Bhavani
Bhavani is, in Hindu mythology, the ferocious aspect of the Hindu goddess Parvati who also has the forms of Mahamaya, Durga, Uma and Karunaswaroopini, "filled with mercy". Around India from village to village, many names are used for this life giving aspect of Vahiguru (the creator of all), such as the name Mumba Devi, the local name for Parvati, used for by the Colabai fisher folk that lead to the old colonial name of Bombay (beautiful port) being changed to Mumbai.
For Chatrapatti Shivaji, who like the Sikhs in Punjab, rose up to rid India of the tyranny of Mughal rule, Bhagauti was name of the Sword that Bhavani, the tutelary deity of the Marathas presented to Shiva ji. (Later it was the Marathas who with the Sikhs, that broke the back of Mughal rule in India.)
It was Shivagi's escape from Raja Ram Singh's custody, that lead to Singh getting on the bad side of Aurangzeb. In punishment he was assigned the task of quelling resistance to Mughal rule in Assam. A trip that is important in Sikh history for, fearfull of the suposed magical powers of the wizards of Assam Ram Sing invited Guru Tegh Bahadur and his Sikhs along on the campaign. Guruji, used the trip as a chance to spread the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev who had visited the area many years before. It was while Guru Tegh Bahadur was headed to Assam that his wife Mata Sundari ji gave birth to the future Tenth Master of Sikhi Gobind Rai.
Bhavani means "giver of life", the power of nature or the source of creative energy.
Bhavani in Guru Granth Sahib
Bhagat Namdev also pointed Pundit's Bhavani in these lines:
- ਤੂ ਕਹੀਅਤ ਹੀ ਆਦਿ ਭਵਾਨੀ ॥
- ਮਕਤਿ ਕੀ ਬਰੀਆ ਕਹਾ ਛਪਾਨੀ ॥੪॥
which itself means he is taunting Parbati that you call youself Bhavani but while giving liberation you hide yourself.
Namdev said Hindu Priests (Pundit) that his own Geeta talks of Raam's name only.
- ਗਰਮਤਿ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਗਹ ਮੀਤਾ ॥
- ਪਰਣਵੈ ਨਾਮਾ ਇਉ ਕਹੈ ਗੀਤਾ ॥੫॥੨॥੬॥ .
These statements say that Bhavani have wrong meaning in Hindu Priest's dictionary. Hindus Bhavani is totally rejected acc. to Adi Granth. In Dasam Granth, guru gobind singh gave a new meaning to word 'Bhavani;.
Bhavani in Dasam Granth
Guru Gobind Singh changed the definition of Bhavani in the Chobis Avtar, where the creater of the Universe is called Bhavani, Bhavani is Gurmat, while Hindu lore lists, Brahma as the creator of the universe and uses the name Bhavani as the second wife of Shiva.
(Earlier Hindu texts, however, have Vishwakarma as the Devta (lit. bright light, not god) that created and laid out the worlds, devtas, ect.)
Guru Gobind Singh's words on Bhavani:
"ਪਰਿਥਮ ਕਾਲ ਸਭ ਜਗ ਕੋ ਤਾਤਾ। ਤਾਂਤੇ ਭਯੋ ਤੇਜ ਵਿਖਯਾਤਾ।
ਸੋਈ ਭਵਾਨੀ ਨਾਮ ਕਹਾਈ। ਜਿਨ ਸਗਰੀ ਇਹ ਸਰਿਸਟਿ ਬਨਾਈ।"।
ਸੋਈ ਭਵਾਨੀ: Bhavani=Gurmat=Chandi=Hukam
References
- Mahankosh, Kahn Singh Nabha
- Surindar Singh Kohli, Dictionary of Mythological References in Guru Granth Sahib,
