| (61) Question:- |
Sum up Guru Angad Dev Ji's contribution to the development of the Sikh faith. |
| Answer:- |
As discussed above, Guru Angad Dev Ji gave Gurmukhi script and by use of the vernacular for writing the spiritual Word, he proved that the assertion made by dominating priestly class that without the knowledge of Sanskrit, the understanding of religion was not possible, was wrong. In the words of Dr. Hari Ram Gupta, "Popularisation of the Gurmukhi alphabet was a great step towards the development of Sikh Religion." Guru's efforts to collect the compositions of the first Guru and to get his biography written were also significant steps in this direction. The institution of Langar became stronger in his time and the same helped considerably in the propagation of Sikhism. He preached the teachings of his Master and in the words of Khushwant Singh, by doing so, "He filled in the brick work of the edifice whose scaffolding had been erected By Nanak."
|
| (62) Question:- |
When did Guru Angad Dev Ji breathe his last? On whom did he bestow the spiritual throne? |
| Answer:- |
Guru Angad Dev Ji passed away at Khadur on Chet Sudi 4, 1609 BK/29th March. 1552, passing on succession to his worthiest disciple Amar Dass Ji, who became the third successor of the spiritual throne of Guru Nanak. |
| (63) Question:- |
Mention Gurdwaras associated with the life of Guru Angad Dev Ji? |
| Answer:- |
Most of the Gurdwaras associated with the Guru Angad Dev Ji are at Khadur Sahib, which was the place of his headquarters. The main Shrine, now named as Darbar Sahib, stands at a place which was the residence of the Guru. On the northern outskirts of the town is the Gurdwara Mall Akhara, which has already been mentioned as the place where the Guru used to give instructions in wrestling. There is another Gurdwara at Khadur known as Tapiana Sahib, where the Guru used to have austerities (Tap). As mentioned in the Tapa story, the Guru had gone to stay at a place near Khadur and at that place also now there stands a Gurdwara. There is one more prominent Gurdwara at the birth place of Guru Angad Dev Ji i.e. in the village Sarai Naanga formerly known as Matte-di-Sarai.
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| (64) Question:- |
Show your acquaintance with the compositions of Guru Angad Dev Ji as enshrined in Guru Granth Sahib. |
| Answer:- |
Guru Angad Dev Ji wrote only slokas. These 63 slokas are found in Guru Granth Sahib, interspersed in the Vars written by first, third fourth and fifth Gurus. The distribution of these slokas in the Vars is as under:-
Name of the Vaar Writer of the Var No. of slokas of Guru
Angad Dev Ji incorporated
in these Vars
Vaar Aasa Guru Nanak 15
Vaar Maajh Guru Nanak 12
Vaar Soohi Guru Amar Dass 11
Vaar Saarang Guru Ram Das 09
Vaar Siri Raag Guru Ram Dass 02
Vaar Sorath Guru Ram Dass 01
Vaar Raamkali Guru Amar Dass 07
Vaar Maaru Guru Amar Dass 01
Vaar Maalar Guru Nanak Dev 05
Total 63
In these slokas, the Guru has emphasised regular meditation on the vine Name. His Baani also guides us for living, a disciplined and virtuous life. |
| (65) Question:- |
(a) Describe the poetic style of Guru Angad Dev Ji.
(b) There are a number of pithy expressions in the Slokas which reveal the wisdom that can lead a person on the path of happy, useful, meaningful and spiritual living. Give illustrations of such expressions in support thereof. |
| Answer:- |
(a) Although Guru Angad Dev Ji's contribution to Guru Granth
Sahib is smallest, his slokas cover almost all the issues which the other Gurus have elaborately dealt with. The Guru enlightens us regarding the importance of Naam Simaran and the obedience to the Divine Will (Hukam). The slokas written in chaste Punjabi also highlight the importance of the grace of the Guru with which alone a person stands liberated. His style of writing is simple direct and effective.
(b) Some of the illustrations of the verses, as given below, will show that how do they make a person wiser and appreciator of truths:-
ਨਾਲਿ ਇਆਣੇ ਦੋਸਤੀ ਵਡਾਰੂ ਸਿਉ ਨੇਹੁ।।
ਪਾਣੀ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਲੀਕ ਜਿਉ ਤਿਸ ਦਾ ਥਾਉ ਨ ਥੇਹੁ।।(ਅੰਗ 474)
Naal iaane dosti, vadaaru sio neh,
Paani andar leek jio tis ka thaoo na theh
Friendship with an immature person,
And love with a man of higher status,
Is fragile, as a line down on water,
Of which there is neither mark nor sign left.
ਮੰਦਾ ਕਿਸ ਨੋ ਆਖੀਐ ਜਾਂ ਸਭਨਾ ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਏਕੁ।। (ਅੰਗ 1238)
Manda kis no aakheeai jaan sabhna sahib ek
Whom shall we, then, call bad when the one God pervades all.
ਬਧਾ ਚਟੀ ਜੋ ਭਰੇ ਨਾ ਗੁਣੁ ਨਾ ਉਪਕਾਰੁ।। (ਅੰਗ 787)
Badha chatti jo bhare na gun na upkaar.
He who does deeds under compulsion, earns no merit. |
| (66) Question:- |
It is said that the Slokas composed by Guru Angad Dev Ji show a deep influence of Guru Nanak. How far is it true? |
| Answer:- |
Guru Angad Dev Ji's life and personality was highly influenced by the first Master, and so is true about his compositions. That is why the content and the meaning of many of his Slokas is almost similar to that of the first Master. Even the vocabulary used by the second Master is mostly the same as used by the first Master in his compositions. For example, the sloka 'Paawan Guru Paani Pita' as composed by Guru Nanak appears on Page 8 of Guru Granth Sahib. Guru Angad Dev Ji changed the word Paawan to Paon and added the word 'Hor' towards the end. Instead of the word `Diwas', he has substituted the word `Dinas'. Similarly, there is a variation in the word 'Dui' and 'Dai' in the two slokas. The Sloka with minor variations as written by the second Master appears on Page 146 of Guru Granth Sahib. |
| (67) Question:- |
How is the personality of Guru Angad Dev Ji reflected in the Vaar of Satta and Balwand. |
| Answer:- |
Satta and Balwand were highly influenced by the spiritual personality of the second Master, and according to them a glimpse of the Guru was sufficient to cleanse the dirt of many births. The original verse and its translation are given as under:-
ਹੋਵੈ ਸਿਫਤਿ ਖਸੰਮ ਦੀ ਨੂਰੁ ਅਰਸਹੁ ਕੁਰਸਹੁ ਝਟੀਐ।।
ਤੁਧੁ ਡਿਠੇ ਸਚੇ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹ ਮਲੁ ਜਨਮ ਜਨਮ ਦੀ ਕਟੀਐ।। (ਅੰਗ 967)
Hovai sifat khasam di noor arsoh kursoh jhateeai
Tudh dithe sache patsaah mal janam janam di kateeai.
As he praised the God always, Light of God illuminated him
O true King! Seeing you, the sins of millions of births are washed away. |
| (68) Question:- |
Who wrote about Guru Angad Dev Ji, the following beautiful lines, and where do the said lines appears in Guru Granth Sahib?
''ਸੁ ਕਹੁ ਟਲ ਗੁਰੁ ਸੇਵੀਐ ਅਹਿਨਿਸਿ ਸਹਜਿ ਸੁਭਾਇ।।
ਦਰਸਨਿ ਪਰਸਿਐ ਗੁਰੂ ਕੈ ਜਨਮ ਮਰਣ ਦੁਖੁ ਜਾਇ।।"
"So Kaho Tal Gur Seveeai Aehnis Sehaj Subhaae.
Darsan Parseeai Guru Kai Janam Maran Dukh Jaae."
O Tall ! Utter spontaneously and ever the Guru's praises
For whosoever sees the Guru's vision, is rid of the pain of births and deaths.
|
| Answer:- |
These famous lines were composed by Bhatt Tal. The same appear on Page 1392 of Guru Granth Sahib in the course of Swayyas of the second Master. |
| (69) Question:- |
Who was the successor of Guru Angad Dev Ji? Give details of his birth, parentage, marriage, and issues. |
| Answer:- |
The third Guru was Amar Dass Ji, who belonged to a Bhalla Khatri family and was born on Baisakh Sudi 14, 1536 B.K./5th May, 1479 at village Baasarke in Amritsar District. His father and mother were Sh. Tej Bhan and Mata Sulakhni (Some of the scholars mention the name of the mother as Lachhmi, Bhup Kaur and Roop Kaur.) The Guru got married on 11 Magh, 1559 B.K. with one Mansa Devi daughter of Devi Chand. The holy couple were blessed with two sons known as Baba Mohri and Baba Mohan and two daughters namely Bibi Dani and Bibi Bhani. |
| (70) Question:- |
How did Guru Amar Dass Ji come into contact with Guru Angad Dev Ji? |
| Answer:- |
As recorded by the chronicles, Guru Angad Dev Ji's daughter Bibi Amro was the person through whom Amar Dass came into contact with the second Master. She was married in a family related to Guru Amar Dass Ji, where she used to recite the hymns of the Gurus every morning. Amar Dass Ji was in search of a Guru as a Sadhu had chided him for not having a Spiritual preceptor. When Amar Dass Ji heard the hymns from the mouth of Bibi Amro, he requested her to take him to Khadur for a meeting with the Master. When he established the spiritual relationship, Amar Dass Ji was already 62 years old. In spite of his age, he started serving the Guru with single minded devotion. It is recorded that he woke up just after midnight and used to go to the river to fetch water for Guru's bath. During day he worked in the community Kitchen and had been cooking & serving meals and cleansing the utensils. When free from these tasks, he went out to collect fire-wood from the nearby forest for Guru Ka Langar. Whenever he got time, he engaged himself in prayer and meditation. |
