Follow the message, not the messengers

Original images from the lifetimes of the Enlightened Ones of Sikhi do not exist. All available depictions were created by artists centuries later, providing only a limited representation of the Wise Ones' actual appearance. Nowadays, the most well-known images often depict the Wise Ones as detached Gurus looking towards the heavens. In reality, they were deeply engaged in life, working as farmers, shepherds, breeders, hunters, village founders, fortification builders like Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib, and they participated in numerous defense battles.

Upon close examination of popular paintings, such as those by Sobha Singh, one can recognize the artist's own facial features. Such images reveal more about the artist than the actual appearance of the Enlightened Ones. They themselves emphasize that spirituality is always about wisdom and its deeper message, rather than the messengers, and certainly not about their physical appearance. Accordingly, they point out that no attention ought to be directed towards their worldly lives. Instead, the Enlightened Ones remind us to live in harmony with the source of the message using spiritual wisdom.

ਗੁਰਿ ਕਹਿਆ ਸਾ ਕਾਰ ਕਮਾਵਹੁ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਕਰਣੀ ਕਾਹੇ ਧਾਵਹੁ ॥ GGS, 929, M.1

Acknowledging their role as humble ambassadors, the Wise Ones do not refer to themselves as Enlightened Ones but always as fallibel servants of divine wisdom (Dasan Das).

ਹਉ ਪਾਪੀ ਤੂੰ ਬਖਸਣਹਾਰੁ ॥੧॥ ਤੇਰਾ ਭਾਣਾ ਸਭੁ ਕਿਛੁ ਹੋਵੈ ॥ ਮਨਹਠਿ ਕੀਚੈ ਅੰਤਿ ਵਿਗੋਵੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ GGS, 356, M.1

ਹਰਿ ਦਾਸਨ ਦਾਸ ਦਾਸ ਹਮ ਕਰੀਅਹੁ ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਦਾਸ ਦਾਸੰਨਾ ॥੪॥੧॥ GGS, 799, M.4

Only Divinity itself, which never incarnates (Ajuni), is considered the true Guru.

ੴ ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਅਜੂਨੀ ਸੈਭੰ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ GGS, 1, M.1

The tenth Enlightened One, Gur Gobind Singh, also emphasizes this.

ਸਦਾ ਏਕ ਜੋਤ੍ਯੰ ਅਜੂਨੀ ਸਰੂਪੰ ॥ DG, 39

The Divine is often associated with the “Word” (Bani). This is a metaphor for the immeasurable wisdom of the Divine, which we can only discover in our hearts when we become still and no longer let worldly distractions divert our being. They write that the Word is the Guru, and the Guru is the Word. In the Word lies the immortalizing nectar.

ਬਾਣੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੁਰੂ ਹੈ ਬਾਣੀ ਵਿਚਿ ਬਾਣੀ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਸਾਰੇ ॥ ਗੁਰੁ ਬਾਣੀ ਕਹੈ ਸੇਵਕੁ ਜਨੁ ਮਾਨੈ ਪਰਤਖਿ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਿਸਤਾਰੇ ॥੫॥ GGS, 982, M.4

Sikhs avoid creating or worshiping images, and they are especially conscious at places where the worship of deities and self-proclaimed Gurus is prevalent.