We often see online the usual copy/paste by Right Wing Hindus telling us that the Definition of Vaheguru is Vishnu, Krishna , Ram & Gobind(Nanak) taken from Var of Bhai Gurdas & SGGS. This means we worship Vishnu and his incarnations. Var 1.40: ਸਤਿਜੁਗ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਵਾਸਦੇਵ ਵਵਾ ਵਿਸਨਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਾਵੈ। In Satyug, Visnu in the form of Vasudev is said to have incarnated and ‘V’ Of Vahiguru reminds of Visnu. ਦੁਆਪੁਰਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਹਰੀ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨ ਹਾਹਾ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਾਵੈ। The true Guru of dvapar is said to be Harikrsna and ‘H’ of Vahiguru reminds of Hari. ਤ੍ਰੇਤੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਰਾਮ ਜੀ ਰਾਰਾ ਰਾਮ ਜਪੇ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਵੈ। In the the treta was Ram and ‘R’ of Vahiguru tells that rembering Ram will produce joy and happiness. ਕਲਿਜੁਗਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰ ਗੋਵਿੰਦ ਗਗਾ ਗੋਵਿੰਦ ਨਾਮੁ ਅਲਾਵੈ। In kalijug, Gobind is in the form of Nanak and ‘G’ of Vahiguru gets Govind recited. ਚਾਰੇ ਜਾਗੇ ਚਹੁ ਜੁਗੀ ਪੰਚਾਇਣ ਵਿਚਿ ਜਾਇ ਸਮਾਵੈ। The recitations of all the four ages subsume in Panchayan i.e. in the soul of the common man. ਚਾਰੋ ਅਛਰ ਇਕੁ ਕਰਿ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜਪੁ ਮੰਤ੍ਰ ਜਪਾਵੈ। When joining four letters Vahiguru is remembered, ਜਹਾਂ ਤੇ ਉਪਜਿਆ ਫਿਰਿ ਤਹਾਂ ਸਮਾਵੈ ॥੪੯॥੧॥ The jiv merges again in its origin. This does not mean we worship Vaishnav figures because here Bhai Gurdas is focusing on the God as all names are God's & he is the source of all 4 Yug Purush & ages. His other Vars are crystal clear that worshipping figures of Hinduism is useless for Sikhs: Vishnu is no use for Sikhs- Var 3.1: ਆਦਿ ਪੁਰਖ ਆਦੇਸ, ਆਦਿ ਵਖਾਣਿਆ। I bow before the primeval Lord who has been told as the primordial cause of all. ਸੋ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸਚਾ ਵੇਸੁ, ਸਬਦਿ ਸਿਞਾਣਿਆ। Truth incarnate that true Guru is realised through the Word. ਸਬਦਿ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਉਪਦੇਸੁ, ਸਚਿ ਸਮਾਣਿਆ। Only they have realised Him whose surati (consciousness) has merged into the truth after accepting the commands of the Word. ਸਾਧ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਸਚੁ ਦੇਸੁ, ਘਰੁ ਪਰਵਾਣਿਆ। Holy congregation is the genuine basis and authentic abode of truth. ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਭਗਤਿ ਆਵੇਸੁ, ਸਹਜਿ ਸੁਖਾਣਿਆ। Wherein the individual inspired by loving devotion enjoys the innate delight. ਭਗਤ ਵਛਲੁ ਪਰਵੇਸੁ, ਮਾਣ ਨਿਮਾਣਿਆ। Lord, kind to the devotees and the glory of the poor, also assimilates Himself in the holy congregation. ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਬਿਸਨੁ ਮਹੇਸੁ, ਅੰਤੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਿਆ। Even Brahma, Visnu, Mahesa could not know His mysteries. ਸਿਮਰਿ ਸਹਸਿ ਫਣ ਸੇਸੁ, ਤਿਲੁ ਨ ਪਛਾਣਿਆ। Sesanag remembering Him with its thousand hoods could not understand Him. ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਦਰ ਦਰਵੇਸੁ ਸਚੁ ਸੁਹਾਣਿਆ ॥੧॥ The truth is pleasing to those gurmukhs who have become dervish at the door of holy congregation. Avatars are no use for Sikhs- Var 12.8: ਬਿਸਨ ਲਏ ਅਵਤਾਰ ਦਸ ਵੈਰ ਵਿਰੋਧ ਜੋਧ ਸੰਘਾਰੇ। Visnu incarnated ten times and decimated his opposing warriors. ਮਛ ਕਛ ਵੈਰਾਹ ਰੂਪ ਹੋਇ ਨਰਸਿੰਘ ਬਾਵਨ ਬਉਧਾਰੇ। The incarnations in the forms of fish, tortoise, swine, man-lion, dwarf and Buddha etc. have happened. ਪਰਸਰਾਮੁ ਰਾਮੁ ਕਿਸਨੁ ਹੋਇ ਕਲਕਿ ਕਲੰਕੀ ਅਤਿ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੇ। Parsu Ram, Ram, Kisan and very much proud incarnation of Kalki have flourished. ਖਤ੍ਰੀ ਮਾਰਿ ਇਕੀਹ ਵਾਰ ਰਾਮਾਇਣ ਕਰਿ ਭਾਰਥ ਭਾਰੇ। Ram was hero of Ramayan, and kisan was all in the mahabharat. ਕਾਮ ਕਰੋਧੁ ਨ ਸਾਧਿਓ ਲੋਭੁ ਮੋਹ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੁ ਨ ਮਾਰੇ। But the lust and anger were not sublimited and greed, infatuation and ego were not eschewed. ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨ ਭੇਟਿਆ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਸਹਲੰਗ ਨ ਸਾਰੇ। None remembered the true Guru (God) and nobody benefited himself in the holy congregation. ਹਉਮੈ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਕਾਰਿ ਵਿਕਾਰੇ ॥੮॥ All acted arrogantly being full of evil propensities. Sikhs don't worship gods/goddesses- Var 20.8: ਸਜਾ ਖਬਾ ਸਉਣੁ ਨ ਮੰਨਿ ਵਸਾਇਆ। The Gurmukhs never take to their heart the omen on the right or the left. ਨਾਰਿ ਪੁਰਖ ਨੋ ਵੇਖਿ ਨ ਪੈਰੁ ਹਟਾਇਆ। They do not retrace their steps while seeing a man or woman. ਭਾਖ ਸੁਭਾਖ ਵੀਚਾਰਿ ਨ ਛਿਕ ਮਨਾਇਆ। They do not pay attention to the crises of animals or sneezing. ਦੇਵੀ ਦੇਵ ਨ ਸੇਵ, ਨ ਪੂਜ ਕਰਾਇਆ। Goddess and gods are neither served nor worshipped by them. ਭੰਭਲ ਭੂਸੇ ਖਾਇ ਨ ਮਨ ਭਰਮਾਇਆ। By not entangling in deceits, they do not allow their minds to wander. ਗੁਰਸਿਖ ਸਚਾ ਖੇਤੁ ਬੀਜ ਫਲਾਇਆ ॥੮॥ The Gursikhs have sowed the seed of truth in the field of life and have made it fruitful. But then few passages from Guru Granth Sahib are also shown out of context such as: Page 1402- ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਵਾਹਿ ਜੀਉ ॥ Waahay Guru, Waahay Guru, Waahay Guru, Waahay Jee-o. ਕਵਲ ਨੈਨ ਮਧੁਰ ਬੈਨ ਕੋਟਿ ਸੈਨ ਸੰਗ ਸੋਭ ਕਹਤ ਮਾ ਜਸੋਦ ਜਿਸਹਿ ਦਹੀ ਭਾਤੁ ਖਾਹਿ ਜੀਉ ॥ You are lotus-eyed, with sweet speech, exalted and embellished with millions of companions. Mother Yashoda invited You as Krishna to eat the sweet rice. Page 1403- ਜਰਮ ਕਰਮ ਮਛ ਕਛ ਹੁਅ ਬਰਾਹ ਜਮੁਨਾ ਕੈ ਕੂਲਿ ਖੇਲੁ ਖੇਲਿਓ ਜਿਨਿ ਗਿੰਦ ਜੀਉ ॥ He took birth in the Incarnations of the Fish, Tortoise and Wild Boar, and played His part. He played games on the banks of the Jamunaa River. ਨਾਮੁ ਸਾਰੁ ਹੀਏ ਧਾਰੁ ਤਜੁ ਬਿਕਾਰੁ ਮਨ ਗਯੰਦ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਗੁਬਿੰਦ ਜੀਉ ॥੪॥੯॥ Enshrine this most excellent Name within your heart, and renounce the wickedness of the mind, O Gayand the True Guru, the True Guru, the True Guru is the Lord of the Universe Himself. ||4||9|| Does this mean we are supposed to worship Avatars? No. The word Vaheguru was first used by Bhatt Gayand for the praises of Guru Ramdas & God. He was a Saraswat Brahmin who converted from Hinduism to Sikhi. He made an analogy between his previous & new faith, to him all the divine characters of the past, from now on, were Guru Ramdas. If we were supposed to worship Avatars, Bhatt Gayand would not have looked down upon Vishnu: Page 1403- ਸੇਵਕ ਕੈ ਭਰਪੂਰ ਜੁਗੁ ਜੁਗੁ ਵਾਹਗੁਰੂ ਤੇਰਾ ਸਭੁ ਸਦਕਾ ॥ Your servants are totally fulfilled, throughout the ages; O Waahay Guru, it is all You, forever. ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰੁ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਸਦਾ ਸਲਾਮਤਿ ਕਹਿ ਨ ਸਕੈ ਕੋਊ ਤੂ ਕਦ ਕਾ ॥ O Formless Lord God, You are eternally intact; no one can say how You came into being. ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਬਿਸਨੁ ਸਿਰੇ ਤੈ ਅਗਨਤ ਤਿਨ ਕਉ ਮੋਹੁ ਭਯਾ ਮਨ ਮਦ ਕਾ ॥ You created countless Brahmas and Vishnus; their minds were intoxicated with emotional attachment. ਚਵਰਾਸੀਹ ਲਖ ਜੋਨਿ ਉਪਾਈ ਰਿਜਕੁ ਦੀਆ ਸਭ ਹੂ ਕਉ ਤਦ ਕਾ ॥ You created the 8.4 million species of beings, and provide for their sustenance. ਸੇਵਕ ਕੈ ਭਰਪੂਰ ਜੁਗੁ ਜੁਗੁ ਵਾਹਗੁਰੂ ਤੇਰਾ ਸਭੁ ਸਦਕਾ ॥੧॥੧੧॥ Your servants are totally fulfilled, throughout the ages; O Waahay Guru, it is all You, forever. ||1||11|| So the real meaning of Vaheguru is: Vahe = ਅਚਰਜ, ਵਿਸਮਾਦ, One which gives feeling of amazement, wonder. Guru= ਗੁਰੂ, Remover of darkness.