3-6 The Celebration of Sri Hargobind Sahib Ji’s Avatar

The people of nearby villages all heard about Guru Hargobind Sahib ji’s Avatar.  Everyone came to congratulate Guru Arjan Dev ji.  The Hijras came to sing and dance.  They added to the joyous atmosphere with their plays.  They played dholaks and bells.  They wore kungroos and clapped their hands as they danced.  Guru Arjan Dev ji saw this celebration and was happy.  He gave everyone a lot of money.  The celebration went on for many days and the Sikhs enjoyed themselves.  Some would sing Gurbani Shabads in various Raags to impress Guru ji, as Guru ji’s favourite task was Keertan.  Men and women came wearing beautiful clothes and jewellery to Vadaali. 

The village was small but the joy was great.  There was joy in every direction.  The Sikhs came to Vadaali and came to celebrate.  Prithi Chand’s maid heard about the news as well.  She went to Karmo and said to her: “Guru Arjan Dev ji had a son.  There are celebrations everywhere and everyone is praising him.  The people who went to Vadaali from Amritsar told me that the boy is beautiful.  They can’t stop looking at the child’s face.  They are all praising the child and don’t want to leave the child’s company.  There is a celebration in Vadaali.  There are a lot of donations distributed in Vadaali.  A lot of Sangat is eagerly going to the home of Guru Arjan Dev ji to give them their well wishes.  Your brother-in-law’s and his wife’s praises is growing by the day.  A lot of money is coming to them.  Since they left Amritsar, their wealth and glory grew even more.  You only have a few people coming to you to bow.  A lot of gifts and money comes to Guru Arjan Dev ji.”  When Karmo heard this, she was in pain.  It felt like a snake bit her.  She was burning with jealousy.  She went pail.  She lost her patience and began to fear that the relatives were prosperous.  She didn’t eat properly and was worried.  Her whole body was burning with jealousy.  She took deep breaths.  At night, Prithi Chand came home and Karmo began to cry to him: “you are the son of the Guru, you said that Guru Arjan will not have a child.  You cursed him, but he just had a child.  The child is beautiful.  The women of the city have gone to see the child.  The child is like the moon and everyone is praising him.  The people are bringing them money and gifts.  There is a great celebration with dance and music.  A lot of beggars and artists are getting money from there.  Your brother and your sister-in-law are being praised.  People are saying that when they see the child, their lives are blessed.  How are they blessed?  You live in the city of your father but nobody comes here.  Your brother is in a small village and is prosperous.  You can’t compare to your brother still.  Your cursed words did not come out to be true.  Look at my painful state.”  Prithi Chand said to his wife in anger: “I already know what happened.  She went to Baba Bhudda ji without shoes.  She did his Seva and he gave her a boon.  That’s why they had a son.  Otherwise they weren’t going to have one.  My curse did not go empty but it was Baba Bhudda ji’s blessing that did it.  I can’t compare to Baba Bhudda ji.  He served Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji.  His words are irreversible.  These saints are easily impressed by Seva.  They are generous and give everything the servants want.  She was the daughter-in-law of Guru Ramdas ji and on top of that she walked bare-feet.  She carried food on her head and walked to his home.  She did the Seva herself.  She endured a lot of pain and therefore Baba Bhudda ji gave her the boon.  My curse was still good though.  Don’t worry.  Even if they have a son, I won’t let the son live.  He is like an arrow in our heart.  Till I don’t kill the child, the pain in my heart will remain.  I can’t sleep at night either.  I am in pain too.  I am worried too.  I don’t want my brother to prosper.  I think of ways to destroy them.  You should find a woman who will take money and kill the child.  I will look for such a person too.  We will take the Gurta Ghaddi in any way we can.  Our son will be the Guru.  We need to do what we can for this.  Till the child is in his mother’s lap, the child can be killed by a woman. We need to be smart about this.  We need to find an opportunity and kill the child.  Go and find such a woman that you can trust.  Give her money.  If she’s from here, we will send her to Vadaali.  She can live with the Guru and be a servant in their home.  She can give the child poison when she gets a chance.  If there is such a woman in Vadaali, then hire her.  Tempt her with a lot of money.  If there is a maid that stays close, that will make the task easy.  Go and find such a woman that can kill the child.”  Karmo heard this and was happy.  There was corruption in her heart.  She was ready to kill a child for greed.  They both ate and went to sleep.  They kept planning on how they could kill the child.  They kept scheming all night.  They were thinking about all the woman they knew that would be able to do their task. 

In the morning, Karmo called her favourite maid.  She told her about what she was thinking: “go and find a woman that will give poison to Mata Ganga ji’s son.  I will pay money.  The child of Guru Arjan Dev ji needs to die.  I will pay for the woman’s expenses for her whole life.  She will get a home and food.  Go and find such a woman.  Nobody can find out about our plan.  This is a big task for me.”  The maid heard the words and began to look for a woman that could do the murderous task. 

Guru Arjan Dev ji was giving donations to the poor.  The beggars came from far away places.  They got money and clothes from Guru ji.  They praised Guru ji: “the son is radiant and fortunate.”  There were praises everywhere.  Guru ji and Mata ji looked towards their son and were happy.  They regarded the boon of Baba Bhudda ji with great reverence.  Karah Prashaad was made on the celebration of Chatti.  There were musical instruments playing everywhere. 

After 10 days of the child being born, there were more celebrations.  The traditions of the Sodhi family were carried out.  Langar, Keertan and other traditions were carried out.  The Dhundhabs played which made people rejoice.  The napheeryas played, the Shabads were sung.  People stood up and shouted out Jaikaras.  The Rababis sung joyous Raags like Bilawal, with love.  The Sikhs heard the Keertan and rejoiced.  Their minds were attracted to the Keertan.  Guru Arjan Dev ji gave money to the Rababis.  The Sikhs didn’t not want to get up when they heard the Keertan.  The Sangat was praising the child and Guru ji.  The child’s radiance grew like the moon growing towards the full moon.

After 1 month, Mata Ganga ji would carry Guru Hargobind Sahib ji in her lap.  She would look at his face all day and all night.  Her eyes could not get enough.  When Mata ji would get sleepy, the child would wake her up again.  Her attention would be fixed in her child like a snake keeps its attention to its mani.  As soon as her eyes would open from sleep, she would look for her child first.  She would take care of him, feeding him, changing him and playing with him with great effort.  She would put surma in his eyes.  His clothes were made of a fine cotton.  Two golden bracelets with one diamond in each were placed in the child’s wrists.  Bells were tied to his feet which would ring when he would move.  Other jewellery was put on the child everyday.  His eyebrows looked like two bows.  There was a black mole in the middle of his forehead which looked great with his black hair.  It looked like bees left his family and got stuck in Amrit.  Mata Ganga ji was always afraid of evil eyes.  She would throw rye and salt over his head.  She would break pieces of grass and spin it around his head.  Mata ji would always pray to Guru Nanak Dev ji to protect her son.  The jewellery with gems looked great on him.  The jewellery was unique and rare.  His skin was golden and so the gold just blended into his skin.  If you were to run your finger on top of the jewellery, it would feel rough.  The praise could not be said. 

Sri Guru Hargobind ji’s body grew by the day.  He was very handsome and full of patience.  His arms and legs were large. 

3-7 Prithia sends a Nurse to Poison the Child

The maid of Prithi Chand looked around for a corrupt woman.  After a while, she found a woman that was ready to do the task of poisoning the child Guru Hargobind Sahib ji.  She lived in the city of Guru Ramdas ji, Amritsar.  She was a nurse but was corrupt.  The maid of Prithi Chand gave her the instructions and took her to Prithi Chand and Karmo’s home.  Karmo made her sit in her home and had her sit next to her.  Karmo began to tell the nurse of her pain: “the younger brother took the Gurta Ghaddi and the older brother is sitting empty-handed.  After many attempts, they had a son and are now celebrating.  They are already claiming that their son will be the next Guru.  We had some hope before that after Guru Arjan Dev ji dies, since they didn’t have a child, our child would be the Guru.  People would have come to us to worship us.  Since they had a child, we have been depressed.  Our hopes are all gone now.  We have now called you to come up with a plan to kill the child.  Once the child dies, they won’t have any other children.  All of our tasks will be completed then.  All the gifts and money will come to our house.  If you do this task of killing the child, we will take care of all your needs: food, money, clothes and all that you need.  I will send you a lot of gifts and be forever grateful to you.  I will have you respected by my husband.  You will need to be smart about this.  I will get all the joy in the world.  Here is 100 Rajitpuns right now.  I will give you many times more if you are successful.  Go and kill the child.  We will be prosperous after he dies.  We will have no shortages then.  You will have no shortages.”  Karmo took one of her clothes and put it on the nurse.  She spoke to her with love as if she was her own sister.  The evil nurse was just like Pootna, the demoness who tried to kill Krishan ji.  The nurse said: “don’t be upset.  I will do your work.  Nobody will know what happened.  If you are happy, I am happy.  You are going to provide for me so I will do what you want.  Guru Arjan Dev ji and Mata Ganga ji have left the city so I don’t have any relations with them.  I will do your task very quickly.  Don’t be worried at all.  Consider your task done.  I am angry with Mata Ganga ji as well.  They didn’t call for me when the child was born.  They called some other nurse to take care of the child.  They didn’t call me and give me any gifts.  Their joy is like a sharp object into my heart.  Killing the child would make me feel good.”  Karmo heard the nurse and said: “you are great!  I trust you that you are wise and clever.  Only you can do this task.”  In this way, both were cooking up a sinful act. 

The nurse was happy to take the money.  She came home and looked at the new clothes she got from Karmo.  They were pretty and colourful.  She wore the jewellery and washed her face.  She put surma in her eyes and rubbed poison onto the nipples of her breasts.  After rubbing poison, she wore nice clothes and headed towards Vadaali.  She was greedy for money and had sin in her heart.  She thought to herself: “my life will be successful if I do this task.  I will do this quickly.”

In Vadaali, 40 days passed and Mata Ganga ji celebrated her son’s 40 days.  She did the family traditions and had celebrations.  There was a new celebration everyday.  Her heart was filled with bliss.  She would donate a lot of money and take their blessings.  Many women from many villages would come.  Mata ji would give money and clothes to everyone.  She didn’t want anyone leaving unhappy.  She would make sure everyone left happy.  She would give money to the women and take their blessings.  She wanted the women to bless her child with a long life.  There was joy everywhere. 

The corrupt, evil nurse soon reached Vadaali.  There was a crowd of women in Mata Ganga ji’s home.  The women saw the nurse and respected her.  Some of the women were holding the child and some were playing with him.  The women would play with the child and laugh out loud.  When the nurse, wearing nice clothes, came, the women respected her and gave her a seat to sit.  The nurse began to talk about the child.  Mata ji came into the crowd and said: “it has been two days and my son seems to be depressed.  He has not been drinking my milk.  I am doing what the elders are saying, but every time I bring him close to me to feed him, he does not want the milk.”  The omniscient child Guru had laid out the plans.  He knew the bad nurse was coming and created the situation for her.  The bad nurse then spoke: “I will tell you my speciality: I have a God-given gift that I’ve tried on many children; whoever drinks milk from my breasts, the child is never in pain.  The child that drinks my milk is never sick and lives a long life.  The child doesn’t need medicine his/her whole life.  I live in Amritsar since the time you have been here, Mata ji.  Baba Prithi Chand ji brought me to live in Amritsar when he found out about me.  A lot of people come and bring their children to feed from me.  When they drank my milk for a day or two, the children were cured.  I only go to homes that are fortunate.  I came to your home because I am from your city.  I ask from Parmeshwar to give all the women sons.  This is how I make a living.  I am famous for this.  Your son is deserving of a good life.  Let me feed your son.  He will be cured.”  The other women around them heard this and began to praise the nurse.  They said: “you can cure children without medicine.  You are great!”  Mata ji saw the other women praising the nurse and therefore gave the child to the corrupt nurse.  The child was a lion for the sinners.  Sri Guru Hargobind ji knew why the bad lady was here.  Guru ji didn’t drink his mother’s milk on purpose for the past few days.  He wanted his mother to be worried so she would give him to the bad nurse.  This was the only way his mother was going to give him to the bad nurse.  Guru ji thought to himself: “I have come to destroy the sinners.  I will start right now.”  He came into the lady’s lap and became restless.  He began to cry and gave the lady some difficulty.  The nurse began to sing a sweet song.  Guru ji calmed down.  The nurse took her breast out and put it towards Guru ji’s mouth.  With her other hand, she held his head.  She covered the child’s face with her chunni.  She tried to put her poison-laced nipple into the mouth of Guru Hargobind Sahib ji but Guru ji did not put it into his mouth.  She tried harder.  Guru ji grabbed a hold of her long braid, reaching out towards her back.  With his other hand, he grabbed her breast.  He knew this lady was here to do a sinful act for greed.  Her heart was not pure. She did not have love for children.  Guru ji squeezed both his hands really hard.  The nurse felt an agony-filled pain.  It was so much pain for her to bare that she was ready to die.  Guru ji grabbed her life and pulled it from her body life sucking a drop of water from a small stick.  The nurse began to scream out in agony.  “Hai, hai,” she screamed.  Guru ji took her breath out of her body.  The nurse screamed out: “let me go, oh son of the Guru!  I have understood your glory!  Let me go!”  Her eyes were filled with pain and tears.  She fell onto the floor.  Her soul left her body.  She laid down on the floor, lifeless.  Her eyes were wide open with agony.   Her mouth was wide open from screaming.  Foam was coming out of her mouth as the poison affected her.  There was a chaos everywhere.  The women in the room were amazed.  They said: “what happened?  She took the child in her lap.”  They all ran back and stood over the dead nurse.  Mata ji ran to pick up her child.  Guru ji was lying on the nurse’s stomach, stomach down.  He had the nurse’s braid in his hand still.  Mata ji tried to release the braid but Guru ji wouldn’t let go.   Mata ji did not have the same strength as her child.  She called the other servants and said: “come here quick!”  The maids quickly came, scared and trembling.  They eventually got the braid out of his hand.  Mata ji picked up Guru ji and hugged him.  Nobody was looking towards the nurse.  Everyone tried to find out who was the sinner nurse.  After some time, a bright illumination came from the nurse’s body.  At one time, there was so much light that everyone closed their eyes.  Everyone was amazed at who the lady was and why was there so much light.  The servants went to confirm that the lady indeed had died.  The soul of the lady went up into the air and changed into another form.  As the nurse died, she became into a different form.  Everyone could see her soul in the space above.  She was about to tell everyone her story, of who she was and why she was here.

3-8 The Soul of the Nurse tells her Katha

The sprit of the nurse came into the space above.  She realized that people were scared so she disappeared and spoke: “don’t be afraid of me.  I will tell you my whole story.  In my last birth, I was a Gandharvi, a singer from Heaven.  I was really powerful and I was proud of my powers.  I was a skilled singer and very beautiful.  I was happy, living in Heaven.  One day, I was singing in the court of the Devatas.  All of the Devatas were amazed with my singing.  The Guru of the Devatas, Brihaspati came into the court.  All of the Devatas stood up in his honor.  They bowed to him with respect as he was their Guru.  He was the holder of Braham Vidya.  He was an expert with this knowledge.  Brihaspati looked around and saw that everyone was mesmerized with the Raags that were being sung.  I was singing and didn’t get up to respect him.  Brihaspati looked towards me and said: “this arrogant singer is corrupt.  She is proud of her singing and beauty.  She did not get up because she is egotistical.  This Gandharvi is not eligible to sit in the court of Devatas.  She thinks she is higher than me.  Everyone stood up and bowed to me, but she did not get up.  She will be punished to destroy her ego.  I curse her!”  With his curse, I was born in the world.  He said: “go and be born into the world as a corrupt woman.  You will be a nurse and work for a living.  You will commit sins and be in pain.  You will be born in Madhur Desh, Punjab.  You will commit sins and be of bad character.”  I folded my hands with fear.  I said to him: “when will I be saved?  I was egotistical and so now I am punished.  I request you to have merci on me and show me a path to be forgiven.  I was proud to be a beautiful woman and that I sing well.  Sadhoos are always full of merci.  They forgive everyone.  Please forgive me.”  Brihaspati Guru said: “Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji will be the 5^th incarnation of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji.  His son, Guru Hargobind Sahib ji will be born.  He will deliver you from your curse.  He will kill you and wash your sins away.  You will then die and become a Gandharvi again.  You will be the same as you were before and come to live in Heaven.”  I was kicked out of Heaven and forced to be born on earth.  I did not who I was as a nurse.  For many years I wandered in my life.  I eventually came to the city of Guru Ramdas ji and began to live there.  I met the maid of Baba Prithi Chand ji who took me to his wife, Karmo.  I met Karmo who gave me 100 Rajitpuns and promised me more money.  She sent me to Vadaali with the direction to kill the child of Guru Arjan Dev ji and do a favor for her.  I came here because of greed.  To kill the child, I put poison on my breasts.  I came with evil attentions.  Mata Ganga ji, your son is the Avatar of Parmeshwar, who killed me with his hands.  I am now a Gandharvi again.  I am going to Heaven now.  I bow to all of you and take your leave.  Prithi Chand is your enemy.  He is jealous of you.  He hates your whole family.  Be aware and don’t trust him.  He will try to do bad for you.”  After speaking, the soul of the nurse went back to heaven with great joy.

All of the women that heard the nurse’s story were amazed at what they saw and heard.  They said to each other: “Karmo is a cursed person.  Her whole life is a curse.  She was going to kill a child.  What was she going to get by killing a child?  Karmo does not understand Karma.  She showed us what was inside her heart.  She doesn’t understand that whom Parmeshwar protects, even a piece of their hair is not affected.  Prithi Chand was born into the pure family of the Sodhis.  But now, he and his wife have stained their own names.  They are fortunate to be born to Guru Ramdas ji who followed the path of love and became the Guru.  Guru Arjan Dev ji did the Seva of love and became the Guru.  He did Simran of Satnam all day and night.  Sikhs come and bring many gifts for him.  They bow to his feet and worship them.  They place money at his feet.  Guru ji and Mata ji are never proud that they are worshiped.  They give peace and joy to everyone.  Their son is an Avatar of Akaal Purakh ji.  The nurse has told us this as she left for Heaven.  What fool can do bad of this family?”  The women praised Guru Arjan Dev ji and spoke bad about Prithi Chand.  Mata Ganga ji hugged her child tight.  Her eyes were shedding tears.  She was hurt that her own family members wanted to kill her child.  She said out loud: “why did I place my son in the lap of that nurse?  Our own family is our enemy.  I could never think that they would do this.”

One of the servants went to Guru Arjan Dev ji to tell him what had happened.  Mata ji instructed him to give Guru ji her message: “your son was protected by Guru Nanak Dev ji.  A nurse tried to kill him.  The body of the nurse is till here.  She flew into the sky and told us her story.  Your brother Baba Prithi Chand has stained the name of the family.  Because of him, we left our home and came here.  He still is thinking bad about us.  He didn’t think that who he was going to kill was from the same family as him.  He loves to be bad but we have never thought bad for him.  Go and tell Guru ji quickly to inform him.  Ask Guru ji to come home quickly.”  The servant ran to Guru ji where he was sitting.  Guru ji was sitting outside and holding Divaan.  The servant told Guru ji: “oh blesser of all, you are sitting here without worries.  Something really bad was going to happen at home.  The Satguru has protected your family, otherwise something really bad was going to happen.”  The servant told Guru ji everything.  Guru ji got up with a few Sikhs and came back home.  Guru ji already knew everything.  Guru ji came home and had the body of the nurse removed and thrown away.  Guru ji said: “Guru Nanak Dev ji is our protector in and out of the home.  Nobody can do us harm as our protector is Guru Nanak Dev ji.”  Guru ji then sang a Shabad in Raag Asa:

Sri Mukhvaak.. Asa Mahalla 5..

The complete Guru protected us with his hand..  The glory of the servant has been illuminated in the world..1..

Gur Gur was chanted and Guru Gur was remembered.. The servant’s Ardaas was towards the feet of the Guru.. Rahao..

Being in the sanctuary of the Guru.. The Seva of the servant has been complete..2..

The body, youth, vitality was protected.. Nanak says, I am a sacrifice to such a Guru..3..8..102..

(SGGS 396)

Guru ji praised Guru Nanak Dev ji in this way.  Whoever reads this Shabad, they will never be in fear. 

Seeing this event, everyone was amazed.  Guru Arjan Dev ji calmly went to Guru Hargobind Sahib ji and was in joy.  Karah Prashaad was prepared.  All of the Gurus were remembered and thanked.  The Ardaas was done: “we were protected.  The sinners were punished.  Your glory is spread in the world.  You are the lover of your servants.  Whoever remembers you, they get all the joys of the world.  Your name dispels all of the troubles.” 

Mata Ganga ji was always careful now while raising her child.  Within the house there was a swinging crib which Mata ji would place her child in.  She would keep him in the swing all the time while spending most of her time there.  She wouldn’t bring her child into crowds anymore.  She didn’t want any evil eyes for him.  She would do Ardaas: “please protect my child.”  She would bathe him with warm water and wipe him with fine cloths.  She had a tiger nail embedded in precious metals and put around Guru Hargobind ji’s neck.  Some time passed and Guru ji began to sit on his own.  He was a beautiful boy.  His sight was strong.  Guru Arjan Dev ji would take his son in his lap.  The Sangat would see the father and son. They would see the two and say: “they look like Dashrath and Ram Chander ji.” 

Guru Hargobind Sahib ji began to crawl and make baby noises.  Everyone would hear him and be happy.  He would crawl on the rugs and sometimes into the dirt.  The Sangat would come and sit around him.  They would play with him and smile at him.  Guru ji would smile at everyone and entertain them.  The Sangat would be happy to play with him.  Two teeth came from the bottom gums.  People would see them when he would smile.  They would look like two expensive pearls in a box.  They could be seen when he smiled.  The drool in his mouth looked like Amrit between the pearls.  Kavi Santokh Singh ji say: “I see those two teeth as pillars of glory.”  Guru ji would crawl on his knees around the middle of the house.  When he would crawl, the bracelets in his feet would clank onto the floor.  Kavi Santokh Singh ji says: “I bow to these two feet that Satguru ji drags as he crawls.  These feet give the 4 gifts of life (Dharam, Arth, Kaam, Moksha).  He came to relive the weight of sin in the world.  He will carry weapons and punish the sinners.  He will give peace to the saints and give them Gyaan.  This is why he came.  He has come to pull the root of corruption.  He is playing around as children do.” 

3-9 Sri Hargobind ji Blessed a Snake

Sri Satguru Hargobind ji was soon 2 years old.  He played around in Vadaali and made everyone around him happy.  Prithi Chand continued to plot against his brother and his nephew.  He hired a snake charmer.  He sent him to Vadaali to release a poisonous snake.  The snake charmer went into Guru ji’s home and released the snake where Guru Hargobind Sahib ji was playing.  Guru ji did not like to be picked up so he would play around in the middle of the home.  He was a beautiful toddler.  Everyone would be happy who would see him.  He could save anyone he pleased.  Guru ji wanted to save the snake and give him Mukti.  The snake was cursed.  Guru ji was crawling around the home and began to look around form the black snake.  The snake was looking for a place to hide.  Mata ji was focused on another task at that time.  The servants were also occupied in other tasks of the home.  Guru ji crawled quickly and found the snake.  He began to play with the snake.  The snake tried to escape but Guru ji chased him and grabbed him.  The snake hissed and wiggled to get away but Guru ji held him by the head.  The snake was trapped.  The toddler was too strong for him.  Guru ji squished his head with his hands onto the ground.  When he crushed his head, the snakes tail fluttered and eventually calmed down as it died.  Mata ji came to see her son and saw that there was a dead snake on the floor.  Guru ji took the dead snake and threw him away.  Mata ji, scared, came to pick up her son quickly.  The hood of the snake was spread out and the body was straight.  It was a scary looking snake.  Mata ji picked up her child and checked his body to see if the snake had bitten him.  She said: “there is no sign of a snake bite.  The snake is dead.  Guru Nanak Dev ji saved my child from the snake.”  Guru ji was dirty with soil and Mata ji wiped her son.  She eventually calmed down.  The whole house found out and there was a lot of noise.  Mata ji sent a servant to tell Guru Arjan Dev ji of what had happened.

The servant came to Guru Arjan Dev ji and said: “a snake came into the house but Sri Hargobind ji grabbed it.  It seemed as though the snake had already died.  The snake did not bite Sri Hargobind ji as he was saved by Akaal Purakh ji.”  Guru Arjan Dev ji heard this and went to his home.  The Sikhs that were sitting with him came along.

Guru Arjan Dev ji came into the home and saw the dead snake lying on the ground.  When Satguru ji came close to the snake, a sprit came out of the snake.  The spirit formed into an illuminated human form.  Guru Arjan Dev ji said to him: “who are you and how did you become a snake?  How did you die and how did you become into a spirit?”  The spirit folded his hands and said: “Guru ji, I was a Muni in my last birth that did a lot of Tapasya.  I performed a strict Tapasya but I became proud of myself.  I had an ego.  I thought no one else could sing the Vedas like me.  One day, Naarad Rishi ji came to my home.  He discussed a lot of Gyaan with me and said that Prema Bhagti is the best.  I was egotistical and so I questioned him on his ideology.  I challenged his knowledge.  I thought I was his equal.  I spoke bad words to him which angered Naarad Rishi.  He said to me: “why are you doing Tapasya?  You are a fool.  You sing the Vedas but you don’t understand them.  You disrespected me and so you will have to suffer the consequences.  You have poison inside of you that you didn’t listen to or have faith in my words.  You will become a snake.  You will forget your knowledge as well.  You read the Vedas and make your body go through Tapps.  You will be rewarded for that though, when you die as a snake.  Seeing the troubles of the life forms on earth, Akaal Purakh will take an Avatar and save everyone.  As soon as he touches you, you will be saved and go to dimension of the Devatas, Heaven.  You will be a snake till he comes.”  Sri Guru ji, that time was today.  A snake charmer brought me here and released me.  The snake charmer was sent by your relative, Baba Prithi Chand.  He paid him to release me here.  I was looking for a place to hide here but the child Avatar of Parmeshwar crushed my head and killed me.  I will now go to Heaven.  Your child has given my moksha and freed me from my curse.  I bow to your and your child’s feet.”  The Sikhs that were standing in the home heard the whole story.  They could see the spirit speaking.  Guru ji had the snake’s lifeless body buried somewhere.  Guru ji celebrated the event with Karah Prashaad being distributed.  Guru Nanak Dev ji was remembered and an Ardaas was done.

Baba Prithi Chand’s spies went back to him and told him what happened.  Prithi Chand got angry and said: “these people are fools.  I didn’t send the nurse or the snake.  They are all lying.  How can a 2-year-old kill a snake with his bare hands?  I don’t believe this.  Guru Arjan Dev ji is making up these stories to make his son look big.  He is greedy and wants people to worship him.  He wants people to come and give him money and therefore making up stories so people sing his praises.  The child is 2 years old and the Guru makes up things and praises him.  He wants people to come and bring more money.”  Prithi Chand would say this to his Sangat when they would come.  He continued: “Guru Arjan Dev ji makes false stories to make himself look big.  He is a fake.  He claims to be the Guru.  I am the Guru.  I was given the Pugri of the Guru.  My Sikhs should never go to Guru Arjan Dev ji and only worship me.  Only come to me.”  Prithi Chand would lie to his Sangat and talk bad about Guru ji.  He would speak bad about the Guru who was always forgiving him.  Guru Arjan Dev ji forgave his brother and never spoke bad about Prithi Chand.  Guru ji was always above joy and sorrow.  Guru ji was above bhog and jog.  He was gracious to everyone.

Guru Arjan Dev ji went back to his Divaan.  Mata ji looked towards her son and was amazed to see how great and powerful he was.  She went to bathe him and spoke to the maids: “look what a blessing my son got today.  The snake was very poisonous.  Akaal Purakh ji protected him today.  I always have my attention on him.  Today, for a little while a went away, look what was going to happen.  Only I know what I went through today.”  Mata ji wiped her child’s face with a cloth.  New clothes were brought for Guru ji.  She dressed him up.  She took money and circumvented it around his head and gave it to the poor.  She said to the poor: “pray for my child’s safety.”  Music was played and Gurbani was sung.  Everyone spoke bad about Prithi Chand.  Mata ji didn’t understand that her son was Akaal Purakh.  He was the same power that killed the Kalia Naga.  That snake was killed by Krishan ji.  It was the same power that came into Krishan to kill Kesi, Bakasur and Kans.  That power came from Guru Hargobind Sahib ji, Akaal Purakh.  Malya, Chandoor, the wrestlers were killed along with Meghnaad.  He also destroyed Jarasandh and controlled all the bulls in his stables.  Mata ji would begin to think about her son and notice that he is an Avatar of Akaal Purakh: “Sri Guru ji is the complete Avatar of Akaal Purakh.  He destroys the troubles and has all the powers.  He killed a dangerous snake and the evil nurse.”  When Guru ji would see that his mother figured out who he was, he would do something to make her fall into the chains of attachment again.  He wanted his mother to see him as her son.  He would ask for food from her and she would feed him.  When he would be dirty, she would clean him.  He would not sit still in her lap.  When Mata ji would see her child playing, she’d be convinced that her child was indeed a child and not an Avatar as people would say.  She would raise him, play with him, and keep him in front of her eyes.

After a few days, Guru ji began to stand on his own.  He would run around the house.  He was the Guru who was going to save his Servants by making them recite Satnam.  There were bells on his feet, waist and wrists that would make noise as he walked.  The jewellery had diamonds and gems embedded in them.  He dressed like a king.  The neighbour’s children would come and play with him as well.  The children would play and make a lot of noise.  Guru Hargobind ji and the kids would be happy playing with each other.  Sometimes they would sit down and sometimes they would wrestle.  They would play both in and out of the house.  The children of Vadaali were fortunate to play with Guru ji.  They were rewarded for their Tapasya.  Delicious foods were made for the kids.  They would play all day long.  Guru ji would love to wrestle with the kids.  He would pin the kids that were bigger and older than him.  His plays were that of warriors.  In the evening, his friends would go back to their homes to sleep.

3-10 The Devatas come at Night to Touch the Child Guru’s Feet

Guru Arjan Dev ji would come home at night and sit on his seat.  He gives peace and joy to all his servants.  Mata Ganga ji came to Guru ji and folded her hands.  She said: “you give wisdom to the whole world.  I can’t tell you anything but I want to inform you that I am always scared.  For this reason, I wish to make a request to you: since we’ve come here, very dangerous events have occurred.  You are omniscient and omnipotent; you save your servants.  No type of problem arises where your name is said out loud.  We left our home and came to this city to live.  After many pleas, we received a son.  We now have a one beautiful son.  He gives all of us so much joy.  Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji has blessed us and gave him to us.  Guru Nanak Dev ji has been saving us.  First the nurse came to kill our son, and then a poisonous snake came today.  My son has been saved.  I request that we should go back to our home in Amritsar.  There will be no troubles there because all of our Sikh servants are there.  We won’t have any worries there.  Vadaali is a small place with limited people.  We don’t have many Sikhs here either.  Amritsar is the place of our elders.  They look over us as well.  We will sleep there without worries.”  After Guru ji heard his wife, he said to her: “don’t be afraid.  Akaal Purakh looks after your son.  Remember one thing: whatever is meant to happen, will happen.  It cannot be stopped.  Only have faith and hope in Parmeshwar, who gives peace and joy to all.  Be fearless and do the Simran of Satnam all the time.  All the fear will go away with the Simran.  Baba Prithi Chand is corrupt.  He cannot see any one being prosperous.  He seems to be loving on the outside but he has corruption inside of him.  He sees us and feels pain.  He tries to hurt us for this reason.  It is better to stay away from these kinds of people.  It is better to stay here than in Amritsar.  The hate of family members is not good.”  Guru ji went quiet after saying all that.  He thought to himself: “Ganga ji is feeling scared because she sees Sri Hargobind ji as her son.  He is in fact the power of Akaal Purakh.  She loses her patience and speaks the words of fear.  This is depressing her.  She wishes to live beside the family because of fear.”  Guru ji then spoke to Mata Ganga ji: “wait a few more days.  After that, we will do as you say.  Raise your child.  He will become stronger.”  Mata Ganga ji was happy when she heard this: “let’s leave after a few days,” she thought.  Guru ji ate food and then Mata ji ate.  They went to sleep that night.  Mata ji went to sleep with Guru Hargobind Sahib ji close to her.  When he would move, his jewellery would move.  He would always be dressed in fine and soft clothes.  She didn’t trust any of the servants.  She kept an eye on her son all the time.  Mata ji would keep her hand on her son’s chest as she would sleep.  When she would wake up, she would look towards Sri Hargobind ji first.  She had a deep love for her son.  Sri Hargobind ji was growing stronger every day.  Mata ji would play with her son all the time.

After a few days, at night time, while everyone was sleeping, all of the Devatas came to worship Sri Hargobind Sahib ji.  Sri Hargobind ji sensed that the Devatas had come.  He opened his eyes and got up from his bed.  He went into the middle of the house and sat on seat.  All of the Devatas bowed to his feet.  Naarad and Sharda Devi, whose bodies are clear like mercury; Sri Brahma and Meghnaad came; the eight Vasoos (keepers of the Directions), 11 Rudras and Agni came to worship Guru ji’s feet.  It is difficult to name all of the Devatas and Devis that came.  They all came to worship his feet.  The 64 Joganis and 52 Birs came and stood there, folding their hands.  They folded their hands and said: “you have come to destroy the Turks, sinners and tyrants in human form.  You came to save the saints that do Simran of Satnam.  You are here to give wisdom to millions of people.  You have the arms of a warrior who will destroy the enemies.”  The Devatas sang his glories and placed sandalwood, kum kum, incense and flowers at his feet.  They sprayed essences of rose at his feet and said: “whatever is your command, we will obey.  Please give us a chance to serve you.”  The 64 Joganis said to Guru ji: “we are hungry for the meat of warriors.”  The 52 Birs said: “we wish to be quenched in the battlefield.”  Naarad a request: “my wife, Kalah, is hungry.  Please satiate her as well.  It is time to fight wars now.  All of the Devatas are ready for war.”  Sri Hargobind ji said to them: “oh Birs, take on human forms and be born on earth if you wish to see war.  I will show Naarad ji a great war.  I will wage war on the sinners.  Oh Joganis, keep your bowls ready.  You will drink the blood of the soldiers.  Shiva ji, you will get to hang skulls in your neck.  Kali Devi, you should come too.  You will get your food as well.  I will fulfill the wishes of all the Devatas.  My age is young right now.  I need to give joy to my mother.  I will give all of you what you want when I am older.  If the Devatas wish to fight in the battles that I wage, be born as human and fight along my side.  Come and fight in my army to fight the sinners.  Use weapons with enthusiasm and wage war.  You can return to your homes after fighting the wars.”  The Devatas all shouted out: “you are great!  You fulfill everyone’s wishes.  For 5 incarnations you were calm and did the Simran of Satnam.  You made your Sikhs do Simran and gave them peace.  You blessed millions by giving them Brahmgyaan.  They sang the praises of Akaal Purakh.  The 5 forms were beautiful.  Now, in your 6^th incarnation, you will create the Panth of warriors.  In this fierce time of Kaliyuga, the older Guru started the tradition of Sat and Santokh.  This tradition will carry on with you.  Why shouldn’t it?  You are Akaal Purakh.”  The Devatas praised Satguru ji and kept looking at his child form.  Guru ji washes troubles and pain away.  The Devatas all bowed to Guru ji.  As they were leaving, Mata Ganga ji woke up and saw the backs of the Devatas.  She only saw their backs and got scared.  She said: “a lot of thieves were here to kidnap my son.  If I hadn’t waken up, they would have taken my son.  They have taken jewellery because I saw them wearing it.”  Mata ji yelled and called her maids: “why are you sleeping?  There were thieves here.  Go and see where they’ve run off to.  Guru ji was away from here.  I quickly picked up my son.  The thieves saw me awake and ran away.”  The maid got up and looked around the house.  She looked outside on to the streets but didn’t see anyone.  For the remainder of the night, Mata ji didn’t sleep.  She kept talking all night describing the thieves.  She was afraid and said: “I don’t know why everyone is after my son.”  She stayed awake the rest of the night.  She kept her son close to her. 

Guru Arjan Dev ji came back home after the morning Divaan.  Mata ji was scared.  She said to the master of the universe as she held his feet: “why do you not look over your son?  Look what happened last night.  If I didn’t waken up last night, the thieves would have taken my son.  There were so many of them standing in our home.  They came to kidnap my son.  They were surrounding my son and talking amongst themselves.  I don’t know what they were saying.  Sri Hargobind ji was sitting in the middle.  I woke up and then the thieves left.  I picked up my son and woke up the maid.  I sent her to look for the thieves.  She woke up the others to check.  They checked all around but couldn’t find the thieves.  Why aren’t we going back to Amritsar?  Let’s leave this place and go back home.  There is great danger here everyday.  This place is not good for our son.  I am always scared here.  Something bad always happens.  Sri Hargobind, my son, if he grows up, I won’t be scared.  Since he is a child, I am scared.  I don’t care where we live when he is older.  I can’t live here anymore where my son is under attack.”  Guru Arjan Dev ji smiled as he knew that it was the Devatas who came to worship his son.  He looked towards Mata ji and said: “I will listen to you and go to Amritsar.  Understand this, there is no danger to your son because he is protected by Parmeshwar.  Have the whole house packed up.  We will leave tomorrow morning.”  In this way, the preparations were made.  The servants began to pack all the stuff of the house.  They loaded the luggage and household items onto the carts.