Bachitar Natak: Writing of Guru Gobind Singh?: Difference between revisions

According to some people, the writer named Poet Shyam was not actually the tenth Sikh Guru but someone who tried to impersonate Guru Gobind Singh. They say that the poet has used the then available knowledge of history to write from the viewpoint of the revered Guru by showing that his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur died for the protection Hinduism, that he fought Bhangani Battle, Nadaun battle etc, and that the impersonator left many clues which show that the writer cannot be Guru Gobind Singh.

This article challenges this viewpoint and supports the fact that the poet Shyam was in fact the pen name of tenth Sikh Guru. Was the composition Bachitar Natak the writing of Guru Gobind Singh?

Ideological mistakes

Sikhs Gurus could not visit places of pilgrimage

• The writer's father visited many pilgrimages, which is against Sikhism and thus this shows that the writer cannot by tenth Guru and Guru Tegh Bahadur couldn't be the father who would not visit places of pilgrimage.

The supporters of the impersonator theory take the view that as Sikhs are compelled by the Sikh ideology not to visit places of pilgrimage to attain salvation that this practise cannot be engaged by the Gurus themselves. In reality the facts show that:

• Guru Nanak visited many places of pilgrimage. Also that Guru Tegh Bahadur visited many places of pilgrimage, and the composition, Bachitar Natak records that Poet Shyam's father also visited many places of pilgrimage. The question that needs to be asked is: What Was the purpose of visiting to these holy places? And the answer is that this was to guide people onto the path of righteousness Dharam. Guru Nanak did, Guru Tegh Bahadur did and Poet Shyam's father also did.

It is accepted that the ninth Sikh Guru did indeed visit many places of pilgrimage but this was to educate the masses and bring better understanding of the right type behaviour to attain a better spiritual life. This was also done by Guru Nanak as well as is evident from the many sakhis in Haridwar and other such important places of pilgrimage. So this point does not in fact help the impersonator theorists as it was common for the Gurus to visit such places.

If one reads the Bachitar Natak in detail, one can see exactly what Guru Tegh Bahadur did in real life as narrated in history, so this does not in fact assist the impersonator theorists at all.

Critical of previous religious leaders

• The Poet says that all prophets before him are fake. Poet tried to break communal Harmony; this not in keeping with the tone of the holy Guru Granth.

Here the impersonator theorist take the view that as the writer of Bachitar Natak has been very critical almost to the point of condemnation of the previous prophets and religious leaders, the writer cannot be a Sikh Guru as the Guru Granth Sahib has never been so critical of these previous religious leaders.

ਜੇ ਜੇ ਭਝ ਪਹਿਲ ਅਵਤਾਰਾ ॥ ਆਪ੝ ਆਪ੝ ਤਿਨ ਜਾਪ੝ ਉਚਾਰਾ ॥
All the earlier incarnations caused only their names to be remembered.

ਪ੝ਰਭ ਦੋਖੀ ਕੋਈ ਨ ਬਿਦਾਰਾ ॥ ਧਰਮ ਕਰਨ ਕੋ ਰਾਹ੝ ਨ ਡਾਰਾ ॥੪੪॥
They did not strike the tyrants and did not make them follow th path of Dharma.44.

ਜੇ ਜੇ ਗਉਸ ਅੰਬੀਆ ਭਝ ॥ ਮੈ ਮੈ ਕਰਤ ਜਗਤ ਤੇ ਗਝ ॥
All the earlier prophets ended themselves in ego.

ਮਹਾਪ੝ਰਖ ਕਾਹੂੰ ਨ ਪਛਾਨਾ ॥ ਕਰਮ ਧਰਮ ਕੋ ਕਛੂ ਨ ਜਾਨਾ ॥੪੫॥
And did not comprehend the supreme Purusha, they did not care for the righteous actions.45.

• These lines is about Avtarwaad like Rama, Krishna, Varah etc, and is not related to Sikhism. Prophets are "paigambars" and this word is not related to sikhism.
  Sikhs have word Guru and Gurmukh. Prophets are related to Christianity and Islam Jesus, Muhammad, Noah etc.
  In Bachitar Natak, Poet clearly mentioned role of 9 Nanaks in spreading God words and poet Shyam himself did so. The 9 Gurus were not avtars and not paigambars and the poet has not said that any of them were avatar or paigambar
  

It is clear Poet is not against the 9 Nanaks - if this was so he should have mentioned their name in list of ((Trideva, Bairagis, Jogis, Prophet Followers)). According to the poet, God is against the way made by Trideva, Muhamad, Ramanand, Gorakh, but he has not mentioned Sikhi or Gurmat. This interpretation here is left to the reader. It is upto the individual what to deduce from this wrting but the impersonator theorists say that Poet Shyam tried to break communal harmony. and Sikhism promotes Communal Harmony.

Chronological mistakes

“After this, I sent ascetics and saints with supernatural powers, who turned out to be rascals. They started their own sects and did not recognize Me. Then I sent Gorakh Nath followed by Rama Nand and Prophet Mohammed, who like their predecessors, established their own sects and led people astray and ignored Me.”

Poet places Ramanand in history before Muhammad. If we study history, Ramanands birth is said to be between 1366 and 1400, and Muhammad was born in 570. Such a big mistake could not have been made by Guru Gobind Singh.

Here the writer displays his ignorance of history and the teachings of Ramanad and Prophet Mohammed. Prophet Mohammed was born several hundred years earlier than Gorakh Nath and he believed in “One and only God” he called Allah. And Rama Nand was a monotheist who adored God, that is why his composition is in AGGS. Moreover, the followers of the Prophet Muslims controlled vast territory in Asia, Africa and Europe. On the other hand Gorakh Nath’s followers believed in millions of gods and goddesses and their country was ruled by Muslims. Besides, Gorakh Nath’s followers were free loaders they made living by exploiting others through trickery and witchcraft.

Other mistakes

• The description of circumcision is vulgar ling bina - without penis instead of the proper Arabic word, sunat (suMnq) used in the AGGS. It is vulgar, because it means 'without penis' which is also an incorrect term, and a hateful description of the circumcision. Writer hates Circumcision but Sikhism is not against Circumcision or you can show no hate to circumcision.

• Says that first three Gurus were Bedis. This is not true because the second Guru was Trehan and third was Bhalla. SGGS (Panna 1396 and 1401) says that third Guru was a Bhalla which is historical truth

Battles

Battle of Bhangani

There is no mention of the sacrifice of Pir Budhu Shah in the battle of Bhangani and the help by Khan brothers, Rai Kalah and others to Guru Gobind Singh.

Pir Buddhu Shah was one of the MOST important figures in the battle. In 1688, during the Battle of Bhangani when Guru Gobind Singh was attacked by a combined force of the hill chiefs led by Raja Fateh Shah of Srinagar (Garhwal), all the Pathans with the exception of Kale Khan deserted him and joined forces of the attacking hill chieftains. When The Guru conveyed the news of the treachery to Pir Buddhu Shah, Pir came to the Guru's aid with his seven hundred followers, four sons and two brothers. Guru was very much happy to see his followers fighting against hill chiefs as they were not professionally soldiers. Guru sahib felt very happy seeing the devotion of peer Buddhu Shah. Many of the Pir's disciples as well as two of his sons, Ashraf and Muhammad Shah, and his brother, Bhure Shah fell in the action.

No Humility

Statements that contradict Sikh ethics humility, forgiveness and compassion.

The ones that didn't participate

jy jy nr q~h n iBry dIny ngr inkwr ] je je nar tah na bhire deene nagar nikar. jy iqh Taur Bly iBry iqnY krI pRiqpwr ] je teh thaur bhale bhire tinai karee paritpar.

“Those who did not participate in the battle (to help us) were forced to leave the town, whereas those who did were rewarded.”

Sikhs know that Guru Har Gobind Sahib forgave Emperor Jahangir, who was responsible for the cruel death of his father, Guru Arjan Dev. Sikhs also know that Guru Gobind Singh forgave Emperor Aurangjeb, who was responsible for the death of his father, mother, four sons and hundreds of Sikhs. Sikh Gurus were the embodiment of humility, compassion and forgiveness. How could any Sikh in his right mind believe that Guru Gobind Singh forced people to leave the town simply because they did not help him in the battle?

Treatment of enemies

Talking about the treatment of the enemies the writer say: “The wicked) ones were tortured and they died like dogs.” tWg tWg kir hny indwnw ] tang tang kar hane nidana. kUkr ijim iqn qjy pRwnw ] kookar jim tin the prana. Now compare this statement with the story of Bhai Kanhyia. When Sikhs complained to Guru Gobind Singh that Bahi Kanhyia was helping the wounded enemies, he hugged Bhai Kanhyia and honored him by calling him a true Sikh. How could any Sikh believe that Guru Gobind Singh degraded his enemies to the level of dogs and tortured them to death?

• • Weak Hearted people could die of Bachittar Natak. Guru ji never treat enemies Harshly, He Just Kill them. Guru Ji Killed many in Battle of Bhangani. Even Guru Ji killed those pathans who hit them with sword. So Guru Gobind Singh treat enemies very beautifully, He Forgive enemy by killing them. Once Pathan tried to kill guru, Guru Ji saved himself and killed him with utensil by hitting hard on his head. How compassionate. Those people who read Zafarnama, could read ""Halal Ast Burdan Ba Samsheer dasat"".
    Before Guru Hargobind Bhagwan Das Ghirarh was killed and chandu was killed mercilessly our gurus are so so so so so compassionate.
    Zabar Khan was killed by Guru Gobind Singh by digging hole put him in and face outside earth and dogs bhow bhow. This how Guru Sahiban treat enemies.

 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