8-36 Sri Gurditta ji Makes the Cow Alive Again

The river water levels were quite high, due to the intense rains of the Pavas season.  Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib ji roamed around the area, quite a bit.  He went up and down the mountain ways.  He hunted and enjoyed the scenery.  We would walk on foot sometimes.  He spent the rains in this way.  The Sarad Rut (September/October) then came.  It was a beautiful season.  The clouds were empty of water and became white.  The sky was clear.  There was no dust. 

Baba Gurditta ji would go hunting more often.  He hunted in the jungles.  He would take many warriors with him.  Guru Hargobind Sahib ji didn’t go hunting too often nor did he go out too often.  He stopped hunting or keeping hawks.  He did Keertan and Simran with the Sangat more often.  The Rababis would sing beautiful Shabads.  The Sangat would come from every direction and bring a lot of gifts.  They would get the Darshan of Guru ji and see themselves as fortunate.  They would touch Guru ji’s feet with love.  They would hear Guru ji’s Katha and do Simran of Satnam.  Many achieved Mukti and went home.  People said: “The Battle of Kartarpur was really big.  Many people of Kabul, Delhi and other places died.  They fought Guru ji and died.  Guru ji’s courage and strength is known in the world.  The whole world calls him a brave and courageous warrior.  He killed a huge army with only a few soldiers.  Lakhs of enemy were killed.  He is the Peer of Peers.  He is the Meer of Meers.  Shah Jahan was defeated.  Who else could face the Guru?  There were 4 battles.  The Badshah lost all 4 battles.  Nobody left the battles alive.  Only the cowards survived.  This is now famous in the world.  Thousands have been killed by the Guru.”  The wives of the Turks became widows in far off lands.  They cried and beat their heads.  The Guru is the Peer of Peers.  He is omnipotent.  He is full of powers.  The Guru killed anyone who faced him.  The Badshah had his big army killed.  The Mughals, Pathaans, Syeds and others were killed.  They all praised the Guru.  Everyone said: “there is no one more courageous than the Guru.  He didn’t have a big army but killed Lakhs in the enemy army.”  Many sons are being mourned.  Many brothers are mourned.  Nephews and uncles were killed.  Fathers and sons died.  The Turks and Turkanis from many lands, many came to their homes to give their condolences.  Wherever there were homes of the Turks, they all had someone who died by the Guru’s hands.  They would hear about the deaths and began to cry out loud.  They got together to beat their heads and chests.  They would say the name of the dead and cry out loud.  A lot of noise spread in the world.  Everyone spoke of Satguru ji’s courage and strength.  The Sikh Sangat would hear the praises and be happy.  They came from far away lands to see Guru ji.  They would hear the praises on the way and speak with everyone about the Guru. 

One day, Baba Gurditta ji went hunting.  Many warriors went with him.  They all saddled their clever horses and rode them.  They took their rifles with them.  They loaded the bullets.  They went hunting in the morning.  They looked for rabbits and boars.  They had dogs and cheetahs with them.  They were hunting in the mountainous ranges.  They wanted to do more strenuous exercises and took the more challenging terrain paths.  They went up and down the paths.  They looked for hunts in the bushes.  They hunting among the mountains.  Baba ji took his Sikhs to hunt.  They couldn’t find many animals to hunt that day.  The sun came up high.  It was hot.  They roamed the area but couldn’t find any animals.  The Sikhs spread out far.  They checked caves and rocks. 

There was a cow of the Gujjars, grazing the grass.  There were a lot of dense bushes around her.  One of the Sikh warriors saw an animal and couldn’t tell what it was.  He didn’t know it was a cow.  He thought it was a deer with horns.  He fired his gun and killed the cow.  The Sikh was already hungry and thirsty.  He was tired.  For these reasons, he didn’t know it was a cow.  He didn’t go close to the animal to see what it was.  He didn’t want the animal to get away so he shot it from afar.  The bullet hit the cow’s head and it fell right away.  The cow died.  When the Sikh came close, he saw that it was a cow.  He was scared as he thought he had sinned: “I killed a cow!  I have sinned!”  The Gujjars had come in the meantime and saw their dead cow.  They started fighting with the Sikh.  They yelled out loud.  Hearing the screaming, more Gujjars and Paharis came.  They all grabbed the Sikh and began to push him around.  They swore at him.  They said: “we will take a cow from him.  Otherwise we will tie you up and take you home.”

The other Sikhs heard the commotion.  Many gathered there, seeing one of their Sikhs caught.  Sri Baba Gurditta ji had heard the noise and came.  He brought his horse there.  When he came, he noticed what had happened.  The Paharis were fighting.  They kept yelling at the Sikh who killed the cow.  Baba Gurditta ji spoke in sweet words: “the Sikh made a mistake.  He didn’t know it was a cow.  What’s the point of fighting now?  The cow is dead.  Let our person go.  The cow can’t be alive again.”  The Paharis heard this and said: “you are the Guru’s son who has a lot of powers.  Raise our dead cow again.  Your Sikh can go then.  If you push us around, we will go to the Raja to tell on you.  The fight will get bigger.  We won’t let this go.  We will make sure the fight gets bigger.  This sin, we can’t tolerate.”  Baba Gurditta ji realised that the situation had gotten intense.  He thought to himself: “if I resurrect the cow, that is not a good thing.  Pitha ji will be angry if he hears of this.  He won’t forgive me.  Many problems will arise.  Guru Arjan Dev ji did not show his powers.  This is the way of the Guru’s home.  We are to tolerate the intolerable.  We are to never show our powers.  If someone shows their powers, Guru ji gets mad at them.  On the other hand, if the cow is not resurrected, a sin would have been committed.  Also, these Gujjars will cause problems and people will talk bad about us.  People will lose faith.  Nobody will remember the Sikh; they will blame it on me or Guru ji’s name will be used.  Guru ji has been free from war now.  He is busy in Simran.  It is not good to throw him back into war again.  He will be mad.”  Baba Gurditta ji lowered his head and kept thinking about what to do.  He thought of many things.  He was stuck.  There were problems with both tasks.  Killing the cow is considered a big sin.  Showing the powers was a sin too.  Baba ji stood there for a while, trying to figure a way out.  The Paharis kept fighting.  The Paharis gathered their people.

8-37 Sri Baba Gurditta ji Leaves his Body

Standing with Sri Baba Gurditta ji, the warriors, folded their hands and said: “listen, oh wise son of the Guru, the sin of killing the cow will remain heavy on our hearts.  If the cow is given life, that would be great.  Please do what it takes to make her alive again.  This conflict will die out as well.  The sin would be washed away and it would be a great thing.  These people will praise you.  Guru ji’s glory will grow.  The resurrecting of people, Guru ji gets mad with.  He would surely not get mad at resurrecting a cow.  There is nothing better than this.  Guru ji won’t get mad.”  In this way, the Sikhs spoke.  Baba Gurditta ji thought to himself: “it is good to give the cow life.  It is a good act and the conflict will go away.  I will tolerate Pitha ji’s anger.  I will do what he tells me to do.”  He got off his horse and walked over to the dead cow.  There was a Neem tree nearby.  He broke off a branch and touched the cow with it.  He said: “wake up Mata!  Let go of your sleep!  Eat grass like you did before.”  The warriors and Paharis looked on.  The dead cow woke up.  She stood up as soon as Baba Gurditta ji spoke.  She began to eat green grass.  Everyone was amazed to see this.  (The village where this happened is now known as “Jindvarri,” in honour of the resurrected cow) Everyone was happy.  The cow was taken back to the herd and mixed with the other cows.  Everyone bowed to the son of the Guru and shouted Jaikaras in his name.  They praised Guru ji and had faith now.  They had eventually become Sikhs because of this miracle.  The Gurduara Jindvarri Sahib stands there today, made by the Gujjars. 

Baba Gurditta ji and the warriors mounted their horses and went back home.  Baba ji had an idea to the level of anger that he was going to face from his father.  Everyone came back to Kiratpur and tied their horses up in the stables.  It was noon at that time and everyone ate food.  Everyone went to their own homes.  Satguru ji had eaten before.  He called one of the warriors who went hunting with Baba Gurditta ji.  Guru ji asked him: “where did you all go today?  You just ate right now.  Tell me the truth?  If you lie, you would be committing a sin.”  The Sikh got scared and began to tremble.  He knew that Guru ji was omniscient.  He told Guru ji the truth because he knew that if he lied, Guru ji would know.  He didn’t want to be cursed.  He said to Guru ji: “something extraordinary happened today.  A cow was killed.  One of the warriors killed it by mistake.  The Pahari Gujjars came and began fighting with us.  Baba Sri Gurditta ji came, hearing the yelling.  He saw the big sin that was done.  He was convinced by everyone to resurrect the cow.  The fight then stopped.  This is why we came back at noon and not earlier.”  Sri Satguru ji heard this and went quiet.  He was upset.  He was angry but he didn’t let anyone know.  He sat for about 2 hours, thinking about this.  It was around 3 pm when he washed up and got ready for the evening Divaan. 

As Guru ji was getting ready, Baba Gurditta ji came to bow to him.  He bowed and stood in front of Guru ji, with his hands folded.  He saw that his father was not happy.  Guru ji didn’t meet him with love, like he used to.  Baba ji stood there for some time.  His lotus eyes were full of doubt.  He looked at his father.  Guru ji was really angry at his son.  His eyes and face were red.  After a few minutes, Guru ji said: “this is a good thing that you are doing.  The thing that Hari, Guru and the saints don’t like; what wise people don’t respect and never do; you have done.  The wise ones tolerate on their body, whatever comes their way.  They never let go of their patience.  The great beings don’t lose their patience.  Guru Arjan Dev ji gave his head but never showed his powers.  This is the way of the saints.  They are honored in the court of Prabhoo.  Atal Rai gave his life for this.  You are so wise and yet you did not understand this.  This was not a good thing, what you did.  Why did you do this, while I am still here?  Do you want more praises than the Guru?  You couldn’t tolerate this?  You showed everyone your power.  You made the cow alive.  When the rich and poor hear about this, they will bring their dead to our home.  They would want us to resurrect their dead family members like the cow.  Kings and Emperors will die one day.  Like the river’s current, this world does not stop.  How many will we make alive again?  Whose life will we increase and who will we raise?  We will have to make up the age for them.  Did you think about all this?  Who will give their age for the cow?  If you’ve thought of something, then say it.  If this is what you wanted to do while I am alive, then two swords cannot go into one sheath.  Understand this.  If you are here, I will leave my body and go to Sach Khand.  If I stay, you must go.  There is no other solution to this.  One will stay and one will go out of the both of us.”  Only the true Guru would be able to say this, unattached from any form of relation.  Sri Baba Gurditta ji folded his hands and bowed.  He had no joy or sorrow.  He was a complete Brahmgyaani.  He did not see his body as his real self.  He knew his Aatma.  His mind was in a still state.  Brahmgyaan was undeterred in his mind.  Guru Hargobind Sahib ji was omnipotent.  He had all of the powers in his hands.  His words were permanent.  They had to be fulfilled just as the Brahmastar cannot be stopped, that is how Guru ji’s words were.  Baba Gurditta ji had no doubts.  He knew that Parmeshwar was speaking to him: “this is the best thing for me.  My Aatma will be blessed to obey his words.”  He bowed to Guru ji and did 3 Parkarmas of his father.  He stayed quiet and left.  He picked up his cane and began to walk outside of the home.  He didn’t meet anyone, nor did he speak to anyone.

Baba Gurditta ji decided to go to Sach Khand.  He left Guru ka Mahal and headed towards the mountain where Dhera Baba Gurditta ji stands today.  The Sikh Sangat that met him along the way, folded their hands and bowed to him.  Everyone stopped what they were doing and folded their hands when Baba Gurditta ji walked by, but Baba Gurditta ji didn’t look at anyone.  He was in a single state.  He kept walking straight.  He was in bliss as he was about to unite with the Param Purakh Parmeshwar.  Everyone was amazed to see this.  Baba Gurditta ji didn’t greet anyone as he had done before.  Baba ji was detached from the world now.  He came out of Kiratpur and went up a mountain.  He didn’t take anyone of his servants.  He went to where Peer Buddan Shah ji used to live.  He slowly climbed the mountain with his horse.  A little distance away from the old home of Peer Buddan Shah ji, Baba Gurditta ji planted his cane into the ground.  It was the highest place in Kiratpur.  He had no attachment of his family.  He didn’t think of his wife or kids at that time.  He saw them as passersbys on a crossing canoe.  He saw a nice place on the mountain.  His beloved son, Guru Har Rai Sahib ji, he did not think of meeting him either.  There is nothing deeper than the love for one’s son.  The son he loved a lot, he did not meet him.  He laid out a Kusha Asan and laid down.  He took his cloth from his shoulder and folded it.  He laid out the cloth over the grass.  He sat cross-legged and took his attention towards his Aatma.  He collected his awareness and made it go inwards, like a turtle going into its shell.  He connected with his real form.  He closed his eyes and laid down on the Kusha Asan.  He took another cloth and covered his body with it.  He used Yog power and pulled his Pranas up.  He collected all of the Pranas in one place and left his body through the Dasam Duar, just as a snake leaves his burrow.  He left his body with ease.  He went to Sach Khand.  He was never in a state of joy or sorrow.  He was still young when he left his body.  He was young and strong still.  He was about 25 years old and very handsome.  He left his handsome body, like a great Jogi leaving the Maya of the world.

8-38 Sri Baba Gurditta ji Goes to Sach Khan

When the Devatas all found out that Baba Gurditta ji had left his body, they all brought their vessels to receive him.  The received him with joy and celebration.  They all shouted out: “Jai!  Jai!”  They showered Baba Gurditta ji with Kusum flowers.  The Apsaras danced in joy and sang songs in sweet voices.  All of the Devatas bowed to Baba Gurditta ji and said: “please come with us to Sach Khand.”  The Devatas were eager to meet this pure soul.  Baba Gurditta ji was going to his real home.  This was the warrior son of the 6^th Guru.  He was the father of the pure-minded, 7^th Guru.  They all sang his glories as they took him up.  They did his Aarti with conches and showers of flowers.  As Baba ji moved forward on his vessel, the Devatas all followed behind, with their hands folded.  The vessel was very beautiful with a radiance of the sun.  The Devatas looked like stars following this sun.  To where the Devatas had the power to go till, they followed and then turned back.  The Devatas had different levels of permission and ability as to how far up to Sach Khand they could go.  All of the powers and planets followed Baba ji as well.  They waived Chaurs over Baba ji’s head.  The Devatas would bow before leaving.  Baba Gurditta ji went ahead and left all of the Devatas behind.  He saw all of the Devatas’ dimensions as he flew by them.  There was bliss in his heart.  He then arrived in “Guru Puri,” Sach Khand, the home of Guru Nanak Dev ji, and bowed to everyone there.  He received the infinite status that was for eternity.  He became one with Guru Nanak Dev ji.  Saying the name of Baba Gurditta ji would wash away the sins.

In Kiratpur, the servants that did the Seva of Baba Gurditta ji, the ones that stayed with him all the time; they tried to look for Baba Gurditta ji.  They looked everywhere but couldn’t find him.  As they asked around, they found out from someone that he was headed towards the mountain, alone.  “There was no one else with him.  We bowed to him but he didn’t speak.  He went alone.”  The Sevadaars ran to the mountain.  They were wondering if Baba ji was waiting for them to give him food.  They climbed the mountain, as they were given information as to where he had gone.  They saw Baba ji laying on the floor.  They wondered why he was laying on the ground, leaving the beds of the home: “he didn’t bring us with him.  Why is he laying down here.”  As they came close, they noticed that he wasn’t breathing.  They were shocked.  They rubbed Baba ji’s feet and hands to wake him up.  They realised that he had died.  One of the Servants ran to Guru ji. 

As the Servant came close to Guru ji, he screamed and began to cry.  Guru ji asked him: “what happened to you?  Why are you crying?”  The Servant said: “Guru ji your son, the mine of virtues, left his body.  He laid down on a Kusha Asan on the mountain.”  The omniscient Guru sensed what had happened.  He got up right away and said: “take me to where he left his body.”  Everyone else got up and followed Guru ji, in a state of shock.    The family and the city found out.  Everyone began to cry.  There were sounds of screaming and crying everywhere.  The shock was deep.  Baba Bidhi Chand ji and other Sikhs came with Guru Hargobind Sahib ji.

Everyone came up the mountain.  Guru ji saw his eldest son, without his Pranas.  He was a handsome, tall and strong young man.  Everyone began to cry seeing this.  Guru ji acted like a human and said: “son, where did you?”  The other warriors began to shed tears, seeing Guru ji in an emotional state.  Everyone said: “a young age as his, was not a time to die.  Where did you go?”  Everyone in Kiratpur left their work and came running.  They all bowed and began to cry.  They all felt the pain that Guru ji had, losing a young son.  Mata Nanaki ji and Mata Marwahi ji came.  They cried seeing Baba Gurditta ji’s face.  They yelled out: “oh son, you were the warrior of warriors and the saint of saints.  You were the eldest son of the Guru who took care of everything.  You gave joy to all.  You were always happy.  Why did you leave us all?”  Sri Guru Har Rai ji was young.  He saw his father’s body and the whole family crying.  He began to cry as well.  He was young.  He was upset.  He couldn’t speak because he was overwhelmed with emotion.

Guru ji then told everyone to bring the items needed for the cremation.  Sandalwood, sesame seed oil, ghee and other fragrances were brought.  The Sikhs cried and gathered the items for the pyre.  The cane that Baba Gurditta ji planted into the ground, was seen by Guru Hargobind Sahib ji.  He understood that Baba Gurditta ji had planted it.  He said: “leave this cane into the ground.  It will become alive and turn into a tree.”  The sandalwood pyre was prepared.  Baba Gurditta ji’s body was bathed.  Guru Har Rai ji was given the duty of fulfilling the traditions as the elder, Baba Dheermal was in Kartarpur.  New clothes were put on Baba Gurditta ji’s body.  The body was placed on the pyre.  Guru Har Rai ji lit the pyre on fire.  The cremation was done according to the traditions.  Everyone cried.  The earth and the sky cried.  A lot of Karah Prashaad was made.  Many Sikhs prepared the Prashaad and brought it in a big pot. 

After the cremation, everyone bathed at the Baoli.  Guru ji sat and had a Divaan.  Panchamrit was distributed to everyone.  Guru ji said to everyone: “whoever comes to this place of Baba Gurditta ji, their wishes will be fulfilled.  “Baba Gurditta, Deen Dunee da Tikaa.  Jo Var Mangya, so Var Ditta.”  The person should bring Karah Prashaad and distribute it.  They should come with faith to do Darshan here.  Their wishes will be fulfilled.  The Neem cane that was planted by him, will grow into a big tree.  Seeing the tree will be the same as meeting Baba Gurditta ji.  Whoever comes to the Neem tree and bows to it, their wishes will be fulfilled.  There will be Karah here everyday.  The Sangat will be satiated eating it.  The Sikhs will come from far away lands.  One should eat Karah here.  There will be a big place built here.  This place will wash away the sins.  Doing Seva of this place will make one’s mind, pure.  A person will receive Bhagti, Gyaan and Gursikhi here.  It doesn’t matter if there is a rainstorm or any other problem, the Karah will never end here.”  Guru ji praised the place and then got up to leave.  It was the year 1692 Vikram, Asoo, 10^th Sudhi.

Guru ji then came back to the home.  Baba Gurditta ji had left the world.  Nobody knows the way of the Guru.  The wise ones were amazed.  The women were crying.  The Matas were all crying.  They cried a lot, thinking of Baba Gurditta ji.  They all said: “he was too young to die.  Dheermal, who lives with his mother, did not come at the final time.  It seems as though he will always be separated.  He won’t meet with us.”  The Sangat came and mourned.  Everyone was upset.  The Sangat said: “he was a good son of the Guru.  He died all of a sudden.  Only Guru Nanak Dev ji knows what happened.”  Everyone gathered at the home.  Mata Nanaki ji and the others were upset.  There were many women in the home who mourned.  They all yelled out: “he left too soon!”

8-39 Dheermal’s Bitterness

The women of Kiratpur got together and cried out loud.  The people of the city came to Guru ji’s home.  There was a really big court in session.  Many had come to pay their condolences.  Everyone was in shock.  Baba Gurditta ji left his body all of a sudden.  They said: “who would have thought that he would leave his body like this?  He was so young and so sweet-natured.  He loved everyone.  He gave joy to everyone.  He never hurt anyone.  He established Kiratpur.  He had everyone settled with respect.  He saw everyone as his own and asked how everyone was doing.  He was very generous.  He gave people what they asked for.  Nobody left his home empty-ended.  He had no vices.  He was very calm.  He was cool-natured and always radiant.  He was praise-worthy.  In the battle of Kartarpur, Usman Khan was killed.  Baba Gurditta ji fought with bravery at the front lines.  He was a great warrior.  He released many arrows.  He killed anyone who fought with him.”  In this way everyone spoke.  Satguru ji gave hope to everyone: “this was the command of Parmeshwar which is the truth.  There is no one that can change the will of Akaal Purakh.  Everyone is controlled by their destiny.  Everyone has to accept their fate, whether good or bad.  One should accept the will of Akaal Purakh.  Only then would one be in joy.  Don’t doubt the doing of Prabhoo.  This is the ideology of saints.  This is what they think is the best thing.”  The master spoke other words of wisdom to the Sangat as they came and went.  He gave everyone hope and patience. 

Guru ji sent a servant to the home.  Everyone at home was crying out loud.  Guru ji sent the servant to stop everyone from crying.  The servant said to all: “accept the will of the Prabhoo with joy.  Everyone comes and leaves by the command of Akaal Purakh.”  Guru ji sent Hukamnamas everywhere to send the news of Baba Gurditta ji’s passing.  The relatives and Masands were sent Hukamnamas.  The messengers left right away.

Dheermal was first given the news.  Baba Bhudda ji’s family was sent the news as well.  Bhai Rai Jodh ji and Bhai Roop Chand ji were sent the news.  The family in Vatala received the news.  The messenger that went to Kartarpur, said to Dheermal: “Sri Gurditta ji’s Jot has immersed into the eternal light.  Satguru ji is thinking of you.  You are the eldest son, so you must go to Kiratpur.  Come quickly and complete the traditions of your father.  Bring Guru Granth Sahib ji as Guru ji wishes to have the Sahij Paath done for your father.  Don’t delay.  Guru ji wants you to come quick with Guru Granth Sahib ji.”  The messenger gave the message to Baba Dheermal.  Baba Dheermal thought to himself: “Pithaji has gone to Sach Khand already.”  He asked the messenger: “what happened?  What problem did he face?  Why did he leave his body all of a sudden?  What pain did he go through?”  The messenger told him the whole story: “he resurrected a cow and came home.  He spoke to Guru ji and then left the home to go to a mountain.  He laid down on the mountain on a Kusha Asan.  He left his body and went to Sach Khand.  When everyone heard, everyone was in shock.”  Dheermal heard this and said: “I am familiar with the way of the Guru.  I know how he is.  He does not love his sons or grandsons.  He does what he wishes to do.  Chacha Atal Rai ji left his body in the same way.  Dada ji did not have any love.  He didn’t delay.  He never liked me.  I know how he is.  I’ve used my wisdom to understand this.  I know that if I stay with him, I will not succeed.  That’s why I left his company and stayed here.  My father fought hard in the battle.  He obeyed his father’s every command.  What fault did he see in my father?  He didn’t let him live.  My father did nothing wrong with resurrecting a cow.  Dada ji had my father leave his body for a cow.  Why should I go there?  What will everyone say?  The one whose words made my father leave his body, what prosperity will he think for me?  He ruined it with the Badshah by fighting him.  He killed Lakhs of the Shah’s army.  Sri Kartarpur is the place of our ancestors.  He fought a war here and left the city.  I have thought about this, using my own mind.  I wrote a letter to the Badshah and called a truce.  If I hadn’t written to him, more fights would have happened here.  I made peace here and saved this place.  This is the place of my great grandfather.  If I wouldn’t have protected it, the Shah would have taken this land.  The property and wealth have been saved.  I did this with my wisdom and strength.  If I go to Kiratpur, the Shah will get angry.  Going to the Guru, I won’t get anything.  He never loved me.  Who knows who he will give the Ghaddi to.  Who knows who will be the happy one to get the Ghaddi.  It doesn’t make sense for me to go.  The Badshah’s people stop me from going there.” 

The messenger then went to Mata Natti ji.  He went to the home and told her everything.  He also told her what Dheermal had said.  Mata Natti ji was upset to hear this and was in shock.  Her pain was deep and unbearable.  She sat on the floor and began to cry.  She mourned the death of her husband.  The women of Kartarpur heard and came to pay their condolences.  They all cried out loud.  The men were all shocked and went to pay their respects at Baba Dheermal’s home.  For about 2 hours, people came.  Everyone was sad to hear that Baba Gurditta ji had passed away.  They all remembered Baba ji’s qualities.

At night when everyone left, Baba Dheermal was alone.  Mata Natti ji came to Dheermal and said: “listen son, what are you thinking?  We should go to Kiratpur.  It is the right thing to do.  Why do you wish to stay here?  We should meet the family and stay for the Bhog.  The eldest son performs all of the traditions.  His Pugri will be given to you.  You’ll have to get his Pugri in order to get the Gurta Ghaddi.  Go to your grandfather and get this.  Understand this.  You are young still.  If you don’t go for your father’s Pugri, you won’t get the Gurta Ghaddi either.  Make up your mind about this.  You will have to go.  The eldest son gets all of the rights.  You will be the rightful heir for the Gurta Ghaddi.  If you don’t go, you will be empty from every path.  Why would the Sangat do your Pooja?”  Dheermal heard this and said: “I have made up my mind.  I will get nothing from the Guru.  He has doubted me in many ways.  If I go there, I will have to take Guru Granth Sahib ji there.  They won’t let me bring Guru Granth Sahib ji back here.  I will surely be empty then.  Guru Granth Sahib ji is with me so I am the Guru.  People will call me the Guru.  The Sangat will do my Pooja.  I won’t be the Guru made by anyone else.  I am already the Guru.  I won’t go there.  This is my decision.  If you wish to go, go in the morning.  I will stay here.  I have said what I wanted to say.  I will do what I think is right for me.  You can go if you wish.”

Mata Natti ji got ready to go in the morning.  She made plans with her son and left.  She got on her chariot in the morning and left without delay.  Her maids and servants went with her.  She travelled the whole way and reached Kiratpur.  She was upset as she was a young widow.  She cried as she entered the home of Guru ji.  She met her mothers-in-law and cried.  She said: “I couldn’t see my husband at his end time.”  After a while, she collected herself and calmed down.  She told everyone about Dheermal, as everyone inquired about his lack of presence.  She cried and told everyone what Dheermal had said.  She told one of the maids to inform Guru ji of what was happening.

The maid of Mata Natti ji went to Guru Hargobind Sahib ji and told him why Dheermal had not come.  Satguru ji heard this and remained quiet.  Guru ji noticed that Dheermal was just like Prithi Chand.  He saw that he was corrupt like Prithi Chand.  The traditions of the final rights for the Bhog were performed by Sri Guru Har Rai ji with respect.  Guru Har Rai ji was about 7 years old then.

8-40 Rai Jodh and other Sikhs Arrive

Wherever the news spread, people were shocked to hear about the passing of Baba Gurditta ji.  The Sikhs gathered their families and headed towards Kiratpur.  From Jhanday Ramdas Village, the family of Baba Bhudda ji, the fortunate Baba Bhanna ji lived there.  He heard the news and got ready to leave, without delay.  He set out towards Kiratpur.  He first went to Vatala and met Bhai Rama ji, the father-in-law of Baba Gurditta ji.  They were in mourning and went with Baba Bhanna ji.  They all reached Kiratpur and bowed to Guru Hargobind Sahib ji.  Baba Rama ji was really upset.  They all talked about Baba Gurditta ji.  Baba Har Chand ji, Mata Bhaagan ji and Baba Duara ji had already passed away.  The children of the Bhallas heard the news and left for Kiratpur along with their families.  The families of Khadoor and Goindwal met each other and headed to Kiratpur together.  They all came slowly and went to Kartarpur first.  They spent a night there with Baba Dheermal.  They were the known as the “Bawas” of Khadoor Sahib and the “Bawas” of Goindwal Sahib.  The Bawas met Dheermal and had conversations with him.  Dheermal said to them: “I didn’t go to Kiratpur.  I want to be friends with the Badshah and stay here.  If I meet with Dada ji, the Badshah will be upset.  The Mughals will take this beautiful city away along with the wealth and its homes.  If going there is going to be a problem, why bother?  The wise person would never go.  I think you shouldn’t go either.  If the Badshah finds out that you met the Guru, he will be mad at you.  It will be hard for you to live in your homes after.  The masters of the country are the Turks.”  Baba Sundar ji Bhalla (son of Baba Anand ji and grandson of Baba Mohri ji) and Baba Parmanand ji Bhalla said: “we heard that the Shah has backed down out of fear.  He understood that this is the throne of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji.  The Badshah has bowed to the throne now, many times.  He has made it clear in his court that he won’t fight the Guru anymore nor will he be in his opposition.”  Dheermal heard this and said: “I wrote a letter to the Badshah and called a truce.  I told him that I am with him and so he became happy with this.  That’s why he calmed down.  You should always fear the Emperor as he can’t be trusted.  Myself, the Khadoor and Goindwal families, should be friends with the Emperor.  The Emperor can get angry at anytime.  He can take out his anger, for something else, on us at anytime.  We should keep the peace with the Shah and live by his rules.”  Baba Sundar ji said: “we can’t do that.  It’s not right to leave the Guru in this time of pain.  We have been meeting the Guru under more problematic times.  We never left the Guru.  Nobody has bothered us before for any reason.  Guru ji himself had fought battles and come to us afterwards.  He came to us after the Battle of Amritsar to do the wedding of Bibi Veero ji.  The Badshah never said anything.  Guru ji travelled around Lahore without any problems.  You are imagining too many things.  You are getting scared by your own thoughts.  We have never heard or seen anything that you are talking about.  We are going to Kiratpur in the morning.  You should come too.  We want to see the Guru as soon as possible.  We are in mourning and in shock.”  Dheermal heard Baba Sundar ji and went quiet.  He figured out that they were close to Guru ji.  He then served the Bawas well.  Dheermal wanted to claim his authority as the Guru and so he wanted to convince the other Bawas to side with him. 

Dheermal cooked up another plan.  He took the Son of Baba Dhatu ji and had him stay in another room, separate from the Bhallas.  He tried to convince them not to go.  He was successful.  He had him separated from Baba Sundar ji and Baba Parmanand ji.  Dheermal kept the son of Baba Dattu ji with him.  They didn’t go to Kiratpur.  The Bawas of Goindwal went though.  The Bhallas came to Kiratpur and bowed to Guru Hargobind Sahib ji. 

Bhai Rai Jodh ji came to Kiratpur along with his sons and brother.  Bhai Rai Jodh ji’s wife came as well.  He had called the family of Bhai Roopa ji as well.  They all came together.  Bhai Sadhoo ji had passed away.  He won his life and was not born again.  Bhai Rai Jodh ji and Bhai Roopa ji, along with their families travelled together.  They set up their Dhera just outside of Kiratpur.  Hundreds of warriors came with Bhai Rai Jodh ji.  Everyone came to the huge court, where Guru Hargobind Sahib ji sat.  Everyone paid their condolences.  Bhai Jodh Shah ji and Bhai Roop Chand ji came to the Divaan.  The Divaan was in session.  Many people had come.  There were many rugs laid out.  Everyone was upset.  The Sikhs bowed to Guru ji’s lotus feet.  They were given respect and seated with Guru ji.  Bhai Jodh Rai ji folded his hands and said: “Sri Gurditta ji was very wise.  What happened that he left all of a sudden?  He went to Sach Khand all of a sudden.  We didn’t hear of this before.”  Baba Bhanna ji was sitting close by along with Baba Bidhi Chand ji.  Guru Hargobind Sahib ji said: “there are many reasons for dying.  This was just an excuse.  Understand this.  Whatever is already written on your forehead, in your destiny, the whole world lives by its command.  The number of years, months, days and seconds one is to live; the number of breaths one is to take, that is already determined.  This can’t increase or decrease.  The Karta Purakh is never wrong.  The Karta Purakh never forgets.  This time of death cannot be stopped or skipped.  The Jeev is in doubt about this.  They are attacked and mesmerized by the Maya.  The Jeev thinks this world is his/hers.  For this reason, there was no reason for him to go, other than that his time was up.  Whatever the Vidhatta does, one should accept this.  This is the doing of Parmeshwar.  The fool thinks that joy and sorrow are given by someone else.  Pain and joy are only given by the Parmeshwar.  There is no other in the universe.  Who else could give you life or take it away?  All of the saints understand this.  If someone hits a lion with a staff, the lion does not look at the staff.  It looks at the person hitting it with the staff.  If a dog is hit with a staff, it looks at the staff, not at the person using the staff.  The dog thinks that the staff is the culprit.  The lion sees the person as the culprit.  The dog grabs the staff and leaves the person hitting him.  This is the way of the Manmukhs.  They are like dogs.  They get mad at the reason for death.  The Manmukh thinks that joy comes from others, similarly, pain comes from others as well for them.  The Gurmukhs are like the lion.  They see that joy and pain comes from Kartar.  Love and hate, they do not indulge in.  They see the Parmeshwar as the ultimate doer and stay calm, knowing this.  There are many problems with the way the dog sees the world.  One has to come into the world, over and over again.  Rai Jodh, understand this: this is why Sri Gurditta ji passed away.  Whatever the Prabhoo wanted to do, that is what became a reality.  Everything else is just a fragile thing.”  Bhai Jodh Rai ji heard this and said: “Sri Prabhoo ji, you speak the truth.  Whomever you bless, only they understand this knowledge.  Only they can follow this path.”  Everyone else heard this and began to shed tears.  They all remembered the son of the Guru.  Everyone was mourning the passing of Baba Gurditta ji.  They sat there quietly for a long time.  After an hour, Guru ji said: “go and rest now with peace.” 

The Masands were told to do the Seva of everyone.  They distributed grass and grains for the animals.  The people were given food and items of need.  Guru ji supervised the Seva himself.  Langar was sent to everyone’s tents and rooms.  Everyone ate.  Many Masands had come with their Sangats from far away (and nearby) places.  Wherever the news of Baba Gurditta ji’s passing had spread, the Sikhs got ready and came to Kiratpur. 

Guru ji’s daughter, Bibi Veero ji heard the news of her brother’s passing and came to Kiratpur.  Bibi Veero ji was born of the same mother, Mata Damodri ji, as Baba Gurditta ji.  She cried out loud and said: “my brother!”  Bhai Jodh Rai ji’s wife cried a lot.  The women cried a lot in Kiratpur.  It was as though the love for Baba Gurditta ji had gathered in Kiratpur.  There was crying everywhere.  Satguru ji gave hope to everyone and stopped them from crying out loud.  He had sent maids to tell everyone to calm down.  Baba Gurditta ji was dear to all.  Everyone remembered him and cried.