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The Entire Universe was Created from One Light

ਅਵਲਿ ਅਲਹ ਨੂਰੁ ਉਪਾਇਆ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਕੇ ਸਭ ਬੰਦੇ ॥

Thursday
,
21
February
2019

The Entire Universe was Created from One Light

ਅਵਲਿ ਅਲਹ ਨੂਰੁ ਉਪਾਇਆ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਕੇ ਸਭ ਬੰਦੇ ॥

Thursday
,
21
February
2019
Sabad of the Week
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The Entire Universe was Created from One Light

ਅਵਲਿ ਅਲਹ ਨੂਰੁ ਉਪਾਇਆ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਕੇ ਸਭ ਬੰਦੇ ॥

Thursday
,
21
February
2019

This Sabad composed by Bhagat Kabir ji in the Prabhati rag reflects an unwavering devotion rooted in knowledge and deep understanding.

This Sabad composed by Bhagat Kabir ji in the Prabhati rag reflects an unwavering devotion rooted in knowledge and deep understanding. Prabhati evokes an intense confidence in the Divine, a love that arises not from blind faith but from insight and realization. The overwhelming theme is the unity of all beings through the One Light, dissolving distinctions of good and bad, self and other.

The Sabad begins with a profound assertion: all beings originate from the same Divine Light. This fundamental truth nullifies discrimination and hierarchy, revealing the interconnectedness of Creation. When one recognizes this Oneness, the illusions of division vanish. Bhagat Kabir ji urges people to abandon doubt and embrace the understanding that the Creator is present within all that is created, pervading every space and being.

The imagery of the Potter and clay further emphasizes this truth. The Creator has shaped many forms from the same essence, each vessel unique yet made of the same flawless material. The inherent divinity of all beings calls for humility, respect, and a realization of the oneness that unites all.

Bhagat Kabir ji defines a true Banda—one who recognizes Hukam, the Divine Order, and thus knows the One. Such a person sees beyond superficial differences, aligning themselves with the eternal truth that underlies existence.

The Sabad culminates in an intimate realization: the Divine, though imperceptible, becomes perceptible through the Guru’s wisdom. The jaggery-sweet perception bestowed by the Guru dissolves all doubts, unveiling the Unblemishable One in all directions. Kabir ji’s words invite us to cultivate this vision—to recognize the Divine within and around us, harmonizing our being with the eternal reality of Oneness.

First, Allah¹ created Light. All beings are of Creation.
The entire universe was created from One Light—
Who’s good, who’s bad?  1.

O! People, O! Brother,
doubt not, forget not.
Creator, Creation,
Creator within Creation,
totally permeating all spaces.  1. Reflect

Creator created many forms from one clay.
Flawless is the clay pot, flawless is the Potter.  2.

Within all is the same Eternal One.
All things occur because of the One.
Call that person the Banda,²
who recognizes Hukam³ and knows the One.  3.

Allah is imperceptible, cannot be perceived,
Guru granted sweet jaggery-perception.
Kabir says: My doubt destroyed,
seeing Immaculate everywhere.  4.

¹ The God in Arabic.
² Divines’ Own being.
³ Literally, Order or Divine Will.

Sikhi: To be in harmony with the Divine.

ਪ੍ਰਭਾਤੀ ॥

ਅਵਲਿ ਅਲਹ ਨੂਰੁ ਉਪਾਇਆ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਕੇ ਸਭ ਬੰਦੇ ॥
ਏਕ ਨੂਰ ਤੇ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਉਪਜਿਆ ਕਉਨ ਭਲੇ ਕੋ ਮੰਦੇ ॥੧॥
ਲੋਗਾ ਭਰਮਿ ਨ ਭੂਲਹੁ ਭਾਈ ॥
ਖਾਲਿਕੁ ਖਲਕ ਖਲਕ ਮਹਿ ਖਾਲਿਕੁ ਪੂਰਿ ਰਹਿਓ ਸ੍ਰਬ ਠਾਂਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
ਮਾਟੀ ਏਕ ਅਨੇਕ ਭਾਂਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਸਾਜੀ ਸਾਜਨਹਾਰੈ ॥
ਨਾ ਕਛੁ ਪੋਚ ਮਾਟੀ ਕੇ ਭਾਂਡੇ ਨਾ ਕਛੁ ਪੋਚ ਕੁੰਭਾਰੈ ॥੨॥
ਸਭ ਮਹਿ ਸਚਾ ਏਕੋ ਸੋਈ ਤਿਸ ਕਾ ਕੀਆ ਸਭੁ ਕਛੁ ਹੋਈ ॥
ਹੁਕਮੁ ਪਛਾਨੈ ਸੁ ਏਕੋ ਜਾਨੈ ਬੰਦਾ ਕਹੀਐ ਸੋਈ ॥੩॥
ਅਲਹੁ ਅਲਖੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ਲਖਿਆ ਗੁਰਿ ਗੁੜੁ ਦੀਨਾ ਮੀਠਾ ॥
ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਮੇਰੀ ਸੰਕਾ ਨਾਸੀ ਸਰਬ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ ਡੀਠਾ ॥੪॥੩॥
     Bhagat Kabir ji in Rag Prabhati  |  Guru Granth Sahib 1349

About the Series

Sabad is Infinite; we are very finite. This is our understanding at the moment, which was different yesterday and may evolve tomorrow, as we deepen our relationship with the Sabad. In this trans-creation, we have chosen to keep the repeating words in the Sabad same. We aspire to learn and retain the Divine attribute as used in the original Sabad and avoid terms like God or Lord.

Revised:

This Content has been made available for educational purposes only. SikhRI does not make any representation concerning the completeness of the Content. This Content is not intended to substitute research or a deeper understanding of the topic. SikhRI encourages readers to read multiple authors to gain a complete understanding of the topic.

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Written By

Senior Fellow, Research & Policy

Harinder Singh is the Senior Fellow at the Sikh Research Institute. He holds a BS in Aerospace Engineering from Wichita State University, an MS in Engineering Management from the University of Kansas, and an MPhil from Punjab University in the linguistics of the Guru Granth Sahib. 

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Creative Director

Inni Kaur is Creative Director at the Sikh Research Institute (SikhRI), where she leads content creation, branding, and external communications.

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