HELL AND HEAVEN IN SIKHISM

HELL AND HEAVEN IN SIKHISM

Almost all religions of the world believe in some sort of hell and heaven where the people go after their death. They are supposed to be places somewhere in the sky. In general, Heaven or paradise is supposed to be the place where the Supreme Being (God) resides. It is supposed to be the most beautiful place in the universe with beautiful gardens, orchards, rivers, water springs and mountains. People who go there are supposed to enjoy all the luxuries of life. On the contrary, hell is a place where the sinners are sent and tortured. Fire is supposed to be burning in the hell all the time to punish its residents. You must have heard the popular curse "burn in hell".  Souls in the Hell are guarded by very scary looking creatures and the residents are given very poor meals, and so on. A brief description of the two places is given below according to the beliefs of different religions.

Christianity

All people who believe in Christ as the Saviour are sent to the Heaven. Those who do not believe in Christ are not eligible to go there. It is a place where you reside until the Judgment Day. The twelve gates to the Heaven are guarded by St Peter, and are called the Pearly Gates.

Islam

Muslims have very similar belief about Heaven as the Christians, but they believe not just in one level, they rather believe in five or six different levels (layers) of Heaven in the sky. Every Muslim is sent to Heaven after death, but they are sent to different levels depending upon their deeds on earth. They also believe that the size of the Heaven is about five times the size of our earth. Once there, they are able to communicate with their relatives even though they may be residing in different levels. All males are rewarded with 84 beautiful damsels each, and get servants to serve them. We are not sure what the female Muslims are rewarded with when they go to Heaven! May be they are not allowed to go to Heaven!  Just like the Christian belief, Muslims believe that non-believers are not eligible to go to Heaven.

Hinduism and Buddhism

Both religions believe in Heaven and Hell as dedicated places. You get all the comforts of life in Heaven, but it is not a place where you live for ever. After spending the allocated time, you are pushed out of Heaven or Hell to be born again and again until you find salvation.

On the contrary, HELL is believed to be a very ugly place where the occupants burn in fire. (It is common way to curse people when some people tell others to burn in Hell). All evil people are supposed to be sent to Hell. Christians believe that like the Heaven, Hell is a permanent place for the evil people, but the Muslims believe that after enough punishment, people are taken out of hell and are sent to the Heaven. Hindus and the Buddhists believe that like Heaven, hell is not a place where you live for ever. After sometime you are reborn and the birth-death cycle continues.

However, the concept of Hell and Heaven is very different in SIKHISM. There is definitely a mention of Hell and Heaven, but their concepts are very different. A few holy Shabads are quoted here in which there is a mention of the terms.

HELL [NERK OR DOJUK(H)]

 ਆਸਾ ਦੀ ਵਾਰ, ਪਉੜੀ 2 (463)॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਜੀਅ ਉਪਾਇਕੈ ਲਿਖਿ ਨਾਵੈ ਧਰਮੁ ਬਹਾਲਿਆ॥ ਓਥੈ ਸਚੇ ਹੀ ਸਚਿ ਨਿਬੜੈ ਚੁਣਿ ਵਖਿ ਕਢੇ ਜਜਮਾਲਿਆ॥ ਥਾਉ ਨ ਪਾਇਨਿ ਕੂੜਿਆਰ ਮੁਹ ਕਾਲੈ ਦੋਜਕਿ ਚਾਲਿਆ॥ ------

Meaning: Waheguru has appointed Dharamraj as the justice to record the deeds of all human beings, oh Nanak!  Pure justice is applied in Waheguru’s Court and the sick (sinners) are separated. The guilty get no mercy there and are sent to Hell with their faces blackened (after being declared guilty). --------

NOTE: Waheguru needs no assistance in any area. He Himself is the recorder and Himself is the Judge. The term Dharamraj is simply used for a common man’s understanding and has been used in Hindu holy books.

 ਆਸਾ ਦੀ ਵਾਰ, ਪਉੜੀ 5 (465)॥ ਨਾਉ ਤੇਰਾ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰੁ ਹੈ ਨਾਇ ਲਇਐ ਨਰਕਿ ਨ ਜਾਈਐ॥ ----- ਜੇ ਲੋੜਹਿ ਚੰਗਾ ਆਪਣਾ ਕਰਿ ਪੁੰਨਹੁ ਨੀਚੁ ਸਦਾਈਐ॥ ----

Meaning: Even though you are formless, You are omnipresent, oh Waheguru!  Those who worship Your Naam do not suffer the hardships of Hell. -------- If you wish good for yourself, do noble deeds and be humble, oh man!  ---------

 ਆਸਾ ਦੀ ਵਾਰ ਪਉੜੀ 14 (470)॥ ਕਪੜੁ ਰੂਪੁ ਸੁਹਾਵਣਾ ਛਡਿ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਜਾਵਣਾ॥ ਮੰਦਾ ਚੰਗਾ ਆਪਣਾ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਕੀਤਾ ਪਾਵਣਾ॥ ------ ਨੰਗਾ ਦੋਜਕਿ ਚਾਲਿਆ ਤਾ ਦਿਸੈ ਖਰਾ ਡਰਾਵਣਾ॥

Meaning: You will reap the results of your good or bad deeds, oh man!  Your beauty and expensive clothes (and other belongings) will be left behind.  ---------- When your deeds will be fully exposed in Waheguru’s Court and you will be sent to Hell, you will look very scary (helpless), oh man!

 ਸਲੋਕ ਮ:3 (854)॥ ਜਿਨ੍ਹੀ ਨਾਮੁ ਵਿਸਾਰਿਆ ਕੂੜੇ ਕਹਣੁ ਕਹੰਨ੍ਹਿ॥ ----- ਦੁਸਟਾ ਸੇਤੀ ਪਿਰਹੜੀ ਜਨ ਸਿਉ ਵਾਦੁ ਕਰੰਨ੍ਹਿ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਾਕਤ ਨਰਕ ਮਹਿ ਬਧੇ ਦੁਖ ਸਹੰਨ੍ਹਿ॥

Meaning: Those who forget Waheguru’s Naam, talk only about the perishable things. ---------- They are friends with the evil and oppose Waheguru’s devotees.  Such worshippers of Maya are sent to Hell where they suffer the consequences.

 ਆਸਾ ਛੰਤ ਮ:5 (460)॥ ----- ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਦਾਸ ਜੀਵੇ ਲਗਿ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੀ ਚਰਣੀ॥ ਕੰਠਿ ਲਗਾਇ ਲੀਏ ਤਿਸੁ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਸਰਣੀ॥ ----- ਰਾਖਿ ਲੀਏ ਰਖਣਹਾਰੈ ਸਦਾ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਕਰਣੀ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਰਕਿ ਨ ਜਾਹਿ ਕਬਹੂੰ ਹਰਿ ਸੰਤ ਹਰਿ ਕੀ ਸਰਣੀ॥

Meaning: Waheguru’s devotees survive (find mental peace) only when they take Waheguru’s shelter.  When they take Waheguru’s refuge, Waheguru hugs them affectionately (showers them with His blessings). Under Waheguru’s care, they always perform noble deeds.  Waheguru’s devotees never go to Hell, oh Nanak!

 ਆਸਾ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ (484)॥ ----- ਪੂਜਹੁ ਰਾਮੁ ਏਕੁ ਹੀ ਦੇਵਾ॥ ਸਾਚਾ ਨਾਵਣੁ ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਸੇਵਾ॥ ----- ਮਨਹੁ ਕਠੋਰੁ ਮਰੈ ਬਾਨਾਰਸਿ ਨਰਕੁ ਨ ਬਾਚਿਆ ਜਾਈ॥ ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਸੰਤੁ ਮਰੈ ਹਾੜੰਬੇ ਤ ਸਗਲੀ ਸੈਨ ਤਰਾਈ॥

Meaning: Waheguru is the only god worth worshipping, oh man! (Taking dip at places considered holy is useless), serving the Guru is the real holy dip. -------- Even if a merciless man dies in Benaras (Varanasi) he cannot escape Hell. On the other hand, if a devotee of Waheguru dies even in Hurrambha, not only he finds salvation for himself, all his comrades also find salvation.

NOTE: It is a strongly held belief among the Hindus that if a person dies in Benaras (a holy place) he goes to Heaven (and not in Hell) while a person dying in Hurrambha (a cursed town near Gorakhpur in U.P) goes to Hell.

PARADISE OR HEAVEN (Swerg, Baikunth,  Bahishat or Bhist)

 ਆਸਾ ਮ:1 (8)॥ ------ ਗਾਵਨਿ ਤੁਧ ਨੋ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਪੜਨਿ ਰਖੀਸੁਰ ਜੁਗੁ ਜੁਗੁ ਵੇਦਾ ਨਾਲੇ॥ ਗਾਵਨਿ ਤੁਧ ਨੋ ਮੋਹਣੀਆ ਮਨੁ ਮੋਹਨਿ ਸੁਰਗੁ ਮਛੁ ਪਇਆਲੇ॥ -----

Meaning: --------- The learned Pundits, the sages of all yugas and the Vedas, all sing Your praise, oh Waheguru!  The beautiful and highly charming fairies of Paradise, of this world, and of the underworld, all sing Your praise. ------------

 ਸਲੋਕ ਮ:1 (140)॥ ਹਕੁ ਪਰਾਇਆ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਉਸੁ ਸੂਅਰੁ ਉਸ ਗਾਇ॥ ਗੁਰੁ ਪੀਰੁ ਹਾਮਾ ਤਾ ਭਰੇ ਜਾ ਮੁਰਦਾਰ ਨ ਖਾਇ॥ ਗਲੀ ਭਿਸਤਿ ਨ ਜਾਈਐ ਛੁਟੈ ਸਚੁ ਕਮਾਇ॥ -----

Meaning: Robbing other people is like eating the meat of a pig for the Muslims and that of a cow for the Hindus.  The Guru (or the prophet) can vouch for you only if you do not usurp somebody else’s wealth.  You do not become eligible for Paradise simply by talking sweet; you find salvation only if you lead a truthful life and worship God, oh man!

 ਆਸਾ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ (484)॥ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਮੈਲੁ ਜੇ ਤੀਰਥ ਨਾਵੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਨ ਜਾਨਾ॥ ਲੋਕ ਪਤੀਣੇ ਕਛੂ ਨ ਹੋਵੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਰਾਮੁ ਅਯਾਨਾ॥ ------

Meaning: If one has a filthy mind, he cannot be eligible for paradise even if he takes (countless) dips at holy places. God is not naïve and cannot be impressed even if one is able to impress all the people.

 ਗਉੜੀ ਪੂਰਬੀ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ (337)॥ ਸੁਰਗੁ ਬਾਸ ਨ ਬਾਛੀਐ ਡਰੀਐ ਨ ਨਰਕਿ ਨਿਵਾਸੁ॥ ਹੋਨਾ ਹੈ ਸੋ ਹੋਈ ਹੈ ਮਨਹਿ ਨ ਕੀਜੈ ਆਸ॥1॥ ------ 63॥

Meaning: Whatever God has in store for you will definitely take place, oh my friend!  So, the best thing for the man to do is not to wish for anything.  Do not be afraid of going to Hell and do not wish for Paradise.  ---------

 ਭੈਰਉ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ (1161)॥ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਈ ਚਲਨ ਕਹਤ ਹੈ ਊਹਾ॥ ਨਾ ਜਾਨਉ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਹੈ ਕਹਾ॥ ਰਹਾਉ॥ ਆਪ ਆਪ ਕਾ ਮਰਮੁ ਨ ਜਾਨਾ॥ ਬਾਤਨ ਹੀ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਬਖਾਨਾ॥ -----

Meaning: Everybody talks about going to paradise, but, I have no idea where Paradise is. Pause. They know nothing about themselves, but talk a lot about Paradise to define it. ----------

OBJECTIVE OF HUMAN LIFE

As you see, there is definitely a mention of Hell and Paradise in all these holy Shabads, but the objective of human life is not to seek paradise or life of comfort after death. According to Guru Granth Sahib, the objective of human life is to unite the soul with Waheguru or God. Unity with Waheguru ends the birth-death-birth cycle. So, in other words, the objective of the human life is to end the birth-death cycle. The following holy Shabads make this assertion perfectly clear.

 ਸਲੋਕ ਮ:1 (8)॥ ਪਵਣੁ ਗੁਰੂ ਪਾਣੀ ਪਿਤਾ ਮਾਤਾ ਧਰਤਿ ਮਹਤੁ॥ਦਿਵਸੁ ਰਾਤਿ ਦੁਇ ਦਾਈ ਦਾਇਆ ਖੇਲੈ ਸਗਲ ਜਗਤੁ॥ਚੰਗਿਆਈਆ ਬੁਰਿਆਈਆ ਵਾਚੈ ਧਰਮੁ ਹਦੂਰਿ॥ ਕਰਮੀ ਆਪੋ ਆਪਣੀ ਕੇ ਨੇੜੈ ਕੇ ਦੂਰਿ॥ ਜਿਨੀ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਇਆ ਗਏ ਮਸਕਤਿ ਘਾਲਿ॥ਨਾਨਕ ਤੇ ਮੁਖ ਉਜਲੇ ਕੇਤੀ ਛੁਟੀ ਨਾਲਿ॥

Meaning:  (Waheguru has provided all the necessities for man to live).  The earth is like the mother who provides food, clothing and shelter. Water like father nurtures him and sustains his life. Just like the Guru who purifies the mind of the man, the air purifies the blood and keeps the man alive. But forgetting such benevolent Waheguru, the world is simply enjoying life. However, Dharamraj (the justice for the deeds of the man) is watching every human being in the Waheguru’s Court.  Because of their good or bad deeds, some humans are close to Waheguru (get His approval) while some others are far away from Him (do not get His approval). Those who worship Waheguru with dedication succeed in life (achieve the objective of life to be one with Waheguru).  Their faces glow in Waheguru’s Court (they are honoured in Waheguru’s Court) and many more in their holy company also get His approval.

 ਆਸਾ ਮ:5 (12)॥ ਭਈ ਪਰਾਪਤਿ ਮਾਨੁਖ ਦੇਹੁਰੀਆ॥ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਮਿਲਣ ਕੀ ਇਹ ਤੇਰੀ ਬਰੀਆ॥ਅਵਰਿ ਕਾਜ ਤੇਰੈ ਕਿਤੈ ਨ ਕਾਮ॥ ਮਿਲੁ ਸਾਧ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਭਜੁ ਕੇਵਲ ਨਾਮ॥----

Meaning: Now that you have been given the life of a human, it is your opportunity to be one with Waheguru (God) oh man!  So, you must worship Waheguru (recite His Naam) in the company of holy men to achieve the objective of life. No other ritual is helpful in this regard.

 ਗਉੜੀ ਮ:5 (188)॥ ਦੁਲਭ ਦੇਹ ਪਾਈ ਵਡਭਾਗੀ॥ ਨਾਮੁ ਨ ਜਪਹਿ ਤੇ ਆਤਮਘਾਤੀ॥ ਮਰਿ ਨ ਜਾਹੀ ਜਿਨਾ ਬਿਸਰਤ ਰਾਮ॥ ਨਾਮ ਬਿਹੂਨ ਜੀਵਨ ਕਉਨ ਕਾਮ॥ ਰਹਾਉ॥

Meaning: You are very lucky to have acquired the invaluable human form, oh man!  Now, you will be the assassin of your soul if you do not worship Waheguru.  Without worshipping Waheguru, life is worthless. The people who forget Waheguru are actually spiritually dead.  Pause.

 ਸੋਰਠਿ ਮ:9 (631)॥ ਮਨ ਕੀ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਮਾਹਿ ਰਹੀ॥ ------ ਅਵਰ ਸਗਲ ਮਿਥਿਆ ਏ ਜਾਨਹੁ ਭਜਨੁ ਰਾਮ ਕੋ ਸਹੀ॥ਫਿਰਤ ਫਿਰਤ ਬਹੁਤੇ ਜੁਗ ਹਾਰਿਓ ਮਾਨਸ ਦੇਹ ਲਈ॥ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਕਹਤ ਮਿਲਨ ਕੀ ਬਰੀਆ ਸਿਮਰਤ ਕਹਾ ਨਹੀ॥2॥2॥

Meaning: (Will start with the last two sentences).  You have been given the human form after you were tired of countless life and death cycles, oh man!  Now, it is an opportunity for you to be one with Waheguru. So, why don’t you recite His Naam?   Worshipping Waheguru is the only way to please Him. No other deed is worthwhile.  If you do not worship Waheguru, you will leave this world with your wish unfulfilled.

 ਸੋਰਠਿ ਰਵਿਦਾਸ ਜੀ (658)॥ ਦੁਲਭ ਜਨਮੁ ਫਲ ਪਾਇਓ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਜਾਤ ਅਬਿਬੇਕੈ॥ ਰਾਜੇ ਇੰਦ੍ਰ ਸਮਸਰਿ ਗ੍ਰਿਹ ਆਸਨ ਬਿਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਭਗਤਿ ਕਹਹੁ ਕਿਹ ਲੇਖੈ॥ਨ ਬੀਚਾਰਿਓ ਰਾਜਾ ਰਾਮ ਕੋ ਰਸੁ॥ ਜਿਹ ਰਸ ਅਨ ਰਸ ਬੀਸਰਿ ਜਾਹੀ॥ ਰਹਾਉ॥

Meaning: You are given the invaluable human form, but it is going waste because of your lack of spiritual awareness, oh man!  Without worshipping God, even big mansions like those of god Indra are worthless.  You are not putting in any effort to enjoy the taste of God’s Naam. Once you taste that, you will forget all other tastes in life.

So, as you can see from the above holy Shabads, going to Heaven is NOT the objective of human life according to Sikhism.  The real objective is to be one with Waheguru. There are many holy Shabads which testify to this fact, but I will quote only one or two to clarify the point.

 ਕਲਿਆਨ ਮ:4 ਅਸ਼ਟਪਦੀ (1324)॥ ------- ਸੁਰਗ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਸਭਿ ਬਾਛਹਿ ਨਿਤਿ ਆਸਾ ਆਸ ਕਰੀਜੈ॥ ਹਰਿ ਦਰਸਨ ਕੇ ਜਨ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਮਾਗਹਿ ਮਿਲਿ ਦਰਸਨ ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤਿ ਮਨੁ ਧੀਜੈ॥------

Meaning: ---------- Everybody wishes to find salvation and go to Heaven and always hope for those two.  However, the devotees of Waheguru do not care for any of those; they only wish for a sight of Waheguru (to be one with Him) and are fully satisfied with His sight alone. ---------

 ਦੇਵਗੰਧਾਰੀ ਮ:5 (534)॥ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਾ ਪ੍ਰਿਅ ਬਚਨ ਤੁਹਾਰੇ॥ ਅਤਿ ਸੁੰਦਰ ਮਨਮੋਹਨ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਸਭ ਹੂੰ ਮਧ ਨਿਰਾਰੇ॥ ਰਹਾਉ॥ ਰਾਜੁ ਨ ਚਾਹਉ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਚਾਹਉ ਮਨਿ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਚਰਨ ਕਮਲਾਰੇ॥ -------

Meaning: Your words (Your commandments for me) are the real Amrit (liquid of immortality) for me oh my Lord, Waheguru!  You are extremely handsome and charming among all the living beings in the universe; yet you are totally unaffected by Maya. Pause.   I do not wish for any kingdom to rule, nor do I care to free myself from the bonds of Maya (which happens automatically once you are connected to Waheguru) oh my dear Waheguru!  The only thing that I wish is the love for your beautiful feet which are softer than even a lotus flower.

PARADISE DEFINED

As long as a man does not lead a noble life according to the Teaching of the Perfect Guru, and does not recite Waheguru’s Naam with dedication so as to unite his soul with Waheguru, he will be engrossed in Maya (worldly attraction) which results in his rebirth again and again, and he is caught in a birth-death cycle until he purifies his soul to the extent that it becomes one with Waheguru.  So, for a common man his present life is either Heavenly or Hellish depending upon his mental state and his deeds in his previous lives (this means that heaven and hell exist right here on the earth).  A man whose life is comfortable monetarily and health wise, and is relatively worry free is in heaven.  On the other hand a man whose basic needs are not met, and suffers a poor health, and his life is under stress due to many worries most of the time, can be considered to be residing in hell.

But according to Guru Granth Sahib, a man is in heaven when he is connected to Waheguru in a company where Waheguru’s praise is sung, and he is in hell when he is disconnected with Waheguru.

Listen to the following holy Shabad.

 ਸਲੋਕ ਮ:5 (318)॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਸੋਈ ਦਿਨਸੁ ਸੁਹਾਵੜਾ ਜਿਤੁ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਆਵੈ ਚਿਤਿ॥ਜਿਤੁ ਦਿਨਿ ਵਿਸਰੈ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਫਿਟੁ ਭਲੇਰੀ ਰੁਤਿ॥

Meaning: Only that day (time) is pleasant on which I remember Waheguru, oh Nanak!  That season (time) is curse able when I forget Waheguru.

Likewise, Heaven is defined as the place where Waheguru’s praise is sung, and Hell is the place where Waheguru is forgotten.  Listen to the following holy Shabads.

 ਸੂਹੀ ਮ:5 (742)॥ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਨਗਰੁ ਜਹਾ ਸੰਤ ਵਾਸਾ॥ ਪ੍ਰਭਚਰਣ ਕਮਲ ਰਿਦ ਮਾਹਿ ਨਿਵਾਸਾ॥1॥ ------ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਨਾਮੁ ਭੁੰਚੁ ਮਨ ਮਾਹੀ॥ ਅਚਰਜ ਸਾਦ ਤਾ ਕੇ ਬਰਨੇ ਨ ਜਾਹੀ॥2॥27॥

Meaning: Heaven is the place where the holy devotees of Waheguru reside.  Waheguru’s lotus-like feet reside in their hearts. ---------- You too enjoy the Amrit-like Naam of Waheguru, oh my mind!  The taste of the Naam-Amrit is indescribable.

 ਸੂਹੀ ਮ:5 (749)॥ ------ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਪਰਮੇਸਰ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਆਪੇ ਕਰਣੈਹਾਰਾ॥ ਚਰਣ ਧੂੜਿ ਤੇਰੀ ਸੇਵਕੁ ਮਾਗੈ ਤੇਰੇ ਦਰਸਨ ਕਉ ਬਲਿਹਾਰਾ॥1॥ ------ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਭੁਗਤਿ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਤੇਰੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਜਿਸੁ ਤੂ ਆਪਿ ਕਰਾਇਹਿ॥ ਤਹਾ ਬੈਕੁੰਠੁ ਜਹ ਕੀਰਤਨੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਤੂ ਆਪੇ ਸਰਧਾ ਲਾਇਹਿ॥2॥55॥

Meaning: The limitless Waheguru is Himself the Guru and is Himself the cause of all action.  I - Your slave - simply wish the dust of Your feet and wish to offer my life just to have a glance of Your sight. ---------- One achieves salvation, food of Your benevolence, and the technique to connect with You simply by serving You (obeying Your Commandments).  But only those serve You to whom You are kind.  The real Heaven is where Your praise is sung. But again, only individuals with Your blessings sing Your praise.

NOTE: Wishing dust of the feet is an expression for extreme love and respect.

 ਰਾਮਕਲੀ ਮ:5 (890)॥ ------ ਅਠਸਠਿ ਤੀਰਥ ਜਹ ਸਾਧ ਪਗ ਧਰਹਿ॥ ਤਹ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਜਹ ਨਾਮੁ ਉਚਰਹਿ॥ ਸਰਬ ਅਨੰਦ ਜਬ ਦਰਸਨੁ ਪਾਈਐ॥ ਰਾਮ ਗੁਣਾ ਨਿਤ ਨਿਤ ਹਰਿ ਗਾਈਐ॥3॥25॥

Meaning: Only that place is the real Heaven where Waheguru’s Naam is recited. The place where the holy devotees of Waheguru set their feet becomes a holy place which is holier than all the sixty-eight holy places of the Hindus combined.  One should sing Waheguru’s praise all the time. The mind feels blissful on the sight of Waheguru (on connecting with Him through singing His praise).

 ਗਉੜੀ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ (325)॥ ----- ਨਾ ਜਾਨਾ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਕਹਾ ਹੀ॥ ਜਾਨੁ ਜਾਨੁ ਸਭਿ ਕਹਹਿ ਤਹਾ ਹੀ॥ਰਹਾਉ॥ ---- ਜਬ ਲਗੁ ਮਨਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਕੀ ਆਸ॥ ਤਬ ਲਗੁ ਹੋਇ ਨਹੀ ਚਰਨ ਨਿਵਾਸੁ॥ ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਇਹ ਕਹੀਐ ਕਾਹਿ॥ ਸਾਧ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠੈ ਆਹਿ॥4॥10॥

Meaning: Everybody talks about going to Heaven, but I do not know where that Heaven is. Pause. ---------- As long as people wish for Heaven, they cannot connect with Waheguru.  Kabir Ji says how I can explain to these (ignorant) people that Heaven is in the company of the holy devotees.

 ਭੈਰਉ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀਉ (1161)॥ ਸਭ ਕੋਈ ਚਲਨ ਕਹਤ ਹੈ ਊਹਾ॥ ਨਾ ਜਾਨਉ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਹੈ ਕਹਾ॥ਰਹਾਉ॥ ਆਪ ਆਪ ਕਾ ਮਰਮੁ ਨਾ ਜਾਨਾ॥ ਬਾਤਨ ਹੀ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਬਖਾਨਾ॥ ---- ਕਹਿ ਕਮੀਰ ਅਬ ਕਹੀਐ ਕਾਹਿ॥ ਸਾਧ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠੇ ਆਹਿ॥

Meaning: All the people talk about going to Heaven, but I am not aware where the Heaven is. Pause.  They do not know their own secret (anything about themselves), yet they talk big about heaven.  Kabir (Sahib) says how I can tell these people that being in the company of the holy devotees is the real Heaven.

HELL DEFINED

If a man is to receive punishment in Waheguru’s Court for his evil deeds, he must have a physical body otherwise how can he be punished?  So, a man to be punished must receive a life form and must be born.  Thus a man who is condemned to go to Hell must have a new birth.  Therefore, going through birth-death cycle is synonymous with Hell. In other words, going to hell in Sikhism means to be born again and again. Listen to the following holy Shabads.

 ਬਸੰਤੁ ਮ:5 ਅਸ਼ਟਪਦੀ (1192)॥ ਅਨਿਕ ਜਨਮ ਭ੍ਰਮੇ ਜੋਨਿ ਮਾਹਿ॥ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਮਰਨ ਬਿਨੁ ਨਰਕਿ ਪਾਹਿ॥ ਭਗਤਿ ਬਿਹੂਨਾ ਖੰਡ ਖੰਡ॥ ਬਿਨੁ ਬੂਝੇ ਜਮੁ ਦੇਤੁ ਡੰਡ॥1॥2॥

Meaning: You have been through countless life forms oh man!  Without worshipping Waheguru, you will continue to go to Hell.  Without worshipping Waheguru, your mind is scattered into million (thoughts), and wanders in every direction. Without understanding this (and without connecting to Waheguru) you will continue to be punished by Waheguru’s Justice.

 ਮਾਰੂ ਮ:1 ਸੋਲਹੇ (1027)॥ ------ ਨਾਮੁ ਵਿਸਾਰਿ ਦੋਖ ਦੁਖ ਸਹੀਐ॥ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਭਇਆ ਚਲਣਾ ਕਿਉ ਰਹੀਐ॥ ਨਰਕ ਕੂਪ ਮਹਿ ਗੋਤੇ ਖਾਵੈ ਜਿਉ ਜਲ ਤੇ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਮੀਨਾ ਹੇ॥ ਚਉਰਾਸੀਹ ਨਰਕ ਸਾਕਤੁ ਭੋਗਾਈਐ॥ ਜੈਸਾ ਕੀਚੈ ਤੈਸੋ ਪਾਈਐ॥ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਬਾਝਹੁ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਨ ਹੋਈ ਕਿਰਤਿ ਬਾਧਾ ਗ੍ਰਸਿ ਦੀਨਾ ਹੇ॥8॥ -----

Meaning: A man who forgets Waheguru’s Naam is guilty and suffers the painful consequences.  When Waheguru calls one back (when the time of death comes) one has no choice but to obey.  (Because of one’s bad deeds) he drowns in the well of Hell and suffers just like a fish out of water.  The individual engrossed in Maya suffers through eighty-four (lakhs or 8,400,000) hells because he has to reap the results of whatever he had sown.  One cannot find salvation without the Perfect Guru, and the man who simply spent his life in worldly affairs is punished.

NOTE: According to the Hindu holy books, there are 8400000 life forms, and a man sentenced to Hell has to go through all of them.

 ਸਲੋਕ ਮ:3 (948)॥ ਧੰਧਾ ਧਾਵਤ ਦਿਨੁ ਗਇਆ ਰੈਣਿ ਗਵਾਈ ਸੋਇ॥ ਕੂੜੁ ਬੋਲਿ ਬਿਖੁ ਖਾਇਆ ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਚਲਿਆ ਰੋਇ॥ ਸਿਰੈ ਉਪਰਿ ਜਮ ਡੰਡੁ ਹੈ ਦੂਜੈ ਭਾਇ ਪਤਿ ਖੋਇ॥ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮ ਕਦੇ ਨ ਚੇਤਿਉ ਫਿਰਿ ਆਵਣ ਜਾਣਾ ਹੋਇ॥

Meaning: man spends his day busy in worldly affairs and spends his night sleeping (thus has no time to recite Waheguru’s Naam).  He talks about Maya-related topics and tells lies.  When such a mind-guided man dies, he leaves the world crying.  The sword of the Justice of the Deeds hangs above his head to punish him and he earns disrespect for being engrossed in Maya.  He is caught in the birth-death cycle because he had never sung Waheguru’s praise.

 ਮਾਰੂ ਮ:5 (1019-20)॥ ------ ਪਾਪ ਕਰੇਦੜ ਸਰਪਰ ਮੁਠੇ॥ ਅਜਰਾਈਲਿ ਫੜੇ ਫੜ ਕੁਠੇ॥ ਦੋਜਕਿ ਪਾਏ ਸਿਰਜਣਹਾਰੇ ਲੇਖਾ ਮੰਗੈ ਬਾਣੀਆ॥ ------  ਜਮਿ ਜਮਿ ਮਰੈ ਮਰੈ ਫਿਰਿ ਜੰਮੈ॥ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਸਜਾਇ ਪਇਆ ਦੇਸਿ ਲੰਮੈ॥ ਜਿਨਿ ਕੀਤਾ ਤਿਸੈ ਨ ਜਾਣੀ ਅੰਧਾ ਤਾ ਦੁਖੁ ਸਹੈ ਪਰਾਣੀਆ॥

Meaning: A sinner is definitely robbed of good qualities, and Gabriel (the angel of death) tortures him.  On judgment, such an individual is found guilty, and the Creator sends him to Hell.  As a result, he is born again and again and enters a long journey of birth-death cycles.  The wisdom-blind man does not remember his Creator and suffers as a consequence.

 ਪਉੜੀ ਮ:5 (963)॥ ਸਭੇ ਦੁਖ ਸੰਤਾਪ ਜਾ ਤੁਧਹੁ ਭੁਲੀਐ॥ ----- ਜਿਸ ਨੋ ਵਿਸਰੈ ਨਾਉ ਸੁ ਨਿਰਧਨੁ ਕਾਢੀਐ॥ ਜਿਸ ਨੋ ਵਿਸਰੈ ਨਾਉ ਸੁ ਜੋਨੀ ਹਾਢੀਐ॥ ਜਿਸੁ ਖਸਮੁ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਚਿਤਿ ਤਿਸੁ ਜਮੁ ਡੰਡੁ ਦੇ॥ -----

Meaning: We experience all sorts of suffering when we forget you, oh Waheguru!  ----------- A real penny-less man is the one who forgets Your Naam, oh Waheguru!  An individual who ignores Waheguru’s Naam is condemned to go through different life forms.  An individual who does not remember Waheguru is punished by the Angel of Death.

In nut shell, according to Sikhism, Heaven and Hell are NOT dedicated places unlike the beliefs of the most popular religions. For Sikhs, heaven and hell are right here on this earth, but Heaven is the place where Waheguru’s praise is sung and Hell is the place where Waheguru is not remembered.