Baba Sri Chand

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A statue of Sri Chand at the 3HO Headquarters in Espanola, NM

Sri Chand or Baba Sri Chand, (1494 to 1643) the eldest son of Guru Nanak, was born to Mata Sulakhani on Bhadon sudi 9, 1551 Bk/9 (September 1494) at Sultanpur Lodhi, now in Kapurthala district of the Punjab. Sri Chand became a renunciate yogi in order to share the philosphy of Baba Nanak with the yogis; he was the founder of the ascetic sect called the Udasis. Baba Sri Chand is regarded by Udasis, [3] Gobind Sadan, [4] 3HO [5] and other Yogis as a spiritual teacher.

Sant Baba Jaginder Singh comments on the mission that Guru Nanak gave his son: Baba Siri Chand was to teach the ascetic society how to contemplate God, how to put them on a straight path to salvation, make them firm in knowledge of God and reveal God to them. This was the duty Guru Nanak gave him. (‘Siri Hazoori Maryada Parbodh’, by Sant Baba Joginder Singh, Pa. 145-146)

Early Life

[7][6][8] After Guru Nanak left home on his travels to distant lands, Sri Chand`s mother took him and his younger brother, Lakhmi Das, to her parents` home at Pakkhoke Randhave on the left bank of the River Ravi. Guru Nanak had discourses with various yogis and their disciples like Gorakh, Bhangarnath, Loharipa, Hanifa, Kanifa, Bharthari etc. [6]. As they asked questions, Guru Nanak spoke simple, exalted truths to awaken them. [7][6][8]

Achal Batala was also centre of yog matt which was few KM's from Pakhoke Randhave, Yogis there planned to bring Sri Chand into their fold. It is mentioned in history that at the tender age of eleven he willingly left for Kashmir where he studied Sanskrit texts under Pandit Purushottam Kaul and later studied and practised yoga under Avinasha Muni.His purpose was to share the Naam and spiritual upliftment. Although he studied under siddhas, his heart was imbued with love of the Naam. When Guru Nanak, after his travels, settled down at KARTARPUR on the right bank of Ravi, not far from Pakkhoke, Siri Chand rejoined the family.

Guru Nanak’s Ashes recovered and reburied

Guru Nanak having chosen one of his disciples as his spiritual successor, passed away at Kartarpur on 7 September 1539. A monument was raised over the site where his ashes, some say the ashes of rose petals, were buried. As the monument was washed away by floods in the river, Siri Chand had the urn containing these ashes salvaged, reburying them not far from the well of Ajitta Randhava, a devotee of the late Guru. He built a mud hut over the place that came to be revered as a dehri or samadh (mausoleum) of Guru Nanak around which the present town of Dera Baba Nanak grew.

In some histories it is mentioned that when Guru Ram Das met Baba Siri Chand, Baba Siri Chand ji commented that Guru Ram Das had the longest beard he had seen. Guru Ram Das replied, “My long beard is to wipe the feets of the saints like you". When Guru Ram Das bent down to do so, Baba Siri Chand, feeling profoundly humbled, blessed Guru Ram Das with the throne of Raj Yog.

Preaching of Sikh Traditions

Baba Siri Chand stayed on at Pakkhoke Randhave for some time. He gathered around him a band of disciples who, like him, practiced renunciation, meditation on Naam, yoga kriyas and austerities. With his disciples he traveled throughout the length and breadth of India, initiating more converts to his Udasin or Udasi (lit. stoic) sect who functioned as preachers and established missionary centers at different places in the country and beyond.

Through them Guru Nanak`s word was also carried to far corners of the land. Baba Siri Chand`s own main center was at Barath, 8 km southwest of Pathankot in Gurdaspur district of the Punjab. Baba Siri Chand also kept in touch with successive Gurus during his long life of well over a century. The Gurus held him in high esteem in view of his holy descent, old age and piety. In 1626, when at the behest of Guru Hargobind, his eldest son, Baba Gurditta, proceeded to establish the town of Kiratpur in the lower Sivalik hills, he had the ground broken by Baba Siri Chand.

Death

Picture Depicting Sri Chand picking Nephew from Lakhmi Das's Horse

Baba Sri Chand died at Kiratpur on Magh sudi 1,1685 bik/ 13 January 1629.[1]. Udasis believe that he never died, rather they believe that he vanished into the forest of Chamba.

Before Baba Siri Chand died or went into seclusion at the age of 149, he appointed the son of Guru Hargobind, Baba Gurditta to be his successor as head of the Udasis. Gurditta was a married man, the first householder Udasi, with a wife and child. His son, Har Rai, was deeply immersed in the yogic sciences before becoming Guru, bringing a meditative harmony with nature and all living beings to the Guruship.

The Udasis served as warriors in Guru Gobind Singh's army and protected and maintained the historical shrines of Anandpur, Hazoor Sahib and Amritsar for over a century after Guru Gobind Singh's death. When Sikhs were persecuted and forced into hiding in the hills, Gurdwaras were under the protection and care of Udasis.

Guru Granth Sahib on Sri Chand

In Guru Granth Sahib, On Page No. 967, in Bani Ramkali Ki Vaar, it is clearly mentioned that Sri Chand became rebellious and adopted himself as a Yogi. Sri Chand put earrings in his ears and started a new order called Udasi. Following are extracts of Balwand/Satta hymns from Guru Granth Sahib.

ਸਚ੝ ਜਿ ਗ੝ਰਿ ਫ੝ਰਮਾਇਆ ਕਿਉ ਝਦੂ ਬੋਲਹ੝ ਹਟੀਝ ॥
The Guru gave the True Command; why should we hesitate to proclaim this?

ਪ੝ਤ੝ਰੀ ਕਉਲ੝ ਨ ਪਾਲਿਓ ਕਰਿ ਪੀਰਹ੝ ਕੰਨ੝ਹ੝ਹ ਮ੝ਰਟੀਝ ॥
His sons did not obey His Word; they turned their backs on Him as Guru.

ਦਿਲਿ ਖੋਟੈ ਆਕੀ ਫਿਰਨ੝ਹ੝ਹਿ ਬੰਨ੝ਹ੝ਹਿ ਭਾਰ੝ ਉਚਾਇਨ੝ਹ੝ਹਿ ਛਟੀਝ ॥
These evil-hearted ones became rebellious; they carry loads of sin on their backs.

ਜਿਨਿ ਆਖੀ ਸੋਈ ਕਰੇ ਜਿਨਿ ਕੀਤੀ ਤਿਨੈ ਥਟੀਝ ॥
Whatever the Guru said, Lehna did, and so he was installed on the throne.

ਕਉਣ੝ ਹਾਰੇ ਕਿਨਿ ਉਵਟੀਝ ॥੨॥
Who has lost, and who has won? ||2||

ਜਿਨਿ ਕੀਤੀ ਸੋ ਮੰਨਣਾ ਕੋ ਸਾਲ੝ ਜਿਵਾਹੇ ਸਾਲੀ ॥
He who did the work, is accepted as Guru; so which is better - the thistle or the rice?

Views of Some Scholars

Some Views related to Sri Chand Exist:

Nihang Baba Uday Singh comments upon the Udhasis:
Udhasi Panth is from the time of Guru Nanak it was started by Baba Siri Chand Ji. It is a ancient Panth. In it also the [Adi] Guru Granth was preached. They set up Akharas [religious gatherings] and alongside Adi Granth they gave knowledge of Ayurved [Traditional Indian medicine]. They moved like an army through the villages and towns. They visited the Kumbh [ie. the Kumbh mela, a hindu religious festival occuring every 12 years] at Hardwar on elephants and horses. This I do know about Udhasis the old ones use to preach Guru Granth with Ayurved. These Udhasis are an old Panth of Guru Nanak. They are exempt from the Khalsa initiation. From the beginning they did not get initiated into the Khalsa they adopted Udhasi way of life [non-attachment]. Baba Siri Chand had adopted Udasi life too. If they [Baba Siri Chand’s Udhasis] had been initiated into the Sikh fold they would have been successors to the Gurus. (Baba Uday Singh, transcript of a recording, 01-03-2001) Udhasi Gobind Das, Chief Mahant at Kankhal, Hardwar points out there was no conflict between father and son over this:

‘What throne of a kingdom did Baba Siri Chand occupy you tell me? Or, did Guru Nanak have such a throne so as he had to have a successor? Were they kings of some state? Guru Nanak was no king of some kingdom. He occupied the throne of a God’s devotee of devotion. Thus Guru Maharaj Baba Sri Chand Ji made his throne of devotion to God separate. In which there is none attachment and renunciation of every type, as is also found in Guru Nanak as well. Father and son appreciated each other's way of life was different, so they each preached their ways separately. The difference that was that Baba Sri Chand became preacher of Udhasis because one was a house holder [Guru Nanak] and one unattached [Baba Sri Chand].’ ‘Maharaj [Baba Sri Chand] preaching of Guru Granth that the Udasis have done in India all over. In all places, history shows, using Gutkas [small Sikh prayer books] we spread. We taught all to read Sikh scriptures. This is the gift of the holy men, the Udhasis. They [S.G.P.C. Akalis] cannot even in seven lifetimes preach as much as the Udhasis and Nirmalas have done and are still doing now. Even now, whenever we preach [to Hindus] we always without exception include teachings from [Adi] Guru Granth Sahib. We give examples [from Sikh history] of how you should follow the footsteps of the Gurus. Then your suffering shall be removed. Only then can your thinking and mind can come pure. That is if you desire Oh Brother, otherwise, it is up to you.’ (Baba Gobind Das, transcript of a recording, 16-02-2001)


Sant Baba Jaginder Singh comments on the mission Guru Nanak set his son:
Baba Siri Chand was to teach the ascetic society how to contemplate God, how to put them on a straight path to salvation, make them firm in knowledge of God and reveal God to them. This was the duty Guru Nanak gave him. (‘Siri Hazoori Maryada Parbodh’, by Sant Baba Joginder Singh, Pa. 145-146)

Udhasi Karam Prakash speaks with regard to the Adi Guru Durbar, and, how Udhasis and other Sikh religious orders presented scripture to the Hindus:
Guru Granth is such a great philosophy greater than all. He who has read Guru Granth Sahib sees in it come all the reading of Vedas. How is this? Reading reading we load carts [With books]’ [quote from Adi Guru Granth]So how many Hindu religious texts are we to read? For this reason we preached to all that in this [Adi Guru Granth] are all philosophies. The thinking of all religions is in this. Ramayana is in it, ‘Ram Ram keep near you’ [quote from Adi Guru Granth], This is written there. For this reason all the Shashters [Hindu spiritual texts] also come in it. That is why all our traditions [Sikh] acknowledge it [as Guru]. (Udhasi Karam Prakash, transcript of recording, 06-03-2001)

Virsa Singh Gobind Sadan
Baba Siri Chand was a renunciate-self-denying, celibate, and dedicated to meditation-but he was also a farmer. His father asked him not to leave the world but to take responsibility for the community farm at Kartarpur while he, Guru Nanak, was away. When Guru Nanak returned from his travels, the whole village happily told him that they had learned from Baba Siri Chand how to combine hard work on the farm and meditation. Baba Siri Chand had an extensive and dedicated following. When the Emperor Jehangir asked Mian Mir, his own darvesh (Muslim term for a powerful, truthful, God-intoxicated holy person), "Who is the greatest darvesh today?" Mian Mir replied, "At this time the elder son of Guru Nanak is the king of the darveshes."

Sri Chand and Sidhs

Nanak did Sidh Gosat with many Sidhhas in India and other parts of world. His bani Sidh Gosat is present in Guru Granth Sahib. Nanak taught many siddhas the true way of living. Siddhas were awed by Guru Nanak's wisdom. They wanted Nanak to join them,for their numbers would increase to spread the sect world wide if they had such person of wisdom. Baba Siri Chand went to spread the Gurmat teachings and entered in Yog matt. Sri Chand also requested Gurus to give one Sahibzada to the yog matt. Gurus willingly did so to continue the practice set by Guru Nanak of giving one son to share Guru's teachings with the yogis.

Are Udasis/Sri Chand Sikh?

It is said that Baba Sri Chand preached Guru Nanak's message, but do you think?:

•They continued worshipping Dieties. •They keep Jataan on head which is against sikhi, they are renouncers. Guru Nanak was against detachment, he encouraged Udasis not to be detatched and showed detatched Sidhas the way to truth in Sidh Gosht. •He even wrote a poem depicting Baba Nanak to be like God although Gurus never thought of their own praises. Scroll down to read the poem. •The Udasis protected and maintained the historical shrines of Anandpur, Hazoor Sahib and Amritsar for over a hundred years after Guru Gobind Singh's death when Sikhs were being persecuted and could not enter Gurdwaras. While Gurdwaras were under their tenure, Udasis practiced their own customs and traditions. Their traditions are still alive. Still you can visit their akhadas to see their way of life and compare it with gurbani or Dasam bani. 10th Matt of Nanak, 10th person who have same Gyan that of Nanak.

Aarta by Sri Chand

"Arta," a hymn revealing that Guru Nanak is master of the whole cosmos:
Let us sing the praises of Nanak, King of kings,
Emperor of both worlds.
The whole cosmos is His temple
Congregations sing sweet songs in His praise.
Millions of goddesses burn holy lamps in His honour
Millions of gods sing psalms in His praise.
Millions wash His lotus feet
The moon and sun illuminate Him with their radiance.
Masses of flowers are offering Him fragrance.
The True Master, the True Light, He is merciful to the poor.
The King of the Winds fans Him
While saints and sages meditate on His holiness.
He is universally accepted as the perfect Guru
The entire cosmos vibrates with his celestial song
. Bells ring out the tone -ONKAR-
Continuously illluminating the heavens.
He is one with God, Whose Name is Truth,
In Nanak's Name saints find their support.
Siri Chand, Nanak's son, declares,
"Nanak is unattainable, unfathomable, unshakeable, and pure."
Whoever sings Emperor Nanak's praises
Resides in heaven and achieves complete salvation.
Oh kind Master, protect those who seek your shelter
Oh Nanak! You are the saviour; we are just your children.

If we interpret it with eye of gur sikh, May be Nanak meaning here is Na-Anak, no one is like him i.e God. But Nanak was not God.

References

  1. ^ Bhatt Vahis
  • Nara, Ishar SINGH, Itihas Baba Sri Chand Ji Sahib ate Udasin Sampardai. AMRITSAR, 1975
  • Randhir Singh, Udasi Sikhan di Vithia. Amritsar, 1959
  • Macauliffe, Max Arthur, The SIKH Religion, Oxford, 1909
  • Harbans Singh, Guru Nanak and Origins of the Sikh Faith. Bombay, 1969

External Links

Relatives of Shri Guru Nanak Dev guru nanak

Grandparents: ✝ Mata BanarasiBaba Shiv Ram ✝ Grandparents (Maternal):✝ Mata BhiraiBaba Rama
Parents: ✝ Kalyan DasMata Tripta ✝ Uncle: ✝ Baba Lalu ✝ In-Laws: ✝ Baba Mool ChandMata Chando Rani
Wife: ✝ Bibi Sulakhni ✝ Siblings: ✝ Bibi Nanaki ✝ Brother-in-law: ✝ Bhai Jai Ram
Children: ✝ Baba Sri ChandBaba Lakhmi Das