Respect from Akbar

After the construction of the step-well in 1559 A.D., people started bathing at one place which resulted in the elimination of differences on account of caste and creed from their minds. They started discarding the useless rituals of Brahmins. It became difficult for the Brahmins and high caste people to bear that low caste people think themselves to be their equals.


In October 1566 A.D., King Akbar stayed for some time at Lahore. Taking advantage of his presence, the Brahmins and high caste people drafted a memorandum against Guru Amar Das and presented it to Akbar. Having read the charge-sheet, Akbar sent word to Guru Amar Das at Goindwal to come to Lahore and reply to those complaints. On receipt of the message, Guru Amar Das sent Guru Ram Das as his representative to Akbar.


The first complaint was, "The Sikhs do not recite the 'Gayatri' which, according to the teaching of Vedas, is to be recited thrice a day." Guru Ram Das said, "The doctrine of the Vedas also says that the Sudras (untouchables) cannot recite the Gayatri but the teaching of Guru Nanak is common for all the castes, creeds and faiths which tells us to remember God all the time and not merely to read it with the word of mouth only three times a day."


The second question was put, "The Sikhs do not visit holy places of the Hindus." Guru Ram Das replied. "The places of pilgrimage are not sacred because of the water but were sacred because of the sojourn of great and learned men who imparted knowledge to the pilgrims. Now, only Brahmins live at these places who only collect offerings. There is no learned man to impart knowledge."


The third question was, "The Sikhs do not believe in caste system." Guru Ram Das replied, "Manu Brahmin had invented the caste system in order to keep the poor oppressed. It was not for the welfare of the people."


The fourth question was, "Sikhs do not worship the idols." He replied, "Stone has no life. The God of the Sikhs is ever-alive. He is present everywhere all the time." Akbar was convinced by the answers of Guru Ram Das. Akbar honoured him with a robe of honour. Before leaving, Guru Ram Das said to Akbar, "It would be a great relief if you stop imposition of Jazia and Pilgrimage Tax on the Hindus." And Akbar complied with accordingly.

Raja Hari Chand

When Guru Amar Dass Ji shifted his headquarters from Khadur to Goindwal, the Sikhs started going there for an audience with Guru Ji. As the number of devotees was increasing day by day, Guru Ji planned to construct more houses and inns. Though other construction material was available, but there was scarcity of wooden material. One day, Guru Ji called his nephew Bhai Sawan Mal, handed him a handkerchief and advised him to go to Raja Hari Chand of Haripur to arrange the wooden material for the buildings.


Bhai Sawan Mal then rode towards Haripur State. Reaching the city he found that the residents were observing lkadashi fast. No edible material was available there. Bhai Sawan Mal was feeling very hungry. So he himself gathered some dry wooden sticks and baked some loaves. But a spy informed the Raja about this. Raja at once ordered to arrest Bhai Sawan Mal. When Bhai Sawan Mal was arrested, the son of Raja fell seriously ill. None of the royal vaids could cure him. Then Raja ordered his soldiers to free the outsider and to bring him in his palace with honour.


When Bhai Sawan Mal reached the palace, the Raja told him about the condition of his son. Bhai Sawan Mal smiled and said, "You should not worry, your son will be alright." Then he went near the child and rubbed the face of the child with Guru Ji's handkerchief. The child at once became hale and healthy. The Raja and queens became very happy and they asked about the where abouts of Bhai Sawan Mal very impatiently. Bhai Sawan Mal told them that he was disciple of Guru Amar Dass Ji. He informed them that his mission of coming there was to arrange wooden building material for Goindwal. Raja Hari Chand was very pleased to hear it. He said, "My friend! state of Haripur has such trees in abundance. I would be very lucky to supply such wooden material to Goindwal." The Raja said, "If a disciple of Guru Ji possesses such supernatural powers, how great would the Guru be. I want to have a glimpse of your Guru Ji. Please tell me on which day I can attend his Darbar".


Bhai Sawan Mal said, "The doors of his Darbar are always open. You can meet him whenever you like." Hearing this Raja made up his mind to go to Goindwal next day.