Nanak Gur Gobind Singh Pooran Gur Avtar. (Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji are the true and complete manifestation of the Lord)
Above is a painting from the imagination of the artist of a meeting between Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji and Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Also behind Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji are his faithful companions Bhai Bala Ji and Bhai Mardana.
Now Kavi Santokh Singh Ji writes on the glory of the Sri Waheguru incantation and how it is actually greater then the transcendent and non transcendent manifestations of the Lord. In the stanzas numbered fifty five to sixty one Kavi Santokh Singh Ji explains how the avtars and the Gurus have shown that the name of the Lord is greater then his manifestations. The first example cited is that of Sri Ram Chandar in the age of Treta where the bridge was created from the southern point of India to Lanka with the use of large stones. These stones only floated on the water once the name of God had been written on them. The name of God was greater then the manifestation of Ram. We can find this advent written about by Bhagat Namdev Ji in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and by Pandit Gulab Singh Ji in the Bhavrasamrit and Adhyatam Ramayan.
The second time the Gurshabad form (the word of God) was shown to be greater then any manifestation was by Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji. Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji compiled the Sri Adi Granth and installed it at a greater height and bowed to it in reverance.
The last example cited is that done by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji who in 1708 AD passed the authority of the Guru to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
The translations of the stanzas numbered fifty five to sixty one of the first Adhyai of the Sri Nanak Parkash follows;
ਸ੍ਵੈਯਾ ।
ਨਾਗੁਨ ਤੇ ਪੁਨ ਸਾਗੁਨ ਤੇ ਗੁਰ ਕੇ ਮਤਿ ਮੈਂ ਵਡ ਨਾਮ ਪਛਾਨੋ ।
ਸ਼੍ਰੀ ਮੁਖ ਨਾਨਕ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਵਡੋ ਸਭਿ ਤੇ ਕਹਿ ਨਾਮ ਬਖਾਨੋ ।
ਬੇਦ ਪੁਰਾਨ ਗਰੰਥ ਭਨੈਂ ਕਵਿ ਕੋਵਿਦ ਜੇ ਸਭਿ ਹੀ ਮਨ ਮਾਨੋ ।
ਰੇ ਮਨ ਮੂੜ ਸੁ ਨਾਮ ਪ੍ਰਤਾਪਹਿ ਜਾਨ ਅਜਾਨ ਭਯੋ ਕਿਮ ਜਾਨੋ ॥੫੫॥
Savaiya – The name of the Lord is greater than the transcendent and non transcendent forms of the Guru. Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji both stated that the greatest of all things is the name of God. The Vedas, the Puranas, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the poets and the pundits have all accepted that the greatest of all is things is the name of God and have paid their respects to the name of God. O foolish mind how have you forgotten the value of the lords name when initially you knew its true merit? How will you realise what is the true cause of this? 55.
ਸ੍ਵੈਯਾ ।
ਨਾਗੁਨ ਤੇ ਇਮ ਜਾਨ ਵਡੋ ਪਰਮਾਤਮ ਦੇਹਿਨ ਮੈਂ ਸਭਿ ਸੋਊ ।
ਚੇਤਨ ਕੇ ਅਵਿਲੰਬਤਿ ਹ੍ਵੈ ਨਰ ਨਾਰਿ ਬਿਰਾਜਤਿ ਜੰਗਮ ਜੋਊ ।
ਹੋਵਤਿ ਹੀ ਤਿਹ ਕੇ ਘਟ ਮੈਂ ਨਰ ਜੀਵ ਦੁਖੀ ਭਵ ਮੈਂ ਸਭਿ ਕੋਊ ।
ਨਾਮ ਜਪੈ ਜਬ ਹੀ ਸੁਖ ਸਾਗਰ ਚੇਤਨ ਚੀਤ ਉਦੋਤਿ ਸੁ ਹੋਊ ॥੫੬॥
Savaiya – The incantation of the word Waheguru is greater than the non transcendent form of God. God is present within everyone in the form of the soul. By accepting the conscious lord as the only refuge and asylum the beings including the males and females are being graced by the divine. Even though within the heart of every being the Lord resides still the beings suffer pain! When one is to meditate on the incantation of Waheguru which represents the Lord who is the ocean of peace, then the Lord becomes the manifest and gives peace. 56.
ਸ੍ਵੈਯਾ ।
ਸੁੰਗਨ ਤੇ ਵਧਿ ਜਾਨਤਿ ਹੈਂ ਇਵ ਜੇ ਰਸ ਜਾਪ ਮੈ ਲੀਨ ਵਿਸ਼ਾਲਾ ।
ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਸੋਂ ਨਾਮ ਵਸਯੋ ਜਬ ਹੀ ਤਬ ਗੋਚਰ ਹੋਤਿ ਸਰੂਪ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾਲਾ ।
ਯਾਂਹੀ ਤੇ ਨਾਮ ਅਧੀਨ ਸਰੂਪ ਲਖਯੋ ਭਗਤੰਨ ਭਲੀ ਮਤਿ ਸ਼ਾਲਾ ।
ਧਾਰਿ ਰਿਦੇ ਤਜਿਬੋ ਨ ਕਰੈਂ ਨਿਸ ਬਾਸੁਰ ਜੀਹ ਮੈ ਜਯੋਂ ਗਲ ਮਾਲਾ ॥੫੭॥
Savaiya – The name of God known as Waheguru is greater than the transcendent form of God. The saints are intoxicated due to the pleasure gained from their meditation on the incantation Waheguru. When the name of God becomes instilled within the heart along with loving devotion the then form of the lord manifests within. By remaining a subordinate to the name of God does one attain the divine form and the saints who meditate on the Lord have truly understood the value of God’s name. Once they adopt the name of God they do not let it go. Both day and night they keep the name of the lord on their tongue in the way that a necklace remains with the individual. 57.
ਚੌਪਈ ।
ਨਿਜ ਤੇ ਅਧਿਕ ਹੇਤੁ ਸ਼੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮੂ । ਜਗਹਿ ਲਖਾਯੋ ਲਿਖ ਕਰਿ ਨਾਮੂ ।
ਸਰੁਵਰ ਪਰ ਗਿਰਿਵਰ ਧਰਿ ਭਾਰੇ । ਤਰੁਵਰ ਕੇ ਪਾਤਨਿ ਸਮ ਤਾਰੇ ॥੫੮॥
Quatrain – In this way Sri Ram Chandar told the world that the name of God was greater than him. Sri Ram Chandar shows this in practice also to the people of the world. In order to build a bridge to cross over to Lanka Sri Ram Chandar Ji had the large rocks collected, the name of God written on them then dropped in the ocean and due to the name of God all of these floated as if they were leaves. 58.
ਪੁਨ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰ ਅਰਜਨ ਗਤਿਗਾਈ । ਨਿਜ ਤੇ ਮਹਿਮਾ ਅਧਿਕ ਲਖਾਈ ।
ਸ੍ਰੀ ਸੁ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਮਹਿਂ ਲਿਖਿ ਜਸੁ ਨਾਮੂ । ਤਿਹ ਤੇ ਅਧੋ ਭਏ ਸੁਖਧਾਮੂ ॥੫੯॥
Then Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji who was the granter of liberation also showed that the name of God is greater than his form. Within the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji the praise and glory of God’s name was written. When the Adi Granth was created it was kept at a higher level then Guru Arjan Dev Ji to show how superior the name of God was to the Guru. 59.
ਦੋਹਰਾ ।
ਆਪ ਅਛਤ ਸਮਰੱਥ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਦਈ ਬਡਾਈ ਨਾਮ । ਅਪਰ ਤਰਕ ਕੋ ਕਰ ਸਕਹਿ ਸਭਿ ਮਾਨਹਿਂ ਗੁਨਧਾਮ ॥੬੦॥
Couplet – The form of God, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji within his life whilst Guru passed over the seat of authority to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji to give praise to the name of God. Who else is there in the world that will be able to perform such a feat? All of the knowledgeable people accept and understand the position of the name of God. 60.
ਦੋਹਰਾ ।
ਨਿਰਗੁਨ ਸਰਗੁਨ ਨਾਮੁ ਜੋ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਤਿਨ ਮੇਰੁ । ਸਭ ਤੇ ਊਚਾ ਜਾਨੀਏ ਲੇਤਿ ਨ ਕੀਜੈ ਦੇਰਿ ॥੬੧॥
Couplet – The transcendent and non transcendent forms of God are inferior to the name of God. Accept the incantation of Waheguru to be the greatest of all do not waste time in meditating on the name of the Lord. 61.
ਨਾਗੁਨ ਤੇ ਪੁਨ ਸਾਗੁਨ ਤੇ ਗੁਰ ਕੇ ਮਤਿ ਮੈਂ ਵਡ ਨਾਮ ਪਛਾਨੋ ।
ਸ਼੍ਰੀ ਮੁਖ ਨਾਨਕ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਵਡੋ ਸਭਿ ਤੇ ਕਹਿ ਨਾਮ ਬਖਾਨੋ ।
ਬੇਦ ਪੁਰਾਨ ਗਰੰਥ ਭਨੈਂ ਕਵਿ ਕੋਵਿਦ ਜੇ ਸਭਿ ਹੀ ਮਨ ਮਾਨੋ ।
ਰੇ ਮਨ ਮੂੜ ਸੁ ਨਾਮ ਪ੍ਰਤਾਪਹਿ ਜਾਨ ਅਜਾਨ ਭਯੋ ਕਿਮ ਜਾਨੋ ॥੫੫॥
Savaiya – The name of the Lord is greater than the transcendent and non transcendent forms of the Guru. Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji both stated that the greatest of all things is the name of God. The Vedas, the Puranas, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the poets and the pundits have all accepted that the greatest of all is things is the name of God and have paid their respects to the name of God. O foolish mind how have you forgotten the value of the lords name when initially you knew its true merit? How will you realise what is the true cause of this? 55.
ਸ੍ਵੈਯਾ ।
ਨਾਗੁਨ ਤੇ ਇਮ ਜਾਨ ਵਡੋ ਪਰਮਾਤਮ ਦੇਹਿਨ ਮੈਂ ਸਭਿ ਸੋਊ ।
ਚੇਤਨ ਕੇ ਅਵਿਲੰਬਤਿ ਹ੍ਵੈ ਨਰ ਨਾਰਿ ਬਿਰਾਜਤਿ ਜੰਗਮ ਜੋਊ ।
ਹੋਵਤਿ ਹੀ ਤਿਹ ਕੇ ਘਟ ਮੈਂ ਨਰ ਜੀਵ ਦੁਖੀ ਭਵ ਮੈਂ ਸਭਿ ਕੋਊ ।
ਨਾਮ ਜਪੈ ਜਬ ਹੀ ਸੁਖ ਸਾਗਰ ਚੇਤਨ ਚੀਤ ਉਦੋਤਿ ਸੁ ਹੋਊ ॥੫੬॥
Savaiya – The incantation of the word Waheguru is greater than the non transcendent form of God. God is present within everyone in the form of the soul. By accepting the conscious lord as the only refuge and asylum the beings including the males and females are being graced by the divine. Even though within the heart of every being the Lord resides still the beings suffer pain! When one is to meditate on the incantation of Waheguru which represents the Lord who is the ocean of peace, then the Lord becomes the manifest and gives peace. 56.
ਸ੍ਵੈਯਾ ।
ਸੁੰਗਨ ਤੇ ਵਧਿ ਜਾਨਤਿ ਹੈਂ ਇਵ ਜੇ ਰਸ ਜਾਪ ਮੈ ਲੀਨ ਵਿਸ਼ਾਲਾ ।
ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਸੋਂ ਨਾਮ ਵਸਯੋ ਜਬ ਹੀ ਤਬ ਗੋਚਰ ਹੋਤਿ ਸਰੂਪ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾਲਾ ।
ਯਾਂਹੀ ਤੇ ਨਾਮ ਅਧੀਨ ਸਰੂਪ ਲਖਯੋ ਭਗਤੰਨ ਭਲੀ ਮਤਿ ਸ਼ਾਲਾ ।
ਧਾਰਿ ਰਿਦੇ ਤਜਿਬੋ ਨ ਕਰੈਂ ਨਿਸ ਬਾਸੁਰ ਜੀਹ ਮੈ ਜਯੋਂ ਗਲ ਮਾਲਾ ॥੫੭॥
Savaiya – The name of God known as Waheguru is greater than the transcendent form of God. The saints are intoxicated due to the pleasure gained from their meditation on the incantation Waheguru. When the name of God becomes instilled within the heart along with loving devotion the then form of the lord manifests within. By remaining a subordinate to the name of God does one attain the divine form and the saints who meditate on the Lord have truly understood the value of God’s name. Once they adopt the name of God they do not let it go. Both day and night they keep the name of the lord on their tongue in the way that a necklace remains with the individual. 57.
ਚੌਪਈ ।
ਨਿਜ ਤੇ ਅਧਿਕ ਹੇਤੁ ਸ਼੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮੂ । ਜਗਹਿ ਲਖਾਯੋ ਲਿਖ ਕਰਿ ਨਾਮੂ ।
ਸਰੁਵਰ ਪਰ ਗਿਰਿਵਰ ਧਰਿ ਭਾਰੇ । ਤਰੁਵਰ ਕੇ ਪਾਤਨਿ ਸਮ ਤਾਰੇ ॥੫੮॥
Quatrain – In this way Sri Ram Chandar told the world that the name of God was greater than him. Sri Ram Chandar shows this in practice also to the people of the world. In order to build a bridge to cross over to Lanka Sri Ram Chandar Ji had the large rocks collected, the name of God written on them then dropped in the ocean and due to the name of God all of these floated as if they were leaves. 58.
ਪੁਨ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰ ਅਰਜਨ ਗਤਿਗਾਈ । ਨਿਜ ਤੇ ਮਹਿਮਾ ਅਧਿਕ ਲਖਾਈ ।
ਸ੍ਰੀ ਸੁ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਮਹਿਂ ਲਿਖਿ ਜਸੁ ਨਾਮੂ । ਤਿਹ ਤੇ ਅਧੋ ਭਏ ਸੁਖਧਾਮੂ ॥੫੯॥
Then Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji who was the granter of liberation also showed that the name of God is greater than his form. Within the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji the praise and glory of God’s name was written. When the Adi Granth was created it was kept at a higher level then Guru Arjan Dev Ji to show how superior the name of God was to the Guru. 59.
ਦੋਹਰਾ ।
ਆਪ ਅਛਤ ਸਮਰੱਥ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਦਈ ਬਡਾਈ ਨਾਮ । ਅਪਰ ਤਰਕ ਕੋ ਕਰ ਸਕਹਿ ਸਭਿ ਮਾਨਹਿਂ ਗੁਨਧਾਮ ॥੬੦॥
Couplet – The form of God, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji within his life whilst Guru passed over the seat of authority to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji to give praise to the name of God. Who else is there in the world that will be able to perform such a feat? All of the knowledgeable people accept and understand the position of the name of God. 60.
ਦੋਹਰਾ ।
ਨਿਰਗੁਨ ਸਰਗੁਨ ਨਾਮੁ ਜੋ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਤਿਨ ਮੇਰੁ । ਸਭ ਤੇ ਊਚਾ ਜਾਨੀਏ ਲੇਤਿ ਨ ਕੀਜੈ ਦੇਰਿ ॥੬੧॥
Couplet – The transcendent and non transcendent forms of God are inferior to the name of God. Accept the incantation of Waheguru to be the greatest of all do not waste time in meditating on the name of the Lord. 61.
Above is a painting depicting Sri Ram Chandar and the army of monkeys creating the bridge from South India to Lanka known as the Ram Setu. You can see in the picture above that the name of God was being inscribed on each rock in order to make it float. This showed that the manifestation Ram Chandar was also incomparable to the name of God.
