Ptd Daya Nand expressed on comparativeness for religious concepts that’ If an Emperor were to make a list of all the different religions of the world, they would not be less than one thousand but the chief among them are only four in number. Viz., the Pauranic (Hindu), the Christian, the Jain or the Buddhist and the Mohammedan. All other sects are included in these four. Therefore, he despite having adopted major reformist parts of new religion developed by his times as SIKHISM, purposefully avoided writing gratitude for measures, sacrifices made by SIKH GURU and followers living in & around FIVE RIVERS, known as Punjabis. Ptd Dayanand was one of the most successful, intelligent Brahman produced by GUJARAT land but unfortunately ungrateful for political reasons conveying appreciation for Christianity, Muslim, Buddhism, and Jainism but spoke little for the norms of new pro humanity faith developed in Punjab. He rather wrote with arrogance that NANAK did not knew SANSKRIT but failed to appreciate the fact that he adopted Sikh principles & sold them in new package with title for VEDAS .
B) It is a fact of life that Natural principles of human life remain property of humanity at large and people understand history that who did what at what stage of crises helping humanity, such as the contributions by Guru Nanak Sahib to Guru Gobind Singh. The torch for freedom on the individual right to practice own faith was lit by Guru Nanak Sahib and carried till Gobind Singh Sahib ,later Baba Banda Singh Bahadur with the blessings of GURU Gobind Singh brought back the PRIDE OF LOCAL NATIVES. He successfully defeated MUGHALS at Sirhind & laid down foundation for rule of original locals on the name of Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh. The foundation for FREEDOM STRUGGLE laid by Guru Nanak Sahib on invasion for BABAR, was actualized in victory at CHAAPAR ZHIRI against tyranny of Mughals.
C) Thus, the reference appears to be an intentional disrespect for the Sikh Gurus that Nanak was not having command over SANSKRIT .Ptd Daynand as a matter of fact , may have been under psychological guilt pressure that he having adopted (stolen ) major parts of reformist way of living, taught by Sikh Gurus (1499 – 1699 – 1900) wanted to side track this fact for marketing of thought under their own new TITLE by writing that these were mentioned in Veda & based on Aryan school of concepts . His actions resulted in plantation of separatists seeds in Punjab, projecting SANSKRIT as link language & (reluctantly) common idol worshipers being one civilization of Gujarat, Maharashtra with U.P., Madhya Pradesh, Bihar & further intended to color Punjab in the than pre 1947 India. Ptd Daya Nand succeeded to some extent sowing seeds for separatist culture in Punjab who earlier had been living as one cultural society developed around LAHORE & AMRITSAR center which had been different than other states of present India living in SOUTH ,EAST,WEST .It is important to share some of the the materials written in their book titled ‘ The Satyartha Prakasha’ or ‘THE LIGHT OF TRUTH’ relating to founders for the faith of Sikh way of life ,as follows on self creation of a Question & answered in L-1 to L-IX:
D) Sikhism – (referred) the sect of Guru Nanak. (PAGE 443)
Q. – Nanak has founded a sect in the Punjab. He refuted idol-worship, and saved many people from embracing Mohammmedanism,. Moreover he never became a Sadhu and, instead, remained a house-holder. He taught the following Mantra:-“He whose name is Truth, is the Maker (of the Universe), the all-pervading Being who is Nirbhau (free from fear and enmity), is beyond the reach of time, is never born and is the all-glorious Being. Worship Him, (O Disciple!) May your preceptor help you to do it. That Supreme Spirit lived in the beginning of Creation, lives in the present and shall live in the future.” JAPAJAU PAUREE.
L-I) The aim of Nanak was, no doubt, good; but he did not possess any learning and was merely acquainted with the dialect of the (Punjabi) villagers among whom he was born. He was quite (page 289) ignorant of the Vedas and the Shastras and of Sanskrit, otherwise why should he have written Nirbhau instead of Nirbhaya. Another proof of his ignorance of the Sanskrit language is his composition called Sanskrit hymns (Satotras). He wanted to show that he had some pretensions to the knowledge of Sanskrit.
L-II) But how could one know Sanskrit without learning it. Is it possible that he might have passed for a Sanskrit scholar before those ignorant villagers who had never heard a man speak Sanskrit? He could never have done unless he was anxious to gain public applause, fame and glory. He must have sought after fame or he would have preached in the language he know and told the people that he had not read Sanskrit. Since he was a little vain, he may possibly have even resorted to some sort of make-believe to gain reputation and acquire fame, hence it is that in his book called the Grantha the Vedas have been praised as well as censured, because had he not done so, someone might have asked him the meaning of the Vedic Mantra and as he would not have been able to explain it he would have been lowered in the estimation of the people.
L-III) Anticipating this difficulty, he, from the first, denounced the Vedas here and there, but occasionally also spoke well of the Vedas, because had he not done so, the people would have called him a Nastika, i.e., and atheist or a reviler of the Vedas. For instance, it is recorded in the Grantha, “Even Brahma who constantly read the Vedas died. All the four Vedas are mere fiction. The Vedas can never realize the greatness of a Sadhu.” SUKHMANI, 7: 8.”Nanak says that a man versed in Divine knowledge is himself God.” SUKHMANI 8:6.If the scholars of the Vedas like Brahma are dead, have not Nanak, etc., also shared the same fate. Did they consider themselves immortal? The Vedas are a mine of all kinds of knowledge. Whatever a man, who calls the Vedas mere fiction, says is a mere fabrication. If the word Sadhus is another name (PAGE 444) for idiots, how can they ever understand the greatness of the Vedas? Neither had Nanak held up the Vedas alone as the supreme authority, he would not have succeeded in founding his sect, nor would he have been recognized a Guru (Master). As he was quite ignorant of Sanskrit, he would not have been able to teach others and thereby make them his disciples.
L-IV) It is true though that in Nanak’s time the Punjab was altogether destitute of Sanskrit learning and was groaning under the tyranny of the Mohammedans. He did save some persons from embracing Mohammedanism. Nanak in his lifetime had not had many followers, nor did his sect flourish much. But it is a habit with the ignorant that they make a saint of their Guru after his death, then invest him with a halo (of glory) and believe him to be an incarnation of God. Nanak was neither a rich man, nor was he one of the aristocracy and yet his followers have written in Nanak Chandrodaya and Janamsakhi that he was a great saint who possessed miraculous powers, met Brahman and other (sages of yore), had long talks with them, all paid him homage on the occasions of his marriage when he went to marry his bride, he had a long procession of horses, carriages and elephants ornamented with silver, gold, pearls and diamonds.
L-V) All this is recorded in the above-mentioned books. Now what are these but yarns spun by his followers. It is his followers who are to blame for this and not Nanak. After his death, the sect of Udasees originated with his son, while that of Nirmalas with Ram Das etc. Many a successor to the throne of Nanak has incorporated his writings in the Grantha. The tenth Guru of the Sikhs was Guru Gobind. Since his time no addition has been made to it, but,(page 290)instead, all the smaller books that were extant then were collected together and bound in one volume (and the name of Granth was given to it). The successors of Nanak wrote various treatises: some of them invented fictitious stories like those of the Puranas and, acting on the precept “The man versed in Divine knowledge is himself God,” arrogated to themselves Divine privileges. Their followers renounced the practice of good works and Divine contemplation and, instead, paid their Gurus the homage due to God.
L-VI) Thus has been done a great mischief. It would have been very good had these men kept on worshipping God in the way pointed out by Nanak. Now, the Udasees claim to be superior to all others, while the Nirmala make the same claim for them. The Akalees and Suthreshahees hold that they are above all; Gobind Singh was indeed a very brave man among the followers of Nanak. The Mohammedans had oppressed his people very much. He was (PAGE 445) anxious to revenge himself on them, but he had neither the men nor the necessary material for the purpose whilst the Mohammedans were at the zenith of their power. He, therefore, resorted to a stratagem. He gave it out that the goddess had given him a sword and a blessing saying: “Go forth and fight against the Mohammedans. You shall win.” He gained many supporters from amongst the people. He (appointed) five kakars, i.e., five articles all beginning with the letter K as the signs of his faith just like five makers of the Vama Margis – and five Sanskars of the Chakrankits. The five Kkars of Sikhs were of great use in fighting. They are as follows:-
1. Kesha – long unshaven hair – this protects the head, to some extent, against blows from sticks and sword thrusts.
Kangan – a big iron ring worn by akalees on their turbans.
2. Kara – an iron bangle worn on the wrist which helps to protect the wrist and the head.
3. Kachha – a kind of knickers used in running and jumping, very commonly used by wresters and acrobats for the same purpose. It protects the most vital parts of the body as well as makes the movements free.
4. Karda – a double -edged knife useful in hand -to-hand fight with the enemy.
5. Kangha – a comb for dressing the hair.
(Guru) Gobind Singh, through his wisdom, started the practice of wearing these five articles. They were very useful for the time in which he lived, but they are of no use at the present time. (It is strange -that) those things which were required to be used because of there being of great service infighting (with the enemy) have now come to be regarded as part and parcel of the religions of the Sikhs. It is true that they do not practice idolatry but they worship the Grantha (Guru Granth Sahib) even more than idols. Now is not this idolatry? To bow down before an material object or worship it is idolatry. They ply their trade just like all other idolaters and make a good living by it. Just as the idolater priests show their idols (in the temples) to the visitors and receive (gifts offered by them to idols). Likewise do the followers of (Guru) Nanak worship the Grantha and teach others to do the same and receive what is offered to it.
L-IX) The followers of the Grantha do not show the same amount of respect to the Vedas as do the Puanics. Of course it can be urged in their (PAGE 446) defense, that these people had neither even read the Vedas, nor heard them being read, they could not, therefore, be blamed for showing scanty respect to them. If they were to read the Vedas or hear them being read, those among them, who are free from prejudice and bigotry, would not doubt embrace the Vedic religion? It is greatly to the credit of these people that they have done away with various troublesome and useless restrictions in the matter of eating and drinking, it will be a very good thing indeed if the would also free themselves from sensualist, vanity and false pride and advance the cause of the Vedic religion.
L-X) Pandit Daya Nand as is evident that despite he being Gujarati, learnt Sanskrit Language & thereby claimed to have read VEDAS written by saints who lived on parts of present Indian Land .He unfortunately wrote in arrogance that NANAK did not knew Sanskrit & so was the condition for Punjabi population who were not exposed to Sanskrit. He tried to show superiority having known Sanskrit but was ungrateful not being thankful to Guru Nanak Sahib to Guru Gobind Singh who accepted challenge of invaders in defense of weak /poor natives of land being forced to convert to Muslim faith. The law of NATURE weather written/expressed in any language including Sanskrit, the meanings for the philosophy will not get changed .Example: If it is stated or written that the SUN rises in the EAST & set in the WEST in Punjabi language /English & rewritten in SANSKRIT, the meaning remains same. So has been the thought process for Guru NANAK Dev ji that whatever he expressed & later recorded accordingly has been NEW TRUTH although contrary to the practices carried out by disrespectful Brahmins exploiting common folk.
L-XI Pandit ji appears to have felt bad that it has been exclusive domain of Pandits & how a Khahtri – Punjabi took up the social cause which was to bring major readjustments within society .Therefore, the lame excuse referred that Nanak did not knew Sanskrit nor having Knowledge on Vedas had been irrelevant. He could have questioned his brotherhood conducting religious practices that why they slept so long to rotten religious practices & failed to take up agenda for reforms. The agenda for reforms was brought on scene by Sikh Gurus & their followers which should have been appreciated by Brahmins. They may have developed fear for endorsement may legitimate SIKH way of life adopted & put on higher pedestal than even Hindu mythology ,hence preferred to down play or criticize Sikh way of life as the limited for derogatory contents recorded in the book ‘The Saryartha Prakash”
E) Bans & Legal Battles for the Book
During Nizam Regime in British India, Nizam banned ‘Satyarth Prakash’ in its Territories. Several Groups of Arya Samaj Followers from different part of world reached there and performed Satyagrah. All of these were arrested and put into the Jail. They were brutally torchured there. Due to the atrocities in Jails more than 100 Satyagrahis died in Jail and after release. As a result of Satyagrah the Ban was lifted by Nizam. In 2008 two Indian Muslims, Usman Ghani and Mohammad Khalil Khan of Sadar Bazar, Delhi, following the fatwa of Mufti Mukarram Ahmed, the Imam of Fatehpuri Masjid in Delhi, urged the Delhi High Court to ban the Satyarth Prakash. However, the court dismissed the petition and commented “A suit by Hindus against the Quran or by Muslims against Gita or Satyarth Prakash claiming relief… is in fact, meant to play mischief in the society.
F) Death of ( Ptd) Dayananda
Dayananda was invited in 1883 by the Maharaja of Jodhpur to stay at his palace. The Maharaja was eager to become his disciple and learn his teachings. One day Dayananda went to the Maharaja’s rest room and saw him with a dance girl named Nanhi Jan. Dayananda boldly asked the Maharaja to forsake the girl and all unethical acts and follow dharma like a true Aryan. Dayananda’s suggestion offended the dance girl and she decided to take revenge. She bribed Dayananda’s cook to poison him. At bedtime, the cook brought him a glass of milk containing poison and powdered glass.
Dayananda drank the milk and went to sleep only to wake up later with a burning sensation. He immediately realized that he had been poisoned and attempted to purge his digestive system of the poisonous substance, but it was too late. The poison had already entered his bloodstream. Dayananda was bedridden and suffered excruciating pain. Many doctors came to treat him but all was in vain. His body was covered all over with large bleeding sores. On seeing Dayananda’s suffering the cook was overcome with unbearable guilt and remorse. He confessed his crime to Dayananda. On his deathbed, Dayananda forgave him and gave him a bag of money and told him to flee the kingdom lest he be found out and executed by the Maharaja’s men.