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SIKH
GURUS |
The word Guru is so popular in India that in order
to understand the fundamental concept of 'guru' in Sikhism, one must
first completely drive out of one's mind the prevalent popular notion
of a guru. The popular term 'guru' often used for a Brahman, a yogic
teacher or a guide or even a school teacher, has made the Guruship so
cheap that a scholar describes these gurus as 'wicks which smell foul
after the lamps are extinguished.'
The term 'Guru' in Sikhism is not used for a teacher
or a guide or an expert or even a human body. The word Guru is
composed of two terms-
In Sikhism the word 'Guru' is, thus, defined as the
Light that dispels all darkness, and that is called JOT (Divine
Light). Guru Nanak was, therefore, the EMBODIMENT of Divine Light:
'Gur Nanak Dev Govind roop.'
(Basant Mohalla 5, p-1192, Guru
Granth Sahib)
'Guru Nanak is embodiment of the Light of God.' (Translation of
the above)
The Guru in Sikhism is a perfect Prophet or
Messenger of God in whom the Light of God shines fully, visibly and
completely. Guru is in union with Divine. Thus he ushers the devotees,
the seekers of Truth into a spiritual birth. Through him the Glory of
the Lord is transmitted to humanity. On account of his Divine
prerogatives, the Guru, though human in form, is Divine in Spirit.
Literally Guru Nanak's body was a platform from
which God Himself spoke and delivered His message- Gurbani (Divine
Word). God manifested Himself through Guru Nanak:
'Gur meh aap samoai sabad vartaya.'
(Var Malar ki Mohalla 1, p-1279)
'In the true Guru (Nanak) He installed His Own Spirit Through him,
God speaketh Himself.' (Translation of the above)
In another place in Gurbani it is said
'Gur meh aap rakhaya kartare.'
(Maru Mohalla 1(15),
p-1024)
'In the body of Guru (Nanak) God revealeth Himself.' (Translation
of the above)
God is in the Guru and Guru is in God. Though God is
everywhere and in everybody but His traits are illuminated through the
Guru. The Jot (Divine Light) that enshrined Guru Nanak's body and the
Primal Jot of God are, therefore, one and the same:
'Gur Nanak Nanak har soai.'
(Gaund Mohalla 5, p-865)
'O Nanak, Jot of Nanak and God are one.' (Translation of the
above)
Again the Janamsakhis (biographies) reveal that God
spoke to Guru Nanak and said:
'Mei aad parmeshar aur tu gur parmeshar.'
'I am the Primal God and thou art Guru God.'
(Translation of the above)
Guru Nanak never claimed that only his disciples or
devotees could get salvation or go to heaven. Since he was the
embodiment of Divine Light, and as the Divine Light does not belong to
any particular sect or religion, so he stood guarantee for the entire
humanity, and said, "Whosoever meditates
upon One God, the Formless, will get salvation."
'Jo jo japai so hoi punit Bhagat bhai lavai man
hit.'
(Gauri Sukhmani Mohalla 5,
p-290)
'He shall become pure whosoever repeateth His Name With devotion,
affection and heartfelt love.' (Translation of the above)
When Guru Nanak conferred Guruship on Bhai Lehna
(later called Guru Angad), the JOT was passed on and Guru Angad too
became the embodiment of Divine Light. In the same way all the nine
Gurus were the embodiments of Gur Nanak Jot. The tenth Master, Guru
Gobind Singh then conferred the Guruship on Guru Granth Sahib (Holy
Scripture), which too became the embodiment of Divine Light. Gur Nanak
JOT is, therefore, enshrined and preserved in Guru Granth Sahib (it is
no longer the Adi Granth, but only the Guru Granth), and it is the
Living Guru for ever. For the Sikhs, the Guru Granth is the
manifestation of the Guru's Spirit and through it, Guru Nanak lives on
in the Sikh Faith.
Sikhism endeavors to uplift the human soul from the
shackles of Maya (materialism). It aims at a virtuous life which leads
to the ultimate realization of a state of Eternal Bliss. The objective
of Guru Nanak's Guruship was to give instructions in the True Name, to
save humanity from immersing in the ocean of distress and misery
arising out of worldly life, and to blend the human souls with their
Creator, thus, emancipating them from the cycle of transmigration
breaking all barriers and bonds of sufferings. This is the essential
character of Sikh faith.
The law of Karma or fatalism is repugnant to Sikh
Religion as it does not reconcile with the merciful trait of the
Almighty Lord. There is no such thing in Sikhism as eternal damnation
or an everlasting pit of fire created by the revengeful God. Guru's
grace erases the blot of thousands of evil deeds of the past and the
present. It is also the savior of the future. Meditation on Nam burns
countless sins. Singing the glory of the Lord through the Divine
Word, can redeem a repentant sinner and, thus, doctrine of Karma
ceases to operate. Such is the splendor of Guru Nanak's doctrine of
God's Grace and Compassion.
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