Ath Pratham Mach Avtar Kathan: Difference between revisions

Ath Pratham Mach Avtar Kathan (ਅਥ ਪ੝ਰਥਮ ਮੱਛ ਅਵਤਾਰ ਕਥਨੰ) is first Avtar explained by Guru Gobind Singh in his composition called Chobis Avtar. In Sanskrit, Macch is called Matsya(Fish). This composition contains war of Macch and King Shankhasura, as Shaknkhasura stole Vedas and Macch retrieved them back. It is common belief that 10th guru worship Vishnu thats why he wrote whole narrative in praise of Vishnu but Guru Gobind Singh declared his worshiper in first 22 lines of Chobis avtar quite clearly. Even in end of Vishnu Avtar Guru Gobind Singh cleared this thing to Sikh Sangat, that he is not worshipper of Vishnu :

Guru Gobind Singh moreover cleared his viewpoint in other compositions about Vishnu Avtar:

History of Interpretations

In This poetry, there are two characters Shankhasura and Machu. To understand let's see background of history of Religion.

In Gurmat way of interpretations, the meanings of these mythological characters are studied, etymologically or on base of Adi Guru Granth Sahib, rather then following meanings given by Hindu scholars in Past. Bhagat Sri Kabeer have explained in his bani, that Hindu scholars(called pundit) have broken the real way i.e The real meanings are made hidden and duplicate meanings are created which makes people to stick to temporal things rather then Spiritual. This was the reason so many ritualistic practises came into Hindu religion, stole the real essence of it. Idol worship is condemned in Vedas, Vedas(at many Places) believe God is Nirankar. Yajurveda states that:

ਨਾ ਤਸਿਆ ਪ੝ਰਤਿਮਾ ਅਸਤੀ
"Na tasya Pratima asti"
"There is no image of Him."[Yajurveda 32:3]

and there are many facts in Vedas which point to Omnipresent, Omnipotent God which have no form. Gurbani also states that vedas was adulterated later. Bhagat Kabir have cleared the situation of Hindu Scholars of those time:

ਕਬੀਰ ਕਾਗਦ ਕੀ ਓਬਰੀ ਮਸ੝ ਕੇ ਕਰਮ ਕਪਾਟ ॥
Kabeer, the paper is the prison, and the ink of rituals are the bars on the windows.

ਪਾਹਨ ਬੋਰੀ ਪਿਰਥਮੀ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਪਾੜੀ ਬਾਟ ॥੧੩੭॥
The stone idols have drowned the world, and the Pandits, the religious scholars, have plundered it on the way. ||137|| ( ਪੰਨਾ 1371, ਸਤਰ 16, ਭਗਤ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ)

So Gurbani has cleared all mistakes which were put on by Hindu scholars of those time i.e All attributes of god are fixed with Human and started Human worship in form of Idol.

Gurus and Devotees has done their job, by clearing all doubts put by religious scholars in past and wrote pothis contains original meanings and original wisdom's of Brahmgian which was lying in Vedas or other Puranic Granths, so that we could get the knowledge and know about ourselves(Spirit). Their job is segregated in Guru Granth Sahib. The following lines of Guru Granth Sahib clearly showed, this fact:

ਸਾਸਤ ਬੇਦ ਸਿਮ੝ਰਿਤਿ ਸਭਿ ਸੋਧੇ ਸਭ ਝਕਾ ਬਾਤ ਪ੝ਕਾਰੀ ॥
I have sanctified all the Shaastras, the Vedas and the Simritees, and they all affirm one thing:
ਬਿਨ੝ ਗ੝ਰ ਮ੝ਕਤਿ ਨ ਕੋਊ ਪਾਵੈ ਮਨਿ ਵੇਖਹ੝ ਕਰਿ ਬੀਚਾਰੀ ॥੨॥
without the Guru, no one obtains liberation; see, and reflect upon this in your mind. ||2|| (ਪੰਨਾ 495, ਸਤਰ 11, ਮਃ 5)

ਸੋਧੇ ਸਾਸਤ੝ਰ ਸਿਮ੝ਰਿਤਿ ਸਗਲ ॥
I have sanctified all the Shaastras and Simritees.
ਸੋ ਨਾਮ੝ ਜਪੈ ਜਿਸ੝ ਆਪਿ ਜਪਾਝ ॥
He alone chants the Naam, whom the Lord Himself inspires to chant. (ਪੰਨਾ 890, ਸਤਰ 8, ਮਃ 5)

ਨਾਨਕ ਸੋਧੇ ਸਿੰਮ੝ਰਿਤਿ ਬੇਦ ॥
Nanak has sanctified the wisdom of Simritees.
ਪਾਰਬ੝ਰਹਮ ਗ੝ਰ ਨਾਹੀ ਭੇਦ ॥੪॥੧੧॥੨੪॥ There is no difference between the Supreme Lord God and the Guru. ||4||11||24|| (ਪੰਨਾ 913, ਸਤਰ 6, ਮਃ 5)

When these Smritis, Shastars, Purans, Vedas were sanctified by devotees they told the original meanings of terms which were actually related with god and soul, but was distorted by Religious scholars for eg. Ram(Resider in all), Murari(Mur + Ari: Killer of Deamons(Vices)), Damodar(which have Naam Dhann), etc. Today Sikhs are using thes terms in daily prayers. Hindus which are following same scholars which were condenmed by Gurus and devotees of past, still believe that those names in Adi Guru Granth Sahib is related to their dieties but actually it is not as per Gurmat Philosphy.

Guru Gobind Singh also have written about Akaal(God), in much detail. He sanctified Chandi Charitar Ukati Bilas and Chobis Avtar, on base of Gurbani. Chobis Avtar contains history of religion and Guru sahib discourage many of their Mythological characters in between that poetry. None of Belief of Hindu scholar is accepted by Guru Gobind Singh and Khalsa.

Giani Narain Singh and Ratan Singh Jaggi did the interpretations based on previous concept given by Hindu Religious Scholars, and they did word to word translations only which makes many scholars believe that Dasam Granth is not written by Guru Gobind Singh. The spiritual aspect is not at all touched by any scholars regarding Dasam Granth.

Mach Avtaar in Guru Granth Sahib

In Guru Granth Sahib, Machu Avtar is told by Guru Arjun Dev including Vaaman, Narsingh, Kachu(Incarnations of Vishnu).

ਸ੝ਰੀਰੰਗ ਬੈਕ੝ੰਠ ਕੇ ਵਾਸੀ ॥ The Lover of greatness, who dwells in heaven.

ਮਛ੝ ਕਛ੝ ਕੂਰਮ੝ ਆਗਿਆ ਅਉਤਰਾਸੀ ॥ By the Pleasure of His Will, He took incarnation as the great fish and the tortoise.

ਕੇਸਵ ਚਲਤ ਕਰਹਿ ਨਿਰਾਲੇ ਕੀਤਾ ਲੋੜਹਿ ਸੋ ਹੋਇਗਾ ॥੮॥ The Lord of beauteous hair, the Worker of miraculous deeds, whatever He wishes, comes to pass. ||8||

Prof. Sahib Singh Interpretations :ਸ੝ਰੀ ਰੰਗ = ਹੇ ਲਛਮੀ ਦੇ ਪਤੀ! ਕੂਰਮ੝ = ਕਛੂਕ੝ੰਮਾ। ਆਗਿਆ = ਤੇਰੇ ਹ੝ਕਮ ਵਿਚ। ਅਉਤਰਾਸੀ = ਉਤਰਿਆ, ਅਵਤਾਰ ਲਿਆ। ਕੇਸਵ = (केशा पढ़रशसढ़या सनढ़ति असढ़य} ਹੇ ਸੋਹਣੇ ਲੰਮੇ ਕੇਸਾਂ ਵਾਲੇ! ਨਿਰਾਲੇ = ਅਨੋਖੇ। ਕੀਤਾ ਲੋੜਹਿ = (ਜੋ ਕ੝ਝ) ਤੂੰ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹ੝ੰਦਾ ਹੈਂ।੮।

ਹੇ ਲੱਛਮੀ ਦੇ ਪਤੀ! ਹੇ ਬੈਕ੝ੰਠ ਦੇ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲੇ! ਮੱਛ ਤੇ ਕੱਛੂਕ੝ੰਮਾ (ਆਦਿਕ) ਤੇਰੀ ਹੀ ਆਗਿਆ ਵਿਚ ਅਵਤਾਰ ਹੋਇਆ। ਹੇ ਸੋਹਣੇ ਲੰਮੇ ਕੇਸਾਂ ਵਾਲੇ! ਤੂੰ (ਸਦਾ) ਅਨੋਖੇ ਕੌਤਕ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈਂ। ਜੋ ਕ੝ਝ ਤੂੰ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹ੝ੰਦਾ ਹੈਂ ਜ਼ਰੂਰ ਉਹੀ ਹ੝ੰਦਾ ਹੈ।੮।

Faridkoti Teeka :ਹੇ ਲਛਮੀ ਕੋ ਅਨੰਦ ਦੇਨੇਹਾਰ ਬੈਕ੝ੰਠ ਕੇ ਬਸਨ ਵਾਰੇ ਮਛ ਕਛ ਕੂਰਮਾਦਿ ਸਭ ਤੇਰੀ ਆਗ੝ਯਾ ਮੈਂ ਹੀ ਔਤਾਰ ਹੂਝ ਹੈਂ ਕੂਰਮ ਰੂਪ ਹੋ ਕਰ ਪ੝ਰਿਥਵੀ ਉਠਾਈ ਹੈ ਕਛੂ ਰੂਪ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਮੰਦਰਾਚਲ ਉਠਾਇਆ ਹੈ ਵਾ ਝਕ ਕਛੂ ਮੰਦਰਾਚਲ ਕੇ ਹੇਠ ਬੈਠਾ ਅਰ੝ ਝਕ ਕੂਰਮ ਨੇ ਊਪਰ ਮਧਾਣੀ ਕੋ ਰੋਕ ਰਖ੝ਯਾ ਹੈ॥

The whole Shabad of Guru Arjun Dev is about Formless God. Acc. to Prof. Sahib Singh, In God's Command Machu was born and Faridkoti Teeka also say the same. The both interpretations believed that Machu Avtar existed in past and was born under Command of God. Bhagwat Puran, Matsya Puran, speaks of Machu Avtar past Guru Granth Sahib.

Hindu Interpretations of Mach Avtar

Hindu Description of Matsya Avtar is shown in image. Sankhasura-the conch shell deamon and Vishnu in form of fish

There are Different Versions of Mach Avtar in Hinduism. Sankhasura A daitya said in Hindu legend to have waged war against the gods and to have conquered them, upon which he stole the Vedas and hid them at the bottom of the sea, whence they were rescued by Vishnu in the form of a fish.

• A Version says Lord Brahma who is busy in penance. The demon named Shankasura siezes this opportunity to steal his vedas and Shastras (holy books). Lord Vishnu who is witness to this incident then promises Brahama of bringing back his Vedas. Vishnu wanders in search of Shankasura and when he finds him, fierce battle takes place between them. Shankasura runs from the battlefield and hides under water in a conchshell. As Vedas remained drowned in water, it was necessary to bring them up. To retrieve them Vishnu descends into the water in the form of fish that is lower part of body like that of fish and upper part like that of a man (Matsya Avatar). In a battle under the water Vishnu Finally defeats Shankar who surrenders and explains the motive behind stealing of Vedas. That he did so with an intention to pass philosophical knowledge of Vedas from elite people to downtrodden society (Bahujan Samaj). Vishnu appreciated Shankasuras courage and gave him a vow that in the three worlds (Trailokaya) before worshipping Vishnu People will worship his conchshell. Vishnu then restored the Vedas to Brahma.

• A Version says Lord Vishnu assumed the form of Matsya Avataara (an enormous fish) and vanquished Sankhaasura (a demon), to reclaim the Vedas from him. After Sankhasura was killed, Lord Vishnu blew the conch-shaped ear on his head. The auspicious sound of Om emanated from the conch and the Vedas were recovered.

Meanings given by Pundit Narain Singh and Ratan Singh Jaggi is on base of Hindu Scholar's viewpoint and is not based on Sanctification which is done by Gurbani with Mythological Characters.

Gurbani Interpretations of Mach Avtar

Gurbani Interpretations is based on etymological meanings, Bani contains various characters which were not etymologically told in Hindu mythology like Keshva, Gusaiya, Murari, Beethula, Bishvambar, Jagannath etc. As this composition was written by Guru Gobind Singh, Khalsa never apply Hindu Scholar's dictionary. Some question arise from Hindu study of this characters are:

1. Vedas in water and rescued by Vishnu in form of Fish. The Ink and Paper(Leaf) used to write Vedas in old times. I those are thrown in water then there is no chance that content would be saved.
2. A Human cannot convert himself into a fish, yes he can swim across to do so and according to Gurbani vishnu is attributed to Human not to god.

The characters used in this chapter is Shankhasura and Machu.

Shankhasura: (Conch + Deamon) A Sanskrit Term, which in terminology of Brahmgian is interpreted as The Deamon's voice, conch of deamon. Which when flute give negative vibes. In Gurbani it's Durmati(Negative Mentality, Mind). Etymologically, Every person who is Durmatt, Saakat or Manmukh is Shankhasura. Shankhasura is shown as king in this composition. In Gurbani, Mann is also a King(Mavasi raja).

Shankhasura Drowning Vedas: vedas are known as source of knowledge that time. Ved means Knowledge and particularly Divine Knowledge. Sankhasura = Manmukh, always drown the spiritual knowledge. In gurbani, Kabeer cleared that Manmukh Scholars have drowned Vedas and made smritis which put makes person away from Spiritual wisdom. Such people who created Manu Smriti etc. which have Rules against vedas and even gurbani are Sankhasuras as they just drowned the real essense in water. Fareedkoti Teeka did the same thing, he interpreted Gurbani gyan on base of early theology, same is done by today Sant Samaj and other people.All in all Durmati, manmati always drown the spiritual wisdom as this is death to their thinkings.

Bani