1-31 Sending Saavan Mal to Hari Pur, The King’s Son Alive Again

The powerful and complete Satguru, Guru Amardas ji was preaching the path of Sikhi to the Sangat.  Many Sikhs came and had their wishes fulfilled.  One day, Bhai Bhulloo stood up and spoke: “oh Prabhu ji, you relieve the pain of many Sikhs.  People from all four castes have come to this place to make it their home.  Their homes are being built but are not complete, this is proving to be a worry for them.  It is causing them quite the inconvenience.  If you were to grant your blessing, the houses would be built better and faster.  People would be happy living in their homes then.  The material that we need to make the homes are all there, except for the long beams to hold the roofs.  The fact that we have short beams, the result is: the roofs are not strong and big.  We need the long beams made of a good and strong wood.  All of the Sikhs look towards you as their support, and no one else.  The Sikhs do complain about not getting the long beams to me, but they do not say anything to you.”  Guru ji heard this and was happy.  He then spoke, “there will be long beams soon.  There will more than enough by the blessing of the Guru.”  Guru ji’s brother had a son named Saavan Mal.  Guru ji called Saavan Mal to him and said: “there is a place called Hari Pur between the mountains.  Saavan Mal, go there.  There are a lot of tall strong trees there.  The Beas River flows along Hari Pur.  Collect the long trees and throw them into the Beas.  The long beams will reach Goindwal.  As they come down the current, it will be easy to take the logs out of the river.  We can then use those logs to construct the houses as we wish.”  Saavan Mal folded his hands and said: “how can the logs come without money?  I don’t have any men to help me out either.  What can I do there alone?  The people dwelling in the mountains don’t know me.  Why would they help me?  They do not know your glory, Guru ji.  Please bless me with your advice as to how may I complete this task.  I will do exactly as you say, with your blessing.  If I had powers to perform miracles, I may impress the king of Hari Pur and get him to do my work.  The region of that area would become Sikhs and would listen to me.  I would be able to bring as many logs as we would need.”  Guru Amar Das ji listened to him and responded: “ok, Saavan Mal, what ever will be in your heart, will come true.”

Saavan Mal’s mother, who was very old, heard that her son was going to the mountainous regions.  She was upset at this news and her hands and feet began to tremble in fear.  She came to Satguru j’s presence.  She bowed to Guru ji and said: “I only have one son.  I have heard there are witches that live in the mountains.  I have heard that they take travellers heart’s out and eat them.  If my son dies, there will be no other power to save him.  I only have one son, please send someone else and have pity on me.  I hope to see him alive and have him live here with me.  My son is not very clever, he doesn’t know how to talk to people.  The witches will possess him.  How will he return from such a dangerous place?”  Guru ji saw the attachment in his sister-in-law’s heart for her own son.  Guru ji was very sensitive to other’s emotions.  He smiled at her superstitious beliefs and spoke to her with love: “your son has nothing to fear.  The ghosts and witches will be afraid of him.  I have given him so much power that no one will be able to harm him.  The 52 Birs (the follower beings of Kali, who are known to be the powers in the centre of Tantra) and the 64 Kaljognis (attendants or manifestations of the Goddess, Durga, that were usually engaged in fighting demons.  Also, powers in Tantra) will listen to Saavan Mal’s commands.  All of the Devatas and Demons will be afraid of him.  He is very powerful, so don’t be afraid of anything.”  The mother then had some hope after hearing Guru ji’s words.  She then returned home.  Guru ji called Saavan Mal close to him again.  Guru ji used to have a handkerchief which he used to dry his hands.  He gave his nephew the handkerchief and said: “Saavan Mal, this handkerchief has the power to kill anyone or to give it life again.  This is from the house of Guru Nanak and is full of power.  If you were to place this on someone’s head, their wishes will be fulfilled.  The Devatas and Demons will respect this handkerchief.  Don’t see this as a handkerchief, for this is a bag full of miracles.  Go and take this with you.  Go and make the people your Sikhs.  They will listen to you.  The mountain dwellers will listen to you along with the people of the three worlds.  The Devatas will listen to you as well.”  Saavan Mal ji picked up the handkerchief.  He was happy.  He folded his hands and said: “now everything will be ok.  The people will be impressed with this handkerchief.”  Saavan Mal took the handkerchief and placed it on top of his head.  As soon as the handkerchief touched his head, his visions began to open and powers came inside of him.  His wisdom flourished and his doubts and shadows were all gone.  He saw all of the Riddhis and Siddhis standing in front of him.  Saavan Mal was amazed as to what he was now able to see.  He bowed to Guru ji and went to his home.

When Saavan Mal reached home, he bowed to his mother and met his family.  He consoled everyone and said: “Mataji, don’t worry about me.  The Satguru ji has given me great powers.  Don’t be worried or doubt anything.  Satguru ji has given me a very high status.  Such a high status I have now received which I could never have imagined.”  He addressed his family and showed them the handkerchief.  He then set out towards Hari Pur.  He walked slowly, all alone.  He soon reached Hari Pur.  He saw the huge mountains and the beautiful green forests.  He saw the trees and fruits of the area.  He saw the Beas River, flowing valiantly with birds singing songs.  There were many people walking around.  People wore colourful clothes there.  The people were very handsome and pretty with nice eyes and features.  Their necks and lips were beautiful.  Their walk was mesmerizing.  They were so pretty that they would attract the strongest of yogis.  The people of this area were different.  The capital of this area was Hari Pur.  The capital was very beautiful.  When he reached close to the king’s palace, Saavan Mal heard crying and yelling.  Hundreds of people were crying all around.  He approached one person and asked about the crying.  “What is the problem that everyone is in pain?”  The person said: “the son of our king has died.  The king had only one son.  He was very handsome too.  He was loved by the queen and king very much.  For this reason, the whole city is in mourning.  Our king has removed his Dastaar and is beating his head because of this pain.  He has fainted from the stress and is unaware of what he is doing.  The queen is in no less pain.  If the king is happy then the people are happy.  But since the king is in pain, the people are in pain.”  Baba Saavan Mal heard the situation and decided that “it was the time to show a miracle to get the work done.  It will be wise to resurrect the prince.  The whole city will become Sikhs then.  The people will become my servants and listen to my commands.  This is a good thing, there is no other way.”  Baba Saavan Mal was happy that a good situation came up for him to show his powers.  Baba Saavan Mal approached the palace where he heard the women crying.  The women were beating their heads and thighs.  They were crying out loud.  There was crying everywhere.  The king was on the ground, laying down in depression.  The ministers were crying too.  There was no one to console them.  A lot of people were rolling around on the floor beating their fists on the floor.  Some talked about the prince’s beauty and other good virtues he had.  The prince was the heir to the throne and was to be their support.  Saavan Mal ji was now filled with pity.  He also had a hidden agenda.  The ministers called Saavan mal ji to them.  Saavan Mal took the head minister to the side where they were alone.  He said to him: “this is really bad what happened.  I can make the price alive again with the blessing of my Guru.  Everyone will have to become the Sikhs of the Guru, then I came make the prince alive again.  The king will need to become a Sikh first; followed by the ministers and then the army.  They will need to take the Charan Pahul.”  The minister was happy to hear that the prince can be alive again.  The minister went to the bereaving king and told him that there is a saint here; “my King, there is a great saint here.  He says he is the Sikh of Guru Nanak Sahib.  He said that if the king becomes a Sikh and listens to him, he will resurrect the prince right now.  He will raise the prince immediately.  Everyone will need to become a Sikh.”  As soon as the words came to the king’s ear, it was as though the nectar of immortality fell into his ears.  The king said: “if my son is alive again, we are all ready to become Sikhs.  Tell him to make my son alive.  We will do whatever he says.  I will serve him and become his servant.  Go and get him immediately.  He will be giving all of us life by making my son alive again.”  The ministers ran to Baba Saavan Mal and took him to the king.  They met each other.  The king gave Baba ji a lot of respect and bowed to his feet.  He said: “Saint ji, please make my son alive again.  We will serve you day and night, becoming your servants.”  Baba Saavan Mal said: “bring me the body of the prince and tell everyone else to sit down quietly and not cry.  Tell them to do the Simran of “Vahiguru.”  Tell everyone to have faith on Satguru Nanak Dev ji.  The Satguru will fix everything.”  The body of the prince was placed before Baba Saavan Mal.  Everyone was watching carefully.  Baba ji removed the cloth from the body’s face and asked for water.  He took the handkerchief given to him by Guru Amardas ji.  He dipped one side of the handkerchief into water and put the drops of water into the mouth of the prince.  Baba ji then said say out loud, “Satnam.”  He then touched the handkerchief to the prince’s head.  The prince opened his eyes and was alive again.  Just as Laxman was alive after given the Sanjeevani plant, it was the same situation.  The water was the Sanjeevani plant, making the prince alive.  The king and queen ran to the prince and hugged him tightly.  They kissed his forehead repeatedly.  The prince was up and fully awake. 

1-32 The King Becomes a Sikh, Sending the Logs

The whole city rejoiced and began to sing and dance to songs of joy.  There was a great celebration.  The poor were given many donations by the King of Hari Pur.  The Dhundhabs (small nagaras) were played, Napheeryas were played; shehnais were played; the Bhatts, Rababis and Kalavats came and sang Raags with mridangs, rababs and sitars.  There was happiness everywhere now; where once there was mourning and sorrow.  The king came with his queens and his ministers.  He touched Baba Saavan Mal’s feet and bowed to him.  He put a garland made of flowers around his neck.  The people waived a Chaur over his head and sang his glories.  They had Baba Saavan Mal ji sit in a palanquin and taken to the royal palace.  This was the king’s own palanquin.  He had the palace prepared with great respect and honor.  They brought him great delicacies to eat.  They laid out a bed with an ivory frame for Baba Saavan Mal to rest on.  The officers, ministers and generals came to bow to him.  They hung a canopy on top of Baba Saavan Mal ji, regarding him as their Guru.  They worshipped Baba ji with great love.  People talked amongst themselves: “the Guru has many powers; he raised the king’s son.”  In a few days, the king and all of his people became Sikhs.  They took Charan Pahul of Baba Saavan Mal ji’s feet.  They did the Simran of Vahiguru and achieved peace and happiness in their minds.  All their wishes were fulfilled by the handkerchief’s power.  Baba Saavan Mal then realised it was time to do the work he wanted to do.  He said to the king: “my home is along the shores of the Beas.  The people of my region require long logs to construct the roofs of their homes.  Gather many logs and tie them together.  After they are tied, throw them into the Bear River.  Send some people, preferably log drivers, along with the logs so they can direct the logs properly.  The log drivers should take the logs out where my village Goindwal is.”  The king of Hari Pur heard this and then ordered his servants right away to cut the tall trees and send the logs along the river’s current.  The Tarkhaans (carpenters) cut up the logs and tied them up.  They were then thrown into the river.  The log drivers went with the logs and made sure they reached Goindwal.

In Goindwal, Guru Amardas ji supervised the retrieval of the logs from the river himself.  He distributed them to the people that needed it to build their homes.  The people took as many logs as they needed for their homes.  Sikhs from all castes resided in Goindwal.  There are 22 sub-castes within the Khatri caste, there were people from all 22 sub-castes of Khatris living in Goindwal.  There were Brahmins and Muslims who had settled as well.  Everyone got the logs they required.  Guru ji stood watching the land that people built their lands on.  He divided the plots and allotted them to the people, as they needed it, according to the sizes of their families.  The fortunate ones came to live in Goindwal and lived without sorrow.  The Beas flowed beautifully here with pure and clear water, just like the Ganga.  This water would wash away their sins as Guru Amardas ji was here, blessing the Beas.  The Vedas were only understood by Brahmins and Khatris but the Guru’s Gurbani was comprehended by all the castes.  It was in a vernacular form that was in the language they could understand.  The Gurbani would grant the people of Goindwal the mukti they desired.  All day long, Langar was available to eat from.  People from all castes were welcome to eat as much as they wanted to.  Guru Amardas ji would not allow anyone to visit him who did not partake in the Langar, sitting on the same level as all the castes.  The leftover Langar was given to the cows.  The other animals were then fed too.  After feeding all the people and the animals, the rest of the leftover Langar was poured into the Beas.  Money and food were never stored for the next day.  Guru ji would give all the money and food away.  Everyone was happy and satiated.  Goindwal was established very quickly.  It grew and progressed very quickly.  Whoever came to see Guru ji with wishes in their hearts, their desires were all fulfilled.

Over at Hari Pur, there is some history left to listen to.  Listen all, carefully, as this account will show the glory of the Guru, along with his gracious nature.  Baba Saavan Mal ji lived in Hari Pur and was worshipped by the king and all the people.  Everyone came to bow to Baba Saavan Mal.  They came to him many times and bowed to his feet.  They brought many gifts and worshiped him.  They came with love and devotion and expressed their wishes to him.  Baba Saavan Mal would use the Guru’s handkerchief to fulfill their wishes.  Children, wealth, cures to illness, people came with various asks.  They would receive what they asked for.  Many gifts came to Baba Saavan mal and Baba Saavan Mal’s glory grew in the area.  The numbers of his followers grew.  The king and queen would follow every word of Baba Saavan Mal ji.  They were afraid of his powers as well.  They ordered for very expensive materials from far away lands and got clothes made for Baba Saavan Mal.  The food prepared for him was also gourmet food, made everyday.  Dry fruits and other rare and expensive grains were used in his dishes.  There were many servants in his presence to do his seva, commissioned by the king.  As his status grew, Baba Saavan Mal began to think: “the work of Guru ji is done.  The logs have been sent to Goindwal.  I have sent enough logs to make all the homes we need in Goindwal.  There should be some logs left over as well.  It is the right time for me to leave from here and go to the presence of Guru Amar Das ji.  There is one worry though, if I go back, Guru ji may take the handkerchief back.  Since the work is done, Guru ji may take it back from me.  I will be powerless in an instant.  Nobody will worship me then.  Only the Guru’s glory will spread, not mine.  I will be an ordinary person then.  It’s best that I stay here and have these people respect me.  They worship me here.  The king along with the whole city serve me and bring me many gifts.  If I go back to Goindwal, what will I gain there?  It’s better to stay here and become the Guru of these people.  I get whatever I need here with the powers of the handkerchief.  People of other areas will find out about me and come worship me as well.”  Thus, Baba Saavan Mal ji decided not to go back to Goindwal. 

Many months passed but the omniscient Satguru knew exactly what was going through Saavan Mal’s mind.  He knew that he had become egotistical.  Guru Amardas ji sent a hukamnama to Saavan Mal.  Baba Saavan Mal read the hukamnama, which told him to come back.  Saavan Mal sent a response saying that: “the king won’t let me come back.  I will come back in a few more days.  I will come back when the king let’s me go.”  Guru ji noticed that it was the handkerchief that kept Saavan Mal in Hari Pur.  Guru ji ordered the handkerchief to come back to him.  The handkerchief flew back immediately to Guru ji.  Saavan Mal was now powerless.  He was very sad to lose his powers.  He thought to himself: “I have sinned.  I shouldn’t have stayed back.”  4 days had passed and Saavan Mal kept thinking like this: “I should tell the king, queen and the people to come to Goindwal and bow to the true Guru.  Then I shall be forgiven.  I have erred deeply.  The Guru is forgiving.  I will beg for forgiveness along with my Sangat of Hari Pur.  I will bow and fold my hands and ask for forgiveness.  The anger of the elders is like fire.  Asking for forgiveness becomes water and puts the fire out.  There is no other way to convince the elders.  There is not point to make excuses.  That will make the elders angrier.”  Baba Saavan Mal told the king: “the powers of mine that you have seen, these are actually the powers of my true Guru, Guru Amardas ji.  I came here on his command, who blessed me with powers.  All of your wishes were fulfilled by the Guru of Goindwal.  He blessed you with everything.  I am now going back to him.  I want all of you, the ministers and your people to come with me.  Meeting the Guru is the purest thing.  Meeting him will make your life and after-life peaceful.  I do not have that kind of power, to make your after-life a successful one.  Come and meet the true Guru.  Take gifts for him.  If he will be happy, you will get all the happiness you wish for.  Take all your queens, ministers and soldiers.  They will be blessed as well.”  The king agreed and made preparations to go to Goindwal.  The soldiers mounted their horses and elephants.  Baba Saavan Mal ji was seated in a palanquin.  The queens were seated in their dholis.  Everyone was eager to see the Satguru.  They knew how powerful Baba Saavan Mal was, they couldn’t imagine how much more powerful the true Guru was.

The people travelled slowly along the shores of the Beas.  They eventually reached Goindwal.  Baba Saavan Mal gave everyone hope and entered Goindwal.  He met everyone, he met his friends and family.  He hugged them all.  He then went towards Guru ji’s throne with an embarrassed heart.  He bowed to Guru ji’s feet and fell to the floor.  He grabbed Guru ji’s feet and said: “I am your Sikh, I am your servant, I am your son.  I only have faith in you.  The young ones err and the elders forgive.  The elders scold the younger and advise them.  I am your child, please advise me and give me wisdom.  You have grace in your heart, please have pity on me and forgive me.  I have erred.  There is nothing for me to say as you know everything.”  Sri Satguru ji smiled and said to him graciously: “Sikh, servant and sons of mine, I always wish to see them prosper.  You had ego come into your mind.  I called the handkerchief back because you got egotistical.  Don’t worry, I will give you many powers that will stay inside of you.  The Sangat of Hari Pur will be yours.  They will worship you.  You will be their Guru for many years.  You will be their leader and will live in happiness.  Make them do Simran of Satnam.  You will get everything you want here and in the after life, I will keep you with me.  I have given you all that you need for both worlds.  Live in fearlessness.  The demons and witches will be in your control.  All the powers of Devatas and celestial beings will follow your command.  You will be able to get them to do as you wish.  None of those powers will be able to reject your command.  They will serve you day and night.  You have served me well, this is your reward.  Go and live in Hari Pur and be worshiped.  Don’t doubt anything.  The powers in the handkerchief are now inside your heart.  The handkerchief I gave you before, you got filled with ego.  The ego did not let you do Bhagti.  This would have ruined you.  Without Bhagti, your afterlife would have been destroyed.  I took the handkerchief from you for this reason.  I have protected you from all sides.  All you need to do now is do the Simran of Satnam.”  In this way Guru Amardas ji made Baba Saavan Mal his own, and gave him the happiness of this world and the next.  Oh listeners of this great history, meditate on the Great Sri Guru Amardas ji, for meditating on him will relive all your pain.

1-33 Raja Hari Chand, Sachan Sach

Receiving the happiness of both worlds, Saavan Mal Realised that there was no one greater than Guru Amar Das ji.  He was extremely happy.  He thought to himself: “the Satguru has done the right thing to destroy my ego.  I have been given the congregation of Hari Pur and I have been given many powers.  He has made all my wishes and aspirations come true.”  Saavan Mal said to Guru ji: “Guru ji, the king of Hari Pur, Raja Hari Chand, is here to see you along with his queens, ministers and soldiers.  With your kind permission, the king would like to see you and have his wishes fulfilled.  They wish to have their sins washed away and their minds be purified by bowing to you.  They have recognized you as the complete, omniscient, omnipresent Guru, before their journey to Goindwal began.”  Guru Amardas ji responded: “they must first sit in the Langar and have a meal.  Afterwards, the king and his men may all come, but the women may not.”  Saavan Mal then asked again: “Maharaj, please hear my plea, the queens of the king have travelled a great distance and they wish to see you.  They have come with great love and faith in their hearts.  Please bless them as well.  They will be sad if they don’t get to see you.  Please let them see you as well, Guru ji.”  Satguru ji then gave instructions to Saavan Mal to pass along to the women: “tell the queens and their lady maids, along with any other women that wish to come see me: they are to wear white clothes and not to cover their faces with the traditional veils.  They may then come.  They are all to eat in the Langar at the same level and not to have any doubts.  They may come see me but they are not to portray any signs of traditional shame that is intended for women by their culture.  They can then come and see me only if they follow these rules.”  Saavan Mal then went to the king and the queens and told them what Guru ji’s instructions were: “Guru ji was not agreeing to have the women come meet him.  He has agreed now, but with certain instructions.  Women usually don’t come and meet him.  They stand outside his door.  Women don’t come to meet him face to face but he has asked you to come if you agree to the following: wear white clothes, and do not cover your face; then you may come.”  The king and the queens happily agreed to the instructions.

Everyone had Langar in the Langar hall and then the king asked all of the women to wear white clothes.  All of the women changed into white clothes and did not cover their faces with the traditional veils.  Guru ji stood in the window of the chabarra of the top floor of his home.  This is how everyone got to see him.  Guru ji was standing in the window, holding on to a hook near the window.  The wise people would stand below the window, outside, while Guru ji stood in the window of the chabarra.  This is how Guru ji would see everyone.  Once the people would see Guru ji, they would be on their way.  The next person would then get to see Guru ji.  Guru ji did not accept any gifts.  The fortunate ones would get to offer their money to Guru ji and even that, it would be an amount of money needed for just one day’s worth of Langar.  If Langar was already there, even that small amount was not accepted.  The people that lived with Guru ji, knew about this tradition.  There was no other way to see Guru ji.  The king’s turn came to see Guru ji.  He saw Guru ji and folded his hands.  He bowed his head towards Guru ji and was about to offer many gifts to Guru ji.  The Sikhs standing there told the king of Guru ji’s instruction.  The gifts were not accepted and so the king had to move on forward.  The ministers and soldiers then came to bow and went on ahead.  The queens and the lady’s maids came and bowed next, wearing white clothes.  One of the king’s queens covered her face as soon as she came in front of Guru ji.  She was young and very shy.  She forgot Guru ji’s instructions and covered her face.  Guru ji spoke immediately: “why is this silly girl here if she did not wish to see me?”  Immediately, the young queen lost her senses and became silly, indeed.  She began to take off her clothes and ran the other way.  People ran after her and tried to surround her.  When the king came to know of this, he got scared and was amazed.  The king’s faith in the Guru grew even more now, as he came to realize how powerful Guru ji was.  The words out of Guru ji’s mouth were like Ram Chander ji’s arrows, always on target. 

The king stayed in Goindwal for many days.  He visited Guru ji everyday and bowed to him.  The one queen, out of many, that lost her senses and ran off, was not found.  She had run off into the jungle very fast.  The king would sit with his ministers and other officers as well as his servants in the Langar Hall and eat everyday.  Everybody was afraid to break any of Guru ji’s rules.  They were very humbled in front of Guru ji.  After staying many days, Satguru ji instructed the king: “Saavan Mal is your Guru.  Listen to what he tells you.  He had made your son alive again and had also fulfilled many of your wishes already.  He will continue to fulfill your wishes.  Your faith and devotion towards him should be solid, so all your pains and hurdles would go away.  He is the Guru of your entire kingdom.  Serve him in the same way as you did before, with love and devotion.”  The king folded his hands and agreed.  The king said to Guru ji: “I have been, and will always be, under his command.  A person’s son is equal to their life.  He has given me the gift of life by making my son alive again.  Who can be better than him, who has been in your presence, Guru ji?”  The king took leave from Guru ji and went back to Hari Pur.  The king did the Simran of the Satguru and worshiped Saavan Mal.  The ministers and the citizens of Hari Pur, all followed Saavan Mal and brought him many gifts.  Saavan Mal would sometimes come back to Goindwal and then go back to the king. 

There was one Sikh who would go into the forest and collect wood everyday.  He was devoted to the feet of the Guru and nothing else.  He did not love anyone else.  He did not understand the traditions of life or meeting and greeting.  He did not know about giving or receiving.  He did not know how to read, speak, meet, or listening to anyone.  He did not know how to recite a mantra or do Simran.  He only liked to do seva.  He loved to do seva.  He would only say one phrase from his mouth: “sachan sach (true is true).”  He wouldn’t say or hear anything else.  He would only say “sachan sach” as he walked, did work, or sat down.  He would think of the Satguru in his heart all the time.  The Sikh Sangat heard what he would say all the time and would refer to him as: Sachan Sach.  Everyone was nice to him and loved him dearly.  They were happy with how he did seva all day long and was such a simple, not-so-clever of a person.  They would say: “welcome Sachan Sach,” when he came to them.  He would bring firewood for everyone and always did what anyone asked him to do.  Everyone loved him and were impressed by his selfless seva.  The Sangat was happy with him and so, Satguru ji was also happy with him.  Whoever the Sangat was happy with, Guru ji would also be happy with them.  If the Guru was happy with someone, the masters of the three dimensions and all the Devatas, elements and powers were happy with them too.  If the Guru was happy, the whole universe was happy with them, with all its consciousness, aware and unaware matter. 

Sachan Sach would wrap himself with a blanket, for this reason, he was also known as “bhoori vala (the one with the brown blanket).”  He would do seva in the Langar and bring firewood.  He would make many trips to the jungle to get firewood. 

One day, Sachan Sach went to the jungle to get firewood.  The queen of the king of Hari Pur, that lost her senses, was continuously wandering around senseless in the jungle.  She saw Sachan Sach and ran towards him, making a very scary face.  She grabbed Sachan Sach and bit him in the face.  She scratched his body with her nails and injured him.  Sachan Sach tried to free himself but was unsuccessful.  He then got really scared.  He some how freed himself from her grip and grabbed hold of a piece of wood.  He struck the women a few times, to which, she ran back into the jungle.  Being jolted in this way, he was still in shock.  He collected some pieces of firewood and tied them up.  He lifted the pieces on top of his head and headed back to the village.  He walked ahead but was still so scared.  He kept looking back, fearing the return of the senseless women.  He was bleeding a lot and only managed to pick up a few pieces of wood.  People asked him: “what happened to you?  Who did this to you?”  Satguru ji called Sachan Sach to him and asked him: “where did this all happen?  Who has beaten you and caused you such harm?  You are terrified.  You brought back only a few pieces of wood.  You were in the jungle for a long time.  Tell me everything.”  Sachan Sach folded his hands and said: “there is a witch in the jungle whose hair is open and all over the place.  She is totally naked and she came running to me when she saw me.  She started to bite and scratch me.  I released myself from her grip, using all my might.  I don’t want to go back there.  She will catch me and kill me.  She didn’t let me collect any firewood because I was terrified.  I was fortunate to escape, otherwise, she would have killed me.  I yelled and screamed but there was nobody else there to help me.  I will go to a different place to get firewood from now on.  Whatever happened here, happened.”  Guru Amar Das ji heard Sachan Sach and said to him: “don’t be afraid, she is not a witch.  She is one of the queens of the king of Hari Pur.  She has gone senseless and doesn’t know what she’s doing.  Take one of my wooden slippers with you.  When she comes towards you, hit her on the head with it and she will be okay again.  Once she is better, bring her back with you.”  The whole Sangat was amazed at these events.  They all said to Sachan Sach: “don’t be afraid.  Go to the same place again.” 

The next morning, Sachan Sach went to the same place he did a day before.  The woman came out and started to scream and jump around.  She was very scary to look at.  She jumped very high and came towards Sachan Sach.  She raised her hands to grab Sachan Sach.  Sachan Sach took out Guru ji’s slipper and smacked her in the head with it.  As soon as the slipper hit her head, her senses returned and she sat down.  She noticed that she was naked and was embarrassed.  She curled up her whole body to cover herself.  She began to remember when Guru ji called her “silly.”  She spoke to Sachan Sach: “oh Gursikh, give me a blanket so I may cover myself.  I would like to go to Guru ji and ask for forgiveness.  I had been like this because I did not obey his command.  I have been in pain.  Now my senses are back to normal.  Visiting Guru ji, my sins will be washed away.  Take me back to the village.”  Sachan Sach gave her his brown blanket.  She covered her body with the blanket.  Sachan Sach and the queen went to the village and approached Guru ji.  Guru ji saw them both and smiled.  He then spoke to them: “listen, both of you should live as wife and husband now.  Your efforts have been successful.  Go home and meditate on me.  Take my other wooden slipper as well.  If you are ever in pain, touch my slippers and you will be cured of any illness.  No pain would ever come back again.  Any words that come from your mouth would reverse any curse.  Go and live in your home without any worry.  Spread the message of Sikhi everywhere you go.”  With Guru ji’s blessings, both Sachan Sach and the woman were now filled with powers and devotion.

1-34 Dattu ji kicks Sri Guru Amar Das ji

In this way, Satguru Amar Das ji blessed Sachan Sach.  He made a grain of dust into a mighty mountain.  Bhai Sachan Sach’s seva was rewarded.  Guru ji looked at both, the former queen and Bhai Sachan Sach, and blessed them.  He made drops of water into a vast ocean.  So many powers they were given to, by Guru ji.  There is no other to make princes out of paupers.  The Guru saves the ones drowning, and makes them into ships, so they may save others.  Bhai Sachan Sach and his wife were blessed and now they were “ships” who will save many.  They were given leave.  Both of them were happy as all their pains and problems were now gone.  They were now extremely powerful.  They bowed to Guru Sahib’s feet repeatedly.  They had both achieved a very high state. 

Bhai Sachan Sach and his wife went to Sachan Sach’s home village.  In his village, people would come to Sachan Sach to fulfill their wishes.  He would relieve their problems and cure their mental or physical illnesses.  He would take Guru ji’s slipper and touch it with the sick person’s head.  They were instantly cured.  Thousands of people began to come and see the couple, to be cured.  Guru ji also blessed Sachan Sach and his new wife to cut any curses on people.  The glory of Bhai Sachan Sach spread far and wide in the region.  People came to worship him.  Bhai Sachan Sach and his wife would do Simran of Guru Amar Das ji and worship his slippers.  He was now a ship and was saving thousands.  He dispelled their troubles and put them in bliss.  Those people achieved high statuses as well.  There was a village called Sheikhupura in Firozpur.  Kavi Santokh Singh ji had seen those slippers.  The slippers are in Saidaval currently but in Sheikhupura during Kavi ji’s time.  Whoever Sachan Sach would touch with the slipper; they would be cured immediately.  The glory of the slippers spread far and wide.  Whoever Guru ji blessed; they were in bliss.  They were given the bliss of both worlds.  Tapp, Jupp, Jog, yagna, fasting or giving donations, the most supreme was the seva of Guru Amar Das ji.  Those who are fortunate, they got a chance to serve the Guru.  In this way, Guru Amar Das ji’s glory spread in every direction.  People came to meet Guru ji after hearing his glories.  People came with many wishes, which would be fulfilled once they met Guru ji.  People came making vaheers (travelling communities) of hundreds.  The Divan was always in progress as Sangat kept coming.  Kirtan and Katha would go on continuously.  They would bring gifts for Guru ji but Guru ji would not accept their gifts.  Only one day’s worth of Langar was kept and the rest was not accepted.  Langar would be distributed all the time and would start early in the morning.  Guru ji would come eat Langer at noon.  Guru ji would only eat Ogra without salt.  He would only take a little bit.  The Sangat would eat the different dishes that were cooked.  All 6 types of tastes of Langar was made and distributed.  The Langar was distributed all the time.  Whoever wanted to eat was allowed to eat anytime.  The news of the Langar was now well known.  Whoever heard about it, was happy. 

The glory of Guru ji also reached the ears of Guru Angad Dev ji’s son.  He was jealous when he heard.  He said: “this glory belongs to our home.  Why is this not beneficial to us?”  When Guru Angad Dev ji left for Sach Khand, during the ceremony of the “tayrvee (the 13^th day after the departing, there is a ceremony for the departed that takes place),” Baba Bhudda ji placed the Teeka of the Guruship onto the forehead of Guru Amar Das ji.  Baba Dattu came and forcefully grabbed the Dastaar of the Guruship and tied it onto his own head.  Since then, he had been sitting on the throne where his father once sat on, in Khadoor, but no one would come to worship him.  He tried to give sermons and advice but nobody accepted him as their Guru.  Nobody even came to bow their heads, bringing him gifts was a longshot.  He was upset and filled with jealousy and anger.  He tried to be the Guru but he didn’t know how to.  No Sangat came to him.  Dattu had many other Khatri friends who would come and sit with him.  They would fill his head with nonsense: “you are the son of the Guru but you are sitting here all alone.  Nobody comes to see you or talk to you.  Nobody comes to bow to you or bring gifts.  You are like a walking corpse; you did not receive your father’s throne.  Some other Khatri came here and took the throne away from you.  He is glorious and you are not.  Kings from many regions come bringing gifts, everyday to Goindwal.  There is such a crowd in Goindwal of people that come to see the Guru.  They come and worship his feet and sing his glories.  They bring him the best gifts.”  The friends of Baba Dattu hit his heart with word-arrows, injuring his pride.  Dattu eventually lost his patience.  Dattu knew the reality and glory of Guru Amardas ji, but the company of bad individuals proved to be quite harmful for him.  His wisdom failed him.  He already had the fire of jealousy burning inside of him.  His friends added more oil to the fire.  Dattu become very anger and made a decision: “I will kill the Guru, Amar, and then take his throne.  It was my father’s possession.  I should have been the heir.”  Dattu got up and left for Goindwal.

Dattu reached Goindwal and came to the place where Guru Amardas ji was seated.  The Divan was in process and Guru ji was sitting in the centre.  Rich and poor were all coming to see Guru ji.  Some were bowing and some were stating their Ardaas to Guru ji.  Some were sitting and reciting Satnam.  The Rababis were singing Shabads in various Raags.  Some were listening to the Shabad Kirtan with deep focus, and some were thinking of the Guru in their hearts.  Just as Shivji would sit amongst the saints and Munis, that is how Guru ji’s glorious court was.  Seeing this glory, Baba Dattu’s anger grew wilder.  He was so full of anger that he was now in pain.  Dattu came up to Guru ji and stared at Guru ji’s body.  In a rage, Dattu lifted his leg and struck Guru ji with his foot, just as Bhrigu had struck Vishnu ji’s chest (in order to see the most patient out of the Trimurti Devatas, Vishnu proved to be the one without any ego, when Bhrigu struck him in the chest with his foot).  Guru ji’s elderly body fell of the Singhasan and hit the ground.  Guru ji quickly collected himself and grabbed Dattu’s foot.  Guru ji began to massage Dattu’s foot.  The most gracious Guru, proving to be the supreme being, then spoke: “for one, I have spent a lot of time doing seva and secondly, my body is old.  For these reasons, my body is really hard.  Your feet are soft.  Hitting my hard body may have caused your foot a lot of pain.  Please forgive me for this pain that I may have caused you, unknowingly.  You are the fortunate son of Sri Guru ji.  You have been caused a lot of pain for my love.  I did not stand up seeing you.  You have now destroyed my ego.  You found me guilty and so you have struck me.  You have done good, seeing your servant.  Tell me what service may I do for you?  I will serve you right away.  Discard your anger.”  Dattu heard Guru Amardas ji’s words and spoke out of anger: “what is this farce that you are playing?  I am the true owner of the Guru’s throne.  You did not tie the Dastaar of the Guru, I did.  Everyone tied the Dastaar on my head so why are you being worshipped?  You started to call yourself the Guru.  This hurt me very much.  I don’t like this farce of yours.  I see Sangat coming and going from here.  My father was a very simple person.  You were a cheat and did his seva.  You made up things for your own needs and now you call yourself the Guru.  You should leave this place and go somewhere else and stop this farce right away.  My father sent you to establish Goindwal but you made yourself the owner, not me.  I don’t need your seva, I want you to get up and leave.”  Listening to Dattu’s words, nobody in the Sangat said anything.  Everyone just kept staring at them with stubbornness.  They were afraid of Guru ji to call out right or wrong.  They were amazed to see the greatness of Guru ji.  Guru ji was not weak, that was evident to them.  The sun set in the western sky; it was now evening.  Shocked, everyone began to return to their homes.  They were all shocked to see what had happened in front of them.  Satguru ji went to his room and went to his sleeping place.  Dattu sat there in the Guru’s court.  The servants that came with Dattu were the only ones with him.

1-35 Sangat Goes to Find Guru ji, Baba Bhudda ji Goindwal

Sri Guru Amardas ji decided that it was best to avoid conflict.  He left his home in the middle of the night and went to a different place.  Guru ji left alone and did not take anything, not even his shoes, with him.  He went to a place near his home village of Baasarke.  There was a small home of a dairy farmer there.  Guru Sahib put a sign up on the doorway that said: “whoever opens this door, they are not my Sikh and I am not their Guru.  They will lose their purpose in this world and in the next.  I will not protect them.”  Guru ji went inside the small home and sat down in the Padamasana (lotus posed seating posture, with both feet coming out on top of the crossed legs).  He sat there in solitude.  Nobody else knew that he was there.  He focused his attention inwards and immersed into his own eternal light, the form of Akaal Purakh.  This form was unmoving, without end and without placement.  He went into a deep Samadhi.  He was one with the blissful Aatma Brahm Saroop (the supreme from of Akaal Purakh, impossible to be reached by any other Avatar except for the Gurupurshotam Avatar). 

The sun came up and it was morning.  The Sangat noticed that Guru ji was not in Goindwal.  They all looked for him but couldn’t find him.  They wondered where he went.  Dattu heard of this and was pleased.  He was happy.  Baba Dattu took all of Guru ji’s things.  He wore expensive clothes and jeweller and sat on top of the Guru’s throne.  He waited for servants to come and serve him.  Nobody from the Sangat came close to him.  Everyone was angry at Dattu for the disrespectful acts that he had done to Guru ji.  They would see him and walk the other way.  Nobody came to pay their respects to him.  The Sikhs saw Dattu and felt hurt.  They would say: “he has greed in his heart and look what he did.”  Everyone stayed where they were and nobody went to go see Dattu.  Dattu sat there alone and began to get anxious.  The Sangat did not like him and he was now aware of that.  He got depressed and started to pack up the items he took from Guru ji’s place and Guru ji’s court. 

As dusk came, Dattu made his way back to his come, taking some of his servants along.  It got darker on their way home.  They were then met ahead with robbers who held them up.  The servants saw the robbers and ran away.  The robbers stole all of the loot that Dattu had picked up.  Dattu came home empty handed.  He even lost the jeweller and clothes he had brought along from his own home when he first set out.  His leg, which he used to strike Guru ji, was hurting as well.  Sitting in his own home, he was regretting his acts.  He said to himself: “I have committed a grave sin.  I went to take all the money in Goindwal, but I now lost my money and possessions as well, in the robbery.  My leg is hurting a lot too.”  He was ashamed for his deed and did not come out of his home, out of his own ego.  He didn’t tell anyone what he had done. 

In Goindwal, all the Sikhs held the Divan.  They then discussed on what to do next.  They were sad and depressed without Guru Amardas ji, just as a lotus flower droops, not seeing the sun.  They were in pain, just the army is sad without the king; the Devatas are in pain without Inder; just as birds without their wings; like a wife without her husband; just as trees dry up without water; the Sikhs were in pain without Guru ji.  Everyone spoke, according to their own intellect: “Guru ji has gone into a Samadhi and went to Sach Khand.  He saw the anger of the son of Guru Angad Dev ji and renounced the world.  Leaving and staying is the same for him.  He stayed in Goindwal for the Sikhs.”  Some said: “he must have gone into the jungle.  He didn’t want to tolerate the conflict with Baba Dattu.”  Others said: “Satguru ji may have gone to another country to make more Sikhs.  Those people are fortunate.  He will make many new Sikhs.”  They tried to think of many places where Guru ji may have gone but they did not decide on one particular place.  Then, one person spoke up: “Baba Bhudda ji must know where Guru ji is.  He is the vizier of the Guru’s court.  Let’s go to his house and ask him where Satguru ji is.  He will surely find him.  There is no other way to find Guru ji.”  The Sikhs were talking and shedding tears.  They were heartbroken from the recent events.  Just as Krishan ji went into a Samadhi, and the Gopis all became sad. 

The Sikhs got together and went to Baba Bhudda ji’s home.  They placed Karah Prashaad in front of Baba Bhudda ji and bowed to him.  The folded their hand and stood before Baba Bhudda ji.  They sang his glories and said to him: “there is no difference between you and Guru ji.  Both of you are one light but two bodies.  You are the support of the Sikhs and bless them greatly.  The whole Sangat is standing in front of you.  The Sikhs are drowning in their own doubt.  Please become a ship and save everyone.  You are the lead of the Sikhs.  You place the Guruship mark on the forehead of the next Guru and have them sit on the Guru’s throne.  You are a Brahmgyaani of the highest level.  You are omniscient as well, and know the hearts of all.  You are all-powerful and fully capable of any task.  You hide your powers from everyone but please be gracious to the Sangat.  We have come to you for your help.”  Baba Bhudda ji heard the Sangat and said: “why are you not at peace?  I will do whatever I can.  Tell me everything what happened.  Doing the seva of one Sikh gives you a lot of rewards; to be able to serve the whole Sangat is a very rare opportunity.  When Satguru ji is gracious, he gives his seva to the fortunate ones.”  The Sangat folded their hands and said: “The Sikh Sangat is anxious without Guru ji.  Guru ji has disappeared all of a sudden.  It’s as is the sun has set forever.  To whom shall we bow our heads?  Whose shelter shall we seek?  Just as the moon sits with the stars, that is how Satguru ji used to sit with us.  You are the person that seats the next Guru.  The Sangat follows the Guru that you, Baba Bhudda ji, place the Guruship tilak on.”  The Sangat was under the impression that Guru ji left the Earth and that a new Guru was to take his place.  They all knew that Baba Bhudda ji was blessed with knowing who the next Guru is.  Baba Bhudda ji heard the words of the Sangat and went into a Samadhi to see what had happened with his divine vision.  For about half an hour, Baba Bhudda ji kept his eyes closed and sat with the Sangat in a focused Samadhi.  He searched the three dimensions but did not find the physical form of Satguru ji.  He then searched if Guru ji was hiding somewhere and checked many places.  He then searched the ether of the mind and connected to Guru ji.  He then came to know that Guru ji was sitting in a small house, in solitude.  He saw that he had the door closed and was not spreading his consciousness outwards.  Guru ji was in a Samadhi.  Baba Bhudda ji then opened his eyes.  He thought to himself: “if I tell the Sangat where Guru ji is and that he is in a deep Samadhi, then my powers and strength will be revealed and they will praise me.  It is not good to show off your powers like this.  I will have to use another strategy to show them where Satguru ji is.”  Baba Bhudda ji spoke to the Sangat: “don’t worry Sikhs, Satguru ji will make everyone’s pain go away.  He will support you and will continue to fulfill your desires.  Do Simran of Satguru ji with love and devotion.  He will come and support all of you.  Come, let’s go do Goindwal.  I will come with you.” 

Baba Bhudda ji lead the way and the Sangat, now happier, followed him.  They came to Goindwal quickly.  The whole city was not radiating like it used to.  Without Guru ji, the place had no glory.  It was as though heaven was without Inder.  Everyone was worried, men and women.  Baba Bhudda ji stood underneath Guru ji’s window, under the chabarra.  He stood there and made a request, an Ardaas to Guru ji: “oh Satguru ji, please look towards the Sangat.  Please resolve their doubts.  Please make their worries go away.  Oh Prabhoo ji, their hearts and homes are empty without you.  Nobody likes anything, without you here.  No one likes to eat or drink anything.  Please make their troubles go away, please give them the company of your divine presence.”  Baba Bhudda ji then came to the Sangat and sat down with them.  He asked the Sangat: “how did this all happen?  When did Guru ji leave?  First tell me what happened, then we will go looking for him.”  Everyone told Baba Bhudda ji what happened: “Guru Angad Dev ji’s son came and struck Guru Amardas ji with his foot.  Guru ji left at around midnight, but nobody knows which way he went.  Baba Dattu then took all of Guru ji’s belongings and money, and went back to Khadoor.  He left one horse though, which was the beloved of Guru ji.  That mare is standing outside Guru ji’s home.  Dattu tried to mount the mare; she didn’t let him.  When he tried, she thew him down.  He was stubborn and tried his best.  He tried many times to mount the horse but was unsuccessful.  The mare was very cleaver and loved by Guru ji.  She didn’t let Dattu mount her saddle.  For this reason, he left the horse.  He looted Guru ji’s whole house, though.”