Brahma Avtar
Many indras are in His service, many Brahmas recite the Vedas,
ਕਈ ਬੈਠ ਦਆਰ ਮਹੇਸ਼ ॥ ਕਈ ਸ਼ੇਸ਼ਨਾਗ ਅਸੇਸ ॥੯॥
Brahma Avtar is description of so called incarnations of Brahma which Sharstras and simritis have included in them. It contains 343 verses. Following the Chaubees Avtar are 2 ballads: Brahm Avtar (343 verses) and Rudra Avtar (498 verses).The first of these described the egotism within Brahma and how excessive vanity lead to his 7 incarnations on Earth: Balmik, Kashyap, Shukra, Brahaaspati, Vyas, Sastrodhaarak, and Kalidas.
Details of Brahma Avtar
The Brahma Avtar starts with Ustati of God:
ਜੇ ਤਾਸ ਨਾਮ ਜਪੰਤ ॥ ਕਬਹੂੰ ਨ ਭਾਜ ਚਲੰਤ ॥ ਨਹਿ ਤਰਾਸ ਤਾਕੋ ਸ਼ੱਤਰ ॥ ਦਿਸ ਜੀਤ ਹੈ ਗਹਿ ਅਤਰ ॥੫॥
Those who remember His Name, never run away; they do not fear the enemies and wearing their arms and weapons, they conquer all the direction.5.
ਤਿਹ ਭਰੇ ਧਨ ਸੋ ਧਾਮ ॥ ਸਭ ਹੋਹ ਪੂਰਨ ਕਾਮ ॥ ਜੇ ਝਕ ਨਾਮ ਰਟੰਤ ॥ ਤੇ ਨ ਕਾਲ ਫਾਸ ਫਸੰਤ ॥੬॥
Their houses are filled with wealth and all their tasks are fulfilled; those who remember the Name of one Lord, they are not entrapped in the noose of death.6.
Brahm Avtar also includes the lines:
ਕਈ ਕੋਟ ਕਰਿਸ਼ਨ ਅਵਤਾਰ ॥ ਕਈ ਰਾਮ ਬਾਰ ਬਹਾਰ ॥ ਕਈ ਮੱਛ ਕੱਛ ਅਨੇਕ ॥ ਅਵਲੋਕ ਦਆਰ ਬਿਸੇਖ ॥੧੧॥
Many Krishna and Rama incarnation sweep His Door many Fish and Tortoise incarnations are seen standing at His special gate.11.
It also mentioned that God is formless, it hae no Roop, no Rekh no Rang:
ਜਿਹ ਰਾਗ ਰੰਗ ਨ ਰੂਪ ॥ ਸੋ ਮਾਨੀਝ ਸਮ ਰੂਪ ॥
ਬਿਨ ਝਕ ਤਾਕਹ ਨਾਮ ॥ਨਹਿ ਜਾਨ ਦੂਸਰ ਧਾਮ ॥੧੬॥
Only that Lord should be adored consistently, who is beyond attachment, colours and form; none other except the One Lord should be kept in view .16.
Incarnations Descriptions
It is cleared from these lines that the incarnation which sikhs misunderstood are of brahma are actually of Brahm(God), and these incarnations know the God so they are called brahma. Dasam Bani itself states that millions of brahma are there in world and so gurbani:
ਗਨਿ ਚੳਬਿਸੇ ਅਵਤਾਰ ॥ ਬਹ ਕੈ ਕਹੈ ਬਿਸਥਾਰ ॥ ਅਬ ਗਨੋ ਉਪ ਅਵਤਾਰ ॥ ਜਿਮ ਧਰੇ ਰੂਪ ਮਰਾਰ ॥੨੦॥
All the twenty-four incarnations have been enumerated in detail and now I am going to enumerate the smaller incarnations how the Lord assumed the other forms.20.
ਜੇ ਧਰੇ ਬਰਹਮਾ ਰੂਪ ॥ ਤੇ ਕਹੇ ਕਾਬ ਅਨੂਪ ॥
Those forms which Brahma assumed, I have narrated them in poetry.
Brahma were those who used to write books, vedas or puranas etc. God send such kind persons so called brahma, to give the message of god. The whole Brahma Avtar is about them.
External links
Banis: | Jaap | Akal Ustat | Bachitar Natak | Chandi Charitar Ukat(i) Bilas | Chandi Charitar 2 | | Chandi di Var | Gyan Parbodh | Chobis Avatar | Brahm Avtar | Rudar Avtar | Shabad Hazarey | 33 Swaiyey | Swayyae| Shastar Nam Mala | Charitropakhyan | Zafarnama | Hikayats |
History: | Historical References · Guru Gobind Singh · Paonta Sahib · Bhai Mani Singh · Mata Sundri |
Philosphy: | Idol Worship · Pilgrimages · Chandi · Triya · Shastar · Waheguru |
Sikh Scholars About Dasam Bani: | Singh Sabha Lahore · Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha · Professor Sahib Singh · Bhai Veer Singh · Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale · Anti Dasam Bani Movement |