[Gurbani] gur goivMdu guoivMdu gurU hY nwnk Bydu n BweI ]4]1]8] [Gurbani/]
gur govi(n)dh guovi(n)dh guroo hai naanak bhaedh n bhaaee ||4||1||8||
The Guru is God, and God is the Guru, O Nanak; there is no difference between the two, O Siblings of Destiny. ||4||1||8||
Pirtham Singh I agree with your statement that Guru Ji is the perfect servant of God. I just wanted to add that monotheism explained and understood in the Abrahamic religions is completely different then Monotheism in SIkhi so there is no harm in seeing or referring to Guru Ji as God. I am referring to the Jot of Guru Ji not the body. Guru Jis light is the complete light of God. All powers, qualities, etc of God exist in Guru Ji. Respecting and praising Guru Ji is the same thing as praising and respecting God.
We cant possibly understand who God is through our own understanding only through the true Guru can God ever be understood. Metaphorically speaking God is the equation and Guru Jis is the numbers without Guru Ji we can never understand the equation.
[Gurbani]scY sbid mnu moihAw pRiB Awpy ley imlwie ][Gurbani/]
sachai sabadh man mohiaa prabh aapae leae milaae ||
God joins to Himself those whose minds are fascinated with the True Word of His Shabad.
[Gurbani]Anidnu nwmy riqAw joqI joiq smwie ][Gurbani/]
anadhin naamae rathiaa jothee joth samaae ||
Night and day, they are attuned to the Naam, and their light is absorbed into the Light.
[Gurbani]joqI hU pRBu jwpdw ibnu sqgur bUJ n pwie ][Gurbani/]
jothee hoo prabh jaapadhaa bin sathagur boojh n paae ||
Through His Light, God is revealed. Without the True Guru, understanding is not obtained.
[Gurbani]ijn kau pUrib iliKAw sqguru ByitAw iqn Awie ]2][Gurbani/]
jin ko poorab likhiaa sathagur bhaettiaa thin aae ||2||
The True Guru comes to meet those who have such pre-ordained destiny. ||2||
God did work through previous devotees like Krishna, Jesus Muhammad, but the difference is these devotees got caught up in self praise; they did not completely destroy the Ego, eventually they got fatigued and their craving for Naam was not so strong. But Guru Ji on the other hands craving was solely for Naam. Thus he received Naam and all other gifts of God.
[Gurbani]guru nwnku imilAw pwrbRhmu qyirAw crxw kau bilhwrw ]4]1]47][Gurbani/]
gur naanak miliaa paarabreham thaeriaa charanaa ko balihaaraa ||4||1||47||
So by praising Guru Ji we are praising WaaheGuru. Only though loving devotion of Guru Ji can Naam reside in the heart of a Gursikh. Take Bhai Nand Lal Singh Ji for example, his praises of Guru Ji are beyond praises he was so absorbed into Naam. Here is an example of his appraisal of Guru Ji.
hr do Awlm qwk guru goibMd isMG ]117]
har dho aalam thaak gur gobi(n)dh si(n)gh ||117||
Guru Gobind Singh Ji is unequalled in both worlds (117)
hk ^ud vswi& guru goibMd isMG ]
hak khhudh vasaa gur gobi(n)dh si(n)gh ||
Guru Gobind Singh Ji is praised by God Himself
brqrIN AOswi& guru goibMd isMG ]118]
baratharee(n) aasaa gur gobi(n)dh si(n)gh ||118||
Guru Gobind Singh Ji has many great virtues (118)
^wsgW dr pwie guru goibMd isMG ]
khhaasagaa(n) dhar paae gur gobi(n)dh si(n)gh ||
Guru Gobind Singh Ji has very important people falling at His feet
kudsIAW bwrwie guru goibMd isMG ]119]
kudhaseeaaa(n) baaraae gur gobi(n)dh si(n)gh ||119||
Guru Gobind Singh Ji gives instruction to even demi-gods (119)
mukblW m~dwih guru goibMd isMG ]
mukabalaa(n) maadhaahi gur gobi(n)dh si(n)gh ||
Guru Gobind Singh Ji is praised by accepted ones
jwno idl rw rwh guru goibMd isMG ]120]
jaano dhil raa raah gur gobi(n)dh si(n)gh ||120||
Guru Gobind Singh Ji knows what is in everyone's heart (120)
lw mkW pwbois guru goibMd isMG ]
laa makaa(n) paabos gur gobi(n)dh si(n)gh ||
Guru Gobind Singh Ji's feet are kissed by the heavens
br do Awlm kois guru goibMd isMG ]121]
bar dho aalam kos gur gobi(n)dh si(n)gh ||121||
Guru Gobind Singh Ji's drum sounds in both worlds (121)
suls hm mwhkuim guru goibMd isMG ]
sulas ham maahakum gur gobi(n)dh si(n)gh ||
Guru Gobind Singh Ji has the three loks(worlds) under Him
rubwA hm m^qUim guru goibMd isMG ]122]
rubaaa ham makhhathoom gur gobi(n)dh si(n)gh ||122||
Guru Gobind Singh Ji has the stamp of His command all over the world (122)
Guru Ji never tells people " I am God" throughout Gurbani Ji says I am a lowly servant. While tther servants of GOd were completely different they wanted self praise. Even after their death they wanted to be remembered as the Supreme God thus they never gave succession down to anyone. For example Hindus lost their connection with Raam Chander, Christians lost their connection with Christ, Muslims lost their connection with Muhammad etc. because their was no successive Guide, but Gursikhs will forever have a connection with their Guru because of Guru Jis greatness and status given by God. WaaheGuru......
[Gurbani] vwh vwh goibMd isMG Awpy gur cylw ] 1 ][Gurbani/]
vaah vaah gobi(n)dh si(n)gh aapae gur chaelaa || 1 ||
Hail, hail (Guru) Gobind Singh; He, Himself, is the Master and Disciple too.