Dictionary Of Mythological References In Guru Granth Sahib

[VerbalArtistry]

Guru Granth Sahib as you all may know has a lot of mythological references and it is always good to know who and what the story behind these references are so i will be posting mythological references that have been made in Guru Granth Sahib in alphabetical order from the book called dictionary of mythological references in Guru Granth Sahib. Starting with Adam

Adam

source: the Koran; the Bible

Reference in Guru Granth Sahib-

ਬਾਬਾ ਆਦਮ ਕਉ ਕਿਛੁ ਨਦਰਿ ਦਿਖਾਈ ॥

He bestowed His Grace on Adam, the father of mankind,

ਉਨਿ ਭੀ ਭਿਸਤਿ ਘਨੇਰੀ ਪਾਈ ॥੨॥

who then lived in paradise for a long time. ||2||

Surinder Singh Kohli Translation - When God saw towards Adam with his unapproving eyes, how could he stay long in heaven then? (Bhario Kabir, p.1161)

Comments: The references about Adam in Guru Granth Sahib is a back-handed compliment. On the face of it, it can be translated thus: "When God showed his eyes to Adam, he enjoyed heaven greatly." In the first few chapters of the Bible, it is stated that after God had created the universe, he took some of the dust of the earth and created Adam, a man. He was kept in the Garden of Eden, where there were fruit trees, rivers and other things, which he could desire. But still Adam was a lone man. Therefore God created his wife Eve from one of his ribs. Both of them lived happily. They had been forbidden by God to eat the fruit of one of the trees. This tree was the Tree of knowledge of Good and Evil. The couple did not yet know the evil. One day the devil entered the Garden in the form of a snake and persuaded Eve to eat the fruit of the above mentioned tree. Eve tasted some of it and gave some to Adam. Thus on the inducement of the Devil, they broke the law of the Garden and no longer remained innocent. As a punishment, they were driven out of the Garden. They had disobeyed God and had brought evil into the world.

Next will be : Ad Bhavani

[VerbalArtistry]

Ad Bhavani

Souce: Purans

Reference in Guru Granth Sahib

ਤੂ ਕਹੀਅਤ ਹੀ ਆਦਿ ਭਵਾਨੀ ॥

You are called Ad Bhavani

ਮੁਕਤਿ ਕੀ ਬਰੀਆ ਕਹਾ ਛਪਾਨੀ ॥੪॥

At the time of liberation, where will you hide then? ||4|| (Gond Namdev p. 874)

Comments: The word Ad means 'from the beginning' and Bhavani is another name of Durga, the wife of Shiva. Thus Ad Bhavani may connote the Shakti of Shiva. The word Ad also gives the sense of 'the firs' or 'the original'. Ad Bhavani may be differentiated from Ad Shakti or Primal Power.

Next will be Agastya

[VerbalArtistry]

Agastya

Source: Mahabharta, Ramayana, Uttara Ramayana, Bhagavata Purana, Devi Bhagavata Purana, Skandha Purana

Reference in Guru Granth Sahib

ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਸਸੀਅ ਧੇਨ ਲਛਿਮੀ ਕਲਪਤਰ ਸਿਖਰਿ ਸੁਨਾਗਰ ਨਦੀ ਚੇ ਨਾਥੰ ॥

Through the nectar, the moon, the wish-fulfilling cow, Lakshmi, the miraculous tree of life, Sikhar the sun's horse, and Dhanavantar the wise physician - all arose from the ocean, the lord of rivers;

ਕਰਮ ਕਰਿ ਖਾਰੁ ਮਫੀਟਸਿ ਰੀ ॥੪॥

and yet, because of its karma, its saltiness has not left it. ||4||

Episode: In the above reference, the name of Agastya has not been given, but is implied. Agastya was a great rishi (Seer) of his time. When Indra killed Vritrasura, a demon, who was an enemy of the gods, his allies, the Kalakeya demons hid themshelves at the bottom of the ocean, from where they used to come to earth and devour the Brahmins, ruthelessly killing them. They also caused much damage to the hemitages of Vasishta and Cyavana. The Brahmins on earth were terribly afraid and prayed to the gods to protect them. The gods entreated Vishnu for the protection of the brahmins. Visnu told them that the ocean was dried up and the Kalakeya were caught, nothing could be done and this task could only be performed by Agastya. Agastya could not refuse the request made by gods, therefore he drank the whole ocean to the wonder of the spectators. The gods caught hold of all the demons and killed them. But now another problem arose for which the gods were told by Vishnu that the ocean would be filled again when Bhagirath, by his penance, would bring the Ganges on the earth.

There is another version of the above episode. In order to save the world from the wrath of the demons, the gods arranged a sacrificial feast to which the ocean was also invited but did not come because of his ego, therefore Agastya drank him. When the beings of the sea began to writhe in agony, because of the want of water, Agastya, made water and filled the ocean again. This is the reason of the saltishness of the water of ocean. This is the reason of the saltishness of the water of the ocean.

Comments: When the ocean was churned by the gods and demons jointly, fourteen precious gems (chaudeh rattan) came out of it.They included the ambrosia moon, elysian cow, lakshmi, the miraculous tree, the suns steed and the physician dhanantar. But still the water of the ocean could not become sweet and remained saltish because of his past Karmas

Next will be Agni...

[VerbalArtistry]

Agni

Source: Vedic hymnsaddressed to Agni, the god of fire. Various references to Agni are found inMahabharata and Devi Bhagavata.

Some References inGuru Granth Sahib

ਵਿਸਮਾਦੁ ਅਗਨੀ ਖੇਡਹਿ ਵਿਡਾਣੀ ॥

Agni is called Baisantar Devta (// Asa M.1 p473). Its other namesare Parvak and Tejas. It is an evolute from Air (Paun Devta) and labours hardlike him under the fear of the Lord.

ਆਸਾੜੁ ਭਲਾ ਸੂਰਜੁ ਗਗਨਿ ਤਪੈ ॥

The month of Aasaarh is good; the sunblazes in the sky.

ਧਰਤੀ ਦੂਖ ਸਹੈ ਸੋਖੈ ਅਗਨਿ ਭਖੈ ॥

The earth suffers in pain, parched androasted in the fire.

(Baramaha Tukhari M.1, p1108

ਕਾਸਟ ਮਹਿ ਜਿਉ ਹੈ ਬੈਸੰਤਰੁ ਮਥਿ ਸੰਜਮਿ ਕਾਢਿ ਕਢੀਜੈ ॥

Thepotential energy of fire is within the wood; it is released if you know how torub it and generate friction.

Kalyan M.4 p1323

ਜੈਸੀ ਅਗਨਿ ਉਦਰ ਮਹਿ ਤੈਸੀ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਮਾਇਆ ॥

Asis the fire within the womb, so is Maya outside

Ramkali M.3, Anand p921

Episode: There is no direct reference to anyepisode about Agni, the God of fire in Guru Granth Sahib

Comments: We produce below a quotation regardingAgni, the god of fire as given in Epics, Myths and Legends of India (p28) byP.Thomas. It conveys the significance of this Vedic God:

"Agni is the lord, protector, king of men. He isthe lord of the house, dwelling in every abode. He is the guest in every home,he despises no man, he lives in every family. He is therefore considered as amediator between gods and men, and as a witness of their actions; hence to thepresent day he is worshiped , and his blessings sought on all solemn occasions,as at marriage, death, etc. In these old hymns, Agni is spoken of as dwellingin the two pieces of wood, which being rubbed together produce fire, and it isnoticed as a remarkable thing that a living being should spring out of dry(dead) wood. Strange to say, says the poet, the child as soon as he is bornbegins with unnatural voracity to consume his parents. Wonderful is his growthseeing that he is born of the mother who cannot nourish him; but he isnourished by the oblations of clarified butter which are poured into his mouthand which he consumes."