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24
ABSTRACTS OF SIKH STUDIES : APRIL-JUNE 2005 / 537 NS
The main protagonists in Guru Granth Sahib are Gurmukh,
Brahamgyani, Dervaish,Sachiara and the antagonist is Manmukh. Gurmukh
is that person who is a God-oriented man. He has all the qualities of
head and heart. He is a person of deep spiritual feeling. Manmukh is
an egoist. He is self-centred. He has always his own axe to grind. He
is without God’s Naam:
Egoists contemplate not the Naam;
Without the Naam, in suffering they wail. 15
Guru Granth Sahib eulogizes the Brahamgyani, i.e., Godenlightened,
who is an idealized form of the prototype. The Godenlightened
is the ideal one to be typified by the Sikhs. He is full of
equipoise. He is a worshipper of God. He becomes analogous with
God. Perhaps, the idealized form of the example that has been given
here for the human beings to follow is unparalleled in world literature:
The God-enlightened one is of all creation the Maker;
Ever-living, death touches him not.
From the God-enlightened comes liberation,
Way of life and life itself. 16
Similarly, Gurmukh and Manmukh are compared and contrasted. Gurmukh
is a gainer whereas Manmukh is a loser :
Those by egoism gripped are bound,
The God-instructed liberated. 17
The God-directed attain, the egoists forfeit. 18
Guru Granth Sahib rejects the Hath Yoga as a way for achieving
liberation. Torturing the mind and body in any form is unacceptable.
Similarly, going to the pilgrimages and fasting are denounced:
Not by hatha and self-suppression is the Lord attained.
Saith Nanak: By Sehaj is attained the Life of the Universe.
This enlightenment by the holy Preceptor is granted. 19
For further discussion please compare Guru Granth Sahib pp 68,
197,226, 333, 906 919.
Naam, sabad are very significant words in Guru Granth Sahib.
Both are interchangeable. All creation is done through Naam:
Guru Granth Sahib says:
The Name (Naam) is superior to all charities,
Chanting of texts, austerities. 20
Guru Granth Sahib advises that there is no use of going to the