1-16 Sri Amardas ji Does Seva

Many days passed and Sri Amardas ji continued his daily routine of doing Simran in solitude.  A thought came to his mind: “it is better to do the seva of the Guru in order to make the Guru happy.”  The Guru is unaffected by pain or pleasure.  The Guru is without desire.  But still the servant should serve the Guru with love and devotion, observing it is as a duty.  In the previous yugas, people would do Tapp to free their mind.  It was an intense penance.  They would sit in the middle of fires lit around them; they would stay naked and sit in the cold rain; some would do Tapasya on one leg with the arms facing upwards for long periods of time.  Some would hang upside-down from trees.  They did these hard Tapps to impress Bhagavan.  The supreme tapp in Kaliyuga is to serve the Satsangat: distributing water; gathering firewood; fanning the Sangat in hot weather; doing the Simran of Akaal Purakh.  This is how Akaal Purakh, Guru, is impressed.  Washing the feet of the Guru; cooking food in Langar; these types of sevas in the house of the Guru; coming to the Satsang and doing their seva; this is the highest type of Tapasya.  Sri Amardas ji thought about all this.  He decided to perform the difficult seva of transporting water.  It was difficult because pulling water from the well was a difficult and straining task.  He decided to bring water for drinking and for the bathing of Guru ji and other Sikhs.  The Sikhs that would serve in the Langar, Baba Bhudda ji, Bhai Dhinga etc., Sri Amardas ji asked them to give him the seva of carrying water.  The Sikhs agreed and gave him pots to bring water.  Sri Amardas ji would bring water from the well.  He would go back and forth with water to bring to the Langar/kitchen.  He would fill the pots in the kitchen where the Langar was made.  Sri Amardas ji would speak with humility and call everyone “Bhai Sahib” or “Babaji”.  He wouldn’t let his mind wander and did his seva with full devotion.

Guru Angad Dev ji would wake up at 2 am and take a bath.  Sri Amardas ji would wake up before Guru ji and bring water for his bathing.  He would fill pots and perform the seva with great love and devotion.  He would not be impatient.  He would use his full force and perform the seva with accuracy.  He would first help give Guru ji a bath and then wash the Guru’s clothes.  Then he would go into solitude and sit down.  He wouldn’t speak to anyone and only think of the Guru’s form in his mind.  He would destroy his own wishes and just think of the Guru.  He didn’t go back home and stayed with the Guru.  He didn’t think about home.  People form his village and family would make fun of him and say: “look what he is doing in his old age.  He goes to the home of his daughter-in-law’s father and does seva there.” 

After a year passed by of Sri Amardas ji doing seva, the clothes that Sri Amardas ji wore, began to rip and scuff away.  He would do the Guru’s seva all the time.  He had no other wish in his mind, except for seva.  He only ate from the Langar and did not wish to eat and drink anything else.  He had great tolerance for hunger.  He didn’t care for food, so clothes were an absolute lower priority.  Sri Amardas ji was above this.  After a year, Satguru ji gave Sri Amardas ji a 1.5 yards cloth.  Sri Amardas ji tied that cloth to his head and fastened it with a rope so it doesn’t fall off.  He didn’t take it off ever.  He saw it as the gift of the Guru and treated it with respect.  He kept up his seva of transporting water.  He would run fast and fetch the water when it was needed.  He was 60 years old when he came to Guru ji.  His body was getting weak but he was eager to do seva.  He threw away his laziness and would pick up his pots to fetch water from the well, day and night.  He didn’t think about his family or his home.  He saw the Guru as his only family.  He served the Guru with his body and thought of the Guru with his mind.  People from his village came and asked him: “come back home.  Come and see how your family and relatives are doing.  Come meet your family.  They miss you.  Why are you here?  What do you get from here?  You are enduring pain at this age, here.”  Sri Amardas ji responded: “I have no one and I have never belonged to anyone.  Not in any time period was anyone mine.  Just as pieces of grass meet and separate and float away in the current of the river, that is how everyone meets the family and separates.  Just as people crossing the river on the same boat and then separate, once reaching the other shore.  No one cares about anyone after that.  As a visitor comes to spend the night and then is on his way in the morning, that is how we are with our friends and family.  The Guru is now my world.  He is my father, mother and relatives.  The Guru is with me in this life and will be with me after death.  He will be with me where no one else can go with you, when you die.  The Guru is the support of my soul.  His feet is all I desire.”  The people would then go home thinking: “this person is now useless.”  Little did they know that Sri Amardas ji was going to be the most useful being in the world.  The light of Guru Nanak was about to enter his heart. 

He would serve the Guru, day and night, discarding his ego.  The Seva was changing his soul on a daily basis.  His soul was becoming pure.  His seva was becoming an inspiration for others, in itself.  He would do the seva with great enthusiasm.  He wouldn’t care what people would say or what they thought.  He gave his mind and body to the Guru’s feet and that is all he thought about.  He had full devotion in the Guru’s feet.  Many yogis who had performed great Tapasya, Sri Amardas ji had passed all those yogis and saints of the past.  Sri Amardas ji could not see the world anymore.  He could only see the Guru’s feet. 

The second year passed and Sri Amardas ji got another 1.5-yard cloth from the Guru.  Sri Amardas ji took the gift from the Guru and tied that on his head as well.  He tied a rope on top of the cloth so it doesn’t fall.  He didn’t care about what other people thought.  When his Siropa would go loose, he would tighten it again.  He never took it off.  It would go wet while carrying the water pots but his love of the seva would increase.  He would increase his rounds.  People would make fun of him, carrying the water but Sri Amardas ji was unaffected.  The world did not exist for him anymore.  He stayed quiet and remained coloured in the love of Love Bhagti.  He was awake inside but asleep towards the world.  His clothes were ripped and his body was old.  But he was red with the love of the Guru. 

After the third year, Guru Angad Dev ji gave Sri Amardas ji a third piece of cloth.  Guru ji never spoke to Sri Amardas ji.  Sometimes Sri Amardas ji would sit close to the Guru and sometimes far.  His hands and feet turned a different colour from doing the seva of carrying water.  His hands were blistered from carrying the cold water but he was always ready to do seva.  He would wake before 2 am and bring water for the Guru’s bath.  He would wash the Guru’s feet with care.  He would wash the Guru’s clothes.  He would bring water for the Langar and bring firewood.  He would light the firewood and do the Simran of Akaal Purakh the whole time.  He would eat Langar when it was ready.  He would wash the dishes of the Guru; and fan him during the hot weather.  He would lay out his bedsheets before Guru ji went to sleep.  The wound on the toe of Guru ji was scabbing, which would hurt Guru Sahib.  Sri Amardas ji would blow hot breaths in to a cloth and place it on Guru ji’s toe to lessen the pain and would remain in Guru ji’s room for a long time.  Four years had passed and he received the fourth cloth from Guru ji, which he tied on his head. 

He received the Siropa in the fifth and sixth year as well.  In the seventh year, while serving the Guru’s feet, he put the Guru’s toe in his mouth, to suck the blood out of the wound.  As the toe came into contact with his mouth, a radiance blossomed in Sri Amardas’s heart, just like the morning rays of the sun.  The powers of miracles came inside of him and he now had the knowledge of his true self.  As the wound of Guru ji’s toe would bleed, Sri Amardas ji would suck the blood and spit it out.  Sri Amardas ji then thought to himself: “what is the point of having miraculous powers if I do not fix the wound on my Guru’s toe?  I will fix this wound so the Guru is no longer in pain.”  Sri Amardas ji fixed the wound with his powers.  Sri Amardas ji saw the cured toe and was extremely happy.  When Guru Angad Dev ji woke up, he noticed that his toe was cured and there was no pain in his body.  He got up and thought: “what has happened?  The wound on my toe is gone.  It was Sri Amardas ji that did this.  He now has powers.”  Guru ji then spoke to Sri Amardas ji: “oh Purkha, what have you done?  You couldn’t handle the little power that you received?  The master of the three worlds, Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji bowed in front of my body, this wound should have rightfully been there for the rest of my life.  From now on, never use your powers, no matter what the circumstances.  Saints are able to tolerate the most intolerable situations.  They carry a lot of stamina and patience.  They are ready to give their heads and don’t think twice about it, but never show their powers.  The power increases by exercising restrain; but lessens by showing miracles.  Take this wisdom and engrave it in to your heart.  Always do the Simran of Akaal Purakh.”  Sri Amar ji stood up and folded his hands and said: “please forgive me Guru ji!  I listened to my mind and didn’t take your permission.  I will only do what you advise from now on.  You are great and forgiving.  You are vast like the ocean, intelligent and wise.  You are patient like the earth, what does an impure person like me know?”  Guru ji forgave Sri Amardas ji and said: “don’t do this again.”  Guru ji looked at his toe and made the wound come back.  It started to bleed as it did before.  Such was the way of the Guru.  The Devatas and other celestial beings all bowed and folded their hands in front of Guru ji. 

11 years had passed and Guru ji received the 11^th piece of cloth.  Sri Amardas ji continued his seva for the Guru with love and devotion.  He had no desire in his heart and only thought of the Guru’s feet. 

The Siropas formed a large crown on his head.  It would get wet as he carried water and began to harbour tiny insects.  His clothes were old and torn.  His feet were blistered.  He had no desire to eat any delicious food.  His hands were wrinkled and blistered like his feet from carrying the water.  He had no concern of his own clothes or the pain his body was in.  He only thought of the seva.  He would sit and listen to Kirtan and his seva was the more than any other Sikh.  The Sikhs would say: “his height is small and he is gone old.  His hair has gone white and his skin has lost its vigour.  He still performs more seva than anyone else.  He sucks the blood from the Guru’s toe and does not sleep properly.  He wakes up before Guru ji and fetches water for his bath.  Whether It’s hot or cold, winter or summer, he performs seva without any complains.  His Tapasya is great and has done extremely hard work.  His life is a success.  Guru ji does not even look at him.  He has kept the ways of the Udaaseen.  He sits close to Guru ji but Guru ji does not speak to him.  The Guru’s ways are unique.”

Other people would look at him and make fun of him.  They would say: “looks like he was thrown out of his home.  He doesn’t have any money.  He saw the Guru as the sanctuary for the unsupported, homeless ones and is staying here.  He came here to eat small morsels of food.  Everyone has abandoned him and that is why he stays depressed.  He is homeless, without status and wanders around here and there.  He listens to everyone, hoping he doesn’t get kicked out from here.”  This is what the fools would say and say bad things about him.  They didn’t know that he was going to be the master of the universe one day.  He was going to be the “dheen dhuniya da Paatshaah” (the supreme king of the universe) one day.  There will be no other as gracious as him.  Sri Amardas ji would hear everything but was unaffected by their words.  He would be eager and ready to do Seva, all the time.  He would sing the glories of the Guru.

1-17 Sri Amar Dev ji is Given Boons

Thus, Sri Amardas ji would do seva while letting go of joy and sorrow.  He was unaffected by what people would say about him, good or bad.  One night, a sand storm blew along with rain.  There was a lot of mud everywhere.  It was winter, so there was frost forming everywhere.  People would stay under there cotton comforters or sit by lit fires.  At around 2 am, it was time for Guru Angad Dev ji’s bath so Sri Amardas ji headed out to get water from the well.  He filled his pot and headed back from the well.  He had the pot placed on top of his head and walked back slowly.  He was very careful, to not spill the water.  He didn’t want to delay the bath of the Guru.  On the way back to the Dharmsala (Gurduara) there was a house that belonged to Julahas (weavers).  There was a lot of mud around their house.  Tiny drops of rain continued to fall which made the place muddier.  The Julaha had hammered a wooden stud into the ground, which he used to weave cloth with.  It was quite dark.  When Sri Amardas ji walked by, he tripped over the wooden stud and fell into the nearby ditch.  He saved the water in the pot, though, and didn’t let the water spill.  He used all his might to save the water from spilling out.  Sri Amardas ji then stabilized himself and got up, placing the pot of water on top of his head again.  The only thing he could think of was: “I need to get the water to Guru Sahib, in time for his bath.  I don’t want to be late.”  The Julaha and the Julahi were laying down, covered in their blankets and heard someone fall outside their home.  The Julaha shouted out: “who goes there?  Who is outside?  Are you a thief or someone else?  Tell me who you are.”  Sri Amardas ji heard the Julaha and responded out loud: “I am the servant of the Satguru.  I came to get water.”  The Julaha then said: “which servant is it that is out during this dark night, in the freezing cold?  It is raining and the clouds have casted a dense cover.  There is mud everywhere.”  The Julahi spoke out in a hurtful way: “it can’t be anyone else at this time except for that Amaroo, the homeless.  He’s the only one out during this time.  It’s got to be him.  He doesn’t sit still all day or all night and wanders around all the time.  He eats, filling his belly, everyday and doesn’t talk to anyone.  He left his own home and tolerates other people making fun of him.  He lives close by to the Tappa (Saint).  He doesn’t care for his reputation.  He doesn’t care what anyone else says, good or bad, about him.”  Hearing the Julahi, Sri Amar ji spoke out: “I am not homeless!  I serve the most powerful, most reputable and most pleasant-natured Satguru.  You are crazy for saying all these things and have no wisdom in your heart.  You do not understand the power of the master of the universe.”  Sri Amardas ji then headed towards the Guru’s home with the pot on top of his head.

Guru Angad Dev ji was standing on top of his bathing stool, ready to take a bath.  He had sensed already all that had happened with Sri Amardas ji, a little while ago but he wanted to test his servant.  He recognized the great patience that his servant had.  Sri Amardas ji did not say anything and began to perform his seva of giving Guru ji a bath, right away.  He poured water on the Guru’s feet and on top of his body.  Meanwhile at the house of the Julahas, the Julahi had lost her mind as soon as Sri Amardas ji called her “crazy.”  She began grinding her teeth and talking nonsense.  When the sun arose and the day started, Guru Angad Dev ji called Sri Amardas ji.  Sri Amardas ji came and bowed to Guru Sahib.  He stood up and looked towards Guru ji.  Guru Angad Dev ji spoke: “tell me everything that happened last night.  Did someone say something to you while you were bringing the water?”  Sri Amardas ji folded his hands and said: “Guru ji, you are the master of the universe and know what’s in everyone’s hearts.  You know everything that happens.  I don’t wish to hide anything from you but I dare not say what happened, as I would be applying my personal bias towards the story.”  Guru Angad Dev ji heard Sri Amardas ji’s words and called the Julaha.  The Julaha brought his wife, the Julahi, to Guru Angad Dev ji.  As soon as the Julahi came into Guru ji’s presence, her senses came back to her and she was back to normal.  Guru Angad Dev ji asked him: “tell me the truth of what happened last night.  I want to hear the whole truth.  If you hide anything from me, you will be punished in this world.”  The Julaha got scared, as he just witnessed the words of Sri Amardas ji come true in an instant.  This was his Guru who was more powerful than him.  He figured that if he didn’t say the truth, he would have to suffer for it.  He began to speak: “I asked out loud what the noise was outside my home.  My wife was awake, but in and out of sleep.  She spoke out loud, after hearing me shout, it must be that “Amaroo Nithava (Amaroo the homeless).”  Then, your servant called her “crazy.”  She immediately lost her senses as soon as he said that.  Now that we came to you, she has calmed down and returned to normal.  We are scared right now.  I have said everything as it happened.”  Guru ji then looked towards Sri Amardas ji and said: “is this how it happened?”  Sri Amardas ji then folded his hands and began to speak: “she called me homeless, Guru ji.  That was true, but she doesn’t understand the ways of the soul.  One may still be in a home and still be homeless if the mind keeps wandering.  I was wandering around aimlessly, as the deer wanders in search of the musk, already inside of it.  I was not at peace.  When I came to your seva, I was at peace.  This Julahi doubted my peace, and I could not tolerate it and called her crazy.”  Listening to the love-drenched words of Sri Amardas ji, Guru Angad Dev ji’s heart became filled with love.  Guru ji noticed the seva that Sri Amardas ji had done for the last 12 years.  He noticed the faith and devotion he had and became very gracious towards him.  He wanted to bestow such immeasurable, such unachievable gifts on to his Sikh today.  He was eager to give his Sikh the whole universe and spoke to him:

“You are the home of the homeless, you are the reputation of those without any reputation.  You are the support of the supportless, you are on the side of the ones with nobody on their side.  You are the strength of the weak, there is no other like you.  You give the impatient their patience and you are the Peer of Peers.  You can return the most difficult lost things to all; you save the people who are badly stuck.  You have the power to create and destroy, the world’s subsistence is in your hands.”  Guru Angad Dev ji gave these 12 blessings to Sri Amardas ji with great joy.  Guru Angad Dev ji was extremely impressed and happy.  He hugged Sri Amardas ji.  They had goosebumps all over their bodies.  Guru Angad Dev ji then said to Sri Amardas ji: “as we hugged today, we are now one.  Just as though a river flows into the Ganga and then becomes one with the Ganga; just as raindrops become one with the ocean, that is how we are now one.  Just as sparks are one in the fire, that is how we are now.  There is no difference between you and I.  I will be entering your body and fulfilling many tasks of the world.  I will be leaving my body soon and entering yours.”  Guru Angad Dev ji and Sri Amardas ji thus become one in the same.  Doing the seva of the Satguru, all rewards are received.  The seva of a Sikh never goes unrewarded or unnoticed. The Sikh receives all desired wishes.  Guru ji then removed the “crown” that was on top of Sri Amardas ji’s head, collected over the last 11 years.  The tied Siropas, which had tiny insects in it, was removed and Guru Amardas ji was given a bath.  He was dressed in brand new clothes.  Guru Angad Dev ji said to Sri Amardas ji in front of all the Sikhs of the Guru’s court: “I will place you on to my throne and give you the Gurta Ghuddi.”  Guru ji looked towards the Sangat and said: “he is now the same as me.  There is no difference between us.  We are two bodies but one soul.  There is no other like Sri Guru Amar ji.”  Guru Angad Dev ji was extremely happy.  He asked Guru Amardas ji, after not speaking to him for 12 years: “Purkha, how many people are in your family?  How many children do you have?”  Sri Amardas ji folded his hands and said: “oh treasure of virtue, you already know everything.  Since you have asked, after knowingly being in the unknown, I will tell you.  I have two sons: Mohan and Mohri.  I also have two daughters with your blessings.”  Guru Angad Dev ji then spoke: “listen Purkha, I will tell you something that is in your advantage: I want you to leave Khadoor now, and go to another place.  When Guru Nanak Dev ji gave me the Guruship, then, he told me to do the same.  He told me to leave his place and go to a new place.  I then came to Khadoor and have been living here for many years.  Sri Chand and Lakhmi Das live at the place of their father and take care of it.  In the same way, you should go and live somewhere else and establish a new place, keeping all the traditions.  My sons, Dattu and Dasu will stay here and take care of this place.  If they don’t see you, jealousy will not come near them.  As long as they don’t see your glory and radiance they won’t burn on the inside or begin a conflict with you.”  Thus, the Guruship was transferred to Sri Guru Amardas ji and Guru Angad Dev ji asked Guru Amardas ji to move from Khadoor.

1-18 Sri Guru Amar Das ji goes with Gonda to Goindwal

The next day, Sri Satguru Angad Dev ji was sitting in Sangat, blessing all his Sikh servants.  He gave everyone, rich or poor, the blessing to be in his divine presence.  That same day, a person named Gonda Khatri came.  He saw Guru ji and bowed his head.  He folded his hands and said: “Sri Guru ji, I have heard of your glories from a lot of people.  The wise ones sing your glories.  The life forms that can be seen and the ones that can’t be seen, they are all under your command.  My village is in ruins, as it is inhabited by ghosts.  There are many types of deos, jinns, demons and prayts (types of ghosts) that live there.  They are destroying the area and doing many bad things there.  There are thousands and thousands of prayts living there.  They roam around the area and don’t let humans live there.  They seem to be growing in numbers.  We construct walls to build homes during the day, thinking we will put the roof in, the next day.  Overnight, the hideous looking prayts break the walls.  Many times, have I tried to establish the village but the ghosts kill or scare away the people.  Please bless my village by going there.  Once your feet come to the village, the ghosts will go away.  I will give you all the land you need.  You can build your home there and there will be no muzahum (tax) on that land.  Please come and establish that village.”  Sri Guru Angad Dev ji heard Gonda’s plea and spoke in Sangat: “tell me exactly, and truthfully, why and how did this all happen?  Since when did the prayts come to live there?  How did the village come to ruins?  Sit down and tell us the whole story.  Your wishes will be fulfilled.”  Gonda heard Guru ji’s words and spoke: “Sri Satguru ji, I’ll tell you what happened.  My relatives and I were in conflict for my land.  My cousins disputed the claim to my land.  We had many fights regarding the land and many people tried to resolve the conflict.  We went to the Delhi court to settle this.  After listening to the arguments, a situation arose over a point where the hakims (magistrates) said that whoever can swear upon their dharma will win this case, over that particular statement.  When I heard that, I was ready to swear upon my dharma.  I lied though.  I won the case.  I was happy and became the owner of the land.  When I came back to my land, the prayts saw that I had lied to win the land and that I had falsely sworn on my dharma.  The prayts all came to that land.  My sin was seen by the prayts.  They came from many far-off lands and came to destroy the place.  They scared away the people.  They began to live there, in the thousands.  Many live there now and people are afraid to come into the village.  This was a big sin that I had done by swearing and lying under oath.  Guru ji, only you can help me now.  Please purify my village.”  Guru Angad Dev ji then thought in his heart: “my sons are egotistical and I need to break their ego.  They don’t listen to me but want the Guru Ghuddi.  The Guru Ghaddi only goes to the servant.  Whoever stays under the Guru’s command is eligible for the Guruship.  My sons are jealous of Guru Amardas ji and will continue to grow their hatred towards him.  They do not see their own faults.  Many other Sikhs are on Dasu’s side to receive the Guruship.  He is my son but does not obey my command.  I will test them in front of everyone.”  Thus Guru ji decided to test his sons in front of everyone.  He called Dasu, the eldest son and said to him: “Dasu, my son, go with Gonda Khatri to his village.  There are ghosts there.  Help him establish his village.”  Dasu responded to his father’s command: “I will not go!  How can I live amongst ghosts?  Khadoor is my village.  I shall stay here and not go to Goindwal.  You are sending me to a place where people cannot live.  Everyone is leaving from there.  I cannot go there.  It is too hard to live there.  I have heard the ghosts there are very strong and they are too many in numbers.  Any walls that are built there, are destroyed.  They scare everyone away.  How shall I build a house there?  What am I going to do there when I have everything I need, here?”  After listening to Dasu’s refusal, Guru ji asked Dattu: “your brother is not going.  Listen to my command and go.  Gonda is requesting us to go.  Get up and do this favor for him.  Scare all the ghosts away.  You go and establish his village.”  Dattu responded: “listen Pithaji, I live in Khadoor.  What do I need to go to his village for?  I listen to Kirtan here.  What do I need to go there for?  People come here to fulfil their wishes.  If someone else comes with the same wish, how many times will you move?  What do we care if a village is established or in ruins?  Are you looking to establish us or ruin us?”  Guru ji heard both of his sons and then looked towards Guru Amardas ji.  He said to him: “Purkha, you go there where the ghosts live, and establish a beautiful village.  That village will be a heaven of Guru Keerat (glory of the Guru).  This will be the dimension of the Guru.”  Guru ji’s whole sentence didn’t even finish that Guru Amardas ji was ready to go.  He tied a kumerkassa (cummerbund) and got ready.  He folded his hands and asked: “how should this new village be established?  I will establish it the way you wish to establish it.”  Guru ji said: “on the east side of the village, start digging there and level the ground for building houses.  Build houses there.”  Guru Angad Dev ji used to carry a cane.  He took that cane, filled it with all his powers and blessings, and gave it to Guru Amardas ji.  He said to him: “take this cane and wherever you wave this, the ghosts will fear it and run away.  None of the ghosts will remain there.  Wherever your feet will go, the impure land will become pure.  Find a good portion of land and make your permanent house there too.  Other people will come, seeing you build your house.  This Gonda Khatri is very rich.  He will make many big houses there.  Name the village after him.  Make beautiful houses for people to live there.  Call your family and relatives to live there as well.  Both Dattu and Dasu did not obey my command.  They are afraid of ghosts and do not realize the power of the Guru’s house or Guru’s Bani.  They do not have faith in the Guru.  They believe that they do things.  They do not know that it is the Guru that does everything.  They have fear in their hearts.  The architect and actioner are both the Guru, the true Karta Purakh (the doer).”  After giving Guru Amardas ji instructions, he sent him off with Gonda.

Guru Amardas ji headed towards Goindwal and took the plant of love in his heart.  Faith is the berm, the basin, which stores the water of love to feed the plant.  He listened to every command of the Guru.  This is the water that will nourish the plant.  The bark of the plant is the daily meditation of the Guru.  The root is the Bhagti, which goes deeper.  Sat (truth), Santokh (contentment), Daya (pity), Dharam (duty) and Dheeraj (patience) are the branches of this plant of love.  The knowledge of the self is the fruit of this plant.  The nectar of bliss is achieved with this plant.  The love increases everyday.  Guru Amardas ji’s love grows.  He obeyed the command but he began to shed tears as he was going away from the Guru.  He bowed to the feet of the Guru and washed the feet of the Guru with his tears.  Guru Amardas ji was leaving the Guru after many years.  He felt the pain of separation.  Guru Angad Dev ji consoled Guru Amardas ji by placing his hand on his head and back.  He said go to this new place and I will be with you, by your side.  As Guru ji left Khadoor, he faced the Guru and walked backwards.   He folded his hands, faced towards the Guru, and walked backwards towards the boundaries of Khadoor. 

This is how the Guru tested his sons.  There was now no doubt left in the hearts of the Sikhs that only the servant becomes the Guru.  Guru Amardas ji did the most seva and impressed the Guru.  The Guru Parmeshwar is only won by seva and by the growth of devotion.  Whoever discards their ego and serves the Guru, why wouldn’t the Guru listen to them and be on their side?  Whoever rejects the world and only meditates on the Guru, they are worthy of the Guru Ghuddi.  The sons were egotistical about their father being the Guru.  They did not have faith and love for the Guru.  They only saw their father.  This was the same that happened with Guru Nanak Dev ji.  Guru Nanak Dev ji gave the Guru Ghuddi to his servant, Bhai Lehna, Guru Angad Dev ji.  Baba Sri Chand ji and Lakhmi Das ji did not get it.  This is what happened to Guru Angad Dev ji.  Everyone now knew that the Guru Ghuddi was going to go to Guru Amardas ji.  The Sikhs would talk about this and understood this: “Guru Sahib does what is best.” 

1-19 Establishing Goindwal

Reciting Japji Sahib, Guru Amardas ji walked backwards along with Gonda.  His body was now old.  He was weak.  He had a short height but his radiance made him enormous, as he was now the whole universe’s support.  After walking about 9 km, he bowed down like a long stick on the ground.  He completed the recitation of Japji Sahib.  He thought of Guru Angad Dev ji, the treasure of virtues, in his heart and did the “ashtanga parnaam (laying down on the ground like a stick, bowing).”  He then faced Goindwal and fearlessly walked forward.  He had the cane that was given to him by Guru Angad Dev ji, which he kept above his head as a sign of respect.  He saw the swarms of ghosts ahead and began to waive the cane of Guru Angad Dev ji.  A fire came from the cane which began to burn the ghosts.  The ghosts couldn’t stand the heat, even for a second.  (As the ghosts are a “jooni,” (beings that are born into, and die from) they also have families and households.  According to Gurbani, the soul is born into the ghostly bodies as a punishment.  Just as there are species within different types of beings, there are different types of ghosts as well: pisaach, prayt, bhoot, jinn, deo, daint etc.  They have their own food and have their own items of use.)  As the cane of the Guru was swung around, the ghosts were in pain and ran away.  Their bodies were burning and they couldn’t gather their clothes in time.  They didn’t wait for their son or father.  The brothers left their brothers and ran.  The husbands left their wives and ran away.  Some fell to the ground, unconscious.  They were in such a panic that they could no longer stay there.  They were yelling and screaming.  They were running away, fast.  As Guru Amardas ji waived the cane, more fire would come from it.  They folded their hands and said: “please leave us.  Don’t kill us.  We have been living here for a long time now so let us gather our things so we can leave.  Please don’t waive that cane at us, it hurts us.  We will leave from here right away.”  The ghosts all ran away eventually in a little while.  Amongst the ghosts was a deovani (female deo) who was pregnant and about to give birth.  She saw the panic with her eyes and got scared.  She made a run for it as well, as she couldn’t find her husband.  As she ran, she gave birth to two ghosts, which fell to the ground as she ran.  She was running through the millet fields as her kids fell.  The chopped stalk of the millet poked one of the kids in the eye.  The kid’s eye was damaged.  That ghost became the infamous “kana deo” and haunted the fort of Bathinda.  Guru Gobind Singh ji made him ran away from there when he got there.  The other kid landed on his arm, which broke instantly.  The deovani came back and quickly gathered the kids in her piece of cloth and ran off again.  After many years, these two kids became famous ghosts.  One haunted a place in Masoorpur and the other haunted a fort in Bathinda.  In this way, the ghosts all ran away and left Goindwal forever. 

Guru Amardas ji was left standing there alone and started to look around.  It was a very beautiful place.  He saw the Bipasha (Beas) flowing.  The water was clear and the waves were majestic.  Many types of birds were there, singing their songs.  It was a very beautiful sight, just like the Ganga.  On both sides of the river, there was soft sand.  There was a road that went to Lahore on one end; and one that went to Delhi on the other.  People would stop here, travelling to and from Delhi and Lahore.  People got off and on canoes to cross the river.  The shores were beautiful and higher in elevation.  Just as Guru Angad Dev ji had instructed, Guru Amardas ji said “Satnam” and sprinkled water all around the village.  This was so the ghosts don’t come back here.  Guru Amardas ji took the cane and dragged lines around the village.  Guru Amardas ji then asked for sweets.  Gonda was very happy seeing all this.  The wise Guru Amardas ji then stood up and folded his hands.  He did an Ardaas by saying the names of Guru Nanak Dev ji and Guru Angad Dev ji.  He did Simran of the names of the Gurus.  He offered the sweets to the Gurus in his Ardaas and distributed it amongst the Sangat.  As he was instructed, he started digging and leveling the eastern portion of the village.  He meditated on the feet of Guru Nanak Dev ji and broke the ground to begin digging.  No ghosts ever came back, nor did the walls ever fall again.  The houses that were attempted to be built before; the ghosts would tear down the walls.  Now, they are left alone.  Gonda was now extremely happy.  Gonda spent a lot of money and called labourers and other tradesmen to come and build houses.  Guru Amardas ji then decided to name the place after Gonda.  He gathered everyone and told them that this place shall be known as “Goindwal.”  After many houses were built, Guru ji decided to go see Guru Angad Dev ji.

Guru Amardas ji went back to Khadoor and bowed to Guru Angad Dev ji with the utmost respect and humility.  He said to Guru ji: “as you commanded Guru ji, so the work has been done and the village is now established.  The tradesmen are working to build the houses.  Many houses have already been built.”  Guru Angad Dev ji was very happy to hear and said to Guru Amardas ji: “Purkha, listen to what I am about to say: call your whole family and take up residence in Goindwal.  If anyone else wants to come live there, help them build their home and have them settle there.  You will still be close to Khadoor, living in Goindwal.  Go back to your village of Baasarke and meet your family with love.  You have been here for many years now and did not go back to meet your family ever since.  Go there immediately and take them to Goindwal to live there.” 

Guru Amardas ji went to his village of Baasarke, as per Guru Angad Dev ji’s instructions and met everyone.  He told them: “Guru ji is very happy with me and gave me great blessings.  Guru ji has now commanded me to take my whole family and move to Goindwal.  Let’s be quick and go there now.  The place is beautiful and the houses are big.”  Whoever listened to Guru Amardas ji, they all get ready and went with him to Goindwal and lived there happily.  Guru Amardas ji would go to Khadoor from Goindwal to meet Guru Angad Dev ji.  As he would return, he would walk backwards for 9 km.  At the 9 km mark, he would stand and then bow towards Khadoor Sahib.  He would then turn around and face his home to walk the rest of the way.  Some of the Sikhs in the area told Kavi Santokh Singh ji that when Guru Amardas ji used to get water for Guru Angad Dev ji’s bath, he would walk backwards, leaving and walk forwards coming back.  He would fetch the water from the Beas River.  He would come to this point and bow and then face Goindwal when returning.  He continued his seva in this way. 

Purshooram ji did a great Tapasya.  He did Tapasya for thousands of years in the jungle and attained to his Vishnu form.  But even then, he was only able to get 4 of the powers of his real Vishnu form.  He couldn’t attain to his full Avatar form of Vishnu, with 16 powers.  (Ram Chander ji was born with 12 powers and later took 2 of Purshooram’s powers, leaving him with only 2.  Ram Chander ji thus had 14 powers in total of the Vishnu form).  In 11 years, Guru Amardas ji did seva and impressed the all-powerful Guru and become the all-powerful Avatar of Akaal Purakh with unlimited powers.  He blessed thousands of people and saved their souls.  The seva of the Satguru and the Satsang is of the highest kind.  Doing this seva was more fruitful than thousands of years of Tapasya.  Whoever, in the past, present of future, will do, or has done seva, with full faith and devotion, was or will be granted both: the pleasures of the world and mukti from the cycle of birth and death. 

The brothers of Guru Amardas ji, Guru ji’s son-in-law, Rama and Guru ji’s nephews, all came to live in Goindwal and built their houses.  Other relatives came there as well and lived there happily.  They were given a lot of respect and people followed them in many ways.  They lived there in peace.  Everyone was great and began to live with Guru Amardas ji in Goindwal.  Satguru ji gave everyone hope and kept them with him. 

1-20 The Glory of Guru Angad Dev ji

One day, Guru Angad Dev ji decided to go to Goindwal, and got ready.  Guru Amardas ji would meditate on Guru Angad Dev ji day and night, wishing that the great Guru would come to Goindwal.  Guru Angad Dev ji walked slowly, roped in the bondage of love.  Guru Amardas ji was in deep meditation, thinking of Guru Angad Dev ji.  Guru Angad Dev ji had no choice but to come because of love.  People on the way bowed to his feet as he walked.  A person came to tell Guru Amardas ji: “Sri Guru ji is here!”  Guru Amardas ji rejoiced and got up to go greet Guru ji ahead.  Thinking that he was about to meet Guru ji, his eyes began to shed tears.  He came ahead quite far and met Guru ji.  Seeing Guru ji, Guru Amardas ji was extremely happy.  There was joy in every hair on his body.  He swelled up with emotion and couldn’t speak.  He stood there, with his hands folded.  Guru ji saw the love and enthusiasm that Guru Amardas ji had and hugged him tightly when he saw him.  Guru Angad Dev ji said to him: “your birth in this world is a blessed one.  You have me under a deep love spell.  Whenever someone calls me with love to their place, I have to go.  Today, you remembered me with love, that is why I had to come.  I can’t sit still when somebody remembers me with love.  I came for you.  Show me your place.”  Guru Amardas ji grabbed Guru Angad Dev ji’s hand and walked ahead towards the new houses that were made.  He showed Guru ji all the new houses with care, and then walked towards the shores of the Bipasha (Beas). 

Guru ji sat down, right at the shore, once he got there.  There was nobody else with them.  The two Gurus were all alone.  As they sat down, the Devata of water, Varun Dev, incarnated into a human form and came to meet them.  Varun Dev brought an offering of the best species of fish for Guru ji and placed it in front of them.  He bowed his forehead and said: “Prabhu ji, since you have set your holy feet on to this land, this place has become pure and holy.  You have settled a village along the shores of the river.  You have given your Sikhs a great blessing by doing this: you get them to sit in Satsang and do Simran of Satnam.  They will continue to sit in Satsang here and come to the river to bathe.  Saints will come and bless the river.  Your feet have blessed the River Beas and I also got the chance to meet you and touch your feet.”  Satguru ji heard Varun Dev’s words, smiled and said: “oh Sri Amardas ji, bless Varun Dev with success and accept his gift.  Prepare the fish.  When Karah Prashaad is to be distributed, the first distribution should be for Varun Dev.  (This tradition is still prevalent in the Dal Panth, Nirmalas, Udaasis and Sach Khand Sri Hazoor Sahib.  This tradition was present in all Gurduaras till the 1920s.  They would take a small portion of Karah Prashaad and offer the Prashaad to a nearby river, well or water body.  This was done along with the distribution of 5 Sikhs and Granthi Singh.  They would offer the Prashaad and say the line from Gurbani: Prabhaati M1: Gur Daryo sada jal nirmal, milya durmat mail hare.  The Satguru is the river with the pure water (knowledge), upon meeting the River, Guru, the mind is cleansed (SGGS 1328)).  The Sikhs are to say Varun Devata’s name as Varun Devata is also a servant of the Guru.  This tradition is to be part of the Sikh’s maryada (code).  Agni Dev will serve the Guru in the Langar along with other Devatas.”  Guru Amardas ji folded his hands and said: “as you wish Guru ji,” Varun Dev then took leave and went back into the river.  Guru Angad Dev ji spoke: “prepare this fish with spices and bring it here as I sit by the shore.”  There was a Sikh standing at a distance who Guru Amardas ji called.  He gave him the fish and told him to prepare it.  The Sikh prepared the fish with spices and brought it back, after frying it.  He placed it in front of Guru Amardas ji.  Guru Amardas ji placed the prepared fish in front of Guru Angad Dev ji and asked him to accept it.  Guru Angad Dev ji ate it and said: “this fish is delicious.  I have never had such a delicious fish before.”  Guru Amardas ji said: “Varun Dev brought you the best type of fish there was.”  Other food was there that Guru ji ate.  Guru ji got up and took Guru Amardas ji and headed towards Khadoor Sahib. 

Guru Angad Dev ji kept Guru Amardas ji with him at Khadoor.  Guru ji gave Guru Amardas ji the service of his personal seva, as that is what Guru Amardas ji wished for.  Guru Amardas ji would do Simran at all times.  Guru Angad Dev ji then said to him after a few days: “go back to Goindwal.”  Guru Amardas ji then came back to Goindwal, walking backwards.  He faced the Guru for 9 km.  After the city limits, he would bow and turn around.  This place is now known as Damdama Sahib in present day.  Goindwal Sahib is about 3 km from this point.  This is the place where he would turn around to go back home.  He would go to Khadoor Sahib during the day and then come back home at night.  He spent many days like this.  Guru Angad Dev ji was very happy with the seva.  Guru Amardas ji’s heart was drenched in love and humility.  He would serve the Guru, all the time. 

Guru Angad Dev ji was the house of virtue.  He was always calm and without any desire.  He was the Guru, but showed himself as the bhagat, the servant of Guru Nanak Dev ji.  He was above joy or sorrow; respect or disrespect; love or hate with anyone.  Although he was Akaal Purakh’s light and one with Akaal Purakh, he did not ever say that in words.  He was always immersed into the light of Akaal Purakh inside of him and detached from the world.  Vices did not come close to him and the slightest desire did not creep into his mind.  He was at the level which could not be thought of nor spoken of.  It can only be understood with the knowledge of the Aatma, the soul, the real self.  The form is like a lotus, which is not affecting by the water.  It lives in water but does not drown in water.  The Aatma is not cut by weapons; burned by fire or blown by wind; it is not drowned by water and does not disappear into space; time and death cannot eat the Aatma.  Just as the story of the rope and the snake (the rope that looks like a snake in the darkness; the metaphor is equivalent to the form of Akaal Purakh vs the illusion of reality of the world.  The world is, in fact, the form of Akaal Purakh, but because of the darkness of ignorance, we see the world as a permanent realm that is the end-point for human comprehension) everything is inside the Brahm, the Supreme (Akaal Purakh).  The sun is the light of all lights and illuminates the world.  The Aatma is supreme consciousness with its existence in all.  There are 6 types of jyotis (lights): sun, moon, stars, lightening, firefly, lamp flames; the Aatma is the ultimate jyot that sees all the other jyotis.  Guru Angad Dev ji is immersed in that light.  The Aatma is smaller than an atom and only seen by the blessing of the Guru.  The senses cannot see the Brahm.  The Brahm is the greatest.  The most powerful beings cannot measure the Brahm.  The light of Akaal Purakh is everywhere.  Without it, there is nothing: no thoughts, no senses, no consciousness.  The supreme light is in everyone but the being it is inside, is not aware and does not know it.  The light has no form or colour.  It is awe-inspiring and named as “Vahi.”  “Go” is the darkness of ignorance in our mind which is dispelled by the Guru, who illuminates the light of knowledge “Roo.”  Thus, the name of “Vahiguru” is such.  Sri Guru Angad Dev ji is that form and light.  He is the light of Akaal Purakh but does not say it with his mouth.  He stays simple, as the form of a bhagat, a devotee.  He does the Simran of Satnam all the time and preaches the way of Bhagti.  He preaches the way of the Sat Sangat and tells them not to leave their homes in search of Akaal Purakh.  He teaches them the Bhagti of Love: “we are the servants of Sri Parameshver.  We need to live without ego and greed.  We need to be without desire and accept the will of Akaal Purakh.  Whatever happens in our lives, we should accept it.  Discard the pride of your body and see it as temporary.  Serve Saints and come to the Satsangat to focus your mind on Akaal Purakh.  Do not praise your doings.  Consider yourself as the servant of the servants of Guru Nanak Dev ji.  Stay focused on the love of the Parmeshwar and say: I am nothing, you are the only doer.  The one Akaal Purakh, is the provider.  Akaal Purakh is complete everywhere.  Sing Gurbani or listen to it.  Day and Night, do the Simran of Satnam.  You will be saved in both worlds.”  In this way Guru ji would hide his reality.  He stays hidden like this.  The Sikhs that were close to Guru ji, they would talk to Guru ji and have deep discussions.  The Goddess Laxmi would come and serve the court of the Guru by sweeping it with a broom.  The powers of the universe, stand in attention at the feet of Guru Angad Dev ji.  The nine treasures (Nau Niddhis: Padam- having children; Maha Padam- having precious gems; Kharab – riches; Kund- trading in gold; Nil- trading in precious gems; Sankh- edible delicacies; Kachhap- food and clothes in abundance; Mukund- mastery in arts, music and poetry; Makar- skill of weaponry and sovereignty on others) are standing in command.  Whatever is Guru ji’s command, they all follow.  Other powers are all standing by at the Guru’s feet.  Guru ji’s family and relatives are in the court but the Devatas, powers and celestial beings are hidden from plain sight, serving the Guru and doing Seva.  Guru ji does not accept Laxmi (money).  He takes all the money collected and spends it on the Langar and the Sangat.  The Riddhis and Siddhis (abilities and powers) ask Guru ji for their service but Guru ji ignores them.  They can’t affect him without his command.  They are always waiting for his command but Guru ji does not speak to them.  Guru ji is an ocean of powers and miracles, the Riddhis and Siddhis are a mere drop in this ocean.  Guru ji does not show his powers and denies that he has any.  He is able to harness the supreme powers.  Not has there ever been such a being, nor will there ever be such a being, that can harness such unlimited power and not have the wish to show it to anyone.  Guru ji is the creator and destroyer of the three dimensions (Heaven, Hell and Physical realm) with unlimited powers.  He takes pain from small beings.  Great is the Guru, that is so humble.