Gian Prabodh
Another highly devotional ballad comprising 336 verses, Akali Nihang
Guru Gobind Singh ji praises the qualities of the Almighty. The
text then deals with a dialogue the soul has with the King of Souls
(the Almighty), where emotions, the play of various eras (Satyug,
Treta, Dwapur and Kalyug) are discussed. The four facets of Dharm
(righteousness) are deliberated (Bhog, Raaj,
Dhaan, and Mokh). However, only
Dhaan Dharam has been discussed, the other 3 facets have not, which
leads many to belive this work was left unfinished.
Akali Nihang Singh Khalsa
An old painting of an Akali Nihang Singh holding 'salotar' (heavy
club),
and wearing a 'dastaar boongah' (towering turban) embelished with
a variety of weapons
Chaubees Avtar The second largest work within
Dasam Guru Durbar covering 5297 verses, it recounts the 24 incarnations
of Vishnu: Machh, Kachh,
Rudra, Jallandar, Bisan,
Sheshmai, Arihant, Dev,
Manu Raj, Dhanantar, Nar,
Narayan, Mohini, Varaha,
Narsingha, Baman, Parshuram,
Brahma, Suraj, Chandra,
Ram Krishan, Arjan, Buddha,
and Nehklanki (Kalki).
Vishnu
A painting of Vishnu (the preserver) being tended
to by his beloved consort Lakshmi and seated on Sheshnaag (the King
of the Snakes)
Machh Avtar
The first Avtar of Vishnu in the form a fish that saved Manu
and returned the Vedas from the demon King Hayagreev to Brahma
Kachh Avtar
The second incarnation of Vishnu in the form of a tortoise came
to
support the Mountain Mandara during the churning of the ocean of
milk
Viraha Avtar
A fresco from a Gurudwara at Narangabad, Punjab depicting Viraha.
A demon named Hiranyaskha had once dragged the earth to the bottom
of the sea. Vishnu, taking the form of a half-man half-boar incarnation
fought
with the demon for a thousand years and raised the earth back up
from the sea
Narsingha Avtar
A fresco from a Gurudwara at Narangabad, Punjab depicting
the seventh incarnation of Vishnu, the half-man half-lion Narsingha
who came to the aid of Bhagat Prahlad. The demon King Hiranyakasipu
who
attempted to kill Prahlad had his chest ripped apart by Narsingha
with his claws
Baman Avtar
The eighth incarnation of Vishnu came in the form of a Dwarf that
appeared
before the all-conquering king Bali who had conquered Heaven, Earth
and the
Netherworld. Eventually, Bavan retrieved Heaven and Earth back from
the Bali
Parasram Avtar
Known as 'Raam with an axe', Parasram was manifest in Treta Yug
(the
second age) and delivered the Brahmins from the arrogant dominion
of the Kyshatriyas
Brahma
The creator, one of Vishnu's early incarnations seen here
seated on a lotus that signifies the move of creation from chaos
to order
Krishan Avtar
One of the most popular of Vishnu's incarnations who came to Earth
and killed the demon king Kans, fought in the Mahabharat and recited
the Bhaagvad Gita to the Pandav King Arjan at the battlefield of
Kurukshetra
Buddha Avtar
The twenty third incarnation of Vishnu whom it is said came
to teach mankind to reject the Vedas, and to see all men as equal
Kalki Avtar
The final incarnation of Vishnu that is yet to arrive signalling
the end of Kal Yuga (the
Age of Technological Marvel). Manifesting from a village known as
Salbalpur, Kalki will
ride a horse and destroy Adharam (unrighteousness) and will eventually
be killed by Midhi Avtar
The entire chapter is very narrative and speaks Dharam
always being protected by the Almighty and how this has occured
through the various eras. The section covering Krishan Maharaj,
Raam, and Nehklanki are the longest. Each Avtar brings with him
a special technique or method of warfare to defeat the enemy he
is facing.
It is this aspect that appeals to the Akali Nihang
Singh Khalsa as much of this forms the basis for the higher martial
art skills within Shastar Vidiya (click here
for more information). The avtars can be categorised as being either:
i) Shastardhari (using weapons and battle techniques
to uphold Dharam, eg, Narsingha)
ii) Shaastardhari (using wisdom to overcome unrighteousness,
eg, Buddha)
iii) Kalyaandhari (who change their environment
through great deeds, eg, Machh)
The ballad enforces the view that although each Avtar
has great powers and carried out great deeds, they all succumbed
to egotism. The 'Atma' (soul) of these great beings
still derived its strength from 'Parmatma' (Highest of all Souls,
ie. the Almighty). The chapter also reinforces the Sanatan Sikh
philosophy than none other than the Almighty Nirankar
(formless) God is to be worshipped.