Within Dasam Guru Durbar is contained the story of
Rishi Dutt (an ancient Indian sage). In his search
for the ultimate reality, he searched the world over. In his eternal
‘Justjoo’ (search of truth) he in all
adopted 24 Gurus. Below are listed the wonderful varieties of Gurus
of Rishi Dutt.
1. Akaal (immortal God)
2. Mind
3. Spider
4. Heron
5. Tomcat
6. Man sitting next to pile of smoke
7. Fish
8. Servant girl
9. Trader
10. Spinach selling female.
11. A king named Surth, a worshiper of goddess Chandi and master
of Shashtar Vidiya
12. Little girl
13. A servant
14. Chaste woman who is faithful to her husband
15. Arrow maker
16. Eagle
17. King fisher
18. Hunter of deer
19. ‘Naleeni’ (Parrot catching trap)
20. Rich man
21. Man teaching a parrot to speak
22. Man ploughing a field
23. ‘Raag’ singing woman
24. Brahmin
Ragini
An illustration of a 'Ragini' (classical Indian musical meter) depicting
a lovesick heroine holding a 'Veena' (musical instrument)
Akali Guru Gobind Singh further explains that Rishi
Dutt, though with his mind focused on 'Ekh' (One
supreme universal God, who has no form but all forms, contemplation
of whom brings peace of mind and promotes universal harmony), acknowledged
each of the above as his Gurus. For all of them in one way or another
confirmed his devotion in the one God of whom Dutt spoke:
‘Seeing the world master sage Dutt thought
thus,
Who creates all these (creatures of the world/ his 24 Guru’s)?
Then himself merges them in himself,
With knowledge get to know him.
Then will one attain a focused mind,
Know him as the light of the world.
Then will your body be without ailment. So recognize the One being,
He, who is recognized as destroyer of the world.
Recognized the One Husband (master) of the world,
Who is with out fear, without end and without hypocrisy. Without recognizing the ‘Ekh’, one can not
find peace.
Even though one bathes at all pilgrim centers,
Only then [on recognizing] ‘Ekh’, will one succeed
in all ones tasks.
Without the [contemplation of] ‘Ekh’, 24 hours [all
life] are worthless.
All the earth all the people are [also] worthless.
They who recognize the ‘Ekh’ [true Guru],
They enjoy all the pleasures in 24 hours, They are absorbed in the pleasure of ‘Ekh’,
24 hours they are in state of ecstasy [for they appreciate the
ultimate truth ‘Ekh’].
They who have not recognized the ‘Ekh’,
24 hours they remain without any true understanding.
They who have not recognized the one,
Their 24 hours are fruitless. They who recognize the one,
They enjoy all the pleasures in 24 hours.
If you have brought the One [universal God] to reside in the
mind,
Then the sense of duality [that perturb the human mind and brings
mankind into conflict with self and others] vanishes.’
‘Dasam Guru Durbar’, Akali Nihang Guru Gobind Singh,
Rudr Avatar
Akali Nihang Guru Gobind Singh Ji
Illustration of the tenth Sikh Guru from the 'Military Manual of
Maharaja Ranjit Singh', attributed to the workshop of Imam Baksh
Lahori (1822-1830)
