Antam Sanskar | Funeral Ceremony

Sabad 1
In ‘Adi Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Satik (Faridkot Wala Tika),’ the revelation of the Sabad under consideration has been associated with the death of a Yogi, a close friend of Bhagat Kabir. In ‘Sampardai Tika Adi Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji,’ a lengthy narrative has been given on this topic. According to this narrative, a Yogi who was a practitioner of pranayam (Yogic practice that focuses on breath work) was a friend of Bhagat Kabir. Bhagat Kabir had learned the practice of Hatha Yoga from him. Due to the master-disciple relationship, they used to meet each other. One day, the Yogi was supposed to visit Kabir but did not come. After waiting a long time, Kabir went to the Yogi and found that he had left the earthly realm. Drenched with the feeling of compassion, Kabir revealed this Sabad.

According to Bhai Vir Singh, a reflection of ​​this Sabad tells us that it has been revealed in the deep state of detachment and compassion upon seeing a Hatha Yogi lying still after his departure from the earthly realm. There is pain as well as teaching, but no element of hatred or anger. Entering into such negative feelings is against the dignity of Bhagat Kabir, nor does the message of this Sabad endorse it.

However, according to Prof. Sahib Singh, this Sabad mentions the departure of the mind, who is mostly concerned about and speaks of the body. The commentators who have associated the narrative of the death of a Yogi with this Sabad have interpreted the word ‘mandaru’ (jini ihu mandaru kīn̖ā) in this Sabad as a body. While interpreting this word as ‘drum or the drum of the attachment of body,’ Prof. Sahib Singh associated it with the mind and concluded that this Sabad is about developing the mind, not the death of a sweet-talking Yogi.

According to Giani Haribans Singh too, seeing lines like ‘gagan nagari ik būṁd na barkhai nādu kahā ju samānā’ (In the city-like sky, not even a single drop rains; the sound that was there, where has it been absorbed?) (Guru Granth Sahib 480) and ‘mirtak bhae dasai band chūṭe mitra bhāī sabh chore’ (All ten senses have become dead (and) have been released; all friends, brothers have been left.) (Guru Granth Sahib 480) in this Sabad, the traditional commentators have associated it with a deceased Yogi. However, from the line ‘jīvat bandhan tore’ (breaks bondages while alive), it becomes evident that this Sabad is not about a deceased Yogi but rather a description of a particular state.

Sabad 2
In ‘Sampardai Tika Adi Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji,’ a narrative regarding the revelation of the Sabad under consideration has been recorded. A crane sitting on the bank of a river was holding a fish in its mouth. The crane used to throw the fish up and then catch it in its beak repeatedly. The crane was eating the fish piece by piece when a hawk passing overhead pounced on it and carried it along with the fish in its claws. Seeing this, Baba Farid uttered this Sabad. He stated that, like the crane, the ignorant being forgets death and sits on the riverbank-like world, enjoying various pleasures. Just like the crane forgot all pleasures due to the hawk sent by the Divine, when the hawk-like Yama pounces upon the being, they forget all pleasures and enjoyments.

Sant Hari Singh Randhawe Wale also interpreted this Sabad in the context of this narrative. However, various other commentaries and commentators like Faridkot Wala Tika, Shabdarth Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Santhya Sri Guru Granth Sahib (Bhai Vir Singh), Sri Guru Granth Sahib Darpan (Prof. Sahib Singh), and Adi Sri Guru Granth Sahib Darshan Nirnai Satik (Giani Haribans Singh) have considered the frolicking of the crane mentioned in this Sabad as a mere allegory.

Sabad 3
No historical information could be found regarding this Sabad.

Sabad 4
According to Adi Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Satik (Faridkot Wala Tika), a relative of Bhagat Kabir passed away. All the relatives began to mourn, but Kabir was silent. Seeing this, some relatives asked him, ‘All of us are mourning; why are you not?’ At that time, he uttered this Sabad in a state of detachment. However, Sampardai Tika Adi Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji provides a different narrative. According to it, a boy used to visit the congregation of Kabir every day. After marriage, engrossed with the responsibilities of his family, he stopped coming. One day, he met Kabir, and Kabir asked him why he had not been coming to the congregation. The boy replied that all his time was spent caring for his family, and no time was left to be with the congregation. Kabir then uttered this Sabad to instruct him. Alternatively, Sant Hari Singh Randhawe Wale believes that this Sabad was uttered as an encouragement for a person who lost his entire family. But other commentaries and commentators like Faridkot Wala Tika, Shabdarth Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Santhya Sri Guru Granth Sahib (Bhai Vir Singh), Sri Guru Granth Sahib Darpan (Prof. Sahib Singh), and Adi Sri Guru Granth Sahib Darshan Nirnai Satik (Giani Haribans Singh) have not given any such narrative.

Sabad 5
No historical information could be found regarding this Sabad.

Sabad 6
According to Adi Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Satik (Faridkot Wala Tika) and Sampardai Tika Adi Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the father of a Sikh passed away. The Sikh wailed and called out for his father. Guru Arjan Sahib uttered this Sabad to give that Sikh guidance and console him. Alternatively, according to Adi Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Da Sampardai Satik Gurbani Arth-Bhandar, after the death of the son of a learned pandit of Amritsar, a Sikh brought that pandit to Guru Arjan Sahib. The pandit pleaded to the Guru to let him meet his son's soul just once, through his graceful glance. The Guru brought the soul of pandit’s son to him. Driven by attachment, when he tried to embrace the soul, he could not get a hold of it. The soul said to him, ‘I am no longer your son. Under the Divine command, I was born as your son, and now, wherever the Divine wills, I will go.’ Saying this, the soul disappeared. The disheartened pandit asked the Guru to eradicate his attachment. The Guru uttered this Sabad to guide him. Other commentaries and commentators like Shabdarth Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Darpan (Prof. Sahib Singh), and Adi Sri Guru Granth Sahib Darshan Nirnai Satik (Giani Haribans Singh), have not given any such narrative.

Sabad 7
No historical information could be found regarding these Sabads.