It is beyond human intellect to express the infinite powers of God and the vast expansion created by Him. The majority of religions have described this human-inhabited earth as the sphere of Divine expansion. Some religions have also mentioned other planets along with this earth and the existence of seven heavens. There are still others that have accepted the number of worlds to be 18,000. But Guru Granth Sahib reveals this secret by declaring the infinity of earth-like planets and heavens:
ਪਾਤਾਲਾ ਪਾਤਾਲ ਲਖ ਆਗਾਸਾ ਆਗਾਸ॥
ਓੜਕ ਓੜਕ ਭਾਲਿ ਥਕੇ ਵੇਦ ਕਹਨਿ ਇਕ ਵਾਤ ॥
ਸਹਸ ਅਠਾਰਹ ਕਹਨਿ ਕਤੇਬਾ ਅਸੁਲੂ ਇਕੁ ਧਾਤੁ ॥
ਲੇਖਾ ਹੋਇ ਤ ਲਿਖੀਐ ਲੇਖੈ ਹੋਇ ਵਿਣਾਸੁ॥
ਅੰਗ – 5
Of the nether worlds and heavens,
He has created millions.
Men have given up the attempt in despair.
The Vedas too unanimously declare their helplessness.
Muslim scriptures declare
the number of species to be eighteen thousand.
Vain is such counting;
Nothing is real but the One Essence.
None may measure or state His infinity;
Men’s lives are consumed in the effort.
Ang-5
Gurbani has described this human-inhabited earth as “Dharmshala” (a place for righteous actions), where a person must earn honestly and lead a life based on धर्म (righteousness). This earth has been venerated as sacred like a mother, our preserver. Gurbani teaches us to remain close to Nature and live in harmony with it, vigilantly protecting and safeguarding its natural resources in order to preserve the beauty and splendour of this wonderful world.
In Gurbani, the earth has been called our mother; air has been respectfully described as the “Guru” or preceptor; water as the father; and day and night as our male and female nurses. Thus, a marvellous and divine family is envisioned:
ਪਵਣੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਪਾਣੀ ਪਿਤਾ ਮਾਤਾ ਧਰਤਿ ਮਹਤੁ ॥
ਦਿਵਸੁ ਰਾਤਿ ਦੁਇ ਦਾਈ ਦਾਇਆ ਖੇਲੈ ਸਗਲ ਜਗਤੁ ॥
ਅੰਗ – 8
Air is the vital force; water, the progenitor.
The vast earth is the mother of all.
Day and night are the nurses, fondling all creation in their lap.
Ang-8
Gurbani further elucidates this point by saying:
ਰਾਤੀ ਰੁਤੀ ਥਿਤੀ ਵਾਰ ॥
ਪਵਣ ਪਾਣੀ ਅਗਨੀ ਪਾਤਾਲ ॥
ਤਿਸੁ ਵਿਚਿ ਧਰਤੀ ਥਾਪਿ ਰਖੀ ਧਰਮਸਾਲ॥
ਅੰਗ – 7
He created night and day,
Seasons and occasions;
So also air, water, fire, and the nether regions.
Amidst these, He established the earth,
The place for righteous actions.
Ang-7
The creation of the universe has been formed by Almighty God in the most wonderfully astonishing manner. From the Lord God came air in the first place. From air came water. From the potential of water sprang the three worlds, and the Master benevolently infused His Divine Light into every heart. From the Lord God emerged innumerable visible and invisible manifestations. It was through Him that deities such as Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva came into being.
ਸਾਚੇ ਤੇ ਪਵਨਾ ਭਇਆ ਪਵਨੈ ਤੇ ਜਲੁ ਹੋਇ॥
ਜਲ ਤੇ ਤ੍ਰਿਭਵਣੁ ਸਾਜਿਆ ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਮੋਇ॥
ਅੰਗ – 19
From the Holy Creator came air;
From air came water.
With water were the three worlds created,
And the Divine Light pervades all beings.
Ang-19
The Lord is so great that He did not create the cosmos bit by bit. By uttering just one Word, He brought the entire universe into existence. Everything began functioning naturally, and the rivers started flowing instantly.
ਕੀਤਾ ਪਸਾਉ ਏਕੋ ਕਵਾਉ॥
ਤਿਸ ਤੇ ਹੋਏ ਲਖ ਦਰੀਆਉ॥
ਅੰਗ – 3
All the endless expanse of creation arose out of one Word,
Giving rise to millions of streams.
How can I compute and express God’s might?
Ang-3
All of God’s creation — this earth, this universe, this cosmos — is truly magnificent. But God who created all this with a single Divine utterance is greater still, beyond all words.
Salute to Him.
— Saroop Singh Alag
