Translated from Pr. Satbir Singh's "Gur Bhaaree"
True Emperor Guru Hargobind Sahib Jee's Throne - Akal Takht Sahib
“True Emperor”
Guru Hargobind Sahib was in Delhi meeting with the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. A poor peasant who cut grass to feed horses heard about this and worked all day to earn a single coin. The peasant had heard about the Guru and his greatness and now when he heard that the Guru was in the city he became excited that he too might meet him and become a Sikh. During the day, the peasant also gathered the best grass he could find and cleaned it blade by blade so he could offer it to Guru Sahib’s horses.
At the end of the day, the poor grass-cutter approached the place where Guru Sahib and the Emperor were meeting. There were two tents and he accidentally entered the one in which Jahangir was sitting. The guard initially stopped the peasant but thinking that perhaps he had some request to make of the Emperor, he let him in.
Upon entering, the grass-cutter placed the single coin he had earned in front of the Emperor and bowed. He asked that his offering of grass also be accepted. He begged, “ True Emperor (Sachay Patshah) please help me both here and in the hereafter.” Jahangir was taken aback and replied that he could give the grass-cutter an award of land ( a Jagir). The poor man’s eyes opened wide and he realized he was in the wrong place. Jahangir then said, “I am the Emperor of Hindustan. Your “Sachay Patshah” is in the other tent.” The poor man picked up his coin and his bundle of grass and ran to the other tent in which Guru Sahib was sitting.
Upon seeing the Guru, he grabbed his feet and began to weep and beg for forgiveness. He said, “Sachay Patshah I went to the wrong door.” He repeated his earlier request and begged to become a Sikh and the Guru blessed him with naam.
It was after this incident that Jahangir realized how much love Sikhs had for their Guru.
Bhai Javanda & the Gate
One day Guru Hargobind Sahib was going hunting and as he was leaving the city gates of Kartarpur, he asked Bhai Javanda to stand by the gate and wait for his return. Satguru jee returned from hunting but entered the city from another gate and went back to his place of residence. Three days and three nights passed but Bhai Javanda did not move from the place Guru Sahib told him to wait. When Guru Sahib found out about this, he himself went to Bhai Javanda, still waiting by the gate and embraced him and showered his blessings.
“Tell the Sikhs”
Bhai Choohar was a Jathedar in Guru Hargobind Sahib’s army and had 100 horsemen in his command. Guru Hargobind Sahib summoned Bhai Choohar and said, “Tell the Sikhs to drag some big stones and make walls for the langar.
Bhai Choohar didn’t want to impose on any other Sikh and so he began to drag the large stones himself. He worked so hard that his hands and feet began to bleed but even then he would not stop or slow down. When the Guru went to see the work being done, he saw Bhai Choohar working alone, his hands, feet and clothes covered in blood. Guru Sahib said, “Bhai Choohar, I told you to get the Sikhs to do this seva…”
Bhai Choohar put his hands together and replied, “Maharaj, you ordered the Sikhs to do it and so I thought what greater honour could I achieve than to do this seva myself and count myself as your Sikh…”
Mata Sulakhani
Guru Hargobind Sahib was traveling in the villages of Majha and came to village Chabba. In that village lived a woman named Sulakhani. Sulakhani had been married for many years but was yet without any child. She asked many learned people how she might have a child and they all replied, “there has been no child written in your destiny.”
Mata Sulakhani heard about the greatness of Guru Hargobind and was convinced he would help her. Guru Hargobind was passing near her village and Mata Sulakhani went to wait for him on the path holding a pen and ink. When Guru Sahib approached, she called out in a rhyme which translated is, “Oh one with a beautiful beard and white dastaar, I make a request before Guru Hargobind! My name is Sulakhani and my village is Chabba, I am without any offspring and want to bear children.”
Guru Hargobind Sahib smiled and said, “Maiee, it is not written in your destiny.” With great faith, Mata Sulakhani replied, “You are the one who is the writer here and you were the writer before, so if you have not written already, then write it now!”
Guru Sahib took the pen and while still on his horse began to write a ੧ (1) . Guru Sahib’s horse kicked his hoof and the ੧ became a ੭ (7).
Mata Sulakhani did indeed go one to become the mother of 7 sons and they became Sikhs and fought in Guru Sahib’s battles.
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