Rudra Avtar: Difference between revisions

Rudra Avtar
ਰੁਦਰ ਅਵਤਾਰ
Rudra Avtar; ਰੁਦਰ ਅਵਤਾਰ
Dasam Granth
	Folio of Ruda Avtar written in the hand of Guru Gobind Singh
Information
Religion	Sikhism
Author	Guru Gobind Singh
Period	1698

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Latest revision as of 01:05, 26 July 2025

A page from the "Datta Avtar" (Dattareya) chapter of the Rudra Avtar composition within the Dasam Granth, in Guru Gobind Singh's hand

Rudra Avtar (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist., pronunciation: pa) is an epic poem under the title Ath Rudra Avtar Kathan(n).^[1] It is traditionally said to have been written by Guru Gobind Singh. It is included in Dasam Granth, which is considered to be the second-most important scripture of the Sikhs. It is sometimes grouped together with the preceding Brahma Avtar composition into a combination termed as the Upāvatār (meaning "lesser avatars").^[2]

Synopsis[edit | edit source]

The Rudra Avtar covers the stories of two avatars, or incarnations, related to Rudra or Shiva. This composition covers the most important wars within Sikh philosophy, such as the fight between Bibek Buddhi and Abibek Budhi, (truth and falsity), and the fight between wisdom and ignorance.^[3]

This composition covers the concepts of Gyaan (Knowledge) and Dhyana (Attention) and is against fake ritualism and practices.

Incarnations of Rudra (Shiva)[edit | edit source]

Guru Gobind Singh sanctified and narrated the life history of two souls, designating them with the title Rudra and as incarnations of Rudra:^[2]

Datta (Dattatreya) - Hindu monk^[2]
Parasnath (Parshvanatha) - 23rd Tirthankar of Jainism.^[2]

Datta[edit | edit source]

Twenty-three gurus are recounted in this chapter and the pen-name of Syām is used by the author near the end of the chapter.^[2]

Parasnath[edit | edit source]

Second of the two chapters of the Rudra Avtar, the composition has 358 Channds. The composition is about the life history of Parasnath and his discourse with Matsyendranath. Verses no.45–89 describe Parasnath paying obeisance to Durga.^[2]

History[edit | edit source]

This poem was written in Anandpur Sahib,^[4] probably in 1698 CE (1755 in the Vikram Samvat calendar).

This text is part of Bachittar Natak Granth, as per rubrics at the end. Although modern interpreters believe that a portion of Guru Gobind Singh's life, which he refers to as Apni Katha is Bachittar Natak, the rest of the compositions are independent from it.

This composition is present in every early manuscript, i.e. those of Mani Singh, Motibagh, Sangrur and Patna.^[5]

The language of the composition is Hindi with a mixture of Sanskrit words.^[3]

The First six Chandds are introductory. 849 Chandds narrate Dattatreya, and 359 Chandds narrate about Paras Nath.

Unlike "Chandi Charitar" and "Krishna Avtar", the source of narration of "Rudra Avtar" does not come from the 36 Puranas.^[3]

References[edit | edit source]

↑ "Rudra Avtar - 2 Incarnations Of Shiva". Retrieved 2022-11-02.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 ^2.5 Rinehart, Robin (2011). Debating the Dasam Granth. Oxford University Press. p. 31. ISBN 978-0-19-984247-6.
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 Dasam Granth, S.S. Kapoor, Page 17
↑ "Index of /". archimedespress.co.uk.
↑ Sikh Religion, Culture, and Ethnicity, C. Shackle, Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair, Gurharpal Singh

Template:Dasam Granth

[1] "Rudra Avtar - 2 Incarnations Of Shiva". Retrieved 2022-11-02.

[:1-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 ^2.5 Rinehart, Robin (2011). Debating the Dasam Granth. Oxford University Press. p. 31. ISBN 978-0-19-984247-6.

[sskpur-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 Dasam Granth, S.S. Kapoor, Page 17

[4] "Index of /". archimedespress.co.uk.

[5] Sikh Religion, Culture, and Ethnicity, C. Shackle, Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair, Gurharpal Singh

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{grammar|date=July 2021}}
+{{Short description|Epic poem in Sikh literature}}
+{{Infobox religious text|religion=[[Sikhism]]|name=Rudra Avtar<br>{{small|ਰੁਦਰ ਅਵਤਾਰ}}|author=[[Guru Gobind Singh]]|previous=Brahma Avtar|next=Shabad Hazare|period=1698|previouslink=Dasam Granth#Contents|subheader=[[Dasam Granth]]|image=Rudra_Avtar_in_the_hand_of_Guru_Gobind_Singh.png|caption=Folio of Ruda Avtar written in the hand of Guru Gobind Singh}}
 {{Dasam Granth Sidebar}}
-'''Rudra Avtar''' is an [[epic poetry|epic poem]] under the title ''Ath Rudra Avtar Kathan(n)'', written by [[Guru Gobind Singh]], present in [[Dasam Granth|Dasam Granth Sahib]] which is considered as the second most important scripture of the [[Sikh]]s. This composition covers the most important wars within [[Gurmat]] [[philosophy]], such as the fight between ''Bibek Buddhi'' and ''Abibek Budhi,'' the fight between truth and false, and the fight between wisdom and ignorance.<ref name= "sskpur">Dasam Granth, S.S. Kapoor, Page 17</ref>
+[[File:A page from the Duttatreya section of the Dasam Granth in Guru Gobind Singh's own handwriting.png|thumb|A page from the "Datta Avtar" (Dattareya) chapter of the Rudra Avtar composition within the Dasam Granth, in Guru Gobind Singh's hand]]
+'''Rudra Avtar''' ({{langx|pa|ਰੁਦਰ ਅਵਤਾਰ}}, pronunciation: {{IPA|pa|ɾʊd̪əɾ əʋtaːɾ|}}) is an [[epic poetry|epic poem]] under the title ''Ath Rudra Avtar Kathan''(n).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rudra Avtar - 2 Incarnations Of Shiva |url=http://sridasamgranth.blogspot.com/2014/02/rudra-avtar-2-incarnations-of-shiva.html |access-date=2022-11-02 |language=en-GB}}</ref> It is traditionally said to have been written by [[Guru Gobind Singh]]. It is included in ''[[Dasam Granth]]'', which is considered to be the second-most important scripture of the [[Sikh]]s. It is sometimes grouped together with the preceding ''Brahma Avtar'' composition into a combination termed as the ''Upāvatār'' (meaning "lesser avatars").<ref name=":1" />
-This composition also covers the concepts of Gyaan (Wisdom) and Dhyana (Attention) and is against fake ritualism and practices.
+== Synopsis ==
+The Rudra Avtar covers the stories of two avatars, or incarnations, related to ''[[Rudra]]'' or ''[[Shiva]].'' This composition covers the most important wars within Sikh [[philosophy]], such as the fight between ''Bibek Buddhi'' and ''Abibek Budhi,'' (truth and falsity), and the fight between wisdom and ignorance.<ref name="sskpur">Dasam Granth, S.S. Kapoor, Page 17</ref>
-[[Guru Gobind Singh]] sanctified and narrated the life history of the following two souls, which designated them with the title Rudra: [[Dattatreya]] - Hindu Monk and [[Parshvanatha]] - 23rd Tirthankar of Jainism.
+This composition covers the concepts of ''Gyaan'' (Knowledge) and ''Dhyana'' (Attention) and is against fake ritualism and practices.
-==About==
-* This poem was written in [[Anandpur Sahib]],<ref>[http://archimedespress.co.uk/ Sri Dasam Granth Sahib:Q & A, Kamalroop Singh]</ref> probably in 1698 CE (year 1755 in the traditional Vikram Samvat calendar).
-* This text is part of Bachittar Natak Granth, as per rubrics at the end. Although modern interpretators believe that a portion of Guru Gobind Singh's life, which he refers to as Apni Katha is Bachittar Natak, the rest of the compositions are independent from it.
-* This composition is present in all old manuscripts, i.e. Mani Singh's, Motibagh's, Sangrur's and Patna's Manuscripts.<ref>Sikh Religion, Culture, and Ethnicity, C. Shackle, Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair, Gurharpal Singh</ref>
-* The language of the composition is Hindi with a mixture of Sanskrit words.<ref name="sskpur"/>
-* The First six Chandds are introductory. 849 Chandds narrate Dattatreya, and 359 Chandds narrate about Paras Nath.
-* Unlike Chandi Charitar and Krishna Avtar, the source of narration of Rudra Avtar are not any of the 36 Puranas.<ref name="sskpur"/>
-==Concept of Rudra in Sikhism==
+=== Incarnations of Rudra (Shiva) ===
-{{quotebox
+Guru Gobind Singh sanctified and narrated the life history of two souls, designating them with the title Rudra and as incarnations of [[Rudra]]:<ref name=":1" />
-|text = '''ਰੁਦ੍ਰ ਧਿਆਨ ਗਿਆਨ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੇ ਕਬਿ ਜਨ ਭਲ੍ਯ੍ਯ ਉਨਹ ਜ ਗਾਵੈ ॥'''
-'''रुद्र धिआन गिआन सतिगुर के कबि जन भल्य उनह जो गावै ॥'''
-With Rudra's attention and the spiritual wisdom of the True Guru, says BHALL the poet, these may be counted. (ਭਟ ਭਲ੍ਯ੍ਯ, ਅੰਗ 1396, ਸਤਰ 7, Guru Granth Sahib  )
-| width = 50%
-| align = center
-| qalign = center
-}}
-[[Guru Granth Sahib]] covers the concept of Rudra Dhyaan. Every living being's surt/dhyaaan (or attention) can be directed in two ways, one towards one's body (outer world), and the other towards one's own self (source of attention). As long as our attention stays only on our body, and we lose connection with ourselves, we are incomplete (half or daal as in Gurbani). That is why we remain tense, confused, and make wrong decisions, but for those who are complete (The one as in Gurbani), their attention is focused on the source of attention itself (self), and thus they are immune to any influence of outside world such as vices. Such a one-mindedness and focus is called Rudra Dhyaan. From such a dhyaan, the thoughts that sprout are all under divine hukam (and are not self-conceived). Consequently, '''Hukam itself is called Rudra'''.
+# Datta ([[Dattatreya]]) - Hindu monk<ref name=":1" />
+# Parasnath ([[Parshvanatha]]) - 23rd [[Tirthankara|Tirthankar]] of [[Jainism]].<ref name=":1">{{cite book |author=Rinehart |first=Robin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qe6WnpbT2BkC&pg=PA106 |title=Debating the Dasam Granth |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-19-984247-6 |pages=31}}</ref>
-In Dasam Granth, Rudra and Shiva are generic terms, while Mahadev is the name of one person, whom people call Rudra or Shiva. In [[Gurmat]] Philosophy, [[Shiva|Mahadev]] was a Yogi who was a dweller of the Himalayas. In Hindu Myth, Mahadev is also called Shiv or Rudra, but in Gurmat philosophy, Shiv term does not come for Mahadev because Shiv is Nirankar (Formless). In [[Chopai]], Guru Gobind Singh cleared it as: ''Mahadev ko kehat sada shiv, nirankar ka cheenat nahin bhiv''{{which lang|date=July 2021}}.<ref>Line 392, Chopai Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh</ref> Guru Gobind Singh refers Mahadev/Shiva in the following lines:
+==== Datta ====
+Twenty-three [[Guru|gurus]] are recounted in this chapter and the [[Pen name|pen-name]] of ''Syām'' is used by the author near the end of the chapter.<ref name=":1" />
-{{quotebox
+==== Parasnath ====
-| text = '''ਸ਼ਿਵ ਸਹੰਸ ਬਰਖ ਲੌ ਜੋਗ ਕੀਨ ॥ ਤਜਿ ਨੇਹ ਗੇਹ ਬਨਬਾਸ ਲੀਨ ॥'''<br>
+{{Main articles|Paranath Avtar}}
-'''शिव सहंस बरख लौ जोग कीन ॥ तजि नेह गेह बनबास लीन ॥'''<br>
+Second of the two chapters of the Rudra Avtar, the composition has 358 [[Chhand|Channds]]. The composition is about the life history of Parasnath and his discourse with [[Matsyendranath]]. Verses no.45–89 describe Parasnath paying obeisance to [[Durga]].<ref name=":1" />
-Shiva practiced yoga for thousands of years; he left his home and all attachment and resided in the forest;
-'''ਬਹੁ ਕੀਨ ਜੋਗਿ ਤਹ ਬਹੁ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਰ ॥ ਨਹੀ ਤਦਿਪ ਤਾਸ ਲਹਿ ਸਕਾ ਪਾਰ ॥੮੨॥'''<br>
+==History==
-'''बहु कीन जोगि तह बहु प्रकार ॥ नही तदिप तास लहि सका पार ॥८२॥'''<br>
+This poem was written in [[Anandpur Sahib]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archimedespress.co.uk/|title=Index of /|website=archimedespress.co.uk}}</ref> probably in 1698 CE (1755 in the ''[[Vikram Samvat]]'' calendar).
-He also practiced yoga in various ways, but still he could not know His end.82.
-| width = 50%
+This text is part of ''Bachittar Natak Granth'', as per rubrics at the end. Although modern interpreters believe that a portion of Guru Gobind Singh's life, which he refers to as ''Apni Katha'' is ''Bachittar Natak'', the rest of the compositions are independent from it.
-| align = center
-| qalign = center
+This composition is present in every early manuscript, i.e. those of Mani Singh, Motibagh, Sangrur and Patna.<ref>Sikh Religion, Culture, and Ethnicity, C. Shackle, Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair, Gurharpal Singh</ref>
-}}
+The language of the composition is [[Hindi]] with a mixture of [[Sanskrit]] words.<ref name="sskpur" />
+The First six ''Chandds'' are introductory. 849 ''Chandds'' narrate ''Dattatreya'', and 359 ''Chandds'' narrate about ''Paras Nath''.
+Unlike "Chandi Charitar" and "Krishna Avtar", the source of narration of "Rudra Avtar" does not come from the 36 Puranas.<ref name="sskpur" />
 ==References==
 {{reflist}}
-==External links==
+{{Dasam Granth}}
 [[Category:Dasam Granth]]
-[[Category:Sikh literature]]
 [[Category:Indian literature]]