Tender Hearted Said Beg

Said Beg had been dispatched by Aurangzeb to arrest Guru Gobind Singh ji and he had promised that "HIND WALA PIR MAIN BANN KE LIYAWAA GAA"

In the battlefield Said Beg who was a great warrior himself waited eagerly to fight with Guru jee. Sache Patshah came and challenged Said Beg to fight. As soon as Said Beg saw Guru Gobind Singh ji he was bewitched and could not raise his bow and arrow to shoot at Guruji. He could not look at the Noorani face of Guru Sahib and instead of fighting walked over to Guru Sahib and asked for blessings and from that day he started living in Siri Anandpur Sahib.

Said Beg and Alif Khan were two generals in the army of Aurangzeb. They were going, with their armies, from Delhi to Lahore. Their informer came and told them, "Guru Gobind Singh is on his way from Kurukshetra to Anandpur. He has, with him, only a squad of hundred Singhs at this time. This is a good opportunity to capture him. We Should take full advantage of this."

The generals had five thousand men each. They also felt that the Guru could be captured alive. Without thinking and deliberating further, they began to pursue the Guru. They were confident that they had ten thousand fully trained soldiers. One hundred Singhs who had just taken up arms and started riding horses were no match for them.

Singhs at Anandpur came to know that an army of Aurangzeb was pursuing the Guru. They hurriedly managed a squad of further four hundred Singhs who joined the Guru on the way. The royal army attacked the Singhs near Chamkaur. The generals were wonder struck on seeing the valour and the method of warfare of the Singhs, who had repulsed their forces.

The generals had heard about the valour of the Singhs but that day they witnessed everything with their own eyes, how five hundred Singhs were holding an army of ten thousand at bay. Singhs were fighting with such skill and bravery that Said Beg could not stop himself from watching them.

He forgot that he himself was in the battlefield to fight. His heart melted. He could not bear the cruelty being meted out to the Singhs. He entrusted the command of his army to Alif Khan and himself joined the Guru. Alif Khan was wounded while fighting. Without a commander, the soldiers thought it better to run and save their lives. The Singhs won the battle. Said Beg came to Anandpur and started living with the Guru.

At Anandpur the people were taught, "We are all children of the same Father who is the One Supreme Being." The rich and the poor were treated with the same respect. No one thought of encroaching on other's rights: Hindus and Muslims were treated alike and respectfully. It can be said that in those days Anandpur was a heaven on earth. By coming in the presence of Guru Gobind Singh even the hearts of stone become tender and pure in mind. Said Beg also started participating in battles against tyranny. He attained martyrdom while fighting against the royal army in the fourth battle of Anandpur.

God Provides Food To All

Sodhi Harbhajan Singh wrote a book called “Bhajan Bandagi da Pratap”. In this book he has narrated a very interesting and funny story of an atheist who used to challenge the existence of God. Gurbani says that Vaheguru ensures that everyone gets food or Rozee but this person used to say that there is no God and if a person does not work for food, food won’t come to him.

At one point this atheist person must have had a debate with a Gursikh who believed that Vaheguru provides food no matter where one is. Gurbani clearly says:

ਸਲੋਕ ਮ: 2 ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਮਤਿ ਕਰਹੁ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਤਿਸ ਹੀ ਹੇਇ ॥
ਜਲ ਮਹਿ ਜੰਤ ਉਪਾਇਅਨੁ ਤਿਨਾ ਭਿ ਰੋਜੀ ਦੇਇ ॥
ਓਥੈ ਹਟੁ ਨ ਚਲਈ ਨਾ ਕੋ ਕਿਰਸ ਕਰੇਇ ॥
ਸਉਦਾ ਮੂਲਿ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਨਾ ਕੋ ਲਏ ਨ ਦੇਇ ॥
ਜੀਆ ਕਾ ਆਹਾਰੁ ਜੀਅ ਖਾਣਾ ਏਹੁ ਕਰੇਇ ॥
ਵਿਚਿ ਉਪਾਏ ਸਾਇਰਾ ਤਿਨਾ ਭਿ ਸਾਰ ਕਰੇਇ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਮਤ ਕਰਹੁ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਤਿਸ ਹੀ ਹੇਇ ॥1॥

Guru Sahib is saying, do not worry, all the worry (to run the world) is with Vaheguru. He creates creatures in water, and provides food to them too. There are no shops in water and no one does farming there. No one buys or sells merchandise there. Over there, creatures are the food of other creatures. He creates creatures in oceans, and provides food to them too. So don’t worry, all the worry is with Vaheguru.

This atheist wanted to prove Gurbani wrong and decided to prove that there is no God. He said that God would not put food in his mouth. He decided to hide in such place where Vaheguru would not be able to provide him food. He thought of many places but settled to go deep in forest and hide over there. He went deep into forest and sat there under a tree. Then he thought that if a traveler saw him sitting here, he could offer him food. Thinking this he climbed a tree, and sat on top of a branch. Now he was very satisfied, thinking that there is no way God could provide him food here because no traveler could spot him sitting on the tree.

After a little while, some thieves came and decided to sit under that tree. They thought that before travelling further, why not eat some food. They opened their lunch boxes and were about to eat their food when they heard some people coming their way. The thieves thought they were being followed by the villagers from whom they had stolen money. They left the food there and fled. The villagers too went after them and did not notice the food under the tree.

Now the atheist was very upset because God had indeed provided food to him, even at such a remote place. He still stayed adamant and thought that if God is there, then he must put this food in his mouth. He was happy after deciding this because he thought that there was no way, God could put this food in his mouth. He thought he was going to win and prove that there is no God.

As he was thinking along these lines, he noticed some more people coming his way. Actually these people who were coming towards him were thieves too. They came under the tree and saw food there. They were very surprised to see food there. They thought that there must be someone hiding around there. They looked around and saw the atheist sitting on a branch of the tree. They told him to come down but he refused. Now the thieves thought that this person had added poison to the food hoping that whoever eats it would die and he would steal his or her possessions. The thieves got very upset. One of them climbed up the tree and started beating up the atheist.

The atheist was pulled down and badly beaten by the thieves. Then they forced him to eat food but he refused to eat it. He did not want God to win. At this they forced open his mouth and put food in his mouth. When food had been forced into the atheist, he cried out loud, “There is a God; there is a God who feeds even the ungrateful like me.”

The moral of the story is that God is there, he provides food to everyone and we should never mess with him.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji And Kaljug Pandit

During his first preaching odyssey Satguru Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji he reached Jagannath Puri via Cuttack. Enroute, he apprised the masses of his ideology, freed people from superstitions and infructiuous deeds, caste based differences and freeing them from the shackles of fake hermits and Yogis. This incident took place in 1510. A Brahmin named ‘Kalyug’ had made his abode there. He was a learned man beside being very rich. Many pilgrims were his followers and often stayed in his Dera (Camp).

This Pandit was swindling the gullible people who were not aware of what the true religion was. Many rich persons who visited him were more interested in knowing about their future life or the life hereafter. They would feel happy listening to good and favourable stories about themselves. Pleased with such fables, they would make handsome offerings to him.

In Jagannath Puri, where Satguru ji condemned the ritualistic. Aarti (A form of prayer in temples), he also unmasked the deeds of ‘Kalyug’ pandit. Kalyug Pandit was sitting in meditative mood while many devotees were surrounding him. He had a small pitcher like metallic container placed in his front in which the pilgrims were putting their offerings. He would close his eyes for sometime and open them again. Sometimes he would close one of his nostrils, either right or left with his hand. Then he would suddenly declare that he is seeing Vishnu Bhagwan in the heaven. Similarly he would claim an audience with other gods and his visits
to Brahmpuri (Abode of Brahma) and Shivpuri (Abode of Shivji). The devotees were listening to all his claims with rapt silence and expected that soon he would take them to the divine trip too. He then asked all those present to shut their eyes and perceive the heaven in their minds, and he would help them see it.

When all those present there closed their eyes, Guru ji signalled Bhai Mardana to pick up the small pitcher like container from his front and hide it behind him in a bush. When the ‘Panda’ opened his eyes, he did not see the container in his front. He was beside himself with rage and started shouting loudly and asking who had taken his small container. “Don’t crack jokes with the Saints. We don’t crave for money... etc.”, he said.

The pilgrims in his attendance were also surprised. Hearing his shouts, many more people gathered around. Guru ji steped forward and said, “Pandit ji, you were able to see Brahmpuri, Shivpuri and Vishnupuri, why don’t you look around in this Universe ? You may be able to locate where the container is lying”. Hearing these remarks the ‘Panda’ vexed still more. Some present also said, “Pandit ji, you were seeing the divine abode but now you can’t find your small pitcher. How could it be ?”

People understood the deceit of the Pandit. Guru ji well disclosed his beguile and advised people that those who sit in meditative postures, closing their eyes, nose and ears were not to be trusted. They were like herons who stood still on one leg in the water to pounce upon at fish and frogs. Here was that ‘Pandit’ who could see the divine abodes but could not spot his money container lying behind him. Guru ji further explained that these were the tricks used by the imposters to swindle people of their hard earned money. Satguru ji explained to all the pilgrims that one may succeed in collecting money by closing eyes, nose, ears and sitting still like a heron, but it can neither lift the character of a man nor raise his spiritual life.

This human life is not meant to be wasted in such spurious and fake acts. Remembering God is the right path of this life. Perpetual meditation of His name relieves a man from the worldly desires. Kalyug Panda was highly impressed by the personality of Guru ji and his sermons. He requested Guru ji to honour him with his stay in his abode. Guru ji agreed and during this period apprised him with his idealogy. He was then appointed as a missionary by Guru Nanak to spread his message; whereas he used to swindle the people earlier, now he was teaching them to follow the right path of life as dictated by the Guru. The place where Guru ji stayed in front of the temple, it still exists and is named ‘Mangoo Math’. For our guidance, Guru Nank Dev ji composed the above event in the following shabad of Rag Dhanasree.


ਧਨਾਸਰੀਮਹਲਾ1ਘਰੁ3
ੴਸਤਿਗੁਰਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ॥
ਕਾਲੁਨਾਹੀਜੋਗੁਨਾਹੀਨਾਹੀਸਤਕਾਢਬੁ॥
ਥਾਨਸਟਜਗਭਰਿਸਟਹੋਏਡੂਬਤਾਇਵਜਗੁ॥1॥
ਕਲਮਹਿਰਾਮਨਾਮੁਸਾਰੁ॥
ਅਖੀਤਮੀਟਹਿਨਾਕਪਕੜਹਿਠਗਣਕਉਸੰਸਾਰੁ॥1॥ਰਹਾਉ॥
ਆਂਟਸੇਤੀਨਾਕੁਪਕੜਹਿਸੂਝਤੇਤਿਨਿਲੋਅ॥
ਮਗਰਪਾਛੈਕਛੁਨਸੂਝੈਏਹੁਪਦਮੁਅਲੋਅ॥2॥
ਖਤ੍ਰੀਆਤਧਰਮੁਛੋਡਿਆਮਲੇਛਭਾਖਿਆਗਹੀ॥
ਸ੍ਰਿਸਟਿਸਭਇਕਵਰਨਹੋਈਧਰਮਕੀਗਤਿਰਹੀ॥3॥
ਅਸਟਸਾਜਸਾਜਿਪੁਰਾਣਸੋਧਹਿਕਰਹਿਬੇਦਅਭਿਆਸੁ॥
ਬਿਨੁਨਾਮਹਰਿਕੇਮੁਕਤਿਨਾਹੀਕਹੈਨਾਨਕੁਦਾਸੁ॥4॥1॥6॥8॥

No, no, this is not the time, when people know the way to Yoga and Truth.
The holy places of worship in the world are polluted, and so the world is drowning. ||1||
In this Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Lord's Name is the most sublime.
Some people try to deceive the world by closing their eyes and holding their nostrils closed. ||1||Pause||
They close off their nostrils with their fingers, and claim to see the three worlds.
But they cannot even see what is behind them. What a strange lotus pose this is! ||2||
The K'shatriyas have abandoned their religion, and have adopted a foreign language.
The whole world has been reduced to the same social status; the state of righteousness and Dharma has been lost. ||3||
They analyze eight chapters of (Panini's) grammar and the Puraanas. They study the Vedas,
but without the Lord's Name, no one is liberated; so says Nanak, the Lord's slave. ||4||1||6||8||

A Miracle Involving Siri Guru Granth Sahib jee

This saakhi has been written by Sant Baba Shaam Singh jee about 100 years ago. The source does not provide any date or time this incident happened and it does not matter when it occurred. The fact is that this saakhi coming from a Brahmgyani and therefore is 100% truth.

Sirimaan Sant Bhai Ratan Singh was a Mahapurakh (holy person) and a resident of Siri Amritsar Sahib. In his Ashram (dera, dwelling) Siri Guru Granth Sahib jee was prakashmaan (present) in the best room. One day after the Sukhasan of Siri Guru Granth Sahib jee was done in the evening, due to heavy rainfall, the ashram was filled with flood water. The roof of Siri Guru Granth Sahib jee’s room also fell down. The will of Vaheguru so happened that Maharaj jee’s saroop from its place of Sukhasan, fell in the flood water

One of the Sewadaars of the Ashram noticed that Maharaj jee’s saroop had fallen in water. He rushed to Sant jee and said, “ਜੀ, ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜੀ ਮੰਦਰ ਕੇ ਗਿਰਨੇ ਕਰ ਜਲ ਖਾਤੇ ਬੀਚ ਡੁੱਬ ਗਏ ਹੈਂ।” (Jee, Siri Guru Granth Sahib jee has drowned in water due to falling of the roof of the room)

When Sant jee heard this, he said, “ਹੇ ਮੂਢ, ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜੀ ਸਾਰੇ ਜਗਤ ਕੋ ਤਾਰਨਹਾਰੇ ਹਨ। ਇਸ ਲੋਕ ਔਰ ਪਰਲੋਕ ਵੈਤਰਨੀ (ਨਦੀ) ਆਦਿਕੋਂ ਸੇ, ਸੋ ਆਪ ਕੈਸੇ ਡੂਬਤੇ ਹੈਂ, ਤਾਂ ਤੇ ਐਸੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਹਿਣਾ।” (O stupid person, Siri Guru Granth Sahib jee is the savior/liberator of the whole world, from this world and next world (from Vaitarnee rivers etc.), so how can they (Siri Guru jee) drown; therefore don’t say such words again)

Then in hurry, Sant jee got up and rushed to the room of Siri Guru Granth Sahib jee. What they noticed was that really Maharaj jee’s saroop had entered the flooded water. When Sant jee brought light there, he noticed that water was so deep that at that time, no one could enter the water to get Maharaj jee’s saroop out. Then Sant jee, with folded hands, with taka (one paisa) in his hand, and promising to present Karah Parshaad of Rs 1.25, said, “ਹੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ, ਤੁਸੀਂ ਸਾਰੇ ਜਗਤ ਨੂੰ ਤਾਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਹੋ, ਤਾਂ ਤੇ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ ਕਰਕੇ ਸਾਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਤਖ ਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਦੀਜੀਏ, ਦਾਸਾਂ ਦੀ ਭੁਲ ਖਿਮਾਂ ਕਰੋ, ਹੇ ਸਵਾਮੀ ਜੀ।” (O Satguru, O Swami jee, you are the savior of the whole world. Please have mercy and give us your darshan (glimpse), forgive our mistakes.)

After ardaas when Sant jee opened his eyes, what he saw was that Siri Guru Granth Sahib jee had come above water and were floating on it. How did Satguru jee come out of water? It was like a sincere devotee gets perceptible glimpse of his deity after the lifting of the veil of ignorance.

Due to the mountain faith of Sant Ratan Singh jee, Siri Guru Granth Sahib jee in concrete way appeared on the top of water. Then Sant jee expressed great joy. Maharaj jee’s rumaalay (clothes) were wet but from inside, Maharaj jee’s saroop was totally dry. Then Sant jee got dry rumaalay for wrapping Maharaj jee’s saroop.

The above saakhi has been written by Baba Shaam Singh jee in his book “Siri Bhagat Prem Prakash” to prove the point that Vaheguru is such a strong supporter and protector of his devotees (Bhagats) and how much effect there is in the Ardaas (prayer) of his devotees.