The Numeral 4 represents a nunber of phenomena that occur in fours. Many of them are of common use but some of them refer to concepts in various religions. They have all been taken note of in Gurbani. These are briefly discussed below.

1. We however start with the word ਚਾਰ (Chaar), which stands for the number 4 but means differently. In Japu Ji we read:
ਗਾਵੈ ਕੋ ਗੁਣ ਵਡਿਆਈਆ ਚਾਰ ॥
Some praise the beauteous virtues of God (SGGS, p 1).
In Japu Ji the various aspects of God’s virtues have four Pauris (stanzas) each. There are four Pauris each ending with these virtues.
Listening: ਨਾਨਕ ਭਗਤਾ ਸਦਾ ਵਿਗਾਸੁ ॥ ਸੁਣਿਐ ਦੂਖ ਪਾਪ ਕਾ ਨਾਸੁ ॥ (Pauris 8 – 11).
Believing: ਐਸਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਜੇ ਕੋ ਮੰਨਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਮਨਿ ਕੋਇ ॥ (Pauris 12 – 15).
Creation: ਜੋ ਤੁਧੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਸਾਈ ਭਲੀ ਕਾਰ ॥ ਤੂ ਸਦਾ ਸਲਾਮਤਿ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ॥ (Pauris 16 -19).
Yogis’ beliefs: ਆਦੇਸੁ ਤਿਸੈ ਆਦੇਸੁ ॥ ਆਦਿ ਅਨੀਲੁ ਅਨਾਦਿ ਅਨਾਹਤਿ ਜੁਗੁ ਜੁਗੁ ਏਕੋ ਵੇਸੁ ॥ (Pauris 16 -19)
2. Four Cardinal Blessings. (ਚਾਰ ਪਦਾਰਥ – ਧਰਮ, ਅਰਥ, ਕਾਮ, ਮੋਖ). A person is born with the potential of achieving four things in life and must work towards these. These four are:

• Dharam: Dutifulness or carrying out the Divine commands given to the soul, and the laws of the land.
• Arth; Economic well-being; Earning honestly for self and family as well as to share with the society.
• Kaam: Fulfillment of desires without being obsessed with them.
• Mokh: Salvation or release from the cycles of reincarnation.

The fifth Guru says:
ਧਰਮ ਅਰਥ ਅਰੁ ਕਾਮ ਮੋਖ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਪਦਾਰਥ ਨਾਥ ॥ ਸਗਲ ਮਨੋਰਥ ਪੂਰਿਆ ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਮਾਥ ॥੧॥੫੯੨੭
Dharam, Arth, Kaam and Mokh are given by the Master; All these are fulfilled by one who has them in his destiny (SGGS, p 927).
However maninvolved with Maya forgets them:
ਚਾਰਿ ਪਦਾਰਥ ਲੈ ਜਗਿ ਜਨਮਿਆ ਸਿਵ ਸਕਤੀ ਘਰਿ ਵਾਸੁ ਧਰੇ ॥ ਲਾਗੀ ਭੂਖ ਮਾਇਆ ਮਗੁ ਜੋਹੈ ਮੁਕਤਿ ਪਦਾਰਥੁ ਮੋਹਿ ਖਰੇ
॥੩॥੧੧੦੧੩
Man is born with the four blessings but gets engrossed in the Creator’s Maya; he craves for and is possessed by transitory pleasures and the blessing of salvation is lost (SGGS, p 1013).

In order to perform to full potential, one needs the help of the Guru:
ਚਾਰਿ ਪਦਾਰਥ ਜੇ ਕੋ ਮਾਗੈ ॥ ਸਾਧ ਜਨਾ ਕੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਲਾਗੈ ॥੫੨੬੬
One who wants all the four blessings must seek the guidance of the Saint Guru (SGGS, p 266).

3. The four Hindu Castes – ਵਰਣ.
The Hindu scriptures divide the society into four castes namely the Brahmins, Kshatri or Khatri, Vaish and Shudra. The Brahmins study scriptures and perform religious rites; the khatris are rulers and warriors; the Vaish are farmers, traders and some artisans; the Shudras are laborers, some artisans and peasants.These are according to occupations which cannot be changed. This results in continuing suffering by those in the lower professions. Gurbani describes this state thus:
ਪੰਡਿਤੁ ਸਾਸਤ ਸਿਮ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਪੜਿਆ ॥—-ਖਤ੍ਰੀ ਕਰਮ ਕਰੇ ਸੂਰਤਣੁ ਪਾਵੈ ॥ ਸੂਦੁ ਵੈਸੁ ਪਰ ਕਿਰਤਿ ਕਮਾਵੈ ॥ ੪੧੬੩-੬੪
The (Pandit) Brahmin reads the scriptures,—- the Khatri does acts of bravery and the Shudra and Vaish do others’ work (SGGS, p 163-64).sur

The lower castes are not allowed to read the scriptures.Gurmat which advocates equality speaks strongly about the caste system.
ਜਾਤਿ ਜਨਮੁ ਨਹ ਪੂਛੀਐ ਸਚ ਘਰੁ ਲੇਹੁ ਬਤਾਇ ॥ ਸਾ ਜਾਤਿ ਸਾ ਪਤਿ ਹੈ ਜੇਹੇ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਇ ॥੧੧੩੩੦
Do not ask any one about his caste or lineage; identify each body as the abode of the Creator; the caste and lineage are shown bt the deeds (SGGS, p 1330).

Spiritual activity is not the prerogative of any selected people; every one is entitled to it. God does not recognize caste:
ਖਤ੍ਰੀ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣ ਸੂਦ ਵੈਸ ਉਪਦੇਸੁ ਚਹੁ ਵਰਨਾ ਕਉ ਸਾਝਾ ॥ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪੈ ਉਧਰੈ ਸੋ ਕਲਿ ਮਹਿ ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਮਾਝਾ ॥੪॥੩॥੫੦॥੫੭੪੭-੪੮
The Khatri, Brahmin, Shudra and Vaish all receive the same Divine commands; he who follows the Guru’s instructions is saved; the same Lords abides in all (SGGS, p 747-48).
ਜਾਣਹੁ ਜੋਤਿ ਨ ਪੂਛਹੁ ਜਾਤੀ ਆਗੈ ਜਾਤਿ ਨ ਹੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥੧੩੪੯
Identify God’s light in all, do not ask any one’s caste; there is no caste before God. Pause. (SGGS, p 349).

4. The Four ages – ਚਾਰ ਜੁਗ.
According to Hindu belief there are cycles of four ages. The four ages (Yugs) are Sat Yug or the realm of stability with all virtues as if on four legs, Treta Yug representing three with one fourth of virtues lost, Duaapar Yug when only two legs out of four legs are left and Kali Yug when only one fourth of virtues remain. The individal names show these qualities; Sat means truth, Treta is three, Duaapar means two and kali means darkness. The present age is believed to be the Kali Yug.

The four ages are associated with the four Vedas (Saam, Rg, Yajur, Atharv) and also with the incarnations of Vishnu the second member of the Hindu Trinity alongwith Brahma and Mahesh:
ਸਾਮ ਕਹੈ ਸੇਤੰਬਰੁ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਸਚ ਮਹਿ ਆਛੈ ਸਾਚਿ ਰਹੇ ॥ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਸਚਿ ਸਮਾਵੈ ॥
ਰਿਗੁ ਕਹੈ ਰਹਿਆ ਭਰਪੂਰਿ ॥ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਦੇਵਾ ਮਹਿ ਸੂਰੁ ॥
ਜੁਜ ਮਹਿ ਜੋਰਿ ਛਲੀ ਚੰਦ੍ਰਾਵਲਿ ਕਾਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨੁ ਜਾਦਮੁ ਭਇਆ ॥ ਪਾਰਜਾਤੁ ਗੋਪੀ ਲੈ ਆਇਆ ਬਿੰਦ੍ਰਾਬਨ ਮਹਿ ਰੰਗੁ ਕੀਆ ॥
ਕਲਿ ਮਹਿ ਬੇਦੁ ਅਥਰਬਣੁ ਹੂਆ ਨਾਉ ਖੁਦਾਈ ਅਲਹੁ ਭਇਆ॥ ਨੀਲ ਬਸਤ੍ਰ ਲੇ ਕਪੜੇ ਪਹਿਰੇ ਤੁਰਕ ਪਠਾਣੀ ਅਮਲੁ ਕੀਆ ॥ ੧੪੭੦
Saam says the Lord is white i.e. has no taint, pervades all and all are in Him (representing Sat Yug)
Rig says Rama is present every where and most glorified among the gods (Treta Yug)
Yajur says Krishna, the Yadava, took the milkmaid (Gopi) Chandraaval by scheming, brought the Paarjaat tree and made merry in Bridaaban Duaapar Yug);
Atharv is the Veda of Kali Yug and God started getting known as Allah; people started wearing blue clothes and followed the Muslim Pathaan way (SGGS, p 470).
Each of these ages has rituals associated with it:
ਸਤਜੁਗਿ ਸਤੁ ਤੇਤਾ ਜਗੀ ਦੁਆਪਰਿ ਪੂਜਾਚਾਰ ॥ ਤੀਨੌ ਜੁਗ ਤੀਨੌ ਦਿੜੇ ਕਲਿ ਕੇਵਲ ਨਾਮ ਅਧਾਰ ॥੧॥ਰਵਿਦਾਸ੩੪੬
In Satyug they share (live in harmony), in Treta they perform Yagnas (sacrifices). in Duaapar is worship of gods and goddesses, but in the Kali Yug God’s Naam is the only support (SGGS, p 346).

Gurbani does not accept such views, because the universe stays the same:

ਸੋਈ ਚੰਦੁ ਚੜਹਿ ਸੇ ਤਾਰੇ ਸੋਈ ਦਿਨੀਅਰੁ ਤਪਤ ਰਹੈ ॥ ਸਾ ਧਰਤੀ ਸੋ ਪਉਣੁ ਝੁਲਾਰੇ ਜੁਗ ਜੀਅ ਖੇਲੇ ਥਾਵ ਕੈਸੇ ॥੧॥ ੧੯੦੨
The same moon and stars appear and the sun keeps shining; the earth is the same and the same wind keeps blowing, then how do the Yugs play their game on the people? (SGGS, p 902).The concept of the Yugs really describes human nature and behavior:

ਸਤਜੁਗਿ ਰਥੁ ਸੰਤੋਖ ਕਾ ਧਰਮੁ ਅਗੈ ਰਥਵਾਹੁ ॥ ਤ੍ਰੇਤੈ ਰਥੁ ਜਤੈ ਕਾ ਜੋਰੁ ਅਗੈ ਰਥਵਾਹੁ ॥ ਦੁਆਪੁਰਿ ਰਥੁ ਤਪੈ ਕਾ ਸਤੁ ਅਗੈ ਰਥਵਾਹੁ ॥ ਕਲਜੁਗਿ ਰਥੁ ਅਗਨਿ ਕਾ ਕੂੜੁ ਅਗੈ ਰਥਵਾਹੁ ॥੧॥੧੪੭੦
When there is contentment based on righteousness it isSatyug, discipline and power represent Treta Yug, rituals and truth stand for Duaapar, and craving and falsehood represent Kali Yug (SGGS, p 470).

Sikhi therefore does not believe in the Yugs occurring cyclically but rather that man’s nature and conduct affect the environment.

5. The Four basic life Forms – ਚਾਰ ਖਾਣੀ
All life forms can be classified under four heads. They are:

• ਅੰਡਜ – from the egg, like birds and insects.
  

• ਜੇਰਜ – from the womb like human beings and animals.
  

• ਸੇਤਜ – from heat and sweat, like lice and ticks.
  

• ਉਤਭੁਜ – from the earth, like plants and earth worms.

There are further sub divisions, e.g. there are many types of birds, insects, animals, pests, plants and so on. They are all created by God and he is present in all:

ਅੰਡਜ ਜੇਰਜ ਉਤਭੁਜ ਸੇਤਜ ਤੇਰੇ ਕੀਤੇ ਜੰਤਾ ॥ ਏਕੁ ਪੁਰਬੁ ਮੈ ਤੇਰਾ ਦੇਖਿਆ ਤੂ ਸਭਨਾ ਮਾਹਿ ਰਵੰਤਾ ॥੩॥੧੫੯੬
Birth through the egg, womb. heat and the earth is all done by You, O Lord; it is Your greatness, You abide in all (SGGS, p 596).

No life form is to be looked down upon as each has a role to play and they are judged by their performance as for human beings:

ਅੰਡਜ ਜੇਰਜ ਸੇਤਜ ਉਤਭੁਜਾ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੀ ਇਹ ਕਿਰਤਿ ॥ ਕਿਰਤ ਕਮਾਵਨ ਸਰਬ ਫਲ ਰਵੀਐ ਹਰਿ ਨਿਰਤਿ ॥੩॥੫੮੧੬
Birth through the egg, womb, heat and the earth is God’s doing; all of them justlyget the fruit of performing their roles (SGGS, p 816).

6. The Four streams of Fire – ਹੰਸੁ, ਹੇਤ, ਲੋਭੁ, ਕੋਪੁ.
The Hindu scriptures talk of four types of human nature which literally keep the mind restless and arecalled the four streams of fire. Guru Nanak says:

ਹੰਸੁ ਹੇਤੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਕੋਪੁ ਚਾਰੇ ਨਦੀਆ ਅਗਿ ॥ ਪਵਹਿ ਦਝਹਿ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਤਰੀਐ ਕਰਮੀ ਲਗਿ ॥੨॥੧੧੪੭

Violence, attachment, greed and anger are the four sreams of fire; one who is possessed by them burns; Divine grace enables swimming across these (SGGS, p 147).

The way to receive grace is:

ਚਾਰੇ ਅਗਨਿ ਨਿਵਾਰਿ ਮਰੁ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਹਰਿ ਜਲੁ ਪਾਇ ॥ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਕਮਲੁ ਪ੍ਰਗਾਸਿਆ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਭਰਿਆ ਅਘਾਇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਤਗੁਰੁ ਮੀਤੁ ਕਰਿ ਸਚੁ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਦਰਗਹ ਜਾਇ ॥੪॥ ੧੨੨
By following the Guru’s teachings one receives the water of Naam that extinguishes the four fires; filled with the Naam nectar, the mind lotus blossoms. Therefore make friends with the Guru and be the recepient of the Truth in God’s court (SGGS, p 22).

ਅੰਤਰਿ ਅਗਨਿ ਸਬਲ ਅਤਿ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਹਿਵ ਸੀਤਲੁ ਸਬਦੁ ਗੁਰ ਦੀਜੈ ॥ ਤਨਿ ਮਨਿ ਸਾਂਤਿ ਹੋਇ ਅਧਿਕਾਈ ਰੋਗੁ ਕਾਟੈ ਸੂਖਿ ਸਵੀਜੈ ॥੩॥੪੧੩੨੬
The fire of Maya within is strong, put the ice cold water of Guru’s word on it; the mind and body thus get maximum tranquility, all afflictions go and one is at peace (SGGS, p 1326).

Notes: 1.The word Naam literally means God’s name and represents God’s virtues.

2. Gurbani and SGGS stand for Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh scripture.

Rawel Singh