The Extraordinary Picture Message From The Incomparable Indian History - Motivational and Inspirational”. 1st. Guru Angad Dev Ji (31.03.1504 To 29.03.1552) was the second of The Ten Gurus of Sikhism. Guru Angad, (Bhai Lehna ji) was born in the village named Harike in Ferozepur district in Punjab, on Vaisakh Vadi 1st , (5th Vaisakh) Samvat 1561, (March 31, 1504). Guru ji became Guru on Thursday, September 18 1539 following in the footsteps of Guru Nanak Dev ji, who was the founder of the Sikh religion. 2nd. Guru Angad Dev Ji was the son of a sucessful trader named Bhai Pheru Mall usually referred to as Bhai Pheru. His mother s name was Mata Ramo ji (also known as Mata Sabhirai, Mansa Devi, Daya kaur). Baba Narayan Das Trehan was his grandfather, whose ancestral house was at Matte-di-Sarai near Mukatsar. Pheru ji moved back to this place. 3rd. Under the influence of his mother, Mata Ramo, Bhai Lehna ji began to worship Durga (A Hindu mythological Goddess). He used to lead a batch of worshippers to Jawalamukhi Temple every year. He was married to Mata Khivi ji in Jaunary 1520 and had two sons (Bhai Dasu and Bhai Datu) and two daughters (Bibi Amro and Bibi Anokhi). 4th. The whole family of Bhai Pheru had to leave their ancestral village because of the ransacking by the Mughal and Baloch militia who had come with Babur. After this the family settelled at village Khadur Sahib beside the Beas river, near Tarn Taran Sahib (A small town about 25 km. away from Amritsar City). 5th. Once Bhai Lehna ji heard the recitation of a hymn of Guru Nanak Sahib from Bhai Jodha (a sikh of Guru Nanak Sahib) and was thrilled and decided to proceed through Kartarpur to have a glimpse of Guru Nanak Sahib at the time of yearly pilgrimage to Jwalamukhi Temple. His very first meeting with Guru Nanak Sahib completely transformed him. 6th. He renounced the worship of Hindu Goddess, dedicated himself to the service of the Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak became his Sikh and began to live at Kartarpur. His devotion to Guru Nanak and his holy mission was so great that he was installed as the Second Nanak in September 7, 1539 by Guru Nanak himself. 7th. Earlier Guru Nanak tested him in various ways and found an embodiment of obedience and service in him. Guru Nanak gave him a new name Angad (Guru Angad Sahib). He spent six or seven years in the service of Guru Nanak Sahib at Kartarpur. 8th. After the death of Guru Nanak Sahib on September 22, 1539, Guru Angad Sahib left Kartarpur for Khadur Sahib Village (near Goindwal Sahib). He carried forward the thought of Guru Nanak Sahib both in letter and spirit. Yogis and Saints of different sects visited him and held detailed discussions about Sikhism and Dharam with him . 9th. Guru Angad Sahib introduced a new alphabet known as Gurmukhi script, modifying the old Punjabi scripts characters. Very soon, it become the script of the masses. He took great interest in the education of the children by opening many schools for their education and thus increased the number of literates. 10th. For the youth he started the tradition of Mall Akhara, where physical as well as spiritual exercises were held. He collected the facts about Guru Nanak Sahibs life from Bhai Bala ji and wrote the first biography of Guru Nanak Sahib. (Bhai Bale Wali Janamsakhi available now a days in not the same as the one that Guru Angad Sahib had compiled.) 11th. He also wrote 63 Saloks (stanzas), which were later included in Guru Granth Sahib by the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan. He popularized and expanded the institution of Guru ka Langar that had been started by Guru Nanak. 12th. Guru Angad visited all important places and centres established by Guru Nanak for preaching Sikhism. He also established hundreds of new Dharamsalas (Sikh religious Institutions) and thus strengthened the base of Sikhism. The period of his Guruship was the most crucial one. The Sikh community being in infancy, had to face many dangers. 13th. It was not difficult for Hinduism to swallow the newly born Sikhism in due course of time. Moreover Sri Chands Udasis sect community and the activities of Jogies had not yet abated. At this hour of juncture he lived Guru Nanak Sahibs tenets in true spirit and there were manifest signs of establishing a distinct way of life away from Hinduism. Sikhism became to established its own separate religious identity. 14th. Guru Angad, by following the example of Guru Nanak, nominated Amar Das as his successor (The Third Nanak) before his death. He presented all the holy scripts including those he received from Guru Nanak, to Guru Amar Das. He breathed his last on March 29, 1552 at the age of forty-eight. 15th. It is said that he started to build a new town, at Goindwal near Khadur Sahib and Guru Amar Das was appointed to supervise its construction. It is also said that Mughal emperor, Humayun, when defeated by Sher Shah Suri, came to obtain blessings of Guru Angad in regaining the throne of Delhi. 16th. “Invention of Gurmukhi” :- 17th. Guru Angad invented the present form of the Gurmukhi script. It became the medium of writing the Punjabi language in which the hymns of the Gurus are expressed. This step had a far-reaching purpose and impact. 18th. Firstly, it gave the common people a language that is simple to learn and write. Secondly, it helped the community to dissociate itself from the very reserved and complex nature of the Sanskrit religious tradition so that the growth and development of the Sikhs could take place unhampered and unprejudiced by the backlog of the earlier religious and social philosophies and practices. 19th. Earlier, the Punjabi language was written in the Landa or Mahajani script This had no vowel sounds, which had to be imagined or construed by the reader in order to decipher the writing. Therefore, there was the need of a script which could faithfully reproduce the hymns of the Gurus so that the true meaning and message of the Gurus could not be misconstrued and misinterpreted by each reader to suit his own purpose and prejudices. 20th. The devising of the Gurmukhi script was an essential step in order to maintain the purity of the doctrine and exclude all possibility of misunderstanding and misconstruction by any person. 21st. “Gurmukhi Script and Education” :- 22nd. Guru Angad Dev ji started the schools and also developed the Gurmukhi language in order to make education available to the downtrodden and the underprivileged of the society at that time. Guru Angad was a great teacher who personally taught Punjabi in Gurmukhi script to children. 23rd. He provided education and means of communication to common folk who would no longer be dependent on the religious or political establishment to pursue their own economic, educational or spiritual goals. This was his way of empowering people to have higher goals in life. 24th. An imperfect Punjabi alphabet existed at the time of Guru Nanak, but Guru Angad modified and polished it. Since the Guru Angad had adopted the modified alphabet, it was called Gurmukhi- meaning that which is spoken through the mouth of the Guru. 25th. Gurumukhi became the medium of writing in which the hymns of the Gurus were expressed and it also suited to the language of the people. Although the origins of the Punjabi Alphabets are unclear, it is clear that Guru Angad popularized the use of this simplified Gurumukhi script among the Sikhs starting around 1541. 26th. The invention of Gurumukhi helped the early Sikh community to dissociate itself from the Sanskrit religious tradition. Sanskrit language was used by the Brahmins, the upper castes and it was the language of the Vedas, the Hindu religious texts. People of lower castes and untouchables were barred from reading any spiritual literature. 27th. This maintained the status of the superiority of the upper castes. Gurmukhi enabled the Sikhs to grow and develop their own unprejudiced spiritual literature. Creating this new script was significant for many reasons. 28th. It gave the people who spoke this language an identity of their own, enabling them to express their thought without any restrictions. The guru also saw the need of a script which could faithfully reproduce the hymns of the Gurus keeping its purity and which would also prevent misinterpretation or misconstruction by any reader to suit his own purpose and prejudices. 29th. This step by Guru Angad Dev helped secure the unhindered development and growth of Sikhism. Guru Angad also initiated the writing of the first authorized biography of Guru Nanak completed in 1544, as well as having a number of copies of Guru Nanaks hymns written out in the new Gurmukhi script. 30th. “Further establishment of Langar” :- 31st. The institution of Langar was maintained and developed. The Gurus wife, Mata Khivi personally worked in the kitchen. She also served food to the members of the community and the visitors. Her devotion to this institution finds mention in Guru Granth Sahib. 32nd. The Guru earned his own living by twisting coarse grass into strings used for cots. All offerings went to the common community fund. This demonstrates that it is necessary and honourable to do even the meanest productive work. It also emphasises that parasitical living is not in consonance with the mystic and moral path. In line with Guru Nanaks teaching, the Guru also declared that there was no place for passive recluses in the community. 33rd. “Physical Fitness” :- 34th. Guru Angad took a keen interest in physical fitness, and encouraged his devotees to be involved in sports after their morning prayers. Guru Angad Dev ji inspired people to lead healthy lives. According to Guru ji, if you are physically fit only than you can pursue higher goals in life, because a sound mind can exist only in a sound body. 35th. He provided opportunities to underprivileged sections of the society to maintain good health. He encouraged all people to be involved in wrestling bouts or Mal Akharas to compete in physical competitions. 36th. This was again his way of doing away with social taboos of people of lower caste not having physical contact with higher castes. These steps initiated by him laid the foundation for a spiritually, educated and enlightened, healthy Sikh community, without distinctions of caste and creed. 37th. “Women’s Role” :- 38th. The position of woman at the time was deplorable. She was looked down upon because she was thought to be inferior to man and was regarded as merely a temptress. She was confined to her home and was not allowed to participate in any public work. Guru preached that man and women were equal before God. He welcomed women to the Sangat, offered them seats side by side and gave them religious rights that have so far been denied to her. 39th. Guru Angad scarcely worked alone. His wife and partner, Mata Khivi, is a very important woman who contributed significantly to Sikhism. Mata Kheevi played a major role in enlarging the women participation in the leadership position in Guru’s court. 40th. Mata Khivi was instrumental in creating and maintaining the institution of langar, whereby all devotees of the Guru and all people in general, were invited to come and eat together. This practice started initially with Mata Khivi serving food to the members of the community and the visitors who would come to see Guru Angad and it came to symbolize the Guru’s teachings; emphasizing the humanity in every single person and abolishing any innate discriminations. 41st. She did her job in a skillful and selfless manner, characteristic of her, and evoked spontaneous respect among the people. Her role in that capacity was unique and revolutionary because women were usually not seen in the forefront of the society. She also made sure that the food being fed was nutritious and wholesome because many who came to see Guru were needy and destitute. 42nd. Mata Kheevi would embrace them all and offer love and food. She was, to use the simile of the contemporary ministrel Balwand, like a shady tree to the Guru’s disciples and afforded them effectual shade. Her role and praise is recorded in the Guru Granth Sahib. 43rd. To this day, after every service, visitors to a Sikh gurudwara witness a congregation who join and eat Langar together. Langar also emphasized that service to fellow man was an important tenet of the Sikh way of life, as it is customary for members of the congregation to serve one another. 44th. “Equality” :- 45th. Guru Angad stood for a casteless and classless society, in which no one was superior to the other and no one, through greed or selfishness, could be allowed to encroach upon the rights of others. In short, he visualized a society in which members lived like a family, helping and supporting one another. He not only preached equality but practiced it. 46th. To promote the acceptance of human equality, Guru established a community kitchen where all sat together in a row, regardless of caste or status, and ate the same food. Guru Angad said, “He Himself creates, O Nanak; He establishes the various creatures. How can anyone be called bad?. There is One Lord and Master of all; He watches over all, and assigns all to their tasks. Some have less, and some have more; no one is allowed to leave empty.” – Guru Angad Dev 47th. Furthermore, the guru stressed the importance of adopting a uniform way of praising God and the utility of a social organization based on equality. He established a holy congregation, or Sangat, where people of different beliefs and varying social status sat together to hear the Master’s singing of hymns and to be inspired to lead a noble life. 48th. “Devotion and Love towards God” :- 49th. Guru stressed the oneness of God. The purpose of life is to seek God, find him and be united to Him. He called upon the people to give up formal and superficial rituals and rally around the Creator, who alone was Omnipotent and Omnipresent. According to Guru Angad, no one has ever found acceptance or achieved self-realization without true devotion to God. 50th. “ O Nanak, if someone judges himself, only then is he known as a real judge. If someone understands both the disease and the medicine, only then is he a wise physician. Do not involve yourself in idle business on the way; remember that you are only a guest here.” 51st. Good deeds are important but winning God’s Grace is still more important. Pride, greed and ego are the greatest distractions to keep away humans from the Creator. A guru or a spiritual divine teacher is needed to guide the man on the true path. “That virtuous person who does not walk in the way of greed, and who abides in Truth, is accepted and embraced by God”. 52nd. This is the nature of ego, that people perform their actions in ego. This is the bondage of ego, that time and time again, makes people suffer” Guru Angad Dev also emphasized that one must control the greed and worldly attachment because they are impediments in the path of God. One must stay focused on the inner development. 53rd. “They know that they will have to depart, so why do they make such ostentatious displays? Those who do not know that they will have to depart, continue to arrange their affairs. He accumulates wealth during the night of his life, but in the morning, he must depart. O Nanak, it shall not go along with him, and so he regrets. 54th. “The mouth is not satisfied by speaking, and the ears are not satisfied by hearing. The eyes are not satisfied by seeing—each organ seeks out one sensory quality. The hunger of the hungry is not appeased; by mere words, hunger is not relieved. O Nanak, hunger is relieved only when one utters the Glorious Praises of the Praiseworthy Lord.” 55th. “Fearlessness” :- 56th. He was a constructive architect of a society which focused on the social and religious freedom and equality, promoting dignity of action without distinction of caste and status. He was born at a time when ritual, caste distinctions and superstition had reduced the people to a low level of existence. 57th. He gave them courage and uplifted them. He taught the people to lead a righteous life and show due reverence and respect to God instead of supplicating before men. By his own example he made the people fearless and put a new life and spirit in them. 58th. “Those who have the Fear of God, have no other fears; those who do not have the Fear of God, are very afraid. O Nanak, this mystery is revealed at the Court of the Lord.” The Guru also extolled the dignity of labor and decried the division of society on grounds of birth and founded a classless society based on the idea of equality and universal brotherhood. 59th. He was particularly aware of the degradation which the lower classes of the people suffered through centuries at the hands of rulers and the so called high caste people. He aligned himself with the down-trodden and the less fortunate sections of the people and preferred to stay with the working class people. 60th. “Company of the Holy” :- Guru Angad confirms that “those who meditate on the Eternal Lord, who is fearless and is All Pervasive, are not only themselves emancipated, but they rescue many others form this net of illusion.” 61st. “Sewa” :- 62nd. Guru Angad believed in the service and well-being of all mankind and not just of his own followers. He laid stress on character building rather than observance of rituals and formalities. The path which Guru Angad pointed out to his Sikhs for achieving enlightenment was through service and good actions and devotion and worship of one God. 63rd. He asked his followers to win Divine grace by prayer, singing His praises, cultivating humility, a spirit of service and submitting at all time to His will. Paying a fine under pressure, does not bring either merit or goodness. That alone is a good deed, O Nanak, which is done by one’s own free will. Sewa has to be done selflessly. Eliminate your conceit and then perform service to humanity, Only then you will be get honor - Guru Angad Dev. 64th. “Divinity Within” :- 65th. He stressed the importance of the physical body as an instrument of spiritual development. He told his followers that there was a spark of divinity in every human being. The body is the temple of God as it houses the soul. God’s presence can be felt by deeper contemplation and reflection within. 66th. “Twenty-four hours a day one looks for contentment in eight different directions but one must also explore the ninth place, which is to their own body and contemplate within. Within the body are the nine treasures of the Name of the Lord—seek the depths of these virtues. Those blessed with the karma of good actions praise the Lord and become true devotees” – Guru Angad Dev 67th. “Those who are blessed with the glorious greatness of Your Name — their minds are imbued with Your Love. O Nanak, there is only One Ambrosial Nectar; there is no other nectar at all. O Nanak, the Ambrosial Nectar is obtained within the mind, by Guru’s Grace.” 68th. “Life of Action” :- 69th. He held firmly that physical austerity was not necessary and that spiritual development was not dependent on ritual and external wanderings. “austerity and everything come through immersing oneself in the meditation of the Lord’s Name. All other actions are useless. O Nanak, believe in the One who is worth believing in. By Guru’s Grace, he is realized.” 70th. Guru Angad was at once a spiritual teacher and a man of action. To Guru Angad, religion was not only a spiritual experience but a way of life. Every action must have an impact of spirituality, humility and love. This can be achieved if one is always conscious of the presence of God. 71st. Guru Angad insisted that there should be harmony between thought and action and purity in life. “Doing some thing unwillingly or doing under pressure from someone, does not bring either merit or goodness. That alone is a good deed, O Nanak, which is done by one’s own free will.” 72nd. “Mortals are known by their actions; this is the way it has to be. They should show goodness, and not be deformed by their actions; this is how they are called beautiful. Whatever they desire, they shall receive; O Nanak, they become the very image of God.” -Guru Angad Dev. 73rd. “O Nanak, the worldly achievements and glory is worthy of being burnt in the fire if it causes one to forget God. Usually these worldly things has caused mortals to forget the the Name of the Lord. Not even one of them will go along with you in the end.” - Guru Angad Dev. 74th. “Gurdwara connected with Guru Angad Dev Ji. These following are famous historical Gurdwaras connected with Guru Angad Dev Ji :- 1. Gurudwara Mai Bhrayi: Mai Bhrayi was Guru Jis paternal aunt. When the Guru moved to Kartarpur from Khadur Sahib on Guru Nanaks behest, this is where he stayed and worshipped in solitude. 2. Gurudwara Darbar Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji, Khandi Sahib: Guru Ji would gather his followers here and disseminate his teachings. 3. Gurudwara Tapiana Sahib: After the religious gatherings, Guru Ji used to chant and worship here. 4. Gurudwara Mal Akhara: This was the arena for exercising. 5. Gurudwara Matte di Serai: This is Guru Angad Dev Jis place of birth. 6. Gurdwara Khadur Sahib, Dist. Amritsar. 75th. The Second Sikh Guru Angad Dev Ji contributed the following to the people of the world : - 1. To do Nishkam Sewa Selfless Service to humanity. 2. Completely surrender to the Will of God. 3. Disapproval of exhibitionism and hypocrisy. 4. Formalised the present form of the Gurmukhi script. 5. Born: March 31, 1504. 6. Place of Birth: Harike, Amritsar, Punjab, India. 7. Life Span: 1504 to 1552 - 48 years. 8. Parents Father: Bhai Pheru Mall Ji. 9. Mother: Mata Sabhrai Ji (also known Daya Kaur, etc) 10. Wife: Mata Khivi Ji. 11. Sons: Baba Dasu Ji and Baba Dattu Ji. 12. Daughters: Bibi Amro Ji and Bibi Anokhi Ji. 13. Guruship: From age 35 for 13 years: 1539 to 1552. 14. Gurbani: Total of 63 Shabads and Saloks. 76th. “Test Guru Angad Dev Ji” :- 77th. Bhai Lehna was the first Gursikh to transform his life as per the divine teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj. By faithfully obeying his Guru’s commands with utmost zeal and devotion, Bhai Lehna Ji became the second Guru Nanak. 78th. Guru Nanak Dev Ji, being the embodiment of Akal Purakh, founded the Sikh religion. His Holiness selected Bhai Lehna as his spiritual successor from amongst the thousands of his disciples. By elevating him to the Universal Spiritual Throne (Gur-Gaddi), Guru Nanak offered 5 paise and circumambulated Bhai Lehna five times and bowed before his own disciple. 79th. It is worthy to note that during his forty years of divine missionary travels throughout the eastern world, Guru Nanak Dev Ji did not bow before any person, howsoever great he might have been. He set a unique example in the history of mankind as none of the prophets had ever done so before him. 80th. Bhai Lehna was born on 31st March 1504 at Matte-di-Sarai (now called Sarai Naga) near Muktsar in Punjab. His father was Bhai Pheru Mal Ji and his mother’s name was Mata Sabhrai Ji, who was also known by different names such as Ramo, Mansa Devi and Daya Kaur. 81st. Bhai Pheru Mal Ji, a Trahan khatri, was a shopkeeper by profession but later on joined the service of Takhat Mal, a renowned person, who was ruler of many villages of the region. He appointed Bhai Pheru Mal, a very honest expert in accounting who had a good knowledge of Persian, as the General Manager of his estate. 82nd. Takhat Mal had seven sons and one daughter named Veerai. Being the only daughter and the youngest amongst the siblings, her father greatly loved her and never refused to fulfill her desires. Veerai treated Bhai Pheru Mal as a brother and Bhai Lehna used to address her as Aunt (Bhua Ji). 83rd. Takhat Mal once got annoyed with Bhai Pheru Mal on the suspicion of fraud and embezzlement in the accounts of his estate. He put him in the underground cell (prison). Naturally, Bhai Lehna was upset at this unexpected happening. 84th. Takhat Mal’s wife was concerned about Bhai Lehna’s predicament. Her husband, being very haughty, she knew that only the intervention of their daughter Veerai could solve this problem. She adviced Bhai Lehna to go to Khadur immediately and meet his aunt Veerai, who was married there. Bhai Lehna met Veerai at Khadur and narrated the whole story. 85th. Being deeply concerned, she took Bhai Lehna to Guru Nanak, who always remained in a spiritual bliss under the Peepul Tree near the well in her fields. Both of them bowed their heads in reverence at the feet of Guru Nanak, and narrated the whole story. 86th. Guru Ji gave a holy glance at Bhai Lehna and enquired his name. The young boy replied that he was known as Lehna. Guru Ji said, “You are a creditor and not a debtor. You are not to owe anything to anyone. Go at once and take the Balance Sheet of the accounts prepared by your father from Takhat Mal, examine it and rectify the same at such and such page. 87th. By doing this, everything would be alright.” Both bowed their heads before Guru Nanak and sought his leave. By this time the message of Veerai also reached her father, Takhat Mal, to hand over the Balance Sheet to Bhai Lehna for rechecking of the accounts and removal of doubts. With the blessings of Guru Nanak, everything was set right. 88th. Takhat Mal was satisfied with the accounts and consequently released Bhai Pheru Mal. After this bitter episode, in consultation with his son, Bhai Lehna, Pheru Mal moved out of Mate-di-Sarai and settled with his family at Village Sangar, where Bhai Lehna was married to Bibi Khivi. 89th. After some time, he shifted his business to Hari-ke-Pattan, where his business flourished due to his virtues. Later, on the persuasion of in laws of Bhai Lehna, Pheru Mal again shifted with family to Sangar, where he established wholesale shop. 90th. Bhai Pheru Mal was a devout worshipper of Goddess (Hindu Devi). Some historians mention that he used to lead a group of Goddess worshippers at Jwala Mukhi in Kangra Hills, while others write that he used to go to Vaishnu Devi, along with the devotees of the area. 91st. It appears that he and his fellow worshippers used to visit both these Goddesses in the alternate years. After the demise of Bhai Pheru Mal, Bhai Lehna took over this mantle and he started leading the fellow worshippers to these places of Goddess’ accordingly. 92nd. One early morning at village Sangar, Bhai Lehna went for a bath in the nearby stream, where he saw Bhai Jodha, a Sikh of Guru Nanak, singing the hymns of his Guru (Asa-di-Vaar) after having his bath. When Bhai Lehna heard these serene and divine heart touching hymns, he was captivated and filled to the brim with ecstasy. He enquired about this spiritual composition from Bhai Jodha, who assigned this divine verse to Guru Nanak, whose present abode was at Kartarpur. 93rd. Bhai Lehna with his heart full of divine attraction immediately made up his mind to have holy glimpses of Guru Nanak while going to the Goddess’ pilgrimage (Vaishnu Devi) with his fellow worshippers. As usual, on the way they halted for the night about 5 miles from Kartarpur. 94th. Bhai Lehna took leave of the group and proceeded towards Kartarpur for having Holy glimpses of the Guru. Simultaneously, Guru Nanak left his Holy seat to receive Bhai Lehna. On the way Bhai Lehna, riding on his horseback, came across an old man with a spiritual glowing face, from whom he inquired about the abode of Guru Nanak. 95th. The gentle old man asked Bhai Lehna to follow him. On reaching the destination, the old man told Bhai Lehna, to tie the horse on the corner and enter the holy abode from that side. The Holy Old man, being Guru Nanak himself, entered from the other side and immediately sat on the divine seat, where the congregation was reciting the divine hymns. 96th. While entering the abode, Bhai Lehna, in a state of trance, fell on the feet of Guru Nanak. Guru ji lifted his head with divine affection. As soon as Bhai Lehna glanced at the divine radiating face of Guru Nanak, he felt shocked, humiliated and tears rolled down his cheeks. 97th. Guru Nanak patted him and asked for the reason for his tears. He replied that he had committed a great sin that being a disciple; he was riding on the horseback, whereas his holy master was leading him on foot. 98th. On hearing this, Guru Ji asked his name and he replied that the humble servant was called Lehna. Guru Nanak affectionately told him with a divine smile that a person who is a creditor always comes to the debtor on horseback, whereas the debtor always approaches the creditor on foot. 99th. Bhai Lehna could not understand this divine prophecy for forthcoming happenings. At night, Bhai Lehna had a vision of a beautiful lady, wearing red cloths and sweeping the abode of Guru Nanak. On enquiry, she replied that she was the same Goddess, whom he used to visit every year for blessings. The reply left Bhai Lehna wonderstruck. 100th. Then the Goddess gently explained that there was no need for Bhai Lehna to feel depressed. This was the abode of Almighty Lord from where she gets everything and distributes them to her devotees. This divine vision left deep imprint upon his mind and he thanked Almighty Lord, who had brought him on to his real abode. 101st. Next day, after waiting for a long time, fellow pilgrims came to Bhai Lehna and asked him to lead the group for pilgrimage. He humbly brushed aside their persuasions and told them that he had found the divine abode, which he was searching for, all his life. Now, he won’t go anywhere. The fellow pilgrims rebuked him and told him that he was committing a sin and would get all the curses of the Goddess. Seeing his adamancy they left for the onward journey. 102nd. Bhai Lehna being the utmost devotee of the Guru rendered most humble service to his revered master. After some time, Guru Ji told him to go to Khadur to settle his household affairs and then return for this divine service. Bhai Lehna after reaching Khadur set the whole business and household in order. On his way back to Kartarpur, he brought along a heavy load of salt for Langar (Free Kitchen of Guru). 103rd. After unloading the bundle in the kitchen, he straightaway went to the rice fields, where Guru Nanak was weeding along with other deciples. Bhai Lehna also engaged himself in weeding the paddy crop, but instead of weeds he started uprooting the rice plants. On seeing this, Guru Nanak said “O beloved one! You have to establish the divine plants for the welfare of mankind and not uprooting them”. 104th. At that time Bhai Lehna was wearing very beautiful and costly silk clothes. In the evening, after finishing the job, Guru Nanak told his sons to lift the three bundles of the weeds from which the muddy water was dripping. Both of them refused to do so. Bhai Lehna promptly came forward and took all the three bundles on his head by the grace of his Guru. 105th. The muddy drops spoiled all his silk clothes. On seeing this, Mata Sulakhni (wife of Guru Nanak) asked the holy husband with harsh tone to look at the beautiful clothes that had been spoiled by the heavy load dripping muddy water on his head. 106th. On this, Guru Nanak remarked with a divine smile, “O dear! This is not the mud, but the divine saffron and the load of the heavy bundles is a divine burden of the suffering humanity, which Lehna will have to bear with the passage of time”. From now on, Bhai Lehna became the constant attendant of Guru Nanak and obeyed his master’s command in letter and spirit. 107th. Once an unusual congregation of devotees assembled at Kartarpur, where ceaseless rain continued for three days. Guru ji looked towards his sons Baba Sri Chand and Lakhmi Das and said, “O dear sons! Ration is exausted, devotees are to be served. 108th. Climb up the acacia (Kikar) Tree and shake it up, so that the eatables drop for the serving”. Both the sons laughed away the idea and refused to carry out the command. To comply the wishes of his divine master, Bhai Lehna at once climbed and shook the tree. And lo behold! The eatables started dropping in plenty. 109th. Guru Nanak used to go to River Raavi for his morning bath and meditation in neck deep water at amrit vela. Bhai Lehna and other devoted Sikhs used to accompany him. Bhai Lehna used to keep the clothes of his master in his lap, while Guru Ji was meditating in the water. Once there was a heavy rain and hailstorm. 110th. All the other Sikhs could not bear the brunt of the chill and they returned home to have fire warmth. When Guru Ji, after completing the meditation came out of the deep water at sunrise, he asked Lehna why was he still there when others had gone to escape the chilly weather. Lehna bowed in reverence saying that his Holiness’ service was his only abode. 111th. Once during a cold winter night Guru Nanak asked his sons to get his clothes washed immediately. They refused on the pretext that after sunrise they would get the job done by the washerman. After the refusal by his sons, the Guru looked at Bhai Lehna, who immediately went and carried out the job. 112th. One day a bowl slipped from Guru Nanak’s hand into a deep dirty pit. Guru Ji asked his sons to take out the bowl, which they bluntly refused. Hearing this, Bhai Lehna immediately jumped into the dirty water and took out the bowl as per his master’s wishes. 113th. During one cold winter night, when it was raining heavily, the wall of Guru ji’s house fell. He asked his sons to erect the wall at once. When the Guru’s sons refused to construct it, on the pretext that they will get it built in the morning by the masons, Guru ji again emphasized that we had to construct the wall ourselves and not by the hired labourer. 114th. Hearing these holy words of his master, Bhai Lehna did not lose a moment to get engaged in the construction. To test the patience and devotion of Bhai Lehna, Guru ji rejected the wall as lopsided and asked him to build it again. Bhai Lehna had to build the wall four times for the satisfaction of his master, but each time he showed more patience and devotion. 115th. Once at late midnight in the assembly of Sikhs, at the ‘Dharamsaal’ (Place of worship) Guru ji asked the devotees to find out the time. One-by-one, every Sikh went outside to observe the movements of the stars for determining the time. Every one, on return told Guru Ji that half the night had passed and half the night was left behind. 116th. Upon this Guru Ji told everybody that according to him, one quarter of the night was left. Almost all the Sikhs humbly contested this version of Guru Ji and submitted that according to movement of the stars half the night was left. Then Guru Ji asked Bhai Lehna to find the exact time of the night. 117th. Bhai ji, obeying the command of his Guru, of course, went out but did not look up to the stars and not even at the earth, because in his vision, Guru Nanak was dwelling. Guru ji asked Bhai Lehna on his return about the time factor of the night, he humbly submitted with folded hands, “O Devine Master! You are the Creator of the Universe, what to speak of the day and night? How your humblest creature can dare to tell the time?” 118th. Guru Nanak used to perform the recitation of Gurbani and meditation on the divine name by standing in the neck deep ice-cold water of the river. Bhai Lehna deeply felt that he was committing a sinful act by remaining comfortable sitting on the bank of the river, while Guru Ji was undergoing this divine endurance. 119th. Next morning he too went into the cold water for meditation and came out at sunrise, by which time his body was almost frozen. He fell unconscious at Guru’s feet and through this divine touch he got the divine power to restore himself to natural state. Guru ji told him that at this stage, this was not his job and whatever he (Guru Nanak) was doing, would be passed on to him (Bhai Lehna) in due course of time. 120th. One day Guru Nanak was sitting in the gathering of his disciples along with his sons. In their presence Guru Ji lifted one takka (a 2 paise coin) and gripped it in his palm. He asked his elder son, what was lying in his closed palm. He replied that only a takka was there, which he had just lifted in front of the entire sangat, and what else could it be. 121st. Likewise turning to the younger son for this query, he got the similar reply. One by one he asked all those present, who humbly submitted, “O Master, due to our limited vision we can only say that there is one takka in your palm”. 122nd. When Guru Ji asked Lehna,”O Dear, What is lying in my closed hand?”Lehna Ji with utmost humility, tears rolling down his eyes and with folded hands submitted, “O Divine Master! In my little vision the whole of this Universe and its wealth is in your hands and I am unable to visualize beyond that”. 123rd. One day Guru Nanak, dressed up in an ugly, horrible appearance, carried a strong staff (Wooden rod) in his hand and was accompanied by several stray dogs. Thousands of devotees followed him; completely unaware of the severe tests their Guru would put them unto. While passing through the secluded, arduous terrain, Guru first unexpectedly showered silver coins on his followers. 124th. Several of them got enticed and ran for the money. After going a little further, the Guru showered the gold coins towards the followers. The temptation for the yellow metal almost filtered the devotees to a very few. The third test from the Master was the divine signal to the dogs to attack the devotees. They were all scared away except the three namely Baba Buddha ji, Bhai Duni Chand ji and Bhai Lehna ji. 125th. Now Guru ji started wheeling the heavy staff and struck Baba Buddha Ji and Duni Chand who saved themselves by taking shelter in the nearby trees. Bhai Lehna also got a blow of the staff of the Guru, who shouted upon him to run away. Bhai Lehna obeyed the divine order and ran a little distance to return back to the Guru. 126th. Guru again shouted, “Why have you come back?” With tears rolling down his eyes, Bhai Lehna humbly submitted with folded hands, “O Divine Master! Where should I go? I have got no house, place or any other shelter except your holy feet.” Guru Nanak affectionately, with divine love told him that he was also searching for a home for his divine light to reside, which he had found in his (Bhai Lehna’s) heart. 127th. Hereafter, Baba Buddha ji and other devotees joined the holy Master. While going further there was a human corpse covered with white sheet lying on the heap of wood. Guru ji said, “Whosoever wants to accompany me will have to eat the dead body”. He again shouted, “Either eat or run away”. This dreaded test compelled everyone to step back except Bhai Lehna. Guru ji asked him to eat the dead body. 128th. He humbly submitted “O’ my divine Master, from which side should I start eating?” Guru Ji ordered him to start from the feet side. When Bhai Lehna lifted the white sheet, he found* the glimpses of Guru Nanak and then with all the divine excitement Bhai Lehna expounded, “Where is not Guru Nanak? Wherever I see I see only Nanak. 129th. Nanak is pervading everywhere.” At that divine moment Guru Nanak exclaimed, “Nanak does not reside in any tomb, grave or idol but in the heart of Lehna”, who had become his divine limb and henceforth being called Angad. 130th. This was the last divine test, which Bhai Lehna passed with his utmost devotion, humility and obedience by the grace of his Guru. Next day, Guru Nanak sent the messages to all his disciples to gather at ‘Dharamsal’. He also called for his sons and wife. Lehna, as usual was sitting behind him. Gurbani was being recited. 131st. At this moment, a thought came into the mind of Mata Sulakhni ji that Guru Nanak Dev was going to bestow the Gur-Gaddi upon Lehna Ji and not upon ether of his sons. At that very moment, a cat having a dead mouse in her mouth passed across and dropped the mouse in front of the Guru. 132nd. Guru Ji asked his two sons turn by turn to lift the dead mouse and throw it away from the Dharamsaal. Both of them, considering themselves to be the sons of Holy Father and of upper caste (Bedi), would not touch the dead mouse and said that they would rather call for a servant to do so. 133rd. After the refusal from the sons, Guru Nanak looked towards Bhai Lehna. He promptly picked up the dead mouse and threw it in the nearby forest away from the Dharamsaal. Of Course the doubts of Mata Sulakhni (pertaining to Gur-Gaddi) were satisfied. Infact it was a message for the mankind that whosoever obeys the divine orders, would be elevated to the highest stage of merging with the Divine Almighty Lord. 134th. After this Guru Nanak exalted Bhai Lehna to the Divine Throne (Gur-Gaddi). He offered 5 paise and circumambulated Bhai Lehna five times and bowed before him. Then he asked his beloved Sikh Baba Buddha ji to apply saffron mark (Tilak), which was considered as a symbol of spirituality, on the forehead of Guru Angad Dev ji. 135th. All the spiritual duties, which were assigned to Guru Nanak by the Almighty Lord for furtherance of Divine Peace and Spirituality to mankind, were from now on passed on to Guru Angad Dev ji. Guru Nanak asked all the Sikhs (disciples) to bow henceforth before Angad Dev ji 136th. Guru Nanak Dev ji asked Guru Angad to proceed for Khadur and carry on the Divine Mission of the Almighty Akal Purakh, which was assigned to him. Accordingly Guru Angad reached Khadur with utmost devotion towards the Divine (Guru Nanak). He wanted to remain merged with the Divine light within and not to see or talk to anyone. 137th. He expressed the holy decision to Mata Veerai, who showed him room where Guru ji could remain in meditation away from the outside world. Guru ji asked Mata Veerai that she should not disclose his whereabouts to anyone and give him only a bowl of milk every day. 138th. Guru ji started meditation behind the closed doors during the day, while at night he moved out of the house to the secluded place for remaining merged with the divine throughout the night. At Amrit vela he used to have his bath and came back to the room, closed the doors for remaining in spiritual bliss the whole day. 139th. The place in the jungle where he used to meditate during the night is called Tapiana Sahib. Mata Veerai did not disclose this secret even to Guru’s wife, sons or any other relatives. Guru Nanak Dev ji merged with the Almighty on 7.9.1539 (As per SGPC Publications). 140th. Sikh Sangat (Devotees) used to go to Kartarpur for pilgrimage but couldn’t find the same spiritual pattern, system and atmosphere as was prevailing during the time of Guru Nanak because Guru ji’s sons namely Baba Sri Chand and Lakhmi Das were twisting the Guru’s divine system towards the pattern of “Udasi” panth. 141st. Sangat knew that Guru Nanak Dev Ji had bestowed the divine throne (Gur-Gaddi) to Lehna Ji and made him Angad but could not have his spiritual glimpses and teachings. At last, they went to Baba Buddha ji and narrated the bewilderness of the Sikh Sangat and urged him to reveal the presence of Guru Angad Dev Ji. 142nd. Baba ji, along with a few blessed gursikhs, went to Khadur, where Bibi Veerai received them with utmost reverence but remained silent about the whereabouts of Guru Angad as per the latter’s wishes. Baba Buddha according to his divine vision went straight to the room, where Guru Angad was meditating. 143rd. They sat in front of the room and started reciting the hymns of Guru Nanak. On hearing the Gurbani, Guru Angad at once came out to have the glimpses of the Sadh Sangat. Baba Buddha ji requested Guru Angad to perform the same divine duties for furtherance of the panth of the Akal Purakh as initiated by Guru Nanak, who was residing in his heart. Guru acceded to the holy wish of the Sadh sangat. 144th. As the word went around, that Guru Nanak had bowed before his disciple Bhai Lehna, it was a hard to accept fact for all. The most amazing question was “Guru Nanak; who during his forty years of Udasies; never bowed before anybody, bowed before Bhai Lehna! Who was he and what was in him that such a miracle happened? Saints, hermits, Sidhs and other ‘Fakirs’ from all corners of the country hurried towards Guru Angad to check upon the reality of the amazingly hard to accept fact. 145th. But the very glimpses of Guru Angad were very soothing and peaceful. The so-called ‘Holy’ men saw in the Guru the same Aura, the same divine within as of his mentor Nanak. Guru Angad started the same spiritual routine at Khadur Sahib; as was being carried out by his Divine Master at Kartarpur Sahib. 146th. Guru Angad Dev Ji established the following pattern and system for the furtherance of the Divine cause as entrusted to his holy master by the Akal Purakh :- 1. “Sangat (Holy Congregation)” : - Performing of the spiritual discourses and reciting Gurbani Kirtan in the Dharamsaal both in the morning and evening. 2. “Pangat”: -Partaking free food in orderly manner, by sitting on the floor religiously. Mata Khivi, the blessed wife of Guru Angad was the in-charge of Langar (Free kitchen) and managed the same with religious zeal and devotion. Amongst the womanhood, she is the only divine lady, whose name figures in Sri Guru Granth Sahib for her divine services. Thus, this is an established fact, that women had equal rights in Sikhism. These divine hymns indicate that the Langar always used to be vegetarian from the very beginning. 3. “Gurmukhi” : - Punjabi language was used in various scripts even before Guru Nanak Dev Ji. However Guru Nanak used Punjabi besides other languages for his divine hymns, Punjabi language was never ever developed into a systematic order. Guru Angad Dev ji systemized the language and developed it into a proper script called Gurmukhi. The script was rearranged using in all, 35 alphabets. The entire Gurbani, though enunciated in different languages, is written in the Gurmukhi script. 4. “Bal Bodh” : - Guru ji prepared Bal Bodh booklets and established a school for teaching the Gurmukhi to the children of the area. 5. “Gurbani Collection” : - Guru ji collected the divine hymns of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and compiled the same. 6. “Janam Sakhi” : - Guru ji collected the life stories of Guru Nanak Dev ji from far and wide and also from Bhai Bala ji, who remained in the holy company of Guru Nanak. The compilation is known as Janam Sakhi Bhai Bala ji. 7. “Establishment of wrestling Center for Encouraging Sports” : - Guru Angad Dev Ji encouraged and motivated the youngsters for wrestling and used to watch their games with keen interest. 147th. Once he was watching the game of wrestling when Emperor Hamayun, who was recently defeated by Sher Shah Suri, came on a horse back to seek the blessings of the second Nanak, keeping in view the fact that his father was also blessed by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. 148th. Guru Angad was engrossed in the bout and did not pay any heed to the Emperor. After waiting for some time, Hamayun lost his patience and was so much enraged that he put his hand on the hilt of his sword but due spiritual power of Guru Sahib, his hands started trembling. Guru Angad, seeing the condition of the defeated Emperor remarked with a divine smile “Where was this sword in the battlefield against Sher Shah Suri. 149th. Now with defeated mentality you have conceived the filthy idea to use this sword against a faqir (divine person)”. Hearing these words Hamayun’s ego vanished and he fell upon the feet of Guru Angad to beg pardon and sought his blessing for the restoration of his throne. Guru ji showered his holy bliss and asked him to go back to his motherland from where he would again gather his strength and would be able to regain his throne. 150th. “Special Note” > Further Historical facts may be read as following in the way of additional comments.
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 10:02:51 +0000
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