How did Sarbloh Granth come into existence?
This section is a translation of Giani Gurwinder Singh Ji's Sri Sarbloh Prakaash Katha series, specifically the following videos:
https://youtu.be/T9lRlRJFojA & https://youtu.be/5SZUXRU9ljU
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Following Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj’s Departure from Sri Anandpur Sahib, Guru Sahib made their way to Damdama Sahib (Talwandi Sabo).
Maharaj continued even further South until They ended their journey in the Dhakhan-Dhaesh (Southern Lands ~ modern day Maharashtra, India). Guru Sahib spent 14 months at Sri Hazur Abchal-Nagar Sahib, Nanded. Maharaj showed many beautiful displays while in Nanded. This includes turning Madho Bairaagee into Banda Singh Bahadur.
There is an extensive history of Maharaj's Great Presence in the South which we cannot fit into this short introduction but an event relevant to our discussion is Guru Sahib formalizing Sri Sarbloh Prakaash (Sarbloh Granth/Manglacharan other names) there as well.
There is a conversation between Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj and Bhai Daya Singh which forms the context of how Sri Maya Asthothar (First 322 chhandhs) came to be. Sri Maya Asthothar is the first Gurbani that appears in Sri Sarbloh Prakash (First 322 chhandhs).
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Guru Sahib had revolutionized the traditional holidays of India and changed their meanings: Vaisakhi (instead of celebrating the harvest, Maharaj harvested egos) and Dussehra (instead of celebrating like the world, Maharaj had turned this into a day of Shastar Pooja and reciting Dasam Bani). Bhai Daya Singh then reflected on how Pandits cleaned their homes on Diwali and they believe that Lakshmi (Goddess of Prosperity, Fortune) will come into their homes on that day as a result... Bhai Daya Singh asked how should the Khalsa practice on this day? Should the Khalsa worship wealth, money, Lakshmi, etc.? Guru Gobind Singh Ji smiled and said: the Guru’s Khalsa is not gonna worship Maya like the world but will worship Sree-Maya, Sree-Lakhmee, among other names mentioned in the Bani. Bhai Daya Singh did not understand and asked Maharaj what They meant?
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Just like a man has honour (Maan)... he is referred to as Sree-Maan: the One with Honour. If a women is intelligent then they are referred to as Sree-Mathee: the One with Intelligence. These are common examples. In Gurmukhi, we use Sardaar and Bibi as terms of respect. Similarly – in Sanskrit – 'Sree-Maan' and 'Sree-Mathee' are used. Sree-Mayaa = the Husband of Maya = Vaheguru. We hear the name 'Sree-Path' as a common name referring to the same concept. Sree has multiple meanings. One meaning is a short version of Aasree (that which takes support). Generally, there are two versions of words: Visrath Roop ~ Extended Form and Sankhaep Form ~ Short Form. Gurbani has many forms of these Visrath Roop and Sankhaep Roop. For example, the Visrath Roop of this Mangal... we see 'Ik Oangkaar Sathinaam[u] Karthaa Purakh[u] nirbho[u] nirvair[u] Akaal Moorath[i] Ajoonee Saibha[ng] Gurprasaadh[i]'... the Sankhaep Roop is found in Gurbani as: 'Ik Oangkaar Sath[i]-Gurprasaadh[i]'. Another example of a word is 'Abinaasee '(Extended Form) – meaning indestructible – and its short form 'Anaasee'.
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In this way, 'Aasree' is the extended form and 'Sree' can be interpreted as the short form. (TN: Sree/Sri also means Ultimate/Supreme) Guru Sahib said that the Khalsa will not ever lack in food or wealth if they do worship of Sargun-Vaheguru in this way. Bhai Daya Singh mentioned that they heard Pandits and householders reciting Praises of Maya but have never heard Praises of Sree-Maya. Bhai Daya Singh requested Maharaj to recite this type of Asthothar.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj then told Bhai Daya Singh that They will recite what They recited to Akaal Purakh Vaheguru’s Vairaat Form (Expanse of Entire Universe) in Their Previous Janam as Dhusht Dhaman. Some suggest that Samundh-Rikhee was doing spiritual practice and with them was Markanday Rikhee. At this time, Durga and Kaalikaa were fighting Sranvath Beej. Durga retreated because Sranvath Beej kept multiplying through each drop of his blood that spilt. Durga retreated to Mata Sahib Devan Ji’s Asthaan and started to doing worship. Two demons came after her and ended up near Samundh-Rikhee, they asked if there was any ‘Randee’ that came by? (Insulting Durga Ji). Samundh Rikhee stated that Durga is Parameshwar’s Primal-Power/Aadh[i]-Shakthee and you are disrespectfully calling her ‘Randee’... they decided to kill Samundh Rikhee first. Samundh Rikhee did Ardaas to be saved at that time from the hands of the demons. At that time, Samundh Rikhee heard Akaash Baanee (meaning a voice from the skies) which told him that it would take time to take the form of a regular human but would need a different means to come into existence. Samundh Rikhee asked about a good way to enter the world? The voice then told him to dust off the lion-skin he was sitting on. Once he did this, a Shastar-dhaaree form came from the lion-skin. The Lion-Skin Shastar-dhaaree form then asked what is your command Oh Father? Samund Rikhee explained that – as a Rikhee – his most important principle is non-violence. He said I don’t want to kill anyone but take these demons away somewhere far and kill them away from my sight. So, the demons were killed in this way.
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Samundh-Rikhee then named that Form: Dhusht-Dhaman because They destroyed the tyrannical demons. Dhusht-Dhaman then asked what is your command now? Samundh Rikhee then said 'Oh Vaheguru what type of beautiful scene is this? You have taken on this form and call me Father? How can I be Your Father? Akaal Purakh then told Samundh-Rikhee to keep this a secret... 'command me so I can act in this world... I want to take on form and live the life of a Bhagat and merge into my Own Form. So please command'. Oh Akaal Purakh Vaheguru, You are Vaheguru Yourself so why should scene take place? This unfathomable play is Yours. If you wish to experience the life of a Bhagat then you must go through spiritual hardships and start doing worship.
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There are handwritten folios written by Kavi Mangal Singh which detail this history. (TN: Giani Ji show pictures of these as part of a slideshow playing here) The old name for Abchal Hazur Sahib was Gobindh-Nagaree when the milk-like Godavaree flowed. The Rikhees did their worship there. When their spiritual states rose, they arrived at Sri Hemkund Sahib as Maharaj narrates in Bachithar Naatak. Some of this narration is found in the 405th Charithar of Sri Charithropakhyan where Raja Sath-Sang did a great sacrifice where Akaal Purakh came out and helped Dhoolo-Dhaevee/Durga-Dhaevee... doing worship at Hazur Sahib then merged both the Sargun-Nirgun Forms into One. There Maharaj focussed on the Attribute-less/Formless Vaheguru (Mahakaal/Shakthaa/Brahm/Warrior) and Akaal Purakh’s Ultimate Power (Kaalikaa/Shakthee/Maya/Weapons).
Guru Sahib narrated that when They had Darshan of Niraakaar (Formless) that’s when they recited Jaap Sahib in praising that Formless. Sant Giani Gurbachan Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale explain this as the Uthhankaa (backstory) as well. Sant Giani Baksees Singh Ji explain that when the Darshan of the Vairaat Form and then wrote Sri-Maya-Asthothar. This entire creation we see, hear, touch, smell, taste... is said to be the shadow/reflection of Vaheguru. Another way of understanding is that Vaheguru has placed their Chaethan-Sathaa (consciousness/awareness) within all of Creation. So did this Gurbani come to existence. This is a Praise of Vaheguru’s Sargun Form aka Bhavaanee. From Ik Oankaar to ... Ek Brahm Sabh Ghat Ghat Pooran Aadh Purakh Bhagvaano (Page 81 in Sri Sarbloh Steek or until 322nd Chhandh). Maharaj recited this in the mountains of Haemkund in their Form of Dhusht-Dhaman and then had recited to Bhai Daya Singh for celebrating Diwali.
Baba Santa Singh Ji 96 Crorree had Sri Sarbloh Prakaash published and made two distinctions: there is a short form Usthat Sri Maya Lakhmee Ji Ki (until 107th Chhandh) and a longer form Sri Maya Asthothar (until 322nd Chhandh).
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In the 106th Chhandh, Maharaj instructs us to recite during Amrit Vela. The 107th Chhandh states that there can never be enough praise of Vaheguru and so they end there. The maryada of the Panth should be followed (read up until 107th Chhandh for the shorter version). Bhai Daya Singh was scribing the Gurbani when the Nau-Nandh walked in. Bhai Daya Singh asked who are they? Guru Sahib smiled...
Sant Giani Gurbachan Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale explain about them in Sri Gurmukh Prakash. Sant Ji write that Maharaj had multiple reasons to go to Sri Hazur Sahib: to meet Aurangzeb, to help Bahadur Shah, and to meet the Nau-Nandh Saadhu’s who were meditating upon Guru Sahib for 4-Yuga’s in order for Maharaj to take back their Treasure from them and liberate them. When Guru Sahib sent Baba Banda Bahadur to Punjab then Maharaj called the Nau-Nandh for their Treasure. Bhai Daya Singh Ji asked what treasure? At that time two Nandh came forward...
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There was a time that when Daksh Prajapathee held a huge sacrifice and didn’t call Shiva Ji. Shiva Ji’s wife came and asked why Shiva Ji wasn’t called. Daksh Prajapathee insulted Shiva Ji by saying that he lives in the cremation ground etc. If Shiva Ji came then he would make him dishonoured. Daksh’s daughter Sathee (wife of Shiva Ji) then jumped into the sacrificial fire. Shiva Ji got very mad after hearing this, went crazy and ended up wandering into wilderness. At that time, the Nandhi-bull felt compassion that their master was suffering. Shiva Ji kicked Nandhi-bull and arrived at the Banks of Godavaree River. The Nau-Nandh found the Nandhi-bull and realized it was the vehicle of Shiva Ji then they started worshipping it as it had landed on the place where their Guru Brahm-Anand did their spiritual practice. We treated and took care of the Nandhi-Bull and thus, the 9 of them became named: Nau-Nandh (9-Nandh). Gobindhpuree became Nanded (Nau-Nandh). Dhusht-Dhaman also did spiritual practice amongst us. Sant Giani Gurbachan Singh Ji explain this as well. When Akaal Purakh (Formless) then spoke to Dhusht-Dhaman (Sargun-taking on Form) saying that I am happy that you protected the Devi but this was something that I had done. Dhusht-Dhaman asked about when the Devi was protected by Vaheguru previously. Then Akaal Purakh explains that the Sarbloh Avatar was taken to protect the Devi before. Dhusht-Dhaman was narrated the entire story about Sarbloh Avatar in Sanskrit. Dhusht-Dhaman then wrote 5 adhiyaye’s narrating the account. This was referred to as Manglacharan and then when Dhusht-Dhaman came to Godavaree then the Granth was given to the Nau-Nandh’s Guru Brahmaanand and instructed them to keep this Granth and return it to them in their Kalyug Avatar when they come and reveal their ancient place of worship. Their Guru then narrated from this granth. Their Guru told them about the future and past with detail. They explained the war of Sarbloh Avatar in depth. This type of vision was something that Bhai Raam Koeir had and wrote done. The Nau-Nandh then wrote commentaries about Sarbloh Avatar. Then the Nau-Nandh asked who can make us liberated? Their Guru said that they do not have the capacity to make us liberated but the Form of Dhusht-Dhaman will come in Kalyug and will liberate you. They asked how will they recognize the Form? Their Guru Said that Dhusht-Dhaman will come and ask for Their Treasure.
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So when Guru Sahib came and asked for Their Treasure, the Nau-Nandh presented the Sanskrit Granth & 2 Commentaries (total 3 granths) and asked for liberation. They had been yearning for 4 Yug’s as they were blessed with this ability to live that long and be able to disappear/reappear and not feel hunger etc. Bhai Daya Singh then wanted to hear about the Sarbloh Avatar. Guru Sahib then began a modern translation. The Nau-Nandh, Baba Deep Singh, Bhai Nand Laal Ji, Baba Santokh Singh Ji, among other Gursikhs were present at this time. First, Sri Maya Asthothar was translated (1st till 322nd Chhandh). Then Sukar-Nandh and Saraswathee-Nandh’s Commentaries were translated and condensed. The Nau-Nandh were then blessed with Amrit and became liberated.
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If you were confused about the spiritual definitions and concepts, the next section will be dedicated to understanding Nirgun-Sargun Vaheguru and how these are personified by using Masculine-Feminine Terms and Beings...