These three terms appear frequently in the SGGS (Sri Guru Granth Sahib). First, the term "Chaar Kunt" ("cwir kuMt" etc.) indicates the four main quarters, regions or directions (Kon or Dishaa) to the earth: (1) Poorab or east, (2) Pachham or west, (3) Uttar or north, and (4) Dakhan or south.

• Anjwnq ibiKAw mih rcY ]jy jwnq Awpn Awp bcY ]Brmy BUlw dh idis DwvY ]inmK mwih cwir kuMt iPir AwvY: Anajaanat bikhiaa mahi rachai. Je jaanah aapan aap bachai. Bharame bhoolaa dah dis dhaavai. Nimakh maahi chaar kunt fir aavai: Through ignorance, people are engrossed in corruption. If they knew better, they would save themselves. Deluded by doubt, they wander around in the ten directions. In an instant, their minds go around the four quarters of the world and come back again (sggs 277).
• ijsu Dn kau cwir kuMt auiT Dwvih ]so Dnu hir syvw qy pwvih: Jis dhan kou chaar kunt outh dhaavahi. So dhan har sevaa te paavahi: The wealth which you chase after in the four quarters, you will obtain that wealth by serving the Lord (sggs 288).
  

Chaar Khaanee ("cwry KwxI " etc.) denotes four main sources of creation: (1) Andaj or egg-born, (2) Jeraj or womb/placenta-born, (3) Setaj or sweat-born, and (4) Outbhuj or earth-born (vegetation etc.).

• AMfj jyrj auqBujW KwxI syqjWh: Andaj jeraj outbhujaa(n) khaanee setajaa(n)h: The four sources of creation: born of eggs, born of the womb, born of the earth and born of sweat (sggs 467).
• AMfj jyrj auqBuj syqj qyry kIqy jMqw: Andaj jeraj outbhuj setaj tere keete jantaa: (O Lord) The beings born of eggs, born of the womb, born of the earth and born of sweat, all are created by You (sggs 596).

• mnmuK iqRsnw Bir rhy min Awsw dh ids bhu lwKu: Manmukh trisanaa bhar rahe mani aasaa dah dis bahu laakh: The self-willed Manmukhs are filled with the craving (for what the mind desires as pleasure); their minds run around in the ten directions, hoping for plenty wealth (sggs 997).
• Brmy BUlw dh idis DwvY: Bharame bhoolaa dah dis dhaavai: Deluded by doubt, they (ignorant) wander around in the ten directions (sggs 277).
• mnmuK dh idis iPir rhy Aiq iqsnw loB ivkwr: Manmukh dah dis fir rahe ati tisanaa lobh vikaar: The self-willed Manmukhs wander lost in the ten directions, led by intense craving (for what the mind desires as pleasure), greed and corruption (sggs 1418).

These terms are in a way interconnected. First, as indicated by the SGGS, they are all created by the Lord. Second, it's according to the dictate of one's Karma, one is born through any of the four main sources of creation. Third, on account of the Manmukh lifestyle (ego or Haume consciousness), the vast majority amongst those born as humans wander around everywhere: "cwir kuMt dh ids" (cuPyry hr pwsy).

• ikriq krm ky vICuVy kir ikrpw mylhu rwm ]cwir kuMt dh ids BRmy Qik Awey pRB kI swm: Kirat karam ke veeshurre kar kirapaa melahu raam. Chaar kunt dah dis bhrame thaki aaye prabh kee saam: (O Lord) On account of the actions committed (Karma), we are separated from You. Please show Your Mercy, and unite us with Yourself, Lord. Having grown weary of wandering in the four quarters (and) ten directions (i.e., all sides/everywhere on earth: cuPyry hr pwsy), we have come to Your Sanctuary, Lord (sggs 133).
• cwir kuMt dh idsy smwih: Chaar kunt dah dise samaahi: (God ) pervades in the four quarters and in the ten directions (sggs 294).
• KwxI bwxI qyrIAw dyih jIAw AwDwro: Khaanee bani tereeaa dehi jeeaa aadhaaro: The four sources of creation, and the power of the Word, are Your making. You give Support to all beings (sggs 580).
• ccY cwir vyd ijin swjy cwry KwxI cwir jugw: Chachai chaar Ved jin saaje chaare khaanee chaar jugaa: Chacha (Eleventh letter of the Gurmukhi Varanmaalaa—alphabet): (God) created the four Vedas, the four sources of creation, and the four ages (sggs 432).

— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org

Updated on Thursday, August 14, 2008 1:28 PM (PST)

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