Mahakaal Part 2
by Harnaak Singh
(Audio Transcript)
Gur Sikh Jio. Waheguru Ji Ka Khasla Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.
We are going to continue our discussion about Mahakaal.
In part 1, we understood that Mahakaal according to SGGS Ji refers to God. We will now look at the view in Dasam Granth.
In
JAAP Sahib
Stanzas 23, 45 and 80, refer to “Namo Kaal Kaalay”; which means, I pay obeisance to the “death” of “deaths” or the “destroyer” of “time”; only the Creator God can DESTROY TIME.
In Stanza 68 God is said to be “kaal heen”; meaning God is BEYOND TIME.
In
AKAL USTAT
The title of the composition means PRAISE OF the TIMELESS GOD.
This composition, is written in the praise of God; nobody can deny or dispute,
that God is the subject of the title, BECAUSE, ONLY GOD IS TIMELESS.
We shall look at some phrases, showing the qualities of God, from some stanzas.
Stanza 9: God is: “kaal rehat” and “Ankal ਅਨਕਾਲ Saroop” both meaning “beyond time” – this is exactly the meaning in JapJi Sahib “Aad Sach, Jugad Sach, Hay Bhi Sach, Nanak, Hosy Bhi Sach”.
Stanza 10: “sab ko kaal” meaning God is the destroyer (ends time) and continues to state that those who meditate on God , “kaal” will not affect them.
Stanza 18/19: “Maha daan” Great giver. Who? God; God is the great giver.
“Maha maan” great honour, God is great honour.
“kay kaal huun ਕੇ ਕਾਲ ਹੂੰ YOU ARE the kaal (note kaal means time) ; meaning “you are the owner/creator of time
kay kaal ho ਕੇ ਕਾਲ ਹੋ” God can destroy time or end time ; create death, create destruction.
Stanza 253: The stanza means
God can destroy even the mightiest; God can bestow the greatest of honour and is a saviour.
God can conquer and remove opposition; God can give intellect for great honour.
So, that means “God can destroy and God can honour”.
In the last verse of the stanza Guru Gobind Singh Ji tells us about the qualities of God.
ਗਿਆਨ ਹੂੰ ਕੇ ਗਿਆਤਾ ਮਹਾਂ ਬੁੱਧਿਤਾ ਕੇ ਦਾਤਾ ਦੇਵ ਕਾਲ ਹੂੰ ਕੇ ਕਾਲ ਮਹਾ ਕਾਲ ਹੂੰ ਕੇ ਕਾਲ ਹੈਂ ॥੧॥੨੫੩॥
Analysing this verse we understand
ਗਿਆਨ ਹੂੰ – God is having the knowledge
ਕੇ ਗਿਆਤਾ – God is the knowledge house
ਮਹਾਂ ਬੁੱਧਿਤਾ – God is the great knowledge house
ਕੇ ਦਾਤਾ – God is the giver of knowledge
ਦੇਵ ਕਾਲ ਹੂੰ – God controlled the time during the period of devtas
ਕੇ ਕਾਲ – God terminated the time of devtaas
ਮਹਾ ਕਾਲ ਹੂੰ – God is the controller of ALL time
ਕੇ ਕਾਲ ਹੈਂ – God can destroy time.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji tells us that God controls knowledge and God controls time.
In Summary
It is clear and explicit from SGGS Ji, Jaap Sahib and Akal Ustat, that the word “Mahakaal”, is used to refer to God in our scriptures.
Mahakaal is therefore NOT Shivji, one of the Vedanta or Hindu trinity, as claimed by some quarters.
Thank you for listening.
Waheguru Ji Ka Khasla Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.
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Gur Vichar 