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How was the world created according to the Sikh intellectual tradition?
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![How was the world created according to the Sikh intellectual tradition? [Thread]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EqE4GnaUwAEYJE1.jpg "How was the world created according to the Sikh intellectual tradition? [Thread]")
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The compositions of Bhai Gurdas (one of the first 'Pujaris' of the Akaal Takht and a foremost Sikh religious leader within Sikh history) are considered the ਕੁੰਜੀ, or key, to understanding Sikh philosophy and the Adi Guru Granth Sahib.
He was the nephew of Guru AmarDaas Sahib and the maternal uncle of Guru Arjan Dev, and is conventionally credited to be the writer of the first 'Pothi' of the Adi Guru Granth Sahib under the tutelage of Guru Arjan Dev Maharaaj.
His authority concerning the quintessence of the philosophical Sikh tradition is unmatched. Consequently, his 'Vaaran' in Punjabi, and his 'Kabit Savaiye' in Braj Bhāshā are particularly noteworthy. When taking a glimpse at his Vaars, it is revealed that...
...he explicitly illustrates the contrivance of all creation and the human body quite exquisitely. He asserts the following in the 2nd 'Pauri' of his first 'Vaar':
ਪ੍ਰਿਥਮੈ ਸਾਸ ਨ ਮਾਸ ਸਨ ਅੰਧ ਧੁੰਧ ਕਛੁ ਖਬਰ ਨ ਪਾਈ।
In the beginning [ਪ੍ਰਿਥਮੈ], when the breath and body were non-existent [ਸਾਸ ਨ ਮਾਸ ਸਨ], mist and darkness prevailed and nothing was discernible [ਅੰਧ ਧੁੰਧ ਕਛੁ ਖਬਰ ਨ ਪਾਈ].
In the beginning [ਪ੍ਰਿਥਮੈ], when the breath and body were non-existent [ਸਾਸ ਨ ਮਾਸ ਸਨ], mist and darkness prevailed and nothing was discernible [ਅੰਧ ਧੁੰਧ ਕਛੁ ਖਬਰ ਨ ਪਾਈ].
ਰਕਤਬਿੰਦ ਕੀ ਦੇਹਿ ਰਚਿ ਪਾਂਚ ਤਤ ਕੀ ਜੜਤ ਜੜਾਈ।
From the blood of the Mother [ਰਕਤ] and the seminal fluids of the Father [ਬਿੰਦ] was the body created [ਰਕਤਬਿੰਦ ਕੀ ਦੇਹਿ ਰਚਿ], while the five elements were rooted accordingly within the body [ਪਾਂਚ ਤਤ ਕੀ ਜੜਤ ਜੜਾਈ].
![ਰਕਤਬਿੰਦ ਕੀ ਦੇਹਿ ਰਚਿ ਪਾਂਚ ਤਤ ਕੀ ਜੜਤ ਜੜਾਈ।From the blood of the Mother [ਰਕਤ] and the seminal fluids of the Father [ਬਿੰਦ] was the body created [ਰਕਤਬਿੰਦ ਕੀ ਦੇਹਿ ਰਚਿ], while the five elements were rooted accordingly within the body [ਪਾਂਚ ਤਤ ਕੀ ਜੜਤ ਜੜਾਈ].](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EqE4IjcUwAA5ypN.jpg "ਰਕਤਬਿੰਦ ਕੀ ਦੇਹਿ ਰਚਿ ਪਾਂਚ ਤਤ ਕੀ ਜੜਤ ਜੜਾਈ।From the blood of the Mother [ਰਕਤ] and the seminal fluids of the Father [ਬਿੰਦ] was the body created [ਰਕਤਬਿੰਦ ਕੀ ਦੇਹਿ ਰਚਿ], while the five elements were rooted accordingly within the body [ਪਾਂਚ ਤਤ ਕੀ ਜੜਤ ਜੜਾਈ].")
From the blood of the Mother [ਰਕਤ] and the seminal fluids of the Father [ਬਿੰਦ] was the body created [ਰਕਤਬਿੰਦ ਕੀ ਦੇਹਿ ਰਚਿ], while the five elements were rooted accordingly within the body [ਪਾਂਚ ਤਤ ਕੀ ਜੜਤ ਜੜਾਈ].
ਪਉਣ ਪਾਣੀ ਬੈਸੰਤਰੋ ਚਉਥੀ ਧਰਤੀ ਸੰਗਿ ਮਿਲਾਈ।
Air [ਪਉਣ], Water [ਪਾਣੀ], Fire [ਬੈਸੰਤਰੋ], and the fourth [ਚਉਥੀ], Earth [ਧਰਤੀ], were combined together [ਸੰਗਿ ਮਿਲਾਈ].
![ਪਉਣ ਪਾਣੀ ਬੈਸੰਤਰੋ ਚਉਥੀ ਧਰਤੀ ਸੰਗਿ ਮਿਲਾਈ।Air [ਪਉਣ], Water [ਪਾਣੀ], Fire [ਬੈਸੰਤਰੋ], and the fourth [ਚਉਥੀ], Earth [ਧਰਤੀ], were combined together [ਸੰਗਿ ਮਿਲਾਈ].](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EqE4IzgVQAA4P-n.jpg "ਪਉਣ ਪਾਣੀ ਬੈਸੰਤਰੋ ਚਉਥੀ ਧਰਤੀ ਸੰਗਿ ਮਿਲਾਈ।Air [ਪਉਣ], Water [ਪਾਣੀ], Fire [ਬੈਸੰਤਰੋ], and the fourth [ਚਉਥੀ], Earth [ਧਰਤੀ], were combined together [ਸੰਗਿ ਮਿਲਾਈ].")
Air [ਪਉਣ], Water [ਪਾਣੀ], Fire [ਬੈਸੰਤਰੋ], and the fourth [ਚਉਥੀ], Earth [ਧਰਤੀ], were combined together [ਸੰਗਿ ਮਿਲਾਈ].
ਪੰਚਮਿ ਵਿਚਿ ਆਕਾਸ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਤਾ ਛਟਮੁ ਅਦਿਸਟੁ ਸਮਾਈ।
The fifth element, Ether [ਆਕਾਸ], was added [ਪੰਚਮਿ ਵਿਚਿ ਆਕਾਸ ਕਰਿ], while the sixth [ਛਟਮੁ] Creator Being [ਕਰਤਾ] invisibly permeated throughout his creation [ਕਰਤਾ ਛਟਮੁ ਅਦਿਸਟੁ ਸਮਾਈ].
The fifth element, Ether [ਆਕਾਸ], was added [ਪੰਚਮਿ ਵਿਚਿ ਆਕਾਸ ਕਰਿ], while the sixth [ਛਟਮੁ] Creator Being [ਕਰਤਾ] invisibly permeated throughout his creation [ਕਰਤਾ ਛਟਮੁ ਅਦਿਸਟੁ ਸਮਾਈ].
ਪੰਚ ਤਤ ਪੰਚੀਸ ਗੁਨਿ ਸਤ੍ਰ ਮਿਤ੍ਰ ਮਿਲਿ ਦੇਹਿ ਬਣਾਈ।
The union [ਮਿਲਿ] of the five elements [ਪੰਚ ਤਤ], & the 25 qualities [ਪੰਚੀਸ ਗੁਨਿ] of the elements [ਪੰਚ ਤਤ ਪੰਚੀਸ ਗੁਨਿ], who were mutually irreconcilable to one another, were fused together to create the body [ਸਤ੍ਰ ਮਿਤ੍ਰ ਮਿਲਿ ਦੇਹਿ ਬਣਾਈ].
![ਪੰਚ ਤਤ ਪੰਚੀਸ ਗੁਨਿ ਸਤ੍ਰ ਮਿਤ੍ਰ ਮਿਲਿ ਦੇਹਿ ਬਣਾਈ।The union [ਮਿਲਿ] of the five elements [ਪੰਚ ਤਤ], & the 25 qualities [ਪੰਚੀਸ ਗੁਨਿ] of the elements [ਪੰਚ ਤਤ ਪੰਚੀਸ ਗੁਨਿ], who were mutually irreconcilable to one another, were fused together to create the body [ਸਤ੍ਰ ਮਿਤ੍ਰ ਮਿਲਿ ਦੇਹਿ ਬਣਾਈ].](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EqE4JDsVoAMQqjG.jpg "ਪੰਚ ਤਤ ਪੰਚੀਸ ਗੁਨਿ ਸਤ੍ਰ ਮਿਤ੍ਰ ਮਿਲਿ ਦੇਹਿ ਬਣਾਈ।The union [ਮਿਲਿ] of the five elements [ਪੰਚ ਤਤ], & the 25 qualities [ਪੰਚੀਸ ਗੁਨਿ] of the elements [ਪੰਚ ਤਤ ਪੰਚੀਸ ਗੁਨਿ], who were mutually irreconcilable to one another, were fused together to create the body [ਸਤ੍ਰ ਮਿਤ੍ਰ ਮਿਲਿ ਦੇਹਿ ਬਣਾਈ].")
The union [ਮਿਲਿ] of the five elements [ਪੰਚ ਤਤ], & the 25 qualities [ਪੰਚੀਸ ਗੁਨਿ] of the elements [ਪੰਚ ਤਤ ਪੰਚੀਸ ਗੁਨਿ], who were mutually irreconcilable to one another, were fused together to create the body [ਸਤ੍ਰ ਮਿਤ੍ਰ ਮਿਲਿ ਦੇਹਿ ਬਣਾਈ].
ਖਾਣੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਚਲਿਤੁ ਕਰਿ ਆਵਾਗਉਣੁ ਚਰਿਤ੍ਰ ਦਿਖਾਈ।
The four methods of birth [ਖਾਣੀ], and the four categories of speech [ਬਾਣੀ] were then established [ਖਾਣੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਚਲਿਤੁ ਕਰਿ], and the cycle of transmigration, of constant life and death, was introduced [ਆਵਾਗਉਣੁ ਚਰਿਤ੍ਰ ਦਿਖਾਈ].
![ਖਾਣੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਚਲਿਤੁ ਕਰਿ ਆਵਾਗਉਣੁ ਚਰਿਤ੍ਰ ਦਿਖਾਈ।The four methods of birth [ਖਾਣੀ], and the four categories of speech [ਬਾਣੀ] were then established [ਖਾਣੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਚਲਿਤੁ ਕਰਿ], and the cycle of transmigration, of constant life and death, was introduced [ਆਵਾਗਉਣੁ ਚਰਿਤ੍ਰ ਦਿਖਾਈ].](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EqE4JQsUwAAeN2E.jpg "ਖਾਣੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਚਲਿਤੁ ਕਰਿ ਆਵਾਗਉਣੁ ਚਰਿਤ੍ਰ ਦਿਖਾਈ।The four methods of birth [ਖਾਣੀ], and the four categories of speech [ਬਾਣੀ] were then established [ਖਾਣੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਚਲਿਤੁ ਕਰਿ], and the cycle of transmigration, of constant life and death, was introduced [ਆਵਾਗਉਣੁ ਚਰਿਤ੍ਰ ਦਿਖਾਈ].")
The four methods of birth [ਖਾਣੀ], and the four categories of speech [ਬਾਣੀ] were then established [ਖਾਣੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਚਲਿਤੁ ਕਰਿ], and the cycle of transmigration, of constant life and death, was introduced [ਆਵਾਗਉਣੁ ਚਰਿਤ੍ਰ ਦਿਖਾਈ].
ਚਉਰਾਸੀਹ ਲਖ ਜੋਨਿ ਉਪਾਈ ॥੨॥
In this manner, 8.4 million life forms were designed by the Almighty.
ਵਾਰਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ : ਵਾਰ ੧ ਪਉੜੀ ੨ ਪੰ. ੭
(A personal translation).
In this manner, 8.4 million life forms were designed by the Almighty.
ਵਾਰਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ : ਵਾਰ ੧ ਪਉੜੀ ੨ ਪੰ. ੭
(A personal translation).
As illustrated above, the creation of the world and particularly the human body is emphatically chronicled by Bhai Gurdas, it is imperative we study his works when attempting to analyze the Sikh historical and intellectual tradition, in light of the Adi Guru Granth Sahib.
