Sakhi Series : 84 ( Khudawand Karim = Bestower Of Bounties )

Khudawand Karim = Bestower Of Bounties

(Source: www.sikhee.com)

A mother was so heart-broken on losing her son, that she stayed by his grave and refused to leave. She cried bitterly the whole night.

By morning her cries had turn to rage. "Why have You done this to me? You are no loving and caring Lord, I don't need One like You! How dare You take the life of my dear, darling son?"

Ignoring the entreaties of her family, she carried on venting and raging. The second night, her poor husband went to the village Qazi for help. He promised to intervene in the morning.

The next morning, the Qazi approached the mother lying by her son's grave. He had a very noticeable limp, and seemed to be nursing his body. He joined the lady in her wailing.

She stopped abruptly and asked him what his problem was.

"Oh mother! The Lord visited me last night. Without a word, what hard kicks gave He this old man. What have I done wrong, O Khudawand Karim? I asked."

"A woman from your village has kept me awake all night, with insults" said He.

Four sons had He given her over the years and only taken back one. Not only was she getting no more, but He has half a mind to take back the remaining three!"

"O Qazi, ask Him to forgive me" sobbed she. "How blind have I been!" Hugging her family, she went home, still entreating the Qazi.

asattapadhee

Ashtapadee:

dhas basathoo lae paashhai paavai

He obtains ten things, and puts them behind him;

eaek basath kaaran bikhott gavaavai

for the sake of one thing withheld, he forfeits his faith.

eaek bhee n dhaee dhas bhee hir laee

But what if that one thing were not given, and the ten were taken away?

tho moorraa kahu kehaa karaee

Then, what could the fool say or do?

- Sukhmani Sahib

Sakhi Series : 83 ( Gobind Rai and Bhikan Shah )

Gobind Rai and Bhikan Shah

 

There lived in the city of Kuhram a Muslim saint, Bhikan Shah. On the morning of Gobind Rai's (Later Guru Gobind Singh) birth, Bhikan Shah looked and bowed towards the east (towards  Patna). His disciples asked why he bowed towards the east which was contrary to Muslim custom. He replied that there had just been born a spiritual and temporal king in the east who should establish true religion and destroy evil. Bhikan Shah set out for Patna along with his disciples to behold the young prince. When he reached Patna, the Muslim saint asked to have darshan (sight) of the newly-born child. When the infant was brought, Bhikan Shah bowed at the young prince's feet. He placed before him two earthen vessels covered with muslin, one containing milk and the other with water. The child touched both the vessels. Upon this Bhikan Shah thanked them for the opportunity given to him to behold the child and then prepared to leave. He was asked what he meant by the two vessels. Bhikan Shah explained that one vessel was marked for the Hindus and the other for the Muslims. He wanted to know whether he would favor the Hindus or the Muslims. As the child touched both the vessels, it meant that he should abide by both the Hindus and the Muslims and he should include both of them in his religion.

 

Someone is Hindu and someone a Muslim, then someone is Shia, and someone a Sunni, but all the human beings, as a species, are recognized as one and the same.

– (Guru Gobind Singh, Akal Ustat, Verse 85-15-1)

 

Sakhi Series : 82 ( Pir Budhu Shah)

Sakhi: Pir Budhu Shah

(Source: http://www.searchgurbani.com )

Pir Budhu Shah was a Muslim saint who lived at Sadhaura, about ten or fifteen miles from Paunta Sahib. He was well known for his piety and had a large number of followers. He had heard of Guru Nanak and his mission. He had also learned that Guru Nanak's throne was then occupied by Guru Gobind Singh who was staying in the neighborhood (Paunta Sahib). Ultimately he decided to visit him. The Guru seated the Pir near him who beseeched," Pray! tell us how one meets God Almighty." During the discussion the Pir humbly submitted to the Master. There was a glow in the eyes of the Guru which radiated Divine Light and the Pir exclaimed with sudden joy," Allah-hu- Akbar!" - Great is God Almighty. After a while the Pir confessed," Master, I was spiritually blind and you have shown me the Light." Blessed are the souls on whom the Guru bestows the divine grace.

Latter, on the recommendation of Pir Budhu Shah, 500 Pathans were enlisted in the Guru's army under the command of five chieftains- Kale Khan, Bhikan Khan, Nijabat Khan, Hyat Khan, and Umar Khan. But in October 1686 when the hill chieftains collected a force of 30,000 men, under the leadership of Raja Bhim Chand and Fateh Shah and rode towards Paonta Sahib (to attack the Guru), the Pathans became apprehensive of the scanty resources at the disposal of the Guru and they all except Kale Khan with one hundred men, deserted the Guru at the eleventh hour, and joined the hill Rajas. The Udasi Sadhus except their chief Mahant Kirpal (Kirpa Das), also took to their heels. The Guru informed Budhu Shah of the misconduct of the Pathan soldiers. Pir Budhu Shah looked upon their behavior as a personal disgrace. In order to compensate this loss, Budhu Shah accordingly placed himself, his brother, his four sons and seven hundred disciples at the Guru's disposal.

The Guru stationed his troops at an eminent place near Bhangani village about six miles from Paunta Sahib. The five sons of Bibi Viro- Sango Shah, Jit Mal, Gopal Chand, Ganga Ram and Mohri Chand organized the attack for the Guru's forces. They were ably backed by other Sikhs including Mahant Kirpa Das. While repeating his orders the Guru buckled on his sword, slung his quiver over his shoulders, took his bow in his hand, mounted his steed, and shouting 'Sat Sri Akal' in his loudest voice, proceeded to confront his enemies. As mentioned Guru's forces were also joined by Pir Budhu Shah's troops and one hundred Pathans under the command of Kale Khan.

 

The enemy forces were led by Raja Fateh Shah who was joined by Raja Hari Chand of Hadur, Raja Gopal of Guler, Raja of Chandel, Rajas of Dadhwal and Jaswal, and four hundred Pathans who had deserted the Guru's side. A severe and bloody battle was raged. Many brave soldiers were killed on both sides. Although the opposite army far outnumbered the Guru's men, but they did not have the same spirit of sacrifice, nor did they have the same devotion to their leaders, as the Sikhs had.

 

"Khasam dushmani gar hazarawrad, Na yak mu-e o bazar awrad."
"The enemy may practise enmity in a thousand ways, but he will not succeed in hurting even the hair of the head of him whom God protector."

-          Zafarnama (the Epistle of Victory).

 

Pir Buddhu Shah fought bravely as did his sons and followers in this bloody of battles at Bhangânî. Besides several hundred Sikhs, the two sons of Pir Buddhu Shah and a large number of his followers also died in the fighting.

 

After the battle Gurû Gobind Singh offered rich presents to the Pîr which the latter politely declined to accept. However he, as the tradition goes, the Guru was combing his hair. Budhu Shah begged of him to give him the comb with his loose hair as a sacred souvenir. The Guru gave him the turban, the comb with hair and a small sword. The greatest gift of all, the Guru blessed him with Nam.

 

The Râjpût chiefs defeated at Bhangânî remained hostile towards Guru Gobind Singh, and wished to evict him from Anandpur to where Guruji had returned. To solicit help from the imperial government, they sent to the emperor reports describing the Gurû as a dangerous rebel. Complaints also reached the authority against Pîr Buddhû Shâh who had rendered assistance to the Gurû. The faujdâr of Sirhind, under whose jurisdiction the parganah of Sadhaurâ then fell, directed a local official, 'Usmân Khân, to reprimand the Pîr. The latter marched on Sadhaurâ, arrested Buddhû Shâh and had him executed.

 

Bandâ Singh Bahâdur avenged the Pîr's execution in 1709 by storming Sadhaurâ and punishing 'Usmân Khân. The ancestral house of Pir Budhu Shah in Sâdhaurâ has since been converted into a Gurdwârâ named after Pîr Buddhû Shâh.