ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>MUND&#256VA&#7750&#298 (lit. a seal or riddle)</TITLE> <style type="text/css"> .BODY { background-color: #EAF1F7; background-image: url('images/gtbh.jpg'); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; background-position: center; color: #0066CC;} .C1{text-align: justify;color: #0066CC;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .BIB{text-align: center;color: #000099;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .CONT{text-align: right;color: #FF0000;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} </style><META http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></HEAD> <BODY class="BODY" oncontextmenu="return false" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false"> <FONT ALIGN="JUSTIFY" FACE="Tahoma"> <p class="C1">&#65279<i>MUND&#256VA&#7750&#298</i> (lit. a seal or riddle), the concluding hymn of the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib composed by Gur&#363 Arj&#257n as an epilogue to the Scripture which he had himself compiled and the first copy of which was transcribed under his guidance. The hymn comprises two parts; in the first part, the Scripture is metaphorically referred to as a salver containing three articles, truth, contentment and contemplation. Then the fourth of the viands is mentioned - the nectar Name which sustains all. He who, says the Gur&#363, partakes of this fare is saved. This is something not to be renounced; one must forever bear this in mind. Thus will one swim across the worldly-ocean. One then beholds the entire universe as the manifestation of the Supreme Being. The second part, comprising two couplets, is by way of tanksgivings. The Gur&#363, rendering gratitude, recites the paen : "Thou made me worthy of this task, Lord. I know not the limit of Thy favour. Meritless am I &#8212 without merit. That was thy own mercy...." <i>Mund&#257va&#7751&#299</i> is an integral part of the scriptural text and is always recited at the end of any full-reading of the Holy Book. It is also recited as part of the <i>Rahr&#257si</i>, the daily evening prayer of the Sikhs.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Exegetes have interpreted the word "<i>mund&#257va&#7751&#299</i> "variously. Some take it to mean a riddle in which sense it is still used in the Po&#7789hoh&#257r&#299 dialect of Punjabi. They quote in support of their view this line from Gur&#363 Amar D&#257s, N&#257nak III : "<i>eh mud&#257va&#7751&#299 satigur&#363 p&#257&#299 gursikh&#257 ladh&#299 bh&#257li</i>, the Gur&#363 has posed this <i>mund&#257va&#7751&#299</i>, i.e. riddle, and the Sikhs have unravelled it"(GG, 645). By mentioning in the opening line of the hymn <i>Mund&#257va&#7751&#299</i> the articles which comprise the divine fare, Gur&#363 Arj&#257n, they argue, was inviting the Sikhs to explore through the sacred text their true meaning. More commonly, the term <i>Mund&#257van&#299</i> as used by Gur&#363 Arjan is understood to be the equivalent of a seal or stamp. The Gur&#363 wrote <i>mund&#257va&#7751&#299</i> as a conclusion to the Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib, thus affixing his seal to the holy writ. The seal was in token of the authentication of the text; it was also perhaps meant to preclude any apocryphal additions.</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"><i> &#346abad&#257rth Sr&#299 Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib </i>. Amritsar, 1964<BR> <li class="C1"> S&#257hib Si&#7749gh, <i> Sr&#299 Gur&#363 Granth S&#257hib Darpan </i>. Jalandhar, n.d.<BR> </ol><p class="CONT">Gurdev Si&#7749gh<br></p><BR> </font><img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""></HTML></BODY>