Creation of the world according to Bachitar Natak

[Arsh1469]

So, I was reading this book called Life of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and His Teachings by Dalip Singh. In it he tells how in chapter 2 of Bachitar Natak Guru Ji tells how the world was created. 

It says

"When the formless God effected the expansion of the universe by uttering a word, (Oankar) He created the Earth. At the onset He created the matter of the five elements (Maya), from it a most beautiful and powerful king named Kalsain (Vishnu) emerged. The second king produced was Kalkait (Brahma) and the third Koorrbaras (Shiva). The fourth was Kaldhuj (Mahavishnu), from Whom the whole creation emerged. God has thousands of beautiful eyes and thousands of lovely feet. He has enthroned Himself on the bed cushion pf multi-headed Hydra Serpent and He is remembered by the people, the One seated on the coiled body of Hydra Serpent. God extracted wax from one of His ears, from which Madh and Kitab were produced. He then extracted wax from the other ear, from which this universe was created. He then cursed Madh and Kitab to be killed. Their body fluids were thrown into the ocean. The gluey and oily matter of their body fluids began to float on the surface of water and from thence onward the creation was named after Madh. Those who perform good deeds in this universe are remembered as godly persons, while the evil doers are called demons."

It is very interesting to see what Guru Ji wrote. After this Dalip Singh Ji said

"Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji in this myth first gives ideas of Guru Nanak as Given in Japji, that the Universe was brought into existence by utterance of One Word by God. In this way God created the Three Gods of Hindu Trinity, Brhama, Vishnu, Shiva, signifying creation of Matter (Maya) of three modes, from which the whole universe was created. God is further stated to be resting on the coils of the body of Hydra Serpent. This myth is the modification of the Puranic Myth of Creation."

Thoughts

 

[intrigued]

Should we take this literally or figuratively?

[MisterrSingh]

A formless God has ear wax? He has ears? 

[Koi]

It is using the allegorical story (or at least part of) of how vishnu created the world. Using that same analogy, it is talking about the ear wax, madhu and kaitab. These two would go on to be the gate keepers of vaikhunth as Jai and Vijay. Then, after getting cursed by the 4 child rishis, they become the rakshas Harnakash and Hirinykashap, Raavan and Kumbhkaran, Dantvakar and Shishupal. Vishnu takes form each time to kill them (Varaahaa and Narsingha, Sri Raam, Sri Krishan), after which they return to their celestial abode.

Now, these are not to be taken literally as such. Understand that, at lot of these Puranic stories were kept under lock and key by the pandits. So Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj translated these in his own way for everyone to read.

[MisterrSingh]

For some reason the Sikh masses aren't enthusiastically informed of Guru Gobind Singh Ji's immense passion for literature and the creative arts in general.

There's a clear delineation to be made between two distinct categories of their authored works: 1) Their divinely-inspired / spiritual / metaphysical writings that we take as Gurbani, and 2) Their translations of existing literature (including ancient Hindu texts) they were personally fond of, or works they simply wanted to present to the public in another language for posterity.

To say that Guru Ji WROTE something implies they were the original AUTHOR of it, and therefore they ENDORSE everything contained within that text. In my opinion, this assertion is INCORRECT and MISLEADING.

Some of the greatest intellectual minds in history have translated earlier texts in ancient or obscure languages into the current-day language of the era and location of the translator. That, in itself, is an art of sorts. It takes intelligence, passion, and understanding of the original material.

Guru Ji translating an ancient Hindu text DOESN'T automatically mean they OKAY-ED everything within that text.

Did you know Guru Gobind Singh Ji authored/translated a version of Waris Shah's Heer-Ranjha? Although they never made any attempt to claim ownership of the original legend, they made a slight modification to the origins of Heer and her eponymous lover by stating that the aforementioned lovers were members of Indra's heavenly court who were ultimately banished to Earth (incarnating in their respective human forms) for falling in love and getting up to all sorts while in Indra's "employ." Guru Ji translated this particular text with a minor addendum. Guru Ji did NOT conceive of Heer-Ranjha.

[intrigued]

2 hours ago, MisterrSingh said:

There's a clear delineation to be made between two distinct categories of their authored works: 1) Their divinely-inspired / spiritual / metaphysical writings that we take as Gurbani, and 2) Their translations of existing literature (including ancient Hindu texts) they were personally fond of, or works they simply wanted to present to the public in another language for posterity.

I also this is an important distinction to make as well. Would Bachitar natak fall in the first or second category though

[Arsh1469]

6 minutes ago, intrigued said:

I also this is an important distinction to make as well. Would Bachitar natak fall in the first or second category though

I think both

[MisterrSingh]

7 minutes ago, intrigued said:

I also this is an important distinction to make as well. Would Bachitar natak fall in the first or second category though

It's stated as autobiographical, though, isn't it? Could it be a bit of both depending on context and the relevant semantics used?

[intrigued]

2 minutes ago, MisterrSingh said:

It's stated as autobiographical, though, isn't it? Could it be a bit of both depending on context and the relevant semantics used?

I agree but it would take a learned mind to recognize the differences between translated works and original works, and to determine what is approved by Guru Sahib and what is not.

[Arsh1469]

I was reading a bit of Bachitar Natak and it says that the trinity thought they were Supreme so Guru Ji (Guru Ji is speakingas God) created 8 Sakshis in order to give evidence for their entity 

It failed and people countined rituals so Guru Ji/Vahgurh created Sidhs but they worshiped Devtas. Then many Rishis were created who all sang parise of themselves.

Then I created Dutt by they did not know the way of the Lord.

Then I created Gorakh who made great kings disciples. His disciples wore rings in their ear and forgot the Lord.

Guru Ji lists many more people then he say

I created Mohammed who was made the master of Arabia. He started a religion and circumcised all the kings. He caused all to utter his name not the name of the Lord. Everyone was parying to others not the Supreme Brhaman(Vahguru) 

When I was busy in Meditation the Lord called me and snet me to the Earth with following words.

I have adopted you as my son and hath created you for the propagation of the panth. You go therefore for the spread of Dharam and cause people to retrace their steps for evil action.

I stood up with folded hands boeing my head said The panth sahll prevail only in the world with your assistance.

Whatever the lord has told me I have wrriten the same

 

This from Bachitar Natak is so interesting and deep. Thoughts