Hemkunt (Gurmat): Difference between revisions

Hemkunt is a word or expression of Spiritual/Divine Wisdom (Gurmat) used in Bachitar Natak Composition in Dasam Granth Sahib by Guru Gobind Singh, in late 17th Century.

This term is associated with geographical location i.e pond situated at Lokpal Valley of Uttarakhand, by scholars like Pundit Tara Singh Narotam, Bhai Vir Singh and Bhai Sohan Singh in early 20th Century. In Parallel, scholars like Gyani Sher Singh Kashmir (1931), Prof Sahib Singh, Bhai Dalip Sigh^[1], Bhai Pritpal Singh etc., suggest it to be spiritual expression rather then Geographical, as it is suggested that in Guru Granth Sahib there are many such expressions used like Ramdas Sarovar, Begumpura, Amritsar, Gokul which are not temporal/geographical but spiritual.

Etymology and Meaning

Interpretations of Hemkunt

There are 3 different interpretations of the word 'hemkunt' that have been in use.

1. A Geographical Place situated at Uttarakhand, India^[4][5]
2. Womb of Mother^[6]
3. Spirit's abode/Seat of Soul (Hirdaa) ^[7]

Source

Hemkunt word is appears in Bachitra Natak Composition written down by Guru Gobind Singh in at Anandpur Sahib.

ਚੌਪਈ ॥
चौपई ॥

ਅਬ ਮੈ ਅਪਨੀ ਕਥਾ ਬਖਾਨੋ ॥ ਤਪ ਸਾਧਤ ਜਿਹ ਬਿਧਿ ਮੁਹਿ ਆਨੋ ॥
अब मै अपनी कथा बखानो ॥ तप साधत जिह बिधि मुहि आनो ॥

ਹੇਮ ਕੁੰਟ ਪਰਬਤ ਹੈ ਜਹਾਂ ॥ ਸਪਤ ਸ੍ਰਿੰਗ ਸੋਭਿਤ ਹੈ ਤਹਾਂ ॥੧॥
हेम कुंट परबत है जहां ॥ सपत स्रिंग सोभित है तहां ॥१॥

ਸਪਤ ਸ੍ਰਿੰਗ ਤਿਹ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਹਾਵਾ ॥ ਪੰਡੁ ਰਾਜ ਜਹ ਜੋਗੁ ਕਮਾਵਾ ॥
सपत स्रिंग तिह नामु कहावा ॥ पंडु राज जह जोगु कमावा ॥

ਤਹ ਹਮ ਅਧਿਕ ਤਪਸਿਆ ਸਾਧੀ ॥ ਮਹਾਕਾਲ ਕਾਲਿਕਾ ਅਰਾਧੀ ॥੨॥
तह हम अधिक तपसिआ साधी ॥ महाकाल कालिका अराधी ॥२॥

ਇਹ ਬਿਧਿ ਕਰਤ ਤਪਿਸਆ ਭਯੋ ॥ ਦ੍ਵੈ ਤੇ ਏਕ ਰੂਪ ਹ੍ਵੈ ਗਯੋ ॥
इह बिधि करत तपिसआ भयो ॥ द्वै ते एक रूप ह्वै गयो ॥

ਤਾਤ ਮਾਤ ਮੁਰ ਅਲਖ ਅਰਾਧਾ ॥ ਬਹੁ ਬਿਧਿ ਜੋਗ ਸਾਧਨਾ ਸਾਧਾ ॥੩॥
तात मात मुर अलख अराधा ॥ बहु बिधि जोग साधना साधा ॥३॥

ਤਿਨ ਜੋ ਕਰੀ ਅਲਖ ਕੀ ਸੇਵਾ ॥ ਤਾ ਤੇ ਭਏ ਪ੍ਰਸੰਨਿ ਗੁਰਦੇਵਾ ॥
तिन जो करी अलख की सेवा ॥ ता ते भए प्रसंनि गुरदेवा ॥

ਤਿਨ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਜਬ ਆਇਸ ਮੁਹਿ ਦੀਆ ॥ ਤਬ ਹਮ ਜਨਮ ਕਲੂ ਮਹਿ ਲੀਆ ॥੪॥
तिन प्रभ जब आइस मुहि दीआ ॥ तब हम जनम कलू महि लीआ ॥४॥

ਚਿਤ ਨ ਭਯੋ ਹਮਰੋ ਆਵਨ ਕਹਿ ॥ ਚੁਭੀ ਰਹੀ ਸ੍ਰੁਤਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਚਰਨਨ ਮਹਿ ॥
चित न भयो हमरो आवन कहि ॥ चुभी रही स्रुति प्रभु चरनन महि ॥

ਜਿਉ ਤਿਉ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਹਮ ਕੋ ਸਮਝਾਯੋ ॥ ਇਮ ਕਿਹ ਕੈ ਇਹ ਲੋਕਿ ਪਠਾਯੋ ॥੫॥
जिउ तिउ प्रभ हम को समझायो ॥ इम किह कै इह लोकि पठायो ॥५॥

Available are translation of this text at [sridasam.org Sri Dasam] website:

Now I relate my own story as to how I was brought here, while I was absorbed in deep meditation.
The site was the mountain named Hemkunt, with seven peaks and looks there very impressive.1.
That mountain is called Sapt Shring (seven-peaked mountain), where the Pandavas Practised Yoga.
There I was absorbed in deep meditation on the Primal Power, the Supreme KAL.2.
In this way, my meditation reached its zenith and I became One with the Omnipotent Lord.
My parents also meditated for the union with the Incomprehensible Lord and performed many types of disciplines for union.3.
The service that they rendered the Incomprehensible Lord, caused the pleasure of the Supreme Guru (i.e. Lord).
When the Lord ordered me, I was born in this Iron age.4.
I had no desire to come, because I was totally absorbed in devotion for the Holy feet of the Lord.
But the Lord made me understand His Will and sent me in this world with the following words.5.

How Ice Pond is defined in Spiritual term

The Mann is attributed as a Tide which arise from our inner soul which is attributed as a Water, Mann is always Baharmukhi means it remain tangle in outer world. When the Tide settle down into water means when Mann and Inner Soul become one than it becomes water. Still When Wind blows on water it's tide again rises. So Such heart, Such soul which become one from inside and no wind could produce any movement in it, which is called Hemkunt, i.e ICE, which is a permanant term and could not be converted into water.

Such person/heart which become stable, away from Duality and which is capable of receiving Dhur ki Bani such entity is called Hemkunt. Such heart is so stable:

Inner Soul is Gur. Which give guidance to every Human Being. If Human listens to his inner soul then he is Gurmukh. If one is totally submerged in inner soul like that no wind of Manmatt could touch him, then such person is called Devotee, his Heart is Hemkunt.

Lokpal Valley

There is a Gurdwara in Lokpal valley which is also called Hemkunt and just for six months it is covered with snow but for 4 months it remain water(Not hemkunt anymore). So the term could not be described as Temporal place, but it's Spiritual place.

References