image caption: Gurmukh Singh OBE

Vaisakhi 1699: The High Point of Guru Nanak Jote-Jugat Mission


ਜੋਤਿ ਓਹਾ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਸਾਇ ਸਹਿ ਕਾਇਆ ਫੇਰਿ ਪਲਟੀਐ


They shared the One Light and the same way the King just changed His body.



(Part III: Development of Sikhi institutions and Qaumi identity)



     In Sikhi, there is only One Guru &ndash not many. Each Guru-person from Guru Nanak Sahib to Guru Gobind Singh Ji was the embodiment of the same One Jote-Jugat. Thus, the Guruship succession process is described as ਜੋਤਿ ਓਹਾ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਸਾਇ ਸਹਿ ਕਾਇਆ ਫੇਰਿ ਪਲਟੀਐ (They shared the One Light and the same way the King just changed His body.)


Today the Jote resides in the Shabd Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, while the Guardian of the Jugat &ndash the way of living or reht (code of conduct) in accordance with Gurbani, is the Guru Khalsa Panth represented through the sovereign institution of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. Office holders at Sri Akal Takht Sahib must be seen to be independent of any outside influence, or they lose the trust of the Guru Khalsa Panth and become unworthy of the office they hold. The Institution of Sri Akal Takht Sahib itself remains the Sovereign Miri-Piri focus of every Sikh.


Continuing from last week, we need to understand how each Guru-person contributed to the Jote-Jugat process and progress up to Vaisakhi 1699 when the New Age human being, the Khalsa, was revealed by Guru Gobind Singh ji. Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469 &ndash 1539) laid the foundation of the Path of Sikhi (ਸਿੱਖੀ ਮਾਰਗ) and the egalitarian institutions in 974 Shabads in 19 Ragas including Japji, Sidh Gost, Dhakhani Onkar, Asa Di Vaar and Barah Maha. He revealed the Basic Qualities and Virtues of the One Creator being. He stressed universal human rights, values and that all are equal before the One Creator Being. While preaching these universal truths he confronted the invader Babar and the Sikhi Miri (temporal) principle. The rule from Delhi was conditional on the observance of the universal human rights.


He started the basic institutions of Sangat and Pangat in a free Sikh socio-political environment at Kartarpur. Thus, with the Jote in Him, he laid the foundation for Sikhi miri-piri living (the Jugat).


Guru Anagad Dev Ji (Guruship 1539 &ndash 1552) composed 63 Shabads and Shaloks and introduced the Gurmukhi Alphabet, stressed good health and physical fitness as part of Sikhi life. He continued with the Sikhi institutions which promoted human equality as an essential part of Sikhi life (the Jugat).


Guru Amar Dass Ji, (Guruship 1552 &ndash 1574), composed 869 Shabads in 17 ragas including Anand Sahib. He vastly strengthened the Sikh organisation with Goindwal Sahib as the centre. Based on the teachings of Guru Nanak Sahib, He further raised the equality status of women and continued to promote human equality and service with humility (seva) through the Sikh institutions.

    Guru Ramdas (Guruship 1574 &ndash 1581) composed 688 Shabads and established Amritsar as a Sikh trading town. Amrit-sar (literally pool of nectar) was dug and He continued developing the Sikh institutions. It needs to be remembered that during this period, the Emperors at Delhi kept themselves informed of Sikhi Sangat progress in India. (Continued next week)



Gurmukh Singh OBE