3-66 Bhai Harbans Tappa, Bhai Murari and other Sikhs

Bhai Harbans Tappa ji did Seva in a Dharamsala.  He would wash the feet of tired Sikhs with warm water.  He would feed the hungry and massage the feet of Sikhs at night time.  He would give out blankets in the winter.  He would re-plaster the building of the Dharamsala.  He would wake up during Amritvela and warm water for the bathing of the Sikhs.  He would recite the Bani of the Satguru.  He did this great Seva and took on these responsibilities.  One day, Bhai Harbans Tappa ji was reciting the Bani of Bhai Gurdas ji with love.  Some Sikhs asked him: “why do you not read the Bani of the Guru?  A Sikh shouldn’t read Bani of other poets.  They read the Bani of the Guru with love.”  They got into an argument which eventually was brought to the attention of Guru ji.  They all went to Guru Arjan Dev ji.  Bhai Harbans ji said: “I read Bhai Gurdas ji’s Bani.  You have said that it is the key to Gurbani.  These Sikhs are getting mad at me for reading Bhai Gurdas ji’s Bani.”  Guru ji said: “the Bani which has the praises of the Guru; states the glory of the Satnam; that should be read.  Don’t doubt it.  If somebody tries to be equal to the Satguru, that person is a fool who writes Bani in that way.  Don’t read that Bani which tries to be equal to Gurbani.  If a Sikh reads that, their wisdom will be affected.  Their faith would break.  Bani that has the same ideology as Gurbani; has the stories of the Avatars of Prabhoo; read the Bani which explains the Bani of the Satguru.  Read that Bani with faith.  The Bani/poetry that opposes the ideology of the Guru; causes the vices to grow in the mind; has the stories of humans in them; reading that poetry is useless.  They are rumbling clouds without rain.  The ones who read Bani that causes doubt towards the Guru and Hari, they will go to Hell.  The Bani of Bhai Gurdas ji should not be doubted.  It is the same ideology of Gurbani.  Reading it will give you Gurmat.  The ones who read it will have faith in their hearts.  They will achieve Sikhi.  Don’t doubt the Guru or Hari.  Bhai Gurdas ji’s Bani praises the Guru and Hari.  Read Gurbani and read Bhai Gurdas ji’s Bani as well.  You will get joy in reading it.  Do Katha of the Guru and Hari.”  They all heard Guru ji’s words and accepted it.  They all started to read the great Bani of Bhai Gurdas ji. 

Bhai Anud Murari ji was a wise Sikh and Aatam Gyani.  Bhai Nano ji was from the Latkan caste.  Bhai Bindrao ji, Bhai Aalam Chand Handa ji, Bhai Saisara Taalvar ji.  All of these Sikhs came to meet Guru Arjan Dev ji for wisdom.  Their minds were Jagyasos (seekers of wisdom).  They bowed and said: “oh Guru, the saviour of the poor, give us your wisdom and take our pain away.  We come to your sanctuary for Mukti.”  Sri Satguru ji said: “practice the Shabad everyday.  Do the Seva of Sikh Saints.  Do the Simran of Satnam.”  They heard Guru ji and said: “when we hear the Shabad with our ears, our minds become humble.  When we go to do our household tasks, we forget the Name.”  Sri Satguru ji responded: “your practice of listening to the Shabad needs more work still.  The practice is not perfected yet.  You have spent many births in over-indulgence.  The tradition of doing the household tasks is solid in your heart.  You only started to practice the Guru’s word now.  The illumination of the Guru’s Shabad is low right now.  Your ego, the belief that “You” are the body, has been with you for many births.  You will need to kill this.  It will happen slowly.  Recite and listen to the Shabad everyday.  This practice will get deeper and you will forget about your body.  The ego will go away.  You will achieve Mukti then.  Just as the water flows in the river, to change the direction of the flow, it will take effort and time.  It will take time to set in.  Otherwise, it will continue on its current direction.  Make your mind humble.  Water flows and settles in low places.  Naam stays in low and humble places.  Create the damn of Brahm Gyaan.  Adhere to Sat (truth), Santokh (contentment), Dheeraj (patience), Sam (controlling of the mind), Dam (controlling of the senses), Upramta (unattachment from the world), Samadhaan (Tapp), Tateeksha (seeing pleasure and pain as the same) and other virtues.  The flow of the river will change then.  When the flow changes, then there is no need for anything else.  You will achieve bliss easily.  The pain of duality will go away.”  The Sikhs heard this and started to do Bhagti.  Bhai Murari ji became a Brahmgyaani.

Bhai Bhaanu Soohar ji and Bhai Jagna Nand ji came to Guru ji and bowed to him.  They sat down and said: “we control our Indriyas and Puranas.  We then do Simran.  We want to connect to the Prabhoo but when we see a commodity, our mind goes towards it.”  Guru ji said: “you will have to do three things: kill the vices of your mind, kill your mind (where the wishes arise from), and make the Gyaan of the Aatma come into your mind.  Practice this over and over again.  Make the effort to control your mind.”  The Sikhs heard this and said: “please give us wisdom by which we can control our mind and receive Mukti, the Aatam Gyaan.”  Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji said: “the mind rides the horses of the Puranas (breaths).  The Puranas make the mind wander.  When the Puranas come inside the body via the breaths, they touch the Naabi and come out.  When the breath comes out, it shakes the mind on its way out.  The Puranas need to be settled in the Trikuti (behind the forehead, between the eyebrows).  Control your mind in this way.  When the Puranas are calmed in the Trikuti, the mind will be destroyed.  See the whole world as a myth.  It is like the mirage that does not exist in reality.  See all of the material things in this world as false.  Your desires will die when you see the world like this.  Have devotion towards the Brahm in your mind.  See yourself as separate from your elements, 5 Koshes (Anmai Kosh- physical body; Puranamya Kosh- the Purana system; Maanmya Kosh- where will and desire are; Vagyaanmya Kosh – wisdom; Anandmya Kosh- body of bliss), and Indriyas (ears, eyes, nose, tongue, skin, hands, feet, voice box, anus and urethra).  Use your Bhuddi (wisdom/intellect) to see your Indriyas as false.  They are false, without consciousness.  It is the Aatma’s reflection that gives them the illusion that they are real.  Ponder the wisdom of the Shabad Gurbani.  It is the cream of the Vedas.  Your vices and desires will die along with your mind.  The Aatam Gyaan Teerath will illuminate inside of you.  These three things will support each other.  The one who does this will achieve Mukti.  Just as a King who has 3 Governors, who are given their specific lands; the King gives them wisdom before they go.  First the king says: “go together to fight stronger enemies.  First the boundary needs to be won (Sirhind).  Then go and win Lahore and kill the thieves in that area.  After that, go to Kashmir and conquer it.  You will need to win all three areas together.  Then you can separate and rule your specifically assigned areas.  If you go separately in the beginning, you will not be victorious.  For this reason, go together to do your tasks.”  The three actions that I described must be done together to win your mind.  The mind and desires need to be killed together along with the knowledge of the Brahm.  The army of ignorance, desire, is everywhere.  It keeps all the good qualities away.  If you kill all three at once, you will win.  You will need to control your mind, kill your desires and do the Simran with every breath.  Your mind will be calm.”  The Sikhs heard this and had bliss in their minds.  They did exactly as Guru ji said.

Bhai Jaith ji and Bhai Shingaroo ji were great warriors.  They were fearless on the battlefield.  Guru ji said to them: “when I am in my 6^th incarnation, I will wield weapons and punish the corrupt.  The Turks will be destroyed.  I will practice Shaster Vidya.  I will take the rule (Meeree) of great kings (Meers) away.  I will have love for the Guru’s word and take the Peeree of the Peers.  I will have both Meeree and Peeree.  I will give bliss to my Sikhs in both worlds.  I will save my Sikhs in the fiercest period of Kaliyuga.  You should go to Sri Hargobind ji now.  Obey him and be happy.  Fight by his side in battle.  Kill the Turks by wielding weapons.”  The Sikhs folded their hands and obeyed.  They both went to Sri Hargobind ji and enlisted in his army.  They wielded weapons and practiced Shaster Vidya with him.  After a while, they took some time off to go home for 2 months.  When they went home, they met a Yogi in their village.  The Yogi was impressed with their Seva and gave them a Rasayan.  They took the Rasayan and put it in the shell of a hard fruit.  They brought it back to Sri Hargobind ji as they thought it would be better for him.  Sikhs would come across great things and bring them straight to the Guru out of love.  They told him about its benefits: “this Rasayan is made by dehydrating mercury.  52 Tola Copper, can be made into gold by using 1 Ratti of this Rasayan.  If one eats the equivalent of a grain of rice, one will be able to eat 1.25 Maunds of food and become strong like an elephant.  The illnesses will be gone.”  Sri Hargobind ji said: “the ones who have killed their mind, the Rasayan is not needed for them.  The thing that makes copper into gold, this is not needed.  Killing the mind, one receives everything and becomes Parmeshwar.  Gold can only make you rich.  You will still die one day.  Since you have brought it, I will honor your devotion.”  Sri Hargobind ji took a grain of rice worth rasayan and ate it with two leaves.  The rest was poured in the Sarovar.  The Sikhs were given high statuses.  He kept them close and gave them many powers.  They fought battles along Guru Hargobind ji’s side. 

3-67 Bhai Jaita, Bhai Nanda and other Sikhs/ Taran Taaran

Bhai Jaita ji, Bhai Nanda ji and Bhai Piraga ji all came to see Guru Arjan Dev ji.  They folded their hands and said: “give us the wisdom by which we require nothing else.  May we engrave your wisdom into our hearts and achieve Mukti.”  Guru ji said: “control your Indriyas and always be aware.  Do Simran with every breath, all the time.  The Name, Vahiguru, is the highest.  When you notice that your mind is not focused, then recite Gurbani out loud to tell your mind to be still.  Keep your mind engaged with the Satguru’s Bani.  This is how one achieves Brahm Gyaan.”  The Sikhs heard Guru ji’s words and did what he said.  The Brahmins in their village saw their new lifestyle and said: “what are you doing?  You do not do any Karam Kaand.  You have stopped doing the Nit and Namit Karmas.  You have become corrupt.  Who are you following?”  The Sikhs responded: “we have found the all-powerful, omnipotent Satguru.  Since we met the Satguru, our ignorance patriarch has died.  The son named Brahmgyaan has been born.  Because of this death and birth, the impure “sootak” has come upon us.  Because of that, the Karam Kaands have been destroyed, as per the direction of the sootak traditions (the place of sootak cannot have Karma Kaands performed).  Whoever has sootak, the Karma Kaand is not counted.  This is the direction that you give in your teachings, Pandit ji.  For this reason, we don’t do the Karma Kaand.  If you say that the sootak remains for a limited time period, the Guru says: “when the breath rises from the Naabi, that is when we are born.  We are illuminated then.  The breath then goes out from the nose, that is when we die.”  By this, sootak is constant; as we breath all the time.  We are looking for the time when there is no sootak, but we failed to find such a time.  We do Simran with every breath.  This is our support.  This is what the Satguru said.”  The Pandits went quiet when they heard this.  They thought about it but they had no answer. 

There was a Paati (one who recited Gurbani) named Bhai Tiloka ji.  Another Sikh, Bhai Tota Mehta ji, had stopped his mind from wandering.  Both of these Sikhs came to see Guru Arjan Dev ji.  They bowed to his lotus-like feet.  They folded their hands and said: “Satguru ji, your wisdom says to do Simran of Ram with a focused mind.  One who does this will not go to Hell.  The Brahmins raise doubts about this.  They say: if by doing Simran, one does not go to Hell, everyone says the name of Ram.  Why do some of them go to Hell then?  If this is true why did Prabhoo make Hell?  Everyone that says “Ram” should get Mukti.  Heaven is useless then.  There shouldn’t be Heaven or Hell if Simran gives Mukti.”  Satguru ji said: “there is no doubt about everyone saying “Ram.”  The most that are saying it, they do not have faith or love on Ram.  Their minds are not focussed either.  How would they be blessed then?  Tell the Brahmins about the Katha of Koda Rakash and Mardana.  When Mardana ji was walking in the jungle of Jabalpur, he was captured by a demon named Koda.  Koda heated oil in a pot and wanted to put Bhai Mardana ji in it to eat him.  Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji told Mardana ji to do the Simran of the Name.  When Bhai Mardana ji did Simran of the Name, the oil went cold right away.  The glory of the Name illuminated in the world.  Go and tell the Brahmins: if you do the Simran of Ram, then we will boil oil and put you into the pot.  If everyone does Simran of Ram, let’s see what happens to you.  If the oil goes cold than you are right because that would mean that everyone’s Simran is the same.  If you get burned then there is a difference.”  This world is being boiled in their desires.  They are not able to come out of this pot.  The Guru gives the Sikhs the Name which makes the desires calm down.”  The Sikhs heard Guru ji and went back home.  When the Pandits met them, they told them the Katha that Guru ji said.  The Pandits got scared of putting their hands into the pot of boiling oil.  In this way the Satguru’s glory spread.  The doubters were quiet then.  They all understood the glory of the Guru’s home. 

Bhai Sai Das ji came to Guru ji, folded his hands and said: “I have served many Sikhs.  I have engraved your wisdom in my heart and think of your feet all the time.  I listen to the Shabad but my mind does not stay focused.  You say: “one should focus the mind and recite the Shabad with love.”  Guru ji said: “you now know where your mind stands.  You understand that your mind wanders.  You didn’t know that before you started reading Bani or doing Simran.  Now that you know where your mind runs too, show it the mythical world that it’s living in.  Show it that the material goods are fake.  They are mythical and temporary.  Bring the mind back to the Shabad of the Guru.  When it runs away again, keep bringing it back with the word of the Guru.  Just as you mount a stubborn horse, the rider does not let the horse look left or right.  It is shows it the straight path.  The horse tries to go in a different direction but it is forced to go straight.  The horse has to give in eventually.  If the horse still does not listen, the rider shows the horse his whip.  In this way, make the mind connect to the Shabad of the Guru.  Eventually, the mind will begin to like listening to the words of the Guru.”  The Sikh listened to Guru ji and did as he was told.  Slowly, his mind came under his control.  He didn’t want to be acknowledged for his Seva, which he did, day and night.  In this way, Guru ji gave wisdom to the Sikhs in Amritsar. 

Guru ji wanted to go to Goindwal and meet the children of Guru Amardas ji.  Guru ji got ready along with other Brahmgyaani Sikhs to go to Goindwal, together.  Many of the Sikhs were Brahmgyaanis.  Baba Bhudda ji was the head of the Brahmgyaani Sikhs.  They all travelled with Guru ji.  Guru Arjan Dev ji was the ocean of virtues.  He was benevolent and wanted to bless everyone just as the sun illuminates the whole world, indiscriminately.  The slanderers did not know the glory of the Guru.  They were like the owls who did not appreciate the sun.  They were blind to the sun.  Guru ji sat in his palanquin.  Mata Ganga ji met Guru ji.  Guru ji said to her: “stay here.  I will return after some time.” 

Guru ji travelled about 3 km and saw a beautiful place.  The land called out to Guru ji.  There was a Teerath here before that wanted to be exposed.  This was the place of Taran Taaran Sahib.  Guru ji looked with his divine vision and saw many men and women bathing here in the future.  The ones who would bathe here with devotion, their wishes would be fulfilled.  Their illnesses would go away.  They would be filled with bliss.  Many lepers were here who needed to be cured.  Their were two villages nearby: Palasoor and Khanvaal.  There were other villages that fought for this land of Taran Taaran.  Many people fought and died for this land.  Guru ji set up camp in that area.  Guru ji wanted to solve the conflicts of the area. 

The next day, Guru ji called the Panchayats of the two villages.  Guru ji convinced them to stop fighting.  He told them: “your conflict can be resolved.  What price do you want for this land?  This place will be a Teerath.  You will receive rewards along with others for bathing here.  Give this land to the Guru’s home.  You can ask for double its value.”  The people from Khanvaal were Khatris.  The people of Palasoor were Rangars.  They all decided to stop fighting and listen to Guru Arjan Dev ji.  Many had died in their conflict.  Guru ji gave 157,000 Rajitpuns for the land.  Guru ji bought the land and started to live there.  He wanted to set up a new Teerath which would give joy to all and take away their pain.  Just as the moon fills essence in all of the plants and herbs; it satiates everyone; that is how Guru ji wanted to make everyone happy.  Guru ji wanted to make a great Sarovar there.  All of the Masands were called and told to make the Sarovar.  The Masands called the labourers and the Sangat to began the Kar of the Sarovar.  17 Vaisakh, 1647 (Vikram) was the date that the work started.  The materials were all bought.  Guru ji had Karah Prashaad prepared.  Many Sikhs came.  A celebration took place.  Everyone was happy for a new Teerath to be established.  A Divaan was held and Guru ji told Baba Bhudda ji to do the Ardaas for the ground-breaking ceremony.  Baba Bhudda ji, who was connected with the Brahm, stood up.  He had the supreme powers of Akaal Purakh.  It was like the powers just resided on his palm.  Day and night, he was always in Samadhi.  His mind was always calm.  He stood in front of Guru ji and did the Ardaas.

A Khatri named Bhai Devi Chand ji was from Goindwal.  He came to meet Guru ji.  He had 1 Rajitpun which he had divided for change.  He kept half for himself and presented the other half to Guru ji.  He folded his hands and bowed.  Guru ji said: “Baba Bhudda ji, look!  Half of the money is here!  The Sarovar will be completed.  I don’t think this Sarovar will be completed now though.  We got half of a Rajitpun so half of the Sarovar will be completed now.  Have of the payment will come.  The other half will be completed by the Khalsa Panth.  This is the command of Parmeshwar.”  (To make the Saran of Noordheen, the bricks were looted during that time.  Guru Arjan Dev ji said: “the Khalsa will bring the bricks back.”  Sardar Jassa Singh ji Ramgharia brought the bricks back after 150 years to complete the Sarovar.  Maharaja Ranjit Singh ji made the Darbar.  Kunwar Naunihaal Singh ji made the Bhoonga of Taran Taaran Sahib) Baba Bhudda ji did the Ardaas and the Karah Prashaad was distributed.  Baba Bhudda ji broke the ground and the Seva started.  Many labourers were called and started working.  The brick kilns were built.  The cement and grout were prepared.  It was as though the Mansarovar was being built.  The steps were being built.  Guru ji told the Masands to do the Seva properly: “don’t hold back.  There is not shortage in the Guru’s house.  Pay everyone well that makes everyone happy.  Make sure it is complete.”  The Masands directed the digging.  The bricks were being baked.  The cement and grout were prepared.  Guru ji would supervise the work and make assessments.  Many Sikhs did the Seva to impress Guru ji.  Guru ji spent many days here by which he was doing a great task.  The eastern steps were made first.  The Sangat from Kabul and Balak Bukhara came.  Dhani Kaip, Peshawar, Multan, Shikaar Puri; the Sangat came.  Sangat from the south came.  Sangat from many lands came to do Seva.  They all came to do Seva of the Teerath.  There was a great joy.  They would look towards Guru ji for his command.  The eastern steps were completed and some of the digging was done.

3-68 Taran Taaran Sarovar

As the days passed, the work on the Sarovar carried on.  Guru ji directed the Sikhs and workers.  The workers and craftsmen worked hard all day long.  They would go home in the evening.  Satguru ji would take reports all day long.  He would tell everyone: “do the work properly.  Don’t cut corners.”  The kilns were burning all day long. 

There was a Pathaan named Khoja Noordheen who lived about 7 km away from Taran Taaran.  He was an egotistical person who forgot the glories of Akal Purakh.  He was making a building in his area.  He was a confidant of the Emperor Jahangir and used to stay with him.  His ego made him into a fool.  As he was building his building, he ran out of bricks.  He had his men look hard for more bricks but they didn’t find any and his work came to a halt.  Somebody told him: “listen, I understand what you need.  The son of Guru Ramdas ji is making a big pool.  Their kilns are burning right now.  Their bricks are quite solid.  You should have bricks come from there and complete your task.  There is no other place where we can get bricks from in our region.”  Khoja Noordheen heard this but didn’t say anything.  There was another Pathaan named Amanat Khan nearby who was making his own building.  He ran out of bricks as well.  Amanat Khan was close to Taran Taaran and needed bricks.  There was a place called Naurangabad nearby, where a rich Chaudhary lived, who Amanat Khan called for.  He said to the Chaudhary: “I need bricks.  Tell me where I can get them from?  I am making a building and need bricks.  The Emperor has given us land and wants us to make our own forts.  Go to Noordheen and see where is he getting his bricks from.  I am higher than him with a bigger army.  Ask him where I can get bricks from.”  The Chaudhary was happy to be of service to the Navaab.  He was looking to get a commission from the Navaab at the completion of his task.  The Chaudhary went to Noordheen and told him what Amanat Khan said, while smiling.  Noordheen responded: “I need twice as many bricks as you.  I can’t find any bricks.  Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji is the big Guru of the Hindus.  He is making a big Sarovar.  He has many brick kilns built and making many bricks.  They are making really big and solid bricks.  Tell Amanat Khan that both of us should go and get the bricks from the Guru.  We should tell him: “we want to borrow bricks from you.  We will give you back whatever we take.”  The Chaudhary went back and forth to have the messages passed.  They all agreed to go to Guru Arjan Dev ji. 

Amanat Khan and Noordheen sent their armies to Taran Taaran.  They sent their carts straight to the kilns.  They did not go to Guru ji.  Instead, they started to pick up the bricks from the Sikh Masons.  They didn’t count the bricks and started to take the bricks back to their places.  The masons saw this and were angry.  They went to Guru ji and said: “the Turks came with their soldiers and said to us: “Noordheen and Amanat Khan are making buildings.  We are borrowing these bricks.”  They are taking the bricks without counting them.  They are loading them onto their carts and sending them to their places.”  The Master, Guru Arjan Dev ji, said: “what do we care about counting?  Wherever our bricks are going to be set, they will all return to us with the foundations.  The Sikhs will bring them all back.  All of the buildings the Pathaans are building, their bricks will come back and be added to this Sarovar.  Interest will be paid as well.  That is when the Taran Taaran Sarovar will be completed.  My Sikhs that will complete the Sarovar will be fortunate.  They will fight them and pull the roots of the Mughals.  The enemy will be defeated.  When the Panth will be glorious, that is when the Sarovar will be completed.  On the day of new moon every month, there will be gatherings at Taran Taaran.  The wishes of the people visiting will be fulfilled when they come.  Their illnesses will be gone.  This place will be called “Taran Taaran Sahib.”  The Masya of Bhadron will have great significance.  Many will come here on that day.  Their sins will be washed away that bathe here with faith and devotion.”  Guru ji then went quiet.  He decided to leave the next morning as there were no more bricks to continue the Sarovar.  Guru ji slept the night.  He was full of calmness.  He did not curse the Turks at that time.  There was nobody more forgiving than Guru ji.  He had the greatest powers but did not show them.  He could have destroyed the Pathaans with his words.  He was full of Sam, Dam, Shurda and other virtues.  He was the flag of the Dharma and full of wisdom.  He was deep and altruistic.  The people who went to Hell by the Jumms, Guru ji had mercy on them.  He was benevolent and wanted to make paths for human to become free.  Guru ji stopped the work on the Sarovar.  He knew it was going to continue at a later time.  He was the Brahmgyaani who could tolerate the intolerable.  He was the destroyer of attachment.  He wrote the Gurbani.  His eyes were full of blessings and love.  He was on the throne of the Guru of the world.  Whoever met him with devotion, their sins would be washed away. 

Noordheen and Amanat Khan heard that Guru ji stopped the work on the Sarovar and wanted to leave from Taran Taaran.  They were afraid that Guru ji was going to tell the Emperor on them.  They sent a messenger to Guru ji.  The messenger came to Guru ji and said: “why have you stopped the work on the Sarovar?  I have been sent by the Navaabs.  We can compensate you with money for the bricks.  You can then continue your work.  We won’t take anymore bricks from you.  We were in a desperate need for the bricks as the Emperor wanted us to build the buildings quickly.  These are to be guest houses for royal officers.  You can ask for 25% more than the actual value.  Complete your Teerath.”  Guru Arjan Dev ji said: “the value that you have attached, that is what my Sikhs will apply.  You used your strength and so my Sikhs will take back with their strength when the time comes.  The bricks will come back the same way.  My Sikhs will be powerful.  They will take what is theirs.  They will pull your foundations.  These solid buildings that you are building, those are the bricks that will be used to make the Sarovar.  You took the bricks by showing your strength.  That is what will be returned.  Go and tell your Navaabs that the Sarovar will be built when the Turks will be destroyed.”  The messenger heard this and lowered his eyes.  This discussion was told to the Navaabs.  Noordheen was angry when he heard this.  He said: “what can they do by saying this?”  The foolish Navaab continued work on his building.  It was in the year 1823 Vikram when the Singhs:  Jathedar Khushaal Singh ji and Jathedar Jassa Singh ji Ramgharia, destroyed the Saran of Noordheen and brought back the bricks to complete the Sarovar of Taran Taaran Sahib.  Maharaja Ranjit Singh ji also contributed during his time.  Kunwar Naunihaal Singh ji built the Parkarma of Taran Taaran Sahib. 

Guru Arjan Dev ji came back to the city of Guru Ramdas ji, Amritsar.  He met Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib ji and had him sit in his lap.  The Sikhs came and bowed to Guru ji.  Their pain was all gone after meeting him.  Guru ji stayed in his home the night.  The Sikhs were in bliss to see him again.

3-69 Bhai Gurmukh and Bhai Bhikhari

There was a Sikh that lived close to Guru ji whose name was Bhai Gurmukh ji.  He folded his hands and said: “I am in your sanctuary.  I have heard that the Sikhs that are Sunmukhs, they accept your will.  They accept whatever happens to them.  Please tell me, how are they like?  I would like to see them.”  Guru Arjan Dev ji said: “in Gujarat, there is a Sikh named Bhai Bhikhari.  Go and see him now.” 

Bhai Gurmukh ji headed to Gujarat.  He thought in his mind: “this must be a great Sikh.  Guru ji praised him and said that he accepts the Guru’s will.  I want to see what he does for a living and how he lives.”  He eventually reached Gujarat and asked around for Bhai Bhikhari.  When he found his home, he went there.  He saw a great celebration happening in his home.  There was a wedding going on.  It was his son’s wedding.  He saw everyone singing songs.  Bhai Bhikhari was working.  He was sewing a “Shatranji,” which is used to sit while mourning someone’s death.  He said to him: “Pairi Paina (I touch your feet- this was the greeting of the Sikhs before the Fateh).  Guru ji sent me to you.”  Bhai Bhikhari ji greeted him with great respect.  It was as though the Guru came for him.  He bowed to Bhai Gurmukh ji and had him sit close to him.  He continued doing his work.  Bhai Gurmukh was surprised to see what was going on.  Bhai Bhikhari took Bhai Gurmukh to show him around.  He said to Bhai Gurmukh: “let me show you the wedding stuff.  These are the groom’s clothes; this is his sera and these are the clothes we will give to the bride when she comes.  Here is the food.  Here are the jewellers making the jewellery.  This is the gold that my son will wear.  Here are the sweets.  The Halvaee made many types of sweets.  He is a good cook.  Here is the stuff for a cremation.  This is the shroud and platform for the cremation.”  Bhai Gurmukh ji was surprised and said: “why is the cremation stuff here?”  Bhai Bhikhari responded: “I will tell you later when its use will be required.”  They came back to the first place where they were.  Bhai Bhikhari ji continued sewing the Shatranji.  Bhai Gurmukh was confused and surprised to see what he was doing.  He wondered why Guru ji praised Bhai Bhikhari as he was deeply engaged in his household tasks.  He wondered when Bhai Bhikhari did his Bhagti and if he accepted the will of Akaal Purakh or not.  It was soon night and Bhai Gurmukh was given a bed to sleep on and food to eat.  He was served well with good food. 

In the morning, the Bharat got ready to go.  Everyone got ready and took the groom for the wedding.  The marriage took place and the Bharat came back with the Dholi.  Musical instruments played while they travelled.  The marriage party came back after a few days.  After a few days of returning, the guests were seen off and given parting gifts.  During the second night, the newly married groom had an excruciating pain arise in his stomach and died.  The women that were singing songs of joy a few days ago, were now crying out in grief.  The shroud that Bhai Bhikhari ji had sewn, he brought it and put it on top of his son’s dead body.  He put him on the platform and took him to the cremation grounds while singing Gurbani Shabads.  They came back and did Keertan.  They distributed the Karah Prashaad.  The Shatranji that was sewn by Bhai Bhikhari was laid out for people to sit on.  People came to offer their condolences and sat on the Shatranji.  Bhai Gurmukh ji observed this all day long.  He thought to himself: “this was weird.  He knew what was going to happen.”  At night time when everyone left, Bhai Gurmukh ji went to Bhai Bhikhari and said while folding his hands: “if you knew your son was going to die, why did you marry him off?  You brought a girl into your home and now she is a widow.  You spent so much money on gold, clothes and food.  Everything is gone in two days.  If you had received the power to know the future from Satguru ji, why did you not ask for your son’s long life?  Guru ji would have seen your devotion and faith; and would have granted your son with a longer life.  This troubling time would not have come to your home.  The whole family is crying now.  I am very confused about this.  You had powers and still let all this pain happen.”  Bhai Bhikhari ji heard this and said: “what you are saying is the way of Manmukhs.  Whatever Parmeshwar does, is always good.  One shouldn’t be upset about it.  If one is upset, they will never meet Parmatma.  Whatever Bhagavan does, accept it and be happy with it.  Akaal Purakh sees everyone as the same.  No one is better or worse for Akaal Purakh.  The rewards and punishments are given, based on one’s Karma.  When pain comes due to sins, it was to be endured.  If one sees someone as happy and tries to take their happiness go away, or curses them, they will not be respected in Akaal Purakh’s court.  Akaal Purakh is the master of the world and does what he pleases.  If an employee of the king does what he is supposed to do, he would be happy.  The employee who criticizes the King, he is not liked by the King.  The King criticizes him in turn.  This is the way of the unwise person.  Keep this in mind: the master is omnipotent and does what he pleases.  Only Karma is what gives joy or sorrow.  You get back what you plant.  Whoever thinks like this, they are happy with what Akaal Purakh does.  That is the Sunmukh, Saintly Sikh.  The one that criticizes, is the Manmukh.  One should ask for the ability to live in the will of Akaal Purakh from the Guru.  The things we see in the world will not exist forever.  Don’t waste your life for no reason.  My daughter-in-law and son had their own Karma.  I’ll tell you their history.  My son was a Tapasvi in his last birth.  He lived in the jungle and went to the village to beg for food.  He did Tapasya of Parmeshwar.  He conquered his Indriyas with great effort.  One day, he went to the village to get food and saw a beautiful prostitute.  The prostitute saw the radiance on the Tapasvi’s face and fell in love with him.  The Tapasvi fell in love and didn’t go back to the jungle.  Both of them died soon.  The Tapasvi came as my son and did Simran his whole life.  His Karma was cleansed in my home by doing Simran.  The prostitute who wanted to meet him, came as my daughter-in-law.  Because she fell in love with a Tapasvi, she became fortunate.  She will stay here and do Simran.  She will do Seva of Sikhs and her Karma will be cleansed too.  She only wanted one night with the Tapasvi, which she received.  The rest of her time will be spent on doing Simran and Bhagti.  She will receive Mukti at the end.  Bhai Gurmukh ji, whatever Akaal Purakh does is good.  Accept the will of Akaal Purakh and do the Simran of Satnam.  Get rid of the attachment of your body.  These are the three things required to achieve Mukti.  Guru ji and the saints all say the same thing.”  Bhai Gurmukh ji heard this and folded his hands.  He bowed his head to Bhai Bhikhari ji and said: “you are a great and wise Sikh.  My name is Gurmukh but it is you, who is the true Gurmukh.  Satguru ji showed me exactly what I asked for.  Meeting you, washes all the sins away.  You are a beloved of the Guru.”  He humbly bowed to Bhai Bhikhari’s feet, over and over again. 

Bhai Gurmukh came back to Amritsar and was happy to see such a Sikh.  His faith and devotion to Guru ji grew.  We went to the place where Satguru Arjan Dev ji was and bowed his head to Guru ji’s feet.  Guru ji smiled and said: “how was the Sikh that you met?  How does he live and how does he do Seva?  How is his faith and how does he deal with joy and sorrow?”  Bhai Gurmukh ji folded his hands and said: “Prabhoo ji, your Sikhs are solid.  They cannot be praised to their fullest.  They see pain and pleasure as equal.  They are happy with both.”  He told Guru ji the whole katha of him going to Bhai Bhikhari ji’s home and what happened there.  He said: “whoever you are pleased with, that is how their faith becomes.”  Guru ji was happy to hear the praises of his Sikh.  Guru ji helps his Sikhs in every dimension.  He saves his Sikhs no matter where they go.  Kavi Santokh Singh ji bows to such a Guru that destroys all of the troubles.

Thus ends the 3^rd Raas.