3-21 The Khalsa Grows

All the Sikhs that were in the presence of Guru ji, they all kept their hair, took Amrit, added Singh to their name and began to wear a Kachera.  Wherever Guru ji’s Sangat was, Hukamnamas were written and sent to them: “keep your hair unshorn and come to see Guru ji.  My Sikh will not cut his/her hair.  The Khalsa shall not consume tobacco.  Come and take the Pahul of the Khanda.”  The Mevras took the Hukamnamas and announced them.  Some of the Sikhs that heard them, came to see Guru ji right away.  Some Sikhs were upset with the new rules.  They were upset about changing the traditions of the Shastras.  They wanted to shave their heads when their elders died.  They didn’t want to let go of their castes.  They didn’t want to mix with the lower castes.  The ones who accepted Guru ji’s hukam, they came and bowed to Guru ji’s feet.  Guru ji would sit in the Divaan everyday.  Many warrior Singhs would stay with Guru ji at all times.  They were always in his presence with their weapons ready.

A Sikh came one day and made a plea to Guru ji with his hands folded: “oh Sachay Paatshaah (the true King) I have a plea for you Guru ji: a Masand came to my home the other day.  I saw him and respected him, as he was a Sikh of the Guru.  I bowed to him and had him sit in my home.  I prepared food according to my ability.  I folded my hands and said: “please have this and bless us on behalf of Guru ji.”  The Masand saw my roti and lentils and got upset.  He said: “oh Guru Maarya (cursed by the Guru), what is this?  I don’t eat lentils and roti.  Why didn’t you make gourmet food for me?  My dogs don’t even eat this.  Make Karah Prashaad.  Then I will eat.”  Hearing his angry words, I pleaded to his feet with my wife and said: “we are poor.  We can’t afford all that.  Whatever we can afford, we give to saints like you.”  The egotistical Masand then spoke: “I have the command of Guru ji that the Sikhs houses we go to, we are only to eat Karah.  We don’t eat anything else.”  Guru ji, I heard the Masand and then pawned my wife’s expensive clothes to make Karah.  I also gave him money and then he left.  In this way the Masands bother us, Guru ji.  As he left from my home, he scolded us.  We would like to know what we are to do with these Masands now?  We only serve them for your sake.  The Sangat will do as you say.”  Guru ji heard the difficulties of his Sikhs and became very angry.  His face and eyes were red with anger.  Guru ji wrote a Hukamnama for the Sangat: “loot all the Masands.  Kick them out of your homes and don’t let them in.  Do not give your Dasvands to the Masands.  Bring it straight to me.  The Masands are like dogs because they have begun to eat the Sangat.  Smack their heads with a stick, just as you would hit a dog.  Don’t meet with them.  Whoever makes my Sikhs upset, I will be mad with them.  They will not by happy in heaven.  The Guru will not be with them in Akaal Purakh’s court.  I will make my Sikhs happy here first.”  The Singhs heard this and curled their moustaches.  They tied up all the Masands.  They took all their money and other expensive items in their homes.  The Khalsa looted their homes.  They kept them in their jail for a few days.  The Masands begged to be released.  After a few months, they were released by Guru ji.  They came and bowed to Guru ji’s feet.  Guru ji felt sorry for them and said: “don’t bother my Sikhs from now on.  If the Sikhs wish to give you money for Ardaas, only do that.  Don’t ask for anything.  Be happy with what they give you.  The ones that ask for money are not my Masands.  They are demons that bother the Sikhs.”  Guru ji thus commanded them.  The Masands bowed and asked for forgiveness.  They said: “please forgive us.  Please don’t think of our mistakes.  We will do as you say.  We will meet with the Sikhs and take what we are given with devotion.  We will happily take what is given.  Only a few were bad.  Why are you punishing all of us?  We are yours.  Whether we are good or bad, we are still yours.”  Guru ji said: “listen, Sikhi is based on contentment.  Kaliyuga will only get worse.  There is no shortage in the Guru’s house.  Don’t go to a Sikh’s house without being called.  There is so much for you here.  Don’t go to take anything.” 

Many Masands stopped going.  Without money, they couldn’t run their households.  They became poor.  They would go to Mata Gujri ji and make up things to cry about to her: “Mata ji, the expense of the Guru Ghar is a lot.  Guru ji stopped us from collecting money.  Guru ji is very harsh.”  Mata ji wouldn’t go to her son to say anything.  She wanted to speak to him though.  This history will continue later.

People from different areas came to take Amrit.  They took the Pahul of the Khanda and kept their hair.  They wore Shasters in their kumerkassa.  They stopped greeting each other with “Pairee Pauna ji” and started to say “Vahiguru ji ki Fateh.”  They did not ask for castes anymore.  They were filled with egos like kings.  It was spread everywhere that Guru ji made a new Panth.  The Khalsa was present in the world.  It grew everyday like the moon towards a full moon.  When the moon is out, the stars look dim.  That is how the Khalsa was in compare to the other religions.  They didn’t care for any other king anymore.  They would consider other kings and leaders as nothing.  They only ate food made by themselves and kept purity.  They woke up in the morning and recited Bani.  All day long they shouted “Akaal hi Akaal.”  They didn’t care about any kings.

The Sangat from Delhi and other cities, some became Singhs and some didn’t.  The other people discriminated with the Singhs.  They didn’t like the Singhs.  The other Sikhs did not let go of tobacco.  They were unfortunate and did not come close to Guru ji.  They did not take the Pahul of the Khanda.  They made a path to Hell instead of Sach Khand.  They were afraid of what people would say if they kept their hair and kept weapons.  They were not deserving of kingdoms.  The fortunate ones followed the Guru’s words with love.  Thousands came everyday to take Amrit and kept their hair.  They followed the Rehit and tied Dumaalaas.  They had faith on Guru ji and no one else.  Some Singhs would stay 1 or 2 months to do Seva and read Bani.  They would get homesick and go home.  After a few months they would return and spend time with the Singhs.

Guru ji thought to himself: “they think of their families, kids and wives.  I need to make them free of attachment.  They need to do Simran of Akaal Purakh and renounce their attachments.  If they are not free, how will they free the country?  They need to renounce the world.  They have too many attachments.  When they go back home, they stay for months at a time.  I will not keep the cheap ones or the overly pure.  The battles ahead are difficult.  I will need the dedicated ones for that.”  Guru ji said to everyone: “prepare a concentrated Shaheedi Degh.  When everyone keeps weapons, they need concentrated Shaheedi Degh so they don’t think of their homes.  They will be in bliss when they will be intoxicated.  The cannabis is not for fools.  It is for saints and warriors.  Warriors will drink it and rip the tusks off of the elephants.  If the saint drinks it, they will focus their attentions in the unmoving ether by doing Simran.  The Singhs will be focused on war when they drink Shaheedi Degh.  The cannabis is the best out of all the intoxicants.  Shivji also used this to meditate.  This Degh will help the Singhs meditate on the feet of the Satguru and the Simran of the True name.  It will make the attention focused very quickly.  It will make all the worries go away.  It will give contentment and joy to the heart.  Sukha will take all the pain away.  The Khalsa should consume this with pepper.  It will make the person hungry and get rid of all the pain.”  The Shaheedi Degh was then prepared two times a day from that day onwards.  Some drank it both times, some only drank it once a day.  They would drink it and then come to Guru ji’s court.  They would meditate on Guru ji and not worry about the world.  They would shout out jaikaras more and more everyday: “we will loot Delhi and make Lahore empty.”  After doing the rugra (grinding in the mortar and pestle), they would gather the Nugda (the leftover ball after making the Degh).  They would read Saloks and then throw the Nugda towards the head of the enemy.    They would drink the Degh in the afternoon and then bathe.  They would be happy then.  They would comb their hair with their Kanga and tie their Dumalla by opening it fully with joy.  They would recite Gurbani in a high voice.  People would listen to the Gurbani with love.  They would then fasten their weapons and come to see Guru ji in his home.  Their beards were radiant and they would want to fight wars all the time.  This was the new tradition that shocked the Hindus and Muslims.  The traditions and Rehit were all great.  They wore Kacheras, Shasters, and nice clothes.  They looked very radiant.  It was scary for the enemies but attractive for the friends.  They wouldn’t go close to tobacco.  They would yell if they would see it.  This is the way the Khalsa Panth was.  It was a unique uniform.  Guru ji would see the Khalsa and be filled with joy.  Many became Singhs and the Panth Khalsa grew.

3-22 The Khalsa’s Ways/ Lion and Donkey

The Khalsa had appeared in the world.  Some villages had few Singh and some had many.  They would all go hunting and kill many deer.  One day, Bhai Uday Singh went hunting into the jungle.  All of a sudden, a lion came towards him.  He saw the lion and planted his feet into the ground.  As the lion came close, Bhai Uday Singh fired his gun, which made a loud noise.  The bullet hit the lion’s head which killed it.  Its head exploded and the lion died instantly.  Bhai Uday Singh then went to Guru Sahib’s home and told him about the big lion.  Kalgidhar ji sent some Singhs to get the dead lion.  Guru ji said: “go and bring the lion’s skin.”  When the Singhs brought the lion’s skin, Guru ji then asked for a donkey.  When the donkey came, Guru ji put the lion’s skin on the donkey and sewed it together.  The donkey was left in the fields of Anandpur.  The donkey would graze as it pleased.  By the morning it entered the jungles and the fields.  When the farmers saw the donkey, they got scared, thinking it was a lion.  They didn’t plow their fields that day.  They came to Guru ji and told him: “there is a lion in our fields.  We need to go and plow our fields but we are afraid.”  Guru ji did not say anything.  The farmers said: “the lion looks hungry as it is eating our plants.”  Everyone was running away seeing the donkey.  For three days the donkey ate the plants as it pleased.  That night, the donkey came back to its owner, the potter.  It stayed by the potter’s door.  In the morning, the potter opened the door and saw a scary lion.  He closed the door as he saw him, in fear.  He closed his windows and doors.  He looked through a hole.  He thought to himself: “it looks lion a lion but it doesn’t move like a lion.  The lion Is not moving at all.  It is just standing still.”  When the potter looked carefully, he noticed that it was not a lion.  The potter went close to the lion and grabbed it.  He hit the donkey with a stick and took the skin of the lion off.  He identified the donkey, that it was his own donkey that was gone for three days.  He saddled the donkey and began to make it work.  The news spread in Anandpur. 

One person went to Guru ji and said: “Guru ji, the news about the lion was proved to be a donkey in reality.  It came back to the potter’s home and the potter took its skin off.  The whole village was afraid for 2 days.”  Guru ji gathered all the Singhs and said to them: “I wanted to show you an example.  The donkey was wearing the skin of a lion.  The castes and family names, people that are stuck in these things are nothing but donkeys who have to carry the potter’s stuff on its back.  The ego of the caste is nothing but an unnecessary load on a donkey’s back.  The Satguru took the Khalsa out of the casteism and give them everything.  The form of the Sri Asdhuj was given to the Khalsa.  The Khalsa is the supreme.  The Khalsa will experience all the joys in life and I will take care of them in Sach Khand.  I will give the Khalsa the highest status in Sach Khand when they fight for the Dharma.  The Jumms will not come for the Khalsa.  When the donkey was wearing the lion’s skin and was eating the plants without fear, it ruled the fields, but when it came to the other donkeys with the potter, it took on its old role.  If a Singh goes back to their old ways of casteism, they will be like donkeys again.  They will carry the responsibility of worldly people again.  If they let go of their Shasters and Rehit and not be afraid of doing this, they will be nothing but a donkey again.  They will waste their life in the worldly things again.  Nobody will support them in Akaal Purakh’s court.  Their family will take over their lives and tell them to change their appearance.  If you let go of your Shasters, nobody will be afraid of you.  You will not be successful in this world or the next.  I have given you the form of Sri Akaal and made you into Singhs.  You are lions now.  You will always be in joy.  If you let go of this, you will have no support.”  In this way Guru ji advised the Khalsa.  Everyone said: “you are great Guru ji!  You made us into lions.  You made elephants from ants, swans from flamingos; kings from beggars.  Parshuram ji killed the Kshatriyas for the earth.  He fought them 21 times to break their egos.  He then gave the kingdom to the Brahmins as they were bullied by the Kshatriyas.  Haranakash stole the earth and won it.  He was killed by Varaah.  Many Kshatriyas came into the world and killed each other for the earth.  The Kauravs’ and Pandavs’ families all died fighting.  Prabhoo created the Khalsa to protect the beloved earth.  The rule of the earth will be given to the Khalsa.  There is no one more gracious than you Guru ji.”  Bhai Uday Singh and the others sang the praises of the leader of the Sodhis: “there have been many generous people but none have been as gracious as you.  The others who have made their own religions, they are not greater than you.  The others shave their students’ heads and make them wear “bhagvay” (saffron/pink) clothes.  Some rub ash on their bodies and dirty themselves.  They make them beg from other houses.  Some wear dreadlocks and beg for morsels of food.  Guru ji, you gave us everything in the world.  You made our human life a success.  You gave us a beautiful form and educated us in every knowledge.  You gave us the kingdom of the earth.  You blessed us and gave us all the material things we need.  Whoever comes into the Panth and leaves it, there is no bigger fool than him.  Whoever climbs the peak of Sumer and then falls to the underworld, that is how the person is who does not follow the Rehit.  If one lets go of the Rehit and follows other religions, that person did not understand the value of the Panth.  That person is bad.  Whoever slanders the Khalsa Panth, that sinner will go to Hell.  The items that are in the world and in the heavens, are all in the Panth.  The Khalsa is the jewellery of the earth.  The other religions are like stars and the Khalsa is the sun.  It takes a lot of good karma to be part of the Panth, they come to your feet, Guru ji.  The unfortunate atheists will never recognize your greatness.  They won’t know the greatness of the Panth either.  They will take births and die.  You are great Guru ji and your Panth is great as well.  You took the cream of all the Vedas, Shastras and Granths and gave it to the Khalsa.  Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji and all the Gurus gave Jog and Bhog to the Khalsa.  The Gurus lived in jog and bhog as well but were unattached to them.  They gave the Panth a pure heart.  They made the Khalsa do Simran of Satnam.  You taught the Khalsa how to focus their Dhyana in the One, this is the true Jog.  The Khalsa will fight the enemies and rule the earth: this is the true bhog.”  In this way the Singhs praised Guru ji’s pure glory and bowed to his feet.

There was an Amrit Sanchaar done everyday.  Guru ji would give Sikhs the Amrit everyday and give them the Rehit.  They were told not to meet with the Masands anymore.  He would also tell them not to meet with the 5: Minas, Masands, etc.  They were to only connect to Akaal Purakh.  They were given the Khanda Pahul and crossed from the world.  The Amrit that the Devatas were looking for, was given to the Khalsa.  Saints, Munis and Devatas tried to get this by doing strict Tapasyas.  Guru ji gave the Khalsa his own form.  Guru ji told them to wear Shasters and filled them with Bir Rass.  Guru ji made them recite Simran and follow the true Dharma.

3-23 Killing Nuh Pind

The Singhs would keep a sword in their Gatras and guns in their hands.  When Guru ji would go hunting, the Singh would practice their aims.  People who did not dream of weapons, the ones who were afraid of even hearing of fights and hid in their homes; those people took Amrit and became warriors.  They saw the tyranny of the kings and were filled with anger and motivated to fight the war for Dharam.  They carried weapons all the time.  Day and night, they kept weapons close to their bodies.

One day, Guru Gobind Singh ji was sitting and said: “listen Khalsa ji, at one time Kshatriyas ruled Bharat.  They let go of practicing Shaster vidya and got stuck in the pleasures of life.  They were indulging in pleasures and became afraid of the sinners.  They drank alcohol and went to prostitutes.  They let go of their Kshatriya Dharam.  Fear came into their hearts.  They lost their courage and bravery by indulging in worldly pleasures.  They could not face the Mughals.  They let go of their weapons and lost their courage.  Their warriorism was gone.  They lost their wisdom and came under the Mughals’ rule.  They didn’t face the enemy by mounting their horses.  The Turks picked up their weapons and attacked this country.  They took the kingdom and wealth of our country.  They took the forts and palaces as well.  Kingdom is always dependant on Shasters.  Whoever does not pick them up, their plans go astray.  Listen oh Khalsa: keeping Shasters is the greatest task to protect the country and its Dharam.  From today onwards, when you come to see me, be pure, attentive and wear Shasters.  I should see a Kumerkassa on you.  I will be happy with you if I see you like this.  Without Shasters and hair, whoever roams this earth is without value.  By keeping hair, a person is worth half a human.  When you have hair and weapons, then you are a complete human.”  Listening to Guru ji’s words, everyone accepted and obeyed.  The Singhs kept weapons with them.  The lion has nails and a mane.  The Singh is with weapons.  Guru ji is happy with such a Singh.  A Sikh who comes without a Kumerkassa to the Divaan, Guru ji would not pay attention to him. 

One day when the Divaan was in session, Guru ji was sitting on his throne.  A Sikh came running and said: “Guru ji, Sangat was coming to see you with great horses and gifts, they were looted by the people of Nuh village.  We were crossing that area and we were looted.  They were camped in that area.  The people of that village are fools.  They are looters.  The Sikhs that had Shasters, they fought.  The ones that did not have weapons, they were looted.  The Sikhs with weapons saved themselves.  The poor people were robbed and some were killed.  They brought gifts with devotion.  They were not able to bring the gifts for you.  They are upset.”  Guru ji heard this and got angry towards the Rangars of Nuh village.  Guru ji said: “I have told all the Sikhs to become warriors.  The Khalsa is the point of jealousy for both Muslims and Hindus.  Akaal Purakh created a third religion; this can’t be avoided now.  We will take revenge for this.  We will take their kingdoms and punish the fools that loot poor people.  Their egos must be broken.  My Sangat is upset.  I will avenge them.”  Guru ji kept everyone in Anandpur.

The next day, Guru ji went hunting.  He headed towards Nuh village.  They played the Ranjit Nagara as they rode.  People heard the Nagara and trembled in fear.  Guru ji took a regiment of the army with him.  The horses rode hard.  As they came close to the Nuh village, the army circled the village and scoped it out.  After looking at their forts and places, Guru ji said: “go and loot the village for the stuff they took from my Sangat.”  The Gujjars and Rangars are egotistical and jealous.  The Singhs attacked them.  The villagers fought back.  The bullets flew and the Singhs saw that a fight was breaking out.  They attacked with swords and cut the Rangars’ legs and arms.  The Singhs faced the Rangars and Gujjars with bravery.  Bullets came from the villagers as well and hit a few Singhs.  The Rangars came and attacked in anger.  The Gujjars came and attacked the other side.  The guns were fired and hit a few Singhs.  Some Singhs died.  The Khalsa did a fierce attack with the Rangars and Gujjars which they could not stand.  They attacked with their guns and swords with full force.  The swords sliced through their heads and cut their arms and legs.  The swords were waived.  The ground became red.  The villagers died on the ground.  The Singhs only fought the ones that carried weapons and did not attack the defenceless ones without weapons.  They did not attack women, kids or seniors.  After 25 Gujjars were killed, the Gujjars looked at the ferocious-looking Khalsa.  They ran away after they realised they didn’t stand a chance.  When they realised they couldn’t even run, they dropped their weapons and folded their hands like cowards.  They said: “in the name of your Guru, please don’t kill us.  Guru ji, protect us.”  The Singhs were angry and killed a few of them.  Bhai Daya Singh ji said to the Rangars: “go to Guru ji, he will save you.”  The Rangars and Gujjars ran to Guru ji.  Guru ji was on his horse.  The Rangars said: “Guru ji please have mercy on us.”  The Singhs had killed many Rangars and Gujjars.  The ones that came to Guru ji were saved.  The Singhs looted the village.  They took the stuff that the Sangat brought.  Their homes were destroyed.  They were punished for looting and killing the Sangat.  The people of Nuh village threw down their weapons.  Guru ji said to the Singhs: “don’t kill them, they are cowards now and already dead.”  Guru ji said to the villagers: “if you loot the Sangat again, we will kill you.  Today you are spared but if you do this again, you will by punished.  You will be destroyed in an instant.” 

Guru ji then left with the Singhs to hunt.  He blessed many deer, rabbits and other animals for the Singhs to eat.  He was teaching the Singhs to fight.  This was their Tapasya.  He taught them how to wield the weapons.  The Ranjit Nagara would sound in front.  The 22 mountains would tremble at it sounds.  The news spread of how Guru ji punished the Nuh Pind for looting the Sangat.  The Pahari areas were scared to bother the Sangat now.  The foolish people were jealous of Guru ji.  Their relatives were all enemies with Guru ji.  The good people understood the glory of the Khalsa.  The Hindu and Muslim people who were jealous of the Khalsa, became their enemies.  The foolish people could not see the achievements and beauty of the Khalsa.  They had a lot of jealousy. 

Guru ji came back playing the Ranjit Nagara.  Guru ji came back slowly and fearlessly.  Seeing Guru ji, the people of Anandpur were extremely happy.  Seeing him would wash their sins away.  Everyone came back and ate Langar.  They all slept at night and woke up at Amritvela.  They all bathed and got ready with their clothes, Dumaalaas and weapons.  Guru ji would hold court with the Khalsa.  The Panj Payaaray would do Amrit Sanchaar everyday and hundreds would take Amrit.  Guru ji would give wisdom and knowledge.  The Khalsa Panth grew by the day.  The Kshatriya Dharma that was asleep since Satyuga, woke up again in Kaliyuga.  They would say Fateh to each other with great enthusiasm, roaring like a lion.  They loved their Kesh, Kachera and Shasters. 

3-24 Bhai Nand Lal

Kavi Santokh Singh ji says: listen to the history of Bhai Nana Lal ji now, how he met Guru ji and was in bliss.  There was a rich Khatri named Chajoo Ram ji.  Bhai Nand Lal ji was his son.  They followed the Vaishnav traditions.  They had faith in the Vaishnav saints.  When Bhai Nana Lal was 12 years old, his father thought to himself: “it is the right time now for Nand Lal to have a Guru.”  He wanted to call his family Guru to his home for a ceremony.  He said to his son: “my son, we are the devotees of Hari.  You must become the discipline of our Guru of the Vaishnav tradition.  You must be in his instruction.  You will wear a necklace in your neck and be part of the Vaishnav Dharam.”  After saying this, his father called the Bairagis, but Bhai Nand Lal did not like this. 

When their Guru came, he said to Bhai Nand Lal: “put this necklace around your neck.”  Bhai Nand Lal folded his hands and said: “I cannot know bliss with this necklace.  Give me a necklace that will make my words sweet.  The glories of the Gur Parmeshwar, give me that necklace.  May I never be fulfilled by singing the glories of the Guru.  May I sing them forever.  This will be a beautiful necklace for me.  By reading and listening to it, may the saints be attracted to it.  This necklace shall spread for thousands of years.  This glory would make me be praised in this world and in the next world.  I wish to praise the Guru everyday with my words.”  The Guru heard this and was happy.  He remarked right away: “you are a great child.  But I do not have such a necklace.  You will need to go to the exact person who has this necklace.”  The Guru said to the father: “this child is wise.  He will be intelligent and will be connected to the Lord’s name.”  The Guru was nice and didn’t say anymore.  He did not initiate Bhai Nand Lal ji.   The Guru went back to his place. 

Bhai Nand Lal ji’s father thought to himself: “I feel that Guru ji was upset, that’s why he didn’t put the necklace in my son’s neck.  He just got up and left.”  Bhai Chajoo Ram went to his Guru’s place.  He folded his hands and said: “please put the necklace around my son’s neck and make him your student.”  The Guru responded: “your son is not a normal person.  He is a seeker of the truth.  When he meets the true Guru, whom he is meant for, he will become his Sikh.  Don’t worry about him not becoming my Sikh.”  Bhai Chajoo Ram went quiet and did not understand if it was good thing or a bad thing.  Bhai Nand Lal was studying different languages.  He studied Farsi in Ghazni.  He was very intelligent and was good at memorizing things.  He was studious and read a lot.  He was hard working.  He read many books and was complete in education.  He was good in public speaking and was a good tutor.  He was hired to tutor Aurangzeb’s son, Bahadhur Shah.  He moved to Delhi to take a job as a Mushi for the crown.  He was always thinking about meeting the true Guru: “I wish to meet the complete Guru.”  He wanted his desires and attachments to be quenched and burnt.

Bhai Nand Lal finally heard that the ocean of bliss, Guru Gobind Singh ji, lived in Anandpur.  He heard that he was the illumination of Brahm Gyaan and fulfilled everyone’s wishes.  He could give Gyaan with his words.  He could cut pain and obstacles in a second.  Hearing this, Nand Lal ji was calm and joyful.  He travelled to Anandpur and thought in his mind: “the Guru is omniscient.  He will know what’s in my heart.  I hope he calls me by my name and send a Sikh to call me.  I hope he takes me, a low person (sign of humility) across this world.”  He reached Anandpur and sat by himself.  He did Simran and waited for Guru ji to call him.  He wanted someone to come and get him.  “I have looked around and no one completed my wishes.  I want to see if this is the true Guru or not.  I want him to call me.”  He thought of the handsome face of Guru ji and meditated on it, although he hadn’t seen him yet.  He sat like this for many days and his Prema Bhagti grew.  The love for Guru ji awoke.  Day and night, he was drenched in love.  He was able to pull Guru Gobind Singh ji’s attention.  Guru ji could not make him wait any longer.  He knew that the Sikh was drenched in love.  Guru ji called a Mevra and said: “a Sikh of mine his here.  He is doing Simran of my name.  His name is Nand Lal.  Bring him to me right now.  Tell him I am calling him.”  The Mevra went right away.

The Mevra came to Bhai Nand Lal ji and said: “listen Sikh, Kalgidhar ji is calling you.  He is happy with you.  Go and see him.  He will bless you.”  Nand Lal was extremely happy.  He felt like he was the king of the world.  He came to Guru ji’s presence.  He saw Guru ji’s eyes, which were like lotus petals.  Wherever he looked, worry and pain was washed away.  Bhai Nand Lal ji grabbed Guru ji’s feet and said: “I have come to your sanctuary.  Please protect me from this world.  You protect us from the jumms.  You are the Avatar of Akaal Purakh and the master of the three worlds.  I have heard your glories and come to you.  I have passed millions of lives to come to you.  Please keep me here.”  Guru ji heard the pleas of Nand Lal.  The leader of the Sodhis was happy.  Guru ji dispelled the attachment of Nand Lal.  He made Nand Lal awake.  His soul was awake.  Bhai Nand Lal then said: “Nanak nadri nadar Nihaal (oh Nanak, the merciful master gives joy with a blessed glance.”  Guru ji did not test Nand Lal and washed his karma away.  He was pure gold now. 

Bhai Nand Lal would sit in Guru ji’s court and sing his praises in Farsi.  He would compose beautiful Bani and make Guru ji happy with his words.  He was very intelligent and knowledgeable.  He would do Seva in the Langar and broom the area.  After a little while, Bhai Nand Lal ji took permission and went home to Delhi.  In his home, he would meditate on Guru ji.  He did Simran as he walked and sat.  He became a Sikh and was a great one.  He worked with Bahadhur Shah to tutor him.  His personality was of saints.  He would advise Bahadhur Shah and was counted amongst the wisest.  He was an expert in languages.  Aurangzeb’s kingdom was big.  He was a tyrant.  He hated the Hindu religion and bothered the saints.  In order to pull the roots of the Mughals and finish their kingdom, Parmeshwar made Aurangzeb the king.  He crossed all the lines when Guru Tegh Bahadhur Sahib ji was martyred.  Aurangzeb ruined everything.  Just as Raavan bothered the saints, the demons lost the kingdom.  He was Ram Chander ji’s enemy and nothing was left, in the same way Aurangzeb sinned.  He had many enemies.  Guru Gobind Singh ji will pull the roots of the Mughals. 

3-25 Bhai Nand Lal ji Translates

1400 Maulanas would live with Aurangzeb.  They would translate the Quran according to their wisdom.  Where the Khaas court was in progress, there was an officer there who was a good friend of Bhai Nand Lal ji.  He would sit with Bhai Nand Lal ji and speak about spirituality.  He wanted to be one with Khuddah.  He only talked about Akaal Purakh.

Within the circle of scholars, they were once stuck on the meanings of the translations of a passage from the Quran.  Aurangzeb would ask a lot of people about that passage.  The scholars would be called and asked but no one could satisfy Aurangzeb.  They used their wisdom but it was not accepted by Aurangzeb.  He was concerned that he didn’t understand the meanings.  The Scholars were experts in different subjects.  They would converse with the emperor but nobody could convince Aurangzeb with their version.  One day, Bahadhur Shah came to see his father where a discussion was taking place about the difficult passage.  Many Maulanas were sitting with the Emperor and speaking their wisdoms.  They could not satisfy Aurangzeb.  He would shake his head after hearing them.  He looked towards his son and said: “son, we are stuck on this passage.  You are wise as well.  Tell me what the meanings are.  You are going to be the Emperor, show me your wisdom and translate the passage properly.  You are known to be wise.  I will consider you wise if you tell me the good translations.”  The prince heard this and started to think.  He read it himself but didn’t understand it.  His father did not like his version of the translations either.  Bahadhur Shah said to his father: “give me till the evening.  I will come again.” 

Bahadhur Shah came home.  Bhai Nand Lal ji was doing his work.  He looked towards the prince and saw that the prince was worried.  Bahadhur Shah didn’t speak or listen to anything.  Bhai Nand Lal ji noticed all this and figured out that he was worried.  He asked him: “what is the matter?  Did your father give you a hard task?   Is that the reason for your worry?”  Bhai Nand Lal ji was wise.  He spoke again: “tell me.”  The Prince said: “Mir Munshi ji, I went to my father and sat in his court.  The scholars were discussing a passage from the Quran.  My father was asking the rightful meanings but he was not satisfied.  He wanted me to translate it as well.  I told him I’ll be back in the evening.  I am worried now.”  Bhai Nand Lal ji heard the passage and translated it right away, as he had the illumination of the Gyaan in his heart.  He translated the passage which was not understood by many good scholars.  The Prince was over-joyed when he heard it.  He recognized his employee as a smart person.  He gave him a reward of a golden necklace.  He wrote the meanings and went back to his father. 

There were many scholars seated in the Khaas court.  The Prince was called upon to speak by his father.  The prince spoke the translations which shocked the Emperor.  The Emperor was amazed and said: “wow!  You have done a great job!”  He knew it couldn’t have been his son that translated it.  He knew that he was not that wise or deep.  Aurangzeb then said: “son, did you write this?  Did you hear it from somewhere else?  This translation is amazing.”  The prince responded: “I didn’t write this.  I have a scholar who is my head Munshi.  He gave me the translations.”  Aurangzeb was happy to hear this.  He said to his son: “show me that scholar.  His wisdom must be a miracle.”  The Emperor called Bhai Nand Lal ji to the court.  The Emperor saw Bhai Nand Lal ji and discovered that he was a Hindu.  Bhai Nand Lal ji saluted the Emperor and stood there.  The Emperor commended Bhai Nand Lal ji for his amazing translations.  Bhai Sahib then returned home after some conversation.  The Emperor asked the Prince: “this Munshi of yours, why have you not converted him to Islam?  I did not like this.  I don’t like Hindus in senior positions.  Convert him quickly.  Use all your wit to convert him.  If such a person becomes a Muslim, everyone else will follow.  I don’t want intellectuals in the Hindu faith.  Scholars make their own religion stronger.  When he becomes a Muslim, the Shariya will grow.  I want Islam as the religion of the world.”  In this way, Aurangzeb told his son to make Bhai Nand Lal ji into a Muslim.

Bahadhur Shah went home and called Bhai Nand Lal ji.  He told him what his father said: “Bhai Sahib ji, your wisdom has become your enemy.  My father wishes to convert you to Islam.  He wants me to convert you.  He will try to convince you.  He will use all his might.   I can’t do anything.  I could have helped you otherwise but my father is strict with religion.  If you want to stay here, you will have to become a Muslim.  You should do as you wish.  I am your friend and that’s why I am telling you.  I can’t help you though.  My father’s men will pressure you but it is your choice.”  Bhai Nand Lal ji began to think.  Bhai Nand Lal ji escaped Delhi but met the officer in the court of Khaas.  He said to him: “my food in Delhi is finished.  I am a fugitive now and therefore I will not get a job.  Only Guru Gobind Singh ji can save me.  Otherwise Aurangzeb will find me and arrest me.  I have no other protector besides Guru Gobind Singh ji.  I am his Sikh and he can save me in any world.  He can save me from any obstacle.  I am going to him.  You are me friend as you used to do Satsang with me.  I am meeting you for the last time.”  The officer was very upset to hear this.  He said: “take me with you.  Your love and friendship gave my mind peace.  It’s because of your teachings that my home is peaceful.  I consider you my teacher and guide, my murshid.  You are my Guru.  The desires of my mind are calm because of your company.  Don’t leave me.  Take me with you.  I do Simran of Khuddah.  I know that only Khuddah will help me be at peace.  Take me to your Guru.  My life will be a success by seeing him.  I don’t want to work for the sinner, Aurangzeb, anymore.  He does not know the love for Prabhoo.  He only knows the Shariya.  I wanted to meet Guru ji for a long time.  I will give the Guru my mind and body.  Let’s go to Anandpur.  I have an excuse to go now.  I will meet him because of you.”  The officer got ready to leave.  They both wanted to go to Guru ji.  He was a Sayeed.  He was drenched in love.  He wanted to walk on the path to meet Khuddah, so he set off to meet Khuddah.  They both escaped Delhi and were on their way.  They wished to see Satguru ji.  They were anxious to see Guru ji and sit with him.  They praised the Guru on the way.  They were fortunate and were heading to Anandpur.  Bhai Nand Lal ji took his writings with him which were his wishes to do Bhagti.  Guru ji named his writings “Zindaginama.”