It was the use of reason and observation that led Guru Nanak to express his own views on the vastness of the Cosmos, the time of its creation, evolution of life on earth and living in harmony with the Hukam (Cosmic/Universal System-Rule-Law of Nature, ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਨਿਯਮ). This post will attempt to reflect on the followings in this context:
Hukam – the core of Sikhi
Before the origin of life and evolution of life on earth, lets briefly reflect on the Hukam (Cosmic/Universal System-Rule-Law of Nature, ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਨਿਯਮ…), the core of the Sikhi of Guru Nanak.
Guru Nanak observed that everything is subject to the HUKAM; nothing is beyond the Hukam.
- ਹੁਕਮੈ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਹੁਕਮ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਹੁਕਮੈ ਜੇ ਬੁਝੈ ਤ ਹਉਮੈ ਕਹੈ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥੨॥ : Everything is within Hukam, none is exempt from Hukam. Nanak, if one Realizes he/she is to obey Hukam, then one does not talk in ego — one does not boast of being outside/beyond/exempt of Hukam, or does not talk arrogantly and do things in own will or Manmukhta…). ॥2॥ (sggs 1).
- ਪੂਰੈ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਬੂਝਿ ਬੁਝਾਇਆ ॥ ਹੁਕਮੇ ਹੀ ਸਭੁ ਜਗਤੁ ਉਪਾਇਆ ॥ : The Creator-connecting Satguru has imparted this understanding — the whole world has been created by the Creator’s Hukam. (sggs 1055).
- ਪਾਤਾਲ ਪੁਰੀਆ ਲੋਅ ਆਕਾਰਾ ॥ ਤਿਸੁ ਵਿਚਿ ਵਰਤੈ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਕਰਾਰਾ ॥ ਹੁਕਮੇ ਸਾਜੇ ਹੁਕਮੇ ਢਾਹੇ ਹੁਕਮੇ ਮੇਲਿ ਮਿਲਾਇਦਾ ॥੫॥ : The entire universe and everything in it is pervaded by the Creator’s Hukam (Cosmic System-Rule-Law of Nature, ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਨਿਯਮ). By the same Hukam everything is created and by the same Hukam everything is destroyed. Those who live in harmony with the Hukam realize the Creator. ||5|| (sggs 1060-1061).
Therefore, after listing all rejected methods that people of all man-made religions (ਮਜ਼ਹਬ) are using to realize the Creator, the following GURU SHABAD teaches us that the Creator’s secret can only be understood by recognizing and living in harmony with the ‘HUKAM‘!
- ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਜਿਨਿ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਪਛਾਤਾ ॥ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਕਾ ਤਿਨਿ ਭੇਦੁ ਜਾਤਾ ॥੫॥੯॥ : Says Nanak – one who has recognized the Hukam, that person has understood the mystery of ‘Prabh Saahib‘ (i.e. Universal Energy…). ॥5॥9॥ (sggs 885).
Instead of Hukam, Guru Nanak also used the word ‘Bhai-ਭੈ’ which literally means fear. But here it is fear of the Hukam, meaning compliance with the Hukam. In other words every thing in the Cosmos is fearful of the Hukam (i.e. subject to the Hukam). Similarly, the Gurbani also uses the word ‘Bhaanaa‘ instead of Hukam:
- ਭੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਪਵਣੁ ਵਹੈ ਸਦਵਾਉ ॥ ਭੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਚਲਹਿ ਲਖ ਦਰੀਆਉ ॥ ਭੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਅਗਨਿ ਕਢੈ ਵੇਗਾਰਿ ॥ ਭੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਧਰਤੀ ਦਬੀ ਭਾਰਿ ॥ ਭੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਇੰਦੁ ਫਿਰੈ ਸਿਰ ਭਾਰਿ ॥ ਭੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਰਾਜਾ ਧਰਮ ਦੁਆਰੁ ॥ ਭੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਸੂਰਜੁ ਭੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਚੰਦੁ ॥ ਕੋਹ ਕਰੋੜੀ ਚਲਤ ਨ ਅੰਤੁ ॥ : Under the ‘Hukam‘ — Universal System-Rule-Law of Nature, ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਨਿਯਮ — air always blows. Under the ‘Hukam‘ thousands of rivers flow. Under the ‘Hukam‘ fire (energy) performs. Under the ‘Hukam‘ the earth stays at its place (in the Solar System) according to its weight (its Gravity). Under the ‘Hukam‘ clouds move across the sky. Under the ‘Hukam‘ is the so-called Dharm Raj. (mythical king of death and judgement). Under the ‘Hukam‘ the Sun and the Moon (planets) move millions of miles, endlessly. (sggs 464).
- ਜਾ ਤਿਸੁ ਭਾਣਾ ਤਾ ਜਗਤੁ ਉਪਾਇਆ ॥ ਬਾਝੁ ਕਲਾ ਆਡਾਣੁ ਰਹਾਇਆ ॥ : Then at some moment the Cosmos came into being according to Bhaanaa (Hukam) without any visible support upholding the vast expanse. (sggs 1036).
Having said that, behind every small and big thing that is seen in this universe, stands the infallible Hukam (Cosmic/Universal System-Rule-Law of Nature, ਕੁਦਰਤੀ ਨਿਯਮ).
- ਜੇਤਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਤੇਤਾ ਨਾਉ ॥ ਵਿਣੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਕੋ ਥਾਉ ॥ : (My mind now Realizes that) all that is created is within the confines of the Hukam (ਨਾਉ-Niyam) of the Creator. (My mind also Realizes that) the Creator’s Hukam (System-Rule-Law-Order-Jurisdiction) is Omnipresent. (sggs 9).
Origin of Universe and Sikhi
Unlike religion and science, the SGGS seems to be more interested in the wonder of the Creator’s creation than its possible origins. so, there are no stories related to creation in Gurmat of Guru Nanak.
As far as the time of creation of Cosmos is concerned, Guru Nanak says neither Pandit, nor Qazis, nor Yogis know the date, day,
month or season when the Cosmos was created. It is only the Creator, who created the Cosmos, knows.
- ਕਵਣੁ ਸੁ ਵੇਲਾ ਵਖਤੁ ਕਵਣੁ ਕਵਣ ਥਿਤਿ ਕਵਣੁ ਵਾਰੁ ॥ ਕਵਣਿ ਸਿ ਰੁਤੀ ਮਾਹੁ ਕਵਣੁ ਜਿਤੁ ਹੋਆ ਆਕਾਰੁ ॥ ਵੇਲ ਨ ਪਾਈਆ ਪੰਡਤੀ ਜਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਲੇਖੁ ਪੁਰਾਣੁ ॥ ਵਖਤੁ ਨ ਪਾਇਓ ਕਾਦੀਆ ਜਿ ਲਿਖਨਿ ਲੇਖੁ ਕੁਰਾਣੁ ॥ ਥਿਤਿ ਵਾਰੁ ਨਾ ਜੋਗੀ ਜਾਣੈ ਰੁਤਿ ਮਾਹੁ ਨਾ ਕੋਈ ॥ ਜਾ ਕਰਤਾ ਸਿਰਠੀ ਕਉ ਸਾਜੇ ਆਪੇ ਜਾਣੈ ਸੋਈ ॥ : What was the moment or time or lunar day or day of the week or season or month when the Cosmos was created? The learned pundits did not know the time for otherwise they would have recorded it in the Puranas (specific groups of Hindu scriptures). Nor did the learned Qazis know the time for creation, otherwise they would have written it in the Quran. Neither do the Yogis know the date or day or month or season when the Cosmos was created. It is only the Creator, Who created the Cosmos, knows. (sggs 4).
- ਅਰਬਦ ਨਰਬਦ ਧੁੰਧੂਕਾਰਾ ॥ ਧਰਣਿ ਨ ਗਗਨਾ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਅਪਾਰਾ ॥ ਨਾ ਦਿਨੁ ਰੈਨਿ ਨ ਚੰਦੁ ਨ ਸੂਰਜੁ ਸੁੰਨ ਸਮਾਧਿ ਲਗਾਇਦਾ ॥੧॥ : For endless eons there was darkness when (the Creator) was in inactive state (Sunn). Neither was there Earth or sky nor day or night nor moon or sun, nor the infinite Hukam in operation. (sggs 1035).
- ਆਪਣਾ ਆਪੁ ਉਪਾਇਓਨੁ ਤਦਹੁ ਹੋਰੁ ਨ ਕੋਈ ॥ ਮਤਾ ਮਸੂਰਤਿ ਆਪਿ ਕਰੇ ਜੋ ਕਰੇ ਸੁ ਹੋਈ ॥ ਤਦਹੁ ਆਕਾਸੁ ਨ ਪਾਤਾਲੁ ਹੈ ਨਾ ਤ੍ਰੈ ਲੋਈ ॥ ਤਦਹੁ ਆਪੇ ਆਪਿ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰੁ ਹੈ ਨਾ ਓਪਤਿ ਹੋਈ ॥ ਤਦਹੁ ਆਪੇ ਆਪਿ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰੁ ਹੈ ਨਾ ਓਪਤਿ ਹੋਈ ॥ ਜਿਉ ਤਿਸੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਤਿਵੈ ਕਰੇ ਤਿਸੁ ਬਿਨੁ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਕੋਈ ॥੧॥ : When none other than the Creator was created yet. The Creator consulted none other than Itself, and whatever It did only that happened. At that time, there was no sky, no nether regions, nor the physical worlds. At that time, only the Formless Creator existed – there was no creation. As it pleased the Creator, so did It act; without the Creator, there was no other. ||1|| (sggs 509).
As captured in the following Shabad, Guru Nanak observed that the Cosmos sprang from ONE Source of Energy (Singularity), with a Bang/Command/Word/Hukam and started to expand:
- ਕੀਤਾ ਪਸਾਉ ਏਕੋ ਕਵਾਉ ॥ ਤਿਸ ਤੇ ਹੋਏ ਲਖ ਦਰੀਆਉ ॥ : The Universe exploded from ONE Source of Energy (Singularity), with a Bang/Command/Word/Hukam (the swift release of energy) and started to expand. Thereafter innumerable things appeared. (sggs 3).
- ਉਤਪਤਿ ਪਰਲਉ ਸਬਦੇ ਹੋਵੈ ॥ ਸਬਦੇ ਹੀ ਫਿਰਿ ਓਪਤਿ ਹੋਵੈ ॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਵਰਤੈ ਸਭੁ ਆਪੇ ਸਚਾ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਉਪਾਇ ਸਮਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੧॥ : Creation and destruction happen through the Sabad (command of Kartar, Universal Order…). Through the Sabad, creation happens again. The Gurmukh (Enlightened/Guru Shabad oriented) knows that Eternal Creator is pervading and permeating everywhere, and He is permeating in His created creation. ||1|| (sggs 117).
- ਆਪੀਨੑੈ ਆਪੁ ਸਾਜਿਓ ਆਪੀਨੑੈ ਰਚਿਓ ਨਾਉ ॥ ਦੁਯੀ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਸਾਜੀਐ ਕਰਿ ਆਸਣੁ ਡਿਠੋ ਚਾਉ ॥ : (O Creator!) You are self-created, then You setup Your Existence – You exist within Your Creation; Creation is manifestation of You. (O Creator! After self-creating) secondly You Created Kudrat (System-Rule-Law of Nature) and You reside within it and delight. (sggs 463).
- ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਕੈ ਵਸਿਆ ਸੋਇ ॥ The Creator resides within the Creation that He Created. (sggs 83).
Also, according to Guru Nanak, there are countless earths beyond this earth. In addition, before the present-day research of scientists, Guru Nanak first described to the world many solar systems, many galaxies, many earths, many suns, many moons etc. and declared all of this to be beyond computation or counting (‘ਕਰਤੇ ਕੈ ਕਰਣੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਸੁਮਾਰੁ’), which today’s scientists are seeing now with the help of modern tools and instruments:
- ਧਰਤੀ ਹੋਰੁ ਪਰੈ ਹੋਰੁ ਹੋਰੁ ॥ : There are innumerable earths beyond this planet-earth. (sggs 3).
- ਤਿਥੈ ਖੰਡ ਮੰਡਲ ਵਰਭੰਡ ॥ ਜੇ ਕੋ ਕਥੈ ਤ ਅੰਤ ਨ ਅੰਤ ॥ : (In the Enlightened state of ‘Sach Khand‘ – God realization within) One is Enlightened with the knowledge about the endless planets, solar systems and galaxies. If one tries to describe these, he/she will find out that there is no end it. (sggs 8).
- ਕੇਤੇ ਇੰਦ ਚੰਦ ਸੂਰ ਕੇਤੇ ਕੇਤੇ ਮੰਡਲ ਦੇਸ ॥ : There are many Indras, moons, suns and many planetary systems. (sggs 7).
- ਅਨਿਕ ਅਕਾਸ ਅਨਿਕ ਪਾਤਾਲ ॥ : There are many skies and nether regions in God’s creation. (sggs 1236).
- ਅਨਿਕ ਪੁਰੀਆ ਅਨਿਕ ਤਹ ਖੰਡ ॥ ਅਨਿਕ ਰੂਪ ਰੰਗ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੰਡ ॥ : There are numerous continents and numerous are their parts. The universes have numerous forms and colors/types. (sggs 1236).
- ਕਰਤੇ ਕੈ ਕਰਣੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਸੁਮਾਰੁ ॥ (sggs 3).
Thus, Guru Nanak expressed his own observations and amazement on the vastness of the Cosmos, and how it came into being.
- ਕਹਣਾ ਹੈ ਕਿਛੁ ਕਹਣੁ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਤਉ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਕੀਮਤਿ ਨਹੀ ਪਾਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : (O God!) Much needs to be said about Kudrat (creation), but it cannot be fully described. (Because the expanse or limits of) Kudrat cannot be estimated. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 151).
- ਪਾਤਾਲਾ ਪਾਤਾਲ ਲਖ ਆਗਾਸਾ ਆਗਾਸ ॥ ਓੜਕ ਓੜਕ ਭਾਲਿ ਥਕੇ ਵੇਦ ਕਹਨਿ ਇਕ ਵਾਤ ॥ ਸਹਸ ਅਠਾਰਹ ਕਹਨਿ ਕਤੇਬਾ ਅਸੁਲੂ ਇਕੁ ਧਾਤੁ ॥ ਲੇਖਾ ਹੋਇ ਤ ਲਿਖੀਐ ਲੇਖੈ ਹੋਇ ਵਿਣਾਸੁ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਵਡਾ ਆਖੀਐ ਆਪੇ ਜਾਣੈ ਆਪੁ ॥੨੨॥: There are hundreds of thousands of netherworlds under netherworlds and skies above skies. Those searching for limits of Creation ultimately get tired (i.e. give up), the Vedas say that efforts to find limits of Creation do not succeed. The Semitic texts say that there are eighteen thousand worlds, but their Creator is One. However, the Cosmos is so vast that it is beyond the scope of counting or measurement, one would run out of numbers if one were to undertake such a task. Nanak, call the Creator Great, the Creator alone knows Its Greatness. ||22|| (sggs 5).
Guru Nanak also observed that Kudrat is capable of creating and breaking. In other words, nothing here stays forever — everything we see is changeful, fleeting, perishable or disappearing. Nothing our physical eyes can see in it is ageless. Guru Nanak observed that the Cosmos has coalesced and reformed several times according to the Hukam:
- ਕਈ ਬਾਰ ਪਸਰਿਓ ਪਾਸਾਰ ॥ : (The Creator) has expanded many ways; and has expanded many times. (sggs 276).
- ਭੰਨਣ ਘੜਣ ਸਮਰਥੁ ਹੈ ਓਪਤਿ ਸਭ ਪਰਲੈ ॥: (Creator is) capable of breaking, making, creating and annihilating (cataclysm etc.) all. (sggs 1102).
- ਘਟੰਤ ਰੂਪੰ ਘਟੰਤ ਦੀਪੰ ਘਟੰਤ ਰਵਿ ਸਸੀਅਰ ਨਖ੍ਯ੍ਯਤ੍ਰ ਗਗਨੰ ॥ ਘਟੰਤ ਬਸੁਧਾ ਗਿਰਿ ਤਰ ਸਿਖੰਡੰ ॥ : Beauty, islands, sun, moon, stars in the sky come to pass (i.e. diminishing, perishing etc.). Earth, high mountains and trees come to pass. (sggs 1354).
- ਬਰਨੁ ਚਿਹਨੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਕਿਛੁ ਰਚਨਾ ਮਿਥਿਆ ਸਗਲ ਪਸਾਰਾ ॥ ਭਣਤਿ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਜਬ ਖੇਲੁ ਉਝਾਰੈ ਤਬ ਏਕੈ ਏਕੰਕਾਰਾ ॥੪॥੪॥ : All this expanse of the world is perishable, none of its form or feature is everlasting. Says Nanak, when the Creator/Hukam dismantle this expanse of the Universe, then nothing but the Creator/Hukam remains. ||4||4||(sggs 999).
Evolution of life and Sikhi
The Cosmos is continuously evolving, be it the Earth and the life on it. Guru Nanak postulates that life evolved in water and water is essential for the survival of life.
The Gurbani confirms that from Hukam become the subtle element of air, air produced water and it is water wherein evolved the world of life with Cosmic-consciousness.
- ਸਾਚੇ ਤੇ ਪਵਨਾ ਭਇਆ ਪਵਨੈ ਤੇ ਜਲੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਜਲ ਤੇ ਤ੍ਰਿਭਵਣੁ ਸਾਜਿਆ ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਮੋਇ ॥ : From Hukam (System-Rule-Law of Nature…) came (the subtle element of) air, and from air came water. The whole world was created from water, and the Universal Energy or ‘Jot‘ is contained in all beings (of this world). (sggs 19).
- ਪਹਿਲਾ ਪਾਣੀ ਜੀਉ ਹੈ ਜਿਤੁ ਹਰਿਆ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਇ ॥ : First, the water is Jeev itself (there is life in it), by which everything else is made green (i.e. alive). (sggs 472).
- ਹੁਕਮੇ ਦੀਸੈ ਜਗਤੁ ਉਪਾਇਆ ॥ : (A person who has become Gurmukh) sees that the whole world is born in Hukam. (sggs 1037).
Billions years ago, the very first biological species appeared. Since then, human evolution is the lengthy process of change — a long journey indeed. In this context, consider the following Shabad. However, it is the most misquoted and mistranslated Shabad by the self-serving Pujaaree saying that it is referred to the previous lives (Joon-ਜੂਨ) of every human being. The illusion of eighty-four lakh Joon is created by interpreting it in this way only by adding a Baparvadi (Bahmani ideology) effect. In this connection, it has to be clarified here that the previous Joon of man have NOT been described through this Shabad. Rather, it is mentioning the theory of human development, which is called ‘Evolution Theory’ (ਮਨੁੱਖੀ ਵਿਕਾਸ ਸਿਧਾਂਤ):
- ਕਈ ਜਨਮ ਭਏ ਕੀਟ ਪਤੰਗਾ ॥ ਕਈ ਜਨਮ ਗਜ ਮੀਨ ਕੁਰੰਗਾ ॥ ਕਈ ਜਨਮ ਪੰਖੀ ਸਰਪ ਹੋਇਓ ॥ ਕਈ ਜਨਮ ਹੈਵਰ ਬ੍ਰਿਖ ਜੋਇਓ ॥੧॥ ਮਿਲੁ ਜਗਦੀਸ ਮਿਲਨ ਕੀ ਬਰੀਆ ॥ ਚਿਰੰਕਾਲ ਇਹ ਦੇਹ ਸੰਜਰੀਆ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਕਈ ਜਨਮ ਸੈਲ ਗਿਰਿ ਕਰਿਆ ॥ ਕਈ ਜਨਮ ਗਰਭ ਹਿਰਿ ਖਰਿਆ ॥ ਕਈ ਜਨਮ ਸਾਖ ਕਰਿ ਉਪਾਇਆ ॥ ਲਖ ਚਉਰਾਸੀਹ ਜੋਨਿ ਭ੍ਰਮਾਇਆ ॥੨॥ : Many births (multitude or different evolutionary stages of life) are created to exist as worm and Insects. Many birth are created to exist as elephants; fish and deer. Many births are created to exist as birds and snakes. Many births are Created to exist as domesticated horses. ||1|| (O mind), Realize the Creator Within, this is your opportunity to Realize. It took a very long time for the human body to evolve through many evolutionary stages of life (i.e. don’t live life any longer sans this Realization). ||1||Pause|| Multitudes are created to exist within rocks and mountains. Many births resulted in abortion (defective mutations resulting in death of the species). Many births are created to exist as plant life or vegetation. Life goes about within the entirety of life forms (that exist). ||2|| (sggs 176).
Clearly, it took billions of years for modern humans to evolve! Homo sapiens (meaning ‘wise man’ in Latin) evolved through countless forms of life like other species – ants, worms, moths, fish,
elephants, deer, snakes and domestic animals like horses and bullocks – starting from inanimate matter, the basic elements. Moreover, Guru Nanak also postulated that there are other places with life in the cosmos:
- ਜਲਿ ਥਲਿ ਜੀਆ ਪੁਰੀਆ ਲੋਆ ਆਕਾਰਾ ਆਕਾਰ ॥ : There are living beings in water, on land and in the Cosmos. (sggs 466).
When it comes to the evolution of life, the SGGS couldn’t have spoken more clearly these words recorded before Charles Darwin.
Also, as mentioned in the SGGS, there are four sources of creation or life: (1) Andaj (ਅੰਡਜ: the egg-born), (2) Jeraj (ਜੇਰਜ: fetes-born or born from the womb), (3) Setaj (ਸੇਤਜ: the sweat-born), and (4) Outabhuj (ਉਤਭੁਜ: the earth-born).
- ਪੁਰਖਾਂ ਬਿਰਖਾਂ ਤੀਰਥਾਂ ਤਟਾਂ ਮੇਘਾਂ ਖੇਤਾਂਹ ॥ ਦੀਪਾਂ ਲੋਆਂ ਮੰਡਲਾਂ ਖੰਡਾਂ ਵਰਭੰਡਾਂਹ ॥ ਅੰਡਜ ਜੇਰਜ ਉਤਭੁਜਾਂ ਖਾਣੀ ਸੇਤਜਾਂਹ ॥ ਸੋ ਮਿਤਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਸਰਾਂ ਮੇਰਾਂ ਜੰਤਾਹ ॥ : Men, trees, shrines, shores (i.e. rivers), clouds, fields; islands, continents, realms, regions and universe; the four sources of creation — born of eggs, born of the womb, born of the earth and born of sweat; oceans, mountains, and all beings — O Nanak! The estimate of the number of all these is known only to (who has created all these — Hukam: System-Rule-Law of Nature…). (sggs 467).
Guru Nanak in the above Shabad teaches people that Kudrat can NOT be limited to any finite number such as ‘8.4-Lakh’ concocted by the self-serving Pujaare (clergy clique)!
In short, whatever we are told by the self-serving Pujaaree about reincarnation (or hell and heaven etc.) is nothing but concocted nonsense, which is rejected in the Gurbani of the SGGS in no uncertain terms.
Another amazing thing is every person in is a unique/different in the whole universe. Even one person’s fingerprint does not match with another’s. ‘Vismaad’ …
- ਮੇਰੈ ਪ੍ਰਭਿ ਸਾਚੈ ਇਕੁ ਖੇਲੁ ਰਚਾਇਆ ॥ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਕਿਸ ਹੀ ਜੇਹਾ ਉਪਾਇਆ ॥ : The creation of my Lord is such. None is like the other. (sggs 1056).
Some Related Posts:
- Hukam is the Core of Sikhi
- Opening Verse – Guru Nanak’s concept of ‘God’
- Sargun Nirgun – Visible and Invisible
- Omnipresent God
- Nature – Kudrat – is Capable of Self Correcting
- Core of Gurmat Spirituality – Kiv Sachiaaraa Hoeeai?
- Gurbani Defines Form of God
- Realize God’s Presence Within
- Sikhi of Guru Nanak and Caring of the Environment
The Gurbani of the SGGS rejects the Pujaaree concocted reincarnation nonsense in no uncertain terms. Please have a read of following Gurbani based articles with an open mind:
Gurbani Rejects Afterlife Reincarnation or Transmigration
Gurmat Concept of Death
Jum Doot, Dharma Raj, and Chitr Gupt
Thanks! Manjeet Singh ji, and T. Singh ji.
I had two questions
1. Did human life evolve after passing through undej, jeraj, setaj and utbhuj?
2. Once we are in human form, based on our karmas after our death, do we continue next life as human where we left off until we achieve our purpose of life or we start all over again?
If those are the questions — based on my understanding — the Nirmal/Unique Gurmat of Guru Nanak has provided us very clear answers in no uncertain terms. Please see:
Gurbani Rejects Afterlife Reincarnation or Transmigration
Gurmat Concept of Death
Jum Doot, Dharma Raj, and Chitr Gupt
Thank you veer Ji for your reply. Welcome to the Gurbani blog.
Inderjeet Kour’s Question is interesting one, If I understood her question correctly she is asking if after our death, whether we start allover again from a single cell and then developing or evolving into other stages or creation of live form, eventually reaching a human level all over again. It is an interesting question, because then question is what happens to our soul and our Karma, because Soul is indestructible, soul is eternal, God too is eternal, but there is only One God the creator, so that implies that our soul must also be part of that Creator, it has been mentioned in other holy books such as Vedas, that a human form comes after 84 Lakh birth and deaths, all these questions are intriguing, and need explaining in most simple terms and something that makes logical sense.
Gurbani says (also see the article):
– ਪਹਿਲਾ ਪਾਣੀ ਜੀਉ ਹੈ ਜਿਤੁ ਹਰਿਆ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਇ ॥ : Pahilaa Paanee JIau Hai… (sggs 472).
– ਸਾਚੇ ਤੇ ਪਵਨਾ ਭਇਆ ਪਵਨੈ ਤੇ ਜਲੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਜਲ ਤੇ ਤ੍ਰਿਭਵਣੁ ਸਾਜਿਆ ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਮੋਇ ॥ Saachae Tae Pavanaa Bhaiya… (sggs 19).
– ਕਈ ਜਨਮ ਭਏ ਕੀਟ ਪਤੰਗਾ ॥ … : Kayee Janam Bhae Keet Patangaa … (sggs 176).
Your articles are explained very well and enlightening. However, I am looking for clarification on Evolution of life in Sikhi.
As I understand life began after all the required elements were created first. Then single cell to multicellular organisms were created followed by 4 different categories. Did Human evolution happen after passing through 4 stages/categories (Andaj (ਅੰਡਜ: the egg-born), (2) Jeraj (ਜੇਰਜ: fetes-born or born from the womb), (3) Setaj (ਸੇਤਜ: the sweat-born), and (4) Outabhuj (ਉਤਭੁਜ: the earth-born)).?
Once human development completed to today’s form, and our Karmas were not up to par at death as per Sikhi, does human life goes back to initial stages of evolution cycle i.e. cell –> multicellular –> etc. etc.? or it continues with development where the life ceased to exist at death?
I will appreciate your reply.
Thank you brother, Manjeet Singh, Ji for your reply.
Thank you brother, Manjeet Singh, Ji for your reply. Welcome to the Gurbani Blog.
I agree with Mr T Singh that Genesis story of creation does not tally with Gurmat of Guru Nanak, I am more inclined to think that we were evolved from many different processes of creation as per God’s plan which is let His mighty invisible energy spring into action as per his Cosmic System-Rule-Law of Nature.
So energy got converted into matter and matter started to intermingle creating all new things, heat, water, air, soil etc formed conditions suitable for biological life to emerge out of earth and water, earth provided all the essential minerals and elements for life and water and air provided other life supporting elements, such as oxygen that gets dissolved in water, minerals gets dissolved in water, pure water cannot yield life, scientifically we know that, so combination of elements gasses created life that then evolved over many millions of years to our present day life form. I don’t think I feel satisfied with God created Adam and then from his rib he created Eve, but thats the marvel of God’s automatic plan, he said let there be creation after he assigned particles their so called properties, for instance a particle of Magnet, God would have given it instructions to only attract ferrous metals, and no other substance no non-ferrous metals like aluminium, copper, glass etc, so can a magnet refuse to attract a ferrous metal, No it cannot, it has no free will to refuse, it must obey, but man with his intellect can force a magnet to disobey by forcing it away from a ferrous metal, so like wise Oxygen when it comes into contact with metals it will oxidise metals, forming corrosion, rusting and so on. That’s how God intended his creation to do things and create new substances. A very complex lengthy process, and to someone who is eternal, time means nothing, so God can wait billions of years to see his creation self creating things after he laid the rules (hukam)
Hukmi raza chalna Nanak likhia Naal. This is the chief principle or element on which creation took place, here it means everything that is happening in our universe is happening as per law of what we call now as law of physics, or (Cosmic System-Rule-Law of Nature,rule of nature)
Indeed it is not hard to imagine, how our Creator only needed to design or create the rules, and using the prime source of creation the Invisible Energy (Which is part of God himself) so hence forth would from then on start creating untold things, forming different various elements which then intermingle with different elements to create many different substances, one by one, giving rise to infinite new things as they intermingle with one another, this is how I now see how universe was created.
So to start with, God and his infinite Energy, both are as one as you see one coin, but it has two sides, front and back, same way God has two main aspects that is his Intellect or knowledge or his awareness, or conscious, whatever you like to call the intelligent part of God and his infinite invisible Energy, the unseen substance that fills up the entire space, just like radio waves cannot be seen but they occupy the entire space, you can pick up a radio station in all places.
So God instructed his Energy which consists of tiniest of tiny particle, quarks etc which makes the nucleolus of an atom, so just an atom by itself is so tiny that on its own it cannot be seen, if you brought trillions of those same atoms together they become a lump that you can then see easily.
So God only had to create or install instructions in these smallest of small particles, to acquire a “property” so these properties are like gravity, magnetism, mass, centripetal forces, acceleration, inertia etc etc etc, so as matter started to form from the invisible Energy particles, gravity helped clumping it together.
So in the beginning, God converted some of his infinite energy into matter by giving particles of energy their properties, or conditions or rules, that these particles must obey, they had no free will so they must obey they cannot refuse, we have free will we can refuse or accept his commands, but for matter it cannot refuse what assignment has been given to it by God.
Gravity is the main force behind creation of matter, so just as matter started to form, its gravity started to influence on nearby particles as they clumped together to form larger lumps of matter, in the end the lump became so huge, indeed it became massive and extremely huge such that due to gravity its inner core could no longer bear the pressure and heat that it exploded into many smaller lumps spewing out into all directions, that is how I see the big bang theory being some what how it got created as science does not know what happened prior to big bang, so this is my theory on what happened before it was initiated, so as the smaller lumps were forced outwards they continue to this day floating in space still under the influence of gravity doing their orbits, like our Sun keeps our earth in its orbit thanks to force of gravity that the Sun exerts on Earth and so earth instead of shooting out in a straight path orbits the sun due to centripetal force, so this is how God designed the creation to happened by his command and the rest was all automatic process.
God rarely intervene, he just sits back and watches his creation happening before his “eyes” he is ever so pleased with the results, when he gets bored he can wipe us all clean or he will just let it do its own thing, to see what new emerges, that is what we see today through various deep space probes, matter still being created into lumps from gaseous state, black holes sucking in other huge lumps of matter and getting denser and denser to a point where it will no longer be able to hold the internal heat and pressures that they may explode once more spewing matter outwards into many other directions forming new planets and stars and so on.
Then evolution happens when sufficient conditions occurs on planets.
This is why when something goes wrong with our Earth, like Global warming, God does not intervene, climate change is the result of our actions, or actions of nature of things, like the volcanos erupt, no one can stop that, the pressures and heat inside our earth does its intended duty as per his Hukam (Cosmic System-Rule-Law of Nature)
Dear heavenly mentality, if you read the entire article, you will find that the Gurmat of Guru Nanak has nothing in common with the concept you have described in your comment.
Genesis 2:18-23
Then the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner. So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman [ishshah], for out of Man[ish] this one was taken.