Numbers are looked at in many ways. The fundamental use of numbers is in mathematics. Numbers are also used in numerology where their effect e.g. of the year of birth is studied. However in the series of articles that follow, counts of various things and beliefs in religions, both Eastern and Semitic are proposed to be discussed. The Sikh scripture Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS), being the universal scripture mentions most of these and will accordingly been quoted. It is however necessary to understand that Gurmat, or Guru’s teachings, do not endorse such concepts. Every day and season is made by the Creator and hence all are equal; what matters is Divine grace. Guru Nanak says:

ਬੇ ਦਸ ਮਾਹ ਰੁਤੀ ਥਿਤੀ ਵਾਰ ਭਲੇ ॥ ਘੜੀ ਮੂਰਤ ਪਲ ਸਾਚੇ ਆਏ ਸਹਜਿ ਮਿਲੇ ॥

The twelve months, the seasons, days of the lunar calendar, days of the week are all good; all times, all omens are good if one is naturally absorbed in the Creator (SGGS, p 11109).

When SGGS quotes these numbers like those in the lunar cycle, Nau Nidhi (nine treasures), the four Yugas (ages) and so on, it is done to give a real meaning to these concepts. We start with the numeral 1.

The first day of the Hindu lunar calendar is called ਏਕਮ meaning ‘first’. Guru Nanak describes it thus:

ਏਕਮ ਏਕੰਕਾਰੁ ਨਿਰਾਲਾ ॥ ਅਮਰੁ ਅਜੋਨੀ ਜਾਤਿ ਨ ਜਾਲਾ ॥

The Creator is the first, the only One and unique; He is immortal and unborn, has no caste, is free of all bondage (SGGS, p 838).

The numeral 1 refers to any entity which alone is of its type. The numeral 1 also shows unity as well as indivisibility. There are many prime numbers like 2, 3, 5, 7, 11 and so on. Such a number can be divided by itself and 1, but 1 can be divided by itself alone and is therefore unique as well as indivisible; there is none like it. Further since all numbers can be divided by 1, it is also universal.

The unity, universality and indivisibility of the Creator has been denoted in the Mool Mantar (Root Mantra) at the beginning of SGGS by ੴ ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ , meaning 1 (One), all pervasive, known as the Universal Truth). The use of numeral 1, rather than the word ‘one’ shows indivisibility.

God is at once unique and universal because He is present in all but still unique. Guru Arjan Dev describes it thus:

ਜਲਿ ਥਲਿ ਮਹੀਅਲਿ ਪੂਰਿਆ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਸਿਰਜਨਹਾਰੁ ॥ ਅਨਿਕ ਭਾਂਤਿ ਹੋਇ ਪਸਰਿਆ ਨਾਨਕ ਏਕੰਕਾਰੁ ॥੧॥ ੫ ੨੯੬

The Creator pervades the earth and water, manifests in myriad ways but remains unique (SGGS, p 296).

ਅਬਿਨਾਸੀ ਨਾਹੀ ਕਿਛੁ ਖੰਡ ॥

God is eternal; He cannot be made into pieces (SGGS, p 282).

The Creator alone is the source of all; one father has all creation as His children:

ਏਕੁ ਪਿਤਾ ਏਕਸ ਕੇ ਹਮ ਬਾਰਿਕ ਤੂ ਮੇਰਾ ਗੁਰ ਹਾਈ ॥

One father, we are all His children (SGGS, p 611).

The Creator made provision for everything that is needed, before the creatures came into being. Effort is however required to obtain it. He is the unique benefactor:

ਪਹਿਲੋ ਦੇ ਤੈਂ ਰਿਜਕੁ ਸਮਾਹਾ ॥ ਪਿਛੋ ਦੇ ਤੈਂ ਜੰਤੁ ਉਪਾਹਾ ॥ ਤੁਧੁ ਜੇਵਡੁ ਦਾਤਾ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਲਵੈ ਨ ਕੋਈ ਲਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੬॥

O Lord, You first created the wherewithal and then the creatures; there is no benefactor like You, no one is even nearly like You (SGGS, p 130).

If a person does one good deed, he keeps mentioning it. It is not so with the Creator:

ਜੇ ਕੋ ਏਕ ਕਰੈ ਚੰਗਿਆਈ ਮਨਿ ਚਿਤਿ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਬਫਾਵੈ ॥ ਏਤੇ ਗੁਣ ਏਤੀਆ ਚੰਗਿਆਈਆ ਦੇਇ ਨ ਪਛੋਤਾਵੈ ॥੩॥

If a person does one good turn to another, he keeps thinking in his mind of his goodness; But the Master with innumerable virtues and goodness does not repent (even if the beneficiaries do not acknowledge), (SGGS, p 1328).

ਬਹੁਤਾ ਕਰਮੁ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਨਾ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਵਡਾ ਦਾਤਾ ਤਿਲੁ ਨ ਤਮਾਇ ॥

The Creator’s grace is in plenty, we cannot describe it; He is the great benefactor and expects nothing in return (SGGS, p 5).

This is in contrast to the Bible where where God finding man not obeying, repented for having created him, thus:

And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart (Genesis 6:6).

We all require someone to fall back upon in case of need. It may be for protection, financial support, company or solace. If we go to another person he is likely to come up with his own problems or will make us feel obligated, but the Lord is different, His sanctuary is for ever available:

ਜਿਸੁ ਮਾਨੁਖ ਪਹਿ ਕਰਉ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਸੋ ਅਪਨੈ ਦੁਖਿ ਭਰਿਆ ॥ ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਜਿਨਿ ਰਿਦੈ ਅਰਾਧਿਆ ਤਿਨਿ ਭਉ ਸਾਗਰੁ ਤਰਿਆ ॥੧॥

When I make a request to some one, he seems laden with his own problems; One who remembers to look only to the Supreme Master, overcomes all suffering (SGGS, p 497).

Hence:

ਹਰਿ ਇਕੋ ਦਾਤਾ ਮੰਗੀਐ ਮਨ ਚਿੰਦਿਆ ਪਾਈਐ ॥ ਜੇ ਦੂਜੇ ਪਾਸਹੁ ਮੰਗੀਐ ਤਾ ਲਾਜ ਮਰਾਈਐ ॥

We should look to the only real benefactor; the wishes will be fulfilled; asking another person results in suffering shame (SGGS, p 590).

ਅਵਰ ਓਟ ਮੈ ਸਗਲੀ ਦੇਖੀ ਇਕ ਤੇਰੀ ਓਟ ਰਹਾਈਐ ॥੩॥

I have seen all other sanctuaries, but Your sanctuary is everlasting (SGGS, p 624-25).

There are many gods and goddesses which are worshiped; but those who believe in them, find them praying to God or seeking help of other gods and goddesses. It is therefore best for lasting comfort to seek the sanctuary of the Ultimate Master, above whom there is none; Him alone should we look upto:

ਸਿਮਰਿ ਸਿਮਰਿ ਸਿਮਰਿ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਚਰਨ ਕਮਲ ਰਖੁ ਮਨ ਮਾਹੀ ॥ ਤਾ ਕੀ ਸਰਨਿ ਪਰਿਓ ਨਾਨਕ ਦਾਸੁ ਜਾ ਤੇ ਊਪਰਿ ਕੋ ਨਾਹੀ ॥

I obtain comfort remembering the Master continuously and thinking of His lotus feet; I have taken sanctuary of the One above Whom there is none (SGGS, p 824).

ਤਜਹੁ ਸਿਆਨਪ ਸੁਰਿ ਜਨਹੁ ਸਿਮਰਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਇ ॥ ਏਕ ਆਸ ਹਰਿ ਮਨਿ ਰਖਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੂਖੁ ਭਰਮੁ ਭਉ ਜਾਇ ॥੧॥

O wise people, the real wisdom is to put personal wisdom away and remember the Master, looking up to Him alone will cause all suffering, delusion and fear to disappear (SGGS, p 281).

We all wish to have friends for company and for help in need. But this also results in making some enemies. There is one friendship which promotes friendship all round:

ਇਕੁ ਸਜਣੁ ਸਭਿ ਸਜਣਾ ਇਕੁ ਵੈਰੀ ਸਭਿ ਵਾਦਿ ॥ ਗੁਰਿ ਪੂਰੈ ਦੇਖਾਲਿਆ ਵਿਣੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਸਭ ਬਾਦਿ ॥

If we make friendship with the One, then all are friends; but if we become antagonistic to the One, we find conflict all round; The perfect Guru shows that association except with Naam is of no use (SGGS, p 957).

This friendship with the One is however possible only if one reforms the self; if that is done the whole world becomes friends. The Creator says:

ਆਪੁ ਸਵਾਰਹਿ ਮੈ ਮਿਲਹਿ ਮੈ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਫਰੀਦਾ ਜੇ ਤੂ ਮੇਰਾ ਹੋਇ ਰਹਹਿ ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਹੋਇ ॥੯੫॥

If you reform yourself, you will meet Me, and meeting Me you will find comfort; If you become Mine, the whole world will be yours (SGGS, p 1382).

The devotee exclaims:

ਅਬਿਨਾਸੀ ਅਬਿਗਤ ਆਪੇ ਆਪਿ ਉਤਪਤਿ ॥ ਏਕੈ ਤੂਹੀ ਏਕੈ ਅਨ ਨਾਹੀ ਤੁਮ ਭਤਿ ॥

The Master is imperishable, is not seen, is self-created; the Only One, there is none like You (SGGS, p 1385).

This then is the significance of the numeral ‘1’, The One self-created Creator, eternal provider, benefactor, protector and friend, but unseen. He is unique.

Rawel Singh