Asankh naav asankh thaav.
Agamm agamm asankh lo-a.
Asankh kehahi sir bhaar ho-ay.
Akhree naam akhree saalaah.
Akhree gi-aan geet gun gaah.
Akhree likhan bolan baan.
Akhraa sir sanjog vakhaan.
Jin ayhi likhay tis sir naahi.
Jiv furmaa-ay tiv tiv paahi.
Jaytaa keetaa taytaa naa-o.
Vin naavai naahee ko thaa-o.
Kudrat kavan kahaa veechaar.
Vaari-aa na jaavaa ayk vaar.
Jo tudh bhaavai saa-ee bhalee kaar.
Too sadaa salaamat nirankaar. ||19||
The blessed Satguru (Truth Guru) incarnate Nanak Patshah Ji (Guru Nanak Ji) with great kindness and compassion enlightens the entire mankind with Puran Braham Gyan (entire divine wisdom) about infiniteness and eternity of the Creation and states that it is incorrect to call the creation of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar (Truth, the Transcendent Lord and Creator of the Universe) as “Asankh” (“innumerable”). The blessed Satguru incarnate Nanak Patshah Ji states that if I address the creation of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar as “Asankh” then I’d be carrying a burden (of having done a wrong) upon my head. These words reveal the humility and the humbleness of Hirdha (Hirdha or Hirdha Kamal denotes one of the seven Sat Sarovars located near heart, part of one’s spiritual being)of the blessed Satguru incarnate Nanak Patshah Ji. Unlike the Pirs (holy person with spiritual attainments), Paigambars (prophets, seers) and Avatars (divine incarnates)that descended on mother earth from time to time, the blessed Satguru incarnate Nanak Patshah Ji never claimed to be the Braham (the divinity, God). Even being a Nirankar Roop (the embodiment of Formless One, i.e. God in human form), he never flaunted his greatness. He always addressed himself as Tuchh (insignificant), Neech (lowly), Dassan Dass (servant of a servant), Loonharami (ingrate), Deewana (crazy) and Kookar (dog). The extreme humility and the humbleness of Hirdha of the blessed Satguru incarnate Nanak Patshah Ji have revealed his devotion and love for Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar as unparalleled in the world. This is how the blessed Satguru incarnate Nanak Patshah Ji displays the heights of his devotion and love for Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar. This is the highest form of devotion and love for Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar that the blessed Satguru incarnate Nanak Patshah Ji exhibited on earth. This is the highest form of Bandagi (submission before God) and affection for Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar that the blessed Satguru incarnate Nanak Patshah Ji demonstrated on earth. This is Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar’sown true form, called as “Gur Parmeshwar” (“God, the supreme Lord”) in Gurbani (Guru’s words or God’s words – commonly refers to Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the compositions of Satguru Sahiban) that the blessed Satguru incarnate Nanak Patshah Ji divulged upon earth. Bhai Gurdas Ji also wrote in his songs that Satguru incarnate the blessed Nanak Patshah Ji brought the gift of the humbleness of Hirdha from Dargah (Divine Court) and revealed it upon earth:
“Baabaa Paidhaa Sach Khand Nau Nidh Naam Gareebee Paaee.”
(Bhai Gurdas Ji, Vaar 1)
This is why a Hirdha wrapped in humbleness is the key to Dargah. A Hirdha steeped in humbleness is lit up with Param Jyot Puran Prakash (the radiance of divine light, His aura, God Himself) and Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar feels obligated to manifest in such a Hirdha.
The blessed Satguru incarnate Nanak Patshah Ji, an icon of the supreme humility and humbleness of Hirdha, tells us that the names and places belonging to Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar are beyond enumeration. Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar is eternal, infinite and all of His creations are also eternal, infinite. If we pay attention to our surroundings, we can see clear evidences of this supreme truth. Just think if we would know the names of all the species of the flora around us; or if there is any power among the human beings that knows or can find out the name of every creation? In our everyday lives we come across various creatures (humans, animals, birds, worms and insects) – do we know the names of all these creatures; or could we know them? In our everyday lives the materials that we come across or the materials that we see with our own eyes – do we have the knowledge about all these materials? Besides the materials, creatures and plants, there are endless regions in this infinite cosmos – does man possess knowledge about them? If we dwell upon these questions, we see very clearly that our knowledge about these creations is extremely limited. If we don’t even have the knowledge about the creations that surround us, how can we have the knowledge of the entire Creation, which is infinite and eternal? Besides all that man can see with eyes, and all that is within reach of man, there are countless other souls and regions and universes that belong to the Suksham (part of the human souls that is the source of all energy running the senses and physical functions of the body) and the material forms of the Creation. The human eyes can see what is present in the material form, but there are countless souls that inhabit the universe and are beyond detection by the human senses. Such souls as have attained Jeevan Mukti (deliverance from the cycle of life & death, salvation) are beyond recognition by the human senses. Even those souls that in afterlife are waiting to enter Juni’s (life of species – there are 84 hundred thousand species) are beyond discovery by human senses. Even such souls as in afterlife are waiting to be reborn as human beings are beyond detection by our human senses. Those souls that are sentenced to wander the cosmos as ghosts and spirits and are also sentenced other punishments are also imperceptible to the human senses. Thus there are infinite of those creations that are unnoticeable to the human senses. Therefore it is beyond the capacity of man to keep knowledge of all the creations in the cosmos. Therefore it is beyond the reach of man to have knowledge of all the creations in the cosmos. Therefore the blessed Satguru incarnate Nanak Patshah Ji states that even to contemplate about all the creations of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar places a burden upon one’s head. It means that it is impossible to contemplate and to know about all the creations that manifest in the entire Creation of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar; and to even try to do so is foolish. The wise thing to do is Sifat Salah (paying tributes to God by appreciating and praising) of the magnificence of the infiniteness and eternality of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar. The wisdom lies in appreciation and in Sifat Salah of the eternal, infinite creations of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar, and to experience the pleasures that they offer in life. The wisdom lies in appreciation of the eternal, infinite supreme powers of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar that appear in His eternal, infinite creations. Only those who have been bestowed with Gurprasad (Eternal Bliss and the Eternal Grace), have accomplished their Bandagi, and have been acclaimed in Dargah are able to experience the eternal, infinite supreme might of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar in His eternal, infinite creations; and are blessed with Darshan (glimpse with Gyan Netar, the spiritual eye) of Nirgun in Sargun (Nirgun represents God beyond the Trigun Maya, observed only through one’s spiritual eye, and Sargunis the divine power present in every creation and sustaining it. Nirgun Sargun becoming one describes the state where one realizes that all physical creations are part of Sargun, but are created and run by Nirgun – this realization is the Puran Braham Gyan and Puran Tat Gyan).
The blessed Satguru incarnate Nanak Patshah Ji states that he uses these words (such as the word Asankh) because he has nothing but the letters and alphabets to describe this supremely true divine reality. There is nothing but the letters and alphabets through which to bestow Puran Braham Gyan upon humanity. All the spiritual experiences that the blessed Satguru incarnate Sahiban (the ten Patshahs) had during their Bandagi and Seva (humble and selfless service to others) can reach the humanity only through letters and alphabets. Whatever the Avatars, Satgurus, Pirs, Paigambars, Sants, Bhagats (devotees) and Braham Gyanis (those possessing divine wisdom) wished to bestow upon the humanity for its salvation, they had to convey it in letters and alphabets, and this is the reason for composition of all the religious scriptures. This is the reason that the Satguru incarnates enunciated the Gurbani, and the blessed Satguru incarnate the Fifth Patshah Ji put together the entire discourse and composed Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Speaking and writing are supremely powerful gifts for exchange of views among mankind, and only human beings are endowed with these gifts. This is why when the blessed Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar created man He also blessed him with the supreme power of speech so that man could truly experience the bliss of life. Subsequently the supreme power of human brain transformed and manifested this supreme power of speech into the supreme power of writing as well. Furthermore Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar also endowed the human body with the supreme powers of hearing, sight, smell, thought, action and touch so that by putting these supreme powers to proper use man can fully experience the joy of life. Those who use these supreme powers judiciously, i.e. in performance of Sat Karams (the deeds of Sat, truthful deeds) receive Gurprasad, accomplish their Bandagi, are blissfully gratified and attain Puran Braham Gyan and Puran Tat Gyan (the entire divine knowledge and understanding of the divine ways). Those who misuse these supreme powers, i.e. use them in committing Asat Karams (deeds that are against Sat, untruthful deeds) become slaves to Maya (all worldly temptations, all physical perceptions) and are forever stuck in the cycle of life & death, wandering in Juni’s. Therefore it is a humble and respectful prayer to the entire humanity to use these supreme powers only in deeds of Sat so as to make the human birth fruitful.
The blessed Satguru Sahiban utilized the supreme powers of speech and writing to describe the glory of Naam (the Name – representing God and all His Creation) and in Sifat Salah of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar. The entire Gurbani is nothing but the glory of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar. The entire Gurbani is nothing but the glory of Naam. The entire Gurbani is nothing but the glory of Sants, Bhagats, Braham Gyanis, Satgurus and Avatars. The entire Gurbani is nothing but the glory of Mansarovar (the eternal source of divine powers, the source of all life, Akal Purakh Himself). The entire Gurbani is nothing but the glory of Dargah. The entire Gurbani is nothing but the glory of the Gurprasad of Naam, Naam Simran (meditation upon Naam), Naam Di Kamai (Naam in practice in one’s life), Puran Bandagi (complete surrender before God) and Seva. The entire Gurbani is nothing but the glory of Puran Sat (Absolute and Eternal Truth, God Himself). The entire Gurbani is nothing but Puran Braham Gyan. The entire Gurbani is nothing but Sifat Salah of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar. The entire Gurbani is nothing but the glory of the infinite, eternal divine virtues of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar. The entire Gurbani is nothing but the Gyan Saroop (embodiment of wisdom) of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar. The entire Gurbani is nothing but Gurmat (Guru’s guidance, or God’s guidance). The entire Gurbani is nothing but the glory of all of the supremely powerful Vidhans (constitutions, laws) of Dargah. The divine Vidhan of Karma (destiny determined by one’s deeds); the divine Vidhan of union and separation; the divine Vidhan of Puran Bandagi; the divine Vidhan of Maya; the divine Vidhan of origin, caretaking and destruction of the Creation; all these Vidhans are composed of expressions through letters and alphabets. The origin of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar Himself; the origin of His Naam; and the origin of the entire Creation; all took place through expressions in letters and alphabets. Subsequently, the description of all these events was also made possible through the divine power of speech. All of this implies that even though we have used letters and alphabets to describe the glory of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar, it is a completely true that the glory of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar is indescribable. All of above is a mere glimpse of the glory of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar.
All of the divine Vidhans are created in accordance with the Hukam (Divine Will) of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar. Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar has also arranged to keep account of all creatures in the universe according to these Vidhans. Every human being carries his account written upon one’s forehead, and this account determines the affairs in one’s life. While Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar has manifested the power of speech in human beings, and has created the divine Vidhans to write these accounts (unions and separations), He Himself carries no such writing on His forehead. Meaning thereby that Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar has no account of His own, neither is there anyone who is able to describe His glory. Neither has anyone ever grasped all the mysteries of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar, nor will anyone ever be able to do so. Meaning thereby that there have only been attempts made to sing and praise the glory of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar, the glory of His Naam and of all His divine Vidhans through letters and alphabets. The whole truth is that the glory of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar, and the glory of His Naam, is eternal, infinite and beyond the capacities of speech and writing. Those who perform Bandagi experience by themselves the glory of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar at a certain level of their Bandagi, and try to tell the glory of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar by expressing themselves in letters and alphabets. The blessed Sant Kabir Patshah Ji has elucidated this supreme truth:
“Kabeer Charan Kamal Kee Mouj Ko Keh Kaisae Ounaman.
Kehibae Kao Sobha Nahee Dekha Hee Parvaan. ||121||”
(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ang 1370)
The basis of all creations is Naam of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar. The origin of the entire Creation was and is Naam. The entire Creation is nothing but the quintessence of Akal Purakh (the Timeless Being, the Immortal Being, God). Akal Purakh is all-pervasive and by His Nirgun Saroop creates, looks after, and destroys His Sargun Saroop. The blessed Satguru incarnate the Fifth Patshah Ji has very clearly divulged this supreme truth:
“Naam Ke Dhhaarae Saglae Janth.
Naam Ke Dhhaarae Khand Brahmand.
Naam Ke Dhhaarae Simrit Baed Puraan.
Naam Ke Dhhaarae Sunan Giaan Dhhiaan.
Naam Ke Dhhaarae Aagaas Paataal.
Naam Ke Dhhaarae Sagal Aakaar.
Naam Ke Dhhaarae Pureeaa Sabh Bhavan.
Naam Kai Sang Oudhharae Sun Sravan.
Kar Kirapaa Jis Aapnai Naam Laaeae.
Naanak Chouthhae Pad Meh So Jan Gath Paaeae. ||5||”
(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ang 284)
Consider this great Pauri (verse) carrying Puran Braham Gyan in it. It is absolutely true and utterly believable. It is immensely mystifying, completely amazing and wonderfully supreme elemental truth. The blessed Fifth Patshah Ji explains to us the glory of Akal Purakh. As Naam of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar is omnipresent, therefore it is given the definitions of boundless, eternal and infinite.
The foundation of every creation is Naam. Naam is the basis of every object. Naam is the genesis of everything. Everything originated and is originating from Naam. Every living being is created from Naam. All plant life, the sun, moon, planets, stars and constellations, all Khand Brahamands (the inner spiritual realms and the outer physical worlds) and everything present in these Khand Brahamands, that is to say everything under this Creation has originated from Naam, and is being driven by Naam. All religious books written by Yogis (ascetics, practisers of the discipline of Yoga) and Rishi-Muni’s (saints and sages) have Naam as their basis. Everything in Lok-Parlok (this world and hereafter, physical and metaphysical worlds) has originated from Naam. Naam is the basis of establishment of everything in Lok-Parlok. Undoubtedly, only Naam can lead us to Akal Purakh. The entire Braham Gyan is a bequest of Naam.
Those who, in their personal capacity, dedicate themselves in Naam, Naam Simran, Naam Di Kamai, Puran Bandagi and Seva, reach a state in their Bandagi where Naam illuminates all of their Sat Sarovars (the seven sources of Amrit, or of the spiritual energy inside the human body). God Himself places all these eternal treasures inside our Hirdhas. Sat Sarovars, which are an integral part of our souls, are the sources of all the eternal treasures. When these Sat Sarovars are illuminated and our Kundalini (divine energy said to reside at the base of the spine, spreading into the entire body through the three energy-channels of Ida, Pingla and Sushmana, and making the corrections and purification throughout the body) is awakened, we are blessed with Naam Simran in every pore of our bodies. The opening of all Bajjar Kapats (the divine doors that, once opened, channel Amrit into the body), and the opening of Dasam Duaar (the tenth door of the Bajjar Kapats – once opened establishes a connection between the human being and God), establishes direct contact between us and Naam Saroop (apotheosis of Naam, God Himself) and fills our Hirdhas with Param Jyot Puran Prakash.
Every single one of these Sat Sarovars holds heavenly powers of Braham Gyan, and when these Sat Sarovars are saturated with Naam one attains the blessings of Puran Braham Gyan and Puran Tat Gyan. This is the highest level of Braham Gyan, and it cannot be attained by mere reading or reciting of Gurbani. It is not attained by reading or studying a number of books or writings. It will not be attained by reading of the written texts. It will be attained when Naam casts its complete illumination in Sat Sarovars, and only then. Only then will one achieve the Gurprasad of Puran Braham Gyan and the Gurprasad of Puran Tat Gyan. Those who immerse themselves in Puran Dhyan (total and deep concentration, with detachment from all-else), i.e. those who receive Gurprasad and dedicate their entire self including body, mind and worldly possessions before Gur (God) and Guru (teacher and mentor; one who has accomplished Bandagi and attained Jeevan Mukti and is divinely ordained to lead others on the path of Bandagi and Mukti) do so with complete faith, devotion and love towards Gur and Guru. At this stage Braham Gyan is revealed from within Naam; and thus even Dhyan originates from Naam.
It means that at the start level of Bandagi one attains Samadhi (deep trance-like stage, where there is no thought, nothing except pure consciousness) and Sunn Samadhi (silent, deep meditation – a state free of thoughts, even free from the effects of time and space). Thereafter at the stage of Puran Bandagi, one achieves the Gurprasad of Atal Awastha (the stage of unshakable faith), Param Padvi (the highest spiritual status) or Sehaj Samadhi (deep concentration with spiritual calm); which is a 24 hours uninterrupted and ceaseless Samadhi originating from Naam. Panj Shabad Anhad Naad (incessant fall of Amrit at the Dasam Duaar, along with Anhad Naad, the divine music of five primal sounds) also originates from Naam, which is a divine music played uninterruptedly at Dasam Duaar, and is a supreme divine power. Naam casts illumination at Dasam Duaar when Anhad Shabad (divine words and music) manifests at Dasam Duaar. This divine music is the Gurprasad of very high level and is endowed upon us only when Dasam Duaar opens. This divine music is an uninterrupted Kirtan (chanting) that goes on day and night, incessantly and eternally. Naam is a Gurprasad that is available only to those who have transcended beyond Maya, or have conquered Maya, and are immersed in Parmatma (the supreme soul, God). Such souls are addressed variously as a Puran Sant (a perfect saint), a Satguru, or a Puran Braham Gyani – also a Puran Khalsa (a perfectly pure soul).
Maya has three attributes (Rajo, Tamo and Sato) and anyone under the influence of these three attributes is under influence of Maya. Those who are fortunate and receive Gurprasad and pass through the process of Puran Bandagi transcend beyond Maya; the state of crossing beyond Maya is called the “Chautha Pad (“fourth state”). Beyond the three forms of Maya is the Chautha Pad, which is Jeevan Mukti. When we vanquish Maya, we arrive at Chautha Pad where we are blessed with Jeevan Mukti. Puran Padvi (Param Padvi – the highest spiritual status) is at the base of this step, and it is Naam that carries us from Maya to Chautha Pad, which is Jeevan Mukti. This is why Naam is an immensely supreme power. Those who receive the blessing of Naam shouldn’t take it lightly; it is a divine gift. It is an invaluable Gurprasad that will lead us to Chautha Pad.
Those who are yet to be blessed with Naam should centre their attention upon Sat Naam Simran (Simran upon ‘Sat Naam’ – ‘Truth as the Name of God’) and upon Sat Karams and they shall definitely be endowed with the blessing of Gurprasad one day.
Those who attain Chautha Pad, efface themselves and assimilate themselves in Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar and become one with Him are the great beings that experience the infinite, eternal supreme might of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar and realize their own inadequacies in articulating praise of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar and in even once sacrificing themselves before Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar. Therefore when such great beings experience the infinite, eternal capacities and capabilities of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar the only words they utter is that they are unable to fathom the glory of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar; that they understand nothing about the glory of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar; that they are bereft of any worthwhile knowledge about Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar; and that they are bereft of any worthwhile knowledge about the infiniteness and eternality of Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar. This state describes the summit of love these great beings feel towards Sat Par Brahm Pita Parmeshwar. This state presents a clear evidence of boundless humility and humbleness of Hirdha of these great beings. Boundless humility and love eventually becomes an immense power for these great beings. It is to impart the Puran Braham Gyan of extreme humility and humbleness of Hirdha upon the entire humanity that the blessed Satguru incarnate Nanak Patshah Ji addresses himself as Neech, Garib (pauper), Loonharami and other such humble words. Therefore it is a humble prayer at the feet of the entire humanity to behold this supremely true and essential wisdom in their Hirdhas, reap its benefits and make a success of their lives.