By Jathedar Raam Singh (Soora, Mar, 87)
This is an incident from the 1972 Agra Keertan Smaagam. It is for me an unforgettable memory, which causes me to feel bairaag, and teaches about divinely ordained fate and the Guru’s grace.
It was the ran sabayee for the smaagam and after the selection of the Punj Pyaaray, the Jathedar Sahib of the Punj Pyaaray told me to go outsie and see how many aspirants for Amrit were present. I took permission of the Jatehdar and went outside to see. After asking around I found out that about five or six individuals had come for this priceless gift of Amrit. Sitting a little farther back than the rest of the aspirants, all alone was an Eastern-Indian, Hindu Bhaiyaa family (husband, wife, and three children). From their clothes I could tell they were extremely poor. My conversation with them was as such:
I: What have you come here for?
The Couple: Baboo jee, to take amrit.
I: (with surprise) What did you say?
Couple: Baboo jee, for amrit. We have taken a bath before coming. All of us, even the children.
I: Are you wearing a Kacherra?
Couple: No Baboo jee.
I: Kirpaan, Kangha, KaRa do you have any of these?
Couple: No Baboo jee.
I could see myself that they were not wearing keskees. I told them about the restrictions on the use of meat, alchol and tobacco. They were completely ready to meet any condtions to receive amrit.
I went back inside and told Jathedar Sahib everything. Jathear Sahib began to laugh and was very happy. He gave permission for the Hindu family to be dressed in the five kakaars and be presented before the Punj Pyaaray.
I requested a Singh who lived in Agra to arrange for kakaars for the family and also suitable clothes (salvaar kameez, dupatta) for the wife. The wife was wearing a dhotee at the time. The Agra Singh quickly arranged for all the required things.
The peshees began. The Punj Pyaaray gave this family approval as candidates for amrit. After the peshees, all the amrit candidates were called inside. The Bata was prepared. The candidates kept receiving amrit and beginning their spiritual lives as the Amrit hall began to echo with naam. At the very end came the turn of this family. First the Singh came. The candidate assumed the beer aasun. His conversation with Punj was like this:
Panch: (After giving Amrit choola) Bol, Vaahiguru Jee kaa khaalsaaa Vaahiguru jee kee fateh!
Abhilakhee: Silent.
Panch: Bol Vaahiguru jee kaa khaalsaa vaahiguru jee kee fateh!
Ab: Silent.
Panch: (understanding he had not ever heard the Fateh before), How we say it, you too should repeat like us.
Ab: Yes sir.
Panch: Bolo Vahiguru
Ab: Vaahiguru
Panch: Jee kaa
Ab: Jee kaa
Panch: Khalsa
Ab: Khansa
Panch: Not Khansa, KHALSA
Ab: Falsa
Panch: not Falsa, say KHA
Ab: KHA
Panch: L
Ab: L
Panch: Sa
Ab: Sa
Panch: Vahiguru
Ab: Vahiguru
Panch: Jee kee
Ab: Jee kee
Panch: Fateh!
Ab: Fateh!
And like this, this candidate was blessed with Amrit. It took him a long time to learn how to recite naam as well. Then came the turn of his older son who was about ten years old. He had the same experience as his father. Then came the wife’s turn. The word Khalsa had to be split apart for her as well for her to repeat it. When the bibi had received amrit, the Panch, (through the Jathedar Sahib) told the Bibi, You have taken Amrit. Now the Punj Pyaaray will give you naam. You will accompany us as we now meditate on it.
After saying this, the Panch put their hands on her head and released the first furaataa of svaas giraasee naam abhyaas. With the second furaataa, this Bibi (who had never ever heard even the Fateh or naam before) began to do abhyaas like she had been doing so for many years. She would recite naam so clearly and easily and louder than anyone else. All the observers began to smile and watch this Bibi. The Bibi’s body became solid and she fell into the dandaut position. The power of naam abhyaas was moving her body so much that the Panch had to hold her head with great struggle so it wouldn’t hit the ground. It was getting hard to manage the Bibi. Jathedar Sahib motioned to the other Bibis sitting close by to take care of the Bibi and turned her over to them. For a long time she stayed in this state. When she regained consciousness (even though her naam khanda was still going) she had a Guru given glow on her face, which causes vairaag in the observer. She sat down and was fully immersed in naam meditation. The youngest daughter who was about two years old also had abhyaas just like her mothers.
After the amrit sinchaar, the couple was re-married according to the Anand Kaaraj ceremony and was given names according to Gurmat.
Because of some old karmas, this family must have been born in the East and worked hard labour and lived in abject poverty. When the architect of destiny willed, this family must have been sitting and eating in the Langar when they heard they could also receive Amrit. They bathed and arrived. Their destiny was to awaken, so Guru Sahib created a path for them. With innocence, they arrived and sat a bit apart from the rest of the candidates. In their minds they had the wish, we too will take amrit. What did they know what amrit was or how it was received? They must have thought amrit was given like langar. The great puppeteer was in their hearts and making all this possible. The Lord created such a play and made these candidates speak such words that in their innocence, they were accepted at the door of the Guru. After receiving the gift of amrit and naam, such grace fell upon this family that is seen of very few others. Their soul, thirsting for naam, upon receiving just a droplet of it, completely immersed itself. This was all a play of old Karmas.
It was the ran sabayee for the smaagam and after the selection of the Punj Pyaaray, the Jathedar Sahib of the Punj Pyaaray told me to go outsie and see how many aspirants for Amrit were present. I took permission of the Jatehdar and went outside to see. After asking around I found out that about five or six individuals had come for this priceless gift of Amrit. Sitting a little farther back than the rest of the aspirants, all alone was an Eastern-Indian, Hindu Bhaiyaa family (husband, wife, and three children). From their clothes I could tell they were extremely poor. My conversation with them was as such:
I: What have you come here for?
The Couple: Baboo jee, to take amrit.
I: (with surprise) What did you say?
Couple: Baboo jee, for amrit. We have taken a bath before coming. All of us, even the children.
I: Are you wearing a Kacherra?
Couple: No Baboo jee.
I: Kirpaan, Kangha, KaRa do you have any of these?
Couple: No Baboo jee.
I could see myself that they were not wearing keskees. I told them about the restrictions on the use of meat, alchol and tobacco. They were completely ready to meet any condtions to receive amrit.
I went back inside and told Jathedar Sahib everything. Jathear Sahib began to laugh and was very happy. He gave permission for the Hindu family to be dressed in the five kakaars and be presented before the Punj Pyaaray.
I requested a Singh who lived in Agra to arrange for kakaars for the family and also suitable clothes (salvaar kameez, dupatta) for the wife. The wife was wearing a dhotee at the time. The Agra Singh quickly arranged for all the required things.
The peshees began. The Punj Pyaaray gave this family approval as candidates for amrit. After the peshees, all the amrit candidates were called inside. The Bata was prepared. The candidates kept receiving amrit and beginning their spiritual lives as the Amrit hall began to echo with naam. At the very end came the turn of this family. First the Singh came. The candidate assumed the beer aasun. His conversation with Punj was like this:
Panch: (After giving Amrit choola) Bol, Vaahiguru Jee kaa khaalsaaa Vaahiguru jee kee fateh!
Abhilakhee: Silent.
Panch: Bol Vaahiguru jee kaa khaalsaa vaahiguru jee kee fateh!
Ab: Silent.
Panch: (understanding he had not ever heard the Fateh before), How we say it, you too should repeat like us.
Ab: Yes sir.
Panch: Bolo Vahiguru
Ab: Vaahiguru
Panch: Jee kaa
Ab: Jee kaa
Panch: Khalsa
Ab: Khansa
Panch: Not Khansa, KHALSA
Ab: Falsa
Panch: not Falsa, say KHA
Ab: KHA
Panch: L
Ab: L
Panch: Sa
Ab: Sa
Panch: Vahiguru
Ab: Vahiguru
Panch: Jee kee
Ab: Jee kee
Panch: Fateh!
Ab: Fateh!
And like this, this candidate was blessed with Amrit. It took him a long time to learn how to recite naam as well. Then came the turn of his older son who was about ten years old. He had the same experience as his father. Then came the wife’s turn. The word Khalsa had to be split apart for her as well for her to repeat it. When the bibi had received amrit, the Panch, (through the Jathedar Sahib) told the Bibi, You have taken Amrit. Now the Punj Pyaaray will give you naam. You will accompany us as we now meditate on it.
After saying this, the Panch put their hands on her head and released the first furaataa of svaas giraasee naam abhyaas. With the second furaataa, this Bibi (who had never ever heard even the Fateh or naam before) began to do abhyaas like she had been doing so for many years. She would recite naam so clearly and easily and louder than anyone else. All the observers began to smile and watch this Bibi. The Bibi’s body became solid and she fell into the dandaut position. The power of naam abhyaas was moving her body so much that the Panch had to hold her head with great struggle so it wouldn’t hit the ground. It was getting hard to manage the Bibi. Jathedar Sahib motioned to the other Bibis sitting close by to take care of the Bibi and turned her over to them. For a long time she stayed in this state. When she regained consciousness (even though her naam khanda was still going) she had a Guru given glow on her face, which causes vairaag in the observer. She sat down and was fully immersed in naam meditation. The youngest daughter who was about two years old also had abhyaas just like her mothers.
After the amrit sinchaar, the couple was re-married according to the Anand Kaaraj ceremony and was given names according to Gurmat.
Because of some old karmas, this family must have been born in the East and worked hard labour and lived in abject poverty. When the architect of destiny willed, this family must have been sitting and eating in the Langar when they heard they could also receive Amrit. They bathed and arrived. Their destiny was to awaken, so Guru Sahib created a path for them. With innocence, they arrived and sat a bit apart from the rest of the candidates. In their minds they had the wish, we too will take amrit. What did they know what amrit was or how it was received? They must have thought amrit was given like langar. The great puppeteer was in their hearts and making all this possible. The Lord created such a play and made these candidates speak such words that in their innocence, they were accepted at the door of the Guru. After receiving the gift of amrit and naam, such grace fell upon this family that is seen of very few others. Their soul, thirsting for naam, upon receiving just a droplet of it, completely immersed itself. This was all a play of old Karmas.
Waheguru
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