4-36 Sitting on the Hot Plate

It was almost midnight and it was very dark.  There was a great unrest and panic amongst the saints and great beings of earth.  The ones with great powers were in pain.  Gorakh Nath was one of those saints.  He came to visit Guru Arjan Dev ji with his 84 Sidhs.  He looked at the guards in the Haveli of Chandoo and put them to sleep with his powers.  He came to Guru Arjan Dev ji and greeted him: “Aadesh!  Aadesh!”  As he stood in front of Guru ji, he noticed Guru ji’s determination and said: “you are great!  You can tolerate the most intolerable.  This is no other like you.  All of us are amazed to see you play this drama.  We could never do what you are doing.  You did not waiver after enduring so much heat and pain.  You can destroy the whole world with one word.  You are determined.  You accept the will of Akaal Purakh.  You don’t wish to destroy these sinners but I am about to destroy Chandoo.  I will take his home and turn it upside-down.  He has sinned gravely.  He deserves to be punished.  He should be punished for hurting the saints.  No one will ever hurt the saints again.  If we don’t do this, people like Chandoo will never learn.  They will continue to harm the innocent saints.  These proud fools will continue to commit sins.”  Guru ji heard Gorakh Nath and said: “saint ji, saints are never scared.  This is the way my drama will go; nobody will interfere.  You are welcome to see me but don’t interfere in my work.  Guru Nanak Dev ji wants us to accept the will.  Whatever is happening, is good.  Promise me that you won’t say this again.  This body needs to go back to the earth.  Don’t let attachment come near it.”  Gorakh Nath ji said: “you are Dhan!”  The Sidhs all bowed to Guru ji’s feet and disappeared.  Guru ji did not want Chandoo punished right now.  The Sidhs were not given permission to destroy Chandoo.  The Sidhs could do anything with their power in the blink of an eye.  People would see their powers and worship them. 

The Peers heard about Guru ji’s state and came to meet him.  The Peers had many powers as well.  They bowed to Guru ji and said: “why are you taking so much pain?  Give us the command and we will destroy the sinner right now.  We are waiting for your command.”  Guru ji spoke to them with respect: “welcome.  Why are you looking with duality?  You should be seeing the One Aatma which is the true and complete.  The world is fragile and a myth.  This is the way I am to let go of my body.  There are many reasons for doing this.  The time has come now by which the revolution will begin.  I will make the words of the elder Gurus true.  You should go back to your place and don’t interfere in my play.”  The Peers said: “Dhan!”  They all left and went back.  As the Peers left, the guards woke up again.  They asked each other: “we all went to sleep.  If the Guru would have left, Chandoo would have killed us.”  The guards picked up their weapons again and kept guard.

Guru ji was sitting in his seat.  The night passed and the sun arose.  Chandoo came in the morning on the 4^th day.  He thought to himself: “I haven’t fed him for 4 days.  I boiled him in water.  He tortured him but he didn’t open his mouth.  He is stubborn.  The Guru wasn’t scared.  He fearlessly rejected my daughter’s hand.  I tortured him with boiling water and hot sand.  He still didn’t say yes.  Looks like he will give his life.  I won’t back down either.  Today, I will heat an iron plate and make him stand on it.”  In this way the sinner made his plans.  He called for a big iron plate.  A fire was lit under the plate.  The iron plate became red from the heat.  Chandoo said: “stand on this plate if you don’t accept my proposal.”  Guru ji did not respond.  Guru ji decided to get on top of the hot iron plate.  The ones that were born in the house of Chandaals yelled out: “hai!” They yelled out in shock and amazement.  They said: “this person is a bigger sinner than the Chandaals.  He has no humanity inside him.”  Guru Arjan Dev ji stood on top of the hot iron plate.  The Sikhs tied up nearby could not tolerate what they were seeing.  Their hearts were suffering.  Their hands and feet were tied.  Agni Dev changed its nature.  Agni Dev folded his hands and said: “I can’t do this.”  The fire cooled down.  Guru ji said to Agni Dev: “don’t change your nature.  If you don’t continue with your personality, people won’t be able to cook food.  They heat in their bodies will turn cold.  You do your work.  Let me do mine.”  The soles of Guru ji’s feet began to burn.  The sinner, Chandoo, was sitting and watching.  He called for more firewood and made the fire burn more.  He wanted Guru ji to agree to his demands.  He wanted Guru ji to be scared and accept his daughter’s marriage proposal.  Guru ji did not say anything.  Guru ji sat on the hot plate without any doubts.  Guru ji’s skin was burning and the world was watching.  He did not feel the pain of the hot plate.  His mind was calm and cool.  Nobody could understand this type of power.  Guru ji’s whole body burned but the fool Chandoo did not understand.  Guru ji did not want to show Chandoo his power.  The powers of Akaal Purakh were standing and waiting for commands.  Guru ji sat on the plate for 3 hours.  Chandoo lost.  He tried everything.  Guru ji’s skin was burnt.  Guru ji’s bones were red but his radiance was the same.  Chandoo thought to himself: “how can I make him say yes?  What other torture can I do to make him scared?  He is quiet today.  He doesn’t fear me.  He is a big “Dharmi.”  He will keep his Dharma.  He will give his life.  I need to scare him to destroy his Dharma.  I will scare him from his Dharma now.”  In this way, the fool told his guards: “one of you should go to the Chandaal and see if there is a cow that died today.  Take the hide of that cow and put it around the Guru’s body.  I will destroy the Guru’s Dharma.”  Satguru ji heard this.  Chandoo said further: “bring the hide tomorrow.  I will make him sit in the sun.  The hide will shrink and squeeze his body.  His Dharma and life will die.”  The fool said this and went home.  He was full of corruption; anger and he was a murderer.  The night soon came on the 4^th day.  The fifth night was upon them.  They whole world was dark. 

At midnight, Chandoo’s daughter-in-law began to cry in pain, hearing about what was happening with Guru ji.  She wouldn’t sleep at night.  She didn’t eat or drink anything either.  She wanted to go and see Guru ji that night.  She wanted to see what Guru ji’s command was.  She secretly went to go see Guru ji.  When she came to the Haveli, the guards yelled at her and told her to go away.  She gave the guards her golden bracelets.  After that, she was allowed to go in.  She folded her hands.  She stood in front of Guru ji and began to cry.  She looked at Guru ji’s state and said: “I am a sinner as well.  My fault is that I am still alive after seeing you in so much pain.  I should have died, living in this sinner’s house.  Guru ji, I can’t do anything.  I can only give me life.”  Guru ji, the giver of peace, said: “my child, this house doesn’t deserve you.  In the morning, we will both go to Sach Khand.  Come with me in the morning if you want to.”  The girl folded her hands and said: “how may I serve you?  Please bless me and tell me what I can do.  I do not like this life anymore.  I will let go of my body in the morning.  Thank you for telling me your command.”  Guru ji said: “my child, I don’t need anything.  Go home and do as you please.”  The girl decided to leave her body in the morning.  There was nothing left in this life.

The night was over.  It was morning.  Guru ji sat crossed-legged in Samadhi.  The Sikhs of Lahore would talk about Guru ji but nobody knew what was happening.  The Sikhs kept coming to see the Haveli but weren’t able to see Guru ji.  They came at night and during the day.  The door was always closed.  They wondered what was happening inside of what the sinner Chandoo was doing.  They didn’t even hear from the 5 Sikhs that came with Guru ji.  They would hide and meet each other.  They would say: “we wonder what Chandoo is doing to Guru ji.  Since Guru ji has gone in, we wonder what harm he has done.  We can’t do anything.  The Emperor or his men are not here either.”  The Sikhs met at the Dharamsala and were upset.  Some Sikhs closed their shops and stayed home in worry.  They did not like to eat or drink anything.  They thought to themselves: “Satguru ji is with the sinner.  He wanted to hurt Guru ji for a long time.  He kept filling the Emperor’s ears all the time.  Satguru ji would never say yes to the marriage.  He’s probably trying.  Maybe Guru ji should accept it.  Guru ji would be able to go home then.” 

4-37 Torturing/ Going to Sach Khand

Chandoo woke up in the morning and thought to himself: “today I will convince the Guru or kill him.  He loves his Dharma.  I will make him give it up today.  I will marry my daughter off or cover him in cow’s hide.”  Thinking this to himself, Chandoo came to Guru ji.  He sat down in front of Guru ji with anger and said: “accept my daughter’s hand for your son and listen to what I say.  The Emperor is the master of the whole country and I am his Divaan.  I am close to him.  Till the Turks rule, I will have command over all.  You are not afraid of me.  You didn’t respect me and insulted me like a pauper.  You will suffer now and lose your Dharma.  I will take the wet cowhide and wrap it around you.  I will place you in the sun.  When the hide dries, you will die.  I will send my soldiers to your home and loot all your wealth.  I will arrest your son and torture him as well.  I will kill him.  I won’t let him live.  Your family line will die.  If you don’t want me to do this, then accept the marriage proposal.  You will be saved and everything will be good again.  Sulhi, Sulbi and Prithi Chand died.  They tried to capture you but failed.  They died with their desire unfulfilled but I will destroy you.  On which power do you have faith in, which makes you not see my power?  If you want to say something, now’s the time.  I can forgive you.”  The fearless Guru heard Chandoo and spoke to him: “I want to bathe in the Ravi.  Let my 5 Sikhs come with me.  It has been 5 days that you have kept me in the heat.  I will purify my body in the water and clear my mind to make a decision.”  Chandoo heard this and got happy.  He thought to himself: “I succeeded in making him scared of losing his Dharma.  He will surely accept the proposal after cooling his body in the water.”  Chandoo said to Guru ji: “go and bathe in the Ravi.  Your life will be saved.  Consider what I am saying.”  Chandoo gathered ten of his soldiers and said to them: “take your swords and go with the Guru.  Keep him in your sight and don’t let him speak to anyone outside.  Don’t let him go anywhere else.  Make sure he stays by the shores of the Ravi.  Don’t let him go onto any street.  Let him take a bath.  Don’t speak to him.  Let his Sikhs walk with him and stay behind them.”  In this way, the guards went with Guru with a strict watch.  Guru ji got up and left the fool.  Guru ji’s whole body was full of blisters and wounds, which were covered with a sheet.  The soles of Guru ji’s feet were badly blistered and so Guru ji walked slowly.  Bhai Pirana ji came to Guru ji and supported his shoulder as he walked. 

There was a narrow landing at the shore of the Ravi where Guru ji went to bathe.  Some saw Guru ji and bowed to him.  Guru ji’s face was red with blisters.  His body was weak from not eating for 5 days or drinking any water.  The sinner used severe torturing methods.  People were shocked to see Guru ji.  They said: “look what happened to Guru ji!  What state is he in?”  Guru ji’s state of mind was still and calm.  He was in bliss as he was before.  He did not waiver.  He was unmovable, like the Sumer Mountain.  As he touched the water; he felt the coldness.  Guru ji washed his hands and his face.  Guru ji gargled with the water and cooled his face which was burning from the heat.  Bhai Langha ji washed Guru ji’s lotus feet.  Guru ji then took a dip and washed his body.  Guru ji came out of the river and wiped his body with a dry cloth.  Guru ji recited Japji Sahib, the giver of Mukti, with great love after that.  The 5 Sikhs bathed after Guru ji and recited Gurbani.  They sat around Guru ji and listened to Japji Sahib.  After the recitation was complete, they all bowed their heads.  Guru ji then spoke to the Sikhs: “I wish to go to Sach Khand now.  I have done what I wanted to.  Go and meet Sri Hargobind ji and give him hope.  Tell him not be upset.  Tell him to sing the praises of Prabhoo and relieve others of their pain.  Wear weapons and sit on a Takhat (royal throne).  Keep an army.  Kill Chandoo to take revenge.  He is a fool.  Give him a horrible death.  Call the great family of Guru Amardas ji and have them apply the Guru Tilak.  Speak good words with the elders.  Respect Baba Bhudda ji and the other senior Sikhs.  Illuminate the traditions of the elder Gurus.  Start the new tradition of war.  Everything else should remain the same.  Don’t cremate my body.  Place my body into the river.  This River will be my form.  My head will be the north; my feet will be the south.”  As Guru ji was speaking, a Rababi came.  He had a Sarandha in his hand.  He saw Guru ji and came to bow to him.  Guru ji told him to do Keertan at a nice spot along the shore of the Ravi.  The Rababi bowed and started to sing Keertan in a beautiful way.  Guru ji sang a Shabad in Maaroo Raag for the last time: “Sevak ki odak nibhi preet..  Jeevat Sahib seviyo aapnaa, chalte rakhiyo cheet- the love has been kept by the servant for the master till the end..  The one who meditated on the Master during the lifespan, will keep the master enshrined in the heart after departing. 

Brahma and the other Devatas saw Guru ji sitting with the Rababi and listening to Keertan.  He understood that Guru ji was preparing to come to Sach Khand.  Inder, Brihaspati and the other Devatas came to receive Guru ji.  Brahma, Sarasvati, Kinnaras, Juchs and Apsaras came.  The Sidhs, Bhatts and other Devatas came.  They stood in the sky and shouted out Jaikaras.  A great big vessel from Sach Khand came.  Guru ji’s light illuminated the sky.  Gorakh Nath and his students all came.  Saints, Fakirs and Peers came.  The inhabitants of hidden dimensions came and sang the praises of Guru ji.  They surrounded Guru ji in every direction.  They all discussed Satguru ji’s glory and sang his praises.  They were amazed at Guru ji’s determination and said: “there is no one more patient and tolerant than him.  Why think of anyone else in the world?  He showed the world how to tolerate the intolerable.  He had many powers but chose to take the pain instead.  He did not have any hatred in his heart but made the sinner void of joy.  He is the only one worthy of praise.  He didn’t let anyone punish the sinner.”  The Devatas all wanted Guru ji to come with them so they can meet him.  Guru ji told the Sikhs to bring the “Kusha” grass.  The Sikhs got the grass from a Brahmin’s home. 

The grass was laid on the ground.  Guru ji laid on top of the layer of Kusha and covered his body with a sheet.  He was about to go to his home, Sach Khand.  When Guru ji left his body, he boarded the vessel that came from Sach Khand.  The Devatas played their Nagaras and Ransinghas.  They sounded their conches.  They showered white flowers on Guru ji and shouted out Jaikaras.  The Devatas sang the Aarti of Guru ji with Divas in big plates.  They sprinkled fragrant essences and lit incenses.  All of the powers and Devatas bowed to Guru ji and celebrated his arrival into the other realm.  The sky went red.  The people of Earth were shocked to see the sky turn red.  Chandoo’s daughter-in-law figured out that Guru ji had left his body and so, she left her body as well.  She left her body like discarding a piece of grass.  Nobody in the house knew what happened to her.  The fortunate Sikh girl joined Guru ji and went with him to Sach Khand.  Guru ji sat in the vessel and it began to fly towards Sach Khand.  The Devatas walked with Guru ji.  The Gandarvs sang in various Raags and the Apsaras danced.  They all celebrated along the way and travelled up to the dimensions they were allowed to.  They would stop when higher dimensions came.  Gorakh Nath and the Peers bowed and returned to their places.  Inder and the Devatas bowed and went back to Heaven as Guru ji travelled to Sach Khand.  Brahma travelled to Brahamlok and then departed.  Guru ji went to Sach Khand and entered it.  The Devatas sang the praises of Guru ji for a long time: “there has never been anyone like Satguru ji, nor will there ever be anyone like him.” 

4-38 Going to Sach Khand

The five Sikhs were with the Holy Body of Guru Arjan Dev ji.  They had gone through a lot of pain.  They were shedding tears and feeling an unbearable pain in their hearts.  Bhai Jetha ji said: “sing Shabads in Raag Vadhans.  Guru ji has departed for Sach Khand.” 

The sinner, Chandoo, was sitting in the place where Guru ji was kept and began to wonder: “why hasn’t he returned yet?  It was been a long time.  I wonder what happened.”  Chandoo lost his patience and decided to go see for himself.  He went to the shores of the Ravi, taking a servant with him.  He saw Guru ji laying down with a sheet on top of his body.  Chandoo said out loud: “so you have fallen asleep given the opportunity?  You haven’t slept for many days.  What say you?  Do you accept the proposal now or not?  You got scared that your Dharma would have been compromised.”  Chandoo went right close to Guru ji, where the gathering of people were.  Thinking that he was sleep, he spoke again: “how did you sleep now?  You are sleeping in peace, worry-free.  I see my unmarried daughter everyday.  I haven’t slept in a while either.”  Bhai Bidhi Chand ji wiped his tears and roared angrily and Chandoo: “you evil sinner!  You have gathered grave sins on your head.  Guru ji has left his body and went to Sach Khand.  You have committed a murder.  You killed him.  The sin of his murder is on your head!  You will not survive.  You can try thousands of things but you will not be saved.”  Bhai Bidhi Chand ji’s words sent a deep chill that struck fear into Chandoo’s heart.  He was shocked to know that Guru ji left his body.  Flabbergasted, Chandoo quickly turned around and went to his home. 

As Chandoo came close to his home, he heard crying noises from his home.  Shocked and confused, he yelled out: “what happened?  Why are you all crying?  Who has died from their sins?”  A servant came to him and said: “your daughter-in-law has died suddenly.”  Shocked from the news, Chandoo began to think: “how did she die without any illnesses?  She was always depressed though.  She was a symbol of pain.”  The family prepared the daughter-in-law’s body for cremation and took it to the shores of the river. 

The news of Guru ji departing this earth had spread.  The whole city was talking about this: “Guru ji left his body at Chandoo’s home.”  As more and more Sikhs heard this, they left their homes to go where Guru ji’s body was.  Some left their shops in a hurry, without closing them.  They told each other: “Guru ji is near the shores of the river.”  The Sikhs ran to Guru ji.  They left their work and businesses to see Guru ji.  They lined up to pay their last respects.  So many people gathered, that it was hard to count.   Many people brought the “Samaghri,” flower essences, ambeer, rose water and sandalwood.  Everyone showered Guru ji’s holy body with flowers.  The land around the area was filled with red flowers.  The Sikhs met Bhai Bidhi Chand ji and asked him what had happened.  He told everyone of what Guru ji had gone through.  He spoke: “Guru ji doesn’t want us to cremate his body.  He told us to place his body into the river.  He said to us: “coming to the river will be like meeting me.  The north is my head, the south is my feet.”  The Sikhs heard the series of events and began to cry.  The news spread to every home.  Other Sikhs in their homes ran and came to the site.  They all said: “Vahiguru,” and cried.  The Sikhs quickly made an expensive platform.  The Sikhs spent a lot of money.  This Seva was for the fortunate and was rewarded many fold.  Sheets of Zarri and silk were placed on Guru ji’s body.  Expensive cloths were brought.  The Sikhs placed the white silk sheets on Guru ji and felt a deep pain in their hearts.  Many conches were blown and the Sikhs shouted out: “Sri Guru ki Jai!”  Chaurs were waived on all sides of Guru ji’s body.  Garlands of flowers were placed on Guru ji.  Incense was lit and sandalwood essences were sprayed.  The Sikhs folded their hands with love.  They all cursed Chandoo as they spoke: “Chandoo is Guru ji’s murderer.”  The Sikhs threw money over top of Guru ji’s body as a sign of respect.  The poor beggars came to pick up the money.  Many recited Japji Sahib and some did Simran of “Guru.”  Some took deep breaths and cried.  They all praised Guru ji: “Guru ji was so calm and cool.”  Some swore at Chandoo when they talked about him.  Some said: “the roots of the Turk kingdom have been pulled.”  Guru ji’s palanquin was taken to the Ravi where the flow of the water was fast.  Bhai Bidhi Chand ji, Bhai Jetha ji, Bhai Langha ji and Bhai Pirana ji carried the palanquin on their shoulders.  They entered the river and did as Guru ji directed them to.  They were in the centre of the river’s flow, where it was fast.  They set the palanquin down on to the river.  The Water-king, Varun Dev, received Guru ji’s body.  Varun Dev did pooja of Guru ji’s body and immersed the holy body into himself.  Guru ji became one with the water.  The Sikhs came out of the water and joined the others on the shore.  Hundreds of Sikhs looked on.  After a while, Guru ji’s body could not be seen.  The holy body of the “Sukhdatta,” the giver of joy, was fully immersed into the water now.  Just as Ram Chander ji of the Raghu line entered the Sarayu River, that is how Guru ji’s body entered the Ravi.  The Sikhs were amazed to see this.  Bhai Jetha ji said to the crowd: “Guru ji told us during his final moments that he wanted to be placed into the water.” 

The men and women that had gathered, went back to the city.  They all gathered at the Dharamsala and cried.  The Rababi sang Keertan with a Dutara.  The Sangat gave a lot of money to the Rababi.  He received so much money that he did not need to ask for money anymore.  Everyone stayed at the Dharamsala that day.  The five Sikhs were very upset.  Nobody ate food that day.  They sat there depressed with their heads down.  They were like an army without their king; like a Bharaat without the groom; a night without the moon.  It was a Sangat without the Guru.  Without the king, the subjects are in pain.  It was like a wife without her husband; villagers without the Sarpanch (village leader).  They spent the night in deep thought.  They thought about the feet of Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji.  Their love was focused in on Guru ji’s feet.  The five Sikhs used to stay with Guru ji, all the time.  It was difficult to be without Guru ji.  They were not at peace.  The morning took forever to come. 

As the sun came up, everyone went to bathe in the Ravi.  They all bowed to the place of Satguru ji, where Gurduara Dera Sahib is now.  The Sikhs headed towards Amritsar.  They walked back like soldiers who were defeated in battle.  They were like a merchant who lost all his merchandise; like a person looted in the jungle.  They thought in their hearts: “when we tell Mata Ganga ji, it will be like a spear piercing her heart.  She will hear us and fall to the ground with grief.  Our words will be curse-worthy.  Sri Hargobind is till a child.  He will be upset and cry when he hears of this.  He will ask us: “where did you leave my Father-Guru?”  What will we say?  Will we say: “we came back alive, while he is gone?”  Seeing Guru ji in that state should have made our bodies explode.  We are mud.  We lost Guru ji after we placed him in the water.  The deer in the jungle are better than us, that give their heads when they hear the hunter’s bell.  The insects that die in flames adoring it, are better than us.  A fish can’t stay without water.  It dies as soon as it comes out.  It does not wait.  The bee does not leave its nature.  It gets trapped in the thorns of the rose bush but still keeps smelling it.  The five of us are still alive.  What love have we shown?  We saw Guru ji being tortured.  Now we will watch Guru ji’s son and wife being tortured by their grief.”  The Sikhs were cursing themselves and travelling to Amritsar.  Their faces did not have the usual glow they always did. 

The Sikhs soon reached Amritsar with tears in their eyes.  They looked at everyone through their wet eyes.  Where Guru Hargobind Sahib ji was standing, in a fully Brahmgyaan state, that is where the Sikhs went.  They bowed to his lotus-feet when they saw him.  They thought to themselves: “he had been counting the days since Guru ji left for Lahore.  He was eager to see Guru ji.  He had been waiting for Guru ji to come and meet him.  When Guru ji would hold his Divaans, many Sikhs would come to meet him.  Meeting Guru ji would cut the bounds of many lives.  The depressed minds would be happy to see Guru Arjan Dev ji.  Guru Hargobind Sahib ji wanted to see Guru Arjan Dev ji and make his chest feel calm and cool again.”

Thus ends the Katha of Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji in the Sri Gur Partap Sooraj Granth.