The month of October is over. The water level of rivers in Punjab has gone down. The fury of the floods in the rainy season and the swelling of the rivers subsided. The level of the water that was three to four meters high is hardly one meter now.
Forests of tamarisk and elephant grass have come up. On both sides of this river, these natural gardens are blooming. In the center, the water is flowing at a low level at a sober speed, like declining age. The water level has gone down but it has become cold, not only cold but pure also.
Truly, humility goes with purity and purity goes with humility naturally. Where all three get together, there is heavenly beauty. When the cool moonlight falls on such naturally beautiful rivers, it gives a feeling of wondrousness. The galaxy of stars and the moon sparkle in the clean water. The low-lying river with the force of its clean-ness has brought the sky down in it. It is lying low but it has settled the heavens in it.
How, the stars of the sky including the blue sky can be seen spread in the water.
The nights are calm and quiet, milky moonlight, clean water, both sides of river are forests of tamarisk and elephant grass. Are they rivers of Punjab or nature's pieces of art?
Somewhere are blossoming gardens on the banks, somewhere forests and somewhere fields. The green fields are adding beauty to the populated villages.
In these green fields, because of the sweet season, the villagers play Kabaddi and other games till late at night. It appears that the simple and pious villagers are enjoying life in natural exuberance.
Early in the morning, the music of churning of yogurt by the women, young and old, starts coming from their houses. The impact of the buttermilk with the vessel by the swinging of the churning stick gives a sweet tune. In between from some houses, a constant buzzing of the spinning wheel and from some houses, the whirling of the grinding wheel gives a wonderful tune.
The glimpse of simple and pious hearts and gentle faces at dawn are creating a natural drama. Punjab, the land of five rivers, God truly created it as clean as water. The beauty of its banks attracted the Vedic sadhus for centuries. In those happy times, these simple people composed songs for their cows and lands after getting inspiration from this natural scenic beauty. The sun, the moon, the breeze, the sky, the thunder, gave them a wondrous sensation and they could see the Lord behind this phenomenon. Times changed but this natural beauty and simplicity of Punjab did not change. Many invaders came and the customs and living styles changed but the beauty of the rivers is still the same. For the lovers of nature, these banks of rivers are living music and living songs. Yes, the divine songs in praise of the Lord, the ideal men sing, at the banks of these rivers, in the presence of the Lord.
They get exuberance from nature and jump into the lap of the Lord. The ideal men of Punjab sing the divine songs and praises of the Lord and consider it a grace from the Lord. Near the Bein stream, the ideal men whose minds were awakened by Guru Nanak, are seeing the Lords' created natural beauty in the stream, the water, sun, the moon, the singing of the birds and uttering 'Great Guru Nanak' and with tears, are praying: O benevolent Guru, O gracious Guru, do give a glimpse of your moon-like face.
When we look to the past, then, we see that the tenth Guru put his sacred feet on the banks of the river Satluj and made it fortunate.
Then, the second and third Gurus put their sacred feet on the banks of river Beas and made it fortunate. But even before these times, Guru Nanak put his sacred feet on the bank of river Beas and made it fortunate. Sister Nanki also sang divine songs at the bank of river Beas. At a little distance from the bank of this river Satluj, is Sultanpur.
This is the same Sultanpur, where Guru Nanak did the job of Keeper of Stores of the king's grocery store and where he lived with the family and also created a holy congregation. The true Guru renounced the house and started his travels to allay the suffering of the world, from here only.
See today, it is morning. One lady is sitting on the bank of river Beas. Seeing the waves in the river she starts talking: O River, your heart is always tranquil. It is centuries, since you are flowing like this.
On your bank many people laughed and many cried but you are flowing unperturbed. See, I am a married woman. People say: You are fortunate, but it is years that I haven't got even a glimpse of my beloved. What fortunate am I that my beloved neither talked to me from his heart nor listened to me? If at all he talked, then, he said: Don't accumulate things and wealth. One has to leave everything back. One is afraid of thieves. Accumulate the wealth that goes with you. This is the sweet talk and the sweet company of my beloved. But still, at least I was having a glimpse of him. I was cooking fresh food and waiting for him, but even that is gone. How many years? May be twelve or more or less? O God! a decade has passed. My relatives tell me: You don't love your hubby. If I did not love him, then why would I cry and be exhausted? Why, even one day would be equal to a decade for me? Why would my heart sink? Why would my eyes rain tears?
Since the day, my beloved departed, the food doesn't give me a good taste. The water doesn't quench my thirst. At the time of separation, how much I cried and wailed, and begged him to stay back. He gave only one reply: I have to serve my Lord and you cannot travel with me.
Even those, who go in service in wars, have come and gone several times in twelve years. I don't know, what tough master he is serving that he never gets any leave.
But what should the master do? My husband hasn't got any sentiment in him. From the very first day, he had no attachment with the house.
(Sobbing) What can one do? It is destiny. I am married and I have got sons but still I suffer in pangs of separation and in anxiety day and night.
Oh! My fortune. I have no place even to cry. When I am in my parents' house and I cry there, then my parents scold me: Think of your brothers, think of your sons, they don't like it. Sometimes, when I come here, then my sister-in-law, out of love, scolds me: Think of my brother. He doesn't like it.
But somebody should get into my mind and find how sad I remain.
In my parents' house, where I have stayed all this time, my parents say: This daughter's feet are not auspicious, that she did not get the comfort of family living. That is true.
O River, many times you flooded and swelled and then came down, but the meek that I am, I have remained meek for years.
They say: I have not loved my hubby. I am meek, but I am immersed in his love.
Of course, I do not have a ready solution to love an extraordinary husband in an extra-ordinary way. What do I understand his inner self, the ignorant that I am? If he had remained in the house nicely and earned and brought money in the house, and played with children in sentimental love, then, the world could see how I loved him. The children would have been happy. I would have been happy. My love would have been appreciated. I do not understand the love that my saint husband has. How do I know what is saintly love?
O river Beas, you fulfill my desire sometime. I shall float earthen lamps of refined butter on your surface. My husband should return sometime. He should put his feet in the house. Me unfortunate may become fortunate sometime.
Saying this, her eyes were filled with tears and she cried. There was no one near to stop her. So, she cried to her heart's fill. For this reason only, she has come away from the house and is sitting in solitude, that she may give vent to her emotions and cry to her heart's fill.
After crying so much her eyes closed and she said a prayer: O benevolent, gracious and merciful lam drowning in sentiments You are blessing the world. Bless me also.
Ill
How much sister's love is, in these six letters? They are lovely but the god of love Guru Nanak used these six letters for that loving soul that rarely anybody would be so fortunate, as she was. She perceived the greatness of her godly brother in his mad love for the Lord. In childhood while playing only, she recognized him as the image of the Lord. When, because of the twenty rupees spent on the needy, dad was giving vent to his rage and the master of the wealth of the world was tolerating without making excuses, then, she only was able to ward off the anger of the dad that nobody would have been able to do.
This godly figure stood between dad and brother and embraced dad and said: O dad, look towards me. Let the twenty rupees go in charity for the sake of brother.
This, fountain of love, Guru Nanak remembered her all his life by addressing her as 'sister'. Whenever, Guru Nanak met this soul, he said, 'sister'.
Whenever, this soul who was called by these six letters said, Brother, your glimpse, then, Guru Nanak came from long distances and met and said, 'sister'.
See, today that sister is remembering and Guru Nanak is saying: O Mardana, sister is remembering me. Lets go to Sultanpur and fulfill her wish. 'Sister', what a lovely word it is? For whom Guru Nanak is traveling to please her. See, that side. Near the river Beas at Sultanpur, sister is sitting in her house and remembering her brother.
She prayed:
O Brother, O godly soul.
It is decade since you haven 't given your glimpse. O beloved of the Lord, be gracious, be merciful. We are in longing.
One doesn't know for how long she would have sat in prayers, that Siri Chand came running and said: Today, mom has gone to the river bank since morning and she has not returned, and now, it is evening.
On listening to this, she got startled. She became worried. Then, accompanied by a maid and a servant, as also Siri Chand, she went to the bank of the river. After walking a long distance and looking hither and thither, they heard a voice crying and wailing with emotion:
lam meek but you have an honorable nature.
You have made me your own. You keep me your own.
You are my master. Come and give your glimpse.
Sister Nanki heard this prayer.
Oh! The savior Guru Nanak's wife Sulakhni is sad. Although, she does not see him as an image of the Lord, yet she has deep love for her husband. Only she can feel the pangs, whose husband has gone since a decade and there is no news. The lovelorn can only feel the pangs of separation.
In these thoughts she went forward, embraced her sister-in-law, wiped her tears and said: O dear sister-in-law, do not cry.
Sulakhni: If I do not cry. What should I do? Is there any purpose for my living? Without the glimpse of the hubby, what purpose is living?
On listening to this, sister Nanki had tears in her eyes, then, she composed herself and said: He is coming now. O sister-in-law, it is his honorable nature. He will come now. You have a little patience.
Sulakhni: What patience should I have? What is mine? What have I gained?
Sister Nanki: Your husband is an image of the Lord and you will be respected in this world and you will get salvation.
Sulakhni: In crying, my eyes have become hollow. In waiting and longing, my head has become hollow. I got married but I did not enjoy marital bliss even for one day. Since, the day I got married, I am crying up to this day.
Sister Nanki: O sister-in-law, don't feel sad. You are really fortunate. If you do one thing for me, then, there will be nobody equal to you in this world. You see your husband as the image of the Lord. Ignore your authority as a wife. Don't look at the worldly desires and passions. He is a godly soul. See him as a godly soul. Your husband is not human. He is the image of the Lord. He has come to bless the world. He is allaying the suffering of the people. See, there is so much suffering in the world. He is allying the suffering.
Sulakhni: Sister, this is the thing that doesn't go into my mind. What you say is true but me stupid cannot understand.
Sister Nanki: Once, the Guru showed you a miracle of the Lord and also the suffering of the people. Then, he had explained to you that he has to serve his beloved Lord.
Sulakhni: What you say is true but my mind is so much absorbed in the worldly desires that I cannot perceive what you say. This grief only, is eating me up that why my husband does not stay with me and our house is not like a family living house?
Sister Nanki: Come sister-in-law, let us go home. It is too late.
Sulakhni: I wish I can sit here and keep crying.
Sister Nanki consoled her a lot and after a long time made her calm down and brought her back home.
One day passed, another day passed but Sulakhni's tears did not stop. In sentimental love for the savior and not understanding him as the image of the Lord, she was in sobs. This is crying in sentimental love. This makes one nervous and dejected.
Even sister Nanki cries but her crying is cool, emotional and tranquil. Her tears bring coolness. They give a sensation of the Lord's name in the body cells. They keep you in remembrance of the true Guru and immerse you in his love.
This is the difference between sentimental love and emotional or devotional love.
Third day came. It was dawn and a cool breeze started blowing.
Sister Nanki is churning buttermilk. In one hand she has picked up butter and she is reciting Asa-di-var, that she saw the true Guru crossing the verandah, entering the house, and saying: O Lord, O Lord.
It was not only seeing, the ears, after years, heard the loving six letters 'sister'. Immediately on listening, the great sister got up, dashed and fell at the Guru's feet In emotion, thanks and exuberance, she felt an exhilarating sensation.
The savior true Guru caught her head half way and embraced her with love and said: Lord Bless you.
He understood that sister is overwhelmed with delight and not fully alert. So, he himself went in along with sister and sat down. Sister Nanki, now lifted her head and looked at the radiant face of the beloved godly soul intently.
One gets ecstasy in meeting the true Guru. Sister's mind got so much immersed in the love of the Lord that she was almost un-conscious.
Meanwhile, the fortunate brother-in-law Jai Ram came. He bowed his head in extreme love. The Guru embraced him and asked his welfare. He felt delighted. He looked at the Guru's face again and again, got happiness and said: O beloved Guru, now you stay here. Everybody will be delighted.
Meanwhile, Siri Chand came, saw dad and fell at his feet. The Guru said: God bless you.
Now, sister Nanki was alert. She sent for sister-in-law.
In sentimental love, the wife of savior Guru Nanak, respected soul, pious soul, Sulakhni came. She is delighted, in emotion, but in sentimental love, though it is extreme. She fell at the Guru's feet and cried. The intuitive Guru smiled, looked at her with benevolence and showered blessings on her.
Many loved ones came. He met everyone. It was delight for one day and one night. Then, he departed.
[Lahore]
It is more than 400 years now that the river Ravi, the central amongst the Punjab rivers, sister of the other rivers, was one day, flowing in a sober style, immersed in love, in this very season. It is the riverbank. It is early morning after a moonlit night. It is cold but sweet.
One magnificent figure with radiance on his face is sitting on the tip of the bank. Close by, the god of music is playing the rebeck with such love that it has surpassed the Sarangi, Sarod and Veena. The loving prelude of Asa raag is being rendered. It appears that the entire nature has melted into a figure of beauty.
The night finished. The stars have hidden their last glimpse. The light of the dawn begins to spread. It has hidden the moonlight in itself. The moon can be seen in the blue sky but it is a bit dim. The god of music sang an
attractive divine song.
See, with how much love, the calmly flowing river Ravi is listening and feeling extremely happy. On whose banks, for centuries, the lovers of nature, sang the songs of nature, on whose banks the tyrants beat their drums, today, it is in extreme happiness. Today, it is listening to the songs of devotion and love. The river Ravi has become truly fortunate, on whose banks, the image of the Lord, is himself sitting and singing the divine songs. The river has become sacred.
The sun ball was just coming out when this music stopped, but from a distance was audible a heart-piercing voice.
On listening to this heart piercing voice of true love, the god of radiance opened his lotus eyes and his 'more beautiful than the rose' lips opened and with emotion said: O Mardana, Bhai Mansukh is longing and craving. Mardana had hardly said, 'Yes, my master' that again a voice could be heard.
Listening to the emotional voice, Mardana wanted to go that side, but the embodiment of virtues stopped him.
It is true, who goes to bring the black bees? They reach the lotus themselves.
Mad in love and longing, Mansukh walked along the bank of Ravi, that was watching the 'lovelorn meeting the love'.
In longing and craving, with tears in eyes, when Mansukh came near, then, he got the glimpse of the radiant face of the beloved godly soul.
O what is this? On the sacred bank of the river, the eyes see a glimpse of the heavenly, godly soul and dazzle, and the tongue, in joy, utters: O my longing eyes, is it true? Is it really true? But love swells and even this much consciousness goes.
The lover, in intoxication of love, in elevation of mind, lost his balance and staggered. In that moment, the embodiment of love, in melted heart, in love and emotion, embraced him and loved him: O Mansukh, The Lord's name in you, will flourish to unlimited heights. You are blessed.
O what a moment of delight, ecstasy and rapture. The longing and craving head is in the lap of the beloved. The thirsty eyes are in the lap of the beloved. The lovelorn tongue is in the lap of the beloved. The meditative mind is in the lap of the beloved. The mind in remembrance is in the lap of the beloved.
One hand of the beloved is on the head and the second is rubbing the back. Now see, the beloved has himself become the lover. His eyes have tears of love, and the tears are falling on Mansukh's head, that is in ecstasy.
O Mansukh, you are great. You have got a glimpse of the beloved.
The glimpse, for which the ascetics have to wait for life, you have got in a few years of humble longing and craving.
Mardana, the Guru's disciple is picking up the dust from under Mansukh's feet and applying it on his forehead and says: It is fortunate to have the dust of the feet of the person whom Guru Nanak loves. It is a great credit to him that he has remained steadfast in Guru Nanak's love even in long separation. I have remained with Guru Nanak but still I go into forgetfulness again and again, but he has remained steadfast. Not only steadfast but his love has increased limitlessly.
O Mansukh, you are great. The dust of your feet is sacred.
In this love, the sun came up. Sweet sunrays fell on the godly face. Then, he said to Mansukh: O Mansukh, be alert. Remain immersed in the love of the Lord.
Now, Mansukh became conscious. His face is glowing. His eyes are intoxicated in love and his mind is in ecstasy and rapture. Another moment passed. The eyes drank the love-nectar.
Mardana sang a divine song. The bank of the river Ravi became a temple of love. The sun hid itself behind the earth.
Mansukh now, took the beloved guru to his house with love and respect. The moment they reached the city, news spread in the neighborhood. When people heard that Guru Nanak has come, then, everybody thronged to meet him. It became a garden of love and wondrousness.
For two days, it was ecstasy. Then, the Guru departed.
[Talwandi]
Traveling slowly and blessing people at many places, the Guru reached his birthplace Talwandi. He stayed at a well, on the outskirts of the town, about two kilometers from the city. After sometime, Mardana said: O Savior, if you permit I may go and meet my family members. Let me see if anybody is still living. Then, the Guru, the benefactor of the disciples laughed and said: The Lord is the saviour. Don't say like that. Go and meet them.
The Guru told him to come back quickly and stressed upon him, "Do not inform my family that I have come".
Then, Mardana went
Life is a declining shade. When one is young, the hopes and desires are different but when life declines, then hopes and desires also decline.
The greed does not go, but the hopes and desires, like the water in the rivers, come down. In this age, when there is a separation, then, it gives a great pang and one goes into despair.
Yes, one fortunate old mom, whom one side is a longing to meet the son, that gives pangs, and the other side is fear of death, takes her to despair. Who knows, a call may come and I may go without meeting my son.
The more one gets older, the more the pangs of love make one suffer in despair. Then, the mom, who has only one son, born after an intense desire, and who has gone for travel and not returned for many years and the mom gets into old age, only that mom knows what is mom's love and what is the pang of separation.
Come, let us see, one fortunate mom whose name is Tripta. Since many years she has been longing to see her son, as a family man living a comfortable life, having respect in the family, looking after the elderly parents and move in the society with a high head and now has entered old age. She is not satisfied with seeing her son as a prophet and in travels. Being not contented with her desire of sentimental love, mom Tripta, although she is the mom of the god of contentment, the older she gets, she cries and now she desires that at least before her eyes close for ever, she may at least once, see her son and be contented. But there is no news of her son.
Many winters, many summers came and went. One side is longing and hope, on the other side is sadness and despair. When she sits in the house, she looks towards the sky. Sometimes, she tries to listen, maybe some voice comes.
Then, she cries: O merciless destiny, I never could see my son to my heart's fill. You gave a son, more handsome than anyone else but made me so unfortunate that I could not ever see his face to my heart's fill. The son traveled as a saint and mom heaved sighs at home. My hair became white and now, yellow. Being the mom of a son, I cry, O destiny, why are you so merciless?
In these thoughts, she is sitting in the courtyard that some neighbor came and said: O sister Tripta, your son's singer friend has come home.
Oh Mardana? She uttered. Her eyes were full of tears and she said: Please go and bring him here. For the sake of mom, go hurriedly.
The neighbor went to call Mardana but she herself followed. She was still in the verandah that Mardana entered. For sometime, she cried. Then, she asked Mardana about the welfare of her son. Meanwhile, neighbors and dear ones who heard about Mardana's arrival, came.
They ask Mardana but poor Mardana, he was ordered not to disclose anything. He is afraid to disclose. In his heart he is in distress that he has shut his lips to the crying relatives. But his mind said: Obey the orders of the Guru. So, he kept quiet. He sat there for one hour.
Mom became semi-conscious a number of times but Mardana sat, with a stone on his heart, as per the wish of the master. Then, he left.
Now, mom intuitively thought that maybe, since he is a saint now, he may not have come home, he may be sitting outside somewhere. I should go and see. So, in extreme sentimental love, she picked up some food and followed Mardana, with tears in her eyes.
The entire life, she was proud that Nanak is my son and I am the mom.
See, the Lord's wish. Today, her sentimental love has swelled so much, that she carried food and went in search of her son, the true guru.
When Mardana reached the well, then, mom got a glimpse of the handsome face in her longing eyes. She dashed to meet him but the true Guru got up and greeted his mom by touching her feet. The craving mom embraced the son and clamped him in embrace. Who can describe her love? She cried and tears fell in torrents. She would not leave him. She kissed his forehead again and again. She rubbed her hand on his head again and again.
Meanwhile, news spread in the entire town that Guru Nanak has come and is sitting at the well. Mehta Kalu, now an old man, who was once angry with him, came riding on a horse. Now, separation has made him realize his son's worth. Now, he has realized that the handsome face for which he thought twenty rupees were more important, its worth is unaccountable.
Now, he has realized that a glimpse of the son, even if one has to give one's life for it, is worth it. Now, his mind said: Let me go fast and have a glimpse. So, he rode a horse and went galloping.
The true Guru got up to fall at his feet but dad embraced him and loved him. In a short while, all relatives and close friends reached there. Everybody swarmed around.
Then, mom said: You have come after many years. It is so good of you that you have given a glimpse before these eyes close forever. Then, mom asked him to have the food that she had brought.
Then, the Guru said: O mom, I have had such a food that hunger does not trouble me. I am satiated and am full. I am not hungry.
Mehta Kalu astonishingly said: O son, what is that something that you have had, that hunger does not bother you?
Then, the mom asked the Guru to put on new clothes instead of the old ones.
Then, the Guru said: I am wearing a dress that neither gets torn nor gets dirty.
Then, dad said: Come home, stay in comfort, ride horses, we won't ask you to do any work. You live on what we have already earned. But you stay in the house. Don't go for travels.
Then, mom said: Come home, stay there, we will invite everybody. We will celebrate your coming. Everybody will be happy. We have constructed a new house. You stay there.
Then, the Guru said: I have still more to travel.
Then, mom said: If you go away. How shall we be happy? If you are not happy with your first marriage, then you can marry again. But you stay here.
Then, the Guru said: O dad, O mom, the Lord who is the creator does nothing wrong. Whatever marital relationship he has done is good.
Then, mom said: You come home. Forget your travels. Who knows when you will come again? You stay here now.
Then, the Guru said: O dad, O mom, I have come because I had said 'I will come'. But you agree to what I say, that 'I have yet to travel more'.
Then, mom said: How will my mind be at peace when you are again going away? Already, you have come after so many years.
Then, the Guru said: If you agree to what I said, then, you will have peace of mind. I will now travel nearby and return shortly.
Then, Rai Bular got the news that the Guru has come. He sent his men to make sure and got ready to go. But the intuitive Guru knew that Rai Bular is in old age and it may not the convenient for him to come. So, he himself walked and went to Rai Bular's palace. The Rai who was longing and craving was extremely delighted to meet the Guru. He got up and fell at the Guru's feet, but the Guru embraced him midway and they clamped each other. Then, Rai made him sit on the bed and listened to the stories of his travels and was delighted.
The Guru spent the night at Rai Bular's palace and departed the next day. Rai understood his wish and said: Bless me here and in the next world too. You are my support.
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