Why do we emphasize 'Baitha Sodhi Paatshah' when Gurbani is against casteism?

We will continue our meditation on the light. Today we will continue to discuss the light of Guru Ramdas. I did not answer one of the questions in our last meditation session. And that was this: Why do we celebrate Guru Ramdas' Prakash Gurpurab with the shabad "Baitha Sodhi Paatshah" when Gurbani is against casteism.  I have had the chance to think about this now and I will share my thoughts.  Feel free to write comments in my blog if you want to share your opinion. 


These words are taken from Bhai Gurdas' the 47th pauri of his first vaar. For folks who are interested in the context and doing more research, find it on SikhiToTheMax. From Pauris 23-48 Vaar 1 of Bhai Gurdas has the history of the first six Gurus.  So we have to see the context of these writings. Bhai Gurdas is highly respected, so much so that, besides the Gurus only Bhai Gurdas' and Bhai Nandlal's bani can be recited in the Harmandir Sahib.  If Bhai Gurdas' writings are held in such high esteem, why is there such an emphasis on "Sodhi Paatshaah" in describing Guru Ramdas, when Gurbani is against casteism? 

Again, please feel free to write comments in my blog if you want to share your opinion. I will read these before our meditation this evening. 

ਪਉੜੀ ੪੭ : ਗੁਰੂ ਰਾਮਦਾਸ ਤੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਅਰਜਨ ਦੇਵ
pauRee 47 : guroo raamadhaas te guroo arajan dhev
Guru Ram Das and Guru Arjan Dev

ਦਿਚੈ ਪੂਰਬਿ ਦੇਵਣਾ ਜਿਸ ਦੀ ਵਸਤੁ ਤਿਸੈ ਘਰਿ ਆਵੈ।
dhichai poorab dhevanaa jis dhee vasat tisai ghar aavai|
Liabilities of the previous births have to be settled and the thing goes to the house it belongs to.

ਬੈਠਾ ਸੋਢੀ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹੁ ਰਾਮਦਾਸੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਕਹਾਵੈ।
baiThaa soddee paatisaahu raamadhaas satiguroo kahaavai|
Now Guru Ram Das, a Sodhi emperor, seated on the Guru-seat is called the true Guru.

ਪੂਰਨੁ ਤਾਲੁ ਖਟਾਇਆ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰਿ ਵਿਚਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਜਗਾਵੈ।
pooran taal khaTaiaa a(n)mritasar vich jot jagaavai|
He got dug the complete holy tank and here settling down at Amritsar, he spread his light.

ਉਲਟਾ ਖੇਲੁ ਖਸੰਮ ਦਾ ਉਲਟੀ ਗੰਗ ਸਮੁੰਦ੍ਰਿ ਸਮਾਵੈ।
aulaTaa khel khasa(n)m dhaa ulaTee ga(n)g samu(n)dhr samaavai|
Wondrous is the play of the Lord. He can cause the Ganges to run in the opposite direction and to merge in the ocean.

ਦਿਤਾ ਲਈਯੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਅਣਿਦਿਤਾ ਕਛੁ ਹਥਿ ਨ ਆਵੈ।
dhitaa lieeye aapanaa anidhitaa kachh hath na aavai|
You get your own; given nothing cannot bring to you anything.

ਫਿਰਿ ਆਈ ਘਰਿ ਅਰਜਣੇ ਪੁਤੁ ਸੰਸਾਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਕਹਾਵੈ।
fir aaiee ghar arajane put sa(n)saaree guroo kahaavai|
Now the Guruship entered the house of Arjan (Dev) who, to say was the son, but, he proved through his good deeds to be worthy of the Guru-seat.

ਜਾਣਿ ਨ ਦੇਸਾਂ ਸੋਢੀਓਂ ਹੋਰਸਿ ਅਜਰੁ ਨ ਜਰਿਆ ਜਾਵੈ।
jaan na dhesaa(n) soddeeo(n) horas ajar na jariaa jaavai|
This Guruship would not go beyond Sodhis because none else can bear with this unbearable.

ਘਰ ਹੀ ਕੀ ਵਥੁ ਘਰੇ ਰਹਾਵੈ ॥੪੭॥
ghar hee kee vath ghare rahaavai ||47||
The thing of the House should remain in the House.

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