In my previous post on reincarnation, I tried to explain this concept according to the Gurmat Philosophy of Satguru Granth Sahib Ji. The reincarnation occurs in our mind every moment in this life not in the afterlife. Sikh clergy, Kathakaars and deradaars have taught us the Indian Puranic mythology in explaining Gurbani but not the Gurmat Sikh philosophy as per SGGS. Vast majority of us are mistaken to think it is Gurbani explanation, but it is not.
There are many prevalent Puranic mythological narratives mentioned in SGGS. Guru Sahib and Bhakt Sahibaan have not accepted these myths and beliefs. They do not accept and propagate these myths as the truths of Gurbani, they rather explain their own spiritual messages in this life.
The Hindu mythical belief in 8.4 million reincarnations in afterlife also came from Purans. Gurmat philosophy does not believe we go through 8.4 million reincarnations in afterlife. After physical death we go where we came from i.e., Waheguru. (ਪਵਨੈ ਮਹਿ ਪਵਨੁ ਸਮਾਇਆ।। ਜੋਤੀ ਮਹਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਰਲਿ ਜਾਇਆ।। ਰਾਮਕਲੀ ਮਹਲਾ 5 ਅੰਕ 885) As we now know that new species evolve and die all the time, this 8.4m number means countless.
Our mind goes through spiritual reincarnations (aava gavan) in present life we call it spiritual death of our conscience. It happens when vices take over our mind with our Manmukh actions. Gurmat believes in Karma philosophy (as you sow so shall you reap) which occurs in the present life not afterlife. We are the creators of our bliss, happiness, pains, sufferings and sorrows with virtues or vices we acquire with our actions.
Dharmaraj, Chitr Gupt and Jamdoot according to Sikh philosophy as per SGGS are Puranic mythical beliefs. Gurbani eliminates these beliefs and focus on the life here and now. Physical death is a natural process and happens according to the laws of nature under Waheguru’s Hukam.
DHARMRAJ: was born of sun (Suraj) and a woman according to Puranic mythical belief. After physical death, the soul is judged by dharamraj, the god of death. Good souls are sent to heaven and bad souls to hell according to their deeds.
Sikh Philosophy does not believe in this mythical story, reject and eliminate this myth. Our conscience is the judge, and we focus on the present life here and now. Conscience is behaviors that promotes actions that seem fair and just or moral. It is what helps someone judge whether action, attitude or decision is right or wrong.
There are many shabads on this topic in SGGS. I hope the following few Shabads will enlighten us about these concepts.
ਸੰਤਨ ਮੋਕਉ ਪੂੰਜੀ ਸਉਪੀ ਤਉ ਉਤਰਿਆ ਮਨ ਕਾ ਧੋਖਾ।।
The Guru entrusted me the capital (virtues) with realization then my mind’s delusion dispelled.
ਧਰਮਰਾਇ ਅਬ ਕਹਾ ਕਰੈਗੋ ਜਉ ਫਾਟਿਓ ਸਗਲੋ ਲੇਖਾ।।
What can righteous judge of dharamrai do now. All my accounts have been torn up.
Raag Sorath M5 p614
ਸਿਮਰਤ ਨਾਮ ਕਿਲਬਿਖ ਸਭਿ ਕਾਟੇ।।
By realizing the divine virtues all my vices deceased.
ਧਰਮਰਾਇ ਕੇ ਕਾਗਰ ਫਾਟੇ।।
Shredded the books of dharamraj.
Raag Parbhati M5 p1348
ਬਹਤਰਿ ਘਰ ਇਕੁ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਸਮਾਇਅ ਉਨਿ ਦੀਆ ਨਾਮੁ ਲਿਖਾਈ।।
The one creator resides in my mind and I have attained the divine virtues.
ਧਰਮਿਰਾਇ ਕਾ ਦਫਤਰੁ ਸੋਧਿਆ ਬਾਕੀ ਰਿਜਮ ਨਾ ਕਾਈ।।
I have ransacked the office of dharamrai nothing is left.
Raag Soohi Kabir Ji Lalit p79
CHITR GUPT: Belief according to Hindu Puranic mythical story. Chief prosecutor account keeper of deeds to present to dharamraj in afterlife for a judgement and sentence.
CHITR GUPT: According to Gurbani has nothing to do in afterlife. Soul goes where it came from.
ਚਿਤ੍ ਗੁਪਤ ਕਾ ਕਾਗਦੁ ਫਾਰਿਆ ਜਮਦੂਤਾ ਕਛੂ ਨ ਚਲੀ ।।
The conscious and sub conscious account of chitr gupt (memory) are torn up by acquiring divine virtues. The messenger of death, Jamdoot cannot do anything after death.
Siree Raag M5 p 79
JAMDOOT: According to puranic myth is the soldier of death who bring the soul to Dharmaraj’s court for judgement.
Jamdoot: According to Gurbani does not exist. The vices are the Jamdoot we create in our life. They brings sorrows, sufferings, hostility, agitation, hence the spiritual death in the present life which can be converted into bliss, peace and tranquility by realizing the divine virtues.
ਹਰਿ ਜੀਉ ਕੀ ਹੈ ਸਭ ਸਿਰ ਕਾਰਾ ।।
Only the creator has the absolute authority and rule in his/her creation. No one else.
ਏਹੁ ਜਮੁ ਕਿਆ ਕਰੇ ਵਿਚਾਰਾ ।।
What this pitiful Jam can do. It has no role in my life.
ਹੁਕਮੀ ਬੰਦਾ ਹੁਕਮ ਕਮਾਵੈ ਹੁਕਮੇ ਕਢਦਾ ਸਾਹਾ ਹੇ ।।
Creation is in Waheguru’s Hukam, lives in Hukam and dies in accordance with Hukam. Therefore, there no Jam, chitr gupt and dharamraj
Raag Maru M3 p1054
ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹਿ ਪਸਰਿਆ ਪਾਸਾਰਾ ।।
The expansive of universe is attached to maya.
ਜਮ ਕੇ ਫਾਹੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਤੋੜੇ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਤਤੁ ਬੀਚਾਰਾ ਹੇ ।।
The true Guru liberates me from entanglement with the notion of Jamdoot in the afterlife. This is the authentic discourse.
Raag Maru M1 p1029
ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਤਾਪੁ ਗਵਾਇਆ ਭਾਈ ਠਾਢਿ ਪਈ ਸੰਸਾਰ ।।
The Guru has eliminated anxieties in my mind and brought calm in my spiritual world.
ਅਪਣੇ ਜੀਅ ਜੰਤ ਆਪੇ ਰਾਖੇ ਜਮਹਿ ਕੀਓ ਹਟਤਾਰ ।।
The creator by enlightening with realization has dispelled the fear of jam.
Sorath M5 p620
ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਅਗੈ ਅਰਦਾਸਿ ਕਰ ਸਾਜਨੁ ਦੇਇ ਮਿਲਇ ।।
By bringing about the realization of the creator within.
ਸਾਜਨਿ ਮਿਲੀਐ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਜਮਦੂਤ ਮੁਏ ਬਿਖੁ ਖਾਇ ।।
I have obtained the bliss and the fear of Jamdoot died.
Sri Raag M1 p55
When we are living our conscience is the decision maker (dharamraj). Our memory is (chitr gupt) and vices are (Jamdoot). They all are within our mind when we are alive.
Author: Sadhu Singh Rikhiraj