Ans. To worship any one of the twenty-four Avtaaras (of Hindu mythology) as ones spiritual preceptor is Bhakti according to Hindu belief. The idea that God is merciful and from time to time He takes birth for the emancipation of human beings has been prevalent in the Hindu society.
The twenty-four Avtaaras, which include Lord Rama and Lord Krishna, are considered the incarnations of God and thus symbolize His compassion for human beings. All those whose utterances are included in Guru Granth Sahib in general and all the Sikh Gurus in particular, have dispelled this belief (of God’s incarnation) by saying:
ਏਕੋ ਜਪਿ ਏਕੋ ਸਾਲਾਹਿ॥
(SGGS, P. 289)
“Meditate on only One (God) and sing the praises of One also”.
They do not believe that God comes into womb (takes birth) and this have been said so in very clear and strong words:
ਸੋ ਮੁਖੁ ਜਲਉ ਜਿਤੁ ਕਹਹਿ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਜੋਨੀ॥
(SGGS, P. 1136)
“Burnt be that tongue that says God comes into womb”.
Guru Amar Das the third Master says:
ਭਗਤਿ ਨਿਰਾਲੀ ਅਲਾਹ ਦੀ ਜਾਪੈ ਗੁਰ ਵੀਚਾਰਿ॥
(SGGS, P. 430)
“To contemplate on the word of Guru is the supreme bhakti of one God and it is realized through contemplation of Guru’s word”.
The purpose of giving this principle is that our bhakti (in Sikhism) is not emotional worship of an Avtaara as carried out by Chandi Das or Meera Bai (the Hindu Bhaktas).
God is the source of eternal bliss and everlasting joy. Those who always remember Him also stay always happy and in a state of positive thinking and enthusiasm. Such a state is attained through God’s grace only. In Guru Granth Sahib it is said:
ਸਬਦੋ ਹੀ ਭਗਤ ਜਾਪਦੇ॥
(SGGS, P. 429)
“Recitation of the sabad (word) is indicative of bhakti”.
ਆਪਿ ਬਸੰਤੁ ਜਗਤੁ ਸਭੁ ਵਾੜੀ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਪੂਰੈ ਭਾਗਿ ਭਗਤਿ ਨਿਰਾਲੀ॥
(SGGS, P. 1177.)
“God Himself is Spring (season) and the world is the garden. With great fortune (the Spring comes to the garden). O Nanak! This fantastic bhakti is the manifestation of the great fortune”.
According to the original concept of Bhakti, it was a one to one relation between the devotee and the Avtaara. In Sikhism, however, “Saadh smooh le udhaario Nanak”, or redemption is through meditation on God’s Name in congregation (in the company of saintly people).