Satguru is Always Awake

 Bijla Singh

     Guru Granth Sahib (Holy Scripture) is the supreme authority and true living Guru of the Sikhs. The Gurbani (message) that it contains was directly revealed by Akal Purakh (God) Himself through Guru Nanak Sahib for the whole of humanity to seek guidance and salvation from. It provides wisdom, spiritual awakening, enlightenment and guidance to true way of life. Guru Granth Sahib is the embodiment of same Divine Light that resided in all the preceding Gurus. This is why it was given the status of Guru and Sikhs love it dearly. Since Sikhs do not treat Gurbani casually, Guru Granth Sahib is ‘parkash’ (opened in the early morning) and ‘Sukh Aasan’ (closed at night) after conducting a special ceremony which has been the tradition since 1604. Muslims, ignorant of the Sikh traditions, have misinterpreted the Sukh Aasan ceremony as a way of putting Guru Granth Sahib to sleep in their article “The Sleeping Book”. Further, they claim that this ceremony is a form of idol worship. Muslims have not provided a single credible source to back up their claims. It is highly irrational to write something against a religious practice without truly understanding its significance. In this article we clear this misunderstanding and show that the purpose of Sukh Aasan ceremony is different than what Muslims have assumed and that Guru Granth Sahib is not an idol but an embodiment of Akal Purakh.

Gurbani is Guru

     The word “Guru” is combination of two words Gu meaning Darkness and Ru meaning Light. So literally, Guru means “The Light (divine knowledge) that dispels darkness (ignorance).” The light is divine knowledge of the Shabad (Word). The Shabad is the true nature of Akal Purakh (God) Himself. The first Guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji was imbued with the divine light of the Akal Purakh to fulfill the latter’s will and mission in the world.

ਗੁਰ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ ਗੋਵਿੰਦ ਰੂਪ ॥

“Guru Nanak is embodiment of the Light of God.” (Ang 1192)

     When Guru Nanak conferred Guruship on Bhai Lehna (later called Guru Angad), the same Jot or light was passed on and Guru Angad too became the embodiment of the Divine Light. In the same way, the Divine Light was passed to all the nine Gurus. They were all the repositories of the Divine Light.

ਜੋਤਿ ਓਹਾ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਸਾਇ ਸਹਿ ਕਾਇਆ ਫੇਰਿ ਪਲਟੀਐ ॥

They shared the One Light and the same way; the King just changed His body. (Ang 966)

ਥਾਪਿਆ ਲਹਿਣਾ ਜੀਂਵਦੇ ਗੁਰਿਆਈ ਸਿਰ ਛਤ੍ਰ ਫਿਰਾਯਾ॥ ਜੋਤੀ ਜੋਤ ਮਿਲਾਇਕੈ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਨਾਨਕ ਰੂਪ ਵਟਾਯਾ॥
ਲਖ ਨ ਕੋਈ ਸਕਈ ਆਚਰਜੇ ਆਚਰਜ ਦਿਖਾਯਾ॥ ਕਾਯਾਂ ਪਲਟ ਸਰੂਪ ਬਣਾਯਾ ॥45॥

During his life time he waved the canopy of Guru Seat on the head of Lahina (Guru Angad) and merged his own light into him. Guru Nanak now transformed himself. This mystery is incomprehensible for anybody that awe-inspiring (Nanak) accomplished a wonderful task. He converted (his body) into a new form. (Bhai Gurdas Ji)

     In 1708, the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, conferred the Guruship on Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Holy Scripture), which too became the embodiment of Divine Light for all time.  The complete essence, knowledge and power of the Divine Light are therefore enshrined and preserved in Guru Granth Sahib Ji. For the Sikhs, Guru Granth Sahib Ji is the manifestation of the Gurus’ Spirit and through it the true Satguru lives on in the Sikh Faith. Sikhs believe in the Shabad as the Guru. The Shabad is eternal. The true Shabad is Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Thus, Guru Granth Sahib Ji is the Living Guru for all time.

ਬਾਣੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੁਰੂ ਹੈ ਬਾਣੀ ਵਿਚਿ ਬਾਣੀ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਸਾਰੇ ॥

The Word, the Bani is Guru, and Guru is the Bani. Within the Bani, the Ambrosial Nectar is contained. (Ang 982)

ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਸਤਿ ਸਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਜਾਣਹੁ ਗੁਰਸਿਖਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਕਰਤਾ ਆਪਿ ਮੁਹਹੁ ਕਢਾਏ ॥

O GurSikhs, know that the Bani, the Word of the True Guru, is true, absolutely true. The Creator Lord Himself causes the Guru to chant it. (Ang 308)

ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਬਚਨ ਬਚਨ ਹੈ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪਾਧਰੁ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਜਨਾਵੈਗੋ ॥

The True Guru is the Word, and the Word is the True Guru, who teaches the Path of Liberation. || (Ang 1309)

     Furthermore, the true living Guru is out of the cycle of death and birth which is one of the many qualities of the true guru.

ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਮੇਰਾ ਸਦਾ ਸਦਾ ਨਾ ਆਵੈ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥

My True Guru, forever and ever, does not come and go. (Ang 759)

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