2-31 Bhai Kalyana Comes to Amritsar with the Raja of Mandi

The Raja heard the truth from Bhai Kalyana ji and got angry.  He said to Bhai Kalyana: “you will be punished.”  He said to his men: “Arrest this man and put him in the jail.  Convince him to bow to the Thakur and worship it.  Otherwise he will be punished in the morning.”  Bhai Kalyana was arrested and locked up in jail.  In the jail, he continued to do Simran.

It was soon morning and the Raja woke up to go to the Mandir, to worship his Thakur.  He performed the pooja by offering sandalwood.  He drank the Charanamrit and bowed to the Thakur.  He said to his men: “bring the foreign person who was locked up yesterday.  Punish him in front of me.”  His men went and brought Bhai Kalyana ji.  They brought him to the Mandir.  The Raja said to him: “you look like a Hindu but you called Thakur ji a stone.  You shall be punished for this.  If you want to be saved you must admit that you had made a mistake and will listen to what we are saying.”  Bhai Kalyana ji responded: “my Guru is Guru Arjan Dev ji.  I have given my head to him.  I do not bow to anyone else now.  I am in his command.  How can I call a stone my Prabhoo?”  The Raja got angrier and said: “he is not afraid even a little bit.  Punish him severely.  Cut off one of his legs and throw him out of our kingdom.”  Hearing the Raja’s command, the “chandaal” (executioner) came.  Bhai Kalyana remembered Guru Arjan Dev ji: “it is now time for you to assist me.  You said you will help me before I took your leave.  You said: “the Guru will assist you, go now.”  Please save me now, oh master.  I am under your mercy.”  As the executioner came to cut of Bhai Kalyana’s leg, the Raja had a seizure and fainted.  He was standing one second, and fell the other.  He went pale and shivered like a fish out of the water.  The people near the Raja picked him up.  The Raja was not conscious.  The executioner left Bhai Kalyana ji and went to assist the Raja.  They forgot about Bhai ji.  They brought water and splashed the Raja’s face with it.  They fanned him but the Raja did now wake up.  The wise people in the court thought about what had just happened.  They realised that the foreigner was to have his leg cut off and the Raja fell as soon as the Jalaad (executioner) came to strike the person.  “We think this is the doing of the foreigner,” they said.  “We should make the foreigner happy and do what he says, if we want to save your Raja.”  Everyone heard this and agreed: “yes this is what has happened.  There is no other reason.  He seems to be a saint.”  The ministers folded their hands and said to Bhai Kalyana: “you are a saint who we did not recognize.  We have made a mistake in not knowing who you are.  We have disrespected you and are embarrassed by it.  Please forgive us.  Your glory is great, we now know this.  Please bless our king and make him better.  He is suffering.  He is going to die.  Please save him.  Please get him and help him or else our king will die.  He is a good and religious king.” 

Everyone went to the Raja’s house.  Bhai Kalyana ji said: “Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji is the great Satguru.  Become his Sikhs and have faith and devotion on him.  He is the master of the Trilok (three worlds).  Go to his home and bow to his feet.  Everyone should get together and say “Satnam.”  Face towards Amritsar and say Satnam.  Bow towards that direction and do Ardaas: “Guru Arjan Dev ji, we will come to see you soon.  Please make our Raja healthy again.”  Bhai Kalyana showed them how to do Ardaas.  Everyone faced Sri Amritsar and folded their hands.  The said: “Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji.”  They bowed and said to Bhai Kalyana: “please do Ardaas for us as well.”  Bhai Kalyana ji washed his hands and feet.  He put a parna around his neck and did the Ardaas: “Sri Guru ji, please protect the Raja.  See him as one of your own and save him from pain.  He will be in your protection and will be under your command.  If he has made a mistake, please forgive him.”  He finished the Ardaas and bowed.  The Raja began to wake up as soon as the Ardaas was done.  He opened his eyes and was positioned upwards by his servants.  He said to his men: “take me to my home and leave the foreigner alone.  Respect him and give him what he needs.  Have him stay at a nice place.  Give him food and clothes.”  The ministers took the Raja home and served him.  The Raja looked like he had been sick for a long time.  He was eating very slowly. 

In a few days, the Raja was fully cured.  He called Bhai Kalyana ji with great respect.  He said to him: “where does Satguru ji live?  I wish to meet him.  He is my Satguru too now.  I have given him my head.  Take me to him.  I want to meet the master of the universe.”  Bhai Kalyana ji heard the Raja and said: “Satguru ji lives in “Madhur Desh.”  He lives in a place called “Guru ka Chak.”  This place was gifted to Guru Amardas ji by Emperor Akbar.  People from every direction come to visit Guru ji.  All their wishes are fulfilled when they see Guru ji.  Guru ji is the giver of bhugti and Mukti.  Whoever comes to Guru ji with faith and devotion, Guru ji fulfills all of their wishes.  Your good karma has blossomed because the wish to see Guru ji has bloomed inside of you.  You will receive the happiness of both worlds.  Go and bow to the feet of Guru Arjan Dev ji and become his Sikh.”  The Raja, the fortunate one, heard this and had love in his heart for the Guru.  He wished to see Guru ji.  He got ready with his army and started his journey towards Amritsar.  His ministers went as well.

They travelled slowly with Bhai Kalyana ji and soon reached Sri Amritsar Sahib.  They came close to Guru ji’s home and set up camp outside of the city.  They had horses and elephants with them so they camped in an open area.  The Raja collected nice and expensive items to gift to Guru ji.  He had his servants and queens come with him too.  Their camps were set.  Bhai Kalyana ji made all the arrangements.  Bhai ji said to the Raja in a sweet voice: “rest here for a while.  I will go to Guru ji and ask for your permission to see him.” 

Bhai Kalyana ji came to Guru ji’s home where the master of the universe was sitting.  Bhai Kalyana ji folded his hands and bowed.  His heart was filled with joy and bliss, after seeing Guru ji.  Guru ji said to him: “welcome Kalyana!  Did you complete your great task?”  Bhai Kalyana ji folded his hands and told Guru ji everything: “I brought the Raja along with me.  You assisted me and cured the Raja.  The Raja was anxious to see you.  He wishes to become your Sikh.  I am confident that he can do the complete Seva of the Sarovar by himself.  He is quite generous and capable.  You have blessed everything and everything happened for the good.  I was just an excuse.  You are the one that does everything.  Laxmi already lives here but this is just how things had to happen.  I am an excuse, that you wanted to send me for money.  You are the giver of the three worlds.  Everyone asks everything from you.  You control the four types of entries in this world (by way life takes birth).  You can do as you wish.  Whatever is in your heart, only that happens.  Nobody can reverse your wishes.  Your wishes come out to be true.  All the Devatas and Devis are in your command.  All the powers are in your command.  The Raja of Mandi has set up camp outside the city.  He will spend the night and come in the morning.  He will bow his head in your lotus-feet if you would kindly give your permission, please.”

2-32 The Raja Dreams of the life of a Chandaal

During Amritvela, Guru ji woke up and bathed.  Guru ji did his Nitnem and came to the Gurta Ghaddi to sit on it.  He met the Sikhs, who were happy to see him.  Bhai Kalyana ji went to see the Raja and told him about Guru ji’s conversation.  The Raja heard this and gathered all his gifts.  The guards holding golden gurjes were walking with him.  He walked with his whole royal regalia, his ministers and soldiers, who were wearing expensive clothes, accompanied him.  The Raja did not wear shoes and walked to Guru ji with faith and devotion in his heart.  He reached Guru ji’s home and bowed to Guru ji’s feet.  He folded his hands and said to Guru ji: “I have heard your praises and have come to you.”  After saying this, the Raja bowed and sat down.  Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji, the master of the universe, was reciting Gurbani from a Pothi.  He was reciting the Bani of Dakhni Oankaar in Raag Ramkali.  The line that he read out loud was: “the written destiny cannot be erased, which has been written by Kartar.”  Whatever Akaal Purakh wishes, only that is what happens.  Only Akaal Purakh can provide peace.  The Raja heard this and thought to himself: “if this is true, it is useless to meet Guru ji, as what will happen, will happen.  There is no benefit in meeting the Guru then.  If there is no solution for something, what is the point of applying your effort?”  He folded his hands and said to Guru ji: “I have understood what you wanted to say.  What is the point of becoming your Sikh if I am to suffer my own Karma as it is going to unfold anyways?  Why should I have Guru?”  Satguru ji replied: “the karma does not erase but the Guru does good for you.  The Guru cuts the trouble and saves the Sikh.  The destiny written by Prabhoo happens, but Satguru ji still gives peace and happiness to the Sikh.  The love of the Guru gives Mukti in the future.  Both are true.”  The Raja was still in doubt.  It actually got worse.  He said: “how can both be true?  If a person has to suffer his/her fate, then what can the Sri Gyani Guru do?  If the Guru helps and erases the karma, then I can understand it is beneficial.  I can’t understand how both can happen at the same time.”  Sri Guru ji then said: “stay for three days.  See what happens.  You will see both come true.  I won’t ask you to be a Sikh yet.  Clear your doubts first and then become a Sikh.”  The Raja agreed and presented his gifts to Guru ji.  He bowed his head and came back to his camp.  He ate Karah Prashaad and was filled with bliss.  He stayed in his camp and went to sleep at night.

The intelligent Raja fell asleep, with his guards keeping watch.  After about 6 hours, the Raja had an interesting dream.  In his dream: he saw himself growing old while his family grew as well.  He eventually died after ruling as king.  He saw his subjects mourning his death.  He left everyone crying and took another birth.  He was born as a “chandaal” in his next birth.  The chandaal parents raised him and married him off, when he was 10.  All the relatives, who were also chandaals, danced at his wedding with great joy.  His family expanded with his in-laws.  He came home and began his married-life.  He was happy in his family life.  As he aged and became an adult, he had kids.  When the kids grew older, he married them off as well.  He had many sons and daughters that he married off.  The family kept getting bigger with grandchildren.  He saw joy and sorrow in his life and eventually became old.  His life was complete and died as a chandaal.  He saw his wife crying and saying: “oh husband, who is my support now?  Your family is so big.  You will take care of the dogs, pigs and all the family members?  Where are you?”  The whole family was crying.  They took his body and buried it into the ground.  The Raja saw this dream and woke up, with a startle, in the late hours of the night.  He was amazed to see the interesting dream.  He kept thinking about the dream and didn’t sleep the rest of the later night hours.

The Raja remembered everything in the dream.  A Sikh came to the Raja and said to him: “Guru ji has commanded me to tell you that Guru ji wishes to go hunting with you.  Go with him, this is what Guru ji said.”  The Raja bathed and got ready.  He mounted his horse and took some of his men with him.  He came to Guru ji’s home.  Guru ji mounted his horse and went along with the Raja.  The Raja kept thinking about his dream.  He didn’t speak to Guru ji, being afraid.  His face was full of worry but came along because of Guru ji’s command.  He said to Guru ji: “Guru ji, I do a lot of hunting.  When I see a deer, I kill it.  I have hawks to hunt other birds as well.  Watch how I hunt for deer.”  As they went deeper into the jungle, they saw a deer that came in front of the Raja.  The deer was really fast and moved ahead.  The Raja told everyone not to chase it as he wanted to hunt it.  He rode his horse behind deer.  They both ran fast like the wind.  The Raja rode his horse 30 km away from Amritsar.  He eventually killed the deer by hunting it.  The Raja was thirsty and tired.  None of his men were with him.  The soldiers couldn’t catch up to him.  The Raja looked around and saw a village.  He saw a tree there with a nice shade.  He decided to get off his horse and rest under the tree.  He tied his horse and started to look for water nearby.  He saw a pond and washed his face and feet in it.  He drank the water and cleaned himself.  He then went to rest in the shade of the tree.  He laid a sheet of cloth and sat down.  He rested there and was happy.  He said to himself: “I’ll mount my horse when the sun is not so hot.  My men will come find me by then.  I’ll rest her till then.”

Guru Arjan Dev ji was on his horse, coming along with the men of the Raja.  They were all looking for the Raja and coming slowly.  They followed the horse’s tracks, finding the Raja.  It was really hot as it was noon.  The soldiers and hunters were getting anxious, looking for the Raja.  The Raja’s servants were looking for him as well.

2-33 The Raja sees his Dream become a Reality/ The Raja has faith in Satguru ji

The Raja sat there for a while.  His soldiers were looking for him.  One of the sons of the chandaal he saw in his dream, came and saw him.  The Raja thought the area was familiar to him.  It was the same place he saw in his dream.  The son of the chandaal stood from afar and noticed that it was his dead father sitting.  He wanted to go to see his father but he was afraid, as they had buried him.  He said to himself: “this is my father that died.  We thought he died but he cheated us.  He is wearing expensive clothes.”  The boy ran back home.  Everyone was still crying as the chandaal had just died a day before.  He said to everyone: “why are you crying?  Father is still alive.  He is not dead.  He cheated us.  Come and see him if you don’t believe me.”  The wife of the chandaal stopped crying and got up in a rush.  She took the whole family and followed her son.

The mourners saw the Raja and shouted out in shock.  The chandaalni saw her husband in front of her eyes and said: “what did you do?  You left your family and kept us in pain.  I cried the whole night.  You did not come and tell us that you are well.”  In this way, everyone came to see the Raja and were shocked to see the chandaal alive.  The Raja didn’t want to go close to them and wanted to stay back.  The Raja was shocked to see the family from his dream.  They were the same people.  He had not forgotten them but didn’t say anything.  It was the same wife he had in the dream as well as the children.  He looked all around and recognized the village from his dream.  He was confused.  As they tried to come close to him, seeing him as their relative, but the Raja kept moving away.  The chandaalni said: “you are my husband.  We have many fond memories together.  We have had sons and daughters together.  Why are you not wanting your children to touch you?  You are wearing expensive clothes and weapons.  This doesn’t make you a king.  You did a drama that you died but you actually left us and got all these expensive things.  Why do you not pick up your son in your lap?  Come to your home and live with your family.  You loved them so much.”  The other chandaals came as well and surrounded the Raja.  The Raja thought about his dream and noticed that this was his family.  When he saw himself, he knew that he was the Raja of Mandi.  The Raja said: “I am not your relative.  You are mistaking me for someone else.  I am the Raja of Mandi.  You are low castes.  Don’t come close to me.  I don’t want to be impure by touching you.  Why don’t you notice who you are and who I am?  I am not one of you.  How can we be related?”  They argued for a while.

After a while, Satguru ji himself, the gracious one, came.  The soldiers of the Raja came with Guru ji.  Guru ji asked all the chandaals to sit down and talk.  Guru ji asked the chandaals: “what is the problem?”  The chandaals said: “this person is our relative.  He pretended to die but he cheated us and now he has clothes and jewellery along with a horse.  Looking at his body, this is exactly our relative.  There is no other difference besides his clothes.  He used to live with us.  All of us have recognized him.  We will not let him go now.  If he goes, his family will go with him.  His wife spent her whole life with him.  Where will she go now?”  Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji knew everything.  He was omnipotent.  He spoke to the chandaals: “the person that died, he was your relative.  Go and dig his grave.  See if he is still there.  If your relative is still there, then we will know that the Raja is not your relative.  If there is no body in the grave, then the Raja is your person.”  Everyone heard Guru ji’s words and said: “this is good.  We shall dig the grave.”  The chandaals went and dug the chandaal’s grave.  They found the body of their relative.  The chandaals were all shocked that there were 2 people with the exact same face and body.  The chandaals didn’t go back to Guru ji.  A messenger was sent to Guru ji that told Guru ji that their person was still in the grave and that they made a mistake.  Guru ji then got up and said: “let’s go back.” 

It was evening when everyone came back home.  The Raja was confused about his dream and the reality he just experienced.  He couldn’t talk about the weird experience he had: “what just happened to me?”  He wanted to speak to Guru ji because he was confused: “I can’t make sense of what happened.  How can a dream be reality?  I recognized them and they recognized me, but it was a dream.”  It was soon night time so everyone ate and went to sleep.

In the morning, the Raja woke up and bathed.  He wore his clothes.  He couldn’t stop thinking about the events of the previous day.  He thought to himself: “I will ask Guru ji today.”  He took his ministers and soldiers and walked slowly to Guru ji’s home.  He didn’t wear any shoes as he now had faith in Guru ji.  He came to Guru ji’s court and bowed to Guru ji’s lotus feet.  He then sat down with great humility.  Guru ji said to the Raja: “Raja, you look very worried today.  Why is your mind upset?  What did you see that made you depressed?”  The Raja heard Guru ji’s words.  He had great faith now.  He thought to himself: “Guru ji knows what I’m thinking.”  He folded his hands and said: “you are omnipotent, Guru ji.  You know what is in every heart.  You know what I am thinking.  You know past, present and future.  You know secret and obvious.  Guru ji, I am confused and in doubt.  There is nobody else besides you who can give me my answers.  I saw a dream two nights ago.  In the dream, I grew old and died.  I saw my queens and subjects crying and mourning my death.  They were beating themselves in mourning.  I was then born in the family of chandaals in my next birth.  I grew up and had kids.  I grew old as a chandaal and died again.  Yesterday, when we went hunting, the chandaals from my dream surrounded me in reality.  They were the same people from my dream.  This was shocking to me.  My wife, sons, and daughters were the same.  They recognized me and I recognized them.  You saw the argument we had, Guru ji.  Was this whole thing true or false?  I am confused.  I can’t figure this all out.  Please bless me and tell me the truth.  Tell me what happened.”  Guru ji heard the Raja and then spoke to him: “what has been written by Prabhoo will not erase, but the Satguru can help you.  This is what happened to you.  Don’t be depressed.  The Satguru was with you and helped you, think about all this.  You were to be born as a chandaal in your next birth.  Prabhoo wrote it like this.  This was your destiny.  You left your home and came here to bow to the Guru.  You brought gifts with faith and devotion.  For this reason, Satguru ji helped you and made the birth of a chandaal happen in your dream.  The Guru cut your birth as a chandaal.  The whole life of a chandaal was condensed into one night’s dream because you did the Seva of the Guru.  You were doubtful about the destiny not being erased.  You said: “how can the Guru help if the destiny cannot be erased?”  I had to show you how both can happen together.  I showed you how the Guru can help you.  The Guru can save you from the most difficult troubles if the Sikh comes and bows to the Guru and becomes a devoted and faithful Sikh.”  The Raja was over-joyed.  A great love entered the Raja’s heart.  He began to shed tears.  He placed his head on Guru Arjan Dev ji’s feet and said: “you are great Guru Arjan Satguru.  You protect your Sikhs.  You listen to your Sikh’s pleas.  I am humble in front of you.  Please grab my arm and take me across this world ocean.  There is no other Guru equal to you.  You erase the birth and death of your Sikh.  Please give me your Charanamrit and make me your Sikh.”  Guru ji saw the faith and devotion in the Raja’s heart and decided: “his doubts are now gone.  He has faith now.  His mind is still now.”  Guru ji called for water.  Guru ji’s feet were washed with the water and the water was given to the Raja and his queen to drink.  He became Guru ji’s Sikh.

Bhai Kalyana was called.  Guru ji said to the Raja: “this Bhai Kalyana is the one that brought you here.  Worship him.”  The Raja heard this and said: “he is my Ishwar.  I will put my head on his feet and do his Simran.  He connected me to you.  I will take him with me and serve him.  I will send more gifts for you in Bhai Kalyana ji’s hands.  I will be very happy sending all the gifts for you.”  For many days the Raja stayed with Satguru ji and was filled with patience and love.  He listened to Guru ji’s wisdom and did the Simran of Prabhoo ji all the time.

Guru Arjan Dev ji wanted to complete the Sarovar of Amritsar.  He wanted to follow his father’s instructions.  When the Raja asked for leave, he folded his hands and said: “please take money from my hands, Satguru ji.  Please accept it and make it successful.  I would like to make a beautiful pool of water, a Sarovar.  I want pure water to be into this pool.  This is a wish of my heart but it is up to you what you wish to do.”  Guru Arjan Dev ji said: “your mind has been inspired by Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji.  Sri Amritsar will be a great Teerath.  I wanted to make a Sarovar as well.  My father had commanded me this.  Look how you were inspired to do this Seva?  Whatever money you send here, that will be spent on the Sarovar.  Your money will be successful and you will be prosperous.  Your Seva will be very gracious for everyone.”  The Raja was filled with bliss as Guru ji accepted his plea.  He was going to leave Guru ji and began to shed tears.  He bowed his head and took leave.  He took Bhai Kalyana ji with him and went back to his capital city.

The Raja came back and was happy to see his city.  For a few days, the Raja did Seva of Bhai Kalyana ji.  After a few days, he gave a lot of money to Bhai Kalyana ji and said: “please give this to Guru ji as he is doing the Seva of the Sarovar.”  The Raja sent some soldiers and some of his men along with him.  Bhai Kalyana ji and the Raja’s men came to Amritsar.  Guru ji saw that a lot of money had come and that it was time to build the Sarovar.  It was time to find the Sarovar again as it had been a few years since Guru Ramdas ji had begun the digging.  Guru ji said to Bhai Bhudda ji and Bhai Gurdas ji: “find the right place for the Sarovar.”  Guru ji was making the great effort of making the Teerath, which was going to give Mukti to many Sikhs.  Listen to the history ahead which has been written by Kavi Santokh Singh ji. 

2-34 The Jogi comes out of Santokhsar

Since Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji sat on the Guru Ghaddi, he was very gracious and generous.  He blessed many by giving them his great wisdom and removing their burning pain of ignorance.  He would remember his father’s words and wished to create the great Teerath.  It had been a while since Guru Ramdas ji began the Seva.  The pool that was dug, was filled with rainwater and mud.  When it would rain hard, it brought a lot of mud into the pool that was dug.  It was very shallow by this time.  The signs of the dig had disappeared by this time.  Other plants and weed began to grow on top of the dirt.  The Sarovar was filled in every direction.  Guru ji wanted to see if this was the Sarovar that Guru Ramdas ji had dug.  Guru Arjan Dev ji would look around to find the Sarovar.  He would see the weeds and trees growing.  Guru ji saw the Tahli tree under which Guru Ramdas ji would sit.  Baba Bhudda ji was taken along.  Guru Arjan Dev ji stood under the same tree.  Guru ji knew past, present and future, but would not show his powers in the Sangat.  He would act like he was looking for the Sarovar but he knew where it was.  This is the way of saints, as they do not like to gather praise for themselves by showing their power.  Guru ji would ask Baba Bhudda ji where the place was.  The signs of digging were all gone.  A little pond remained but it was not certain to see.  There were bushes and plants growing there.  It was hard to decide.  Guru ji wanted to show the significance of this place.  Guru Sahib stood under the Tahli tree.  Guru Ramdas ji had sat under this tree at one time.  Guru Arjan Dev ji decided to begin digging here.  He said to everyone: “it was my grandfather who told my father to make the Sarovar in Amritsar.  My father came here and established this area.  This is the Tahli that my father sat under.  This is the sign.  Some digging was done.”  Everyone decided to make the Sarovar there.  The Sangat said: “whatever you are saying, is correct.  Guru Ramdas ji would sit here and direct the Seva.  We can see the small pond that was the Sarovar.  You are no different from your father.  You know everything.”

The digging then began and many Sikhs came with shovels and baskets.  Labourers came as well.  Some Sikhs paid for people to do the digging.  One person would dig and another would take the dirt and throw it at another spot.  Countless Sikhs came to do the work along with workers that worked for money.  Guru Arjan Dev ji would direct the Seva along with the Sikhs.  Guru ji would do the Seva himself as well.  Guru ji called the Sangat from different areas from other lands.  People were coming by the thousands.  Guru ji would direct the Seva from the side.  The strong ones would come and dig.  They would tell each other to “go, go.  Hurry up!”  They had faith and devotion in their hearts as they did the Seva.  The Sikhs had their wishes fulfilled as they did the Seva.  Some Sikhs came themselves and some were told by Guru ji to come.  The news spread far and wide about the Sarovar being dug.  The Sangat would come as soon as they would hear this.  They worked with full motivation.  They would do Simran as they did the Seva.  Some came and some went.  Some Sikhs did Seva and asked for Aatam Gyaan and some asked for worldly things.  Some asked for children and some asked for peace.  Everyone received what they asked for.  Guru ji would start the Seva with the Sikhs as soon as the sun would rise.  In the evening, Guru ji would go back home.  A lot of Langar would be made at the Guru’s home and everyone would eat from the Langar.  The Langar would be distributed all day long.  The Sikhs would live in Amritsar. 

In the morning, they would start the work and Guru ji would direct.  Many days passed like this.  The dirt was being dug and thrown away at another spot.  The Sarovar got very deep, as per Guru ji’s instructions.  People came hearing the glory of the Sarovar.  There was a crowd of Sikhs working.  Some Sikhs would just bring flour from their homes and give it for the Langar with faith.  Some brought money and paid for the workers.  Some came and stayed with Guru ji.  Some brought food from home and did the Seva and some ate from the Langar.  Some Sikhs were there without any desires.  Some came and did Ardaas for their life.  They did a lot of work on the Sarovar.  Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji saw this as a great task.  It was going to be completed over many years.  The bricks had to be backed.  Guru ji said: “many ovens need to be set up to make the many bricks needed.  Only then will this task be completed.”  Guru ji wanted to call many potters for this task.  Many potters, carpenters and masons became Sikhs at this time.  Many potters were called to make the bricks in Amritsar.  Their descendants live there today.  Guru ji said: “this will make the Sarovar finish now.  This Sarovar was being built because of the command of Guru Amardas ji to my father.  Make the Sarovar four-sided and lay permanent bricks on its sides.  The bricks need to be solid.  My father commanded me to finish this and so it is my responsibility now.  This should be made as per their command.”  He kept thinking about his father and grandfather.  He kept thinking about the Sarovar, while sitting and directed from the side.  Guru ji would preach the message of Simran and Seva to the Sikhs: “the Guru will fulfill your wishes if you so Seva and Simran.  You will be happy here and in the life in Heaven”.  Many months passed as the Sikhs did the Seva of the Sarovar.  Guru ji would tell the Sangat about the significance of the place and what the Seva would bring.  Many groups of Sikhs would come to do Seva with enthusiasm.  The Sarovar was getting really deep.  The Sikhs would take all the dirt out. 

As the Sikhs dug deeper, they noticed that there was a round hut underneath.  They stopped and wondered what it was.  The Sikhs ran to the Tahli and told Guru Arjan Dev ji: “there is a hut that is stuck into the ground.  Everyone saw this.”  Guru Arjan Dev ji knew what the hut was.  Guru ji got up and went to the hut.  Everyone saw the round hut.  Guru ji told everyone to move back.  The Sikhs dug deeper.  Guru ji asked the Sikhs to pick up the hut.  Within the hut, there was a Rishi who was in deep meditation.  The Rishi was not breathing.  Guru ji asked Baba Bhudda ji to make the Rishi conscious by getting musk.  The musk was crushed and mixed with butter.  Two Sikhs were told to rub the mixture on the Rishi’s feet.  They massaged the Rishi’s feet as directed by Baba Bhudda ji.  They then massaged the temples on the head of the Rishi.  Baba Bhudda ji massaged the temples and forehead of the Rishi himself.  The Rishi had used Prana Yum to raise his breath to his Dasam Duaar (the tenth door).  By this method, yogis are able to live on for long periods of time.  As everyone massaged the Rishi’s body, his conscious began to awake.  He was sitting in meditation for many yugas.  The air of his breath began to come down to his nose slowly.  Baba Bhudda ji knew how to perform this process.  After a while, the Rishi woke up.  His body had become very soft, so Baba Bhudda ji placed cotton on the ground for the rishi to rest upon.  There are 5 types of pranas (prana- breath that moves in and out for the vital life force; apana- wind in the abdomen for elimination and reproduction; udana- upward movement of air for speech and brain function; vyana-air in the joints, cardiac and nervous system; sumana – spiral movement around the navel used for digestion).  The Rishi opened his eyes and saw Guru Arjan Dev ji’s radiant face in front of him.  His lips began to move with his tongue.  His soul was pure.  He felt a bliss looking at Guru ji.  He spoke softly: “who is this saint?  Where did he get his radiance and status from?  Who is his father?  Who is his Guru?  What time period is this?  When I find all this out, I will tell you everything about me.”  Baba Bhudda ji folded his hands and answered his questions: “he is from the great Sodhi family, which is like an ocean.  In the house of Sri Guru Ramdas ji, was born, his son, Guru Arjan Dev ji, radiant like the moon.  He is wise like Gautam Bhudda.  He is the collective treasure of the Aatma of Dharma.  Guru Ramdas ji was his father and Guru.  Guru Arjan Dev ji is the greatest saint and the Avatar of Akaal Purakh in the world right now.  He has come to wash all the sins of the people of Kaliyuga.  He is the ship that will take everyone across this world.  He lit the lamp of the Shabad.  He illuminated the name of Akaal Purakh in this world.  Guru Nanak Dev ji was the light of Akaal Purakh, he was the greatest ever to come into the world who gave the Satnam wisdom to the people.  He gave mukti to millions.  His praise is sung around the world.  He saved the wabbling world.  Guru Nanak Dev ji’s light has now come into the fifth incarnation.  His second incarnation was Guru Angad Dev ji, who was able to harness the impossible, great power of Guru Nanak Dev ji.  Hindus and Muslims were given Mukti by him.  Sri Guru Amardas ji was next who sat on the same throne for 22 years.  He preached the message of Bhagti and how to do it.  He gave greatness to many people.  22 seats of saints were created.  They preached the illuminating message of Guru Nanak Dev ji and dispelled the darkness of Kaliyuga.  Millions of other torches of Brahmgyaan were lit in the world because of Guru Nanak Dev ji.  They were all fortunate, who met Guru Nanak Dev ji.  That light went to Guru Angad Dev ji who was gracious.  He made many Brahmgyaanis with wisdom.  The third torch was Guru Amardas ji, who dispelled the darkness and illuminated all the hearts.  Uncountable Saints were made.  Whoever came to his feet, they became a Brahmgyaani.  The next torch was Guru Ramdas ji.  Guru Arjan Dev ji is his son.  He is the fifth body of the same light.  The fierce time of Kaliyuga is now.  5000 years have passed in Kaliyuga.  To dispel its effects, Guru Arjan Dev ji is making this great teerath.  We met you as we were digging the Sarovar.  Tell us your life story now.  We are amazed to see how deep your hut was buried.  How long were you here and how did you get here?”  As soon as the Rishi heard Guru Arjan Dev ji’s name, he was filled with joy and bliss.  He heard about the Gurus and said: “I am a yogi.  Today I am successful.  I met Akaal Purakh today.  I know about the past, present and future.  My Guru in Satyuga was great, who knew everything.  I was his student and served him.  I did many types of Sevas for him.  When he saw my progress, he taught me the path to Mukti.  He said: “I will fulfill your desire.  I will teach you yoga and mediation.  I give you a boon that will give you Mukti.  The Mukti will come when Guru Nanak Dev ji will come in his 5^th incarnation.  You will be Chiranjeevi (immortal).  Do your Bhagti now and Guru Arjan Dev ji will dig you out.  Make a hut and meditate inside it.  You will get gyaan from Guru Arjan Dev ji, the Avatar of Akaal Purakh.  He will be making a Teerath at that time.  Ask him your questions.  He will answer them for you.  When you hear his words, you will get the blessing of Brahmgyaan.”  In this way my Guru ji advised me this.  He told me I had to wait a long time.  I made this hut from that time and sat in Samadhi this whole time.  I was waiting for you.  I don’t know how much soil was on top of me.  By my Guru’s blessing, I was immortal and lived on.  It is now time for me to get my Mukti.”  The Rishi with the pure soul grabbed Guru Arjan Dev ji’s feet and requested him for Mukti.  He was very calm as his Tapasya had made him pure and clean.  He said: “Guru ji, it is your words that will bless me and destroy my doubts.  I want to ask you: if this whole world is false, why can we see it then?  If this world is true, then why do the Brahmgyaanis call it false?  How can we see the Aatma?  What does it look like and what is it made of?  They say that there is only one Aatma, then why are there so many different experiences?  Lifeforms all move around.  Parmatma is still and in every life form.  It is said that the anvil remains still after so much pounding, that is how the Aatma is.  Why is everyone moving and dying then?  The Aatma is the world and all is one; then why do all lifeforms do different things?  How is the Aatma above all this when there is so much emotion and experience everywhere?  The Aatma is called Brahm, how can I see it?  Jogis try to look for the Aatma for many yugas.  They do not get the opportunity to see its end or understand it fully.  Within the Gyani that has the illumination of the Brahm, they become still and calm.  There is no other status above Brahmgyaan.  They become the truth, bliss and infinite.  How can I have the illumination of the Brahm in my heart?  Please make my Guru’s boon a success.”  The Rishi was ancient whose body was really old.  His mind was still and calm.  He wanted to receive Mukti from Guru Arjan Dev ji.  He wanted to be blessed by him.  Everyone heard the Rishi and were amazed.

2-35 The Jogi is given Wisdom

The gracious Guru became generous and saw that the Jogi Rishi was deserving of the wisdom of the Brahm.  Satguru ji was going to tell him about Brahm: “oh Yogeshwar, Parmatma is beyond the imagination.  How can one talk about the Brahm?  What you have asked, cannot be answered in words.  Akaal Purakh cannot be put into words.  Akaal Purakh is beyond descriptions.  For this reason, Akaal Purakh is called “aghochar” (beyond indris- beyond sensory perceptions) who cannot be seen, touched, heard or felt.  In order to explain to the Sikh, the Guru becomes gracious and speaks about Akaal Purakh’s form.  I will explain this to you.  The mind can create many objects in it.  It can create houses, people and places, just as in dreams.  It all seems true in the dream.  The places and people feel real.  You can feel fear in the dream, which can startle you and wake you up.  Sometimes the dream can be pleasureful.  Sometimes one laughs or cries in the dream.  Sometimes a great conflict can arise.  If one sees all the things in a dream as real, then one can feel joy and sorrow.  But if one sees the dream as false, then there is no joy or sorrow.  If a bazighar (illusionist/ drama director) shows an illusion, he does not feel joy or sorrow towards his illusion.  He knows it’s only an illusion.  When the dream is over, one realizes it was false and does not get effected by it.  If a lion comes in your dream, you don’t run away when you wake up, because you know it was a dream and not reality.  This is what the dream is.  The Aatam Gyani sees the world in the same.  Till there is a lack of Gyaan, one sees the world as reality.  When one receives a desirable object, one is happy.  When one loses a favourite item, one is in pain.  Love, hate, fear and other emotions are in the mind and give one pain.  With great karma, one meets the Satguru, who wakes the Sikh up and shows him/her that this world is just a dream.  The Guru cuts the pain and saves the Sikh.  The lion looks scary in a dream.  A person wants to run but can’t.  Instead, the person keeps falling.  If an awake person standing next to the sleeping person can see that the person is having a scary dream, seeing him move and speaking, the person wakes the sleeping person up.  In the same way, we are sleeping and making noises of fear and uneasiness.  The Satguru becomes gracious and wakes us up.  The Guru wakes us up by giving wisdom.  The Guru says: there is no birth or death; no hunger or thirst; joy or sorrow.  You are above all this.  Your real form is above all this.”  Guru ji gave wisdom to the Yogi and killed his ignorance.  Guru ji uttered a Gurbani Shabad:

Soohi Mahalla 5 Ghar 1

Ik Oankaar Satgur Prasaad..

Just as an actor/performer shows a play.. He shows many different roles with different clothes and characters..

When the play ends, he takes off his costumes.. Then all you see is the actor in his original form..1..

How many images appear and disappear?  Where have they gone?  Where did they come from?..1..Rahao..

Countless waves arise in the water..  Jewellery is made from gold in many ways..

Seeds that are planted show many types of fruits and flowers..  When the fruit ripens, the seeds appear in the same form as the original seed..2..

The same sky exists in thousands of jugs of water..  When the jugs break, the air in the jug is mixed into the sky again..

Doubt comes from greed and attachment which all comes from Maya..  When the doubt is gone, only Akaal Purakh is seen..3..

Akaal Purakh is never-ending, who never comes or goes..  The complete Guru washes the ego from our minds..

Says Nanak, since the Guru washed the ego inside of me, I have obtained the supreme status..4..1..

(SGGS 736)

“Listen Rishi, the bazighar does plays with string dolls.  He sets up many fields and makes them fight.  Only the bazighar is real, all else is false: the dolls, the story and the backdrop.  The dolls that are dancing are reliant on the bazighar.  The Bazighar makes the dolls run and fight.  Some dolls look happy and some look sad.  When the play ends, the bazighar collects everything and puts it in one place.  Only the bazighar remains.  See the Parameshver in the same way; with the will of Akaal Purakh, Parmeshwar made many forms from the One form.  Conscious and unconscious things are created by Akaal Purakh from the One form.  There is only one energy flowing through all life.  Chetan (consciousness) is only of Akaal Purakh.  All life is from the same consciousness.  Pain and pleasure are based on Karma.  When Akaal Purakh wishes, all of life returns into the one again.  Only Akaal Purakh is left then.  Tell me then: who is born and who dies?  I will tell you another example to understand this: waves are formed in the water, some small, some big.  The waves mix into the water again after rising.  It is only named a “wave.”  The ones that don’t understand this, see the wave and water as different.  The ones that know that the wave is made of water, they understand that the waves are good to bathe or drink.  The waves make you clean.  Listen to a third example: gold can be made into earrings, necklaces and other objects.  When the jewellery is made, people call it a bracelet or ring, they don’t call it a “gold.”  The jeweller sees everything as gold though.  He doesn’t care what the item is called, he only cares about the gold while selling it.  The Gyani is the same way; they don’t see the many items, they only see the Aatma.  The Gyani sees the Brahm in everything.  The jewellery was gold before it was made, but it’s still gold.  When the jewellery is dissolved, it becomes gold again.  The wise ones see Akaal Purakh in all.  Before creation, there was only the Brahm Saroop.  From Brahm, many souls came.  When the universe is destroyed, there is only Brahm, nothing else.  The Brahm has no beginning or end.  That is why Brahm is the only truth.  The world will not be existing at one time, so that’s why it’s not true.  Everything is Brahm.  All else is an illusion.  Here’s another example: a seed that is planted becomes a tree with branches.  Flowers and fruits are formed on the tree.  From one seed, many forms are made.  Different colours, different derivatives of cells and layers are seen.  The fruit ripens and the seed shows up again in the middle.  The seed was there before and the seed was the result.  The plant was only in the middle.  The one that is not seen in all times, is not true.  The One Parmeshwar is within the whole world in many forms.  Here is another example: in thousands of jugs, there is air.  The air is the same in all the jugs.  When the jugs break, the air/space is unaffected by the jugs as it mixes into the greater space/air.  The jug moves but the air remains.  Space is everywhere.  It does not come and go.  That is the way the Brahm is in everything but unaffected.  The Brahm illuminates all but is unaffected by the body.  The Brahm is Sat (truth), Chetan (consciousness) and Anand (bliss) form and resides in all.  The Brahm is the same in past, present and future.  It is the same in all three times.  That Brahm is in all life.  The Aatma is the consciousness in all, that is the Brahm.  The ignorant, blind person tries to seek bliss in pleasureful acts and things.  The Gyani seeks bliss in the Aatma.  The ignorant only sees the body and is proud of it.  He gets attached to material objects.  Maya creates the duality and shows many instead of One.  Maya does not let anyone see the true form.  That is Maya’s job, to not see the One.  The person thus says: I do not know my real form.  This is what Maya makes a person think.  This is ignorance.  There are two powers in Maya: Vikshayp and Avaran.  Maya hides the real form, that is known as Avaran.  Maya also does not let you see the One, that is known as Vikshayp.  One sees many instead of One.  Maya is the one that creates the world.  It also creates what does not exist.  Maya is the illusion.  If one sees a rope in the dark that is bending, one mistakes it for a snake, without wisdom.  How did the rope become a snake?  It was ignorance, lack of wisdom.  Maya created this illusion using the support of the rope.  Maya needs support to show everything.  Maya uses Brahm to create the universe and shows the universe as the truth.  Here’s another example: when a house is made without doors and windows, there is darkness inside.  Because there is no way for the light to go in, there is darkness, and thus darkness is created.  Without the house, the darkness cannot be.  Darkness then covered the whole house inside of it.  It covered the walls and the floors.  Nothing can be seen inside.  That is how Brahm created Maya and then Maya covered Brahm within all life forms.  When ignorance and its offspring are gone, the darkness is gone and one can see the real form.  The ultimate source is seen as the supreme where the ignorance is destroyed.  The Aatma is the only indestructible One.  It is in one state and is not coming or going.  Just as space is everywhere, so is Akaal Purakh.  It is not in duality.  It is in constant bliss, omnipresent, without fault, without creation and never born.  The complete Guru can destroy the ego, the person then reaches the highest status by the Guru’s grace.  The person does not come back into the world and the conscious connects to the Amrit form.”