The eminent Sikh scholar Bhai Gurdas records that Guru Nanak meditated for thirty-six yugs to allow the manifestation of the Gurmantra called Vahiguru. Vahiguru is made of four syllables Va-Hi-Gu-Ru. Taken from Vashdev, Hari, Gobind and Ram - the name of the Divine in each yug. The four ages are:
Duapur yug - The third age or Silver age. Hari.
Treta yug - The second or Bronze age. Ram.
Kalyug - The age of ignorance or dark age. Gobind.
This works out to be nine yugs on each syllable that makes up Vahiguru. In each age Dharam or good heartedness decreases and ignorance, ego, and violence increases. Guru Gobind Singh writes in Sarbloh Granth sahib about Vahiguru mantra:
ਸਾਰ ਮੰਤ੍ਰ ਚਾਰੋਂ ਕਾ ਚਾਰ ॥ Saar Mantar Chaaro ka Chaar
ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਮੰਤ੍ਰ ਨਿਰਧਾਰ ॥ Waheguru Mantar nirdhaar
ਕਲਪ ਕਲਪ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਅਖਛਰ ਕਹੀ ॥ Kalp kalp prabh akchar kahee
ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰ ਨਾਨਕ ਜਾਪਯੋ ਸਹੀ ॥ Sri gur nanak japeyoo sahee
ਨਿਜ ਆਤਮ ਪ੍ਰਮਾਤਮ ਦਰਸਯੋ ॥ Nijh atam parmatam dharasyo
ਚਾਰ ਕਲਪ ਮਹਿ ਮੰਤ੍ਰ ਸਰਸਯੋ ॥ Char kalp meh mantar sarshyo
ਸਾ ਮੰਤ੍ਰ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਖਾਲਸਹ ਦੀਨਾ ॥ Saa mantar prabh khalse dheena
ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਪਦ ਪਾਵਨ ਕੀਨਾ ॥ Waheguru padh pavan keena
The four fold yugs have four separate mantaras.
Of them all the mantar Waheguru is formed supreme.
Through Kalpas of yugs (aeons) the Primal Being uttered the word.
Sri Guru Nanak contemplated upon this true (mantar).
With it one can experience the Super Soul within our Soul.
It is the union of the four separate mantars.
This mantar the Primal Being bestowed upon the Khalsa.
The word 'Waheguru' grants enlightenment.
Vahi is the equivalent to the English verbal expression of ‘Wow’, an expression uttered when one sees, beholds, or hears something wondrous. In a similar manner 'Vahi' is the Sikh verbal expression of awe-struck wonder. It also has the same etymology of Yahweh and Vahid from Hebrew and Arabic, while the Sanskrit etymological meaning of 'Guru' is that Divine being who brings one from darkness into light (removes ignorance). Guru Nanak travelled the world and it seems that Vahiguru was his reconciliation of the theology of the West and East. Of the Western montheistic God, and Eastern Divine teacher or Enlightener. As Bhai Gurdas writes contemplation on Vahiguru is the way to cure the ultimate illusion of our own ego.
With it one can experience the Super Soul within our Soul.
It is the union of the four separate mantars.
This mantar the Primal Being bestowed upon the Khalsa.
The word 'Waheguru' grants enlightenment.
Vahi is the equivalent to the English verbal expression of ‘Wow’, an expression uttered when one sees, beholds, or hears something wondrous. In a similar manner 'Vahi' is the Sikh verbal expression of awe-struck wonder. It also has the same etymology of Yahweh and Vahid from Hebrew and Arabic, while the Sanskrit etymological meaning of 'Guru' is that Divine being who brings one from darkness into light (removes ignorance). Guru Nanak travelled the world and it seems that Vahiguru was his reconciliation of the theology of the West and East. Of the Western montheistic God, and Eastern Divine teacher or Enlightener. As Bhai Gurdas writes contemplation on Vahiguru is the way to cure the ultimate illusion of our own ego.
Each syllable of Vahiguru is an element corresponding to earth, fire, air, and water. The fifth is the silence between each Vahiguru spoken. This is the emptyness or space (sunyata). Guru Gobind Singh also spoke that the four races of the earth, black, brown, red, and white would be united as one with this mantra, as Guru Nanak has travelled in all four directions to all four races. The fifth direction is the space or ether and is represented by the Khalsa.
