Harhat ka Kuaa - Garib Das Ji

Harhat ka Kuaa: The Endless Cycle of Illusion and Bondage

This composition by Sant Garib Das Ji Maharaj reveals the horrifying truth of Kaal’s (Niranjan’s) creation, where even divine figures are bound in the cycle of rebirth, like buckets on a Persian wheel (हरहट). It explains that the physical universe is Khokhapur (impecunious), filled with illusion. Souls are endlessly rotating through 84 lakh life forms, tricked by false heavens and gods. Escape is only possible through true knowledge of the Supreme God (Kabir Sahib), who is beyond this wheel.

Speech from Amar Granth Sahib - Page 690

Explanation

माया आदि निरंजन भाई, अपने जाऐ आपै खाई। Maya and Niranjan (Kaal) consume their own offspring.

Kaal and his power Maya (Durga/Prakriti) are engaged in a destructive cycle, consuming the very beings they create.

ब्रह्मा विष्णु महेश्वर चेला, ऊँ सोहं का है खेला।। Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh are mere disciples in this game of "Om Soham."

These three deities are not supreme but are part of Kaal’s trap, functioning under the mantra of Om and Soham, which are associated with incomplete salvation.

सिखर सुन्न में धर्म अन्यायी, जिन शक्ति डायन महल पठाई।। In the upper void (Shikhar Sunn), the unrighteous Dharmrai (another name for Kaal) resides, who has set up the witch-like Shakti (Maya).

In the subtle region below Satlok, Maya was established by Kaal to deceive souls.

लाख ग्रासै नित उठ दूती, माया आदि तख्त की कुती।। Kaal is cursed to consume one lakh souls every day and this Maya is the closest worker of Kaal's throne.

Each day, one lakh souls are devoured by Kaal and his agents (Yamdoots), as part of the karmic machinery.

सवा लाख घड़िये नित भांडे, हंसा उत्पत्ति परलय डांडे। One and a quarter lakh bodies (utensils) are born everyday and continuously revolve, in the cycle of birth and destruction.

This refers to the curse that Kaal is under whereby he consumes 1 lakh souls every day and produces 1.25 lakh. The souls are trapped endlessly in the cycle of birth and death and are being punished in that way.

ये तीनों चेला बटपारी, सिरजे पुरुषा सिरजी नारी।। These three disciples (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva) are deceivers, creating men and women.

They help perpetuate illusion and reproduction under Kaal's system.

खोखापुर में जीव भुलाये, स्वपना बहिस्त वैकुंठ बनाये। In this Hollow World (Khokhapur), souls are misled by false heavens like paradise and Vaikunth.

The world of Kaal is called "Khokhapur" (Land of Destitute) and the luxuries of heaven, great heaven are transient, like a dream.

यो हरहट का कुआ लोई, या गल बंध्या है सब कोई।। This world is like a Persian wheel’s well—every soul is bound to its rope.

All souls are tied to this endless cycle of birth and death, trapped in the mechanism like buckets tied to a Persian wheel.

कीड़ी कुंजर और अवतारा, हरहट डोरी बंधे कई बारा। From ants to elephants and even incarnations, all are bound again and again to the Persian wheel’s rope.

All living beings, regardless of size or form (even divine incarnations), are subject to this cycle.

अरब अलील इन्द्र हैं भाई, हरहट डोरी बंधे सब आई।। Crores of kings, Indras, and nobles have come—all bound by the Persian wheel’s rope.

No status exempts one from this karmic loop.

शेष महेश गणेश्वर ताहिं, हरहट डोरी बंधे सब आहिं। Sheshnag, Mahesh (Shiva), Ganesh too are all tied to the same wheel’s rope.

Even major deities are trapped in this cycle.

शुक्रादिक ब्रह्मादिक देवा, हरहट डोरी बंधे सब खेवा।। Shukracharya and Brahma-like deities — all are stuck in the same rotation.

All so-called gods and sages are also bound to this repetitive birth-death cycle.

कोटिक कर्ता फिरता देख्या, हरहट डोरी कहूँ सुन लेखा। Millions of creators (gods) have been seen circling in this wheel — records speak of their bondage.

Scriptural accounts show even many powerful beings are not free from this trap.

चतुर्भुजी भगवान कहावैं, हरहट डोरी बंधे सब आवैं।। Even those known as four-armed gods are bound to the Persian wheel’s rope.

Vishnu and similar deities, often portrayed with four arms, are also entrapped.

यो है खोखापुर का कुआ, या में पड़ा सो निश्चय मुवा। This is the well of Khokhapur (world of Kaal) — whoever falls in, surely dies (remains in cycle of birth-death).

Entering this world results in spiritual destruction unless one escapes its cycle.

Summary of Meaning:

The three gods—Rajgun Brahma, Satgun Vishnu, and Tamgun Shiv—under the control of Jyoti Niranjan (Kaal), glorify themselves and entrap souls in endless cycles of birth and death across heaven, hell, and Earth, including the 84 lakh life forms. Jyoti Niranjan creates beings through his Maya, which acts like a deceptive female snake—coiling around her eggs and striking them with her hood, breaking many and releasing the young. In the same way, Jyoti Niranjan gives rise to souls and then destroys them. Those who escape his trap are liberated; those who remain are consumed, just as the snake devours its own young.

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