Gurbani Word Of The Day: Baikuňṭh

Theme for the Week:
Heaven – how does one define it?  It is a place regarded in various religions as the abode of God and a place for the good after death. Traditionally it is depicted as being above in the sky. Synonyms normally used are ‘city of God’, ‘kingdom of heaven’, etc.

Another definition is that, it is a spiritual state of everlasting fellowship with the Divine. In this case, it can be at any place where the fellowship between the Divine and self takes place and remains everlasting.

This week we are going to take a look at how this word ‘heaven’ is interpreted in Gurbani. Verses from Gurbani written by Bhagat Kabir, Guru Nanak and Guru Arjan Sahib will shed some light on Sikh beliefs.

Why delay then, Come, Let Us Ride You To Heaven!

ਚਲੁ ਰੇ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਤੁਝਹਿ ਲੇ ਤਾਰਉ॥ ਹਿਚਹਿ ਤ ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਕੈ ਚਾਬੁਕ ਮਾਰਉ॥
Come, let me ride you to heaven. If you hold back, then I shall strike you with the whip of divine love. – Bhagat Kabir, Guru Granth Sahib, 329

ਬੈਕੁੰਠੁ (baikuňṭh)
Meaning: noun: Heaven.
Quote:
ਸਭੁ ਕੋਈ ਚਲਨ ਕਹਤ ਹੈ ਊਹਾਂ॥ ਨਾ ਜਾਨਉ ਬੈਕੁੰਠੁ ਹੈ ਕਹਾਂ॥
sabh koee chalan kahat hai oohaaṅ. naa jaanau baikuňṭh hai kahaaṅ.
Everyone speaks of going there. I do not know where that heaven is. – Bhagat Kabir, Guru Granth Sahib, 1161
Message: In the verse above, Bhagat Kabir is commenting on the Hindu belief of a place called baikunth (heaven). Many aspire to reach such a place on their spiritual journey. Although everyone speaks of going there, he does not know where that heaven is.

In the hymn from which the above verse is taken, Bhagat Kabir states that he does not know of a heaven – a city of God – described as  a fort with ramparts and a moat surrounding it and accessible through a gate. Talk of heaven remains only talk as no one has seen it. How can anyone speak of a heaven – an unknown entity – when they have not even understood the mysteries of the ‘self’ here on earth?

He cautions people against having such false hopes. He says that as long as there is hope of reaching heaven (a specific place) in one’s mind, this mind cannot be fully devoted to the Divine who is all pervading, and is a part of the whole creation.

He says that heaven is right here. It is a state of mind where one is totally in unison with the Divine.  In the company of the devout, the sadh sangat, and through the practice of divine wisdom, one attunes the mind to the Divine. This opens one to the experience of being in heaven.

ਕਹਿ ਕਮੀਰ ਅਬ ਕਹੀਐ ਕਾਹਿ॥ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠੈ ਆਹਿ॥
Kabir says, now what more can I say? The sadh sangat, the company of the devout, is true heaven. – Bhagat Kabir, Guru Granth Sahib, 1161

ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਨਗਰੁ ਜਹਾ ਸੰਤ ਵਾਸਾ॥
The abode of heaven is where saintly people dwell. – Guru Arjan Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, 742

Etymology: From Sanskrit vaikuňṭh (the celestial home of Vishnu, one of the three gods in Hinduism; the supreme abode).

 

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