Why does Gurbani emphasize non-Sikh figures like Prehlad but doesn't elevate Abrahamic prophets or Hindu deities, and what criteria did the Gurus use to praise certain individuals while critiquing others?
Why does Gurbani emphasize non-Sikh figures like Prehlad but doesn't elevate Abrahamic prophets or Hindu deities, and what criteria did the Gurus use to praise certain individuals while critiquing others?
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Respected Brother/Sister,
Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh!
The Guru Granth Sahib starts with Jap Baani of First Guru Person, Guru Nanak Sahib, and the Baani starts with, what is called Mool Mantar, which defines the attributes of the One God (Akalpurakh), with whom a person can become one, with the help of Shabad Guru:-
ੴ (Ik Onkar) (One Universal Creator God);
ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ (Sat Naam) (The Name Is Truth);
ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ (Karta Purakh) (Creative Being Personified);
ਨਿਰਭਉ (Nirbhau) (No Fear);
ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ (Nirvair) (No Enmity or Hatred),
ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ (Akal Moorat) (Image of the undying);
ਅਜੂਨੀ (Ajuni) (Beyond Birth);
ਸੈਭੰ (Saibhang) (Self-existstant);
ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ (Gur Parsad) (By Guru’s Grace).
Therefore, the First Guru Person, Guru Nanak Sahib, himself had made it very clear, in the very beginning of the Guru Granth Sahib, that there is one creator God and He is not in human form but resides everywhere and in every living being.
As per teachings of Guru Granth Sahib, except Akalpurakh (Ik Onkar) and Shabad Guru, who are spiritually embodiment of each other, there is no place for any other entity in Guru Granth Sahib.
References to Dhruv and Prehlad have been made to give examples only and they are not even historical characters.
Hindu Avtars Shri Ram Chander and Shri Krishna, are referred to as great persons, in Guru Granth Sahib, who took birth at different times (Yugs as per Hinduism), and whom people praise as incarnation of God but they also could not find and narrate all the virtues of Almighty God:-
ਜੁਗਹ ਜੁਗਹ ਕੇ ਰਾਜੇ ਕੀਏ ਗਾਵਹਿ ਕਰਿ ਅਵਤਾਰੀ ॥ ਤਿਨ ਭੀ ਅੰਤੁ ਨ ਪਾਇਆ ਤਾ ਕਾ ਕਿਆ ਕਰਿ ਆਖਿ ਵੀਚਾਰੀ ॥੭॥ (ਪੰਨਾ 423)
ਅਰਥ: (ਹੇ ਭਾਈ! ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਨੇ ਰਾਮ ਕ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨ ਆਦਿਕ) ਆਪੋ ਆਪਣੇ ਜੁਗ ਦੇ ਮਹਾਂ ਪੁਰਖ ਪੈਦਾ ਕੀਤੇ, ਲੋਕ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ (ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦਾ) ਅਵਤਾਰ ਮੰਨ ਕੇ ਸਲਾਹੁੰਦੇ ਚਲੇ ਆ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ। ਉਹਨਾਂ ਨੇ ਭੀ ਉਸ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਦੇ ਗੁਣਾਂ ਦਾ ਅੰਤ ਨਾਹ ਲੱਭਾ। (ਮੈਂ ਕੀਹ ਵਿਚਾਰਾ ਹਾਂ?) ਮੈਂ ਕੀਹ ਆਖ ਕੇ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਗੁਣਾਂ ਦਾ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਕਰ ਸਕਦਾ ਹਾਂ?।7।
As regards Jesus and other entities in Christianity, there doesn’t seem to be any clear reference in Guru Granth Sahib. One common word writings (ਕਤੇਬ ਜਾਂ ਕਤੇਬਾਂ) appears many times. Prof. Sahib Singh ji gives its meanings as four holy books of Christianity and Islam namely Quran, Bible,
Torah and Zambur.
In view of the above discussion, except Akalpurakh (Ik Onkar) and Shabad Guru, who are spiritually embodiment of each other, there is no place for any other entity in Guru Granth Sahib.
Hope it helps. If you have any further questions, please do ask. If you find any deficiencies, please point out the same, for improvement in future.
Regards,
Your Brother
to explain to sansaar you have to give example from world itself. where as gurbani itself describes God as Power. no human being