Recently someone sent a question from Pondicherry, India asking whether Sri Guru Granth Sahib says anything on the evolution theory. How did this world come to existence?

 

Question: I was with a few friends, and among them, there was a Muslim and Christian. They began talking about evolution of man and how their holy books or their leaders have described it - Adam and Eve story and the Egyptian pyramid link to the stars, to Noah's Ark and we being genetically modified creatures of people from another planet (not getting the right name of the planet as of now)... And while they were discussing this, one of them asked me what does your religion say? How have they described the evolution of mankind... I was not sure of what to say. I know Gurbani mentions we are all creation of ONE God. Is there anything mentioned in Sri Guru Granth Sahib about how everything was created?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for asking. Gurbani talks about the Creator and His creation through out Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. In Japji Sahib, 16th Pauri, Guru Sahib says,

 

ਕੀਤਾ ਪਸਾਉ ਏਕੋ ਕਵਾਉ ]

keetaa pasaao aiko kavaao ||

You created the vast expanse of the Universe with One Word!

 

 ਤਿਸ ਤੇ ਹੋਏ ਲਖ ਦਰੀਆਉ ॥

tis tae hoye lakh dhareeaao ||

Hundreds of thousands of rivers began to flow

 

There is this one shabad in particular on page 1035, Maroo Raag Mahala Pehla that addresses this topic in length. In this shabad, Guru Nanak Dev Ji talks about how for an endless period, there was nothing other than utter darkness. Everything that we know or are not aware of today didn't exist. HE alone was there and then as per HIS will, Waheguru ji created everything. Please read and enjoy your wonderful Guru sahib's answer to the question.

 

Page 1035, Maroo Mahala 1

 

ਮਾਰੂ ਮਹਲਾ 1

Maroo Mahla Pehla

 

ਅਰਬਦ ਨਰਬਦ ਧੁੰਧੂਕਾਰਾ

Arbad narbad dhundhookaaraa ||

For endless eons, there was only utter darkness.

 

ਧਰਣਿ ਨ ਗਗਨਾ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਓਪਾਰਾ

Dharan n gaganaa hukam upaaraa ||

There was no earth or sky, there was only the infinite Command of His Hukam

 

ਨਾ ਦਿਨੁ ਰੈਨਿ ਨ ਚੰਦੁ ਨ ਸੂਰਜੁ ਸੁੰਨ ਸਮਾਧਿ ਲਗਾਇਦਾ ]1]

Na din rain n chand na sooraj sunn samaadh lagayeda ||1||

There was no day or night, no moon or sun; God sat in primal, profound Samaadhi. ||1||

 

ਖਾਣੀ ਨ ਬਾਣੀ ਪਉਣ ਨ ਪਾਣੀ ]

Khaani na baani paun n paani ||

There were no sources of creation or powers of speech, no air or water.

 

ਓਪਤਿ ਖਪਤਿ ਨ ਆਵਣ ਜਾਣੀ ॥

Upat khapat n aavan jaanee ||

There was no creation or destruction, no coming or going

 

ਖੰਡ ਪਤਾਲ ਸਪਤ ਨਹੀ ਸਾਗਰ ਨਦੀ ਨ ਨੀਰੁ ਵਹਾਇਦਾ ]2]

khand pataal sapat nahee saagar nadee na neer vahaayeidaa ||2||

There were no continents, nether regions, seven seas, rivers or flowing water. ||2||

 

ਨਾ ਤਦਿ ਸੁਰਗੁ ਮਛੁ ਪਇਆਲਾ ॥

naa tad surag machh payeyaalaa ||

There were no heavenly realms, earth or nether regions of the underworld.

 

ਦੋਜਕੁ ਭਿਸਤੁ ਨਹੀ ਖੈ ਕਾਲਾ ]

dojak bhisat nahee khai kaalaa ||

There was no heaven or hell, no death or time.

 

ਨਰਕੁ ਸੁਰਗੁ ਨਹੀ ਜੰਮਣੁ ਮਰਣਾ ਨਾ ਕੋ ਆਇ ਨ ਜਾਇਦਾ ॥3॥

narak surag nahee janman maranaa naa ko aaye na jaayedaa ||3||

There was no hell or heaven, no birth or death, no coming or going in reincarnation. ||3||

 

ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਬਿਸਨੁ ਮਹੇਸੁ ਨ ਕੋਈ ]

brahmaa bisan mahes n koyee ||

There was no Brahma, Vishnu or Shiva.

 

ਓਵਰੁ ਨ ਦੀਸੈ ਏਕੋ ਸੋਈ ]

avar n deesai ayeko soyee ||

No one was seen, except the One Lord.

 

ਨਾਰਿ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨਹੀ ਜਾਤਿ ਨ ਜਨਮਾ ਨਾ ਕੋ ਦੁਖੁ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਇਦਾ ]4]

naar purakh nahee jaath n janamaa naa ko dhukh sukh paaeidhaa ||4||

There was no female or male, no social class or caste of birth; no one experienced pain or pleasure. ||4||

 

ਨਾ ਤਦਿ ਜਤੀ ਸਤੀ ਬਨਵਾਸੀ ]

naa tad jatee satee banvaasee ||

There were no people of celibacy or charity; no one lived in the forests.

 

ਨਾ ਤਦਿ ਸਿਧ ਸਾਧਿਕ ਸੁਖਵਾਸੀ ]

naa tad sidh saadhik sukhvaasee ||

There were no Siddhas or seekers, no one living in peace.

 

ਜੋਗੀ ਜੰਗਮ ਭੇਖੁ ਨ ਕੋਈ ਨਾ ਕੋ ਨਾਥੁ ਕਹਾਇਦਾ ]5]

jogee jangam bhekh na koyee naa ko naath kahaayedaa ||5||

There were no Yogis, no wandering pilgrims, no religious robes; no one called himself the master. ||5||

 

ਜਪ ਤਪ ਸੰਜਮ ਨਾ ਬ੍ਰਤ ਪੂਜਾ ]

jap tap sanjam naa brat poojaa ||

There was no chanting or meditation, no self-discipline, fasting or worship.

 

 ਨਾ ਕੋ ਆਖਿ ਵਖਾਣੈ ਦੂਜਾ ॥

naa ko aakh vakhaanai doojaa ||

No one spoke or talked in duality

 

ਆਪੇ ਆਪਿ ਉਪਾਇ ਵਿਗਸੈ ਆਪੇ ਕੀਮਤਿ ਪਾਇਦਾ ॥੬॥

aape aap upaaye vigasai aape keemat paayedaa ||6||

He created Himself, and rejoiced; He evaluates Himself. ||6||

 

ਨਾ ਸੁਚਿ ਸੰਜਮੁ ਤੁਲਸੀ ਮਾਲਾ ]

naa such sanjam tulsee maalaa ||

There was no purification, no self-restraint, no malas of basil seeds.

 

ਗੋਪੀ ਕਾਨੁ ਨ ਗਊ ਗੁਆਲਾ ॥

gopee kaan na gauu guaalaa ||

There were no Gopis, no Krishna, no cows or cowherds.

 

ਤੰਤੁ ਮੰਤੁ ਪਾਖੰਡੁ ਨ ਕੋਈ ਨਾ ਕੋ ਵੰਸੁ ਵਜਾਇਦਾ ]7]

tant mant paakhand na koyee naa ko vans vajaayedaa ||7||

There were no tantras, no mantras and no hypocrisy; no one played the flute. ||7||

 

ਕਰਮ ਧਰਮ ਨਹੀ ਮਾਇਆ ਮਾਖੀ ॥

karam dharam nahee maayaa maakhee ||

There was no karma, no Dharma, no buzzing fly of Maya.

 

ਜਾਤਿ ਜਨਮੁ ਨਹੀ ਦੀਸੈ ਆਖੀ ॥

jaat janam nahee deesai aakhee ||

Social class and birth were not seen with any eyes.

 

ਮਮਤਾ ਜਾਲੁ ਕਾਲੁ ਨਹੀ ਮਾਥੈ ਨਾ ਕੋ ਕਿਸੈ ਧਿਆਇਦਾ ॥੮॥

mamtaa jaal kaal nahee maathai naa ko kisai dhhiyedaa ||8||

There was no noose of attachment, no death inscribed upon the forehead; no one meditated on anything. ||8||

 

ਨਿੰਦੁ ਬਿੰਦੁ ਨਹੀ ਜੀਉ ਨ ਜਿੰਦੋ ]

nind bind nahee jeeo n jindo ||

There was no slander, no seed, no soul and no life.

 

ਨਾ ਤਦਿ ਗੋਰਖੁ ਨਾ ਮਾਛਿੰਦੋ ]

naa tad gorakh naa maachhindho ||

There was no Gorakh and no Maachhindra.

 

ਨਾ ਤਦਿ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਕੁਲ ਓਪਤਿ ਨਾ ਕੋ ਗਣਤ ਗਣਾਇਦਾ ॥੯॥

naa tad gyaan dhhiaan kul upat naa ko ganat ganaayedaa ||9||

There was no spiritual wisdom or meditation, no ancestry or creation, no reckoning of accounts. ||9||

 

ਵਰਨ ਭੇਖ ਨਹੀ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਣ ਖਤ੍ਰੀ ]

varan bhaekh nahee brahman khatree ||

There were no castes or social classes, no religious robes, no Brahmin or Kh'shaatriya.

 

ਦੇਉ ਨ ਦੇਹੁਰਾ ਗਊ ਗਾਇਤ੍ਰੀ ]

deyo n dehuraa gau gaayetree ||

There were no demi-gods or temples, no cows or Gaayatri prayer.

 

ਹੋਮ ਜਗ ਨਹੀ ਤੀਰਥਿ ਨਾਵਣੁ ਨਾ ਕੋ ਪੂਜਾ ਲਾਇਦਾ ]10]

hom jag nahee teerath naavan naa ko poojaa laayedaa ||10||

There were no burnt offerings, no ceremonial feasts, no cleansing rituals at sacred shrines of pilgrimage; no one worshipped in adoration. ||10||

 

ਨਾ ਕੋ ਮੁਲਾ ਨਾ ਕੋ ਕਾਜੀ ॥

naa ko mulaa naa ko kaajee ||

There was no Mullah, there was no Qazi.

 

ਨਾ ਕੋ ਸੇਖੁ ਮਸਾਇਕੁ ਹਾਜੀ ॥

naa ko sekh masaayek haajee ||

There was no Shaykh, or pilgrims to Mecca.

 

ਰਈਅਤਿ ਰਾਉ ਨ ਹਉਮੈ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਨਾ ਕੋ ਕਹਣੁ ਕਹਾਇਦਾ ॥11॥

rayee-at raao n haumai duneeyaa naa ko kahan kahaayedaa ||11||

There was no king or subjects, and no worldly egotism; no one spoke of himself. ||11||

 

ਭਾਉ ਨ ਭਗਤੀ ਨਾ ਸਿਵ ਸਕਤੀ ॥

bhaao n bhagatee naa siv sakatee ||

There was no love or devotion, no Shiva or Shakti - no energy or matter.

 

ਸਾਜਨੁ ਮੀਤੁ ਬਿੰਦੁ ਨਹੀ ਰਕਤੀ ॥

saajan meet bind nahee rakatee ||

There were no friends or companions, no semen or blood.

 

ਆਪੇ ਸਾਹੁ ਆਪੇ ਵਣਜਾਰਾ ਸਾਚੇ ਏਹੋ ਭਾਇਦਾ ॥12॥

aape saaho aape vanjaaraa saache aiho bhaayedaa ||12||

He Himself is the banker, and He Himself is the merchant. Such is the Pleasure of the Will of the True Lord. ||12||

 

ਬੇਦ ਕਤੇਬ ਨ ਸਿੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਸਾਸਤ ॥

bed kateb n sinmrit saasat ||

There were no Vedas, Korans or Bibles, no Simritees or Shaastras.

 

ਪਾਠ ਪੁਰਾਣ ਉਦੈ ਨਹੀ ਆਸਤ ॥

paat puraan udai nahee aasat ||

There was no recitation of the Puraanas, no sunrise or sunset.

 

ਕਹਤਾ ਬਕਤਾ ਆਪਿ ਅਗੋਚਰੁ ਆਪੇ ਅਲਖੁ ਲਖਾਇਦਾ ॥13॥

kehtaa baktaa aap agochar aape alakh lakhaayedaa ||13||

The Unfathomable Lord Himself was the speaker and the preacher; the unseen Lord Himself saw everything. ||13||

 

ਜਾ ਤਿਸੁ ਭਾਣਾ ਤਾ ਜਗਤੁ ਉਪਾਇਆ ॥

jaa tis bhaanaa taa jagat oupaayeaa ||

When He so willed, He created the world.

 

ਬਾਝੁ ਕਲਾ ਆਡਾਣੁ ਰਹਾਇਆ ॥

baajh kalaa aadaan rahaayeaa ||

Without any supporting power, He sustained the universe.

 

ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਬਿਸਨੁ ਮਹੇਸੁ ਉਪਾਏ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹੁ ਵਧਾਇਦਾ ॥14॥

brahmaa bisan mahes upaaye maayaa moh vadhaayedaa ||14||

He created Brahma, Vishnu & Shiva; He fostered enticement & attachment to Maya. ||14||

 

ਵਿਰਲੇ ਕਉ ਗੁਰਿ ਸਬਦੁ ਸੁਣਾਇਆ ॥

virle ko gur sabad sunaayeaa ||

How rare is that person who listens to the Word of the Guru's Shabad.

 

ਕਰਿ ਕਰਿ ਦੇਖੈ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਸਬਾਇਆ ॥

kar kar dekhai hukam sabaayeaa ||

He created the creation, and watches over it; the Hukam of His Command is over all.

 

ਖੰਡ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੰਡ ਪਾਤਾਲ ਅਰੰਭੇ ਗੁਪਤਹੁ ਪਰਗਟੀ ਆਇਦਾ ॥15॥

khand brehmand paataal aranbhe gupataho paragatee aayedaa ||15||

He formed the planets, solar systems and nether regions, and brought what was hidden to manifestation. ||15||

 

ਤਾ ਕਾ ਅੰਤੁ ਨ ਜਾਣੈ ਕੋਈ ॥

taa kaa ant n jaanai koyee ||

No one knows His limits.

 

ਪੂਰੇ ਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਸੋਝੀ ਹੋਈ ॥

poore gur te sojhee hoyee ||

This understanding comes from the Perfect Guru.

 

ਨਾਨਕ ਸਾਚਿ ਰਤੇ ਬਿਸਮਾਦੀ ਬਿਸਮ ਭਏ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਇਦਾ ॥16॥3॥15॥

Naanak saach rate bisamaadee bisam bhaye gun gaayedaa ||16||3||15||

O Nanak, those who are attuned to the Truth are wonderstruck; singing His Glorious Praises, they are filled with wonder. ||16||3||15||