Introduction to Aadh Guru Granth Bhagat Mala
These short stories have been taken from Aadh Guru Granth Bhagat Mala and translated into English. The purpose of translating these stories is to provide understanding and emphasise its significance when reciting Gurbaani and Bhai Gurdas Ji Vaaran.
The Sikh Gurus, Bhagats and Bhatt (bards) within Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji have made references to various great saints and disciples who existed at the time of the Hindu deities in different Yugas. These narratives are presented not to venerate Hindu deities; rather, they serve solely as references to illustrate the value of faith and understanding the importance of meditating upon the Lord’s Name.
The stories provide examples from the lives of many revered saints, aristocrats and common people serving as parallels for understanding the power and immense greatness of the One Lord, Vaheguru. They highlight the importance of living by faith and Dharma, and how meditation upon the Primal Lord leads to liberation from sin and misfortune.
The Story of Kapal-Muni
In Calcutta, there is a river called ‘Hunglee’, which meets with the sea. It is also known as the River Ganges and on the month of Magh, a huge fair is held there. At this very place celebrations are held at Kapal-Muni’s ashram. Kapal-Muni was born in the age of Satyug. Bhatt Kal, a respected poet at the time of the Sikh Guru’s writes,
ਗਾਵਹਿ ਕਪਿਲਾਦਿ ਆਦਿ ਜੋਗੇਸੁਰ ਅਪਰੰਪਰ ਅਵਤਾਰ ਵਰੋ ॥
Kapila and all the other yogis sing of Guru Nanak. He is the Avatar of the Infinite Lord.
(Bhatt Kal; GGSJ: Ang 1389)
Maharishi Kapal-Muni was the first son of Devhoothi (Maharishi Manu’s daughter), who was born on the riverbanks of Saraswati and was raised in an ashram nearby. Manu had married Devhoothi to a fairly old and a very wise Rishi. He contemplated upon the Lord and remained in full meditation. He loved Devhoothi with all his heart because she was not self-centred about her beauty, but served her husband day and night. Even though her husband was quite old, she did not look at another man. She remained faithful and was a great practitioner of dharma and righteousness.
One day, Devhoothi became pregnant. She began to have pleasant dreams of motherhood. She asked her husband, Rishi Kardam, “O beloved Husband Lord! You should have intellectual discourses with me. I have heard when a pregnant mother does good deeds and surrounds herself with positivity, her child is born with great wisdom. I want this to be true, so when my child is born, he will become a great Rishi.”
Devhoothi’s husband replied, “What you are saying is true. What actions a mother and father take have an effect on the child. If you wish your son to be a great Rishi, then you must listen to discourses of the Lord and remain in full meditation. But there is one thing that I must warn you of.”
Devhoothi: “What is it? Please tell me.”
“If you remain pure then you will give birth to something pure. That child you give birth to will become an avatar of some sort. Maybe he could become an incarnation of Vishnu. Wherever you walk or wherever you go, the Lord greets you. Your face is illuminated, and the Lord showers you with flower petals.”
On that very night Devhoothi gave birth to a son. His eyes were like lotuses and his face glowed. His father named him ‘Kapal’. Kapaldev was an incarnation of Vishnu and he lived for 800 years. For many hundreds of years he meditated upon the Lord’s name at his ashram in Calcutta.
