
in the form of one whose name will be NANAK
Note the clarity and explicitness in which the coming of Nanak is predicted.
(iii) Further down in this book is recorded the following detailed assertiveness about Nanak and the type of mission and work he shall perform. It appears to emanate from the Godhead itself.
"The Kali Yuga shall dawn on Earth with radical manifestation of destruction of Karma and Dharma to such an extent that every situation shall be colored by sinful activities. At that distressful moment, the Creator shall send down a spiritual luminary in the form of NANAK from the Khatria clan. He will spread the message of NAAM, the Holy life Force, by introducing the primacy of meditation and thus washing clean the sinful ways by the waters of love."
Note the beautiful and comprehensive description of the happening.
(iv) There is yet another quotation from this same Bhavekhath Purana indicative of Nanak and the 9 prophets that consecutively followed his lineage : -
"When in the world there is the deterioration of noble Dharma, then Vishnu will reincarnate through 10 Prophethoods and will preach on the universal and omnipotent value of NAAM. (the Holy Life Force)"
4. In DHIGVAJEH PURANA
"During the reign of the 8 Muslim rulers, Vishnu will incarnate in 10 human forms and after them will appear a (Mona) SILENT Guru (meaning the SGGS, the Sikh Scripture) who will only respond where the response is solicited."
The word SILENT is of great importance - it refers to the Sikh Scriptural Book (SGGS). This is the first time in the history of Religion that a Sacred Book was elevated to the status of a Prophet. Unlike a Prophet in body form with the inherent capacity to make utterances, a Book has to be categorized as being basically 'Silent'. This is indeed a startling revelation, pinpointing the coming into the world of a (mona) Silent Guru, thousands of years before the actual occurrence.
The eight Muslim Rulers were 1. - Sultan Lodhi, 2. - Babar, 3. - Humanyuh, 4. - Akbar, 5 - Jehangir, 6 - Shah Jahan, 7 - Aurangzeb, 8 - Bahadur Shah, These precisely were the Rulers in India during the period in which the 10th Sikh Guru came into being. This further emphasizes the authenticity of the revelation and the happening.
5. Through PATANJALI the great Indian (Hindu) Sage
Patanjali, one of the top Indian Yogis of old, came 2180 years before Guru Nanak. In his Ashram while lecturing on the Prophets of the Kali Yuga, the Iron Age, he singled out Guru Nanak as the one who will be outstanding. When asked what will be his prime mantra, He replied. -
"Wahyanti karyanti jathputi athak etwaha brahamadeya, teisah Gur et WAHEGURU"
meaning
"He will use a unique single syllable mantra which has not been utilized before at any Age or Era. This will be WAHEGURU."
Waheguru mantra, which means "Lord of Wonderment" has since been popularised by Guru Nanak and all the nine other Sikh Gurus that followed him.
6. In VISHNU PURANA
In the VISHNU PURANA there is recorded an interesting dialogue between VISHNU and a famous Rishi UMBREEK. Vishnu is said to have informed Umbreek that he will once again take birth in the Kali Yuga. The Rishi then enquired when about will that be and what will be your name then? Vishnu replied that this will happen when the Kali Yuga has proceeded for 4500 years and that I will take birth in the Shatri Sooraj Bansi clan, when I will be named, NANAK.
In this same Purana it is further recorded: -
"Sri Nanak santang saageaami
Sri asech, sri asech, sri asech, sri asech"
meaning
"Sri NANAK will once again appear in the world in a variety of incarnations; this is for sure, this is for sure, this is for sure."
Computing the date of Guru Nanak's birth from the above mentioned figure that took place when the Kali Yuga had proceeded for 4550 years, reckoning the total durations of Kali Yuga now to be about 5090 old. It is to be noted that this figure of 4550 is pretty close to the 4500 years predicted by VISHNU JI above. Incidentally, the clan in which Guru Nanak was born was also known as a Shatri Sooraj Bansi indicated above.
CONCLUSION
From the above it is evident that Guru Nanak must have had the largest number of premonitional references to his coming compared to the advent of the other Prophets in all the various Ages and Epochs. Therefore the Prophet Guru Nanak's advent into the world is indeed of millennial significance to even the coming future times.
NANAK
The word NANAK is a combination of two Sanskrit terms. 'Na" and 'Anak'. The meaning attached to these words is "Not-but-One". The message conveyed by the Guru's name and the education imparted by him through the Sacred Scriptual verses, usually commence with the words "Ik Oengkar". This phrase too means Non-but-One. One God only.
MOOL MANTRA
There is a very interesting episode in Guru Nanak's illustrious life. When he was still very young, even before his `teens, he took a dip into the river alongside his house for his regular morning ablutions, but this time he disappeared into the waters, missing for two days and nights. On the third day he reappeared from out of the water with the following Verse on his lips, which is now called the MOOL MANTRA (the primordial Mantra ), which appears at the commencement of every Chapter and subchapter in the SGGS, the Sacred Scripture of the Sikhs. It is one of the most comprehensive definitions of God and is amongst the most powerful of all the world's Mantras.
This is how the Mool Mantra reads in its original version. -
"Ek Oengkaar Satnaam Karta purekh Nirbhau Nirvair Akaal Moorat Ajoonee Sai- Bhang Gurparsaath"
meaning
"The True One and only Omnipresent Immortal Essence of Reality. The Creator, the Omniscient and Omnipotent, the Incomprehensible (the fearless). Before all Beginnings and after all Endings. Beyond Time, Space and Form (and enmity). Free from the cycle of Births and Deaths, the Self-manifested. The Loving Merciful Enlightener (Realised with His Grace through total Submission to His Will)."
Go back to Common Heritage of Sikhs and Hindus
for your opinion on this article downloaded from a hindu website
More Information about HinduNet Inc.
Privacy Statement
The Hindu Universe is a HinduNet Inc., website.
Copyrighted ©1994-2003, HinduNet Inc.
Prophecies about Guru Nanak in Hindu Vedas
Universal Redemptive Research Findings on the:
Prophet Guru Nanak - The Founder of Sikhism
Paper presented at the Assembly of World Religions in Washington DC Nov. 1997
His coming meticulously recorded in the Hindu Vedas and the Puranas
By: Bhai Kirpal Singh Gill
Founder: World Spiritual Foundation
Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh Faith, was born in Nankana Sahib near Lahore now in Pakistan in 1469 and breathed his last in 1539 at the age of 70. He was endowed with extra-ordinary spiritual powers from a very young age. The biographies on his life are replete with strange episodes of these miraculous occurrences.
As with many other universally known Prophets, he did not undergo any set formal education. On the very first day of his admission into the village school, he expounded a beautifully worded revelation in verse and set to a classical musical measure (raga) describing the various stages of life, interposed with a plethora of poignant Divine directions, every stanza starting with each letter of the Hindi language alphabet. The teacher then went over to his father and told him that instead of teaching Nanak, he had received through his noble young son, a profound lesson from God, on how best he the teacher could function better. This was remarkable indeed.
Through Guru Nanak's own genius and the spiritual illumination that came from his long spells of Meditation, there shaped the character of the creed which he was to proclaim to the world and which became the basis and foundation of the Sikh religion.
There were 9 other gurus (Prophets) that consecutively followed his lineage, all receiving Divine revelations but only under his name NANAK without attributing any such revelatory passages to their own names. This culminated in the 11th the last and eternal Guruship bestowed on the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS), which has been called the Mona, meaning the , silent Guru, being in book form, as recorded in the ancient Hindu and other such contemporary resources, the VEDAS. This thus has a millennial dimension which will come to light in the pages that follow.
Guru NANAK was one of the few, if not the only prophet who traveled widely outside the country of his birth, throughout the then known world. It is recorded in some detail of the four marathon trips mostly on foot, which he embarked upon in the four cardinal directions, the North, South, East and the West. To the North he scaled the Himalayan Ranges to enter deep into the Tibetan regions. To the East he went all the way into Burma now known as Myanmar, and to the South right down to the tip of the Indian sub-continent and on into Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and lastly to the West through Afghanistan and Iraq into Saudi Arabia entering Mecca and beyond into parts of Turkestan and the southern reaches of Russia. He left behind rare relics and other such signs, which have now been uncovered to prove the authenticity of his far flung travels.
Before he died he is credited to have made millions of followers within the ranks of the Hindus, Muslims, and Buddhists and those with no previous religious leanings. On his demise there was a tussle between his Muslim and Hindu devotees, as to who should claim his body for the usual burial and other such rites. It is recorded that the two parties agreed on a simple formula, to place a row of fresh flowers on either side of his body, one to belong to the Muslims and the other to the Hindus, and that whichever side the flowers would remain the fresher the next day, that side party would be eligible to claim his remains. When the following day arrived, the flowers on both sides were as fresh as ever, but the body had disappeared to merge into and become one with the elements!
Perhaps more than any Prophet in history Nanak's coming on Earth was predicted profusely with uncanny accuracy as recorded in some detail below. This has resulted after long and arduous research into the ancient doctrines many dating thousands of years before his actual birth. These are numerically listed below for ease of reference, not necessarily in chronological order. The Vedas and Puranas in which these direct references have been found recorded, are known to be amongst the oldest chronicles in the world. These references are as under:
1. In the Hindu epic the RIG VEDA
(i) In Mandala 7, Ush 5, Mantra 5 and Chapter 6
"Bee chakram prithoi aishai ta khestraaeh Vishnu mansai das sayaan
throvaah so asaya keeryo janaas oeroo khashatra so janama
chakaar (8)"
meaning
"when in the world the sinful ways will be on the rise and noble behavior will vanish, as the disappearance of the moon when on its wane on the darkest night, there will appear Vishnu as a prominent Prophet from the Keshatra Clan and will manifest in consecutive form through 10 Prophets to bring back the ways of virtue to the ailing world."
(ii) In the same Vedas, in another part even in the name NANAK and the clan he belongs to is recorded thus -
"Sri Nanak gureng vareng saklaath heythoo. Heitha samasth jagathaa va veithee kaetheng"
meaning
"For the preaching of religious ways and the earning of good karma, there will manifest Guru NANAK from the clan of the Veithees"
(iii) At another position in the same Vedas is entered under Mandala 1 Soothak 5 and in the 7th Mantra thus -
"Eeth eethei Vishnu reinn chakramei threihaa nathathei patham"
meaning
"The Prophet in the Kali Yuga will manifest three attributes. As an Avtar propounding Truth, as a Householder establishing family life and at the same time be a Raja Yogi"
2. The YUJAR VEDA
As in the RIG VEDA quoted above, in the YUJAR VEDA also the Prophet in the Kali Yuga will manifest three main characteristics thus -
"Vishnu bee chakrageih treithaa neikthei patham samudhseiaa paaeh
serei swahaa"
meaning
"Vishnu will appear again, manifesting three main characteristics, Avtarhood, Householder family life and be a Rajah Yogi as well"
Although in the above two quotations the name of Nanak does not directly appear, reference to being a householder family man, would point to him because he was among the first few Avtars (prophets) who was married and begetting children.
Incidentally in Hindu mythology, VISHNU is the primordial Godhead Prophet, who incarnates on Earth taking many differing forms and the ensuing names thereto.
3. In the BHAVEKHATH PURANA
"BHAVEKHATH" means "future foretelling". There are numerous places in this famous Hindu epic where the advent of Guru NANAK is directly alluded to. These instances are listed hereunder -
(i)
"Theraa bhaareng thereshtwah keli krethem maha krethyaa. Aeveng vaee
tharam parchaariang bhavekhthee thaa kalau. Thatha vei
loka rakheiaartheng maleishana naas heithwei paschmeitlheng subh
theisay vath wensei chei Nanaka naam nach rekhiang brahem
geaanaik manas bhavekhet kaloe skunth thatar verth kaleaah har (35)."
meaning
"In the Kali Yuga when goodness in the world is deteriorating there
will appear a Prophet from the Beithi clan named NANAK
who from birth will be endowed with extra-ordinary spiritual power.
He will preach on the nobility of life and the eradication of
the sinful ways"
(ii) In another portion of this book the following short cogent quotation supplies further pertinent information on the advent of Nanak
"Guru thaa Brahma, Guru raa Vishnu, Guru raa dev maheshra saakhyaar
Parbrehem Thasmei NANAK nameh"
meaning
"The Guru of the prophets, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiv ji is God
almighty himself. This very Creator will manifest itself as a human,
in the form of one whose name will be NANAK
Note the clarity and explicitness in which the coming of Nanak is predicted.
(iii) Further down in this book is recorded the following detailed assertiveness about Nanak and the type of mission and work he shall perform. It appears to emanate from the Godhead itself.
"The Kali Yuga shall dawn on Earth with radical manifestation of destruction of Karma and Dharma to such an extent that every situation shall be colored by sinful activities. At that distressful moment, the Creator shall send down a spiritual luminary in the form of NANAK from the Khatria clan. He will spread the message of NAAM, the Holy life Force, by introducing the primacy of meditation and thus washing clean the sinful ways by the waters of love."
Note the beautiful and comprehensive description of the happening.
(iv) There is yet another quotation from this same Bhavekhath Purana indicative of Nanak and the 9 prophets that consecutively followed his lineage : -
"When in the world there is the deterioration of noble Dharma, then Vishnu will reincarnate through 10 Prophethoods and will preach on the universal and omnipotent value of NAAM. (the Holy Life Force)"
4. In DHIGVAJEH PURANA
"During the reign of the 8 Muslim rulers, Vishnu will incarnate in 10 human forms and after them will appear a (Mona) SILENT Guru (meaning the SGGS, the Sikh Scripture) who will only respond where the response is solicited."
The word SILENT is of great importance - it refers to the Sikh Scriptural Book (SGGS). This is the first time in the history of Religion that a Sacred Book was elevated to the status of a Prophet. Unlike a Prophet in body form with the inherent capacity to make utterances, a Book has to be categorized as being basically 'Silent'. This is indeed a startling revelation, pinpointing the coming into the world of a (mona) Silent Guru, thousands of years before the actual occurrence.
The eight Muslim Rulers were 1. - Sultan Lodhi, 2. - Babar, 3. - Humanyuh, 4. - Akbar, 5 - Jehangir, 6 - Shah Jahan, 7 - Aurangzeb, 8 - Bahadur Shah, These precisely were the Rulers in India during the period in which the 10th Sikh Guru came into being. This further emphasizes the authenticity of the revelation and the happening.
5. Through PATANJALI the great Indian (Hindu) Sage
Patanjali, one of the top Indian Yogis of old, came 2180 years before Guru Nanak. In his Ashram while lecturing on the Prophets of the Kali Yuga, the Iron Age, he singled out Guru Nanak as the one who will be outstanding. When asked what will be his prime mantra, He replied. -
"Wahyanti karyanti jathputi athak etwaha brahamadeya, teisah Gur et WAHEGURU"
meaning
"He will use a unique single syllable mantra which has not been utilized before at any Age or Era. This will be WAHEGURU."
Waheguru mantra, which means "Lord of Wonderment" has since been popularised by Guru Nanak and all the nine other Sikh Gurus that followed him.
6. In VISHNU PURANA
In the VISHNU PURANA there is recorded an interesting dialogue between VISHNU and a famous Rishi UMBREEK. Vishnu is said to have informed Umbreek that he will once again take birth in the Kali Yuga. The Rishi then enquired when about will that be and what will be your name then? Vishnu replied that this will happen when the Kali Yuga has proceeded for 4500 years and that I will take birth in the Shatri Sooraj Bansi clan, when I will be named, NANAK.
In this same Purana it is further recorded: -
"Sri Nanak santang saageaami
Sri asech, sri asech, sri asech, sri asech"
meaning
"Sri NANAK will once again appear in the world in a variety of incarnations; this is for sure, this is for sure, this is for sure."
Computing the date of Guru Nanak's birth from the above mentioned figure that took place when the Kali Yuga had proceeded for 4550 years, reckoning the total durations of Kali Yuga now to be about 5090 old. It is to be noted that this figure of 4550 is pretty close to the 4500 years predicted by VISHNU JI above. Incidentally, the clan in which Guru Nanak was born was also known as a Shatri Sooraj Bansi indicated above.
CONCLUSION
From the above it is evident that Guru Nanak must have had the largest number of premonitional references to his coming compared to the advent of the other Prophets in all the various Ages and Epochs. Therefore the Prophet Guru Nanak's advent into the world is indeed of millennial significance to even the coming future times.
NANAK
The word NANAK is a combination of two Sanskrit terms. 'Na" and 'Anak'. The meaning attached to these words is "Not-but-One". The message conveyed by the Guru's name and the education imparted by him through the Sacred Scriptual verses, usually commence with the words "Ik Oengkar". This phrase too means Non-but-One. One God only.
MOOL MANTRA
There is a very interesting episode in Guru Nanak's illustrious life. When he was still very young, even before his `teens, he took a dip into the river alongside his house for his regular morning ablutions, but this time he disappeared into the waters, missing for two days and nights. On the third day he reappeared from out of the water with the following Verse on his lips, which is now called the MOOL MANTRA (the primordial Mantra ), which appears at the commencement of every Chapter and subchapter in the SGGS, the Sacred Scripture of the Sikhs. It is one of the most comprehensive definitions of God and is amongst the most powerful of all the world's Mantras.
This is how the Mool Mantra reads in its original version. -
"Ek Oengkaar Satnaam Karta purekh Nirbhau Nirvair Akaal Moorat Ajoonee Sai- Bhang Gurparsaath"
meaning
"The True One and only Omnipresent Immortal Essence of Reality. The Creator, the Omniscient and Omnipotent, the Incomprehensible (the fearless). Before all Beginnings and after all Endings. Beyond Time, Space and Form (and enmity). Free from the cycle of Births and Deaths, the Self-manifested. The Loving Merciful Enlightener (Realised with His Grace through total Submission to His Will)."
Go back to Common Heritage of Sikhs and Hindus
