2-36 The Jogi is given Mukti

Hearing the Amrit words of Guru ji, the Jogi went into a state of bliss.  The Jogi asked another question for clarification: “how did you determine that Brahm is supreme and that the world is a myth?  You gave the example of gold and jewellery, that was a comparison of a resulting nature.  Jewellery is made from gold.  The state of gold is changed.  You used that to explain Brahm and the world.  So, in the same context, Brahm would have to change to become the world.  How then can Brahm change, as you had said that, it never changes?  The Maya that you talk about, is that Maya true or false?  How can one see the form of Brahm which is so fine and invisible?” 

Guru ji responded to the Jogi’s questions: “you are mistaken.  I did not talk about change.  Parmeshwar creates the world and still remains Parmeshwar.  There is nothing else besides Brahm.  It is like the rope being understood for the snake.  There is no snake.  There is only the rope.  The person gets scared, thinking it’s a snake.  In the same way, the world is mistakenly seen from the Brahm.  There is no change.  If one does not know that the object is a rope and not a snake, the person is scared.  When the Guru gives you knowledge, then you know that the world is actually only Brahm.  Till then, a person lives in joy and sorrow; life and death and is affected by the world that does not exist.  The person takes birth in high and low life forms till then.  Change and causality do not exist here.  When milk turns into yoghurt, yoghurt cannot turn back into milk again.  This does not apply to Brahm.  The world can turn into Brahm again.  Even in the example with gold and jewellery, it is not a “change concept.”  The jewellery can be gold again.  The gold does not change into jewellery.  Maya exists because of Brahm.  It is just like a bazighar putting on a play.  When ignorance is destroyed, the Maya is destroyed as well.  All that is left is Brahm.  Maya is not true nor false.  It can’t be both at the same time either.  The wise ones call Maya “unspeakable.”  It cannot be talked about.  Maya has no beginning, but it does have an end; when Brahmgyaan exists.  The ignorance is destroyed when one listens to the wisdom from the Satguru.  The Brahm Aatma is complete and omnipresent.  It is not a concept that can be grasped by the senses.  Eyes can’t see it nor can the ears listen to it.  Wisdom can allow you to experience the Brahm though.  The senses do not know the mind.  The mind knows the senses (eyes, ears, skin etc.); in the same way the mind does not know the Brahm, but the Brahm knows what the mind is doing.  The source of everything is Akaal Purakh.  When the duality is gone, we can know the Brahm.  The form of Akaal Purakh is fine but the greatest at the same time.  The sun is illuminating because of Akaal Purakh’s power.  The cause of every effect is Akaal Purakh, the Brahm.  Akaal Purakh exists in everything like space.  It is in one state at all times.  If a person focuses their attention into the one, still, Akaal Purakh, the person will drink Amrit, (the immortality state).  The ones that see Brahm everywhere, they do not see multiplicity anymore.  They receive Mukti and their ignorance is destroyed.  Their pain and conflict are gone.  When such a person’s body dies, whether it’s a pure or impure place, they receive Mukti.  That person is free from the cycle of birth and death; forever in bliss.  The body doesn’t matter anymore.  Fire and ocean, it doesn’t matter where they are.”  Guru ji said this and looked towards the Jogi.  When he looked at the Jogi, he broke his attachments and doubts.  The pure Gyaan awoke inside of him and his ego was destroyed.  He was in instant bliss.  The Jogi experienced the radiance from Guru ji’s words, which made him humble and destroyed his vices.  The Jogi bowed to Guru ji’s feet and said: “my doubts have been cleared.  I have faith.  I have received the knowledge which I was looking for.  You answered all my questions.  Your love made all my doubts die out.  I have achieved the conscious truth.  I wish to let go of my body now.  There is nothing left for me to do now in my body.  What I wished to achieve, I have received.  You fulfilled my wishes.” 

Guru ji heard him and spoke to the Jogi with great respect: “you are great!  You should visit the people of this world.  You should stay and see the world in which the Brahm resides.  If you stay, you will help people wash their sins away.  You will help them walk the great path to Brahm.  They will be purified then.”  The Jogi heard Guru ji’s loving words and responded: “to save people is in your hands.  I don’t have the power to bless the people.  Your Avatar was for the purpose to save the people by giving them the Satnam.  Only you can tolerate the weight of the world.  Please give me permission to immerse into the light of Akaal Purakh.  I do not wish to live in this world any longer.  Please bless me by which I can leave my body in the easiest way.”  The Jogi was determined to leave; Guru ji saw this.  Guru ji laughed and said: “whatever you wish, you may do.  I will do what you want me to do for you.”  Guru ji said to Baba Bhudda ji: “create the state for which the Jogi may do as he pleases.  Do as this great man wishes to do.”  Baba Bhudda ji got up.  Seeing the saint as a pure and holy man, the Sangat came to visit him.  The Sangat standing around, all visited the Jogi.  They told their friends and family: “there was a Jogi that came out of Sarovar.”  Other people came as soon as they heard.  “Look how old he is.  He is before the time of Raja Janaka.  His body is from the time of Satyuga.  We are seeing him in Kaliyuga.”  They came and saw him with joy.  When they saw him, they said: “look at his body.  He is so much different than us.  He is double our height and size.  Look how big his legs and arms are.  Our height only maps to his waist.  He is really old but his face is radiant.”  The Jogi stood up to see the Sangat.  The Jogi said: “this place is very pure.  Whoever comes and does Seva here, their wishes will be fulfilled.  Whoever does Simran and sings the praises of Akaal Purakh with love and devotion, they will receive all the fruits.  Whoever bathes in the Sarovar, their sins will be washed away.  They will be in the state of “Santokh” (contentment).” 

The Jogi had the Sangat dig further.  After the Sikhs dug further down, the Jogi sat down in that area.  He took a deep breath and raised it to his Dasam Duaar.  By taking his breath upward with force, he made his Brahm rundher (the supreme path) explode.  He was able to release his soul in this way.  The Sangat showered his body with flowers and shouted out Jaikaras in the Jogis name.  The Jogi was a Brahmgyaani who had done a strict and long Tapasya.  They bowed to his body.  They were all amazed at his Tapasya.

The lifeless body of the Jogi was in the sitting position.  The Sangat buried his body as is.  Everyone was amazed at what they saw.  They said: “look how old he was.  His face was radiant.  Great are such saints who are not affected by the desires of the mind.”

2-37 The History of the Pingala

In this way, the Jogi Tapasya, named Santokha, had done a Tapasya for thousands of years, waiting for Guru Arjan Dev ji; the people saw this and were amazed.  They were surprised to see this unique event. 

After this event, a couple came to Guru Arjan Dev ji who were quarrelling with each other.  Kavi Santokh Singh ji will now explain the background story of why this couple came.  This history will also show how the Sarovar of Amritsar was discovered.

There was a place called Patti within the Majha region of Punjab.  There was a Raja that lived there named Raja Dhunni Chand.  He ruled the area of Patti.  He was a Hindu but he ruled under the Mughals and he paid allegiance to them.  He had 5 beautiful daughters.  They were all very pretty with fair skin and sharp facial features.  Their eyes were like lotus petals and their figures were naturally healthy.  One of the girls would visit the Satsang.  She was young and beautiful.  She was very tender, as princesses are.  She would love to visit saints and listen to the glories of Akaal Purakh.  She would listen to the Kathas of Saints.  Her name was Bibi Rajni (also known by other historians as Raj Kaur).  She heard from the Saints: “all life-forms of all three worlds are sustained and maintained by Akaal Purakh.  Akaal Purakh sends food to all life-forms to where they live.  Prabhoo provides food to animals in the sea and on the land.”  She heard the Salok of Guru Nanak Dev ji.  The Saint said the Salok and explained it.  Bibi Rajni heard the Salok and memorized it. 

Sri Mukhvaak Salok M: 1..

Human, trees, holy shrines, banks of sacred rivers, clouds, fields..  Islands, continents, worlds, solar systems and universes..

Life forms born from eggs, wombs, from the earth and of sweat..  Oceans, mountains and all beings, Nanak, Akaal Purakh knows their condition..

Nanak says, having created the living beings, Akaal Purakh takes care of them all..  The creator who created the creation, that creator takes care of it as well..

(SGGS 467)

As she heard the meanings of the Shabad, she determined and had faith that: “the ultimate Guru is the one that gives everyone food in all three worlds.” 

One day, all five sisters were sitting together and talking.  They praised their father and said to each other: “our father gives us everything we need to eat and enjoy.  He gives us food and clothes along with jewellery.”  Rajni heard this and said: “only Prabhoo gives to everyone.  Prabhoo takes care of everyone.  The giver of everything is only the One, Ram, the one that resides in all.  Ram completes all the tasks.  Ram gives all the life-forms the food they need.  If Ram didn’t give, then everyone would die.  There is no other support for life.  King, pauper, elephant and ant; the giver of all is the One Ram, Akaal Purakh.  Who else would have such a power that can support all of life?”  The other sisters then responded to Rajni’s words: “we are raised by father.  We have never seen Ram give us anything.  We haven’t seen Ram prepare any clothes or food for anyone.”  The sisters got into an argument and they then went to their father to tell him.  The other sisters said to Dhunni Chand: “we all say that we get everything from you, but Rajni says that it’s not you who gives us anything, it is Parmeshwar that gives us everything.  The father that raised us since we were small, we all live in peace with good food and great clothes, she does not believe this.  It is you that does not let us worry about anything.  She fights with us and says that it is Ram that gives us everything.”  The foolish father got mad at Rajni.  He didn’t have faith in Ishwar.  He was filled with ego about his kingdom and had forgotten about Prabhoo.  He called his daughters to him and asked them individually.  He said to them: “tell me, who gives you food to eat?”  They responded: “you give us food, Pithaji.  You give us money and clothes as well.  You take care of us and give us food.”  The Raja then called Raj Kaur (Rajni) and asked her the same question.  Raj Kaur responded: “Pithaji, if one was to eat what is in another’s destiny, that has never happened.  We all eat what is in our destiny.  Some have more and some have less.  King and pauper eat what is in their destiny.”  When the father heard this, he got really angry.  He said to Rajni: “there is a poor person in our caste.  That person is a handicap.  He has leprosy and his hands and feet are deformed.  I will marry you off to him.  I want to see how you won’t be affected by his destiny.  You will have to suffer his destiny and live a life of hell.”  Raj Kaur was a religions and dutiful person.  She said to her father: “as you wish father.  I will see that person as my husband.”  Raj Kaur’s mother came out and tried to convince the Raja not to do such an atrocity but Rajni spoke up and said: “I have now accepted that person as my husband.  I will not marry any other man.  Whatever Pithaji has said, that will be true.  This is my destiny.”  Everyone tried to convince Rajni and Dhunni Chand that a life with a leper was not good.  Rajni did not listen and married the leper. 

Dhunni Chand did not give any dowry in his stubbornness.  He was a foolish person and didn’t realize what he was doing.  Rajni was accepting of her destiny.  She saw the light of Akaal Purakh in her husband.  Her in-laws were very poor.  They had no food or clothes.  For many days she tolerated pain and hunger.  She then decided to take her husband and go to another place.  She placed her husband on a basket and went to beg in other villages.  She decided not to go to her home town of Patti, her father’s land, to beg.  She would ask for food from different villages.  She only took as much as she needed.  She would feed her leper husband first and eat what was left.  She would take her husband from village to village and get food.  After seeing people’s uncomfortable nature, she then began to leave her husband outside of the village while going in to ask for food.  As she travelled, she one day came to Guru ka Chak, Sri Amritsar Sahib.  She and her husband ate Langar.  They both felt a deep joy eating the Langar. 

The next day she took her husband into the jungle with Beri trees.  She rested her husband amongst the trees (this was the place of Dukhbhanjani Beri).  She wouldn’t take her husband into the village as people would not give her food afraid of her husband.  She would keep her husband away from people.  She saw a Beri tree and placed her husband under its shade.  There was a village named Tungh nearby.  She went to Tungh to ask her food.  The Sarovar that Guru Ramdas ji had dug, that was filled with mud and lost.  The Beri Tree, however, was the tree that Guru Ramdas ji would sit under and direct the Seva of the Amritsar Sarovar.  Although the Sarovar was filled, there was a bit of a pond that was there.  It was right under the Beri which had a little water in it.  It was the day of Vaisakhi (for this reason there is a tradition of taking a dip in the Amritsar Sarovar on Vaisakhi).  The leper saw a crow land on the tree.  It saw the water and wanted to drink the water right below it.  The crow drank 5 beak-fills of the water from the Sarovar.  When the Amrit water went into the crow’s body, the heart of the crow became pure and the crow gained wisdom.  The crow bathed in the water and by this, his black body became white.  The crow became a beautiful swan.  The handicap leper saw this amazing event.  He saw the crow turn into a swan.  The leper had some good karma in his previous birth and realised that this place was holy.  He thought to himself: “this crow has come to me because of my good karma.”  The leper crawled from his basket and fell out.  He crawled to the pool of water.  He bathed in the water and received a great gift.  There was less water so he rubbed mud on his body as well.  His hands and feet that were damaged, grew back to the way they were when he was not sick.  The signs of the disease of leprosy were all gone and his body was brand new, like gold.  He became a very handsome young man.  The disease was all gone and he was all cured (some historians state that the man left a portion of his toe to not dip into the water as a sign of proof that he was the same person).

2-38 The Signs of the Amrit Sarovar appear

As the Pingala bathed in the water of Amritsar, he became well again.  He saw the result and was extremely happy, while amazed at the same time.  His hands and feet were normal again.  His pain was all gone.  It was as though he had drunk Amrit.  He was no longer weak.  His disease was gone.  It was as though some Devata came and fixed his whole body.  His body was the temple of beauty now.  He was handsome and strong.  With the blessing of Prabhoo, he received a body that was new and strong.  If one was to see him before this, he couldn’t be recognized as the same person.  We bathed in the water over and over again.  It was as though someone living in Hell was taken to Heaven; a poor person from birth was given the Chintamani and the joy of the 9 Niddhis; a beggar receiving new clothes and jewellery.  He became handsome.  He came out and came back to the Beri tree.  He put his basket upside down and sat on top of it.  He waited for his wife to come back.  He was really happy.  He looked towards the Tungh village.  Raj Kaur was begging from the Tungh village.  She got the food and was walking towards her husband.  She followed her Dharma completely.  She was “pativrata.”  She was chaste and only thought about her husband.  She had endured a lot of pain from hunger and pulling her husbands basket, but she did not complain ever.  She was the daughter of a king but she was able to endure the pain of poverty.  She did not reject her duties as a wife.

When Bibi Rajni came back, she saw a young and strong man sitting on top of the basket.  She thought to herself: “where is my husband?  Who is this person sitting?  He seems to be a sinner.  I think he killed my husband.  He may want to possess me.”  She shouted at the person from afar: “who are you, you sinner?  What are you doing here?  Where is my husband?  I left him here and went to the Tungh village to get food.  If you killed my husband, I will go to the king and have you arrested and hung.  Tell me where my husband is if you want to stay alive.  Hurry up!  Show me my husband as soon as possible.  I want to see him and be calm again.”  Her husband spoke to her: “I am your husband.  Try to recognize me.  Oh form of Dharma, don’t be in doubt.  I’ll tell you what happened.  My good karma came to fruition.  I saw crows bathing in that pond over there, and becoming swans.  This pond is not normal.  It’s filled with Amrit.  The crow was white and turned into a swan.  I figured out what the water was.  I slowly crawled to the pond and bathed in it.  My leprosy was gone and my body became beautiful.  I am your husband, don’t doubt this.  Come and meet me, my dear.  If is because of your radiance and Tapasya by which I am better.”  Rajni responded with anger: “you are a liar.  You killed my husband to get to me.  How can a leper, who has no fingers, be well again after bathing in this water?  I don’t believe you.  I think you are a sinner.  If my husband is dead, I will not live either.  I will kill myself.  I will have you arrested and hung first, then I will die.  I will not let any other man come near me.”  When Bibi Rajni shouted out loud, the people nearby all came closer to them.  Both of them told their side of the story as people asked them what happened.  The people said: “don’t argue about this.  The omniscient one will be able to help you.  The Satguru, Guru Arjan Dev ji lives here.  Go to his feet and see what he says.  You can believe him without a doubt.  Every word from his mouth is true.”  Bibi Rajni was happy to hear about Guru ji because she was already a believer: “this is good.  He will remove our doubts.”  Both of them took a few people and went to Guru Arjan Dev ji.

The master of masters was sitting at the place of Santokhsar.  The history of Santokha Rishi had just occurred when the couple came to Guru ji.  This was the second miracle after the previous one.  They both folded their hands and bowed to Guru ji’s feet.  They both sat down at the corner of the Santokhsar Sarovar.  Many Sikhs were doing Seva of the Sarovar there.  There was a crowd there.  The couple stood up again as Guru ji looked towards them.  Guru ji said: “what is the reason you came here?  It looks like you have a problem.”  Folding her hands, Bibi Rajni said: “oh Guru of the world, master of masters, Guru Arjan Dev ji: your glory is spread everywhere.  We have heard the glories of Guru Nanak Dev ji of all the Sidhs and Peers bowing to him.  His glory is spread far.  He gives his servants wisdom.  His radiance is spread in every direction.  The imposters all hid in front of him.  You are on his seat right now and know everything in your heart.  My mind is stuck in the mud of doubt.  My greatest fear is: falling from my Dharam.  Your words are always true and I only trust your words.  I have come to your feet for this.  We are 5 sisters, who look similar.  My father got mad and made me marry my current husband who had leprosy.  I have served my husband according to my Dharma.  I carry my husband in a basket and go from village to village to get food.  I only eat after feeding my husband.  I serve him, day and night.  People look at my husband and hate him.  On the eastern part of your city, there is a Beri tree.  I left my husband in a basket under the tree.  There was a small pond there as well.  I then went to the village to ask for food.  In the western direction there is a village called Tungh.  I went there to get food.  It took me 6 hours to get food.  When I came back, I didn’t’ see my leper husband.  I saw this man sitting there on top of the basket, placed upside down.  He was sitting there where my husband was.  I asked him who he was and he said that he was my husband.  I couldn’t believe him.  I couldn’t believe how this could be true.”  Guru Arjan Dev ji heard her story and looked towards the man.  He asked him: “tell me how you were cured.  Tell me everything otherwise you will be punished.  If you killed this woman’s husband, she will not go with you.”   The man heard Guru ji and said: “I will tell you the truth as it happened.  When my wife left me under the Beri and went to get food, there was a crow that came to drink the water in the pond.  It also bathed in the water.  The crow became white and transformed into a swan.  He was no longer black.  He was white, like someone had rubbed soap to get his black colour off.  I figured that the water was something special.  I moved and crawled to the pond.  I put my hands in the water and took them out.  My fingers were back and my hands were normal again.  I then put my whole body into the water and rubbed the mud on my body.  My body was like gold and healthy.  I am her husband.  I tried to tell her but she does not believe me.  She said that Guru ji knows everything and that we should come to you.  The omniscient one knows everything and so she was only going to believe him.  She argued with me the whole way.  Please tell her the truth Guru ji.  All the people we met tried to convince her too but she said she would only believe you.”  The whole Sangat was listening and were amazed at the man’s story.  Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji then said: “both of you should listen to me.  Listen to Gurbani Keertan.  I will tell you everything in a half an hour.”  Guru ji closed his eyes and took his focus into his own divineness and connected to his real form of Akaal Purakh.  Guru ji knew where the Amritsar Sarovar was but didn’t want to locate it himself.  He wanted everyone else to see the glory and holiness of the Amritsar Sarovar which was initiated by his father, Guru Ramdas ji.

2-39 The Kar of Amritsar Sarovar Begins

Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji, the omnipotent one, was sitting in Dhyana with his eyes closed.  In his Dhyana, Guru Amardas ji appeared.  He focused his attention on Sri Guru Amardas ji.  Guru Amardas ji told Guru Arjan Dev ji everything in his mind.  Guru Amardas ji said: “this man is telling the truth.  It was the first day of Vaisakh when he took a bath.  I had directed your father, Guru Ramdas ji, to start the Sarovar.  He started the Sarovar exactly where this leper had bathed.  You should go to that pool and start to make the Sarovar there.  It has been a long time since your father worked on it.  The water has brought mud into the pool now.  There is only a little pool left.  You can see some signs there still that show that it was a Sarovar.  This event with Bibi Rajini and her husband had to occur to show everyone the power of the Sarovar.  This news will spread about the leper being cured and so you should go and make the Sarovar permanent.  Call the Sarovar: Sri Amritsar as its name.  Make permanent steps on all its sides.  Men and women will call this Ramdas Pur and Ramdas Sar.”  Guru Arjan Dev ji saw his maternal grandfather in his Dhyana and bowed to him.  He was over-joyed to visit Guru Amardas ji in his Dhyana.  Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji, being omniscient, he knew everything but still wanted to show the world the significance of the new Teerath.  Guru Arjan Dev ji opened his eyes and focused outwards.  His eyes opened just as a lotus flower blooms in the morning, seeing the sun.  Satguru ji was extremely happy and said: “Bibi Rajni, let go of your doubts.  This man is definitely your husband.  He has done us a great favor.  I wanted to find the Teerath for a long time.  Sri Guru Ramdas ji had said that: “where crows bathe and become swans, know that place as Sri Amritsar ji.”  We now know that that is the place of Sri Amritsar ji.  What happened to you will become history.  Everyone’s doubts will be removed that the place that Guru Ramdas ji started is exactly that place.

Sri Mukhvaak Mahalla 4..

The Satguru that speaks the truth, is the Sarovar of Amrit, in which crows bathe and become swans.

(SGGS 493)

It is night now so we can’t go.  Stay in our city and take us there in the morning.  Show us the pure place tomorrow.  Do the Simran of Satnam with your mind focused.  You will be free from the cycle of birth and death.”  The couple went with Guru ji, the dispeller of sin, to the village and spent the night there.

In the morning, Guru ji got up at Amritvela and did his morning bodily routine and bathed.  Guru ji sat in Samadhi and began to think: “it is time to do the Seva of the Sarovar.”  Guru ji sent a Sikh to call Bibi Rajni and her husband.  Guru ji told them to lead the way and take them to the miraculous pool.  Many Sikhs were following and walking towards the Sarovar.  Men and women talked amongst themselves about the miracles they witnessed: “we saw 2 miracles in one day: the Santokha Jogi and the leper being cured.  Santokha Jogi was in his hut, all still like a piece of wood, buried under the ground.  When his breath came down from his Dasam Duaar, he was in Samadhi and didn’t know what time period it was.  Such holy men, without sin, we can only meet them through Guru ji’s radiance.  Look at the second miracle: the leper was in a bad condition.  He had no fingers on his hands and no toes on his feet.  He bathed in the water and was all better.  We should go quickly to see such a miraculous place.”  In this way they all talked and were happy and eager to see the holy place.  The couple walked ahead and lead the way.  Guru Arjan Dev ji and the Sangat were following them.  There was a great crowd with them.  They were all filled with joy and eager to see the place.  Their eyes showed eagerness.

Bibi Rajni and her husband stood under the Beri, which is now known as Dukhbhanjni Beri.  They stood there and pointed towards the pool.  The man said: “Guru ji, that is the water.”  Bibi Rajni said: “yes this is where I left my husband, where he bathed.”  Guru ji said: “from now on, this will be known as Dukhbhanjni Beri, where your husband was cured.  He bathed in the Amrit and was cured.”  The couple said: “Sri Satguru ji, yes this is the place where our pain was all gone.”  Hearing the praise of the place, Guru Arjan Dev ji bowed to the land, recognizing it as the place of Sri Guru Ramdas ji.  He determined that this was the place of Guru Ramdas ji’s Sarovar.  Guru Arjan Dev ji, the omniscient, omnipotent one, was extremely happy.  Guru ji said: “by the command of Guru Amardas ji, this was the place my father came to make the Sarovar and start the pure Teerath.  He didn’t complete it because he had to go back to Goindwal Sahib.  Because it was been a long time, it is now filled with mud.  You can see that only a small pond remains.  Satguru ji has completed our task and found the place for us.  It was the Satguru’s work.  By your money, mind, body and words you should all do the Seva of this Teerath as this is a great Seva.  Workers should come here and work.  They will get money.  Make Karah Prashaad and bring it.”  Guru ji did the Ardaas of all the 4 Gurus and asked for assistance.  Guru ji then took a shovel and broke the ground to start the Seva.  The other Sikhs came and began to do the digging with enthusiasm.  Some were holding shovels and did Seva with love; some filled the baskets and took the dirt away.  They threw the dirt away.  Some people encouraged others to work.  There was a great joy in all the Sikhs.  This was to be a great Teerath.

Guru Arjan Dev ji stood in the middle to get the Seva done.  He was doing the Seva as well.  The Sikhs would see Guru ji doing Seva and did Seva themselves.  Guru ji would do the Seva and go back home in the evening.  Langar was cooked in great quantities.  They all ate as much as they wanted to. 

One day, Satguru ji went back to Santokhsar with the Sangat.  Guru ji stood at one of the sides and said: “the praise of Santokhsar will be great one day.  People will bathe here and be content.  There will be a time when this will be completed as well with permanent steps.  Whoever bathes here and reads Bani for a few days, they will be content and all their vices will be gone from their minds.  The great contentment, which makes you happy with what you have, they will be in great bliss and joy.  Now we must go and complete the Amritsar Sarovar because this is the command of 2 Gurus.  Permanent bricks should be used.  In the middle, a beautiful temple shall be built.  It will be the Harimandhir.”  The gracious Guru wanted the place to be built quickly.  He would sit on the sides and direct the whole Seva.  The Sikhs would do the work and recite “great is the Guru!”

Kavi Santokh Singh ji makes some note: Some people say that these two events of Santokha Jogi and the Pingala happened during the time of Guru Ramdas ji.  I do not wish to argue these events.  If there was no digging, where did the water come from?  There are other points I can argue but it is pointless.  I can determine that they surely happened during Guru Arjan Dev ji’s time.  But if it was during Guru Ramdas ji’s time, it doesn’t matter because both Guru’s are my Lord and Master.  It is the glory of the Guru that showed the miracles.  I only wish to sing the praises of the Guru.  Where the sun shines, the stars of doubt are all gone.

2-40 The History of Great Sikhs

Many people came to do Seva in the Amrit Sarovar.  Whoever came to do Seva, had all their wishes fulfilled.  Some people brought food from their homes to eat and some ate from the Langar.  They all did Seva together.  Guru ji would move around the pool to do Seva where it was required.  Guru ji would sit on the Guru Ghaddi and direct the Seva all day long.  People came to see Guru ji and do Seva.  The joy was many times doing both things.  Guru ji would sit near the Dukhbhanji Beri, near the place where the Athsath Teerath place is in current times.  Guru ji would move and sit near places where more digging was required.  Where the Darshani Deodi is in current times, there is another Beri there named Elachi Beri.  Guru ji would direct the Sikhs to do digging there.  The fortunate ones stayed with Guru ji and did the Seva.  They did Simran of Satnam and dug the dirt from the ground.  On the northern side, Baba Bhudda ji would sit and direct the Seva.  He would do the Seva himself as well.  Masands from other lands came, bringing the Sangat with them to do Seva.  Everyone wanted to make Guru Arjan Dev ji happy.  Whoever came with faith and devotion, they received Dharma, Kamna, Arth and Moksha.  Hukamnamas were sent to different lands.  Hearing the hukamnamas, many Sikhs would come.  When they heard that Guru ji would be very happy if the Sikhs would come for the Seva, the Sikhs got ready right away and gathered expensive gifts for him.  Guru ji would meet the Sikhs and make them happy.  A lot of Karah Prashaad was made and distributed.  Some asked and received the gift of children and some asked and received money.  Some asked for cows and bulls; some asked for good health.  Everyone got what they wanted.  Some received vairagya, Naam Simran and freedom from their desires.  Some received peace and calmness.  Some wanted the ability to forgive and some wanted to be more compassionate.  Guru ji gave them Prema-Bhagti, Simran, cleansed their minds, the ability to donate, patience, purity and the ability to control their desires.  They were also given Brahm Gyaan and freedom from ego and attachment.  Some were given the joys of all the worlds and blessed with Prema-Bhagti.  They did the Seva for all the benefits. 

Guru ji blessed all the Sikhs.  Everyone who met Guru ji was in joy and bliss.  The glory of Guru ji was blossomed in every home like the Malti flowers and the moonlight of the full moon.  Whoever had wishes for their lives, they came to Guru ji.  Guru ji would fulfill their wishes when they did Seva with faith and devotion.  There were many Sikhs who were known to be great Sevadaars by which they are still remembered today.  Kavi Santokh Singh ji will now speak about those Sikhs.

Bhai Buddha ji and his whole family would do Seva at Amritsar.  His sons and grandsons participated in the Seva of Amritsar.  A Sikh name Bhai Bhagtoo ji did Seva and Simran all day long.  Bhai Manjh ji and Bhai Pirana ji were the ships of Sikhi.  They did Seva with joy and bliss.  They were the house of Prema-Bhagti and bliss.  Bhai Gurdas ji was doing Seva as well.  Bhai Pureeya, Bhai Choor Chaudhary ji, Bhai Paira ji, Bhai Kishana ji, Bhai Balla ji, Bhai Sugad and Bhai Tilok ji.  Bhai Samundh ji was a mine of virtue.  Bhai Bhoola ji, Bhai Chandi ji, Bhai Tulsi ji, Bhai Bhagirath ji, Bhai Kalyana ji, Bhai Laaloo ji, Bhai Bhaaloo ji Bhai Harijan, Bhai Gokhoo and Bhai Tode ji were all great.  Bhai: Chanj, Kedara, Goinda, Mohan, Kukaa, Bala Marwaha, Jodha Dhuta all came.  Many others came as well and did Seva.  The Masands brought thousands of Sikhs from different regions. 

The Masands brought new Sangat everyday.  They all came with joy.  When days like Vaisakhi would come, Sikhs would bring money and gifts.  They would do Seva of the Sarovar and go home happy.  Some stayed for a few days and some stayed for a few weeks.  Some stayed for a few months and some stayed for a whole year.  They came with faith and devotion and left with all their wishes fulfilled.  They would dig dirt and would soon find out that they received powers.  They realized they had Siddhis, Riddhis and Niddhis.  Some Sikhs came themselves and some were called to come and do Seva.  Some would come after their wishes were fulfilled and came to thank Guru ji.  They would say: “thousands of people are being blessed.  Satguru ji is generous and gives a lot.”  The ones who had their wishes fulfilled, they would sing the praises of Guru ji and inspire others.  Others would hear and have love in their hearts.  They would come to Guru ji’s home to do Seva.  They did Simran and had their wishes fulfilled.  Listening to the history of the place, they would have love illuminate in their hearts.  They would hear about other Sikhs and be in bliss.  The Listeners to the katha done by Kavi Santokh Singh ji would say: “the ones who made Guru ji happy, they received the full Gyaan of themselves.  We would like to hear the stories of those great Gursikhs.  Tell us about those Gursikhs who were smart and great.  Please tell us their beautiful life story so that we may be inspired as well.”  Kavi ji was happy to hear that his listeners wanted to hear about those Brahmgyaani Sikhs.  He was happy that the listeners were listening with love.  He said: “you have understood true love.  This is the reason why you asked to hear about the great Sikhs.  I will tell you the life story of these Sikhs.  Listening to this, your sins will be washed away and you will be filled with many virtues.  You will have love for the Guru’s feet.  You are all fortunate.  They all did Seva and achieved Brahmgyaan.  You will know about the Guru’s greatness.  The Sikhs did not come into the cycle of life and death again.  Baba Bhudda ji met Guru Nanak Dev ji.  I have talked about him already.  I will tell you how Bhai Bhagtoo was born by the words of the Guru.  I will talk about his life as well.  The glory of the Prabhoo Guru is in his life story.  I will tell you about the other Sikhs which I know.”