{{Five Evils Krodh (

Gurmukhi Gurmukhī ( pa, ਗੁਰਮੁਖੀ, , Shahmukhi: ) is an abugida developed from the Laṇḍā scripts, standardized and used by the second Sikh guru, Guru Angad (1504–1552). It is used by Punjabi Sikhs to write the language, commonly r ...

: ਕਰੋਧ ''Karōdha'') is derived from the

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

word krodha (क्रोध), which means

wrath Anger, also known as wrath or rage, is an intense emotional state involving a strong uncomfortable and non-cooperative response to a perceived provocation, hurt or threat. A person experiencing anger will often experience physical effects, su ...

or rage. This is an

emotion Emotions are mental states brought on by neurophysiological changes, variously associated with thoughts, feelings, behavioral responses, and a degree of pleasure or displeasure. There is currently no scientific consensus on a definition. ...

recognized in the Sikh system as a spring of desire and is as such counted as one of the Five Evils. It expresses itself in several forms from silent sullenness to hysterical tantrums and violence. In

Sikh Scripture The principal Sikh scripture is the Adi Granth (First Scripture), more commonly called the Guru Granth Sahib. The second most important scripture of the Sikhs is the Dasam Granth. Both of these consist of text which was written or authorised by th ...

krodh usually appears in combination with

kam Kaam (Gurmukhi: ਕਾਮ ''Kāma'') in common usage, the term stands for 'excessive passion for sexual pleasure' and it is in this sense that it is considered to be an evil in Sikhism. In Sikhism it is believed that Kaam can be overcome ...

— as "kam krodh". The coalescence is not simply for the sake of alliterative effect. Krodh (ire) is the direct progeny of kam (desire). The latter when thwarted or jilted produces the former. The Scripture also counts krodh (or its synonym kop) among the four rivers of fire. ''"Violence, attachment, covetousness and wrath,"'' says Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji ''"are like four rivers of fire; those who fall in them burn, and can swim across, O Nanak, only through God's grace"'' (GG, 147). Elsewhere

Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Shri (; , ) is a Sanskrit term denoting resplendence, wealth and prosperity, primarily used as an honorific. The word is widely used in South and Southeast Asian languages such as Marathi, Malay (including Indonesian and Malaysian), Javanes ...

says, ''"Kam and krodh dissolve the body as borax melts gold"'' (GG, 932).

Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji Shri (; , ) is a Sanskrit term denoting resplendence, wealth and prosperity, primarily used as an honorific. The word is widely used in South and Southeast Asian languages such as Marathi, Malay (including Indonesian and Malaysian), Javanes ...

, Nanak V, censures krodh in these words: ''"O krodh, thou enslavest sinful men and then caperest around them like an ape."'' In thy company men become base and are punished variously by Death's messengers. ''The Merciful

God In monotheism, monotheistic thought, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator deity, creator, and principal object of Faith#Religious views, faith.Richard Swinburne, Swinburne, R.G. "God" in Ted Honderich, Honderich, Ted. (ed)''The Ox ...

, the Eradicator of the sufferings of the humble, O

Nanak Gurū Nānak (15 April 1469 – 22 September 1539; Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ; pronunciation: , ), also referred to as ('father Nānak'), was the founder of Sikhism and is the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. His birth is celebrated wor ...

, alone saveth all"'' (GG, 1358).

Shri Guru Ram Das Ji Shri (; , ) is a Sanskrit term denoting resplendence, wealth and prosperity, primarily used as an honorific. The word is widely used in South and Southeast Asian languages such as Marathi, Malay (including Indonesian and Malaysian), Javanes ...

, Nanak IV, warns: ''"Do not go near those who are possessed by wrath uncontrollable"'' (GG, 40). ''Krodh is to be vanquished and eradicated''. This is done through ''humility and firm faith'' in the Divine.

's prescription: ''"Do not be angry with any one; search your own self and live in the world with humility. Thus, O Nanak, you may go across (the ocean of existence) under God's grace"'' (GG, 259). Shaikh Farid, a thirteenth-century

Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...

saint whose compositions are preserved in the

, says in one of his couplets: ''"O Farid, do good to him who hath done thee evil and do not nurse anger in thy heart; no disease will then afflict thy body and all felicities shall be thine"'' (GG, 1381-82). Righteous indignation against evil, injustice and tyranny is, however, not to be equated with krodh as an undesirable passion. Several hymns in the

Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Shri (; , ) is a Sanskrit term denoting resplendence, wealth and prosperity, primarily used as an honorific. The word is widely used in South and Southeast Asian languages such as Marathi, Malay (including Indonesian and Malaysian), Javanese, ...

, particularly those by

and Bhagat Kabir Ji, express in strong terms their disapproval of the corruption of their day.

References

# Sabadarth Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Amritsar, 1964 # Jodh Singh, Bhai, Gurmat Nirnaya. Ludhiana, 1932 # Sher Singh, The Philosophy of Sikhism. Lahore, 1944 # Avtar Singh, Ethics of the Sikhs. Patiala, 1970 # Nirbhai Singh, Philosophy of Sikhism. Delhi, 1990 Above adapted from article By L. M. Joshi
Concepts In Sikhism - Edited by Dr. Surinder Singh Sodhi

Lecture on Krodh #1 by Veer Bhupinder Singh

Lecture on Krodh #2 by Veer Bhupinder Singh
Sikh terminology