Gurbani verses that apparently praise Krishna/Vishnu .. how do we explain these ?

[Guest]

Often we refute that Hari , Raam and litany of sanskrit names for the divinity is actually referring to Parbrahm or waheguru ji . Agreed these are all names of Parbrahm even in some interpretatons of hindu scriptures.

But how do we explain these shabads from SGGS itself , that almost seemingly are in adoration of either vishnu or krishna. (Lets keep the politics or RSS out of this one for the sake of this argument ) 

expecting a purely spiritual discussion

 

ਮਾਲੀ ਗਉੜਾ ਬਾਣੀ ਭਗਤ ਨਾਮਦੇਵ ਜੀ ਕੀ 
माली गउड़ा बाणी भगत नामदेव जी की 
Mālī ga▫uṛā baṇī bẖagaṯ Nāmḏev jī kī 
Maalee Gauraa, The Word Of Devotee Naam Dayv Jee: 
 

ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ 
ੴ सतिगुर प्रसादि ॥ 
Ik▫oaʼnkār saṯgur parsāḏ. 
One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru: 
 

ਧਨਿ ਧੰਨਿ ਓ ਰਾਮ ਬੇਨੁ ਬਾਜੈ ॥ 
धनि धंनि ओ राम बेनु बाजै ॥ 
Ḏẖan ḏẖan o rām ben bājai. 
Blessed, blessed is that flute which the Lord plays. 
 

ਮਧੁਰ ਮਧੁਰ ਧੁਨਿ ਅਨਹਤ ਗਾਜੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ 
मधुर मधुर धुनि अनहत गाजै ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥ 
Maḏẖur maḏẖur ḏẖun anhaṯ gājai. ||1|| rahā▫o. 
The sweet, sweet unstruck sound current sings forth. ||1||Pause|| 
 

ਧਨਿ ਧਨਿ ਮੇਘਾ ਰੋਮਾਵਲੀ ॥ 
धनि धनि मेघा रोमावली ॥ 
Ḏẖan ḏẖan megẖā romāvalī. 
Blessed, blessed is the wool of the sheep; 
 

ਧਨਿ ਧਨਿ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨ ਓਢੈ ਕਾਂਬਲੀ ॥੧॥ 
धनि धनि क्रिसन ओढै कांबली ॥१॥ 
Ḏẖan ḏẖan krisan odẖai kāʼnblī. ||1|| 
blessed, blessed is the blanket worn by Krishna. ||1|| 
 

ਧਨਿ ਧਨਿ ਤੂ ਮਾਤਾ ਦੇਵਕੀ ॥ 
धनि धनि तू माता देवकी ॥ 
Ḏẖan ḏẖan ṯū māṯā ḏevkī. 
Blessed, blessed are you, O mother Dayvakee; 
 

ਜਿਹ ਗ੍ਰਿਹ ਰਮਈਆ ਕਵਲਾਪਤੀ ॥੨॥ 
जिह ग्रिह रमईआ कवलापती ॥२॥ 
Jih garih rama▫ī▫ā kavalāpaṯī. ||2|| 
into your home the Lord was born. ||2|| 
 

ਧਨਿ ਧਨਿ ਬਨ ਖੰਡ ਬਿੰਦ੍ਰਾਬਨਾ ॥ 
धनि धनि बन खंड बिंद्राबना ॥ 
Ḏẖan ḏẖan ban kẖand binḏrābanā. 
Blessed, blessed are the forests of Brindaaban; 
 

ਜਹ ਖੇਲੈ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਨਾਰਾਇਨਾ ॥੩॥ 
जह खेलै स्री नाराइना ॥३॥ 
Jah kẖelai sarī nārā▫inā. ||3|| 
the Supreme Lord plays there. ||3|| 
 

ਬੇਨੁ ਬਜਾਵੈ ਗੋਧਨੁ ਚਰੈ ॥ 
बेनु बजावै गोधनु चरै ॥ 
Ben bajāvai goḏẖan cẖarai. 
He plays the flute, and herds the cows; 
 

ਨਾਮੇ ਕਾ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਆਨਦ ਕਰੈ ॥੪॥੧॥ 
नामे का सुआमी आनद करै ॥४॥१॥ 
Nāme kā su▫āmī ānaḏ karai. ||4||1|| 
Naam Dayv's Lord and Master plays happily. ||4||1|| 
 

ਮੇਰੋ ਬਾਪੁ ਮਾਧਉ ਤੂ ਧਨੁ ਕੇਸੌ ਸਾਂਵਲੀਓ ਬੀਠੁਲਾਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ 
मेरो बापु माधउ तू धनु केसौ सांवलीओ बीठुलाइ ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥ 
Mero bāp māḏẖa▫o ṯū ḏẖan kesou sāʼnvlī▫o bīṯẖulā▫e. ||1|| rahā▫o. 
O my Father, Lord of wealth, blessed are You, long-haired, dark-skinned, my darling. ||1||Pause|| 
 

ਕਰ ਧਰੇ ਚਕ੍ਰ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਤੇ ਆਏ ਗਜ ਹਸਤੀ ਕੇ ਪ੍ਰਾਨ ਉਧਾਰੀਅਲੇ ॥ 
कर धरे चक्र बैकुंठ ते आए गज हसती के प्रान उधारीअले ॥ 
Kar ḏẖare cẖakar baikunṯẖ ṯe ā▫e gaj hasṯī ke parān uḏẖārī▫ale. 
You hold the steel chakra in Your hand; You came down from Heaven, and saved the life of the elephant. 
 

ਦੁਹਸਾਸਨ ਕੀ ਸਭਾ ਦ੍ਰੋਪਤੀ ਅੰਬਰ ਲੇਤ ਉਬਾਰੀਅਲੇ ॥੧॥ 
दुहसासन की सभा द्रोपती अम्बर लेत उबारीअले ॥१॥ 
Ḏuhsāsan kī sabẖā ḏaropaṯī ambar leṯ ubārī▫ale. ||1|| 
In the court of Duhsaasan, You saved the honor of Dropati, when her clothes were being removed. ||1|| 
 

ਗੋਤਮ ਨਾਰਿ ਅਹਲਿਆ ਤਾਰੀ ਪਾਵਨ ਕੇਤਕ ਤਾਰੀਅਲੇ ॥ 
गोतम नारि अहलिआ तारी पावन केतक तारीअले ॥ 
Goṯam nār ahli▫ā ṯārī pāvan keṯak ṯārī▫ale. 
You saved Ahliyaa, the wife of Gautam; how many have You purified and carried across? 
 

ਐਸਾ ਅਧਮੁ ਅਜਾਤਿ ਨਾਮਦੇਉ ਤਉ ਸਰਨਾਗਤਿ ਆਈਅਲੇ ॥੨॥੨॥ 
ऐसा अधमु अजाति नामदेउ तउ सरनागति आईअले ॥२॥२॥ 
Aisā aḏẖam ajāṯ nāmḏe▫o ṯa▫o sarnāgaṯ ā▫ī▫ale. ||2||2|| 
Such a lowly outcaste as Naam Dayv has come seeking Your Sanctuary. ||2||2|| 

 

And this 

 

 

 

ਮਾਰੂ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥ 
मारू महला ५ ॥ 
Mārū mėhlā 5. 
Maaroo, Fifth Mehl: 
 

ਅਚੁਤ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਪਰਮੇਸੁਰ ਅੰਤਰਜਾਮੀ ॥ 
अचुत पारब्रहम परमेसुर अंतरजामी ॥ 
Acẖuṯ pārbarahm parmesur anṯarjāmī. 
The Supreme Lord God is imperishable, the Transcendent Lord, the Inner-knower, the Searcher of hearts. 
 

ਮਧੁਸੂਦਨ ਦਾਮੋਦਰ ਸੁਆਮੀ ॥ 
मधुसूदन दामोदर सुआमी ॥ 
Maḏẖusūḏan ḏāmoḏar su▫āmī. 
He is the Slayer of demons, our Supreme Lord and Master. 
 

ਰਿਖੀਕੇਸ ਗੋਵਰਧਨ ਧਾਰੀ ਮੁਰਲੀ ਮਨੋਹਰ ਹਰਿ ਰੰਗਾ ॥੧॥ 
रिखीकेस गोवरधन धारी मुरली मनोहर हरि रंगा ॥१॥ 
Rikẖīkes govarḏẖan ḏẖārī murlī manohar har rangā. ||1|| 
The Supreme Rishi, the Master of the sensory organs, the uplifter of mountains, the joyful Lord playing His enticing flute. ||1|| 
 

ਮੋਹਨ ਮਾਧਵ ਕ੍ਰਿਸ੍ਨ ਮੁਰਾਰੇ ॥ 
मोहन माधव क्रिस्न मुरारे ॥ 
Mohan māḏẖav krisan murāre. 
The Enticer of Hearts, the Lord of wealth, Krishna, the Enemy of ego. 
 

ਜਗਦੀਸੁਰ ਹਰਿ ਜੀਉ ਅਸੁਰ ਸੰਘਾਰੇ ॥ 
जगदीसुर हरि जीउ असुर संघारे ॥ 
Jagḏīsur har jī▫o asur sangẖāre. 
The Lord of the Universe, the Dear Lord, the Destroyer of demons. 
 

ਜਗਜੀਵਨ ਅਬਿਨਾਸੀ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਘਟ ਘਟ ਵਾਸੀ ਹੈ ਸੰਗਾ ॥੨॥ 
जगजीवन अबिनासी ठाकुर घट घट वासी है संगा ॥२॥ 
Jagjīvan abẖināsī ṯẖākur gẖat gẖat vāsī hai sangā. ||2|| 
The Life of the World, our eternal and ever-stable Lord and Master dwells within each and every heart, and is always with us. ||2|| 
 

ਧਰਣੀਧਰ ਈਸ ਨਰਸਿੰਘ ਨਾਰਾਇਣ ॥ 
धरणीधर ईस नरसिंघ नाराइण ॥ 
Ḏẖarṇīḏẖar īs narsingẖ nārā▫iṇ. 
The Support of the Earth, the man-lion, the Supreme Lord God. 
 

ਦਾੜਾ ਅਗ੍ਰੇ ਪ੍ਰਿਥਮਿ ਧਰਾਇਣ ॥ 
दाड़ा अग्रे प्रिथमि धराइण ॥ 
Ḏāṛā agre paritham ḏẖarā▫iṇ. 
The Protector who tears apart demons with His teeth, the Upholder of the earth. 
 

ਬਾਵਨ ਰੂਪੁ ਕੀਆ ਤੁਧੁ ਕਰਤੇ ਸਭ ਹੀ ਸੇਤੀ ਹੈ ਚੰਗਾ ॥੩॥ 
बावन रूपु कीआ तुधु करते सभ ही सेती है चंगा ॥३॥ 
Bāvan rūp kī▫ā ṯuḏẖ karṯe sabẖ hī seṯī hai cẖanga. ||3|| 
O Creator, You assumed the form of the pygmy to humble the demons; You are the Lord God of all. ||3|| 
 

ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮਚੰਦ ਜਿਸੁ ਰੂਪੁ ਨ ਰੇਖਿਆ ॥ 
स्री रामचंद जिसु रूपु न रेखिआ ॥ 
Sarī rāmcẖanḏ jis rūp na rekẖ▫i▫ā. 
You are the Great Raam Chand, who has no form or feature. 
 

ਬਨਵਾਲੀ ਚਕ੍ਰਪਾਣਿ ਦਰਸਿ ਅਨੂਪਿਆ ॥ 
बनवाली चक्रपाणि दरसि अनूपिआ ॥ 
Banvālī cẖakarpāṇ ḏaras anūpi▫ā. 
Adorned with flowers, holding the chakra in Your hand, Your form is incomparably beautiful. 
 

ਸਹਸ ਨੇਤ੍ਰ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਹੈ ਸਹਸਾ ਇਕੁ ਦਾਤਾ ਸਭ ਹੈ ਮੰਗਾ ॥੪॥ 
सहस नेत्र मूरति है सहसा इकु दाता सभ है मंगा ॥४॥ 
Sahas neṯar mūraṯ hai sahsā ik ḏāṯā sabẖ hai mangā. ||4|| 
You have thousands of eyes, and thousands of forms. You alone are the Giver, and all are beggars of You. ||4|| 
 

ਭਗਤਿ ਵਛਲੁ ਅਨਾਥਹ ਨਾਥੇ ॥ 
भगति वछलु अनाथह नाथे ॥ 
Bẖagaṯ vacẖẖal anāthah nāthe. 
You are the Lover of Your devotees, the Master of the masterless. 
 

ਗੋਪੀ ਨਾਥੁ ਸਗਲ ਹੈ ਸਾਥੇ ॥ 
गोपी नाथु सगल है साथे ॥ 
Gopī nāth sagal hai sāthe. 
The Lord and Master of the milk-maids, You are the companion of all. 
 

ਬਾਸੁਦੇਵ ਨਿਰੰਜਨ ਦਾਤੇ ਬਰਨਿ ਨ ਸਾਕਉ ਗੁਣ ਅੰਗਾ ॥੫॥ 
बासुदेव निरंजन दाते बरनि न साकउ गुण अंगा ॥५॥ 
Bāsuḏev niranjan ḏāṯe baran na sāka▫o guṇ angā. ||5|| 
O Lord, Immaculate Great Giver, I cannot describe even an iota of Your Glorious Virtues. ||5|| 
 

ਮੁਕੰਦ ਮਨੋਹਰ ਲਖਮੀ ਨਾਰਾਇਣ ॥ 
मुकंद मनोहर लखमी नाराइण ॥ 
Mukanḏ manohar lakẖmī nārā▫iṇ. 
Liberator, Enticing Lord, Lord of Lakshmi, Supreme Lord God. 
 

ਦ੍ਰੋਪਤੀ ਲਜਾ ਨਿਵਾਰਿ ਉਧਾਰਣ ॥ 
द्रोपती लजा निवारि उधारण ॥ 
Ḏaropaṯī lajā nivār uḏẖāraṇ. 
Savior of Dropadi's honor. 
 

ਕਮਲਾਕੰਤ ਕਰਹਿ ਕੰਤੂਹਲ ਅਨਦ ਬਿਨੋਦੀ ਨਿਹਸੰਗਾ ॥੬॥ 
कमलाकंत करहि कंतूहल अनद बिनोदी निहसंगा ॥६॥ 
Kamlākanṯ karahi kanṯūhal anaḏ binoḏī nihsangā. ||6|| 
Lord of Maya, miracle-worker, absorbed in delightful play, unattached. ||6|| 
 

ਅਮੋਘ ਦਰਸਨ ਆਜੂਨੀ ਸੰਭਉ ॥ 
अमोघ दरसन आजूनी स्मभउ ॥ 
Amogẖ ḏarsan ājūnī sambẖa▫o. 
The Blessed Vision of His Darshan is fruitful and rewarding; He is not born, He is self-existent. 
 

ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਜਿਸੁ ਕਦੇ ਨਾਹੀ ਖਉ ॥ 
अकाल मूरति जिसु कदे नाही खउ ॥ 
Akāl mūraṯ jis kaḏe nāhī kẖa▫o. 
His form is undying; it is never destroyed. 
 

ਅਬਿਨਾਸੀ ਅਬਿਗਤ ਅਗੋਚਰ ਸਭੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਤੁਝ ਹੀ ਹੈ ਲਗਾ ॥੭॥ 
अबिनासी अबिगत अगोचर सभु किछु तुझ ही है लगा ॥७॥ 
Abẖināsī abigaṯ agocẖar sabẖ kicẖẖ ṯujẖ hī hai lagā. ||7|| 
O imperishable, eternal, unfathomable Lord, everything is attached to You. ||7|| 
 

ਸ੍ਰੀਰੰਗ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਕੇ ਵਾਸੀ ॥ 
स्रीरंग बैकुंठ के वासी ॥ 
Sarīrang baikunṯẖ ke vāsī. 
The Lover of greatness, who dwells in heaven. 
 

ਮਛੁ ਕਛੁ ਕੂਰਮੁ ਆਗਿਆ ਅਉਤਰਾਸੀ ॥ 
मछु कछु कूरमु आगिआ अउतरासी ॥ 
Macẖẖ kacẖẖ kūram āgi▫ā a▫uṯrāsī. 
By the Pleasure of His Will, He took incarnation as the great fish and the tortoise. 
 

ਕੇਸਵ ਚਲਤ ਕਰਹਿ ਨਿਰਾਲੇ ਕੀਤਾ ਲੋੜਹਿ ਸੋ ਹੋਇਗਾ ॥੮॥ 
केसव चलत करहि निराले कीता लोड़हि सो होइगा ॥८॥ 
Kesav cẖalaṯ karahi nirāle kīṯā loṛėh so ho▫igā. ||8|| 
The Lord of beauteous hair, the Worker of miraculous deeds, whatever He wishes, comes to pass. ||8|| 
 

ਨਿਰਾਹਾਰੀ ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ ਸਮਾਇਆ ॥ 
निराहारी निरवैरु समाइआ ॥ 
Nirāhārī nirvair samā▫i▫ā. 
He is beyond need of any sustenance, free of hate and all-pervading. 
 

ਧਾਰਿ ਖੇਲੁ ਚਤੁਰਭੁਜੁ ਕਹਾਇਆ ॥ 
धारि खेलु चतुरभुजु कहाइआ ॥ 
Ḏẖār kẖel cẖaṯurbẖuj kahā▫i▫ā. 
He has staged His play; He is called the four-armed Lord. 
 

ਸਾਵਲ ਸੁੰਦਰ ਰੂਪ ਬਣਾਵਹਿ ਬੇਣੁ ਸੁਨਤ ਸਭ ਮੋਹੈਗਾ ॥੯॥ 
सावल सुंदर रूप बणावहि बेणु सुनत सभ मोहैगा ॥९॥ 
Sāval sunḏar rūp baṇāvėh beṇ sunaṯ sabẖ mohaigā. ||9|| 
He assumed the beautiful form of the blue-skinned Krishna; hearing His flute, all are fascinated and enticed. ||9|| 
 

ਬਨਮਾਲਾ ਬਿਭੂਖਨ ਕਮਲ ਨੈਨ ॥ 
बनमाला बिभूखन कमल नैन ॥ 
Banmālā bibẖūkẖan kamal nain. 
He is adorned with garlands of flowers, with lotus eyes. 
 

ਸੁੰਦਰ ਕੁੰਡਲ ਮੁਕਟ ਬੈਨ ॥ 
सुंदर कुंडल मुकट बैन ॥ 
Sunḏar kundal mukat bain. 
His ear-rings, crown and flute are so beautiful. 
 

ਸੰਖ ਚਕ੍ਰ ਗਦਾ ਹੈ ਧਾਰੀ ਮਹਾ ਸਾਰਥੀ ਸਤਸੰਗਾ ॥੧੦॥ 
संख चक्र गदा है धारी महा सारथी सतसंगा ॥१०॥ 
Sankẖ cẖakar gaḏā hai ḏẖārī mahā sārthī saṯsangā. ||10|| 
He carries the conch, the chakra and the war club; He is the Great Charioteer, who stays with His Saints. ||10|| 
 

ਪੀਤ ਪੀਤੰਬਰ ਤ੍ਰਿਭਵਣ ਧਣੀ ॥ 
पीत पीत्मबर त्रिभवण धणी ॥ 
Pīṯ pīṯambar ṯaribẖavaṇ ḏẖaṇī. 
The Lord of yellow robes, the Master of the three worlds. 
 

ਜਗੰਨਾਥੁ ਗੋਪਾਲੁ ਮੁਖਿ ਭਣੀ ॥ 
जगंनाथु गोपालु मुखि भणी ॥ 
Jagannāth gopāl mukẖ bẖaṇī. 
The Lord of the Universe, the Lord of the world; with my mouth, I chant His Name. 
 

ਸਾਰਿੰਗਧਰ ਭਗਵਾਨ ਬੀਠੁਲਾ ਮੈ ਗਣਤ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਸਰਬੰਗਾ ॥੧੧॥ 
सारिंगधर भगवान बीठुला मै गणत न आवै सरबंगा ॥११॥ 
Sāringḏẖar bẖagvān bīṯẖulā mai gaṇaṯ na āvai sarbangā. ||11|| 
The Archer who draws the bow, the Beloved Lord God; I cannot count all His limbs. ||11|| 
 

Apparently yellow robes are worn by vishnu and other such descriptions.

 

We need to truly understand meaning of these shabads because then only we can appreciate their value and meaning 

thanks