Sage Valmiki In Guru Granth Sahib
Guru Granth Sahib, the main text in Sikhi, cites Valmiki ( Rishi Balmiki, Balmeek ) by name on four occasions. There are also numerous characters used by Guru Sahib and Bhagat Sahiban in their hymns from Valmiki Ramayana including Rama, Laxman, Sita, Hanuman, and Ravana. Let's have a look over the direct occasions first.
1. ਮੇਰੇ ਮਨ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਤ ਤਰਿਆ ॥
ਧੰਨਾ ਜਟੁ ਬਾਲਮੀਕੁ ਬਟਵਾਰਾ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਪਾਰਿ ਪਇਆ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
मेरे मन नाम जपत तरिया
धन्ना जट बाल्मीक बटवारा गुरमुख पार पया।
Deliberating over the Name, one is saved, O my soul.
Dhanna, the farmer, and Balmik, the highway robber, were emancipated by Guru's grace. Pause. [Guru Ramdas Ji SGGS Page 995]
2. ਬਾਲਮੀਕੁ ਸੁਪਚਾਰੋ ਤਰਿਓ ਬਧਿਕ ਤਰੇ ਬਿਚਾਰੇ ॥
ਏਕ ਨਿਮਖ ਮਨ ਮਾਹਿ ਅਰਾਧਿਓ ਗਜਪਤਿ ਪਾਰਿ ਉਤਾਰੇ ॥੨॥
बाल्मीक सु-पचारो तरियो बधिक तरे बिचारे
एक निमख मन माहि अराधियो गजपति पार उतारे।
Pariah Balmik was emancipated and so was saved the poor huntsman.
Within his mind, the great elephant remembered God even for a moment and he was saved. [Guru Arjan Dev Ji, SGGS Page 999]
3. ਰੇ ਚਿਤ ਚੇਤਿ ਚੇਤ ਅਚੇਤ ॥
ਕਾਹੇ ਨ ਬਾਲਮੀਕਹਿ ਦੇਖ ॥
ਕਿਸੁ ਜਾਤਿ ਤੇ ਕਿਹ ਪਦਹਿ ਅਮਰਿਓ ਰਾਮ ਭਗਤਿ ਬਿਸੇਖ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
रे चित चेत अचेत
काहे न बाल्मीकहि देख
किस जाति ते किह पदहि अमरिओ, राम भगत बिसेख।
O my thoughtless mind, remember and contemplate thou thy Lord.
Why look thou not at Balmik?
From what a low caste, what high rank obtained he? Sublime is the Lord's devotional service. Pause. [Bhagat Ravidas Ji, SGGS Page 1124]
4. ਸੁਣਿ ਸਾਖੀ ਮਨ ਜਪਿ ਪਿਆਰ ॥
ਅਜਾਮਲੁ ਉਧਰਿਆ ਕਹਿ ਏਕ ਬਾਰ ॥
ਬਾਲਮੀਕੈ ਹੋਆ ਸਾਧਸੰਗੁ ॥
ਧ੍ਰੂ ਕਉ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਹਰਿ ਨਿਸੰਗ ॥੧॥
सुण साखी मन जप प्यार
अजामल उधरिया कहि एक बार
बाल्मीकै होआ साधसंग
ध्रू कौ मिलिया हरि निसंग
Hear, O mind, the stories of the saints and contemplate thou thy Lord with love.
Ajamal was delivered, uttering the Lord's Name but once.
Balmik obtained the Society of the Saints.
The Lord met Dhru unhesitatingly. [Guru Arjan Dev Ji, SGGS Page 1192]
Valmiki Ramayana's Verses in Guru Granth Sahib
Apart from these, following are examples Guru Sahib taken from Valmiki's Ramayana:
ਰਾਮੁ ਝੁਰੈ ਦਲ ਮੇਲਵੈ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਬਲੁ ਅਧਿਕਾਰ ॥
ਬੰਤਰ ਕੀ ਸੈਨਾ ਸੇਵੀਐ ਮਨਿ ਤਨਿ ਜੁਝੁ ਅਪਾਰੁ ॥
ਸੀਤਾ ਲੈ ਗਇਆ ਦਹਸਿਰੋ ਲਛਮਣੁ ਮੂਓ ਸਰਾਪਿ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਕਰਤਾ ਕਰਣਹਾਰੁ ਕਰਿ ਵੇਖੈ ਥਾਪਿ ਉਥਾਪਿ ॥੨੫॥
ਮਨ ਮਹਿ ਝੂਰੈ ਰਾਮਚੰਦੁ ਸੀਤਾ ਲਛਮਣ ਜੋਗੁ ॥
ਹਣਵੰਤਰੁ ਆਰਾਧਿਆ ਆਇਆ ਕਰਿ ਸੰਜੋਗੁ ॥
ਭੂਲਾ ਦੈਤੁ ਨ ਸਮਝਈ ਤਿਨਿ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੀਏ ਕਾਮ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਵੇਪਰਵਾਹੁ ਸੋ ਕਿਰਤੁ ਨ ਮਿਟਈ ਰਾਮ ॥੨੬॥ (Page 1412)
With immense mental fortitude, Lord Ram Chander assembled his army, overwhelmed by sorrow. The monkey army rallied under his command, and within his heart and soul, he ignited an unwavering zeal for battle.
Ten-headed Ravana had abducted his beloved Sita, and Lachhman had met a fateful curse. Nanak, the Creator-Lord is the ultimate orchestrator of all actions. He both creates and observes, even as His creation is undone.
In his heart, Ram Chander grieved for Sita and Lachhman, longing for their presence. He invoked Hanuman, the divine monkey god, who appeared before him.
The deluded demons fail to recognize the miraculous deeds performed by the Lord. Nanak, the past actions the Carefree Lord dispenses are indelible, beyond erasure.
ਰੋਵੈ ਰਾਮੁ ਨਿਕਾਲਾ ਭਇਆ ॥
ਸੀਤਾ ਲਖਮਣੁ ਵਿਛੁੜਿ ਗਇਆ ॥
ਰੋਵੈ ਦਹਸਿਰੁ ਲੰਕ ਗਵਾਇ ॥
ਜਿਨਿ ਸੀਤਾ ਆਦੀ ਡਉਰੂ ਵਾਇ ॥ (Page 953)
Rama shed tears during his exile,
Parting from Sita and Lachhman, the separation was profound.
Ten-headed Ravana wept over Ceylon's loss,
Yet he had abducted Sita to the rhythm of a tambourine's sound.
It is to be noted here Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji contains such hymns not intended to ridicule any religious belief, deity, or religion. However, they assert the supremacy of God through lord Rama who also faced challenges. This illustrates a belief that God’s ultimate authority and authority supersede all earthly barriers and understanding by mortals.
Scripture points out that suffering and hardships are integral to human life, irrespective of culture or religion. It reminds us about the significance of humility and faith during times of difficulties in life.
Valmiki in Vaaran Bhai Gurdas
And Finally from Vaaran Bhai Gurdas Ji ( Vaar No.10 Verse 19 ), here is the full story of Bhagat Valmiki
੧੯: ਬਾਲਮੀਕ ਬਟਵਾੜਾ
ਵਾਟੈ ਮਾਣਸ ਮਾਰਦਾ ਬੈਠਾ ਬਾਲਮੀਕ ਬਟਵਾੜਾ ॥ ਪੂਰਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਭੇਟਿਆ ਮਨ ਵਿਚਿ ਹੋਆ ਖਿੰਜੋਤਾੜਾ ॥
ਮਾਰਨ ਨੋ ਲੋਚੈ ਘਣਾ ਕਢਿ ਨ ਹੰਘ ਹਥੁ ਉਘਾੜਾ ॥ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਮਨੂਆ ਰਾਖਿਆ ਹੋਇ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਉਛੋਹਾੜਾ ॥
ਅਉਗੁਣੁ ਸਭ ਪਰਗਾਸਿਅਨੁ ਰੋਜਗਾਰੁ ਹੈ ਏਹੁ ਅਸਾੜਾ ॥ ਘਰਿ ਵਿਚਿ ਪੁਛਣ ਘਲਿਆ ਅੰਤਕਾਲ ਹੈ ਕੋਇ ਅਸਾੜਾ ॥
ਕੋੜਮੜਾ ਚਉਖੰਨੀਐ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਬੇਲੀ ਕਰਦੇ ਝਾੜਾ ॥ ਸਚੁ ਦ੍ਰਿੜ੍ਹ੍ਹਾਇ ਉਧਾਰਿਅਨੁ ਟਪਿ ਨਿਕਥਾ ਉਪਰ ਵਾੜਾ ॥
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਲੰਘੇ ਪਾਪ ਪਹਾੜਾ ॥੧੯॥
Once, Valmiki was a highwayman, notorious for robbing and harming travelers on their journeys. However, a transformative encounter with the true Guru altered the course of his life.
Under the guidance of the Guru, his conscience began to question his nefarious ways. Although his mind still harbored urges for violence, his hands would no longer comply with such wicked intentions. The true Guru instilled tranquility in Valmiki's mind, and the tumultuous volitions of his past were subdued.
Valmiki bared his soul before the Guru, confessing his profession as a highwayman. The Guru, in response, directed him to inquire at home which family members would share responsibility for his sinful deeds upon his death. To his surprise, although his family loved him deeply, none were willing to accept the burden of his actions.
Upon returning to the Guru, Valmiki received the teachings of truth that resided within his heart, and he was liberated from his dark past. In a single bound, he escaped the entanglements of worldly attachments.
By becoming a Gurmukh, one acquires the strength to leap across mountains of sin and lead a virtuous life.
