10-51 Giving Wisdom to the Sangat
The 14th of Chet came. Guru ji wanted to go to Sach Khand. Seeing the bad state of Guru ji’s body, the servants and Sikhs were upset. The servants who served Guru ji, Guru ji looked towards them and said: “I wish to go to Sach Khand now. Whoever wishes to meet me, Gurbaksh Masand of Delhi and other senior Sikhs along with the Sangat, call them all now. They can see me in the court.” The servants heard this and began to shed tears. The tears flowed, all of a sudden. Mata ji was upset when she heard this. Everyone was upset. Bhai Gurbaksh ji told everyone to come. He cried as well, along with the Sangat. The Sikh Sangat was called for Darshan. Their faces were drooping. They were upset. Everyone was quiet as they came to see Guru ji.
Jai Singh and the other people came with great worry in their hearts. They all came quickly. When they came to the gates of Guru ji’s Dhera, there was a great crowd. Guru ji was informed of everyone’s arrival. Bhai Gurbaksh ji said: “Raja Jai Singh, the Sikhs and the Masands are waiting for your command to come in.” Sri Guru Har Krishan ji said: “lay out the rugs for them to sit on. Have them seated. I will give them my Darshan and fulfill their wishes.” The Mevra called everyone in. Sri Satguru ji sat up to give everyone his Darshan. Bhai Gurbasksh ji held Raja Jai Singh’s hand while entering. Everyone else came behind them. They were all worried. They all saw the blisters on Guru ji’s body. There were small and big blisters. Everyone bowed with their hands folded. They were happy to see Guru ji. They sat down quietly. Everyone looked but didn’t speak. Seeing Raja Jai Singh’s wishes, Bhai Gurbaksh ji said: “Sri Satguru ji, you are omniscient. We are unwise. What can we say? We don’t know your ways. We wish for your well-being. You are omnipotent. We can only make requests. The 7 Gurus before you, they all gave the Ghaddi to the servant or to the eligible son. The Guru made the next Guru omnipotent while seating them on the Gurta Ghaddi. The Sangat and the Masands were connected to the next Guru while the previous Guru was still there. They would then go to Sach Khand. The Guru destroyed the pain of the Sikhs. The Raja of Jaipur along with the Sangat, they have requests for you: have compassion on your servants. Firstly, don’t leave your body. Live a long life. You will grow up and get married. You will have kids who can sit on the Ghaddi. When you see them as eligible, seat them on your seat and then go to Sach Khand. Life and death are in your hands. You are free to do as you wish. You are omnipotent. Keeping the body or letting it go, this is in your hands. This is our request. You can do as you wish. Think of the good of the Sangat. The death of others, you can resurrect them. This is not new for you. We all know your powers. This is part of the Guru’s home. What else can we say? You know our wishes. You have made many alive again. This is not a secret. You are omnipotent and all-powerful. You resurrected many. Your servants can do this too. Why is their doubt for your life? You are still a child. This is surprising.” Satguru ji heard this. The rest of the Sikhs were quiet. They folded their hands and looked towards Guru ji’s face. The Guru could give all the powers to the Sikhs. The Sikhs were requesting Guru ji and praying for him to stay. The Compassionate One said, while everyone listened quietly: “the request you have is good one but listen to the will of the Parmeshwar. There are many reasons for leaving my body. It is good that I not tell you what they are. The Gurta Ghaddi is permanent. It is here forever. The radiance will grow. It won’t disappear. The Sangat will have their wishes fulfilled. They will get wisdom and earn it. Guru Granth Sahib ji is the Guru of the World. If you wish to do my Darshan, go to Guru Granth Sahib ji with faith. They will destroy your sins. If you wish to speak to me, recite and listen to Guru Granth Sahib ji with eagerness. Earn what Gurbani says. You will get the 4 gifts of life. The wishes of the Sikh will be fulfilled. Problems and blockages will go away when you come to their shelter. The Guru will save them. The faithful will have all their wishes fulfilled. The ones without faith will get nothing. The body will not last forever. The heart of the Guru is Guru Granth Sahib ji. Do their Darshan everyday and bow to them. Your vices will be destroyed. Gyaan will be received.” Everyone heard Guru ji’s words and began to cry. They lost hope that Guru ji was going to live on. They were not going to see the beautiful form of Sri Guru Har Krishan ji again.
Raja Jai Singh heard this and folded his hands. He said: “the Shah wished to see you. His wish remained a wish. His wish was not fulfilled. He asked me many times to see you. I knew your wish. What command is there for the Shah? He will ask me again. What shall I say to him?” Sri Guru ji said: “my brother is at his home. He shows the Shah the powers he wishes to see. He does what the Shah says. He showed more than 350 miracles. One bigger than the last. What else does the Shah want from the Guru’s home? Why does he want to see me? He saw my powers. The second thing is, I am going to Sach Khand. I don’t want any conflict. I want to be in bliss. I wrote a Shabad for the Shah. It was as Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji wrote it. Tell the Shah to earn it. He will get the highest status that way. Without earning the Bani, nothing comes into the hand. There are two reasons to meeting me. Both have already been satisfied for him. What 3rd reason is there? There is no other reason to meet me. Tell him this when you see him. Tell him to recite the Bani and do the Simran of Satnam. It will give him peace. Don’t fight with saints. Listen to what they say.” Guru ji then went quiet.
The Raja bowed and got up. He went to Nauranga’s home and told him the message. The Shah then said to Raja Jai Singh: “keep news as to what happens. Tell me when he leaves his body. Don’t cremate his body without my command. Whether it be night or day, tell me when he leaves his body.” After this conversation, Raja Jai Singh went home. He sent his men for updates. He told them: “keep me updated.” In this way, the day was done. The Guru Bhagwant stayed till evening.
10-52 Giving Wisdom to the Sangat II
The sun set in the west, marking the fall of evening. The Sikhs of the city came and went. They did the Darshan of the Compassionate One. Bhai Gurbaksh ji and the other Masands came. They took care of the organization. There was a great crowd but no one spoke. They were depressed. They did Guru ji’s Darshan and sat in the Divaan. Everyone did Simran of Vahiguru. The people of Delhi were surprised at Guru ji’s play. Bhai Gurbaksh ji said to all: “let’s go and see Guru ji. Now’s the time to ask him any questions. We should ask him now or else we will regret it. We need to ask him before he goes. He should command us now so there is no doubt. We need to hear his words.” Everyone thought of doing this Ardaas in front of Satguru ji. They all wanted to go to Guru ji. Bhai Gurbaksh ji said: “we should ask him now. Everyone thinks it’s a good idea.” The Sangat asked Bhai Gurbaksh ji and the other wise Sikhs, who knew the Guru’s Maryada/ traditions, to go to Guru ji.
Bhai Gurbaksh ji and the other Sikhs went to Guru ji. Guru ji laid on the Kusha aasan, after telling his Sikhs about it. Everyone was crying. When it was about 8 pm, Bhai Gurbaksh ji came inside and asked Guru ji after saying the names of all the Gurus, the ones who are praised in the world: “please listen to the request of the whole Sangat: you are the Compassionate One; please bless us. The Seventh Guru ji was Sri Guru Har Rai ji. He didn’t see his elder son fit to sit on the Ghaddi. He didn’t let him meet him. The Gurta Ghaddi was a far-fetched idea for him. He made you sit on the Gurta Ghaddi. You were capable in every way to sit on the Ghaddi. You have been on the Ghaddi for 2 years and some months. You have taken care of the Sangat ever since. You flourished the tradition of Sikhi in the best way. You went to leave now and disappear. You didn’t have any one sit on the Ghaddi. The Sangat is upset. They won’t get to see you anymore. Who will we follow now? The previous Gurus carried on this tradition. Will this tradition finish? You should do as the previous Gurus did. Sikhi must remain in the world. If you don’t carry on with this tradition, then the tradition will go backwards. The Sangat will have no goal. The bad ones will lead the Sangat astray. The Minas (followers of Prithi Chand, Meharban, Chaturbhuj) will grow. Some will follow Dheermal. Some will follow Baba Ram Rai. Other Sodhis will stake their claims as the next Guru. They will lead the Sikhs astray. They will make themselves look big. There is no support for the Sangat without the Guru. It is like the army without a king. If the Ghaddi has no owner, the greedy ones will become the Guru and loot the people. If the Guru is without powers, everyone will fight amongst themselves. The Sikhs will fight. The wise will understand and back off. The fools will follow the wrong people and fight. The Sikhi will disappear from the world. Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji and the other Gurus made Sikhi strong in the world. The Sikhi should not disappear. It is right to carry on this tradition. Otherwise, the Sangat will get confused. They will go to other religions and follow others. What you have said about Guru Granth Sahib ji being the Guru of all, the Sikhs heard this. The Sodhis will make copies of Guru Granth Sahib ji and keep them with them. They will sit and claim themselves as Guru. They will be egotistical. Please connect us to the next Guru who you see fit. The Sikhs of the City have come together to make this request to you.”
Sri Guru Har Krishan Sahib ji heard this and understood what the Sangat was saying. He thought to himself: “the Guru cannot be hidden. It is like the sun coming up in the sky. I must complete the tradition.” After thinking about this, Guru ji said: “what you say is true. Bring 5 Paisas and a coconut. Gather the Sangat. A great and powerful being will illuminate in the world. The fake Gurus will hide, seeing him. He will be the support of hundreds of thousands of Sikhs. He will save millions. He will save whoever comes to his shelter. He will be patient like the earth. He will be generous and benevolent, like the sun and the moon. The Sikhi will be made solid in the world. The Bemukhs will come back and bow. His great radiance will put everyone in the shadows. He will show you a new face.” After hearing Guru ji’s words, everyone bowed their heads.
A Sikh went to get 5 Paisas and a coconut. They were brought to Guru ji in a golden tray. Sandalwood, flowers were brought. Incense was lit. The Sangat was called close. The sandalwood was grinded for the Tilak. The Sangat had all the senior and wise Sikhs. Everyone bowed their heads with their hands folded. A ghee Diva was lit. The fragrances were sprinkled. A court was in session at night time. The Sikhs sat all around Guru ji. Everyone was quiet. They all did Simran of the Guru. They were blessed with the Darshan of Sri Guru Har Krishan ji, who was saving many of the Sikhs. Guru ji got up from his bed and sat on the Kusha aasan. The golden tray was brought close to Guru ji. Guru ji picked up the tray with his small right hand. Thousands watched. Guru ji picked up the 5 Paisas and the coconut. He did 3 Parkarmas, thinking of Guru Tegh Bahadhur Sahib ji, in his mind. The place that was cleaned and made pure, Guru ji placed the 5 Paisas and the coconut there. He folded his hands and bowed. He then opened his eyes and said: “Baba Baseh je Graam Bakaalay, Ban Gur Sangat Sakal Samaalay – the Baba that lives in Bakala, he is the Guru who will take care of the Sangat.” Guru ji said this to all. He called the Guru “Baba,” because Guru Tegh Bahadhur ji was Guru Har Krishan Sahib ji’s granduncle. The Sikhs had faith on this. Guru ji did not name the next Guru though. The Sikhs still had hope that the Great Guru was installed as the successor. He could not remain hidden. They knew that the Guru would be revealed soon. Nobody said anything to Guru ji. Guru ji completed everyone’s wishes. The Sikhs bowed to Guru ji’s feet. The Masands bowed. They were all upset but happy that a great being had been made the next Guru.
Guru ji commanded the servants: “the wishes of the Sangat have been fulfilled. Tell everyone to sit at the door and do Simran of Satnam. Recite and listen to Gurbani with a focused mind. Be alert and stay awake. Call the Rababis to do Keertan. Do Keertan with love. Don’t say anything other than the Simran of Satnam. Don’t speak. I am going to Sach Khand. I wish to be alone and leave my body.” The Sangat got up and folded their hands. They bowed, seeing Guru ji for the last time. They were fortunate to see Guru ji. The desires they had, were all fulfilled by Guru ji at that time. The ones that were drenched in love, they had to go out too. Everyone was upset. The Sikhs all gathered near the door and did the Simran of Satnam. The Rababis did Keertan which destroyed the sins.
10-53 Going to Sach Khand
In this way, Guru Har Krishan Sahib ji gave the Gurta Ghaddi to Guru Tegh Bahadhur Sahib ji and spoke to the Sangat. While speaking and listening, it was midnight. Guru ji wanted to go to Sach Khand. As the end time came, Mata ji came to see her son. She saw her son and became upset. She cried and felt a deep pain in her heart. The Guru was all-powerful, omnipotent and omniscient. Young and old came to bow to Guru ji’s feet. He knew every heart. He could make the kings as paupers and the paupers into kings. To take on a body or to let it go was under the command of the Patient One. Mata ji knew her son’s capabilities. She knew his greatness. She knew that he had the knowledge of time and earth; past, present and future. She said to her son: “you are omniscient. You are infinite and omnipotent. You are the most powerful. The whole world knows your glory.” Mata ji sat near Guru ji and looked at his son’s face. Guru ji’s face was always radiant and never in sorrow or pain. Mata ji became humble and said: “listen son, you are the treasure of all virtues. What can I say to you? I have requested you before but you didn’t accept it. You completed the task of giving the Gurta Ghaddi. You completed the tasks of the Guru’s home. You didn’t think of me. I will be without a son. I used to live to see your face. Your father, my husband, left. I wasn’t sad because I saw you on the Gurta Ghaddi. You are now going to Sach Khand. I will be upset and depressed after you. I came to the Guru’s home with great Karma. (She was the daughter of the king of Bulandh) When you were born, I was really happy. Now I will drown in the ocean of pain. I have no one left. Who will take me across this ocean now? Who will support me now? I won’t be able to live without seeing your face. I am like a fish without water. Like it suffers to death, that is how I will be.” Mata ji cried. The servants were sad to hear this. They began to cry. Seeing his mother upset, Guru ji said to her, giving her hope: “this body is destined to die one day. Why be upset over this? Your age is less now. You won’t stay here long. You will go to Pitha ji soon. The world is painful. Where you are going, there is only bliss and peace there. There is no pain of birth or death there, not even a little bit. You will go to Pitha ji.” Guru ji looked at his mother and destroyed the illusion of Maya and attachment in her heart. Mata ji received Brahmgyaan. She connected with her Aatma and was in deep bliss. She saw that the Aatma was real and the world was an illusion. She couldn’t describe her state in words. She saw the world as a dream. She saw the greatness of her son. She understood this after she saw her own Aatma. She understood the Omnipotent Being, the Guru.
It was a half hour after midnight. Guru ji got ready to leave. Many servants and Mata ji sat near Guru ji. Everyone was quiet and still. Guru ji, who spoke softly, covered his face with a sheet with his hands. He left his body in a blink of an eye. Sri Guru Har Krishan ji, who was like Sri Krishan ji, was received by Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Narad and all the Devatas. Inder was with the Devatas. The Devis (the powers) came. They all came to receive Guru Har Krishan Sahib ji. They played the Nagaras and conches. They put garlands of flowers around Guru ji’s neck. They lit incenses and bowed to Guru ji. The Devatas celebrated the arrival of Guru ji into their realm. They showered him with flowers. The Devatas met each other with joy. A big vessel came from Sach Khand. It had diamonds and pearls on them. Guru ji boarded it. The wives of the Devatas danced in front. They all walked and congratulated each other. The Kinnars and Gandarvs played their instruments and sang various Raags in joy. Everyone was in bliss. The Prabhoo Guru came to his place in Vaikunt Sach Khand. It was the highest place. The Guru Bhagvaan was in his deep bliss. The Devatas all went back to their realms. They all praised Guru ji as they went back.
When Mata ji discovered that Guru ji had left his body, she said to the servants: “look at the body of the Satguru. The Puranas are gone. I know this in my heart.” Bhai Gurbaksh ji uncovered the face of Guru ji. It was still blossoming like a lotus. There were no signs of death other than the fact that he wasn’t breathing. The radiance was still there. The beauty was there. He then covered the face again. The Sangat that was there, began to cry. Everyone inside, cried. The Sangat outside figured out what had happened. They all began to cry as well. Everyone knew that Guru ji went to his home. They all did Simran of Satnam. They were upset. The ones who were near the doors, they all cried and did Simran.
Raja Jai Singh’s messenger was there. He ran to the Raja and told him what happened. Raja Jai Singh heard this and cried. He remembered Guru ji’s ways and cried. He remembered the thousands Guru ji saved from cholera and small pox. He sent news to the Shah at 3 am: “at around 1 am, he left his body.” The Shah said to his messenger: “I will come to see the Guru’s body. Wait for me. Do the cremation after I come. The child Guru, Guru Har Krishan ji, was very patient.” The messenger told Jai Singh of what the Shah had said: “the Shah is telling you to wait for him.” Jai Singh heard this and went right away. It was Amritvela. Raja Jai Singh sat near the door where Guru ji’s body was. Everyone sat at the door.
When the sun came up, the news spread throughout Delhi about Guru ji’s departure. The Sikhs met each other. Some brought sandalwood. Some brought ghee, sesame seed oil, and other fragrant items. The Sikhs were all depressed. They brought expensive cloths for Guru ji’s body. The Sangat gathered in the thousands. Everyone came and did the Simran of the Guru. They remembered how the pains were destroyed by his Darshan: “since he came, many were cured.” The Raja of Jaipur said this: “he is omniscient.” Some talked bad about Baba Ram Rai: “he was full of jealousy towards his brother. He influenced the Shah to call Guru ji to Delhi. When he came to Delhi, Guru ji’s radiance overshadowed Baba Ram Rai’s. Baba Ram Rai became jealous and cursed his own brother. Guru ji didn’t discredit the curse. Guru ji didn’t meet the Shah. He kept his father’s vow. He obeyed him. He didn’t show his powers. Guru Har Krishan ji is Dhan. He was patient, deep and wise. Prabhoo ji did not break his vow. He didn’t see it a big thing to meet the Shah. He had no wish to receive money or to be worshiped. He is always with his servants.” In this way, the Raja and the people spoke. Guru ji was calm and serene. The place was crowded. The Sikhs cried. The servants and maids cried. They were upset. The place was in mourning. Mata ji remembered her son and was upset. She had hope that she was leaving soon.
The preparations for the cremation began. A place was seen nearby. The place was cleaned. The pyre was being prepared. Raja Jai Singh was waiting for the Shah. A messenger soon came to Raja Jai Singh and said: “the Shah will be here soon. He won’t be long. His ride is close by.”
10-54 The Cremation of the Body
The Shah bathed in the morning and wore new clothes. I wanted to see Guru ji’s body. He thought to himself: “I will see the body of the great Guru. He didn’t meet me while he was alive. I asked him many times but he was determined not to see me. Now I will see his body. I will see if his body had any powers or not.” Aurangzeb thought about this and left. Many people came with him. Thousands of people were already at the place where Guru ji’s body was. Many people followed the Shah. The Shah got off his palanquin and came to the door. Many people got up, seeing the Shah come in. Many bowed to the Shah in respect. There was a great crowd there. Raja Jai Singh was asked by the Shah, as he wished to enter the place where Guru ji was. Raja Jai Singh thought: “Guru ji didn’t want to see the Shah. His father gave him the vow. He was determined to follow his vow till he was alive. Now his vow will break. There is no way the vow will remain. The instructions that his father gave him, he followed. Who will show the miracle now?” The Badshah thought: “now I will see him.” Everyone was told to move out of the room where Guru ji’s body lay. The Shah went in alone. Mata ji and the servants were inside. They were crying. They left the room and went to a different room. One servant remained with Guru ji’s body. He was crying quietly. He couldn’t stop the Badshah, the Turkeshwar of Delhi.
Mata ji thought to herself: “I can’t stop the Badshah. Nobody has that ability. The Badshah came straight inside.” There was a sheet on top of Guru ji’s body. The Badshah stood in front to see the face of Guru ji. He said to the servant standing nearby: “remove the sheet from his face. Let me have his Darshan. I came here quickly for this reason.” The servant heard this and bowed to Guru ji’s body. He grabbed the sheet and lifted it. He thought to himself: “who can stop the Shah now?” When Aurangzeb tried to see the face of Guru ji, he saw a great crack in the earth below him. He couldn’t see the body of Guru ji. He saw a deep hole and felt as though he was going to fall in it. He saw something really scary that only he knew what he saw. He began to tremble with fear. His hairs stood on their ends. He couldn’t open his mouth. He stood there like a pillar. He was petrified. His eyes and his ears became unfunctional. He felt dizzy and thought he was going to fall. He lost the senses of his body. He couldn’t feel his arms or his legs. He was really scared. He couldn’t stand. He lifted his arm and put it on the Sikh’s shoulder for support. He was sweating and breathing deeply. The Sikh felt a weight on his shoulder and dropped the sheet. He grabbed on to the Shah to prevent him from falling. The body of Guru ji was covered again. After a while, Aurangzeb felt better and the fear went away. He wanted to leave the room. He came out nervously and went to where his men and other people were.
Jai Singh met the Shah ahead and saw Aurangzeb’s fear-filled face. The Shah’s face was pail. He looked impatient and his eyes had water in them. He couldn’t say anything. He couldn’t say what he saw. He was scared and anxious. The Umraavs came to see what had happened. The Shah put his hands on the shoulders of his people for support. He called for his palanquin and headed back to Lal Qila in fear. He didn’t tell anyone what happened as he was embarrassed. It is like swords swinging in the battlefield; blood flowing; the cowards run away seeing this in any direction that is open to them; they can’t tell anyone how they ran away; just as the Muslims see the Kakha Divaar on the Ko Kaaf Mountain (Mount Qaf) one can’t say anything; that is how Aurangzeb was. He was quiet and in regret. He was really scared and was in trouble. Aurangzeb never said anything to anyone of fear of being teased. What could he say? He didn’t know himself what he saw. It couldn’t be described.
Raja Jai Singh and the others began to prepare the pyre after the Shah left. Mata Kishan Kaur ji cried and spoke to the Sangat. The Servants brought her what she required. Everyone bathed the body of Satguru ji. They sprinkled fragrant essences everywhere. New clothes were put on Satguru ji’s body. A new and beautiful platform was brought with many flowers hanging from it. Guru ji’s body was placed on the platform. Many types of incenses were lit. The Masands lifted the platform on top of their shoulders. The Rababis sang Shabads in Maaroo and Vadhans. Everyone did Simran of Satnam, the giver of peace. Mata Kishan Kaur ji had Brahmgyaan now but she still felt the pain of her son dying. She thought of her son’s deep virtues. Love overtook her heart and tears shed from her eyes. The servants and maids cried along with the Sangat. The place named Tilaukhari, where the Yamina flows close to it, a pyre of sandalwood was ready. Ghee, sesame seeds and other items were there. The Sangat placed the platform on the pyre. The Masands set the pyre and put ghee on top. The pyre was lit. The Kapaal Kriya was done afterwards. Everyone bowed and then bathed in the Yamuna.
Everyone praised Guru Har Krishan Sahib ji. They kept on thinking and talking about him. The Sikhs did Keertan. Everyone bathed and came back to the Dhera. Thousands of people were there. They sat and spoke of Guru ji: “he was a child as he became the Guru. He didn’t grow up. Everyone saw his miracle.” Mata Krishan Kaur ji, the mother, everyone spoke worlds of love to her: “our Karma was bad. Our Guru left us.” Everyone asked each other of Guru ji’s Katha. Mata ji said: “his father lived in Kiratpur. I did his Seva and had a wish. He was happy with me and so he blessed me. This great being came into my womb. It was Saavan Vadhi the 10th, it was the Punarvasu Nakshatra (Castor and Pollux), 8th Saavan 1713 (Vikram), Sas-sut-Vaar the day of the son of Chander (Budh-Wednesday), around 8:30 am, when Sri Guru Har Krishan ji was born. I raised him with love. I thought myself to be very fortunate. As he grew, he became more handsome. He was the mine of patience, forgiveness and virtues. His father Satguru ji loved him as he saw his virtues. He blessed him. Baba Ram Rai came to Delhi and did the sinful act; he did not have forgiveness or patience; he did not have the stamina to tolerate the intolerable things. He changed the words of the elder Guru. Guru Har Rai ji saw the elder son as not eligible for the Gurta Ghaddi. He blessed my son. He saw his abilities. When his end time came, he seated my son on his place. He was 5 years, 2 months and 29 days old then. He thought of the time and gave my son the Tika. He then went to Vaikunt Sach Khand. The Jot came inside Sri Guru Har Krishan ji. His power was not hidden to the world. The Brahmgyaani Sikhs knew his powers. They knew that Ram Rai was jealous and influenced the Shah to call him to Delhi. The Sangat met Guru ji. Seeing his radiance, Ram Rai cursed him. My son was calm. He did not get angry. 2 years, 5 months and 29 days is how long he was the Guru. He gave me pain and left. I think of him day and night. I cry.” Mata ji began to cry again. The Sangat heard this and got anxious. They all folded their hands and said: “Mata ji, the Guru was omnipotent. He left his body by his own will. It’s in his hands. We can’t say anything about him. The Guru is all-powerful. He is omnipotent. Why be upset? He went to his own home. Ram Rai is stained for cursing him. Guru ji stained him by leaving his body. We can only bow and sing his praises. Guru ji will be by our side forever. When we remember him, he comes to help us.” After giving Mata ji hope, the Sikhs all went back to their homes.
10-55 The Discussions in the Sangat
It was 1721 (Vikram) Chet Suddhi 14, on the day of “the son of Rajneesh (Wednesday- Rajneesh= the king of the night-Chandra. The son of Chandra is Budh)” Sri Guru Har Krishan ji, as a child, thought of many things in his heart and went to his home in Sach Khand. The Satguru was very loved by the Satsangat. After 3 days of his cremation, the Masands met with all the Sikhs. They gathered his flowers (ashes) and mourned. They couldn’t find anything in the ashes. They gathered the ashes and flowed it into the Jamuna. Everyone bowed and bathed in the river. The Sangat came to Mata Kishan Kaur ji and mourned. They all offered their condolences. Raja Jai Singh came a few times to see Mata ji. He would bow and sit near Mata ji. He gave her hope saying: “Guru ji was loved by all. His Darshan would destroy pains. Every house in Delhi praised him. Hindus and Muslims both bowed to him. He didn’t reverse his brother’s curse. We asked him to but he refused. He was omnipotent but still endured the curse on himself. The Badshah wished to see Guru ji but he patiently refused. He was fearless. Guru Har Krishan ji was Dhan. He was the wisest. He had the stamina to tolerate the intolerable. He had no wish of praise. For Gursikhi, he used his powers to cure people. He didn’t use them for anything else. He was generous and benevolent. He didn’t reverse the will of Akaal Purakh on himself. Why should we mourn such a Guru? He took on a body and let it go by his own will. He does everything casually. He does what he pleases with full independence. No rule applies to him. He was always in the Gyaan of the Sat, Chetna and Anand. He gave bliss to all and blessed them. He cut their bonds of the birth cycle. Your husband and your son were great. Remember them. You will go to them when your body’s age ends. The Sangat is yours. They will serve you in many ways. Live where you are happy. If you need anything done, please tell me. I am the servant of your son. I will serve you like I served your son. I will respect you more. I will stand in front of you with my hands folded. Command me by seeing me as your servant.”
Mata Krishan Kaur ji, the mother of the Guru, heard the Raja’s words. She gathered her patience and said: “you are the faithful servant of the Guru. Guru ji came here because of your love. In the city, the Sikh Sangat got to serve him. You loved him. Everyone loved him. Just as the elder Guru’s sat on the Throne, everyone saw my son just as they saw the elder Gurus. They had full faith on him, being the Jot of Guru Nanak Dev ji. Raja ji, I don’t wish to stay here any longer. Kiratpur is where I wish to go. I will stay here for a few days and then return home.”
The Raja heard this and said: “the tradition of the other Gurus, they gave the Ghaddi to an eligible person and then went to Sach Khand; the same did not happen in his case. Who did he give the Gurta Ghaddi of the world to? Who should we give the gifts to? The Dastaar and the traditions, where should we do that?” As the Raja spoke, Bhai Gurbaksh Masand ji was sitting there. The Raja asked him the same question.
Bhai Gurbaksh ji said: “the Sangat came and presented this request to Satguru ji’s feet. He was ready to go to Sach Khand at that time. The Sikhs asked: “you are going to the Jot. Who will sit on the Guru’s seat? In front of whom shall we bow to? Who will give us the wisdom? The traditions of the Guru, who will do that? Will the Ghaddi end?” Guru ji heard this and sat up. The Sikhs all around him were standing with their hands folded. Guru ji said: “Guru Granth Sahib ji is the Guru.” He then spoke of the glory of the Satnam. He then asked for 5 Paisas and a coconut. He placed them in front and bowed. He said to all: “the Baba lives in Bakala.” He didn’t say the name though. We just kept staring at his face. He then laid down and left his body like one throws away a piece of grass. We do know that the Guru is in Bakala. We don’t know who is there. We haven’t been able to decide. Nobody asked him about the name either. Listen Raja ji, whoever is the new Guru, he has unlimited powers. He cannot remain hidden like the sun. The Sikh Sangat will find the master. There are many homes of the Sodhis there. The family of the Great Guru lives there. When the big task is required, the Guru will be needed. Only the Guru will know. He will come out himself. You already know that Ram Rai is jealous. He is not eligible to be the Guru. His Satguru Pitha ji renounced him in the Sangat. Ram Rai had hatred. He was punished. The Gurta Ghaddi has left their home now. Sri Baba Gurditta ji’s son was Sri Guru Har Rai ji. Guru Hargobind Sahib ji made his grandson sit on the Guru Takhat over his sons. The Ghaddi stayed in his home. Ram Rai started the fight and lost it. The Sodhi relatives will get it now. The Sikhs will follow them now. What came into the hands of Ram Rai? He was jealous seeing his younger brother. He will fall prey to the jealousy of his relatives now. Wise people don’t do what he did. Whoever hears this, they know that what he did was wrong. He ruined it with his father first, then he killed his father’s other son and gave pain to Mata ji.”
Raja Jai Singh heard the Masand and said: “this is what happens with step (half) brothers. He was eligible, powerful and wanted to sit on his father’s seat. The fate cannot be erased though. Such words were supposed to come out of his mouth which led to all this.” The Raja folded his hands and said: “Mata ji, please give me leave.” The wise Raja bowed and got up. Mata ji blessed him: “may the Satguru come into your thoughts. Sri Guru Har Krishan Sahib ji will support you and be by your side. May you be honoured in the Shah’s court. May your wishes be fulfilled by the Guru.” Receiving the blessings of Mata ji, the Raja left.
Mata ji took deep breaths. She remembered her son and cried. She then remembered her Gyaan and gathered her patience. She stayed in Delhi for some days. She saw the love of the Sangat. The Sangat served her. The Darbar of the Guru carried on in the same way.
10-56 The Pressure of the Masands/ The Search for the Guru
Many days passed. The news spread to far away lands. The Sangat began to come with their gifts. They came to Delhi as they thought Guru ji was there. They came with great effort. They came from far away places. They got tired when they arrived. When they came, they heard that Guru ji had gone to Sach Khand. They would take deep breaths and cry. They said: “we have bad Karma. We didn’t see the Guru. We brought expensive things from other lands. We wanted to make Guru ji happy. We were unsuccessful. Who do we give our gifts to?” They were upset. They came from afar and didn’t get to see the Guru. “Who will fulfill our wishes now? Who do we bow our heard to now? The other Sodhis have become the enemies of the Guru’s home. Prithi Chand first became the enemy. He died with hatred in his heart. He wanted bad for the Guru’s home. Dheermal and others, they claim to be Gurus in their own places. Their only virtue is that they were born into the family of the Guru. They are a thousand times less than the Guru. They try to be equal. Where would they get their powers from? They just want the people to worship them. That’s the only wish they have. Ram Rai is the eldest son of the Guru but he didn’t sit on the Throne. Sri Guru Har Rai ji said it himself: “my Sikh will not go close to him.” His words were said in the whole Panth. Everyone knows of this. Nobody will go to Ram Rai. He has been renounced from Gursikhi. It won’t be good to meet him. By disobeying the Guru’s command, how can one be a Sikh then?” The wise Sikhs said this. They all thought about this. They would take their gifts back home. They didn’t meet anyone in Delhi. Some went back home. They had no idea who the Guru was now. Some heard that the Guru was in Bakala. They would go there to find him.
The Sodhis found out about this: “Sri Guru Har Krishan ji has declared that the Guru is in Bakala. He will be seen there.” Thousands of Sangat went to Bakala. The young and old Sodhis saw this and decided to go to Bakala. They went there and set up their Dheras. Greed influenced their wisdom. They wanted to gain wealth be acting as the Guru. They came to Bakal, declaring themselves as the Guru. They were happy and spoke amongst themselves. They bribed the Masands to come with them. They gave expensive clothes to the Masands. They did what it took to call the Masands to their homes. They gave them money. They said to the Masands with humility: “we will give you what you ask for. Praise us to the Sangat. Tell the Sangat that we are the Guru and no one else. Do what it takes to bring them to us. Whatever money comes to us, we will give you half. If that is not enough, you can take it all. We have no wish for money. You can give us what you wish for our expenses and Langar. We will use that for our home.” The Sodhis became dependant on the Masands. They spoke to them with humility. All of the Sodhis did this. They wanted to be the Guru with joy. The money they had, they spent it all on the Masands. They gave them clothes and jewellery. When the Sodhis became dependant on the Masands, the Masands became egotistical.
The Masands lost their faith. They thought to themselves: “to make the Guru is in our hands. The Guru’s sons and grandsons; they all obey us. We will take the Sangat there, who gives us money and gifts. The so-called Gurus who don’t follow us, we will take the Sangat away from them. The Gurus will remain sitting, empty-handed. The Sodhis will fear us now. Whoever we wish, we will claim them as the Guru. Whoever we wish to remove from the Guru status, we can remove them.” The Masands met each other and said: “this is the best thing for us. We can use any Sodhi as a puppet for us. They stay sitting in their homes. The give-and-take is in our hands. Gather the wealth and enjoy the pleasures of life.” The Masands became fearless. The Masands of the different self-proclaimed Gurus were all together. They became atheists. Whoever they saw humble in front of them, they would take the Sangat to them, making under-the-table deals with them. They would sing the Gurus praises in the Sangat, who would pay them. They would say: “this is the real Guru! Worship him and have your wishes fulfilled.” They gave many sermons and brought the Sangat to the different Gurus. They all made claims for the Guruship. The money came there.
The tradition had spoiled. The Sikhs saw this and were upset. They said to each other: “just as a Raja hides himself, the subject makes up many rumours; that is what is happening here. There was a time that Inder hid in the water, inside the stem of a lotus. He hid there. The devatas didn’t know where their king was. The Devatas got worried. This is what is happening in the Guru’s home. We can’t decide who the Guru is. The Sikh Sangat is in chaos. They don’t see the Guru. They are confused. In Bakala, 22 people are claiming to be the Guru. They sit there on their seats. They all call themselves as the greatest. They fight amongst their own cousins. They slander the others and praise themselves. They say: “we have the powers. Not the others. I am the Guru. I achieved the Gurta Ghaddi. The others are greedy and are having people worship them.”
Dheermal and the other elder Sodhis left their homes in joy and came to Bakala. They all became crooks, setting up their façades. They sat under canopies and had others waive Chaurs over their heads. They used their wealth to show off to the Sangat. The naïve Sikhs saw the glitz and glamour. They got attracted to all of that. They went there and presented their money to them. The fake Gurus would give them blessings: “your wishes will be fulfilled. Other than me, no other Sodhi is the Guru. Don’t meet the others, no matter what they say.”
The wise Sikhs noticed the greed the fake Gurus had. They didn’t see any powers in them. They didn’t go to the fake Gurus. If someone had the qualities of the Guru, they would have gone to them. What can I say? The Sikh Sangat was in chaos.
Sri Guru Tegh Bahadhur ji was glowing like the moon. He sat with himself drinking the taste of Gyaan Anand. He didn’t show himself to anyone. The master sat in his home, by himself. His mother, Mata Nanaki ji knew everything. She remembered the words of her husband, Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib ji. She thought to herself: “the time has come. My son is to become the Guru.” Mata ji sat in her home and watched the drama in Bakala. She saw the loads of people coming and going to the fake Gurus. She would try to convince her son to go outside and reveal himself: “look what the other Sodhis are doing.” She would say this to him again and again: “you are the owner of the Throne now. There is a lot of chaos outside. Make them all run away.” Sri Guru Tegh Bahadhur ji would hear this and not say anything. He would sit there in a single-state of mind. I will now state his Katha. How the Guru will reveal himself, with the Katha of love from a beloved Sikh; I will state that in the next Raas. The Tenth Raas is now complete, by my focus setting in the lotus feet of the Satguru. Kavi Santokh Singh ji folds his hands and bows to the feet of the Satguru, over and over again.
Thus ends the 10th Raas.
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