Sakhi Series :- 92 ( "Ekas Siyon Chith Laai" )

"Ekas Siyon Chith Laai"

 

Bhai Gopal Ji was a respected individual who use to run a karyana ( grocery) store during the time of Guru Arjun Dev Ji Maharaj. People use to deposit money with him for safe keeping purposes.

 

One day a person named Jamaal Khan deposited 500 coins with Bhai Gopal Ji. Bhai Gopal Ji forgot to register them in his book and forgot to put them in his safe. After sometime Jamaal Khan asked for the return of his 500 coins. Bhai Gopal ji checked his book and checked the safe. The money was not recorded and not in the safe and he said to Jamaal Khan he did not have his money. Jamaal Khan said he would report Bhai gopal to the muslim emperor if he didn't return his money. Bhai Gopal checked once again but could not find the coins. He said to Jamaal Khan " I dont have your money. But if your saying, then I'll; give you the 500 coins".

 

Jamaal Khan went to the emperor who called Bhai Gopal Ji. The emperor said Bhai Gopal ji "what am I hearing...I know your Nanak's Sikh and you won't do anything of this sort but I also know that Jamaal Khan doesn't lie either." Bhai Gopal Ji said I don't have his money but if you say I will pay him 500 coins. The emperor not knowing how to do justice said he would leave it to God. They would heat a pan of oil and throw a copper coin in. The one who picks the coin out without getting burnt will be the truthful one.

 

Bhai Gopal Ji did Ardas to Guru Ji. "some people have someone for support and some people have others for support, but for me you are my one and only support. Please help me and look after me."  Bhai Gopal Ji put his hand into the hot oil and picked the coin with no harm to his hand or arm.

 

kis hee koee koe ma(n)n(j) nimaanee eik thoo ||

Some people have others, but I am forlorn and dishonored; I have only You, Lord.

 

kio n mareejai roe jaa lag chith n aavehee ||1||

I might as well just die crying, if You will not come into my mind. ||1||

-          Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 791

 

 

Next Jamaal Khan put his hand in to the hot oil but his hand got burnt before he could pick up the coin. Immediately he was given medical treatment.

 

Bhai Gopal Ji was upset that someone had been hurt because of him. Anyway some time passed and a customer came into Bhai Gopals store. Whilst looking for the item requested by the customer Bhai Gopal Ji found the 500 coins in a container with the food stuffs. Immediately he went to Jamaal Khan and said I have found your 500 coins here. Jamaal Khan refused to take the coins saying he had been embarrassed in the Royal court and in front of the village and that Bhai Gopal ji should keep the money. Bhai Gopal Ji said it was not his money and he was not authrosied by Guru Ji to keep something which didnt belong to him.

 

Jamaal Khan agreed to accept the money on condition that he could meet Guru Ji.

 

Bhai Gopal Ji and Jamaal Khan both visited Guru Ji who was in the middle of a diwan. As soon as Bhai Gopal Ji saw Guru Ji, his eyes washed Gurru Jis lotus feet with his tears. Guru Ji said to Bhai Gopal Ji.. "Bhai Gopal you have been accepted in Guru Ji's house". Jamaal Khan asked Guru Ji a question "both Gopal and I were both truthful yet my hand got burnt and his didn't. Why was this ?

 

Guru Ji replied "Firstly, Bhai Gopal Ji didn't deliberately do anything wrong or underhand. Secondly, Bhai Gopal Ji recited his Ardas to the one supreme god in whom he had complete faith and who helped him at his time of need. When you put your hand in, you recited/remembered various peers to help you but you didn't have faith and trust in ONE. Jamaal Khan agreed and said yes he had recited the support of various peers. In the company of Guru Ji both Bhai Gopal Ji and Jamaal Khan were both exalted by Guru Ji's darshan.

 

 

swihbu myrw eyko hY ] eyko hY BweI eyko hY ]1] rhwau ]

saahib maeraa eaeko hai || eaeko hai bhaaee eaeko hai ||1|| rehaao ||

My Lord and Master is One; He is the One and Only; O Siblings of Destiny, He is the One alone. ||1||    ( Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 350)

 

 

 

Sakhi Series :- 91 ( Bhai Sukha Singh and Mehtab Singh )

Fate of Masa Rangar

 

Quazi Abdul Razak the Chief of Police of Amritsar was killed in an encounter with the Sikhs in October 1738. Masa Rangar was appointed in his place.

 

Masa Rangar converted Harmander Saheb into a vice den. The officials drank wine and smoked tobacco while the Nauch girls entertained them. By his orders all the Sikhs of Amritsar were hounded and killed. Hindus too were looted on the pretext of supporting the Sikhs.

 

Tej Ram, a resident of Amritsar whose house had been looted went to Bikaner and narrated his own story and the plight of Harmander Saheb to the Sikh contingent there The leader of the contingent informed the Sangat of the

happenings at Amritsar and asked for a volunteer who would bring the back Masa Rangar's head. Two Sikhs, Bhai Sukha Singh and Mehtab Singh volunteered for the service.

 

After performing Ardaas before Guru Saheb both of them set out for Amritsar. They halted the night at Damdama Saheb. Next day disguised as Muslims carrying revenue collection from Patti they reached Amritsar. The two bags

supposed to be containg money were actually filled with shredded pottery.

 

Entering Harmander Saheb they tied the horses with the Berry plant. Each one of them carried a bag on his shoulder. They saw Masa Rangar sitting on a cot drinking wine and smoking Hukka. The Nauch girls were dancing. They placed the bags on the floor near the cot saying that they had come to pay the revenue. When Masa Rangar bent down to see the contents of the bags one of the Sikhs swiftly pulled out the sword and cut off his head. He emptied one bag and put the swerved head in it while the other made short of the rest of the company of Masa Rangar.

 

In the confusion that prevailed around both the Sikhs moved out swiftly mounted on their horses and escaped. They halted the night at Damdama Saheb and presented the head to the Sangat the next day.

 

charr bohithhai chaalaso saagar leharee dhaee ||

I get on board the boat and set out, but the ocean is churning with waves.

 

t(h)aak n sachai bohithhai jae gur dhheerak dhaee ||

The boat of Truth encounters no obstruction, if the Guru gives encouragement.

 

thith dhar jaae outhaareeaa gur dhisai saavadhhaan ||

He takes us across to the door on the other side, as the Guru keeps watch.

 

naanak nadharee paaeeai dharageh chalai maan ||3||

O Nanak, if I am blessed with His Grace, I shall go to His Court with honor. ||3||

- Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 1087

 

=> More Sakhis: www.tuhitu.blogspot.com

 

Sakhi Series : 90 ( Guru Gobind Singh ji and a 'Guru ka-Lal' )

Guru Gobind Singh ji and a  'Guru ka-Lal' 

aisae gur ko bal bal jaaeeai aap mukath mohi thaarai ||1|| rehaao ||

- I am a sacrifice, a sacrifice to such a Guru; He Himself is liberated, and He carries me across as well. ||1||Pause||

kavan kavan kavan gun keheeai a(n)th nehee kashh paarai ||

Which, which, which of Your Glorious Virtues should I chant? There is no end or limitation to them.

- Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 1301 

Once a 'Kalal' - a wine distiller, came for the Guru ji's darshan and stood at a distance, for the 'caste' of the Kalal was considered low in the social hierarchy.  

When Guru Gobind Singh Ji, saw him he said, "Come in and sit with all of us in the tent." The man quivered, hesitated and said, "How can I, the lowest of the low, sit in the assembly of the gods? Guru Ji, I am a kalal whose mere sight pollutes."

On hearing this, Guru Sahib instructed His musicians and bards, to welcome the man with music and songs and coming down from his couch to bless him. He said, "You are not a kalal, but a 'Guru ka-Lal', 'a Ruby of the Guru.' Who has such love for us? 

thaerae kavan kavan gun kehi kehi gaavaa thoo saahib gunee nidhhaanaa ||

Which, which of Your Glorious Virtues should I sing and recount, Lord? You are my Lord and Master, the treasure of excellence.

thumaree mehimaa baran n saako thoo(n) t(h)aakur ooch bhagavaanaa ||1||

I cannot express Your Glorious Praises. You are my Lord and Master, lofty and benevolent. ||1|| 

mai har har naam dhhar soee ||

The Name of the Lord, Har, Har, is my only support. 

jio bhaavai thio raakh maerae saahib mai thujh bin avar n koee ||1|| rehaao ||

If it pleases You, please save me, O my Lord and Master; without You, I have no other at all. ||1||Pause||

- Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 735

Sikh Sakhis 89 : ( Guru Nanak and Babur)

Guru Nanak and emperor Babur

(Source: http://www.info-sikh.com)

 

While returning from his travels from the West, Guru Nanak Dev Ji paid a visit to Saidpur, now known as Eminabad to meet his devotee Bhai Lalo. Guru Sahib Ji write about these times of upheaval :

 

"The age is like a knife. In the dark night of falsehood I cannot see where the moon of truth is rising."(Majh ki Var). And again : "Modesty and religion have disappeared because falsehood reigns supreme. The Muslim mullha and the Hindu pandit have resigned their duties, the Devil reads the marriage vows. Praises of murder are sung and people smear themselves with blood instead of saffron."(Tilang). Guru Ji writes about the Mughal invasions : "They who had beautiful locks with vermilion dyed the parting of their hair, have their tresses shorn with scissors and dust thrown on their heads. They who dwelt in palaces cannot find a place in the streets." (Asa)

 

During this period the Emperor Babur attacked Eminabad and captured Guru Ji with his companions and imprisoned them. The captured were given grinding mills and put to grind corn. While grinding the corn Guru Ji went into contemplation and sang the glories of God. While Guru Ji sang about the creator the grinding mill continued to grind without any visible means of power, all who observed bowed their heads for surely they were in the presence of a great soul. This news was carried to the ears of Babur. Babur came down to the dungeons and waited until Guru Ji had finished singing. When his eyes met with the Guru's he folded his hands and bowed and begged forgiveness.

 

Babur requested that Guru Ji accompany him to his tent. Guru Ji asked Babur to release all the prisoners as they had committed no crime, and then he accompanied Babur to his tent.

 

The emperor offered Guru Ji refreshments but Guru Sahib replied " My cup is full. I have drunk the cup of my Lord's love which fills me for all time."

 

"Listen O King, go and survey the scene of destruction that has been caused by your army. Take a warning from those who have defeated others. He who is victorious today may suffer defeat tomorrow. Where are those kings who ruled here yesterday ? Where are those games, those stables, those horses ? Where are those bugles, those clarions ? Where are those who buckled on their swords and were mighty in battle ? Where are those scarlet uniforms ? Where are those mirrors that reflected fair faces ? Where are those houses, those mansions, those palaces ? We see them no longer here. O Lord, this world is Thine. In one moment, Thou create, in another moment, Thou destroy Thy Creation."

 

On hearing the words of the Guru, Babur remained in deep thought for a long time and then asked Guru Ji humbly "What can I do for you ?"

 

"Nothing," said the Guru "The soul supreme Being has Himself commissioned me to spread His message of Naam, and I enjoy His grace and gifts. Those who forsake Him and attach themselves to others lose all. He makes emperors and kings, and He turns them into dust."

 

Babur bowed before Guru Ji and begged for counsel for a better life.

 

"Be just to all, and never do injustice to anyone,"said Guru Ji. " Never depart from the path of truth. Be merciful and forgive others as you would wish to be forgiven. Do not covert that which belongs to others. Do not sow the seeds of cruelty. He who is cruel, suffers."

 

These words Babur took to heart and from then on endeavoured to be a just ruler.

 

 

 

 

Sakhi Series : 88 (The Sakhi of Sacred Thread )

The Sakhi of Sacred Thread

(Article taken from . "Bedtime Stories" written by Santokh Singh)

When Guru Nanak attained the age of nine, the day was fixed for him to wear the sacred thread prescribed by Manu, the originator of Hindu rituals and the caste system. After worship and recitation, Pandit Hardial started to put the sacred thread around Guru Nanak's neck. Guru Nanak stopped him and asked, "Dear Pandit, what is the use of putting this thread around my neck ? What authority is attained by wearing it ? What special deeds of faith one can perform by wearing it in addition to those which are already performed without it ?"

Pandit Hardial replied, "O Nanak, one gets spiritual birth by wearing it. you get the liberty to go to the kitchen upon wearing it. you get the freedom to participate in the religious rituals of the world. Brahmins and Kshatris are impure without wearing it and cannot take part in religious rituals and ceremonies. They do not have the right to perform the Saradh—feast of serving food every year to Brahmins so that it may reach the dead ancestors. Without this their ancestors face the pangs of hunger and thirst in the next world.

Guru Nanak further asked, "If one gets spiritual birth by wearing it, the thread should be put around the soul. What is the use of wearing it if the wearer continues to tell lies, back-bite and do other lowly deeds after wearing it like the Brahmin administering it. The sacred thread should be such that its wearing may make the wearer compassionate, contented, celibate and truthful in his dealings. Dear Pandit, if you have a thread of this type, I am ready to wear it. This type of thread will not be broken, nor soiled or burnt when the body is cremated. That True Thread will always remain with the soul even when the body is burnt.

"

Pandit Hardial,in a bid to make Guru Nanak understand, said further, "O Nanak, we are not starting this sacred thread ritual for the first time today. This ritual has been performed for a long time. Nobody has refused it before you." In order to expose Brahmins' greed to eat and get offerings behind the facade of this ritual, Guru Nanak recited:

A thread of cotton is spun and the

Brahmin twists it, a goat is slaughtered

and eaten and everyone is asked to wear the thread. (Guru Granth Sahib, Ang. 471)

Pandit Hardial came to understand this hymn and was convinced that Guru Nanak would not wear that cotton thread around his neck. He also saw that if the common people grasped the meanings of what Guru Nanak had said, they would stop wearing the thread. He would be deprived of the goat and other offerings for performing this ritual from them also. On account of this fear he put the thread in his bag and returned home.

ho ho karae thai aap janaaeae

Practicing egotism and selfishness, they try to impress others by showing off.

bahu karam karai kishh thhaae n paaeae

They perform all sorts of rituals, but they gain no acceptance.

thujh thae baahar kishhoo n hovai bakhasae sabadh suhaavaniaa 5

Without You, Lord, nothing happens at all. You forgive those who are adorned with the Word of Your Shabad. 5

(Guru Granth Sahib, Ang. 127)

Bhai Mardana Ji And Charity

Bhai Mardana ji and charity

For forty-seven years Bhai Mardana ji went wherever Guru Nanak went. Whether it was bitter cold of the hills or the heat of the deserts he did not leave him. Fear of wild animals or hunger and thirst in the wilderness or even the love of home did not change his mind from the five vices- lust, anger, greed, attachment and pride. He replaced them with the five virtues - truth, contentment, patience, compassion and faith. He was given the honor to be saint and a brother to all.

Bhai Mardana was nine years older to Guru Nanak. His father was a 'Mirasi' Muslim who did odd jobs in the village of Mir Badra. There was no postal system of sending mail in olden days, so 'Mirasis' use to perform this duty. They would take messages of the village people to their relatives and bring back their replies. Their work was of great importance. Those who took their help had to look after them well. They were always on the move and so were used to bearing hardships. As they moved alone, they made it their hobby to sing and play instruments to amuse themselves and they took pride in being honest and truthful.

Bhai Mardana too was gifted with many things, one of them being playing the Rabab - a musical instrument on which he sang the hymns composed by Guru Nanak in nineteen different melodies. Guru ji who was working as a storekeeper at Modi Khana gave up his job. He chose Mardana as his companion and started going places to spread the word of God. They were going on foot from Sultanpur to Lahore. On their way they stopped for the night then woke up at dawn, bathed and Mardana played his instrument and Guru ji recited a hymn in praise of God.

Then Mardana took Guru ji's permission to go to a nearby village to get something to eat and drink. The village people gave him some clothes too as they use to give other hermits and fakirs. When Guru ji saw the bundle of clothes with Mardana he said "Bhai Mardana, distribute these clothes among the poor, by gathering things offered in charity one becomes greedy. A greedy man entangled by this urge can never do any good to mankind." So acting upon the command of Guru Nanak, Bhai Mardana gave away all the clothes to the poor as well as the extra food.

lobhee an ko saevadhae parr vaedhaa karai pookaar

The greedy people serve others, instead of the Lord, although they loudly announce their reading of scriptures.

bikhiaa a(n)dhar pach mueae naa ouravaar n paar 3

They are burnt to death by their own corruption; they are not at home, on either this shore or the one beyond. 3