Sakhi Series :- 195 ( Compositions of Bhai Gurdas are the Explanations of Gurbani)

Bhai Harwans Tapa

 

Bhai Harwans Tapa used to serve in a Dharamshala (place of worship of Guru's devotees). He would feed the hungry disciples, wash the feet of tired disciples with warm water, massage their bodies, supply woollen blankets at night and provide hot water for bath early in the morning. In the morning he would recite Gurbani, and in the evening, the compositions of Bhai Gurdas ji.

 

Some of the disciples raised the issue that Guru ji had forbidden recitation of compositions other than Gurbani. So he requested Guru ji for clarification whether he should recite compositions of Bhai Gurdas ji or not? Guru ji said that some ignorant persons, out of jealousy had written some compositions against the principles of Gurbani. This was why their compositions were forbidden. But the compositions of Bhai Gurdas ji were the explanation of Gurbani. These compositions motivated one towards discipleship. The Lord's heart is Divine Knowledge and the Guru's heart is Gurbani. Thus, they can read the compositions of the disciples whose hearts are one with Gurbani (self-realized saints).

PS:  Bhai Gurdas was one of the most eminent Sikh scholar, during the Guru period.  A nephew of Guru Amardas ji, Bhai Gurdas ji was an exceptional parcharak of Sikhi.  In addition to being Guru Arjan Sahib ji's scribe, during the dictation of the Guru Granth Sahib ji, his powerful words and understanding of Sikhi influenced many in diverse areas to become Sikhs.  Bhai Gurdas ji's writings, preserved as vaars and kabiths, are given importance and sometimes referred to as the 'kunji' (key to understanding) of Gurbani

 

Sakhi Series :- 194 ( Bhagat Kabir & The Child)

Bhagat Kabir & The Child 

(Source : http://gursikhijivan.blogspot.co.uk ) 

Bhagat Jee once went up to this child that was playing and said to him 'Thoosee Naam Japia Kar' and the child made excuses: "Oh I am still quite young and want to enjoy my childhood by playing, when I get older I will Naam Jap"

When the child was a teenager and in higher education, Bhagat Jee went up to him again and said the same bachan 'Thoosee Naam Japia Kar', but then the excuses were different. "Oh I am too busy with my studies, I have a lot to do and have to get high marks. When I get older I will Naam Jap". So then Bhagat Jee left him. 

Then the person became a grown man and was married with a family. Bhagat Jee went up to him again with the same bachan. Again, different excuses were given why he couldn't Naam Jap and do Bhagti. "Oh I've got a busy job, I've got wife and kids to look after now. I haven't got time. When I get older I will Naam Jap."

When the person was an old man and very frail, Bhagat Jee went up to him again and said the same bachan. The reply again was different: "I am too old now. I can hardly walk or sit up straight. I will do Naam Jap in my next life now." 

Then soon after that person passed away....

Few months later Bhagat Jee went passed a farm and saw an ox which was turning the wheel of a well. At the same time the ox was getting hit by the farmer with a stick. Bhagat Jee went up to the ox and whispered in it's ear... "hun Naam Japla." The ox shed a tear for it was that same person before that had wasted his human life not doing what Bhagat Kabir Jee had told him to do throughout his whole life. 

Bhagat Jee then went on to write the following shabad: 

This Shabad is by Bhagat Kabeer Ji in Raag Gujri on Pannaa 524

<> siqgur pRswid ]

ik oa(n)kaar sathigur prasaadh ||

One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:

rwgu gUjrI Bgqw kI bwxI

raag goojaree bhagathaa kee baanee

Raag Goojaree, The Words Of The Devotees:

sRI kbIr jIau kw caupdw Gru 2 dUjw ]

sree kabeer jeeo kaa choupadhaa ghar 2 dhoojaa ||

Chau-Paday Of Kabeer Jee, Second House:

cwir pwv duie isMg guMg muK qb kYsy gun geIhY ]

chaar paav dhue si(n)g gu(n)g mukh thab kaisae gun geehai ||

With four feet, two horns and a mute mouth, how could you sing the Praises of the Lord?

aUTq bYTq Tygw pirhY qb kq mUf lukeIhY ]1]

oot(h)ath bait(h)ath t(h)aegaa parihai thab kath moodd lukeehai ||1||

Standing up and sitting down, the stick shall still fall on you, so where will you hide your head? ||1||

hir ibnu bYl ibrwny hueIhY ]

har bin bail biraanae hueehai ||

Without the Lord, you are like a stray ox;

Pwty nwkn tUty kwDn kodau ko Busu KeIhY ]1] rhwau ]

faattae naakan ttoottae kaadhhan kodho ko bhus kheehai ||1|| rehaao ||

with your nose torn, and your shoulders injured, you shall have only the straw of coarse grain to eat. ||1||Pause||

swro idnu folq bn mhIAw Ajhu n pyt AGeIhY ]

saaro dhin ddolath ban meheeaa ajahu n paett agheehai ||

All day long, you shall wander in the forest, and even then, your belly will not be full.

jn Bgqn ko kho n mwno kIE Apno peIhY ]2]

jan bhagathan ko keho n maano keeou apano peehai ||2||

You did not follow the advice of the humble devotees, and so you shall obtain the fruits of your actions. ||2||

duK suK krq mhw BRim bUfo Aink join BrmeIhY ]

dhukh sukh karath mehaa bhram booddo anik jon bharameehai ||

Enduring pleasure and pain, drowned in the great ocean of doubt, you shall wander in numerous reincarnations.

rqn jnmu KoieE pRBu ibsirE iehu Aausru kq peIhY ]3]

rathan janam khoeiou prabh bisariou eihu aousar kath peehai ||3||

You have lost the jewel of human birth by forgetting God; when will you have such an opportunity again? ||3||

BRmq iPrq qylk ky kip ijau giq ibnu rYin ibheIhY ]

bhramath firath thaelak kae kap jio gath bin rain biheehai ||

You turn on the wheel of reincarnation, like an ox at the oil-press; the night of your life passes away without salvation.

khq kbIr rwm nwm ibnu mUMf Duny pCuqeIhY ]4]1]

kehath kabeer raam naam bin moo(n)dd dhhunae pashhutheehai ||4||1||

Says Kabeer, without the Name of the Lord, you shall pound your head, and regret and repent. ||4||1||

Sakhi Series :- 193 ( Mischief by Chandu )

Bhai Haridas Soni

(Source : The Gospel of Sikh Gurus)

 

Bhai Haridas Soni was a resident of Gwalior and used to serve all the disciples and saints with mind, speech and actions. He was very keen to see Guru ji.

Chandu shah was a highly depraved person. He maliciously reported to the king that the son of Guru Arjun Dev, Guru Har Gobind calls himself the 'True Emperor'. 

Earlier he had sent a proposal for his daughter's marriage with Har Gobind ji but Guru Arjun Dev had not accepted it. Chandu had then maliciously reported to the king and Guru ji was called, tortured and he gave up his body. Now Chandu made a complaint to the king against Guru Har Gobind Sahib ji. The king's men came to take Guru ji to Delhi. The disciples cautioned Guru ji against the barbarous Muslim rulers. Guru ji told them that he would tackle them like a teacher and Chandu would also reap the fruits of his actions. Guru Har Gobind Sahib ji went to Delhi and met the king. The king was very pleased and ordered that Guru ji should be made comfortable and his camp be put up in the garden.

After seeing all this Chandu was very disturbed. He incited the astrologers to tell the king that the planetary position for him was very unfavourable. If Guru Har Gobind Ji would meditate in Gwalior fort for forty days, it would be good for the king. The king thus came to Guru ji's camp and requested him to go to Gwalior and meditate there for forty days. After this period, he would call him back.

Guru ji thus went to Gwalior where Bhai Haridas came to meet him. Guru ji told him that his love and devotion had pulled him to Gwalior.

Chandu then bribed the officers of the fort to keep Guru ji under difficult conditions. But the king had written that Guru ji should be made as comfortable as possible. So Guru ji was kept comfortably. Bhai Haridas would send twenty maunds of wheat flour, five maunds of ghee and five maunds of sugar and other types of food etc for all the residents in the fort. (One maund is equal to 37 kilogram or 40 seers in weight). All the prisoners in the fort were very happy. 

At the end of forty days Bhai Jetha appeared as tiger in the king's dream and frightened him. The king asked the astrologers about the nightmare. Bhai Jetha dressed as an astrologer told the king that unless he sends for Guru Har Gobind ji from Gwalior fort, his nightmares would continue. The king therefore requested Guru ji to come back to Delhi. But Guru ji said that there were 52 innocent Hindu rulers imprisoned in the fort. Unless all of them were released he would not leave. So the king ordered the release of all the 52 rulers and they left the fort with Guru ji, holding on to his garment. Guru ji also brought Bhai Haridas along with him.

In Delhi, Guru ji gave a very precious pearl to the king. The king took it to his palace and gave it to his queen. The queen asked for another pearl like it. When the king requested for another pearl, Guru ji told him that when Guru Arjun Dev ji had left his body, he had a rosary of 108 such pearls with him. The king should question Chandu about the pearl rosary. When the king inquired, Chandu denied about having any such pearl rosary. Then Guru ji asked for the custody of Chandu since he was the murderer of his father and also promised to recover the pearl rosary.

Chandu was then brought to Guru ji's camp where he was beaten with shoes and he died. He was cut up in pieces and thrown in the dirty drain. The precious pearls were also recovered and were  handed over to the king. At night a lion came in the king's camp. After killing the guards, the lion reached the king's tent. Guru ji killed the lion with his arrow. The king was highly pleased and requested Guru ji to ask for anything. Guru ji asked for leave to go back to Amritsar. 

Guru ji sent back Bhai Haridas ji to Gwalior with instructions to serve the Guru's disciples.