The beautiful river Ravi has left her icy abode, and traversing through high and low hilly rocks, jungles and stones reached the plains near Madhopur.
Even from here it is going ahead, kilometers and kilometers of green fields are blossoming on both sides. In between these, the river Ravi, engrossed in love, is moving day and night towards the sea that is her Lord.
It is a sweet and rosy season. The hot season is over. The pinching cold has not yet come. It is comfortable, lovingly cool, sweet, giving freshness to the eyes and is soothing to the face. Nights are cold enough to keep one indoors but daytime is not so cold. It is afternoon. There is a light cool breeze. The sun is hot but it is not bad.
One village woman is sitting on the branch of a fallen tree near a bank of the river Ravi. Nearby is a big Teak tree from where a mixture of sun and shade is falling on her. It is neither cold because of the shade nor hot because of the sun. On the ground is lying an empty earthen pot of buttermilk. On the top of the pot is a bronze bowl and in this bowl is a cloth from which bread seems to have been taken out.
The woman has joined both her hands and her wrist is on her knees. She is looking towards the north of the river. Her ears are attentive and she is sitting still as if in meditation.
She is young in age and tall in stature. Her body is neither heavy nor thin or weak. Her complexion is slightly wheatish. She has sharp features, a longish but a little roundish face. There is a charm in her eyes, but at this moment her eyes are focused on something and are serene. When she moves her eyes, it shows that she is a sensible lady.
The woman has not been educated nor did she have company of educated people, but she is intuitive. She is thoughtful and can understand and assess quite well. She is an appreciator of good things and is influenced by nice things.
At this moment her ears are listening to a sweet and loving tune. Her eyes are fixed that side. Her mind is immersed in enjoying the sweet music. She is sitting still like a statue. It is the north of the river where her eyes are focused and ears are hearing. From there is coming the sound of divine music that is refreshing her soul. The river Ravi's water current is also coming from that side.
Although, it is quite a distance where somebody is playing the music, the vibrations of the same are giving sensation to her heart, as if the mind is a musical instrument and the vibrations and sensations on its wires, are giving resonance of the vibrations and sensations to the wires of the heart. Along with the sweet and heart piercing vibrations is audible a song.
Somebody is singing a very sweet song. It is audible but she is not used to listening to this type of divine song. So, she is not able to understand the song properly, but some lines, she does understand. She is not able to understand all the lines of the song, but whatever she understands is giving her concentration and she is enjoying the music.
The divine music went on for a long time. All the time, she kept sitting and listening. Initially, she was looking that side intently, and then she listened to the music with closed eyes.
Now, when the music stopped she heaved a sigh. Her hands opened. Sometimes she opened her eyes and sometimes her eyes closed. She heaved a sigh of freshness again and again.
After sometime she became alert and started talking to herself: O Lord, who are they? From where have they come? They have been here for three days. What do they do? Whenever I go across from this side I see them playing music and singing. I also sing with my friends. I also keep singing in marriage parties for nights and nights together. I know all songs except the special marriage songs. I have listened to the love songs. I have listened to the violinists who come to our street. I have listened to the folk songs. How sweet are the folk songs? But this song, I have never heard. This is not a song. It is magic. Are they human beings? Or have they come from the abode of Indra? Do they sing? Or do they sprinkle music in the head?
Do they play music or pierce the mind? Do they play music or hammer the heart? I just cannot imagine what they have got in them. It doesn't seem
there is anything human in them. Is it not a fantasy? Is it that some kings and princes from some fairyland, playing music and singing are visible to me?
May be they are from the Lord. It is said that the heavens are full of music. Can it be the same music? What should I do? I don't feel like going home.
Whenever I come this way, while carrying food for my husband, all the time I hear this music going on and one is attracted towards the same.
Should I find out who they are? I feel afraid but I feel attracted also.
They seem to be full of love but I feel some fear also. Should I go and ask them? Please tell me, who you are. There is no strength in my body. I am feeling light but without strength. I don't feel like moving my hands and feet. It is delightful. This must be extreme happiness. I cannot bear.
What is this? What happiness is this? From where has this come? I want to have it. It should remain with me. I will forego food and everything. I wish to stay in this happiness. I shall forego food. I shall quit friends.
I shall forego riches. I shall not mind being a beggar, but I wish to remain in this happiness. What should I do so that I can tie this happiness to myself? Can I somehow put it inside me and put a lock from outside? Whom should I tell? Whom should I ask? What method should I adopt? What remedy should I seek? Should I go and ask them? Will they be benevolent or will they put me off? O Lord, how can I live without this happiness? What should I do? If I tell my husband, he will say: 'You have gone mad'.
Ah!ha! It is rapture at this moment. If I die in this rapture at this moment, how good it will be. Who knows what way I am going to die otherwise?
But alas! It is not in anybody's hand. Alas! If I had been a city dweller or daughter of a pandit or if I were educated, I would have understood something. But being an uneducated, village woman and working like animals I do not know who they are and how to talk to such divine people?
For a long time she was thinking and thinking. Her mind became strong and finally she decided to go and ask. So, she got up and went. When she went near, she saw only one person sitting there, instead of two. The musical instrument was lying in his lap and he was looking towards the river.
The woman stood at a little distance, bowed her head and spoke.
Woman: Brother, were you playing the music?
Musician: Yes, sister.
Woman: Who are you?
Musician: I am the Lord's servant.
Woman: Are you of this world or no?
Musician: Yes, sister, I am a human like you.
Woman: No. You are telling lies. I have seen you sitting here for three days. If you were like us, then you would have lit a fire sometimes and cooked food. You would have gone to bring groceries. You would have been coming and going somewhere. You would have been eating food sometimes.
Musician: I can live without food sometimes but my Guru Ji lives on divine music.
Woman: That's it. So, you belong to some other world. If you were of this world, then you would have been eating food.
Musician: We do eat food, bread, milk, butter, everything. Woman: What have you had to eat in the last three days? Musician: Divine music.
Woman: Please tell me the truth. Do you really belong to this world? Musician: Yes, this world only. I have a sister. She resembles you. I am the son of my mother like your mother and I am hungry at this moment. Woman: Then why don't you eat something?
Musician: If something comes, I shall eat. If nothing comes, even then time will pass.
Woman: Again, the same thing. O Brother, I am sure you belong to some other world. You are just putting me off. Aren't you? Please do tell. Musician: Sister, we belong to this world.
Woman: Then how do you stay without food? How can you play music? If I don't eat one meal my household chores will remain. I won't be able to move even.
Musician: Even I am not able to move. But I am not depressed.
Woman: That means you can live on the support of the joy of music.
Musician: This happiness is not in singing. Everybody sings. Who doesn't know crying or singing? But these songs are from another world (The divine world) and this happiness is a grace of the Lord. This grace is a support. It gives the feeling of fullness.
Woman: That means you are divine people.
Musician: You may say so, sister.
Woman: Brother, if I bring milk, will you have it?
Musician: Yes, sister I would love to have milk. I do have a support of the divine music but I cannot altogether live on it. So, I feel hungry and I eat and drink.
Woman: All right. That is fine. Then I will get milk for you.
She looked back again and said: Are you surely humans and none else?
I am an uneducated village woman, not very old. I haven't seen the world much. You may be from some fairyland. I may do something wrong. Musician: Why are you having such a misgiving?
Woman: You have been hungry for three days and still you are not worried. When you sing, you spread magic. I have never observed this in humans. When I was a child, I used to listen to stories. I am recalling and remembering those. It appears as if you are from a fairyland. But, I am not intelligent. I am only a village woman. May be you are those who are called divine. O Brother, you don't get angry. Village woman are like animals. I don't have much knowledge. Just don't bother about my plain talk.
Musician (With tears in his eyes): Sister, don't have any misgiving. To whom you are talking is a human and a disciple of Guru Ji whom the Lord has sent to this world. You be assured that I am human.
The woman was now satisfied. She was having the empty earthen pot on her head. She supported the earthen pot with her hand, bowed her head in respect and left.
After sometime, the woman came with a pot full of milk on her head. There was a bronze bowl on the pot, covered with a lid, which contained sugar.
Now her cheeks were rosy, she was experiencing an innocent pleasure. She was exuberant and had walked fast. When she reached there, the music was on, the same person to whom she had talked, was playing the music but the singing was by someone else. When she heard the divine song, her steps softened and her eyes became meditative. At a little distance she sat down on the ground. Her head automatically bowed down in respect. Her eyes set impulsively on the person who was singing. So much so, that the eyes stopped blinking.
The happiness embodied, the meditative effect, the divine aura, the heavenly grandeur and the divine charm that she never imagined, filled her with wonder and bewildered her. On top of it, the divine music chained her mind as a deer is chained. She kept on sitting like a stone statue. The simple and uneducated woman, who had never seen such a thing before, suddenly saw heavenly faces and her mind went into ecstasy.
The music went on. She kept the pot of milk down and she became spell bound in seeing the holy persons. The song was over. The music stopped.
The musician and the singer, both became silent and tranquillity prevailed. But the woman's eyes were so fixed on the singer that they did not even blink.
After a long spell, the woman was startled. Her eyes blinked. She heaved a sigh. A few tears of joy fell from her eyes. Her body shook and she became conscious. She was so much absorbed in the ecstasy that she could not move much but she was fully conscious. After a little while she felt strong enough to get up and offer milk to the persons who were more loving than a brother and father.
She got up, hesitated a little and moved forward. She put the pot of milk in front of the persons.
Meanwhile, the singer opened his eyes and said: 'Daughter'.
She could not know from where the voice 'daughter' had come. She felt that a divine music has gone into her heart and body.
Again the voice said: 'O Child'.
She felt an attraction.
Again the voice said: 'O Daughter'.
Now she felt afraid that she was not replying.
In a soft tone she replied: 'Yes, please'.
Singer: What have you brought?
Woman: Please, this is milk and sugar. Please be kind and have milk. You are hungry for three days.
Singer: You drink it. You are hungry for a son and riches.
The words went into her heart. Her husband always wanted a son and riches.
She realized, it was true that she and her husband were hungry for a son and riches but hesitated to say anything further and kept quiet.
After a few moments, she again said: 'Please, you are always satisfied'. Singer: You have milk.
Woman: Please make me drink the nectar that I felt just now. This rapture should not leave me. Your musician (pointing towards Mardana Ji) said, "We live on divine music". He must be referring to this rapture. You must be drinking this nectar. This nectar is marvellous. How does one drink this nectar? I am a village woman, like an animal. I have no education but your singing is rapturous.
Singer: My child, have milk.
Woman: I don't know. You haven't had anything to eat for three days. Please have a little. And to me, give me the divine nectar. I should not remain without it. I may be hungry or satisfied but this rapture should always remain with me. Please do touch the milk to your lips. He (pointing towards Mardana Ji) said that you are of this world and you eat and drink as everybody else. That is why I brought the milk.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji smiled and looked towards his companion and said: Mardana Ji, your throat must be shrinking with hunger. Have milk.
Mardana Ji: Please, first you have. I will also have after that.
Singer: Daughter, milk (eyes closed while saying).
Woman: Please drink. My heart will be delighted.
Singer: Yes, it will be delighted. Say, 'O Lord', 'O Lord'.
Something wondrous happened. Some light rays came but not like the rays of the sun or moon, but like something else. Something pierced the heart. The head swooned. There was unawareness but not unconsciousness.
Something happened. All tensions and worries were gone. There was some darkness, not as if it were dark but as one cannot see anything while looking at the sun.
In this super-consciousness, in this lightning, the woman uttered: 'O Lord'.
From the mouth came: 'O Lord'. From the mind came: 'O Lord'.
From the heart came: 'O Lord'.
In her body came an everlasting feeling of 'O Lord'. In her soul she felt the sensation of 'O Lord'.
The five letters got inside her body. The life-giving five letters settled in her body. Five letters, yes, five letters.
And the Lord reveals Himself in His Name. The five letters got deep into her soul.
Not only the five letters, the Lord Himself got deep into her soul.
When the Name went inside, the Lord, whose Name it is, went inside. The distance and veil between the T of the woman and the Lord was removed.
The woman's soul was lighted with the Lord's flame. The woman's soul became crystal.
The woman's soul got crystal consciousness. She felt ecstasy. She had felt the happiness when she heard the divine song but now the Lord of the song is sitting in her. She had enjoyed the sun's rays but now the sun came and sat in her. The sun will not go now.
The woman had asked for rapture. But Guru Nanak Dev Ji has given her the Lord of rapture.
The soul that had got separated from the Lord met the Lord.
Wanting happiness, she got the Lord of happiness.
Wanting the sun's rays, she got the sun.
'O' Guru Nanak Dev Ji, you gave fountains of nectar to someone who offered you just milk.
The Lord had asked you to join the separated with the Lord. O, how do you join the separated with the Lord?
O, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, you are splendid.
Those who have met and listened to Guru Nanak Dev Ji will not remain in the cycle of births.
'O' Guru Nanak Dev Ji, you are an Angel.
The woman now opened her eyes. Her head touched Guru Ji's feet. Guru Ji put his hand on her head and said: Drink this nectar all the time.
Guru Ji again touched her head and said: Daughter, get up. Recite the Lord's Name incessantly.
The woman got up. She is not making any effort to recite the Lord's Name. The recitation of 'O Lord' is going on in her body, like a tune, some rapture is being filled. She is ecstatic.
Now, Guru Ji from the heavens said: Bring milk. Let us drink.
With deep love and a wondrous eagerness the woman mixed sugar in the milk, filled a cup and offered the milk to Guru Ji.
Guru Ji accepted the offering, took the cup from the enlightened woman and drank the milk.
'O' Guru Nanak Dev Ji wondrous are your ways. Yourself you make everybody beg for the Lord's Name. Then you give them the Lord's nectar. And make them immersed in the Lord's Name. And then accept their humble offering with gladness.
Ill
Having offered milk and after drinking the nectar and with immense blessings of Guru Ji, the woman returned home.
Now she is in the rapture of the Name of the Lord. She has the sensation of the Lord in her body, while sitting and standing, while walking and talking. She is doing the household chores as usual. Her husband finds her in happiness and more beautiful than before, but hasn't enough intellect to judge anything.
As usual, she cooks the food in the morning and around noon takes meals to the fields for her husband. Again, in the afternoon, she fills a pot with milk and takes it for Guru Ji who has come from heavens and is staying on the bank of the river Ravi.
Guru Ji drinks milk. Mardana Ji drinks milk. She listens to the divine music and comes back home. Her husband does not know what blessings his wife has got.
The world is always awake but to do evil and criticize. The woman returns home and again goes out carrying a pot full of milk in the afternoon and comes back late in the afternoon. This gossip spreads in
the neighbourhood. Her friends who used to get together in the afternoon, gossip and play are astonished as to what has happened to her? Why does she keep quiet and where does she go with a pot full of milk?
The gossip went round among the young ladies, then among the older ladies, then to the men and finally to her husband named Doda, that your wife leaves the house with a pot full of milk in the afternoon and then returns late in the afternoon.
Doda was not a very civilized type of man but he loved his wife very much. He owned land but he was not a very big landlord. His net earning after paying the taxes was just enough to run the house reasonably well. He had enough for food and clothing. He had his own cow and buffalo for the milk.
He could manage giving gifts etc on social functions without taking loans. But, he did have a desire to become a rich landlord. He also desired a son. He had been married for about seven years but did not have a child. Sometimes, when he got tired of working, or when a demand of taxes came and he fell short of money or when he had to buy another buffalo and felt a problem for money, then he used to say to his wife: Dodi, shall we ever have a son and riches? She used to heave a sigh.
But otherwise, Doda had a pleasant and carefree nature. As such he never felt depressed with these thoughts. To have a son was in the hands of God, but for riches, he could do enough. Dodi herself used to cut grass and bring it home for the cattle. When some grains were surplus in the house or when some butter was extra in the house, she used to make ghee and sell it to the village head and save money. When the husband had to buy new cattle, she used to give her savings to him. The husband and wife were passing good time in this way.
Dodi used to get up early in the morning, do all the cleaning, milk the cow and buffalo, churn the yogurt, take out butter, make bread and then take food for her husband to the fields. She used to pick cottonseeds and do all household chores. She was not lazy.
As such, Doda was not angry when he heard the accusation for his wife from other men and did not get furious. But he did get into thinking. He wanted to just forget about it but now it came to, I tell, you tell, he tells, she tells, everyday.
Still, he was not ready to believe anything. But after a careful thought he found a solution. The solution was that he should follow his wife un-noticed.
So, one day he followed his wife when she left the house with a pot of milk.
When she kept the pot in front of Guru Ji, he hid himself behind a tree and kept watching. After offering milk to Guru Ji, she returned home.
Doda followed her like this for the next two or three days.
The glimpse of Guru Ji had a very impressive and delightful effect on Doda's mind.
One day, after having milk, Mardana Ji played the music and Guru Ji sang a divine song. It was so rapturous that a flying bird would sit and listen.
Doda also felt the rapture and sat down where he was hiding, to listen to the divine music.
Today, Guru Ji asked the woman to call the person sitting behind the
tree.
When she went there she found that the person was her husband only.
She was a bit astonished but then she laughed and said: From whom are you hiding? He can read your mind. Come, he has called for you. If your stars are shining take something that he gives. See, you came stealthily but he wants to give you something without your asking. That is why he has called you.
Doda was a bit ashamed. He hesitated a little, but he got up and started moving towards Guru Ji, but his steps would not move forward.
Firstly, he felt ashamed. Secondly, he had seen that his wife goes to Guru Ji to offer milk only. Thirdly, the divine music had a rapturous effect on his mind.
So, slowly he picked up courage and came to Guru Ji.
His wife said to him: Bow your head and fall at Guru Ji's feet.
Doda was not a person who would dance at the fingers of his wife, but he was not averse to what his wife said. The goodness of his wife had made him love her. He was appreciative of what she said. He was already feeling ashamed and now was greatly impressed by Guru Ji. So, being told by his wife, he fell at Guru Ji's feet.
Guru Ji laughed and said: O Son, come forward.
Doda: Yes, sir, it is all right.
Guru Ji: You are a man. God has given you eyes along with the ears. It is good you have used your eyes as well. Ask for anything you want, I shall give you.
Doda felt ashamed to ask for anything. He felt hesitant and shy and kept quiet. In the meantime, Mardana Ji played the music and Guru Ji sang a divine song.
After listening to the divine music both of them went home.
On reaching home they started talking. The simple woman whose mind was now immersed in the Lord's Name and had blissful peace in her mind narrated the whole story to her husband. She also told him about the benevolence and grace of Guru Ji.
Doda listened to all that and said: It is our luck and it seems our stars have started shining. He is a true Guru Ji. You have understood him well. I am also convinced. Now, I will again go tomorrow and if he says, 'Ask for something 5 , then I will ask him for a son and riches.
Dodi said: Don't ask for these things. Ask him for the nectar that he has given me. This nectar remains with us always and will go with us even when we die, but the son and riches, one has to leave behind. His wife tried her utmost to persuade him but he said, he will ask for a son and riches.
Accordingly, next day, again Doda went and fell at the feet of Guru Ji. This time, he himself had carried the pot full of milk and he himself offered it to Guru Ji.
Guru Ji laughed and said: Doda, why have you brought the milk?
Doda said: 'O Guru Ji', I am without a son and riches. Some people have got ten buffaloes and forty cows and thousands of sq. meters of land. Bless me that I have a son and riches.
Guru Ji said: Do you wish for anything else?
Three times he repeated the same but Doda was adamant and every time he said: I want a son and riches.
Mardana Ji said: O Gentleman. Ask for the Lord's love also.
Doda said: That is your grace if you wish to bestow but first give me a son and riches.
Guru Ji laughed and said: Some people free themselves from the worldly riches and entanglements by reciting the Lord's Name. But some people first get satiated with worldly riches and entanglements and then only try to free themselves from the worldly riches and entanglements. Yes, Doda you will get a son and riches and because of the company of the saintly Dodo Rani, you will get the Lord's Name also.
Doda's wife whom Guru Ji had blessed the name 'Dodo Rani' had really become a queen. A sublime consciousness had come in her body. Because of the rapture of the Lord's Name her mind was always in high spirits, in blissful peace, blooming and exuberant. Even a king sitting on a throne would not be in that exuberance. The inner happiness is now showing on her face and she is visibly very happy. Her friends see her changed nature and a moon-like blossom, her shining forehead and an added charm in her eyes.
But, now she is not much interested in the gossip sessions of her friends. The initial treatment that she got from the gossip-loving and interfering ladies became a blessing in disguise to her.
Her husband, instead of becoming her enemy, started loving her more. He was convinced that Guru Ji had really come from the heavens and his word had the Lord's strength in it.
Guru Ji's blessings bore fruit. Within a few days, his uncle became a sadhu and left for some religious shrine to meditate. He left all his property, land and cattle to Doda. The riches, Doda got in no time. He was now fully convinced that Guru Ji is not an ordinary sadhu. He is one with the Lord and the Lord has sent him to this world.
The gossiping village women also noted three things. Dodo Rani's utmost happiness and tranquillity, Doda's love for his wife more than before and suddenly becoming rich. Their evil attitude now changed and now they started asking questions. The ladies asked Dodo Rani and the men asked Doda. Both of them did not want to hide anything.
The sun does not require hiding and the moon does not require curtains. Both of them narrated their story.
Soon, the praise of Guru Ji spread in the entire village. Someone said something and someone else said something else, but one thing that everybody came to know was that on the bank of the river somebody has come who has been sent by the Lord of the heavens. Guru Ji and his companion do not enter the village. They do not beg. They are always singing or meditating with closed eyes.
Doda has been offering milk to them. They were pleased and they have blessed the couple.
More and more people started coming and meeting Guru Ji, some for recovery from sickness, some for some special favour, some brought food and a few only wanted to meet Guru Ji.
Whosoever came and met Guru Ji revered and loved him.
The news spread to other villages nearby and soon it became known all over that Guru Nanak Dev Ji has come here. Some said: A saint has got realization on the bank of the river Ravi. Some said: Guru Ji has come from the heavens.
Some said: A prophet is born in this dark age era (Kalyug). People thronged to meet Guru Ji.
One day when Guru Ji came back after a long stroll, Doda and Dodo Rani were busy putting up a shed where Guru Ji was staying. Guru Ji smiled and said: Doda, what is all this?
Doda: 0, Master, I am putting up a shed. It is getting wintry and it may rain, or there may be a cold breeze. There is no cover for safety. At least, some place will be safe.
Guru Ji: Gentleman, Lord has given us the sky as the umbrella.
Doda: 'O Guru Ji', for you the sky is the umbrella but people like me, who come to meet you, do require a covering. It is your greatness that a lot of people are now coming to see you and people are coming from far attracted to you. It is for the holy congregation that I have made a small contribution. Rest is your wish.
Guru Ji laughed and said: Doda, you can speak well. You have got love for the holy congregation. Now, you will imbibe love of the Lord as well.
In a few days, beautiful sheds came up. Early morning, Mardana Ji used to sing Asa-di-var, in the evening Rehraas, daytime Bilawal, afternoon Aarti in Dhanasiri and at night Sohela. The whole day was busy and full of joy.
Doda constructed a few more sheds. He got constructed a boundary wall, one shed for kitchen (Langar) and another for divine hymns. In one of the sheds people could rest and stay overnight.
In this way the bank of the river became a heavenly place. It became known to people far and wide that Guru Ji is bestowing his blessings from here. From long distances, people started pouring in. In all the villages nearby, people started reciting the Lord's Name.
The empty rituals, the idol worship, the superstitions and the fasts from which people were already fed up vanished.
People got into truthful living. Remembrance of the Lord and prayers to the Lord with humility became a way of life.
What happened now? The Hindu priests and the Mohammedan mullahs, who had no religiousness, but were living and earning money, due to the people's wrong faith in the empty rituals and idols, became jealous. But what could they do. When the people started thronging and loving Guru Ji, what could they do. Initially, they had thought, that it was a temporary phase. Some ordinary sadhu has come and will go away in a few days. But now, when they saw the sheds coming up and the people coming in large numbers to meet Guru Ji, the music going on in the day, and the singing of the hymns going on all day, the religious discourse, the recitation of the Lord's Name, the distribution of food to the needy, preaching the truth to all, giving true religiousness to all sadhus and pandits and mullahs whomsoever came to meet Guru Ji, and make people shed their false beliefs, then all of them got awfully upset
Whenever a man of God or a prophet comes, the pandit leadership starts worrying for their earning. Since they themselves are not able to do anything
about it they prompt the kings to go after them. This is history.
To face a man of God, the pandit leadership has always persuaded the king to come forward. Now, also, the sadhus, pandits and mullahs got together and went in a deputation to the head of the district, named Kroria Chand.
The first thing they told him was that Guru Ji has forcibly occupied your land, sheds have come up and kitchens have come up. People throng to meet him. In a short time, he will claim to be the owner of the land. How will you ask him to vacate the land? A newly planted tree can be cut in a day but when it spreads its branches it becomes difficult to cut.
Second thing they told him was that he says there is no Hindu and no Mohammedan. The Mohammedans who go to meet him have stopped Namaz and fasting. The Hindus, who go to meet him, have stopped worship of idols, have stopped keeping fasts, and have stopped wearing the red thread. They have started praising Guru Ji and have started reciting 'O Lord'. His companion says that he is Guru Nanak Dev Ji and he is the holiest of all the prophets born earlier. He is the prophet of the prophets. The young generation all go to meet him. The women are more eager to meet him. All the people are going astray. Since ages, it is Hindu or Mohammedan.
But Guru Ji has a new system. He says that there is no Hindu and no Mohammedan.
You are the head of the district here. God has given you all the powers. You are the only person who can keep our prestige otherwise the world will go astray. There will be no religion, no rituals, no idol worship, no fasting no Namaz. At present this fountain is oozing only. If you stop it right now, that will be the proper thing to do.
After listening to more of such stories, Kroria Chand, head of the district, started thinking. He decided to pick up Guru Nanak Dev Ji and put him behind bars and scatter the people in the congregation with force so that they run away. He collected a few people and himself rode on a horse. He had gone a little distance only when the horse shuddered and he fell down. He got injuries and a fractured leg. After a few days when he recovered, again he collected a few people and himself rode on the horse towards the bank of the river where Guru Ji was staying.
He had gone a little distance only when he felt darkness in his eyes. He could not see anything. He got down from the horse and started walking back home. He was then able to see, but when again he turned and went towards Guru Ji, his eyes saw darkness only. To make sure that it was not an illusion, he tried several times. When he walked towards his house, he could see, but when he walked towards Guru Ji, he saw darkness only.
At this time Doda and Dodo Rani were coming from their fields. On seeing the head of the district in a quandary, they stopped and came near and realized that a miracle was happening and he is becoming blind. On seeing this Dodo Rani could not stop herself from saying: Don't put your chest against the fury of a river.
Kroria: Who has spoken this?
Dodo Rani: It is a heavenly speech spoken by a blessed disciple. Kroria: Who is Nanak?
Dodo Rani: The Lord from the heaven Himself. Kroria: How can I believe?
Dodo Rani: You fell down, you did not believe, you became blind, you did not believe. Now, will you go to hell and then only will you believe? There is still time to repent.
Kroria got scared and said: Then what should I do?
Doda: You are an educated administrator. You have an intelligent mind. Why have you believed these pandits who thrive on rituals and alms? Free your mind from enmity and say, "Guru Nanak Dev Ji is a true prophet, Lord-sent, let me go and pay my respects to him in reverence". Then move forward. If your eyes become all right, then be sure it is true. If your vision is not restored, then you may say it is all a fallacy. Or you go back to your house your vision will be restored.
Kroria was not used to such harsh words but now he was in deep anguish. Eyes are a great boon. One realizes this only when one loses one's sight. The person who loses his sight, only he can feel the distress he is in. At that time if there is a ray of hope of getting the eyesight back, the comfort that this feeling gives, only that person can understand. So, he did not mind the harsh words. The harsh words awakened his intellectual mind that was sleeping. He immediately said: O Guru Nanak Dev Ji, you are great.
All the men who were with him bowed their heads in the direction where Guru Ji was staying. Their minds were now in respect for Guru Ji.
Kroria could now see a little. He was happy and he rode on the horse to meet Guru Ji with reverence.
He had gone a little distance only, when he again fell down from the horse.
Doda, who was walking along at a little distance said: Be respectful. Whom are you going to meet? He is not an ordinary sadhu or faqir. Get down from the horse. Have humility and go on foot, as if going to a king. You are going to meet a true king. You have to be more respectful.
Now, Kroria walked on foot. He called Doda, touched his feet and said: The Hindu and Mohammedan priests have misguided me. You seem to be a perfect gentleman. He looked towards Dodo Rani and said: O, she is the one who said, 'Don't put your chest against the fury of a river'. He greeted her with folded hands. All three now started talking.
Doda and Dodo Rani told their entire story. They narrated all goodness of Guru Ji and his immersion in the Lord's love. They narrated how Guru Ji was living without food for days together. How Guru Ji stood in the river for hours together. How Guru Ji had been travelling long distances to propagate true love of the Lord.
In this way, they reached near the place, where Guru Nanak Dev Ji was staying.
At this moment Kroria felt a lightning in his eyes and a thunder in his head.
Like the scales of a fish crumbling, like the skin of a ripened seed opening with a throb, Kroria felt something has fallen from his eyes.
His eyes opened up. His vision was fully restored. He could see the earth and the sky, the sun and the moon, Doda and Dodo Rani very clearly.
He realized now that eyes are a great boon. One only knows when one gets back something gone.
First he fell on Dodo Rani's feet, and then he addressed Doda and said: You are real and true saints. You take me to Guru Ji. I want to touch his feet. All three now went ahead and reached their destination.
The Lord of the heavens was sitting on the beautiful green grass. Mardana Ji was playing the music and singing a divine song.
Kroria went ahead and fell at Guru Ji's feet. He held Guru Ji's feet like a bee sitting and sticking to a flower. His head swooned. He felt something slipping and going out of his body. There was a divine sensation. His body became light. There was peace and bliss. Another sensation came.
He felt some divine music entering the body. He had profuse joy and a feeling of sweetness as if drinking nectar, and without anybody's telling or speaking: His ears heard 'O Lord'. In his heart he heard 'O Lord'.
In his head he heard 'O Lord'. His tongue recited in rapture 'O Lord'.
His entire body recited 'O Lord'.
He lifted his head and looked around.
The entire surrounding, the trees, the flowers, the grass, the plants were singing 'O Lord'. Again he fell at Guru Ji's feet. Again, he had more of rapture and he did not like to lift his head.
Guru Ji touched his head with love and made him lift his head and said: Kroria, you are blessed.
Kroria said: It is all your benevolence.
Kroria observed Guru Ji now and said to himself: Guru Nanak Dev Ji, whom I wanted to put behind bars, is all love and sweetness and is all graciousness.
Shame on me, I should be thankful to Guru Ji for his forgiveness and grace. O, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, you are great
Somebody had said to me: Don't put your chest against the fury of a river. Who uttered these heavenly words?
He looked that side and said: O Great Guru Nanak Dev Ji, they are all your holy saints blessed by you.
Kroria became a Guru-disciple. Guru Nanak Dev Ji blessed him with the Lord's Name. Why not? The Sandal tree gives its fragrance even to the saw that cuts it. Kroria got the Lord's Name deep into his heart and soul.
The news of Kroria becoming a disciple of Guru Nanak Dev Ji spread like wild fire. All over was heard: 'Great Guru Nanak Dev Ji'
'Great Guru Nanak Dev Ji'
Kroria, now got constructed a temple in bricks and mortar and some accommodation for the disciples and pilgrims.
A deed was signed. The entire land was transferred in favour of Guru Ji in the government records. The place where Guru Ji had set his foot was named Kartarpur. This was the holy place where Guru Ji settled and blessed the people. From this place, he later went on travels and came back here. Here, Guru Ji set an example of "Living in the family and still not entangled in the world" for everybody to follow.
Here, he lit the soul of man with the Lord's flame.
Early morning was recitation of Japuji and Asa-di-Var. Evening was the time for Rehraas and Aarti.
This was the place where the practice of free food was started. He blessed everyone with the Lord's Name.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji's command to Dodo Rani is repeated once again:
Say, O Lord. Recite the Lord's Name incessantly.
Let us say and recite:
'Waheguru, Waheguru, Waheguru'.
('O Lord,0 Lord,0 Lord')
Starting with at least five minutes a day.
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