We thank Vegetarian Taksali Blogger for permission to share this article exposing the attempt to change the SGGS Ji.  Keep up the good work Taksali Blogger Ji.   May Vaheguru Bless you with all wisdom.

Part 2: Debunked – The Paradox of ੴ ‘Ek Oh Beant’ Expounded by Prof. Devinder Singh Chahal

This article is a continuation of Part 1 (Click here) where it was established and proven that the ੴ are Words  and not a mere logo as proposed by Professor Chahal.  In the same article we also established that the Word (Shabad) is the Guru, who in turn is the Embodiment (Sargun Saroop) of God. It was also established that the ‘1’ is a digit that is pronounced as  ‘ਇਕ’(Ek) which represents the Singular God Entity.

In this next Part 2, we continue to analyse the second part of the Word namely   to establish it’s correct pronunciation.

 

Analysis Point 2 (Continued)

Analysis on

I would like refer the Professor to a very important book published by Damdami Taksal that was established by Guru Gobind Singh Ji Himself, Pehli Pothi, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Steek Taksal Sri Damdama Sahib, Teeka by Sant Gurbachan Singh Ji Khalsa, Bhindranwale. Had the Professor read the book there would have been no confusion in his Mind that would have saved him time wasted in writing his paper.

According to the book, there are three ways to prove a thing (In this case the correct  pronunciation of the ੴ  as listed below.

1. ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣ  = Examples
2. ਸੰਪ੍ਰਦਾਇ = Traditional Institutions of learning (Taksals, Nirmalas, Udasis, Nihang Dals etc.)
3. ਦਲੀਲ = Presentation of arguments and opinions .

Before I proceed I reproduce here a statement from the Abstract of the Professo’rs paper where he states The AGGS starts with this logo, ੴ  . It is just ‘1 + Open Oora with its open end extended’, which should be pronounced as ‘Ek Oh Beant  or Anant’ (One Oh ∝). ” The mispronunciation of ੴ  as Ek Oankar or Ek Onkar or Ek Omkar or Ek Oamkar or Ek Aumkar under the influence of ancient philosophy should be forsaken.

I am translating much of the text from the above mentioned pothi of Damdami Taksal with some modifications, to establish the correct pronunciation of the ੴ by way of the above three methods.

a. ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣ (Examples)

There is no example in any historical religious literature or any of the four canons (SGGS JI, Sri Dasam Granth (SDG), Varan Bhai Gurdas (VBG) or Rachnavan Bhai Nand Lal (RBN) where  ‘iek EAMkwr’ is pronounced as ‘iek EAM’, ‘eykMkwr’, ‘eykMkwr EAMkwr’, or ‘Ek Oh Beant’.

On the contrary there are many pronunciations that indicate that it should be pronounced as ‘iek EAMkwr’ given in the SGGS Ji, SDG and VBG.

 

 

From the above it is crystal clear that correct pronunciation of  is Oangkar. This pronunciation is in accordance to SGGS Ji and Bhai Gurdas Ji’s Bani. Any individual irrespective of his scholarship is not more knowledgeable than Bhai Gurdas ji, let alone our Gurus. The proposed pronunciation of ‘Ek Oh Beant’  by the Professor to replace the Guru established pronunciation of ‘Ek Oangkar’ which has been proven above, goes against the Hukam of the Guru  and must be rejected.

 

b. ਸੰਪ੍ਰਦਾਇ (samparday-Traditional Institutions of Learning)

The definition of Samparday is the continuity of a tradition or established practices from the times of the Guru, by way of memorization from one person to another.

The proper pronunciation of the word ਓੰੰ can be determined from those Gursikhs who are genuine and lovers of the house of the Guru, who read and teach others how to read the SGGS Ji without any bias or inclination towards other religions. Presently, some people who have studied other religions have deviated from the Gurmat teachings and have attempted to change the proper pronunciation of the word to those stated above (‘ਇਕ ਓਅੰ’, ‘ਇਕੰਕਾਰ’, ‘ਇਕੰਕਾਰ ਓਅੰਕਾਰ’, or ‘Ek Oh Beant’).

Those who are completely aware and educated pronounce the ੴ as ‘ਇਕ ਓਅੰਕਾਰ’ (Ek Oangkar). Both the Sampardas that teach and interpret the SGGS Ji namely Damdami Taksal by Baba Deep Singh ji and Bhai Mani Singh Ji Taksal in Amritsar Sahib, which have been teaching the SGGS Ji through memorization by Brahm Gianis (Enlightened Souls) and Mahapursh right from the times of their first Jathedars, Baba Deep Singh ji and Bhai Mani Singh Ji, pronounce the word as ‘ਇਕ ਓਅੰਕਾਰ’ (Ek Oangkar) in their lessons. Both the above Taksals were established by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji who personally taught the proper pronunciations and meanings of the Gurbani to their respective first Jathedars.

Again the Professor whose knowledge is not on par with the Brahm Gianis of the Taksals is proven to be in contradiction to the Taksals. Therefore, it is again concluded that the correct and proper pronunciation is ਇਕ ਓਅੰਕਾਰ (Ek Oangkar) and not ‘Ek Oh Beant’.

 

c. ਅਨੁਭਵ (ਦਲੀਲ ਜਾਂ ਸੌਚ) (Presentation of arguments and opinions)

As I have stated earlier the Words  ੴ can be divided into three parts, namely, ‘੧’= Pronounced as ਇਕ (Ek), + ਓੰੰ = Pronounced as ਓਅੰ (Oang), + ‘‘ = Pronounced as ਕਾਰ (Kar). I have already defined the ‘੧’ under the subheading Defining the ‘1’ in Part 1 of this article.  Next we will look at  . The  consists of two words, the first being the ‘ ਓੰੰ ’ a Sanskrit word pronounced in Gurbani as ‘ਓਅੰ’ (Oang) and the second being a line  ‘ ‘ pronounced as ਕਾਰ (Kar). In the Punjabi language Kar means line. The Gurbani also refers to Kar as a line, as shown in the following verses of the SGGS Ji.

 

Based on the above three methods of establishing the correct pronunciation of the Words ੴ ‘੧’= Pronounced as ਇਕ (Ek), + ਓੰੰ = Pronounced as EAM (Oang), + ‘ਓਅੰ‘ = Pronounced as ਕਾਰ (Kar).  it is clear beyond any reasonable doubt that the correct pronunciation is ‘ਇਕ ਓਅੰਕਾਰ’ Ek Oangkar.

Further it is to be noted that in the entire SGGS Ji, SDG and VBG or historical books of the Sikh faith, the EM is not written without the ‘  ‘. It is absurd and baseless to suggest the pronunciation be changed to ਇਕ ਉਹ ਬੇਅੰਤ (Ek Oh Beant ∝ ) as suggested by Professor Chahal. The use of the mathematical symbol  ∝  to denote the infiniteness of God  instead of ‘‘  is itself a blasphemous attempt to change the Unchangeable Word (Shabad) of God. It is an attempt to make the Guru look as if He made a mistake like an ordinary human being. The Guru, as hypothesized earlier is the embodiment (Sargun Saroop) of the Conscious Entity God ie. Guru is God Himself. Hence, He not only had knowledge of  mathematical formulas and equations, but is the very source of such knowledge of equations. He could have used the  ∝ if He wanted to, but He didn’t. It will be utterly foolish to go against the Guru and suggest otherwise.

Summary and Conclusion From Articles in Part 1 & Part 2

1. Based on Analysis Point 1 in Part 1, it was proven that the ੴ are Words and not a mere logo as proposed by Professor Chahal.
2. In the same Point we also established that the Word (Shabad) is the Guru, who in turn is the Embodiment Sargun Saroop of God.
3. Based on Analysis Point 2, it can be said that that there are no elements of mispronunciation or misunderstanding  of the word ੴ as ‘ਇਕ ਓਅੰਕਾਰ’.  The following were established and proven in this analysis.
   1. a.   The ‘੧’ is a digit that refers to God as One or Single Entity.
   2. b.  The word ਓੰੰ is pronounced as ‘ਓਅੰ‘ Based on ਪ੍ਰਮਾਣ (Examples) given in the various canons, it was established that the correct pronunciation of the word  is ਓਅੰਕਾਰ.
   3. c. All Sampardays pronounce the said Word as ‘ਇਕ ਓਅੰਕਾਰ’.

Stay tuned for the next Part 3 article where we will discuss and delve deeper into the meanings of ‘ੴ‘ based on Mahn Kosh. We will also look into the various sounds of creation found in the different religions and compare them with the philosophy of SGGS Ji and SDG. We will also see whether or not the concept of ‘ੴ‘ in Sikhi is same as the Hindu Religion. Meanwhile, if there are any doubts in your Mind, kindly leave a message in the comments box.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.

Source:

1. http://beta.igurbani.com/
2. Mahan Kosh, Bhai Kahn Singh, Nabha
3. Pehli Pothi, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Steek Taksal Sri Damdama Sahib, Teeka by Sant Gurbachan Singh Ji Khalsa, Bhindranwale.