Guru Nanak on Kalyug

ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥

ਸੋਈ ਚੰਦੁ ਚੜਹਿ ਸੇ ਤਾਰੇ ਸੋਈ ਦਿਨੀਅਰੁ ਤਪਤ ਰਹੈ ॥

ਸਾ ਧਰਤੀ ਸੋ ਪਉਣੁ ਝੁਲਾਰੇ ਜੁਗ ਜੀਅ ਖੇਲੇ ਥਾਵ ਕੈਸੇ ॥੧॥

ਜੀਵਨ ਤਲਬ ਨਿਵਾਰਿ ॥

ਹੋਵੈ ਪਰਵਾਣਾ ਕਰਹਿ ਧਿਙਾਣਾ ਕਲਿ ਲਖਣ ਵੀਚਾਰਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

ਕਿਤੈ ਦੇਸਿ ਨ ਆਇਆ ਸੁਣੀਐ ਤੀਰਥ ਪਾਸਿ ਨ ਬੈਠਾ ॥

ਦਾਤਾ ਦਾਨੁ ਕਰੇ ਤਹ ਨਾਹੀ ਮਹਲ ਉਸਾਰਿ ਨ ਬੈਠਾ ॥੨॥

ਜੇ ਕੋ ਸਤੁ ਕਰੇ ਸੋ ਛੀਜੈ ਤਪ ਘਰਿ ਤਪੁ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥

ਜੇ ਕੋ ਨਾਉ ਲਏ ਬਦਨਾਵੀ ਕਲਿ ਕੇ ਲਖਣ ਏਈ ॥੩॥

ਜਿਸੁ ਸਿਕਦਾਰੀ ਤਿਸਹਿ ਖੁਆਰੀ ਚਾਕਰ ਕੇਹੇ ਡਰਣਾ ॥

ਜਾ ਸਿਕਦਾਰੈ ਪਵੈ ਜੰਜੀਰੀ ਤਾ ਚਾਕਰ ਹਥਹੁ ਮਰਣਾ ॥੪॥

ਆਖੁ ਗੁਣਾ ਕਲਿ ਆਈਐ ॥

ਤਿਹੁ ਜੁਗ ਕੇਰਾ ਰਹਿਆ ਤਪਾਵਸੁ ਜੇ ਗੁਣ ਦੇਹਿ ਤ ਪਾਈਐ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

ਕਲਿ ਕਲਵਾਲੀ ਸਰਾ ਨਿਬੇੜੀ ਕਾਜੀ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਹੋਆ ॥

ਬਾਣੀ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਬੇਦੁ ਅਥਰਬਣੁ ਕਰਣੀ ਕੀਰਤਿ ਲਹਿਆ ॥੫॥

ਪਤਿ ਵਿਣੁ ਪੂਜਾ ਸਤ ਵਿਣੁ ਸੰਜਮੁ ਜਤ ਵਿਣੁ ਕਾਹੇ ਜਨੇਊ ॥

ਨਾਵਹੁ ਧੋਵਹੁ ਤਿਲਕੁ ਚੜਾਵਹੁ ਸੁਚ ਵਿਣੁ ਸੋਚ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥੬॥

ਕਲਿ ਪਰਵਾਣੁ ਕਤੇਬ ਕੁਰਾਣੁ ॥ ਪੋਥੀ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਰਹੇ ਪੁਰਾਣ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਉ ਭਇਆ ਰਹਮਾਣੁ ॥ ਕਰਿ ਕਰਤਾ ਤੂ ਏਕੋ ਜਾਣੁ ॥੭॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਵਡਿਆਈ ਏਦੂ ਉਪਰਿ ਕਰਮੁ ਨਹੀ ॥

ਜੇ ਘਰਿ ਹੋਦੈ ਮੰਗਣਿ ਜਾਈਐ ਫਿਰਿ ਓਲਾਮਾ ਮਿਲੈ ਤਹੀ ॥੮॥੧॥

This seems an admonition of a priest who blames everything on Kalyug.  Kalyug is part of the Hindu idea of yugs or ages. In Hinduism, there are 4 yugs. The ages get progressively more immoral and evil, dharam (righteousness) break down. Eventually the world is destroyed and reborn. The Hindu avatars come in each of these yugs. The avatars of Vishnu are linked to these ages, at the end of kalyug, the final avatar will come and end kalyug.

The shabad is on ang 902. This shabad uses events from the time of Guru Nanak Dev Ji as metaphors for the injustice of Kalyug.

ਸੋਈ ਚੰਦੁ ਚੜਹਿ ਸੇ ਤਾਰੇ ਸੋਈ ਦਿਨੀਅਰੁ ਤਪਤ ਰਹੈ ॥ The same moon rises, and the same stars; the same sun shines in the sky. ਸਾ ਧਰਤੀ ਸੋ ਪਉਣੁ ਝੁਲਾਰੇ ਜੁਗ ਜੀਅ ਖੇਲੇ ਥਾਵ ਕੈਸੇ ॥੧॥ The earth is the same, and the same wind blows. The ages play in (affect) the minds of living beings, but in these places. ||1||

Guru Ji is saying no matter what time period or yug we are in, the same moon rises, the same stars shine in the sky. This has been constant over the centuries and time humans have been around. Guru Nanak Dev Ji says that these yugs play in the minds of humans, but they are not real things, they do not affect the Earth or the Universe.

ਜੀਵਨ ਤਲਬ ਨਿਵਾਰਿ ॥ Give up your attachment to life. ਹੋਵੈ ਪਰਵਾਣਾ ਕਰਹਿ ਧਿਙਾਣਾ ਕਲਿ ਲਖਣ ਵੀਚਾਰਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ Those who act like tyrants are accepted and approved - recognize that this is the sign of the Dark Age of Kali Yuga. ||1||Pause||

Guru Nanak Dev Ji says our problems are not caused by chronological ages. The evil in the world is not a result of some special cycle of time in the Universe. The problem is caused by our chasing of maya, our low level of moral thinking. People are abused by those in power. People want to protect their own interests, to feel power over others. This is the sign of Kalyug.

ਕਿਤੈ ਦੇਸਿ ਨ ਆਇਆ ਸੁਣੀਐ ਤੀਰਥ ਪਾਸਿ ਨ ਬੈਠਾ ॥ Kali Yuga has not been heard to have come to any country, or to be sitting at any sacred shrine. ਦਾਤਾ ਦਾਨੁ ਕਰੇ ਤਹ ਨਾਹੀ ਮਹਲ ਉਸਾਰਿ ਨ ਬੈਠਾ ॥੨॥ It is not where the generous person gives to charities, nor seated in the mansion he has built. ||2||

Guru Nanak Dev Ji says look around Pandit, kalyug is no where to be found. If Kalyug is supposed is supposed to control the world, why can I not find it where people are generous and think of others? The mansion here is not a literal mansion, but the good deeds people have done. That person creates a moral structure, a life of destroying their ego.

ਜੇ ਕੋ ਸਤੁ ਕਰੇ ਸੋ ਛੀਜੈ ਤਪ ਘਰਿ ਤਪੁ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥ If someone practices Truth, he is frustrated; prosperity does not come to the home of the sincere. ਜੇ ਕੋ ਨਾਉ ਲਏ ਬਦਨਾਵੀ ਕਲਿ ਕੇ ਲਖਣ ਏਈ ॥੩॥ If someone chants the Lord's Name, he is scorned. These are the signs of Kali Yuga. ||3||

People in the state of kalyug scorn others who attempt to live a righteous life. People do not attempt to find Waheguru, to see everything as One.

Now Guru Ji talks about the events that are taking place around him. The events that were taking place in Guru Nanak Dev Ji's time are happening now, they have taken place throughout human history. People give up their own morality and righteousness to please others and because of their attachement and fear.

ਆਖੁ ਗੁਣਾ ਕਲਿ ਆਈਐ ॥ Chant the Praises of the Lord; Kali Yuga has come. ਤਿਹੁ ਜੁਗ ਕੇਰਾ ਰਹਿਆ ਤਪਾਵਸੁ ਜੇ ਗੁਣ ਦੇਹਿ ਤ ਪਾਈਐ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ The justice of the previous three ages is gone. One obtains virtue, only if the Lord bestows it. ||1||Pause||

The previous 3 ages of Hindu belief were said to be more righteous than the current age. Guru Ji rejects this idea. Kalyug comes when we slip into immoral behaviour, the only thing that can stop this is to remember Waheguru.

ਕਲਿ ਕਲਵਾਲੀ ਸਰਾ ਨਿਬੇੜੀ ਕਾਜੀ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਹੋਆ ॥ In this turbulent age of Kali Yuga, Muslim law decides the cases, and the blue-robed Qazi is the judge. ਬਾਣੀ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਬੇਦੁ ਅਥਰਬਣੁ ਕਰਣੀ ਕੀਰਤਿ ਲਹਿਆ ॥੫॥ The Guru's Bani has taken the place of Brahma's Veda, and the singing of the Lord's Praises are good deeds. ||5||

The historical context is the Muslim rulers had taken control of India. The Muslim's used their laws, the Brahmins and Hindus had given in and accepted their masters. The Qazi also represents our minds, we give up our own morality and beliefs and give in to others views and beliefs. Instead of focusing on rituals and following priests (who themselves sold out to their new rulers) listen to the Guru's word, practice good deeds and remember Waheguru. This is how to destroy Kalyug.

ਕਲਿ ਪਰਵਾਣੁ ਕਤੇਬ ਕੁਰਾਣੁ ॥ In Kali Yuga, the Koran and the Bible have become famous. ਪੋਥੀ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਰਹੇ ਪੁਰਾਣ ॥ The Pandit's scriptures and the Puraanas are not respected. ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਉ ਭਇਆ ਰਹਮਾਣੁ ॥ O Nanak, the Lord's Name now is Rehmaan, the Merciful. ਕਰਿ ਕਰਤਾ ਤੂ ਏਕੋ ਜਾਣੁ ॥੭॥ Know that there is only One Creator of the creation. ||7||

In this line Guru Nanak Dev Ji tells the Brahmin that you have given up your own beliefs! You give in to other's tyranny. Brahmins talk about Dharam (righteousness) and talk about their superiority, but they themselves bow to their new rulers. This is kalyug, the Brahmins are themselves pushed around, but the Brahmins abuse the low castes. This is the tyranny of kalyug, where you abuse and exploit anyone you are able to.

Recognise that Kalyug is not a geological time scale. The age of truth dwells within us, the ability to do good is within us. Waheguru permeates every single being. There is no real Kalyug.

ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਵਡਿਆਈ ਏਦੂ ਉਪਰਿ ਕਰਮੁ ਨਹੀ ॥ Nanak has obtained the glorious greatness of the Naam, the Name of the Lord. There is no action higher than this. ਜੇ ਘਰਿ ਹੋਦੈ ਮੰਗਣਿ ਜਾਈਐ ਫਿਰਿ ਓਲਾਮਾ ਮਿਲੈ ਤਹੀ ॥੮॥੧॥ If someone goes out to beg for what is already in his own home, then he should be chastised. ||8||1||

Waheguru is within us, the ability to destroy Kalyug is within us. It is not this Universal event, where an avatar destroys kalyug. The ability to destroy kalyug is within our beings. Remember Waheguru, the One is within all beings. Why go looking outside or waiting for someone else to save us, when Waheguru is within?

Kalyug is a state of time, it is not a chronological event, Guru Nanak Dev Ji rejects the idea that these ages affect the Universe. Guru Ji says kalyug is a state of mind, when we are stuck in maya and ego. Only naam can destroy this.