Sidh Gosht - Sidh Questions, Gurmat Answers

Sidh Gosht is one of the most mystical Baanis of Siri Guru Granth Sahib jee. The Sidhas, who are known to be 84, are accomplished Yogis, and at the time of Siri Guru Nanak Dev jee, they were probably the most spiritually elevated beings in existence. Siri Guru Nanak Dev jee, during his 4 Udaasis (Parchaar journeys) met many Sidhas and Naaths and many Shabad, especially in Raag Ramkali, are related to these meetings and debates. In Raag Ramkali, Guru Sahib has recorded Sidh Gosht which summarizes the main debate that took place between Guru Sahib and Sidhas.

Sidh Gosht is part of Punj Granthi that serious Seekers of Vaheguru do every day as part of their Nitnem. The flow of Sidh Gosht is just amazing. Such is the rhyming of this Baani and such beautiful words have been used that one can't help say Vaah Vaah while doing Paath of it. No one in history asked such intelligent and spiritually elevated questions as Sidhas and no one provided such answers as Guru Sahib. There are many famous historical debates e.g. King Milinda and Nagarajan, Shankracharya and Mandan Mishra and they contain very intricate and complex ideas and thoughts but these debates are just great exercises of the mind. The questions are mind-related and so are the responses but Sidh Gosht is something else; it is not only complex and inctricate but also very mystical and not to mention extremely soothing. Doing Paath of this Baani brings great Anand to the being.

From the starting of Sidh Gosht, it is apparent that Guru Sahib Himself went to meet the Sidh Mandli (group of Sidhas). This meeting is said to have taken place at Sumer mountain in the Himalayas. Guru Sahib went to that place where Sidh Sabha (Majlis or sitting of Sidhas) was seated and declared his Jaikaaro (Namaskaar) to Sant Sabha (ਸਿਧ ਸਭਾ ਕਰਿ ਆਸਣਿ ਬੈਠੇ ਸੰਤ ਸਭਾ ਜੈਕਾਰੋ ॥) . Naam-Rattay (Naam imbued) Satguru jee reaching the Sidh Sabha said Jaikaaro, not to Sidh Sabha but to Sant Sabha (the Sabha or Sangat of Gurmukhs). The Sidhas were taken aback and then Guru Sahib said in response to their question as to whom Guru Sahib was bowing (doing Namaskaar), said that He was bowing to Him (Vaheguru) who is Sacha and beyond reach. Here it should be noted that originally Guru Sahib said Jaikaaro to Sant Sabha but then said that his Rehraas (Namaskaar) was to Vaheguru. This is because Jaikaaro to Sant Sabha is because Vaheguru resides in Sant Sabha; therefore Jaikaaro to Sant Sabha is actually Jaikaaro to Vaheguru. Here a great Gurmat principle is hidden - Sant Sabha is same as Vaheguru because Vaheguru is Pargat in Sant Sabha (Majlis or Sangat of Gurmukhs). So we should deal with Sant Sabha accordingly i.e. we should always stay humble in front of Sangat.

Then Guru Sahib went on to declare His dedication to Vaheguru jee by saying that he would cut his head off for Him - ਮਸਤਕੁ ਕਾਟਿ ਧਰੀ ਤਿਸੁ ਆਗੈ ਤਨੁ ਮਨੁ ਆਗੈ ਦੇਉ ॥

The First Questions that Started the Great Mystical Debate

ਕਵਨ ਤੁਮੇ, ਕਿਆ ਨਾਉ ਤੁਮਾਰਾ, ਕਉਨੁ ਮਾਰਗੁ, ਕਉਨੁ ਸੁਆਓ ॥

The Sidhas (Charpat) asked Guru Sahib 4 questions:

1. Who are you?
2. What is your name?
3. What is your Maarag i.e. Dharam i.e. religion?
4. What is your purpose?

Guru Sahib responded to the above 4 questions with one answer:

ਸਾਚੁ ਕਹਉ, ਅਰਦਾਸਿ ਹਮਾਰੀ, ਹਉ ਸੰਤ ਜਨਾ ਬਲਿ ਜਾਓ ॥
(I am telling the truth that my Ardaas is that may I go Balihaar (sacrifice) on the Sant Jan (Gurmukh devotees)).

The Sidhas were surprised at Guru Sahib's response because naturally they had expected an answer telling them that Guru Sahib's name was such and his religion was such and so on. They asked Guru Sahib to explain His answer more clearly and to respond to the questions asked. Guru Sahib answered that He had already answered all the questions asked. The Sidhas were not satisfied with the response because outwardly, it seemed as if Guru Sahib had not responded to their 4 questions but when Guru Sahib said that He had already responded to their questions, they asked Guru Sahib to explain it more clearly:

Guru Sahib in this Pankiti has said that He is sacrifice at Sant Jan i.e. Bhagats; so he meant to say that his existence, his name, his religion and his purpose is same as that of Sant Jan. Below is the summary of Guru Sahib's answers to their questions:

1. Who are you?

I am what Sant Jan are.

2. What is your name?

My name is not important. I am what Sant Jans are.

3. What is your Maarag i.e. Dharam i.e. religion?

My Maarag is same as Sant Jan.

4. What is your purpose?

My purpose is same as Sant Jan.


When the Sidhas heard such lofty response to their questions, they were impressed and then they asked more questions, and selected questions and answers of Sidh Gosht will be discussed in this thread in the coming days.

Gurbani is Agam Agaadh Bodh.

Kulbir Singh

Vaheguru!!!!!

I am speachless!

Preetam Singh

Vaah jee vaah - look forward to further posts on this thread

Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

Eagerly awaiting more....

Wonderful Ji !!

Vaheguru jee ka Khalsa Vaheguru jee kee fateh!

Wah! Daas would say the best ever debate existed on this planet. The scene of this Vismaadi debate is unimaginable!
SANT SABHA is truly the best Sangat in this world but question is who are part of SANT SABHA whose Jaikaaro is Guru Sahib talking about? And answer also lies in following tuk.

ਸੰਤ ਸਭਾ ਕਉ ਸਦਾ ਜੈਕਾਰੁ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਨ ਪ੍ਰਾਨ ਅਧਾਰੁ ॥

May Guru Sahib bless us with His Sant Sabha forever.

With Regards,
Jasjit Singh

The central theme of the whole conversation is clearly given the Tukh of Rahaa-u
as
ਕਿਆ ਭਵੀਐ ਸਚਿ ਸੂਚਾ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਸਾਚ ਸਬਦ ਬਿਨੁ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

This is very important point of understanding the essence of the whole
conversation in Sidh Gost

Bhul Chuk Maaf

Daas

Prakash.S.Bagga

Great POST!! please do more vichaar on this bani

Vaaheguru! Eagerly awaiting the next post Bhai Kulbir Singh ji!

Great Initiative! Even though I disagree with some of the finer details I think its great post. Keep up the good work. Cant wait for the proceeding post

Quote

SANT SABHA is truly the best Sangat in this world but question is who are part of SANT SABHA whose Jaikaaro is Guru Sahib talking about? And answer also lies in following tuk.

The proclamation ( Jaikara) Sri Guru Ji spoke was " Ek OanKar". These were the same words spoken when Sri Guru Ji was asked what his name was he replied "Naao Ek Oankaar". Meaning there is only one name and that is Gods name. His name was not important. He did not come to spread his name , exalt his name, or build a name for himself like the sidhs and naths.

The one name is the one hukum and this is the jaikara spoken when meeting the sidhs. When the one true name is recited with devotion it penetrates through the whole universe including sach khand which is the home of " sant sabha". Sri Guru not openly proclaim Gurmantar because this is gupt and only given at initiation.

ਯਕ ਨਫ਼ਸ ਬੇ ਯਾਦਿ ਊ ਨ ਗੁਜ਼ਾਸ਼ਤੰਦ
ਖ਼ੁਸ਼ ਅਲਮ ਬਰ ਨੁਹ ਤਬਕ ਅਫ਼ਰਾਸ਼ਤੰਦ

After hearing the magnificent answer to the first 4 questions, the Sidhas (Charpat in particular) asked Guru Sahib 5 more questions as listed in the 2 Pankitis below (literally translated):

ਕਹ ਬੈਸਹੁ ਕਹ ਰਹੀਐ ਬਾਲੇ ਕਹ ਆਵਹੁ ਕਹ ਜਾਹੋ ॥
ਨਾਨਕੁ ਬੋਲੈ ਸੁਣਿ ਬੈਰਾਗੀ ਕਿਆ ਤੁਮਾਰਾ ਰਾਹੋ ॥੨॥

1. Where do you sit (ਕਹ ਬੈਸਹੁ)?
2. Where do you stay (ਕਹ ਰਹੀਐ ਬਾਲੇ )?
3. Where (or why) do you come (ਕਹ ਆਵਹੁ)?
4. Where (or why) do you go (ਕਹ ਜਾਹੋ)?
5. What is your path (ਕਿਆ ਤੁਮਾਰਾ ਰਾਹੋ)?


In response to these questions, Siri Guru jee responded as follows:

ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਬੈਸਿ ਨਿਰੰਤਰਿ ਰਹੀਐ ਚਾਲਹਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਭਾਏ ॥
ਸਹਜੇ ਆਏ ਹੁਕਮਿ ਸਿਧਾਏ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਦਾ ਰਜਾਏ ॥
ਆਸਣਿ ਬੈਸਣਿ ਥਿਰੁ ਨਾਰਾਇਣੁ ਐਸੀ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਪਾਏ ॥
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਬੂਝੈ ਆਪੁ ਪਛਾਣੈ ਸਚੇ ਸਚਿ ਸਮਾਏ ॥੩॥

The summary of question and answers is as follows:

1 + 2 . Where do you sit (ਕਹ ਬੈਸਹੁ) and where do you stay (ਕਹ ਰਹੀਐ ਬਾਲੇ )?

Answer: ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਬੈਸਿ ਨਿਰੰਤਰਿ ਰਹੀਐ - we sit in meditation continuously (ਨਿਰੰਤਰਿ) focussing on Vaheguru who resides in very body (ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਬੈਸਿ).


3 + 4. Where (or why) do you come (ਕਹ ਆਵਹੁ) and where (or why) do you go?

Answer: ਸਹਜੇ ਆਏ ਹੁਕਮਿ ਸਿਧਾਏ - In Hukam of Vaheguru we came effortlessly and will leave effortlessly in His Hukam. Guru Sahib is basically saying that He did not come in this world to settle some Karmic debt but came as per Hukam of Vaheguru. Also, if their question pertained not to coming in this world but to Guru Sahib's arrival at their place, then too the answer is appropriate that Guru Sahib came as per Hukam of Vaheguru and for no other purpose.


5. What is your path (ਕਿਆ ਤੁਮਾਰਾ ਰਾਹੋ)?

Answer: ਚਾਲਹਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਭਾਏ - Guru Sahib has stated the Gurmat Path which is to walk in the Hukam of Satguru. In other words, these 3 words explain whole of Gurmat. Gurmat is about walking in the will of Satguru jee i.e. obeying the Hukams of Satguru jee.


The last two Pankitis of this Pauri further explain the terse answers of Guru Sahib - One who sits on the Aasan stable and permanent is Narayan Vaheguru but this understanding comes through Gurmat. By becoming a Gurmukh one can realized the self and then Sach merges in Sach.

It should be noted that while asking this set of 5 questions, Charpat Jogi addressed Guru Sahib as ਬਾਲੇ which means a child or a boy. There were two reasons for addressing Guru Sahib like this - 1. The Sidhas were very old in age; some were hundreds of years old; 2. The Sidhas considered themselves to be the most elevated spiritual beings and at first look considered Guru Sahib to be inferior to them, thereby, addressing Guru Sahib as ਬਾਲੇ. Later on they realize their mistake and start addressing Guru Sahib as Swami.

Gurbani is Agam Agaadh Bodh.

Kulbir Singh

Hor Kirpa Karoh!
Please post more on Sidh Gosht

This way of explaining the Bani makes it easier to understand.

Pure Vismaaad

Vaheguroo

Post more PLEASE!!!

Vaheguro! What can be said about Sidh Gosht, it is filled with bramgyan. It is hard to understand the answers Guru Sahib gives, by looking at the word for word meanings, only one can truly understand after experiencing the mystical realms. To have been present during this discussion, ah ha ha! what a seen it must have been.

Please continue to post. This is very informative.

Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa
Vaheguru JI Ki Fateh

This post has reminded me of a question:

In Gurbani, where there is a conversation happening between Guru Sahib and others, has their speech been written down word for word? For example in Sri Sidh Gosht, were the pangtis ਕਵਨ ਤੁਮੇ, ਕਿਆ ਨਾਉ ਤੁਮਾਰਾ, ਕਉਨੁ ਮਾਰਗੁ, ਕਉਨੁ ਸੁਆਓ actually uttered by the Sidhs, or did Guru Sahib later para-phrase the whole debate when compiling Gurbani?

If the Sidhs actually said those lines, then does this mean that they also contributed to Gurbani as per this post: http://gurmatbibek.com/forum/read.php?3,24449,24451#msg-24451 ?

Thanks!