Vaheguru and the Four Ages

I came across some translations of Bhai Gurdas ji's Vaars. I just want to share some interesting things I learned.

Creation:
To keep it short and simple first there was nothing but darkness. The body was created the five elements were joined together. Air, water, water, fire and earth were put together. The sixth element was Akaal purakh which permeated invisible through out the creation. "To create the human body, five elements and twenty five qualities opposite to each other were joined and mixed." Taken from actual translation of vaars. The four life forms originated from 1.egg 2.Foetus 3. Sweat 4. vegetation. Thus eighty four LACS or 8.4 million species were created. That’s the very short brief description of the beginning according to my extremely limited knowledge.

4 Yugs:
Next is the four Yugs (Ages), I have heard it described as the four Yugs being a chairs four legs. I’m not sure if this is written in Bhai Gurdas ji’s varaan I haven’t got that far but I have heard this in a few kathas. When the age of Satyug was going on all four legs were hold the chair (world) up. When the second Treta Yug came than only three legs were left so the chair was unstable but still strong. Then Dvapur Yug came and only two legs were left to hold up the chair. Now it is Kalyug the worst stage of all and the world is being balanced on one leg. The meaning behind all this is now it is a fragile time period where the world can fall with just a slight nudge. Following the four Yugs are briefly described according the translation of Bhai Gurdas ji’s Vaaran.

Satyug: This age was very pure and all that people did was meditate all day. “Vishnu is said to come to earth as Hansavaar and explained the problems pertaining to metaphysics” Bhai Gurdas ji Vaaran Translation. People were unaffected by Maya (temptation) and would praise the one lord. They lived for lacks (hundred thousands) of years and construct palaces, forts and grand mansions. I have heard in katha this was the age of bhagti. 100% of the people were pure and God oriented.

Tretayug: “Now the nine portions of age lessened and illusion, attachment and ego inflated.” Bhai Gurdas ji Vaaran Translation. I have heard this is the age where Maya started to entice man and 75% were god oriented while 25% were corrupted.

Dvapur: “In Dvapur, Yadav-dynasty came to the forefront i.e. the incarnation of Krishna became known to the people; but because of the lack of good conduct, Age by Age, the life span-of man went on decreasing.” Bhai Gurdas ji Vaaran Translation. I have heard this is the age where 50% were god oriented and 50% were engrossed in Maya.


This is the Age where they say the world is on fire

Kalyug: “Kalyug became prevalent as the fourth age in which the low instincts gripped the world…..The entire earth got enticed by Maya and the antics of Kalijug put everyone into delusion….the emperors are tyrants an their satraps butchers….The justice of three ages has become extinct and now whosoever gives something-as bribe get- justice.” Bhai Gurdas ji Vaaran Translation. I have read this age is where <90% are engrossed and entrapped in Maya and very few are holy and truthfully walking the path of the Lord. It is said that this is the age where everyone follows only their own desires and the righteousness is forgotten. Everything is backwards what was considered in the other Yugs as fruitful is now considered absurd or a waste of time. What was considered before to be of great detriment to ones spiritual progression in the other ages is considered to be very rewarding. For example lust, violence, anger doing whatever it takes to make a dollar. This is all considered normal in Kaljug. The pursuit of emancipation and spiritual perfection is left behind so one can fulfill worldly desires.

This is the most dangerous age because it is easy to be caught up in the illusion of Maya. However I have also heard that since this age is so bad the rewards of doing meditation are much great then previous ages. For example thousands of years of strong meditation in Satjug is equal to one breath of Vaheguru uttered with a pure consciousness. However it is harder in this age to start on the path of Enlightenment. Also according to Bhai Gurdas Jis Vaars all the previous types of meditation in other ages is fruitless in kaljug. Burnt offering, empty worship and rituals do not work now and will not get you closer to God in the dark age. “In Kaliyug, only repeating the name of Lord is considered grand.” Bhai Gurdas ji Vaaran Translation.


So what is the name of the lord that needs to be meditated on as a Gursikh? Before I put all this together lets take a look at how important human birth is.
Human birth is the most sacred and hard to achieve of all the life forms.
“ Heeraa laal amol janam hai kaudee badlay haariou rae.” Human birth is the priceless jewel, which has been squandered in exchange for a worthless shell //1// Pause//. Bhagat Kabeer ji panna 325.
“Maanas janam dhulanb hai jag mehi khattiaa aae //” This human birth is so precious; one must ear the right to come into the world. Guru Amardas ji panna 565.
“Anik janam Bhramatha hee aaeiou maanas janam dhulabhahee//” You wandered through countless incarnations, until finally you attained this priceless human birth. Guru Arjan Dev Ji Panna 1207.
Their are countless more lines from Gurbani describing the preciousness of human birth and the consequences of squandering it. Human life is the only time your soul can obtain liberation because you have some power to choose what you do. Whether one wants to accumulate bad karma or good is in our hands as a human being. But as an animal we do not have this choice. Also our past lives karma reflects upon what happens to us now (but this is a topic all on its own so I will not get into this). So what are we supposed to do in this human birth? Well it is said in Gurbani many times we are put here for one reason and one reason alone and that is to obtain oneness with Akaal Purakh through naam simran (recitation).

“Bhaee prapaapth maanukh dhaehureaa// gobind Milan ki eih tharee bareaa// avar kaaj tharai kithai na kaam// mil saadhsangat bhaj keval naam//1//” This human body has been given to you. This is your chance to meet the lord of the Universe. Nothing else will work. Join the Saadh Sangat, the company of the holy; vibrate and mediate on the jewel of the Naam. Guru Arjan Dev Ji Panna 12.


What we are meant to meditate upon is our Gurmantre (Gurus mantra, Mantra given to us by our Guru). Our Gurmantre is Vaheguru and this precious mantre is very powerful.
The origins of Vaheguru go back to Guru Nanak Dev Ji and this precious Mantre is explained in Bhai Gurdas Ji’s Vaara. The reason why this mantra is so powerful is because it uses all the four Yugs Avtaars in one word. V in Vaheguru comes from the Age of Satyug which had the Avtar of Vishnu. The true Guru of Dvapur is said to be Harkrisna and the H in Vaheguru is to remind you of Hari. In the Tretayug there was Raam and R in Vaheguru is to from raam which will produce joy and happiness. And finally in the age of Kalyug Gobind is the form of Guru Nanak and G of Vaheguru get Govind recited. “When joining four letters Vahiguru is remembered, the jiv merges in its origin.” Bhai Gurdas ji Vaaran Translation

Once again please forgive me for my mistakes. I’m just a person who read a few translations of the mahaan(great) vaaran of Bhai Gurdas ji and wanted to share what I came across. I’m not a scholar so if I have said anything wrong in the eyes of my Guru I ask his forgiveness. Also feel free to comment but please do not degrade me or this writing if you find something wrong. Point it out and I will be happy to fix it.