SADH SANGAT VITTOH KURBANI (Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji Maharaj)
Sikhs are real fortunate that they are the possessors of a rich Sikh Heritage. This legacy is full of humbleness in which selfless service is given a higher platform. The Ten Masters (Ten Gurus) through their spiritual teachings showed us the right path to tread. This path was the same on which they had walked during their times. Every step, every action of Guru Sahib encompassed learning for the devotees to understand and follow.
Let us try to read and comprehend the importance of the following event that happened during the times of the Fifth Master Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji Maharaj.
The devotees from Pothohar traveled to Sri Amritsar to pay homage to their beloved Guru, Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji Maharaj, whose sacred enthronement had occurred some time back. On the last day of their journey they were determined to reach the holy presence of Guru Sahib but could not make it and had to camp few miles away from Sri Harimandir Sahib. The sangat of Pothohar comprised of the old, the young and the children. Tired and hungry, they now yearned for a blessed vision of the Holy Guru next morning. They camped at the place where now a Gurdwara is established in the name of Pipli Sahib Gurdwara.
The all-knowing Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji Maharaj could see with his divine eyes his beloved sangat and realize that their bodies needed rest. Guru Sahib was known for his selfless service. No one knew how far he could stretch himself while performing SEWA.
Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji asked Mata Ganga, his holy wife, to prepare plenty of food with her own hands. Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji alongwith Mata Ganga then carried the food and pitchers of water on their heads and came barefooted to the campsite.
First of all they helped the sangat to wash their dirty hands and feet. Cold water was then served for drinking. Cold water was like nectar for the tired sangat during the summer days. Langar was thereafter served to all.
Since it was quite late the devotees stretched wherever they found a place on the ground. One old man, was unable to sleep and was rubbing down and stroking his aching legs. Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji with folded hands begged for this service and started massaging the legs of the old man. The old man soon went off to sleep. Guru Sahib did the same thing to others who were unable to sleep. The whole night the Guru and his wife served the sangat and fanned them with a hand-fan.
Before sunrise the Guru and his Holy wife returned to Sri Harmandir Sahib.
The sangat of Pothohar was feeling fresh in the morning and there were no signs of tiredness. Their Guru had served them and their bodies had felt the touch of the blessed hands of Guru Sahib and thus their tiredness had to vanish.
All of them became ready and set out for Sri Harimandir Sahib. On arrival they took off their shoes outside. Jathedar (Incharge) of this sangat requested someone to guard and look after all the belongings and shoes there. But everyone was thirsting for a blessed glimpse of the Guru. Guru Maharaj was observing this with his divine eyes. In the dress of an ordinary Sikh, he reached there immediately. Guru Sahib with folded hands volunteered for this service. The Jathedar saw that he was the same person who had looked after them during the night and permitted him to undertake the service.
Once they were settled inside, the visiting sangat did not find the Holy Guru on his seat. Jathedar enquired from Baba Budha Ji who told them that the Guru and his wife had gone to serve the incoming sangat from Pothohar last night and that they had not yet returned.
Jathedar told Baba Budha Ji that a very simple and humble young couple had come last night with food and water and had been in service of the sangat the whole night. When told that he was left outside to guard the belongings and the shoes, Baba Budha Ji alongwith the sangat proceeded to the said spot.
On arrival they found the Humility Incarnate Guru ecstatically absorbed in cleaning the shoes of the holy sangat. Baba Budha Ji started crying and so did the sangat. “O our Lord Satguru Sache Patshah, what are you doing”, cried Baba Budha Ji.
Awakened from his total immersion in humble service, Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji looked up and said, “O revered Baba Budha Ji, please do not stop me from doing this blessed service of the shoes of the loving children of my Beloved Guru Nanak”.
Sangat had the blessed darshan of their Guru. They directly beheld and perceived their own Lord cleaning their shoes in devotion. Tears flowed in unending streams from their eyes.
Overcome with wonder, love and reverence, the holy sangat fell flat at the holy feet of the Satguru, the true Prophet of Devotional Humility and Love. They sought forgiveness for any harsh words spoken by them during the night while they were involved in the SEWA.
It is easy to narrate the above event, but he alone can understand who has passed through this situation.
Love is met by Love. Love begets love. If the devoted sangat is yearning to behold the Satguru, the Satguru is equally yearning to welcome and receive the sangat. If the devoted sangat is yearning to serve the Guru, the Guru runs to serve them. Divine Love is Reciprocal. If the hearts of devoted Sikhs are fully occupied by the love of the Satguru, the Holy Heart of the Satguru is fully occupied by the love of His devotees.
This holy incident is a climax of Reciprocal Love between a Sikh and his Satguru.
Bhai Gurdas ji is one of the most eminent personalities in the history of the Sikh religion. He was a brilliant scholar and poet and was an able missionary. Being well versed in Indian religious thought, he was able to elaborate profoundly the tenets of Sikhism. He was a blessed soul. The personal compositions of Bhai Gurdas ji known as VAARS were described by Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji as ‘providing the key to Aad Guru Granth Sahib Ji. ” He writes in the 14th Vaar 18th Pauri as follows:
The holy persons are the caretakers of the poor and in their company the humility resides in the heart (of people).
Guru Sahib was humble from the core of his heart. He placed the sangat on a higher
platform and considered himself as a servant of the Sikh Sangat. Bhai Gurdas in his Vaar
16, Pauri 8 says:
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸੁਖ ਫਲੁ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਪਰਮ ਹੰਸ ਗੁਰਸਿਖ ਸੁਹੰਦੇ |
The pleasure fruit of gurmukhs is the congregation of holy persons wherein gurmukhs in the form of superior swans adorn the place.
Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan practiced the principles of Sikhism. He always kept the sangat at a higher level.
One-day langar was being served to the sangat at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. Sant Baba ji came near the utensils filled with langar and started fanning with his scarf. He said, “My duty here is to shoo away the birds and the flies.”
He then came close to the sangat sitting in the rows and started fanning away the flies, with his scarf.
On another day Sant Baba ji asked Sant Baba Gian Singh ji, “Santa! Please pick my mat and accompany me.”
He walked to the place in the Kutiya where normally the sangat took off its shoes. He stood here for some time gazing at the ground. After some time he pointed to a place with his stick and said, “Santa! Please place my mat here.”
Sant Baba Gian Singh ji obeyed the orders and placed the mat on the ground where Sant Baba ji had asked him to do so. However, before placing the mat on the ground Sant Baba Gian Singh ji cleaned the place with a cloth.
Sant Baba ji sat there on the mat. Sant Baba Gian Singh ji also sat close by and started reciting the Name of the God on the rosary. Two great saints were involved in NAAM SIMRAN at this fortunate place.
After some time, Havaldar Khushal Singh of village Chaniani, near Garh Shankar came to pay his homage to Sant Baba ji. After paying his respects at the Darbar, he came to the place where Sant Baba ji was sitting. He touched the Holy feet of Sant Baba ji and stood in front of him.
Sant Baba ji said, “Santa! Get a mat for Havaldar ji.”
Sant Baba Gian Singh ji brought a mat for Havaldar ji and Sant Baba ji said, “Havaldar ji! Please sit on the mat.”
Havaldar sat on the mat and thought about the place chosen by Sant Baba ji for his NAAM SIMRAN. It was clear to him that there was no particular place for remembering the God Almighty. Any place could be selected for remembering God. He was however, not comfortable with his reasoning and requested Sant Baba ji, “Maharaj ji! Why have you selected this particular place today?”
Sant Baba ji said, “Havaldar ji! I belong to the sect of beggars who beg for food. This place is heaven for me.”
Khushal Singh could not understand the meanings of the words of Sant Baba ji and was confused. He had seen people from the sangat cleaning the shoes of others but why did Sant Baba ji need to be here. He was a Holy person and could not be equated with ordinary people.
Sant Baba ji spoke to clear his doubt, “A person who receives the dust of the feet of a Gursikh is really fortunate. I am sitting at the place where the sangat place their first step after taking of their shoes. I will become blessed by sitting at this place.”
The eyes of Havaldar ji filled with tears and thought how ethereal, modest and humble his Holy saint was. He folded his hands and started bowing at the feet of Sant Baba ji again and again. He then remained at the feet of Sant Baba ji for quite some time. Sant Baba ji permitted him to remain there but did not speak any words. Havaldar ji returned home after learning the importance of the feet of the sangat. Gurbani quotes:
Washing the Guru’s feet, and serving Him, the soul is sanctified,
and the thirst for sin is quenched. If you become the slave of the slave of the Lord’s slaves,
then you shall obtain honor in the Court of the Lord. ||2||
The family of Havaldar Khushal Singh lives in the town of Nawanshahar, these days and regularly visits Nirmal Kutiya Johalan.