Bhai Kalyana

A ruler can take away the life of a Sikh,
but not his faith or right to worship.

Bhai Kalyana was one of the few Sikhs who were assigned by Guru Arjan Dev Ji the great responsibility of going out to various places, educating people about Gurmat, and making collections for building Harimandar Sahib at Amritsar.

Bhai Sahib was sent to the hill areas of the Mandi state in the north of Punjab. Whenever he went there, he would associate some local people with him, discuss with them the principles of the Sikh faith and sing Gurbani Kirtan. People looked forward to his visits because they loved to sit with him and listen to Gurbani recitations.

Once when Bhai Sahib was preaching Gurmat in the town of Mandi, it was Janam-Ashtmi day. The local ruler announced with the beat of a drum the significance of this Hindu religious day and ordered all people to remain hungry on that day. In addition, people were required to worship Thakur, a special type of stone, on that day. This was a technique adopted by the Brahmans to collect money from the common people.

Bhai Kalyana did not pay any attention to these pronouncements. He cooked his food as usual and shared it with the locals. The matter was brought to the notice of the ruler, Hari Sain. He ordered Bhai Kalyana to appear before him and explain his position for disobeying the instructions. In response, Bhai Sahib recited Gurbani quotations which said that to please God, we should love and respect people instead of worshipping stones. Further, fasting has no religious value.

Hari Sain could give no arguments to challenge the statements of Bhai Ji - however, he observed, "I agree with you in principle, but you must be punished for disobeying my orders." Bhai Kalyana replied, "You have disrespected the wishes of God, who provides food for everyone to eat. Against this, you are instructing people not to eat food. Therefore, you are guilty of a bigger wrong by disobeying the mighty Lord who is the ruler of the whole world."

Hari Sain, who was suffering under the yoke of Brahmans and was practicing meaningless rituals, was awakened. He decided to become a Sikh. He accompanied Bhai Kalyana Ji to Amritsar and got the blessings of Guru Arjan Dev.

Sajjan Thug

Neither be a robber, nor be a cheat.
Be sincere to all, your dealings be neat.

Sajjan means a nice person, a friend, a helper. There was a man with this name living in Tulamba (now in Pakistan). He was known as a good man in his area. He had constructed an inn for travelers to rest for the night.

Whenever a traveler would forget anything in the inn, Sajjan kept it as his own. Slowly he developed the bad habit of stealing valuables of the travelers when they were sleeping at night. After some time, this bad habit made him a wicked man. He even killed people staying at his inn if he wanted to take away the travelers' belongings. The dead bodies were disposed of secretly by burying them in the compound at night. A "sajjan" because of his bad habits thus became a "thug." The people, therefore, called him "Sajjan Thug."

On one of their journeys Guru Nanak Dev and Bhai Mardana stayed with Sajjan Thug for the night. In the evening Guru Nanak Dev sang a shabad while Bhai Mardana played on the rebeck. The shabad explained that if a person is bad at heart, an outward show of good acts means nothing. God knows our mind and no one can bluff Him. The true friends (sajjan) are actually the good deeds of a man. These good deeds help the man not only here in this world but also after death in the next life. By evil acts man makes his own mind dirty, because of which he not only suffers here in this world, but also his soul remains dirty even after death.

Sajjan Thug had been listening to this shabad attentively. As the shabad went into his ears, his mind started "seeing" the truth. He realized he was an evil man. He was taking away the belongings of innocent travelers to whom he was supposed to provide comfort and service.

Sajjan Thug went to the Guru, folded his hands and confessed before the Guru that he was Sajjan only by name. Actually, by his deeds he was a Thug. Sajjan Thug sincerely repented and promised to lead a holy life in the future.

The Guru was pleased by the change of his heart and he was, therefore, very kind to Sajjan Thug. Sajjan was advised to distribute all the ill-got money to the needy and start his life afresh as an honest man. He sincerely practiced as the Guru advised him. He started helping the visitors and making their stay comfortable by whatever he could do for them.

Thus, a Sajjan by name, a thug by profession, became a Sajjan by his deeds as well, after meeting Guru Nanak.

Man is valued by the deeds he does. True friends are our good deeds. They remain with us even when our body dies.

Bhai Lalo and Malik Bhago

Taking the rights of others pollutes the mind.

Always be honest, ever be kind.

Guru Nanak Dev stayed with Bhai Lalo when he began his preaching missions. Bhai Lalo was a carpenter who earned his living honestly by working hard all day. The local village official was a corrupt person. He was known as Malik Bhago. One day he invited every resident of the village to a feast so he could make a good impression on the people. Guru Nanak Dev declined to go to the feast. Special messengers were sent to bring him. Bhago offered delicious food to the Guru and in response to his offer, waited for good words from him. Guru Nanak Dev rather than blessing Malik Bhago declined to accept any food from him. Bhago was surprised to hear a refusal for the delicious food and he immediately asked the reason for the refusal.

The Guru told him that the food which Malik Bhago considered to be tasty and sweet was, in fact, made from the blood of the poor. Malik Bhago had been extracting money from the people, instead of living on his honest earnings. Bhago was very much embarrassed by the bold and frank comments of the Guru. Everyone else appreciated the truth fearlessly spoken by Guru Nanak Dev. Bhago could not deny the allegations made against him at his face in the presence of the respectable people of the village. Good senses prevailed and Malik Bhago confessed his guilt. He requested to be pardoned for his past deeds and promised to live a true and honest life in the future.

Guru Nanak Dev told the gathering there that only honestly earned food, as that of Bhai Lalo, tastes good and sweet like milk. All dishonest earnings are the blood of the innocent. If drops of blood fall on a cloth, it becomes dirty. How can the mind of a person who lives on the blood of the helpless people remain pious and clean?

Such was the effect of Guru Nanak's piety and personality that people did visualize blood in Malik's delicious dinner and milk in Bhai Lalo's frugal meal.

Taking away the rights of others is like drawing their blood, it pollutes the mind. Honest earnings are like sweet milk, they make the mind pious.

Hollow Rituals Have No Value

Hollow Rituals Have No Value
Service to people is service to God.
Rituals, if hollow, value not.

Guru Nanak Dev while on his eastward journey reached Hardwar. It is on the banks of the river Ganges and is one of the major centers for Hindu pilgrimage. The people, gathered there in large numbers, were bathing in the holy river. Guru Nanak Dev observed many people throwing water towards the sun in the east. The Guru had already heard about this meaningless ritual. He, therefore, thought it the right place and the proper time to give correct guidance that those kinds of mindless hollow rituals have no value.

Guru Nanak throwing water towards his farm Guru Nanak Dev Ji entered the river for purposes of bathing as other common pilgrims were doing. Instead of throwing water to the east, he, however, started throwing water in the opposite direction towards the west. Taking him as a naive visitor, the nearby bathers told him that he was not performing the rituals correctly. They advised him to throw water to the east. Guru Nanak Dev continued throwing water towards the west pretending that he was very much absorbed in the 'holy' act and had not heard anything. Soon, many people gathered there to tell him that the proper method of performing the ritual was to throw water in the other direction. His water thrown to the west was of no use to him or to his dead ancestors.


Seeing a lot of people around, Guru Nanak stopped throwing water, looked towards them and asked, "What is the matter? What is wrong with my throwing water?" Many people spoke in one voice. "The water is to be thrown towards the rising sun so that it reaches your dead ancestors." Guru Nanak Dev replied that his crops in his village were dying. The village is toward the west. He wanted to irrigate those crops. After hearing this reply the people started laughing. One of them questioned him as to how the water thrown by him could reach hundreds of miles away. The Guru became serious and asked, "If the water thrown by me cannot reach a few hundred miles away on this very earth, how can water thrown by you to your dead ancestors reach them in the heavens?"


The people became silent and started thinking over the reply given by the Guru. They had no logical argument to challenge his statement.


Guru Nanak Dev Ji came out of the river and the crowd followed him. The Guru calmly told them the truth. He explained that hollow rituals do not have any religious value. They should love, respect and take care of their parents when they are alive. When people die, they do not need anything from us and neither can we send them anything after they have left this world. After death, people get what they have given to the needy, out of their honest earnings, while living on this earth.


Serve your parents and others when they are alive. Hollow, mindless rituals after their death have no value to them at all.

Mata Jiwan Kaur Ji

“All should be charitable according to their means and sources. The needy should be provided with clothing and food. Generosity never leads to exhaustion but the riches drain away by foul ways.”

-Sri Satguru Ram Singh Ji

Mata Jiwan Kaur, reverend mother, was a pious lady with a tender heart. She had love for all. None went away empty handed from her door. Bleeding souls felt relieved of pain by her touch. She equally shared woes and worries of the enemies of the Panth and looked after them more dearly than her own ones. Her loveable nature and service without discrimination brought fame and glory to Sri Bhaini sahib.

It is well known, that after the deportation of Satguru Ram Singh Ji, there were black days for the community. The kookas neither could enter nor leave this holy place without permission. Even Satguru Hari Singh Ji was not allowed to visit other places without complying with formalities.

Mata Ji worked for the langar day and night. Though food stuff ran short, yet the kind mother did not allow anyone to go without having food. Mr. War Burton Supt. Police Ludhiana, very often paid surprise visits at night to know the truth but he returned fully convinced of kind heartedness of Mata Ji.

At Sri Bhaini Sahib notorious Ghamanda and its party left no stone unturned to defame the holy place & gave false reports to the govt. thought the apostle in Court in many cases, yet it was Mata Jiwan Kaur, who always helped Ghamanda in the hour of need. Their members of the family were provided with food and cloth, whenever she learnt their unbearable condition. She used to place flour, ghee and sugar near the entrance at sun-set, so that his children not remain hungry.

When the great mother passed away in 1939 AD Ghamanda was among the mourners with the broken heart. They expressed their grief by saying that they have lost their mother. A poet has rightly said:-

buirAW nwl sB burw kmWdy, mwP krn keI isAwxy[

buirAW nwl muV nykI krnI, ieh guru nwnk jwxy[

Everyone treats the evil-doers badly, only a few intellectuals pardon them. Guru Nanak teaches to be good to all evildoers.

Do Good To All

PrIdw bury dw Blw kir gusw min n hFwie ]

Fareed, answer evil with goodness; do not fill your mind with anger.

dyhI rog n lgeI plY sBu ikCu pwie ]73]

Our body shall not suffer from any disease, and you shall obtain everything.

(pMnw 1381)

The Britishers annexed Punjabi and hatched a new policy to drive a wedge among the sister communities. The hired touts tried to create ill will amongst the communities. In the Sikhs, this policy was done against the Namdharis, the fore-runners of freedom struggle of India. Propagation was carried on by saying “That the kookas utter Kalam instead of Gurbani. No respect is shown to The Holy Granth.” Circulars in this regard were sent to all Gurdwaras. According the priests in the historical Gurdwaras treated the Namdharis as un-touchable.

S. Attar Singh Grewal was a staunch Kookas, who used to visit Mukatsar Frequently. Once he went there and entered the Gurdwara to pay respect. A Nihang on seeing him flew into rage. Though Attar Singh showed all humility, the Nihang hit him on the head and blood gushed out. He became unconscious and fell on the ground. Someone tool him to the Namdhari, Dharamshala, where he was given first aid and given proper treatment. In a few days he was fully recovered and thanked the co-mates.

In those days Punjab was infected with plague. The Nihang also was attacked by the deadly disease. The poor man, almost on his last legs was dragged out to crematorium for cremation, and was left there for his ultimate end. Nobody even bothered whether he was dead or alive.

By chance Sardar Attar Singh went out to answer the call of nature and heard the sobbing and singing of the Nihang. Attar Singh drew nearer, the Nihang and brought him to the Dharamshala on his shoulders. There he was looked after affectionately by S. Attar Singh. In a short time he was able to walk. When he came to know, that it was the same Namdhari whom he had hit on the head. He was much ashamed of himself and lay at his feet entreating to pardon him. He admitted by saying ‘I am a misguided fool. Save me from the fire of hell. I could not understand you. You guru is great. Please excuse me “with these words he again placed his head on his feet. But Attar Singh with profound sincerity said “O Singh Sahib! Why are you bewailing? “Sikhism teaches to serve the needy. I have done nothing more than my duty. All thanks are due to the Master, Cheeniwala, who has given me a chance to serve you.” These sweet words were nectar for him. He, with humble submission, requested to take him to his guru. Attar Singh led him to Sri Bhaini Sahib. There he was blessed by Sri Satguru Hari Singh Ji and Mata Jeewan Kaur. He spent the rest of his life serving in the langar.

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DO ALL THE GOOD YOU CAN

BY ALL THE MEANS YOU CAN,

IN ALL THE WAYS YOU CAN

AT ALL THE TIMES YOU CAN,

TO ALL THE PEOPLE YOU CAN,

AS LONG AS EVER YOU CAN

Satguru Ram Singh was the champion of freedom struggle of India. He wished the Indian to be freed through non cooperation and non-violence. This slogan shook the British imperialism. The British policy, based on divide and rule, allowed the kine to be killed in Punjab. The worst of all these slaughter houses were quite close to the sacred places. Similarly a butcher house stood by the wall of Holy Temple Harmander Sahib at Amritsar. The kooka’s could not bear this bloody sight. They attacked the slaughter house to free the cows. Some innocent were arrested, tortured and were forced to confess the crime. The poor fellows could not find any other way than to admit. The court delivered the decision to hang them. But they were acquitted by the kookas, who themselves laid down their lives for noble cause. The govt. considered the kookas their bitter foes and wanted an excuse to crush this freedom movement. At Ludhiana and Ralkote five kookas were hanged in Public in broad-day light. The massacre at Malerkotla was the incident of high handedness. Kooka movement was declared unlawful. A police post was set up at the H.Q. Sri Bhaini Sahib. The enclave of Gurdwara was dug to the water level, and the valuables were conflicted. The greater Lord Satguru Ram Singh with his Subas was deported.

Suba Kahan Singh was taken to Eden the hottest place in Arabia. It is said that a leaf falling from the tree withered dry in no time. Kahan Singh was lodged there, but he cared a bit for this and was cautious for his religious duty only.

One night a fire broke into the bunglow of Supdt. of the Jail. The flames were furious. All the occupants rushed out, but a child was left there in the cradle. On coming to know this the mother bewailed and cried for the child. The fire grew furious and none could dare to enter the room. All were helpless.

Suba Kahan Singh rushed to the spot to rescue the victim. He staked his life for the rescue of child. To the surprise of all. Suba Kahan Singh wrapped in a wet blanket, flew into the flames. On the lips of the audience was prayer. In the twinkling of an eye, the Suba was seen out of the flames, with the child in his arms. The mother of this child in tears ran towards the rescuer. She hastily took the child into her arms, hugged and kissed the baby again and again. All the eye witnesses whether European or Arabian said with one voice “Kahan Singh is not a man but an angel from the Land of Rishis.”

Author: Panth Rattan Master Nihal Singh

Truth And Falsehood

Life is merely a temporary charm.
Be good to all and do no harm.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji reached Sialkot, now in Pakistan, on one of his preaching missions. The people who came to see him told him that they were greatly worried about themselves and their city. Satguru Ji asked the reason for that. They said that a Muslim mystic named Hamza Gaus had gone on a 40-day meditation to destroy the city and its residents. This was because he was angry with the behavior of one person. He made a decision to use his powers to make the whole city sink into the earth and make it vanish forever. Guru Nanak Dev Ji assured them that no harm would come to them. They should go and get busy with their jobs and always keep God in their mind.

Satguru Ji went to the place where the Pir had locked himself in a chamber in which he sat meditating to destroy the city. Bhai Mardana was asked to play on the rebeck while Satguru Ji started singing a shabad. The Pir heard the music and virtues of God sung outside his chamber. He broke his 40-day continuous meditation, opened the door and came out. He was surprised to see the Guru and his associates. He asked them, "Who are you? Why have you come here and interrupted my meditation?"

Satguru Ji told him to calm down and reminded him that holy men are expected to serve and help the people with the power and virtues God bestows on them. It is a sin to use the holy powers to harm people. Pir insisted that all the people of the city were evil. None possessed any goodness. They all deserved to be destroyed. Satguru Ji decided to reveal the truth to him. He gave some money to his associate and sent him to the city to purchase a packet each of "truth" and "falsehood."

The person went to the city and moved from shop to shop in search of truth and falsehood. He always got a negative answer to his query. Finally, he contacted Bhai Moola. He took the money and wrote on a piece of paper, Marna Sach, Jeona Jhuth. "Death is a truth and life is a falsehood."

Satguru Ji showed this to the Pir and warned him that he was totally wrong to think of doing any harm to such people. There were people who knew and understood that life is temporary, hence, a falsehood. Death is sure to come to everyone, while after death, our soul lives forever. Hence, death is a truth.

Pir confessed that he was wrong to believe that everybody was bad and needed to be destroyed. He decided to serve the people and not harm them with the knowledge and virtues that God had given him.

Powers given by God should be used to help people and not harm them. Life is a temporary phase, death is inevitable.

Neither a Hindu Nor a Muslim

God is our Father, His children are we.
Love every person and pray to thee.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji, when he was about 30 years old and staying at Sultanpur Lodhi, Punjab, went as usual to a nearby river for bathing. When he did not return for three days the people got very worried and feared he had drowned.

They were, however, overjoyed when they saw Guru Nanak Dev alive and coming to village. A big crowd gathered around him. Guru Nanak Dev Ji gave his first formal sermon on that day. “God loves everyone of us; for Him there is no Hindu, no Muslim; all of us are his children, hence, equal human beings.”

Both Hindus and Muslims loved Guru Nanak Dev Ji and had gathered there to welcome him. He made them all sit together as equals and named the unique congregation Sangat. Satguruji explained his philosophy by reminding them that people are composed of two things; the “body” which in itself is a dead matter and the “life” which makes all actions of the body possible. Ram and Allah are the cause of these two. We are living because the “body” and “life” are together. Then how can we separate Ram and Allah? God, the Almighty, is both Ram and Allah; those who love Him as Ram are called Hindus and those who love Him as Allah are called Muslims. We should remember the truth – both Hindus and Muslims are human beings created by God and have to be considered as equals.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji while traveling in the Middle East visited Mecca, Baghdad and Madina, the holy places of the Muslims. During his discussion with the Muslim theologians, he was asked who he was. The reply of Guru Nanak Dev Ji was the same “Neither a Hindu, nor a Muslim, just a human being”. They questioned Satguruji, as to who was the superior of the two, the one who followed Islam or one who followed Hinduism. The reply given by Satguruji was “Without good deeds, both will repent”.

The reply of the Satguruji embarrassed the Muslim religious leaders because they had been preaching that if a person becomes a Muslim, he is assured of reaching heaven after death. Satguruji emphasized that God values our deeds and not our beliefs.

All humans, being God’s children, have equal status. Sincere honest deeds done to serve human beings are the right path to realize God.

The sacred light of Sri Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji

When I entered the presence of Sri Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji for the first time, I could not believe my eyes. He was entering the hall to give pawan pavittar darshan. He was walking slowly with several sewaks in attendance. I was surprised because he was surrounded by a gentle glow of golden light.

It was about midday and the sun was shining outside the hall. Inside, there was no special light that would make him look as he was made of soft gold. Gradually he walked to the raised dais and sat down. Apart from his compassionate face and hands, his body was covered in his usual white clothes.

He gave darshan for more than an hour while holy scriptures were recited and sacred songs were sung. The entire time, I could not really see the detailed features of his face although I was sitting in the front row at his sacred feet. All I saw was a very gentle golden glow. Finally, I gave up trying to see his face and looked down at the ground in front of him.

Inside my head, I felt someone laughing. “Acha, hun dekh lai” (“Ok, now you can see”). I looked up and I saw his face. The glow was around his face and no longer on his face. He was smiling. I do not know whether he was smiling at me. I do not think so because there was no reason for him to look at me. I was just one of the many people sitting in the front row. But it felt real; just like he was smiling directly at me. However, I do not think he ever turned his head in my direction.

It was a strange and wonderful feeling. I remembered a story my grandmother told me when I was a boy. In that story, each Gopi in Lord Krishna’s village used to feel as if Lord Krishna was with her even when he was not physically there. My experience with Satguru was similar. He was smiling and playing with me inside my mind even without looking at me. He did so even though he did not know me at all.

I had come for darshan because of a friend who said, “Do you know that God is living on earth in human form at this time. He is Sri Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji. You should go to seek his darshan. People say that whoever has the good fortune to have his darshan is released from the coils of human bondage and suffering forever.”

I felt very elated at this good news and quickly sought Sri Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji’s holy darshan. I felt like a child again who had found his parent after a long absence. I can only thank Satguru for his silent compassion. Sometimes, I still feel as if he is laughing inside my head.

Sent by: Brijesh Khindaria, Switzerland

Cheeni Wala

1E siqgurU rwm isMG jI shwie]

‘Carpenter, carpenter, carpenter’

“What do you mean by this”?

“There is he at Bhaini.”

The foolish people visit him and offer per-sent, Some says, He is Guru Nanak; the others call him God. They all are fools”

“I have also heard so. It is the talk of the town” said Mangal singh of Bishanpura. ‘But I do not belive it so. If it is so truth must be revealed.”

“Sardar Sahib! If you do this, it will be a noble task”

“Alright, let us go tomorrow and see ourselves”

During their chat, they heard:

auhnW dw jnm hY dUr, ijnW nY drSn pw ley nY [

ijnHW ny drSn pw ley ny, ijnHW ny nYx lgw ley ny [

aunHW dw jnm mrn hY dUr [

gurUu rwm isMG pUrw, auh krdw duKW dw cUrw[

auh aUixAW nMU krdw pUrw, ijhVy SrnI Aw gey ny [

Those, who have his Dashan, lover him, Attain salvation. Guru Ram Singh, is the eternal Truth. Those who take refuge under him are free from all worldly ailmerts and attain perfection.

“O, you mean worm! Are you the disciple of Carpenter?

The man flew into ecstasy and with due respect replied, “Yes Sardara! I am his devotee. When I took his refuge all fortunes dawned upon me and the Evil forces disappeared. I was a loose character, of such a low degree that even Yama would have rebukingly ordered me to be put into hell. But this Great lord has turned me lighter than air. You call him a Carpenter. Yes, he is the carpenter, who create heaven and earth, who made sun and stars. Well sardara! Do not be proud if your wordly possessions. Do not miss chance kiss His feet”

“Sardara Sahib! Have you seen? What magic Works there”?

“leave it here let us go to Bhaini tomorrow”

Next day Mangal Singh with his attendents on his white mare left to enter the holy place, on seeing him, the white mare neighed. The True Guru with his followers, was on his way to bless, some one. Mangal Singh enquired of them, if there was any Guru Ram Singh. The reply was in positive. One of the Sikhs led the visitors to a house, where the party was served with food to their satisfaction.

At night Mangal Singh, in a dream beheld a wonderful scene. He was sitting in a tastefully decorated hall. In the centre of the hall there was a peerless throne, studden with jewels. There was a gathering of distinguishes angles and gods. All glamour was in full swing. All at once a tall handsome figure, of bewitching eyes, arms running to knees, descended from skies. Upon this sight there was a loud cheer “Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal”.

All the present stood up to pay their regards. The attendant waved the chaur upon the lord, Satguru Ram Singh Ji.

With the shout Mangal Singh woke up and was surprised. He took bath and went to Durbar, but the programme had concluded. Men and women were retuning in quite sobriety or murmuring Gurbani!. No nonsense talk was heard.

He was feeling ashamed of his absence from the Holy congregation and was too eager to attend the evening session.

Afternoon the holy assembly took place. The ragis were busy in singing hymn.

Qum cMdn hm AirMf bwpry sMg qumHwry bwsw[

nIc rUK qy aUc Bey hYN gMD sugMD invwsw[

My Lord you are like the Sandalwood and arind.

By your association the scentless log has become scentful.

The gracious Master accompanied by his Subas reached the Dewan. The reception was respectful as he had seen in the dream. Satguru Ji took the holy sear and men and women paid him their respect, turn by turn. What he noticed, was more surprising the offerings were made but some of these were returned as the one who offered was either murderer of innocent daughters, or had abused some one? He had been considering Sri Bhaini Sahib as den of culprits, but it turned out like the sear of justice Dharam. He could not help waiting more. The Sardara of Bishen pura stood up and tore up his necklace, took off his gold bangles and laid them at the feet of the true Guru. Tears were running upon his cheeks. Stammering, he solicited most humbly to bless him with Nam. I am a misguided and a great sinner. O True Guru take pity”.

His holiness smiled and said “Sardara I am poor carpenter. You are big landlord. How can I help you”? He could not bear long delay, so he with deep sigh, entreated fro Nam. He went on sobbing and uttered, “You are the Carpenter, who abridged sea to cross to Lanka”

The Satguru Ji asked a bystander to bless him with Nam. This was done in no time and he fell into ecstasy and returned home on foot. Reaching home, he ordered to release all cocks, hens and goats, Wine bottle were broken off. Cutting a joke one of his friends said “Sardara, where is Cheeni’? Cheeni has gone to his real Master. All horses, cows as well as gardens are his. I am a mere watch dog”.

Author: Panth Rattan Master Nihal Singh

Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Kauda Demon

In one of his mission to enlighten people, Guru ji traveled many miles in the wilderness of Assam. His minstrel,Mardana was very hungry and tired, so they sat under a tree. After sometime, Mardana went to get something to eat. On his way he met Kauda, the cannibal. Kauda took Mardana by surprise and bounded his hand and foot by a rope and then carried him to the spot where he had kept a big pan full of oil for frying the flesh of his victims. Kauda started to lighten fire under the pan. When Mardana saw that, he was very frightened and prayed to Guru ji to come to his rescue. The all-knowing Guru realized what was happening to Mardana, so he started walking towards Kauda’s place in order to rescue Mardana.

Kauda was trying to light the fire when Guru ji appeared. This bewildered Kauda completely. He went towards the Guru and captured him. He lit the fire and within minutes the oil was burning hot. Upon seeing this, the Guru said that he wants be the first one to be fried. Kauda was astonished, bewildered. He had never seen someone like this. Kauda carried on his routine and lifted Guru ji to be put in the big pan.

When the Guru’s feet touched the hot oil, it became cold as ice. Kauda then knew that Guru Nanak Dev ji was not an ordinary person. Guru ji looked at him compassionately and graciously and said, "Kauda! You do not see what you do, would you cast yourself in the burning fire of hell?" Kauda, whose conscience was dead with heinous crimes, suddenly came to realization and was overwhelmed with repentance. The very gracious and holy sight of the Divine Master made him realize his guilt and he fell on the feet of the Master and prayed for mercy. The gracious Master blessed him with the Name. Kauda was completely a changed person and thereafter lived as a devout disciple of the Guru as a completely honest worshipper of God.

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.

Dara Shakoh

Guru Har Rai had opened a hospital to keep his Sikhs healthy. He appointed experienced physicians in his hospital. According to the advice of the physician, he had kept all types of medicines available at the time. The treatment was given to all without any discrimination. He also got prepared rare medicines, which were not available in other parts of the country.


King Shahjahan loved his elder son Dara Shakoh very much. But his younger son Aurangzeb was feeling jealous of it. One day with help of a cook, he mixed the moustache of a lion in the food of Dara Shakoh. When Dara Shakoh took that food, he fell ill. He was suffering from severe pain in the stomach.When Shahjahan heard about the suffering of Dara Shakoh he sent for all the experienced physicians working in the royal hospitals. They tried their best but were unable to relieve Dara Shakoh from the severe pain. At last the physicians said, "This medicine which can cure Dara Shakoh of this disease lies in the hospital of Guru Har Rai. Please bring the medicine as early as possible." But Shahjahan was hesitant to bring medicine from Guru Har Rai. He said, "How the Guru will give the medicine. I have sent my army many times to annihilate them. On the other hand I am a King of lndia and he is a Darvesh. Will it not be insult on my part to beg medicine from a Darvesh?" Pir Hasan Ali and Shekh Abu Gangohi advised him that there was no discrimination in the house of Guru Nanak.


Then Shah Jahan wrote a letter to Guru Har Rai. This letter he handed over to his trusted courtiers Aakal Khan and Gul Beg and sent them to Kiratpur to meet the Guru.


When the Guru heard about their mission, he welcomed them and asked his Sikhs to serve them meals and fruits. They were pleased to see the tradition of common kitchen. The Guru called his physicians and ordered them to give the courtiers the required medicine. The physicians provided them the medicines and they returned back.


When Dara Shakoh took that medicine he became hale and hearty within a few days. He made up his mind to visit Kiratpur. He reached Kiratpur and thanked the Guru for his kindness. The Guru blessed him and he said, "The Kings must be God fearing." Dara Shakoh wrote a poem in the praise of the Guru. He stayed for many days with the Guru. As Dara Shakoh was a very learned man, he studied the Sikh scriptures with great curiosity. Later on he became a devout devotee of the Guru. During the war of succession, when he was fleeing towards Kabul, Guru Har Rai helped him to cross the river Beas.

Madness for Gold

One day Guru Nanak and Bhai Mardana reached a country which was ruled by a very cruel king named karu. He had an urge to amass gold and silver. If he heard that one of his subjects had some gold or silver, he would ask for it and then take it away by force if his request failed. In this way, he had filled forty boxes with gold and silver.

One day the king asked his minister. "Does anyone in our country possess gold or silver about which we have not come to know?"The minister said, "I shall inquire about it and let you know tomorrow,"

On the next day, the minister sent a very beautiful slave girl to the market for sale. The sale price of that slave girl was fixed as one silver coin. When the merchant's son came to know about the news he went to his widowed mother and said, "Mother, if we buy this slave girl for a silver coin, she will do all the house work and make life easy for you." Mother replied, "We do not have any silver coin in our house but when your father died, he was buried with a silver coin in his mouth. You should now go dig the grave and take out that coin to buy this slave girl”. When the King came to know about the silver coin in the mouth of the dead, he had all the graves dug up and had the silver coin taken out.

Later, Guru Nanak went to his palace and said to the King’s gatekeeper, “Convey our message to the King, two outsiders want to see him”. When the King came to the door, he saw Guru Nanak counting pieces of broken earthen pots. The King asked in great wonder, “O holy man, what use are these pieces to you?” Guru Nanak replied, “We are to take these to the next world.” The King asked “How can you take these pieces to the next world?” Guru Nanak replied, “In the same way as the wealth collected by you by cruelty.” Hearing this, he realized his mistake. He said, “I have great love for gold and silver. Advise me so that my love for gold and silver goes away and I may embark on the path of God.”

Guru Nanak said, “O Karu, whatever you see with the eyes will be destroyed one day. The wealth which is spent in the name of God goes along with you to the next world. Horses, forces and kingdom will remain here when death overtakes you. You came to this world alone and empty handed and shall leave this world empty handed. You have seen with your own eyes that the dead, who has been buried with one silver coin in their mouths could not take even a coin with them. How will this wealth amassed with sins and cruelty, go with you? However the sins and cruelty committing those sins you will be thrown into fire of hell.”Hearing about the fire of hell, he trembled more. He asked. “How can I escape those fire?” Guru Nanak said, “Only if you shun cruelty henceforth and use the wealth which you have collected by your sins, to provide free meals to the poor.”

Importance of reading Kirtan Sohila

After traveling for many years and showing the people of the world the path to God, Guru Nanak Dev Ji came to a land near the banks of the Ravi River. This Land belonged to a wealthy man named Krori Mal who donated this entire land to Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The land was renamed to Kartarpur. Guru Nanak Dev Ji spent the later years of his life here in Kartarpur along with Bhai Lehna Ji. One afternoon, while staying in Kartarpur, Bhai Lehna Ji was giving Guru Nanak Dev Ji a massage. What did Bhai Lehna Ji see?

When he first started the massage Guru Nanak Sahib Ji was fine. He had no marks or cuts on his body, but now out of nowhere Guru Ji’s feet were bleeding. There were cuts in the feet as if they had walked over some prickles or something sharp.

Bhai Lehna Ji was shocked! He asked, “Guru Ji, you are sitting here yet how come your feet have started to bleed? How come there are cuts in your feet as if you have walked over something sharp?”
Guru Nanak Dev Ji said that there is a Sikh who is milking goats out in the field. Call that Sikh here and then I will give you the answer to your question. Guru Ji sent another Sikh to call the Sikh in the fields. When the messenger reached the fields the Sikh was reading the Bani of Kirtan Sohila while he was milking the goats. The messenger told the Sikh that Guru Ji was calling him.

The Sikh came and bowed to Guru Ji. Guru Nanak Dev Ji then told the Sikh, “Whenever anybody reads the Bani that you were reciting (Kirtan Sohila), I am always present there. While you were walking around in the fields reading Kirtan Sohila, I was walking behind you listening to the Bani. I didn’t let a single cut come on to your body; instead I took the cuts for you.”
The Sikh asked Guru Ji for forgiveness and asked what he should do now.

Guru Ji told him that Kirtan Sohila Bani should be read at night time before going to sleep. First you should wash your hands, feet, and face and then read the Bani with full concentration. If you do this, then I will sit by that person’s side and listen.

From this moment on, Kirtan Sohila started to be read at night time. Kirtan Sohila is a very short Bani, but some people are so lazy that they go to sleep without reading it. It’s not like Sukhmani Saheb which is very long. It is only a few small shabads.

If someone reads this Bani before going to sleep then they will not have any nightmares during the night. If you die during your sleep you will not become a ghost or evil spirit in your next life. Guru Ji will look after you.

This is Guru Ji’s Hukam, “That person who reads Kirtan Sohila before going to sleep will be close to me.”

While reading this Bani with concentration you should think in your mind that Guru Ji is sitting by listening to me reading the Bani. This Bani is comprised of 5 shabads; 3 from Guru Nanak Dev Ji and one each by the fourth and fifth Gurus.

www.searchsikhism.com

The Value of Satguru's Darshan

In Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s time there were two men who always met each other at night while walking to back from their destination. One of them is Satguru Ji’s Sikh who always goes for Satguru Ji’s darshan and the other man always went to wrong side. One day while Satguru Ji’s Sikh was going for Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s darshan he was hurt by a thorn on his feet. The Sikh was very upset and walked home with pain on his feet. When they met at night, Satguru Ji’s Sikh came to know that the other man found gold stamp. The man also told the Sikh that you go to darshan (meet) Guru Nanak Dev Ji and you get hurt but I go wrong way and I got gold. The next day Satguru Ji’s Sikh went to ask Guru Nanak Dev Ji that why did I have to suffer where as the other man got gold stamp. Guru Nanak Dev Ji told him to ask the other man that in the pot where he found the gold stamp that there was just a gold stamp and the rest was ashes right? And Guru Nanak Dev Ji said that he got the gold because you come to darshan me and then he has your darshan every night so that’s why there is just one gold stamp left. The Sikh then asked Guru Nanak Dev Ji that why did I get hurt in my feet? Guru Nanak Dev Ji replied that "you were going to get a death sentence but your karem (deed) is reduced because you have Satguru’s darshan (meet) every day".

-From Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji's Updesh, Written by Harmeet Kaur

The Astounding Respect For Kes (Hair)

On the 16th of July, 1991, Sri Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji had bypass surgery done in the city of Adelaide, in Australia, regarding which some facts have been given in many news papers. At 71 years, Satguruji agreed to have the operation performed only if all HIS conditions were met. The major conditions were that when the operation was to be performed, the chest hair surrounding the area would not be shaved and during the operation, the Dastar (Turban) must by all means remain, covering His Holiness’s Kes. Other religious conditions were very serious, such as no blood transfusion would be allowed and the Kachera (Traditional Underpants) shall not be taken off. During the operation, no alcoholic anesthesia could be used and neither could disinfectant with such contents be applied on the wound. Setting such stringent conditions, the top surgeons throughout the world were approached. All the top surgeons including those in India gave the answer that they could not operate under such strict rules. During that time a reply came from Dr. Ras of the Royal Edward hospital in Australia who had agreed to perform the operation while following the rules to the fullest. The operation was successfully performed on the 16th of July. Many newspapers in Australia including “Telegraph”, “Mirror”, “The News”, approached Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji and requested to know the answer to the question that was HE not worried about the operation because the survival chance had been greatly reduced due to the strict rules that were set in place? To this His Holiness Enlightened them saying “Guru De Sikh Nu Aapni Jaan Nalo Asool Vadhayray Piaray Hunday Hann”[“For A Guru’s Sikh, The Rules Are Much More Important Than Life.”]. For such a Great Personality, to risk HIS Life in order to not disrespect the Kes, in this day and age, is truly an astonishing deed that will be forever inscribed in History.

-From the March, 1998 issue of ‘Preet Larhi’ published by Gurbaksh Singh ‘Preet Larhi’(Yahoo Namdhari Group)