Sri Nanak Parkash - Post 025

Above is a picture of Brahma creating the expanse of creation.

In stanza forty six Kavi Santokh Singh Ji begins to give a number of Puranic references. Now to alot of modern day Sikhs they seem to suffer from an allergy where they do not discuss any actions or tales of the demi gods. "It is myth", "It has no relevance" and "it is all lies". These are the common things said by the ignorant Sikhs of today. If everything is a lie prior to the advent of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji was god that cruel to his creation to leave them ill advised on his divinity and did he just let them live in a world of doubt? Of course not, the demi gods are the messengers who manifest for many reasons to assist the people of the world. If they are false then alot of Gurbani mentions the tales of the demi gods as well. Is Gurbani based on a false misconception? The answer again is 'no'. The Sikhs will state that God alone is the does of all in creation which is correct however they do not realise the demi gods are subordinates of God and carry out his will. it is similar to go home after a days work and tell everyone what you have done without acknowledging the assistance gained through your feet and hands. In the same way the demi gods are the limbs of the lord who carry out his every command and instruction.

In this stanza we hear how the name of the lord has assisted the demi gods to complete various tasks which are deemed incomprehensible to the average being. This stanza speaks about Sheshnag supporting the earth through the power of God's name. It speaks of the demi god Shiva who assisted the world when the sea was being churned in order to acquire the ambrosial nectar. A consequence of the churning was the emergence of the poison known as 'Halahal'. The demons and demi gods ran in fear and asked Shiva for assistance. Shiva drank the poison and rather then allowing to go into his digestive system, used occult powers to rest it in his throat. Due to this his throat turned blue and through this action he gained the name of 'Neelkanth'. Lastly it mentions the demi god Brahma who meditated for a long time focusing on the goddess. Once she manifest he asked for the boon of creation. She stated it was only God who could grant this task so again he meditated on the Lord over a long period of time and eventually God granted Brahma this boon.

The translation of the forty sixth stanza from the first Adhyai of the Sri Nanak parkash is translated below;

ਸ੍ਵੈਯਾ ।
ਜਾਨਤਿ ਹੈ ਮਹਿਮਾ ਅਹਿ ਸ਼ੇਖ ਸੁ ਨਾਮਹਿ ਕੀ ਪਰਤਾਪ ਵਡਾਈ ।
ਸੈਲਨਿ ਕਾਨਨਿ ਸੋਂ ਧਰਨੀ ਪਰਸੂਨਹਿ ਜਯੋਂ ਜਿਨ ਸੀਸ ਉਠਾਈ ।
ਨਾਮ ਮਹਾਤਮ ਸ਼ੰਕਰ ਜਾਨਤਿ ਕੰਠ ਹਲਾਹਲ ਲੀਨਿ ਪਚਾਈ ।
ਆਤਮਭੂ ਭਲਿ ਰੀਤਿ ਪਛਾਨਤਿ ਜਾਂ ਬਲ ਸੋਂ ਪਰਪੰਚ ਬਨਾਈ ॥੪੬॥

Savaiya – (Now Bhai Santokh Singh Ji writes about those great beings in historical and Puratan Granth who have known the glory of the lord’s name) the snake demi god Sheshnag knows the glory and praise of the Lords name. Sheshnag is the one who through the name of God supports the land along with the jungles and mountains attached to it. (Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji later in the Sri Jap Ji Sahib in Stanza fifteen corrects this theory.) The demi god Shiva also knows how great the name of God is. Through the name of God he was able to drink the poison known as ‘Halahal’ when the ocean was being churned and contain it in this his throat. (This made Shiva Ji’s throat turn blue giving him the name of ‘Neelkanth’ which is blue throat). The demi god Brahma also knows the glory of the Lords name; through the name of God he was able to create the transcendent existence. 46.

Above is an image of Shiva drinking the Halahal poison during the churning of the sea.