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Sikh Research and Education Center: Articles on Sri Dasam Granth Sahib:

Creation of the Universe

• Babylonian Myth of Creation
• Biblical Myth of Creation
• Myth of Creation in Sri Bichitar Natak
• Kala Afghana�s Madness in calling Guru Gobind Singh a Liar

Creation of the Universe

It is the criticism on certain portions of Sri Dassam Granth, written by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, such as, Bichhittra Natak, Pakhyon Chritras, Chandi Critras, Chandi di Var, etc. , which prompted me to write on this subject. The criticism is on the unusal nature of the events mentioned in these Compositions, their so called conflicting ideology with the Basic Sikh Teachings and their erotic nature. The writings of the Great Divine Guru have provoked astonishment, repugnance and incredulity. These writings have therefore been criticized in most derogatory language and rejected as not of the Guru but an abominable act of an adversary to disrepute him. But on the face of it this charge does not appear to be correct, as the poetry in the said writings are Extremely of Superb Caliber, which no other mortal has hitherto fore achieved.

It is generally said that to be puzzled is to begin to be wise. This is why we remember the Creator Lord as Waheguru. However, this truth is a sad commentary on the wisdom of modern man. Whatever be the merit of our high degree of literacy, we appear to be lacking the gift for being puzzled. Every thing is supposed to be known if not to ourselves, at least to the specialists of the concerned subject. We refuse to be puzzled and humble, as it is embarrassing to us, being a sign of intellectual inferiority. No effort is made to go deep into the matter, and in order to hide our ignorance we begin to discard the knowledge we do not understand as unscientific and unworthy of consideration. This attitude is perhaps the reason why the most puzzling phenomenon in our lives, our dreams, do not give any cause for wonder in us. We all dream, some are strange and fantastic, not understood by us, yet no effort is made to understand them or to understand the action of our minds during sleep in comparison to the working of our minds when we are awake. Perhaps more puzzling is the similarity of creativeness and our mind during sleep with the most primitive creations of man - The Myths. We experience a close similarity in both style and content, and we find these strange and remote when we examine them in the conscious state. Both in dreams and myths dramatic events happen which are impossible in a world governed by the laws of time and space - the hero flees from his work and lives in the body of a big fish, he dies and is reborn, the things of immense magnitude are created and demolished, in persons long dead are re-born, inter-tangibility of human beings and animals takes place, the mythical bird is burned and emerges from the ashes more beautiful than before, etc. Different peoples created different myths just as different people dream different dreams, but despite all other differences one thing is common that they are all written in the same language - The Symbolic Language. This is true of myths of all lands and of all times.

According to Erich Fromm, the World Famous Psychologist -

�Symbolic Language is a language in which inner experiences, feelings and thoughts are expressed as if they were sensory experiences, events in the outer world. It is a language which has a different logic from the conventional one we speak in the day time, a logic in which not time and space are the ruling categories but intensity and association. It is the one universal language the human race has ever developed, the same for all cultures and throughout history. It is a language with its grammar and syntax, as it were, a language one must understand if one is to understand the meaning of myths, fairy tales and dreams. . For the people of the past, living in the great cultures of both East and West, there was no doubt as to the answer to this question. For them myths and dreams were among the most significant expressions of the mind, and failure to understand them would have amounted to illiteracy. It is only in the past few hundred years of Western Culture that this attitude has changed. At best, myths were supposed to be naïve fabrications of the pre-scientific mind, created long before man had made his great discoveries about nature and had learned some of the secrets of its mastery.�

The Sikh Gurus have too used this language, which we find in the Scriptures. Sri Guru Gobind Singh a rare thinker of all ages in the use of this language, as no single person has been able to give mythical stories and similes in such a great number as are found in Sri Dasam Granth. We find many new myths and tales in the Guru's Compositions, apart from modification of certain old myths and also translation of certain old myths.

The Initiation Ceremony of Taking the Paul of the Double Edged Sword is based on the Symbolic import of high ideals of Spiritual Regeneration. It is Taking of a New Birth in the House of the Guru-Akalpurkh and is a Solemn Pledge in the August Presence of Guru-Akalpurkh to live by the high ideals as preached in SGGS. Unless we study the Symbolic Language, we cannot interpret properly the Significance of Pahul of the Double Edged Sword and also the symbols Sword and Kada, etc. Ii is often observed that incorrect significance of Pahul Taking Ceremony and keeping of Sword and Kada and wearing of Short Breeches has been made, as mere weapons for defending Dharma, which shows our poor scholarship, and mockery of Sikhism!

We shall in this article study the Myth of "Creation" as given by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji in "Bichhittar Natak, Chapter 2." Before we do this, it is considered helpful to study the myths that existed before the advent of Sikhism.

Babylonian Myth of Creation

"Then they placed a garment in their midst; to Marduk, their first born, they said; 'verily O Lord , thy destiny is Supreme among the gods, command to destroy and to create, and it shall be. By the word of thy mouth let the garment be destroyed; command again, and let the garment be whole.' He commanded with his mouth and the garment was destroyed. Again he commanded, and the garment was restored. When the gods, his fathers, beheld the efficiency of his word, they rejoiced and did homage, saying, "Marduk is king." It would be observed that the test was like a trivial magic. In order to understand the meaning of the test, we will have to understand the problem of 'Matriarchy', which is briefly given at the end of the myth. The myth reports the conflict between patriarchal and matriarchal principles of social organization and of religious orientation. The rule of the great Mother is challenged by the male sons. But how can they excel the women, who have the gift of creation in bearing children? Men are sterile in this respect, as the male sperm only impregnates the female ova in womb and thereafter the men's part is terminated. The women in contrast bear the child, give birth to it and then nurse it. It has been proved that in the female child's psyche there is the "penis envy", there are good reasons that before male supremacy was established there was the "pregnancy envy" in men, which even today can be found in numerous cases. In order to defeat the Mother, the male must prove that he is not inferior and that he can produce as well. Since he cannot produce with a womb, he must give a proof of his producing power in another fashion - he produces from his mouth - exhibits the power of his word and thought. This is the meaning of the test Marduk can defeat Tiamat by the force of his thought and talent. The test proves the deep male-female antagonism. With Marduk's victory male supremacy is established. It is said that in the beginning of human history sexual relations were promiscuous - mother's parenthood was only recognized, which was unquestionable. Woman thus became the authority and the law giver, the ruler of the family group and in society.

On examination of the religious documents of Greek and Roman antiquity, it has been found that the supremacy of woman was established not only in social and family organization but also in religion. We find that before the religion of the Olympian gods, there existed a religious order in which goddesses, mother-like figures were the supreme deities. In this male-female protracted struggle, the former defeated the latter, subdued them and established their supremacy. The Patriarchal system thus established, prescribed monogamy (at least so far as women are concerned), by he authority of father in the family. The men thus had the dominant role in the hierarchically organized society. Just as father is the supreme ruler in the family, male gods became supreme rulers over men instead of mother goddesses. Those who have studied the famous epic MAHABHARTA, would have noted the traces of Matriarchal System of Society in India, as most of the characters of the epic were from such a society, where parentage from Mother was recognized.

(2) Biblical Myth of Creation

(3) Myth of Creation in Sri Bichitar Natak

The Guru states -

�When the Formless God effected the expansion of the Universe by uttering a WORD, He created the Earth. At the onset He created the Matter of five elements (Maya), from it a most beautiful and powerful king named Kalsain (god Vishnu) emerged. The second king produced was Kalkait (god Brahma) and the third Koorrbaras (god Shiva). The Fourth was Kaldhuj (Mahavishnu), from Whom the whole creation emerged. God has thousands of beautiful eyes and thousands of lovely feet. He has enthroned Himself on the bed cushion of multi-headed Hydra Serpent and He is remembered by the people, the One seated on the coiled body of Hydra Serpent. God extracted wax from one of His ears, from which Madh and Kitab were produced. He then extracted wax from the other ear, from which this Universe was created. He then caused Madh and Kitab to be killed. Their body fluids were thrown into the ocean. The gluey and oily matter of their body fluids began to float on the surface of water and from thence onward the Creation was named after Madh. Those who perform good deeds in this Universe are remembered as godly persons, while the evil doers are called demons.�
�pritham kal jub kara pasara, oankar tai sirast opara. Kal sain prithmai bhio bhoopa, adhik atul bal roop anoopa. (10)
kal kait doosar bhoo bhio, koorbaras tisar jug thio.Kaldhuj. chathruth nirap soey, jeh tai bhio jagat sabh ko hai. (11)
sehas rach ja ko subh sohai, sehes pad jakai tun mo hai. Sais nag par soeibo karai, jugthe saikh saey ochrai. (12)
Aik sarvan tai mail nikara, tatai madh kitab tun dhara. Dutiya kan tai mail nikari, tatai bhei sirast eih sari. (13)
tinko kal bohoar badh kara, tin ko maid smund mo para. Chiken tas jul par tir rehi, maida nam tabeh tai kehi. (14)
Sadh karam jai purkh kamavai, nam daivata jagat kahavai. Kukirat karm jai jug meh karhi, nam asur tin tosabh dharhin. (15)�

Wild animals, sword, staff, sceptre, etc. are the father symbols, or the emblems of power and well recognized Phallic Symbol, which normally appear in dreams. God is depicted as Almighty, and also as Male God. (God is Formless - this is a myth). As regards birth of persons through ears, the myths and legends in all cultures abound in this type of birth. The legends and traditions of Catholic Christian Church mention that the conception of Jesus in the virgin Mary was brought about by the introduction into her ear of the breath of the Holy Ghost. Hanuwant and Karna, heroes of Ramayana and Mahabharta respectively were born through the ear. In connection with Madonna's conception through the ear, Dr. Earnest Jones writes, "In the endeavor to represent the purest and least sensual form of pro-creation that can be imagined, the one most befitting to the Creator Himself, the mind worked surely on the soundest lines by reaching for its basis to the crudest and grossest idea obtainable; it is always through such violently extreme contrasts, as we know from the analytic study of literature, that the greatest psychological effects are achieved."

God in this myth is stated to have created one Man and one Woman through one of His ears, and from the other He created Earth. In whole of this myth of Creation, the Male God is the sole Creator, Who did not take help of any other agency, particularly female one. The first created Man and Woman were named, Madh and Kitab respectively. God is stated to have later caused killing of Madh and Kitab. Killing is the symbolic of the coitus or sexual act, just as riding a horse, car, etc are in all cultures. Mare is a symbolic of a woman, and riding on the back of a mare is the symbolic of coitus. It is therefore riding of mare by the bride grooms on the marriage occasion is the universal practice. Guru Nanak in his Composition 'Oankar' in Ramkali Rag, states, "kam, karodh kaya ko galay." - Sexual Indulgence and Anger waste away the body. Since the fetal existence is identical to the state of death, the act of being killed is associated with the sexual intercourse., which implies a return to the womb. Sea, lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, etc. signify the womb and the process of birth. The killing of Madh and Kitab, therefore, means that they were engaged in the sexual intercourse and the sexual substance fell into the womb of Kitab. (tin ko kal bahor badh kara, tin ko maidh samandar mein para). The glue like oily sexual substance remained floating in the womb and impregnated Kitab, who gave birth to the off-springs. The human race began to be called the progeny of Madh, as Medni. Word �Medni� in Scriptures means the Whole of Human Race. The Guru thus preaches the Patriarchal System of Society, against the Matriarchal System of unwedded women bearing children, which is unethical. The lineage of all must be from the paternal side of the family, which is based on Ethical Principles and disciplined living. At the end the Guru declares that those who would lead a life based on Morality would be honored, and those who would repudiate Morality, would be called the accursed persons.

The concluding Dictum of the Guru in the Myth exhorting people to lead a moral life is the key to the understanding of this Myth. It is surprising that we have not bothered to know the relation of the concluding Dictum to the foregoing text of the Composition. It is this type of our not going deep into the Compositions of the Gurus, has caused confusion in us. We thus wrongly interpret the Gurus' Compositions, and come to the conclusion that these are not theirs.

Kala Afghana�s Madness in calling Guru Gobind Singh a Liar, who also made God to utter lies.

The concluding Dictum of the Guru in the Myth is quoted to ridicule the Guru � �Sadh Karam jai Purkh kamaei, nam Daivta jagat kahavai. Kokarm karam jo jug mein karhi, nam ASUR tinko sabh darei.�

In such vein he continues to ridicule the Guru in full page of his writings.

Daas,
Kulbir Singh

For President, SGPC, Amritsar, and Numerous Jathedars and Gianis, etc. � It is now about 300 years have passed since the time of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Jee�s Ascension. Since then we have paid no attention toward understanding of the Teachings imparted in Sri Guru Granth Sahib, and Sri Dasam Granth Sahib; rather the latter Granth has totally been neglected, under the false belief that Sri Guru Gobind Singh Jee made Guru Granth alone as the Successor Guru. This is the Greated and Biggest LIE, that was introduced, in not understanding the significance of words �Guru� or Sat Guru Poora, Sabad and Gurbani, and many other things, which has created havoc and total destruction of the Sikh Society. Right from the time of Sat Guru�s Acension, we Sikhs reverted back to our old beliefs, adopted Brahmanic Creed in pursuit of material power, indulging in idolatrous practices of rituals and ceremonies, reduced Gurmat as an appendage of Vedic belief, in not understanding the significance of SWORD � THE SYMBOL OF DIVINE AUTHORITY, so much emphasized in both the Granths in every passage of them to recognize the Unseen yet the very Life of all Authority of Sri Waheguru Jee, abiding in every creature, live with this SAT GURU, and revere Him, and lead the life, strictly obeying His Commands. THIS WAS THE LIFE OF SACHIARA, SRI GURU NANAK DEV JEE TAUGHT US IN PAURI 1 OF SRI JUP JI. A book titled, �SABAD, WORD uttered by God, is the Guru abiding in us all is the Guru (God), our Mind attuned to God in us, is Chela or Sikh.�, written by this writer has been recently published by Bhai Chatter Singh Jiwan Singh Publishers, Amritsar.

We Sikhs adopted the Brahmanic Creed from Banda Bairagi onward, which may be stated here also, as stated by one Giani Gian Singh�s Panth Parkash, highly commended and annotated by Jathedar Kirpal Singh , Head Priest of Sri Darbar Sahib, and later Jathedar of Akal Takhat Sahib �

Here are some of the glimpses from Gani Gian Singh Book �Panth Parkash�

Gian Singh at one place stated that when Guru Gobind Singh was worshipping goddess Chandi, he wanted to offer his four sons as a sacrifice before the image of the goddess. The Guru�s mother, Mata Gujri is stated to have had hidden the four sons of the Guru to save their lives. He further stated that when the Guru could not get hold of his sons, then he cursed his mother �Gujri nihin ojri� - Mother you are not Gujri but a Completely Devastated Person.

Sri Guru Gobind Singh accompanied by Emperor Bahadur Shah left Rajasthan for Southern India in April 1708. When they reached Burhan Pur in Maharastra halted for rest. The Guru is stated to have pitched tents, where large number of people came, they celebrated the day as Great Fair, reciting �Gavat Baid Puran Anunta�. There Mahant Jait Ram, custodian of saint Dadoo, came there and saw the Guru and apprised hin of the great qualities of Bairagi Madho Das Living at Nanded. The Guru when he reached Nanded, went to see Madho Das, and the latter became disciple of the Guru. Madho Das told the Guru that he was his Banda (slave.) The Guru is stated to have then told him, then he should go to Punjab and do work for me there. The Guru told him his past story, how Muslims have brutally killed his family members; he should go and kill all Muslims. Banda accepted the assignment, who was given sword by the Guru. This was objected by the Sikhs, and the Guru is stated to have taken back, and instead gave him five arrows. The Guru allegedly instructed as follows
(a) Lead a celebate life, do not call himself a Guru.
(b) Never to take any Muslim in confidence. Always keep good relations with the Sikhs.
(c) Give praise to the Sikhs, and extract work from them. Always lead expeditions of robbing the Muslims of teir possessions. Never to obstruct the Sikhs in the act of looting and robbing Muslims. All Sikhs be allowed to share power of the conquered lands. Give and cause all types of pain and miseries to the Muslims. Do not ever take mercy on any Muslim.

This is the history of we Sikhs of the past 300 years. All the high way robbers, dacoits and other malcontents, became Sikhs in appearance only, and conveniently have been dis-associating themselves. Many times Sikhs were brought to the point of extincton, and only by His miraculuous power broght back to the level of mere existence.

Till last century, we Sikhs have been stating that we were merely soldiers, as the protectors of Hindus, otherwise Hindus and Sikhs are One religiously. Master Tara Singh in every speech stating that Sikhs were merely soldiers of Hindu brothers. This sloganeering was discontined only recently after the happenings of 1984.

IOSS has the Communist ideology, they take only two things of the Sikh ideology for their political pursuits�
(a) Equality of all
(b) SWORD, as a weapon and ideology of causing armed revolutions.
By the study of their Bible Book, SIKHISM � Its Philosophy and History, they believe in
(i) Militarism, hence get wrong inspiration of indulgence in terrorist activities, and conquest of lands,
(ii) Conquests of lands and seizure of political Power by causing armed Revolutions,
(iii) Establisment of Communist society, based on equality of all, creating workers rule. There is no commonality with Sikh approach to Equality of all, based on on humility, and witnessing te Creator Lord present equally in all. Why Communist failed in practice of equality of all? Equality cannot be practiced unless we completely surrender our pride and selfishness, which cannot be achieved, unless we live with God.
For all this the relegion of Power seekers is to be adopted, as such they cannot adopt Gurmat, which solely relies on God�s Blessings, they adopt Brahmanism. They have let loose campaign of destruction of Sri Dasam Granth, not Old Chronicles, Sooraj Parkash, Path Parkash etc., which they use to destroy Gurmat. They are stabbing Gurmat in the back; hence the worst type of enemies, we Sikhs are facing.

This writer firmly believes that knowledge of GURMAT cannot be attained unless one completely surrenders himself to God, and humbly seek His Blessings, and live according to His Command in strict obedience. God enlightens our thinking, and He shows the correct way in all walks of life. It is He who creates in us the taste for acquisition of Knowledge. It is found that all these Jathedars, Gianis, sants, sadhs and who have acquired even Doctorate, have not been able to attain a bit of Gurmat knowledge or understand it. This writer has Sri Dasam Granth Sahib by (1) Giani Bishan Singh (2) Pandit Narayan Singh Giani (3) Dr Jodh Singh of Punjabi Univ., Patiala (4) Dr Rattan Singh Jaggi of Univ at Patiala. This writer finds none has done even a bit of justice to the Treasure of Knowledge contained in Dasam Granth. Why? All lack His Grace. Secondly, it is He Who directs us to acquire knowledge of all ancient culture � Babylonan, Asyrian, Egyptian, Greek, Indian, Chinese, and others. Guru Gobind Singh produced a gigantic Treasure of Knowledge, alas, there are very few who appreciate and gain from it.

Is writer finally give an example. All ancient knowledge in Symbolic Language, in Myths and Mythology � unseen entities are presented as persons, and their activities and morals are beautifully given. A famous example is given. Sri Guru Nanak Dev Jee in Pauri 17 of Jup Ji, has not made fun of the Puranic Myth that a Bull stands under the Earth to hold it. How beautifully he explained the meaning of this Myth � �Dho Dharam Daya ka Poot. Santokh Thap rakhia jin Soot� - The Bull is DHARMA, an offspring of COMPASSION AND LOVE. BY LIVING A LIFE OF CONTENTMENT OF THE LORD�S GIVING & ADJUSTING TO THE REALITY, THE SOCIETY IS HELD IN COMPACT.