Brahma Avtar

Brahma Avtar is a informative composition which was composed by Guru Gobind Singh at Anandpur Sahib, which is included in Sikh Scripture called Dasam Granth. it is description of so called incarnations of Brahma included in the Shastras and Simritis. The Brahma Avtar 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: B(V)almiki, Kashyap, Shukra, Brahaaspati, Vyas, Sastrodhaarak, and Kalidas.

• Mangal : ੴ ਸਤਿਗ੝ਰ ਪ੝ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ i.e The Lord is One and He can be realized through the Grace of the true Guru
• Title : ਅਥ ਬ੝ਰਹਮਾ ਅਵਤਾਰ ਕਥਨੰ ॥ i.e Now being the description of Brahma Incarnation
• Verses : 343
• Language : Braj

These Seven Rishis are called Sapatrishi. Many Sapatrishis were explained previously, but Guru Gobind Singh acc. to his knowledge told a brief about seven rishis which he consider as Sapatrishis or Brahma Avtar. He cleared this fact before started avtaar's description that he is not worshipper of brahma. So a Sikh must consider it for knowledge not to worship these avtars. Neither writer nor follower of writer believe brahm avtars as god

Details of Brahma Avtar

The Brahma Avtar starts with Ustati of God:

ਜੇ ਤਾਸ ਨਾਮ ਜਪੰਤ ॥ ਕਬਹੂੰ ਨ ਭਾਜ ਚਲੰਤ ॥ ਨਹਿ ਤ੝ਰਾਸ ਤਾਕੋ ਸ਼ੱਤ੝ਰ ॥ ਦਿਸ ਜੀਤ ਹੈ ਗਹਿ ਅਤ੝ਰ ॥੫॥
Those who remember His Name, never run away; they do not fear their enemies and wearing their weapons and other arms, they conquer all the directions.

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.

Brahm Avtar also includes the lines:

ਕਈ ਕੋਟ ਕ੝ਰਿਸ਼ਨ ਅਵਤਾਰ ॥ ਕਈ ਰਾਮ ਬਾਰ ਬ੝ਹਾਰ ॥ ਕਈ ਮੱਛ ਕੱਛ ਅਨੇਕ ॥ ਅਵਲੋਕ ਦ੝ਆਰ ਬਿਸੇਖ ॥੧੧॥
Many Krishna and Rama incarnations sweep His Door, many Fish and Tortoise incarnations are seen standing at His special gate.

It also mentioned that God is formless, having no Roop, no Rekh and 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.

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 ਚ੝ੳਬਿਸੇ ਅਵਤਾਰ ॥ ਬਹ੝ ਕੈ ਕਹੈ ਬਿਸਥਾਰ ॥ ਅਬ ਗਨੋ ਉਪ ਅਵਤਾਰ ॥ ਜਿਮ ਧਰੇ ਰੂਪ ਮ੝ਰਾਰ ॥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.

ਜੇ ਧਰੇ ਬ੝ਰਹਮਾ 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.

Seven Brahma Avtars in Dasam Granth

• Valmiki
• Kashyap
• Sukra
• Baches
• Vyas
• Khat
• Kalidas

External links

• Read Brahma Avtar Online

 Dasam Granth Sahib  

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