The living of people in Kalyug has been described in Gurbani and the writing of the Sikhs. We’re going to look at the writings of Guru Nanak Dev ji and Bhai Gurdas ji, who was the scribe of Guru Granth Sahib as the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Dev ji, dictated him, and a historical scripture. There are sakhis in the lives of the first and the last Sikh Gurus as well, where they had an encounter with the Kalyug.
During one of the discourses of Guru Nanak Dev ji, he talked to the Sidhs in Achal Batale where he said these famous lines describing the actions of people in Kalyug:
ਕਲਿ ਕਾਤੀ ਰਾਜੇ ਕਾਸਾਈ ਧਰਮੁ ਪੰਖਿ ਕਰਿ ਉਡਰਿਆ ।।
Kalyug is like a knife where the kings have become butchers, and the Dharam (righteousness) has flown away with the wings.
ਕੂੜੁ ਅਮਾਵਸ ਸਚੁ ਚੰਦ੍ਰਮਾ ਦੀਸੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਕਹ ਚੜਿਆ ।।
Lies are spread like new moon, and the moon of truth hasn’t been seen up in the sky.
When the Guru says the kings have become butchers what it means is they’re doing grave injustice in terms of disputes, freedom, destroying properties, etc. And all the good deeds are gone. This is how much injustice happened at the time of Guru Nanak Dev ji or in the Age of Darkness. There’re liars everywhere as nobody is talking about the One, everyone is speaking their own mind, driving people into darkness. The truth about the One isn’t there anymore as people are engrossed in the chorus which’re pushing them away from the One.
Bhai Gurdas ji also described the period of Kalyug in his vaar:
ਕਲਿਜੁਗਿ ਕੀ ਸੁਣ ਸਾਧਨਾ ਕਰਮ ਕਿਰਤ ਕੀ ਚਲੈ ਨ ਕਾਈ ।
Listen to the discipline in the Kalyug, karam (or doings the yagna, etc.) and kirat (of puja of idols etc.) doesn’t work.
ਬਿਨਾ ਭਜਨ ਭਗਵਾਨ ਕੇ ਭਾਉ ਭਗਤਿ ਬਿਨ ਠੌਰ ਨ ਥਾਈ ।
Without the simran of the One, without loving devotion, no place (in sachkhand) will be given (in the afterlife).
ਲਹੇ ਕਮਾਣਾ ਏਤ ਜੁਗਿ ਪਿਛਲੀ ਜੁੱਗੀਂ ਕਰੀ ਕਮਾਈ ।
What was done in the earlier yugas, the outcome of that can be forgotten in this yuga (if one connects with the One).
ਪਾਇਆ ਮਾਨਸ ਦੇਹਿ ਕਉ ਐਥੋਂ ਚੁਕਿਆ ਠੌਰ ਨ ਠਾਈ ।
The human body was given to you (because of your actions in earlier yugas), if you miss this chance (to merge with the One), there will be no place to live in this world and (in sachkhand) in afterlife.
ਕਲਿਜੁਗ ਕੇ ਉਪਕਾਰ ਸੁਣਿ ਜੈਸੇ ਬੇਦ ਅਥਰਬਣ ਗਾਈ ।
Listen to the beneficence actions in Kalyug as Athar Veda says.
ਭਾਉ ਭਗਤਿ ਪਰਵਾਣ ਹੈ ਜਗ ਹੋਮ ਤੇ ਪੁਰਬ ਕਮਾਈ ।
Love Devotion (bhao bhagt) is acceptable; this is yagnas and earlier yugas’ actions.
ਕਰਿਕੇ ਨੀਚ ਸਦਾਵਣਾ ਤਾ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਲੇਖੈ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਪਾਈ ।
Being a doer, if one calls himself lowly, then he is acceptable to the One.
ਕਲਿਜੁਗਿ ਨਾਵੈ ਕੀ ਵਡਿਆਈ । - ਵਾਰ 1, ਪਉੜੀ 16
In Kalyug, (only) Naam’s (simran’s) glory is there.
In one of the sakhis, Guru Nanak Dev ji talks with the embodiment of the Kalyug. Kalyug being an Age is highlighted as a power which transformed itself into multiple things to frighten the Guru, and eventually he turned into a person[1]. It told the Guru that it could give him many worldly things, and the Guru replied with whatever it could give what if the Naam doesn’t reside in your heart, means with whatever Kalyug offers what if you forget the One.
In Suraj Parkash[2], one similar sakhi comes where Kalyug talks about the actions of people in its reign. It perfectly fits with the mindset of many people living in this Age of Darkness. Not only it gives us a picture of the thoughts of people but also their behaviour and living. You would definitely have seen the people who are falling in the category that Kalyug will be elaborating. This chapter in Suraj Parkash starts with the tenth Guru asking a number of questions related to the behaviour of people, and the poets/Sikhs answered them based on their knowledge. As Bhai Santokh Singh, writer of the Suraj Parkash, included many stories from the Sau Sakhi, this also is from that[3].
The Guru further says that Kalyug asked him (this maybe referring to the interaction of the first Guru with Kalyug, and as all the Sikh Gurus had the same Divine Light, the tenth Guru says it talked to him earlier) to have it under his refuge as the rule of Khalsa would be during its reign. Then Kalyug tells the mindset of people in his reign:
ਕਲਹਿ ਕਰਾਵੌਂ ਬਾਪ ਸੁਤ ਨਾਰਿ ਪੁਰਖ ਕੋ ਜੁੱਧ ।
(I will) make father and son fight, and man and woman fight.
ਭੈਨ ਮਾਇ ਕੋ ਛੋਡਿ ਕੈ ਪਾਲੈ ਗ੍ਰੇਹਨ ਸੁੱਧ ।।20।।
They will keep only wife in the house, and leave mother and daughter.
ਸੁਤ ਨਾਰੀ ਸਸੁਰਾ ਭਜੈ ਸਾਸੂ ਭਜੈ ਜਮਾਤ ।
Son’s wife will go to bed with faither-in-law, and mother-in-law will go to bed with son-in-law.
ਦਾਸ ਭਜੈ ਭੂਪਤਿ ਜੁਵਤਿ ਬਿੱਪ੍ਰਨ ਉਪਜੈ ਸ਼ਾਂਤਿ ।।21।।
King’s wife will be taken by servant and peaceful Brahmin will be born[4].
ਸ਼ੂਦ੍ਰ ਨੇਂਵਦਾ ਜੇਂਵਦੇ ਬਿੱਪ੍ਰਹਿਂ ਦੇਂ ਧਿਧਕਾਰ ।
The lower caste Shudhra will reprimand Brahmin[5]. (Meaning, those who’ve no knowledge would reprimand knowledgeable people)
ਉਪਕਾਰੀ ਸੂਝੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਬਹੁਤੇ ਬਧੈਂ ਬਿਕਾਰ ।।22।।
No generous person will be found, the vices will increase.
ਪੁੱਤ੍ਰ ਜਨੈ ਨਾਰੀ ਭਲੀ ਕੰਨ੍ਯਾਂ ਜਨਨੀ ਦੂਰ ।
A woman who will bear a son will be called good, and who bears a daughter will be abandoned.
ਸੁਤ ਸਮੁਝਾਵੈ ਬਾਪ ਕੋ ਨੁਹਿ ਕਹਿ ਸਾਸੂ ਕੂਰ ।।23।।
Son will teach his father, and daughter-in-law will call her mother-in-law liar.
ਸਿਖ ਉਪਦੇਸ਼ੈ ਗੁਰੂ ਕੋ ਅੰਨ ਅਪਾਵਨ ਖਾਇਂ ।
Students[6] will teach their guru and will eat impure/forbidden food.
ਨ੍ਹਾਣ ਤਜੈਂ ਕਾਯਾਂ ਦੁਖੀ ਖਾਵੈਂ ਬਹੁ ਰੁਚਿ ਭਾਇ ।।24।।
They will not bathe and will make an excuse that body is in pain but will devour delicious food greedily.
ਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਥੋਰ ਖੁਸ਼ਮਤਿ ਬਚਨ ਉਦਰ ਭਰਤ ਕੇ ਕਾਜ ।
They won’t love much, will use flattering words to fill their bellies.
ਨਾਰੀ ਮਿਲਨਾ ਭੋਗ ਕਵਿ ਗ੍ਰਿਹ ਗ੍ਰਿਹ ਜਜੀਏ ਸਾਜ ।।25।।
Men will think about the night the whole day to go to bed with women, and women will gather the sexual things the whole day.
ਬੇਦ ਬੇਚਦੇ ਬੇਦਧਰ ਭੂਮਿ ਬੇਚਤੇ ਛੱਤ੍ਰਿ ।
Brahmins will sell the Vedas, and the Chhatris will sell the lands[7]. (Meaning, those who have knowledge will sell it for money, and the rulers will sell the land.)
ਘਰ ਬੇਚੇ ਬਨੀਏ ਬਹੁਤ ਸ਼ੂਦ੍ਰ ਬੇਚਤੇ ਪੁੱਤ੍ਰ ।।26।।
Vaishya will sell the houses and Sudhras will sell their children. (Meaning, businessmen will sell the houses and the poor will sell their children to fill the stomach)
ਭੂਖੇ ਮਰਤੇ ਕਾਮ ਬਿਨ ਭਗਵਾ ਕਰਿ ਕੈ ਭੇਖ ।
Idle/unemployed people who’re starving will wear the saffron attires[8].
ਜਟਾ ਬੰਧਿ ਕਰਤੇ ਸੁਰਸ ਮ੍ਰਿਗਛਾਲਾ ਪਰਵੇਖ ।।27।।
They will keep dreadlocks and wear skin of deer and have sexual relationships.
ਲੋਕਨ ਕਉ ਐਸੇ ਕਹੈਂ ਸੰਤ ਸੰਗ ਹ੍ਵੈ ਭਾਗ ।
They will tell people the company of the saints come with good deeds.
ਆਪ ਨਰਕ ਅਵਰਨ ਨਰਕ ਕਰਨੀ ਬਨੈ ਨ ਲਾਗ ।।28।।
With good deeds, you won’t go to hell.
ਲੋਕਨਿ ਕੋ ਬੰਚਨ ਕਰੈਂ ਕਥੈਂ ਗ੍ਯਾਨ ਕੀ ਬਾਤ ।
They will deliver sermons to people and talk about Divine.
ਸਿਰ ਧੁਨ ਲੋਚਨ ਜਲਸ਼੍ਰਵਤ ਕਪਟੀ ਅਧਿਕ ਸੁਹਾਤ ।।29।।
They will shake their head, cry, but will like the vicious people more.
ਗਰਭ ਗਿਰਾਵੈਂ ਰੰਡ ਕਾ ਸੁਭਗਾ ਹੋਹਿ ਨ ਗਰਭ ।
They will ask the prostitutes for a miscarriage, but the married woman won’t get pregnant. (Meaning the men will go to brothels and won’t have any relationship with their wives.)
ਭੂਤ ਪ੍ਰੇਤ ਸੇਵਨ ਕਰੈਂ ਨਹਿਂ ਸਿਮਰੈਂ ਸ਼੍ਰੀ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ।।30।।
They will chant the name of the spirits but won’t do simran of Waheguru.
ਜਹਾਂ ਚਾਹ ਤਹਿਂ ਬਿਘਨ ਬਹੁ ਬਿਨਾਂ ਚਾਹ ਹੁਇ ਕਾਮ ।
There will be hiccups in the good work, and unasked work will be completed without any issues.
ਮਿੱਤ੍ਰ ਕਰੈਂ ਅਤਿ ਸ਼ੱਤ੍ਰਤਾ ਸ਼ੱਤ੍ਰੁ ਮੀਤ ਕਾ ਕਾਮ ।।31।।
The friends will be foes, and the foes will become friends. (Meaning, when a friend needs help, he won’t help, but when he needs it, he will forget his actions and ask for his friend’s help.)
When the Kalyug says this, the tenth Guru said there won’t be any refuge as in his Panth the Naam of the One and charity will be supreme.
In Chobees Avatar, when the story of Nehklanki Avatar comes, the Guru described the actions of the Kalyug in detail[9] before starting the life of Nehklanki. Readers can read that part also.
The whole passage covers most of things that are called unethical, i.e., fighting with your family unnecessarily, sexual desires, fake saints, plundering people for their emotional attachments, not helping people when required, etc. In India, the fake saints are in abundance, and you can see them in every nook and corner. These people exploit both poor and rich. There are criminal cases registered against these fakers, but their followers call the cases political.
Kaam or sex when used in abundance devours you. You forget the good and bad, right and wrong, when the lecherous thoughts come to your head. Leering is the outcome of that. This begins another set of events that might lead to shameful acts. But some people have established a thought that hurting someone is not acceptable, but if you want to have the worldly pleasure, including sex, and your partner is consenting, then there is no issue. I remember the similar question being asked on Quora related to Sikhism that if it's OK to have it if your life-partner allows. No, it’s not OK. This thought of having consent to climb a step to the worldly pleasure isn’t permitted in the Sikh Religion. There is a reason the tenth Sikh Guru wrote so many stories revolving around kaam in Charitropakhyan. They are to guide us how it can destroy your life. But some have taken it in a different manner and started writing against it.
In this Age of Darkness, when every corner has a person to misguide you, you should have to be very cautious while treading your path, otherwise you will start believing manmat as gurmat.
[1] ਪੁਰਾਤਨ ਜਨਮ ਸਾਖੀ, ਸੰਪਾਦਕ ਭਾਈ ਵੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ, ਪੰਨਾ 74, 2016
[2] ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਤਾਪ ਸੂਰਜ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ, ਜਿਲਦ ਤੇਰ੍ਹਵੀਂ, ਰੁਤ ਪੰਜਵੀਂ ਅੰਸੂ 25, ਪੰਨਾ 5556
[3] ਪ੍ਰਾਚੀਨ ਸੌ ਸਾਖੀ, ਸਾਖੀ 86, ਸੰਪਾਦਕ ਪ੍ਰੋ. ਪਿਆਰਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਪਦਮ, ਪੰਨਾ 165, 1995
[4] It’s not clear if the peaceful Brahims are said to be from the king’s wife and servant, or an independent half-line.
[5] Many instances here are not related to the literal sense of the social hierarchy of the Hindus but the overall meanings applicable to all, as the dialogue is to discuss the whole humanity, not Hindus.
[6] The word sikh has been literally translated.
[7] All the four castes are mentioned here and the next line, which are generalized in the meanings.
[8] In the next few lines, till 29, it talks about how the common people will be fooled by illicit men.
[9] ਦਸਮ ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ, 571
