Guru Nanak Dev Ji made him the second Guru Ji and named him Guru Angad Dev Ji
The season is rainy but the sky is clear. It is a pleasant night. In a beautiful open space is laid a carpet. In the centre is a small table. On it is a steel plate. In the centre of the plate is an earthen pot in which refined butter is burning. That is giving a bright flame.
Around this burning flame, flowers have been arranged in an artistic style. At a little distance from the burning flame several devotees are sitting in a circle. Someone has cymbals, someone has a drum, someone has a violin, someone has clarion. Everybody is singing the hymns of Jai Mata.
In the congregation is sitting a person, with a humble countenance and a sweet loving radiance, with tinkle bells tied to his ankles.
Some times, in a joy, he gets up and with a passion, dances with such art, that every body gets so much absorbed with eyes fixed on him, that even the playing of drums and cymbals is forgotten.
The whole night, it went on like that, till it was early morning. Now, everybody stopped singing and dancing.
Aconference was heldandafterlong discussions, it was unanimously decided that all members of the party would go to Vaishno Devi temple next month.
It was early morning. They dispersed and went to their individual homes. But the handsome person, who had tinkle bells on his ankles and had danced, went to the lake to have a bath.
Here at the lake, one person who had just finished his bath was reciting the Japu Ji. When he finished his recitation, he sang one or two hymns of Asa raga.
The person with the tinkle bells, whose name was Lehna Ji, was all the time listening to the recitation and the hymns of Asa rag. This made him deeply absorbed. He got such pleasure in the recitation and the hymns that he had never experienced in singing the hymns ofjai Mata. Even, in his own dancing he did not get such exquisite pleasure.
Lehna Ji is handsome in and out. He has love in him as the deer has musk. But he does not know what the Lord has wished for him. He is immersed in the joy of the burning flame of refined butter.
Once in a year, he goes to Vaishno Devi and gets wondrous delight from the burning flames there. He is all piousness, all kindness, and his humility has no limits. Handsomeness is his ornament. But still he does not realize his own virtues and the fragrance inside him. The Lord has, for some special reason, kept him this way.
Soon, the person who was reciting the Japu Ji finished the recitation and was about to leave, when Lehna Ji accosted him.
Bhai Lehna Ji: Gentleman, whose hymns were you reciting?
Gentleman: These are the hymns of the enlightened Guru Ji.
Bhai Lehna Ji: Who is the enlightened Guru Ji?
Gentleman: He has come from the Lord.
Bhai Lehna Ji: Where is he?
Gentleman: He is here, there, everywhere.
Bhai Lehna Ji: Since when?
Gentleman: Since the world was created.
Bhai Lehna Ji: Is he in human form?
Gentleman: Yes, at present he is in human form.
Bhai Lehna Ji (With astonishment): In human form?
Gentleman: Yes, at present. He has come to this world in human form.
Bhai Lehna Ji: Is it really so?
Gentleman: Yes. In this world, love has vanished, there is no enlightened soul and there is no devotion for the Lord. Everybody is in the forgetfulness of the Lord. Everywhere is hatred. That is why, this time Guru Ji has not sent any prophet or a saint. He himself has come to this world.
Bhai Lehna Ji: Where does he stay at present?
Gentleman: He is staying at the bank of the river Ravi at Kartarpur.
Bhai Lehna Ji: Can you please let me know his name?
Gentleman (Bowing his head): Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Listening to the name, Bhai Lehna Ji felt a lightning, a vibration came and his eyes closed. For how long, one does not know. Bhai Lehna Ji now, opened his eyes. He started pondering. Who is this gentleman? What has he recited?
What hymns has he sung? I went into deep rapture. Guru Nanak Dev Ji. O Lord, It seems he is mine. What attraction and pull, I am getting?
He addressed the gentleman, "O dear, is Guru Nanak Dev Ji your Guru Ji?"
And within his mind he said, "O Jai Mata, you were my Guru Ji. Why Guru Nanak Dev Ji seems to be mine? Is he your Guru Ji or you are his?"
He addressed the gentleman again: "O handsome gentleman. Is Guru Nanak Dev Ji from the heavens? Is it really so?"
Gentleman: Yes brother, he is from the Lord.
Bhai Lehna Ji: Even now, has he access to the Lord?
Gentleman: Yes. He belongs to the world and the earth. He is for every body.
Once, while having a bath in a rivulet, messengers of the Lord took him to the heavens and said to the Lord Nanak has come'.
He met the Lord. The Lord was gracious. The Lord ordered his messengers to give to Nanak, the bowl of nectar.
The Lord said: This is not nectar. This is the bowl full of my name.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji took it. Drank it and the Lord was gracious.
The Lord said: Nanak, I am with you. I have blessed you and blessed are those who recite your name.
You go and recite my Name and tell the people to recite my Name.
Remain detached from the world. Remain in the Name. Be a giver.
Give name, service to humanity and charity to the people.
I have given you my Name. You distribute it.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji thanked the Lord and stood up.
The Lord said: O, Nanak, say, how big is my Name?
Guru Nanak Dev Ji replied: If my age be thousands and thousands of years and I do not see the sun setting and the setting of the moon, and I do not sleep even in a dream, howsoever much I recite your Name, its value will still be un-countable.
The Lord again said: I have blessed you my command. You praise my command.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji replied:
You were the true Lord in the beginning, You were the true Lord through the ages, You are the true Lord now, You will be the true Lord always. When Guru Nanak Dev Ji uttered these words, then again the Lord said and it was an order: O Nanak. To whomsoever I am gracious, you bless him.
/ shall also bless him. My name is Lord Almighty Your name is Guru Ji Almighty Guru Nanak Dev Ji fell at the Lord's feet and the Lord blessed him a robe of honour.
When Lehna Ji heard this story, he said in a loving voice: That is why Guru Nanak Dev Ji's hymns and Guru Nanak Dev Ji's name is so sweet because he has been sent by the Lord. He is the embodiment of the Lord. He is like the Lord.
After listening to all this, Lehna Ji got a copy of the Japu Ji and the hymns from the gentleman. Next day, he visited his aunt, Mai Virai, and after talking to her took a final decision, that while going to Vaishno Devi, he will go via Kartarpur and meet Guru Nanak Dev Ji, before proceeding further to Vaishno Devi.
Days passed by, and the day came when the entire party left for Vaishno Devi. Lehna Ji had already fixed that the party will go via Kartarpur.
Accordingly, they first reached Kartarpur. The party stayed on the outskirts of the town and Lehna Ji went to the town.
There is a sensation in his body, a deep attraction, a yearning in the eyes, a throb and eagerness and an innocent pleasure in his heart.
When Lehna Ji entered the town, Guru Ji of the Guru Sahibs, Guru Nanak Dev Ji felt an attraction for his loving and his own disciple. He got up from his seat and came out in the street to receive him.
See, how wonderful! Guru Ji is coming to receive his disciple.
With tears of love in his eyes and fervour in his heart, and intoxication in his mind, Lehna Ji is coming. He saw Guru Nanak Dev Ji and felt as if a serene, comely person is standing. With humility, he asked: Can you please tell me where does Guru Nanak Dev Ji stay?
With great love and affection, Guru Nanak Dev Ji said: Yes, come gentleman. Follow me on your horse.
Guru Ji took him up to the front gate of his house and he himself went in from another side door and sat on his seat.
Lehna Ji got down from the horse, tied the horse to a pillar, went inside and fell at Guru Nanak Dev Ji's feet.
'The river has reached the sea. The soul has met the soul'.
Whatever time, he was lying down on Guru Nanak Dev Ji's feet, with tears of love in his eyes, he felt the rapturous love of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. He went into ecstasy that he had never experienced before.
In fact, the pious Lehna Ji also came from the heavens. He had Guru Ji's soul in him. But the Lord had wished that he lives this way and sets an example
of discipleship. As Guru Nanak Dev Ji was an exemplary Guru Ji, Lehnasetthe standards for an ideal discipleship for the people to follow. Therefore, he had to be a disciple to set an example. He was to be a guiding star. This was the reason why, on meeting Guru Nanak Dev Ji, he felt rapture of the 'soul meeting the soul'. But, as a disciple, he was in rapture and immersed in the love of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
After some time, when he lifted his head, and looked at the face of Guru Ji with attention, he was startled, "Oh, he is the same spring of radiance. He brought me from the street corner up to his house. He was himself walking and I was riding the horse". He felt so sorry for the disrespect and fell at Guru Nanak Dev Ji's feet again to beg pardon. But Guru Nanak Dev Ji lifted his head and assured him that it was no disrespect. He asked Lehna Ji his name, about his welfare, his family's welfare, and where did he come from.
When Lehna Ji told his name, Guru Nanak Dev Ji said, "Yes, you are the taker and I have to be a giver to you".
All told, Lehna Ji felt so much charmed by Guru Nanak Dev Ji that he forgot, even to get up from there. His party was in a hurry to go forward.
He said to them: I am staying here. If you are very keen to go on your pilgrimage, you may go, otherwise, you also stay here. But, if you are still keen to go, then please come here again on your return journey and meet Guru Ji. Whoever's heart gets interwoven with Guru Ji should become a bee to the flower (Guru Ji). Those whose hearts do not get interwoven with Guru Ji could go round their own accepted flame. But, whenever they get attraction for Guru Ji, they may come as a bee comes to a flower.
After a few days, Guru Ji asked Lehna Ji to go home. He reached his village Khadur, but emotionally he was attracted to Guru Ji's love. The village people were astonished about his love for Guru Nanak Dev Ji. There was criticism, which always happens. But those who are lovelorn do not care.
He reached home, but how could he stay there, spending each night in the house was, for him, equivalent to climbing five mountains. He is pulled towards Kartarpur. He is pining in love for Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Soon after, he carried a bundle of salt on his head and started towards Kartarpur on foot
Actually, Lehna Ji belonged to a very rich Khatri family of village Mate-diSerai in Ferozepur district and was married in a rich merchant's family of village Sanghar near Khadur. Invaders looted his village Mate-di-Serai. But before that only he had shifted to Sanghar village with his in-laws and later settled in Khadur. Being rich from both sides, he was used to wearing silks and living a comfortable life.
Today was the first day that he carried a bundle of salt on his head. His relations told him to take a servant to carry the weight or take a horse, but he
was not ready to listen to anybody. The love of the true Guru Ji was making him do all this. In love, who remembers being rich or poor?
Steadily, he reached Kartarpur and entered Guru Ji's house. When, the respected lady of the house, Guru Ji's wife, saw Lehna Ji deeply immersed in Guru Ji's love, she immediately got the bundle of salt down his head. She got a chair and a fan for him and lovingly asked him to sit down. Guru Nanak Dev Ji, himself had gone to the fields for some cultivation work.
How could Lehna Ji just sit? He enquired the location and went to the fields.
He met Guru Ji in the fields and fell at Guru Ji's feet. At this time, the workers were plucking out grass and weeds from the rice fields. Lehna Ji also started doing the same. Since, he had never done this type of work before, the rice plant was also getting plucked along with the grass and weeds.
Guru Ji noticed this and said, "Gentleman, this work is not for you. You have to plant and not pluck. You leave this work. You pick the already plucked grass and weeds and take it home and feed the cattle".
On listening to Guru Ji, Lehna Ji immediately put the grass and leaves full of muddy water in a cloth, tied the cloth, and put it on his head and went home. The muddy water that was oozing fell on his silk shirt all over and spoiled it.
The respected lady of the house, saw all this and was astonished that first he carried so much weight of salt on his head and again he has carried a heavy load on his head while coming back from the fields. The mud has also spoiled his expensive silken clothes.
When Guru Ji came, the respected lady of the house, with emotion, told Guru Ji that first he carried a bundle of salt on his head and again he has carried a load on his head and his silken clothes have all got spoiled with the mud falling on them.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who was a just evaluator of merit, smiled and said:
tt O good lady, he has not carried the weight of two bags. That was the weight of the two worlds on his head.
That was not the grass plucked from the rice fields. That was a crown from the Lord on his head.
That was not mud on his clothes. That was a sprinkling of saffron on his clothes.
He has to become the king of my divine kingdom".
II [Endeavour]
The worldly people are shrewd and wise. That is why they go by what their mind says is right.
Devotion appears to be crazy and carefree. In fact devotion is the sensible thing. But in the eyes of the world devotion is madness.
Even our true Guru Ji has said: Saints and the worldly people cannot think the same way.
See, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the prophet, brought devotion for the world. People called him mad, pitiable and misguided. They did not realize his greatness as a prophet. Instead of showing love and respect the people sneered at him.
Why did they sneer at him? Devotion is rare and uncommon. People have not experienced it. They consider it unfamiliar or superficial and sneer at it. See, in this story itself Lehna Ji was born in a rich family, married in a rich family, lived in luxury, had servants to listen to his orders. Despite all that he does not wish to present silk or gold to Guru Nanak Dev Ji to please him. In humility he walks many kilometers carrying a bundle of salt on his head. He plucks the grass and weeds in the rice plants. He carries the grass and leaves full of muddy water on his head. He washes Guru Ji's feet. He washes his clothes. There is no service of Guru Ji that he does not do.
But what is prompting him to do all that? It is devotion for Guru Ji from the core of his heart.
This is not the inferiority complex of the low class worker's mind. It is not the service of a worker's mind. It is not the service of a worker in despair. This is service in eagerness out of love and devotion.
This is not that service that the egoistic minds call menial service. How could they judge whether it was service or kingdom of the heart.
The king sitting on the throne is in despair. But Lehna Ji, in the service of Guru Ji is in peace of mind, immersed in Guru-love, in tranquillity, in ecstasy, in rapturous love and in exuberance. The world cannot understand. The world is shrewd.
People say, see, what has happened to Lehna Ji? He has renounced his house and is in service of Guru Nanak Dev Ji at his door. People assemble in meetings and deliberate. Who can understand the Guru-love in Lehna Ji's heart? Their wisdom takes them to the idea that something has gone wrong in his brain that he has renounced the comforts of the house, the leadership of the Jai Mata group and friends and has gone and sat at the door of a meditative.
Yes, some are shrewd. They would say that Nanak is a hypnotist. He must have influenced his mind. His companions would say that he has some greed that he is doing all this. O shrewd world. Well done to you.
In the Holy Scripture is said: The worldly people think they are awake. They are wise. But the truth is that they are in ignorance. Precious time is going waste. Nobody is in the remembrance of the Lord. Nobody is in doing goodness. The entire lifetime goes waste in criticizing and backbiting.
In the hall of audience of the tenth Guru Ji, a poet has said: The world is dishonest and wasting time in criticizing and backbiting.
That is why the saints and the worldly people cannot have similar thoughts. The world is shrewd but for selfishness. It cannot see beyond self-interest. Everything that is goodness, the worldly people think negatively about it. On seeing the world, Guru Ji had said: Oh! What is thiswo rid? There is no true spiritual guide. There is no true holy company and friend. There is no love in brothers and friends. In selfishness there is no religiousness. Because of this selfishness of the world the preachers of religion also started sailing in the same boat. The true Guru Ji asked the preachers of religion not to be selfish otherwise it will give a bad name to them. This is the characteristic of the Unenlightened era (Kalyug).
So, in any era at any time, those who love the Lord, may be prophets or saints, should not expect love from the world. The evaluators of merit will not give them suffering but the rest of the world has been giving suffering to the Lord-lovers and will do the same in future also.
Guru Arjan Dev Ji compiled the Holy Scripture and the tenth Guru Ji announced it as the embodiment of Guru Ji's soul so that all disciples pursue the path of religiousness as written in the scripture. Then they will not give suffering to Lord-lovers. But the Guru-disciples followed the worldly people. As the Mohammedans executed Sarmad, a holy saint of their own religion, similarly, the Sikh regiment unacquainted of their own Holy Scripture assassinated the holy saint, beloved of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Baba Bir Singh Ji.
One who wishes to save himself from this sin should follow the Sikh religion properly. He should read the Holy Scripture and try to understand the meanings and follow what the Guru Sahibs have said. He should keep company of ideal men. He should keep company of holy congregation and saints, so that he remains in the remembrance of the Lord. Then he will not have estrangement with the Lord-lovers. But one who will follow his own mind that is full of ego, one who will not read and follow the scripture, he will do the same sins that were committed by Taimur, Babar, Mahmood and Aurangzeb. For a Sikh, Guru Ji is the Holy Scripture and the teaching of the Holy Scripture is love. Anyone who calls himself a Sikh but does not love, then he is a worldly person. He will remain in selfishness and will be a cause of suffering to the world. But one who understands Guru Nanak Dev Ji's love for
humanity will not give suffering to anybody and go to the Lord's palace with respect. He will have peace of mind. He will follow the footsteps of the tenth Guru Ji who said: One who loves reaches the Lord. He will live in peace of mind in this world and will be respected in the next world. But one who is not in love, he does not belong to the true Guru Ji. His mind is away from Guru Ji. According to the writing in the Holy Scripture he is not guided by Guru Ji's advice. He is a self-guided person.
Come. Let us listen to Lehna Ji's story further. He is engrossed in the service of Guru Ji. He is clipped in Guru-love. He does not care for anything else.
Love is such that even some princes became disciples of saints. But the ecstasy that is there in becoming a disciple of Guru Nanak Dev Ji is not there even in getting a worldly kingdom.
Poet Santokh Singh, the author of Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, has described the love of Lehna Ji as follows: If he has to give his head for Guru Ji's sake he would not think or wait even for a moment.
When the group of pilgrims came back from Vaishno Devi shrine, then Lehna Ji asked them to have a glimpse of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Many of them discarded the worship of the goddess and became disciples of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The group stayed at Kartarpur for two days and then went home. But Lehna Ji continued to stay and serve Guru Ji like a bee sticks to the flower.
One late night Lehna Ji woke up and it was very hot. He brought a hand fan and started waving it for Guru Ji. After sometime he went to sleep. Then in a dream he saw one lady in red robes scrubbing the floor outside the door of Guru Ji's house. When he got up he asked Guru Ji: Beloved Guru Ji! I saw in my dream, one lady in red robes scrubbing the floor outside your door. Who was she?
Then Guru Ji said: O dear, that was the goddess whom you worshipped earlier. She is worshipped for worldly gains. She cannot give salvation. For the Lord's saints, she is servant only. The Lord's saints do not worship this goddess.
Lehna Ji felt delighted that from whom he expected to get salvation, she is not capable of giving.
O our glorious master Bhai Lehna Ji, if the Lord had not put you in this selfless service, then how could we see the true example of an ideal Sikh that you showed us? You only could set the standard of an ideal disciple. We humans could be an example of an ideal disciple as Bhai Buddha Ji was. But only you could set the standard of the perfect ideal disciple (because you were a prophet). Just as darkness is required in the theatre if you wish to witness a movie, similarly, to set the standard of the perfect ideal disciple it
was necessary for you to stay in the darkness or ignorance of the world, to get out of ignorance and come into saintliness. This itself is religiousness.
You set the standards of discipleship and religiousness for us. That is why the Lord sent you in a wealthy house and gave worship of a goddess.
How beautifully you came out of this materialistic ignorance or darkness? You are a lighthouse in this worldly ocean. You are the guiding star for the world. Thousands of ships (Guru-disciples) have been saved by this lighthouse and will he saved for times to come. If you were born as a prophet like Guru Nanak Dev Ji, then we would have seen you as a prophet, then from where could we get the example of true discipleship? Who could be our guiding star? O respected Bhai Lehna Ji you are great. We are so much in gratitude to you for this. We just cannot describe in words.
O Guru Ji, O Guru Nanak Dev Ji you are great. O perfect disciple Bhai Lehna Ji you are great. You are saviours of the human beings in this Un-enlightened era (Kalyug). You are great.
One day Guru Nanak Dev Ji was sleeping but his feet were shaking. When Bhai Lehna Ji saw this he was dazed. In a few moments, his mind felt wondrousness. Then what he saw was that saints from the unseen world are coming, falling at his feet and going back. In this way, seeing the miraculous-ness of Guru Ji and engrossed in Guru-love, Bhai Lehna Ji remained in the service of Guru Ji. His mind is elevated. He has got the sensation of the presence of the Lord in his mind, heart and body. He is in ecstasy. He is in the incessant remembrance of the Lord. He is drinking the Lord's nectar. He is in exuberance. His body is doing selfless service. He has no other desire except service to Guru Ji. One day, Guru Ji was lying down and Bhai Lehna Ji was massaging his feet. Then what he noticed was that some scratches are coming on Guru Ji's feet.
Bhai Lehna Ji then asked: O my Gracious Master! Why is it happening like
this?
Guru Ji: One shepherd, in love of the Lord, is grazing his cattle in the thorny trees in the forest. I have to save him from getting scratches.
Then Guru Ji called the shepherd and asked him to recite Sohila at night before sleeping. The shepherd was delighted and agreed to do so. Guru Ji blessed him with the Lord's Name. It is said that due to the tender love of Bhai Lehna Ji it became a traditional practise that Sohila should be read at night before sleeping. It is his blessing that whoever reads Sohila with attention in love of Guru Nanak Dev Ji he will sleep with peace of mind. Three years passed since Bhai Lehna Ji has been in the service of Guru Ji as an ideal disciple. All this time he was exemplary in discipleship. Nobody can be a better disciple to set a better example. That is why the standard of discipleship that he set for us is exemplary.
We owe a special gratitude to Bhai Lehna Ji for his selfless service to Guru Nanak Dev Ji. He did all this service to show us the way so that we see his goodness and follow his footsteps with love. O great Bhai Lehna Ji who did service to Guru Nanak Dev Ji as a disciple and showed us the way to serve Guru Nanak Dev Ji and get blessings of the Lord's Name from Guru Ji.
Like in a school, the prince sits with other students and studies without showing that he is a prince and sets an example of a good student. Similarly, great Bhai Lehna Ji set the standards of ideal discipleship for us.
One day, Guru Ji said: Go to your town and meet your family.
In obedience to the orders of Guru Ji, in pangs of separation, the guiding star of ideal discipleship left for his hometown. On the order of Guru Ji when he reached the town, the entire town welcomed him with respect.
Chaudhari Takht Mai along with other prominent persons of the town came to welcome him and said: O respected saint Bhai Lehna Ji you are great. Our town has become sacred that you who belong to this town have pleased Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the prophet of the prophets. The praise of Bhai Lehna Ji spread in his house, in his in-law's house, in Chaudhri's house and in the entire town like the moonlight in the winter season. Everybody respected him so much that it cannot be described in words.
Is it that the guiding star of ideal discipleship Bhai Lehna Ji got intoxicated in his praise? No. He did give spiritual beatitude to those who came to meet him. He blessed them with the Lord's Name. He put everybody on the true path of 'Recitation of the Lord's Name with love'.
But has he been enticed by the praise? No. He is not enticed at all. He is suffering pangs of separation. His mind is at Guru Ji's feet and the body in his hometown. Like, the partridge longing for the moonlight he is craving to meet Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Bhai Lehna Ji says: Without falling at the feet of Guru Nanak Dev Ji I have no blossom in my mind. The nights have become too long. My hometown seems to me a foreign land. I desire for his glimpse. I have no other desire. My eyes see towards the land where Guru Nanak Dev Ji lives. O friends let us go quickly. My mind will get blossom only when I fall at his feet.
Yes, O dear friends, come and let us fall at Guru Nanak Dev Ji's feet, the beloved Guru Ji whom Bhai Lehna Ji recognized properly. Let us fall at his feet.
If Bhai Lehna Ji had not come, then who could recognize Guru Nanak Dev Ji fully?
Somebody who could himself rise to that level could perceive the greatness of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Bhai Lehna Ji's perception rose up to the level that Guru Nanak Dev Ji was. That is why he became as great as Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The benevolent
Bhai Lehna Ji told us that there is no parallel to Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Let us, O friends get together and sing the praises of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. O Guru Nanak Dev Ji, no parallel can we find in anyone, you are the moon and you are the sun. To take us in your embrace you are always ready. To take us in your lap you are always ready. To join our hearts with the Lord's feet you are always ready. To awaken our sleeping souls you are always ready. To give us life from lifelessness you are always ready.
O man, why are you dilly-dallying, come, fall at Guru Ji's feet. Come fall at the saviour's feet. Say, O great, great Nanak. Say, O Great, true Guru Nanak Dev Ji, O loving great Guru Nanak Dev Ji, O beloved great Guru Nanak Dev Ji, O saviour great Guru Nanak Dev Ji, O redeemer of sinners Nanak, O my love Guru Nanak Dev Ji, O my charming Guru Nanak Dev Ji, O soft hearted Guru Nanak Dev Ji, O sweet Guru Nanak Dev Ji, O bless us Guru Nanak Dev Ji, O don't separate us, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, O Guru Nanak Dev Ji give us salvation, O Guru Nanak Dev Ji, I am yours, A sinner but yours, O Guru Nanak Dev Ji, a vicious but yours, O Guru Nanak Dev Ji, in forgetfulness but yours, O Guru Nanak Dev Ji, in passions but yours, O Guru Nanak Dev Ji, in wandering but yours, O Guru Nanak Dev Ji, in entanglements but yours, O Guru Nanak Dev Ji, in desires but yours, O Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Bless me, O Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Give me salvation, O Guru Nanak Dev Ji. I am in forgetfulness. You put me in remembrance. I am in mistakes but you are a forgiver. You forgive me. You bless me O Guru Nanak Dev Ji. O merciful, give your love in my mind. O merciful, give your love deep in my heart, O merciful, give your love deep in my soul. Bless that I get engrossed in your love and desire nothing else. With your grace immerse me in your love. With your grace pull my heart with your rope of love. With your grace tie my mind with your rope of love with a strong knot. With your grace keep the rope of love pulled towards you. I have no strength in me. I am in forgetfulness. I am falling down. I am sliding downwards. With your grace put a chain to my mind and keep it pulled towards you. You are the saviour. You pull my drowning mind, O great Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Bhai Lehna Ji did stay in his hometown for sometime but he was always in longing to meet his beloved Guru Nanak Dev Ji. He could not bear the separation and he finally decided to go to Kartarpur. He reached Kartarpur and had a glimpse of the godly soul.
Ill [Test]
People renounced their houses and family and lived in forests in the hope of meeting the Lord and wasted their entire life but got despair in return. They got stuck in supernatural powers and remained in the bond of ego and desires for fame. It was rare that some one really loved the Lord and got the sensation of the Lord in his mind and was eager to meet the Lord.
The true Guru Nanak Dev Ji took the world out from the mistaken belief of ages.
The true Guru Ji emphasized that one can meet the Lord while living in the house and family if one has the will to meet the Lord, if one does good deeds, if one turns the mind towards the love of the Lord and awakens the mind by recitation and remembrance of the Lord's Name. Not only he preached living in the family with mind detached, he himself lived like that and demonstrated the same. Himself he did farming and guided others to earn in an honest way and share with others. He lived at Kartarpur as a family man but with mind attached to the Lord. He did all this so that people may not get a mistaken belief than in constructing a house or a gurdwara or a town one will get away from the Lord. Then he asked his disciples to do farming so that they may not get a mistaken belief that by working to earn one cannot lead a religious life. He himself worked and demonstrated that a family man should be religious and bread earner. Then he should remember and recite the Lord's Name and live in ecstasy in this world and get respect in the Lord's palace.
He demonstrated family living. Everyone acknowledged it as family living with mind detached. His disciples were working and earning. But these workingmen were not working in forgetfulness of the Lord. They were not without the love of the Lord or love of the scripture. They were working not in ego and pride. They were working not in stubborn-ness and forgetfulness of the Lord. They were all immersed in the love of the Lord. They were in recitation of the Lord's Name. They were an example of living in the family with mind detached. That was the reason why Guru Nanak Dev Ji sent Bhai Lehna Ji to his home, so that people should not get the wrong impression that Lehna Ji has renounced the family and has become a recluse.
According to Guru Nanak Dev Ji, religiousness is detachment of mind. Fortunate are those who live in the family but with a detached mind.
But it is distressing to see those, Alas! Alas! Who are entangled in worldly desires and say we belong to Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who are in the forgetfulness of the Lord and praise the family living as pleasure of passions. They have not imbibed love of Guru Ji and are not in devotion of the Lord and talk against detachment of mind.
The true Guru Ji preached living in the family with mind detached. The wheat grown in Guru Ji's own fields was cooked in Guru Ji's kitchen and served free to anybody who was hungry. The only requirement was that the person should be hungry no matter what religion caste or creed he belonged to. Guru Ji was the first who started this tradition. Guru Ji said that all food belongs to the Lord and He gives nourishment to all. This is not something
that man should say 'It is mine'. Guru Nanak Dev Ji preached this and then he demonstrated it as well. He started the tradition of free food. Whoever came was served food. Treading on the path shown by Guru Nanak Dev Ji the disciples got salvation in this world. People thronged to meet him.
There is another story that depicts how Bhai Lehna Ji respected the orders of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Once, it rained in torrents. There was incessant rain. No wood became available and no other material for fire was there. The holy congregation had assembled in large numbers. For two days no food could he cooked and served.
Then Guru Ji said: O son Sri Chand Ji, the rain has stopped. Go out and shake the trees, the Lord will send some food for his children to satiate their hunger.
Sri Chand Ji said: Food does not hang on trees.
Then Guru Ji smiled and said: O son Lakhmi Chand Ji, go and shake the trees so that food comes down.
Lakhmi Chand Ji replied: It is still raining and there are no flowers even on the trees. How can food come down from the trees?
Then Guru Ji asked Bhai Lehna Ji: O dear, go and shake the trees. The Lord has created the holy congregation and sent it here. He is the giver of nourishment. He will send food for his children.
In Bhai Lehna Ji's vision Guru Nanak Dev Ji was not a human being. His vision did not stop at seeing the moon as the moon. He saw the moon and the moonlight
Like, the maker of perfume does not see the flower as a flower. He sees the flower and the perfume in it.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji said it and Bhai Lehna Ji perceived that the image of the Lord has uttered the words. Neither Guru Nanak Dev Ji had any doubt about Lord as the giver of nourishment, nor Bhai Lehna Ji had any doubt about the words of Guru Nanak Dev Ji as the Lord's words. Bhai Lehna Ji had full faith and full faith has strength of the Lord in it.
Bhai Lehna Ji in doubtless faith bowed to Guru Nanak Dev Ji and went out and climbed the tree and shook it. Whatever fell down people ate and were satiated.
See, on the tree the figure of love and faith is shaking the tree and see attentively at a distance the miraculous Guru Nanak Dev Ji is looking towards Bhai Lehna Ji with so much tender love. Yes, Guru Nanak Dev Ji is looking towards Bhai Lehna Ji intently with graciousness and showing to the worldly people entangled in desires, in mistaken beliefs, in despair and greed that Lord is the giver of nourishment.
O man, have faith that Lord is the giver of nourishment to all. The Lord in whose love Guru Nanak Dev Ji is immersed is giving nourishment to everybody. To prove this point, Guru Ji and the disciple have demonstrated, whatever Guru Nanak Dev Ji said, he did it. This is his utmost greatness.
"O you are the one Lord. Yes, you are the one Lord". Bhai Lehna Ji heard these words being uttered by Guru Nanak Dev Ji and then came down.
Today, Bhai Lehna Ji perceived in himself the strength that is given by the Lord to Guru Ji by way of command. Injapu Ji Guru Nanak Dev Ji has written: 'In the sphere of grace is the spiritual strength'. When the mind reaches the sphere of grace then a spiritual strength emerges in it. This state is not dejection, powerlessness or laziness. When the Lord bestows His grace, then the spiritual strength becomes a power. Those who are in the sphere of grace have spiritual strength.
Today, Bhai Lehna Ji treading on the spiritual path has reached the sphere of grace. He has become strong and powerful. The Lord who has bestowed His grace on him has come and sat on a throne in the temple of his heart. He has become handsome beyond limit.
Today, the handsome Lord's beloved powerful Bhai Lehna Ji climbing up the stairs of religion has reached a high mansion. The soldier kept on obeying the orders of his Commander. Today, the Commander has bestowed his grace. Now, he has become powerful in the entire army. Everybody respects him.
The true Guru Nanak Dev Ji did not say anything that he did not test. If he said something against Hath yoga, then he first practised Hath yoga and then described its shortcomings. If he showed some miracle as in the above story then it was as per the Lord's wish and for some goodness to the people.
There is another story that shows that whatever meditation he did was for goodness to his disciples. One day Guru Nanak Dev Ji went fsr a bath in the river. He went into wondrousness. He went into a meditative mood. Bhai Lehna Ji was sitting on the bank looking after the clothes of Guru Ji. It was wintry cold and it started raining. Bhai Lehna Ji's clothes got wet while sitting. He felt extreme cold and became unconscious and his body turned blue. He had a tender body as he had lived in comfort. Immediately, Guru Ji came out and touched Bhai Lehna Ji's body with his sacred foot. Then Bhai Lehna Ji got consciousness and stood up.
Bhai Lehna Ji asked Guru Ji: Why do you do so much meditation?
Guru Ji: I do all this for goodness to my disciples.
In these days the beloved Guru Nanak Dev Ji was doing everything but sometimes he would become deeply absorbed in the love of the Lord. Many times he
did not eat food. Many times he would sit or walk in the forest for a whole night or lie down on stones and sand. He would not care for heat or cold.
In the gurdwara the programme was as under: Early morning the musicians sang Asa-di-Var. In the evening Rehras was recited. Morning and evening food was served and everybody had food in Guru Ji's kitchen. Some disciples did service in the kitchen and some worked at the fields.
Thousands of men and women came to have a glimpse of Guru Ji. Guru Ji blessed everyone with the Lord's Name. The true Guru Ji's free food, singing the praises of the Lord in accompaniment of music, devotional meditation, all while living in the family was an example that had no parallel and will have no parallel.
The praise of Guru Nanak Dev Ji spread all over, this side in Sangladeep and in the east, Manipur, Assam, then China, Tibet and Kashmir, then Khurram, Afghanistan, Baghdad up to Rome and people and Lord-seekers, rich and poor came to meet Guru Ji. Guru Ji blessed everyone with the Lord's Name.
One day, those who were doing service in the fields said that those who do not work to earn are non-religious. Guru Ji did not like this egoistic talk. It was the harvesting season. When the stacks become full, Guru Ji ordered to burn them. Many disciples were dazed but those who had faith and humility obeyed his orders.
Guru Ji said: Be humble but remain in high spirits. If the giver has an ego that he is giving and a beggar has an inferiority complex that he is begging, then both are bad.
Remain in the love of the Lord, in the remembrance of the Lord, in recitation of His Name and immersed in His love. Don't he carried away by ego. Remain in high spirits and in the incessant remembrance of the Lord, dyed in His love. Work to earn and share with others but while doing this don't think that only those who are working and sharing are on the religious path and others are bad.
The fourth Guru Ji has elaborated this point: O Lord, it is your will that some are givers and some are beggars.
Then those who were working in the fields said: Then what is the good of our working so much? They became lazy. What Guru Ji had actually meant was that those who, in ego, try to assert a right by force are in a mistaken belief. This is not something that can he said as a right but the workers interpreted that Guru Ji does not want them to be eager and earnest in work.
To correct this mistaken belief, Guru Ji made an awe-inspiring appearance. Those who were in recitation of Name and were living in peace of mind by
the grace of Guru Ji but were still in endeavour of Name and had attained a high spiritual state became nervous. They became confused. The true Guru Ji wished to make them understand the comparison between effort and grace. How to get these? Guru Ji in that awe-inspiring appearance went and roamed in the forest. All the disciples became sad and returned home. Some of them stayed with Guru Ji for a day or two but they also returned. Till Guru Ji's magnificence was visible everybody was attracted to him but when the magnificence changed to awe-inspiring, then only Bhai Lehna Ji could see the magnificence that was hidden under the awe-inspiring appearance.
For us the voice of the nightingale is sweet. The voice of the cuckoo is sweet, the sound of the waterfall is sweet but the roar of the lion makes us afraid. The voice of the eagle makes us afraid. The thunder of the clouds almost takes our life. In fact all voices and sounds are sweet but the fears and anxieties that we live in make the difference.
Similarly, Guru Nanak Dev Ji is handsome always. But when he appears handsome that we see like goodness, merciful, charitable, sweet speaking, offering food, blessing Name, then we perceive his handsomeness. But when he made an awesome appearance to make us understand our mistakes, then his real godly figure got concealed under the not real figure. But Bhai Lehna Ji's vision, by his endeavour and by the grace of Guru Ji was unvarying on Nanak-handsomeness. He saw handsomeness in whatever way Guru Nanak Dev Ji appeared. He saw the same godly soul in the awesome figure or 'wand in hand' figure. So, he stood there attracted to him in love. Like, one sees water in different types say cold, hot, sweet, sour, round or flat according to the container but a scientist sees water as a combination of Hydrogen and Oxygen (H20). He sees the inner quality of water. He is not misled by its appearance.
Similarly, Bhai Lehna Ji always recognized Guru Nanak Dev Ji's handsomeness whether it was an awesome appearance or a godly appearance.
Now, Guru Ji also asked Bhai Lehna Ji in a loud tone: Go. I order you to go. Don't look back.
Initially Bhai Lehna Ji hesitated but then the moment Guru Ji ordered, he came to the gurdwara. Here everybody asked him his views.
Then Bhai Lehna Ji said: The grace of Guru Ji is a big grace but more than that his order is a still bigger grace. When he orders, then to comply his orders is asking for more grace. We should pray to the Lord that He should give us the strength to obey the orders of Guru Ji. This is no time to despair. The order of Guru Ji is to recite the Lord's Name. So, let us recite the Name. Guru Ji knows his miracles. Let us recite the Name. Obey his orders and get his grace. Then only he will bless us.
After sometime Guru Ji came. Although, on the advice of Bhai Lehna Ji people had come out of despair and were reciting the Lord's Name but when Guru Ji came and whoever bowed to him, he hit him with a wand.
Those whose mind was accustomed to the pat on the back signifying blessing, now thought that this is not a blessing instead it is a curse and they ran away, although even this was a blessing. Whatever came from Guru Ji was love and blessing whether it be a pat or a wand. Both ways the benevolent Guru Ji who is always a godly soul was blessing the spiritual strength i.e. the Lord's Name. But who would bear? Only those would bear whose vision saw the seen as also the unseen. But this time with the support of Bhai Lehna Ji many people kept sitting and did not mind the hitting of Guru Ji's wand and remained reciting the Name.
Now, the miraculous Guru Ji, to make people understand the highest moral code of religiousness, again went out. Discipleship is complete when ego is gone.
Guru Ji has no desire that people should obey him and he becomes a king like other kings. Guru Ji has no desire to bring people under his influence. Guru Ji does not wish that people follow him and become his slaves. He did all this to wash the dirt on the mind of the disciples.
Those are religious who have no ego and desires on their minds. Those who are in misunderstanding are deficient. To take out the impurity, to make gold as pure gold, it has to be refined again and again. Guru Ji does not wish to have obedient servants to serve him. Guru Ji is flawless. He is without desires, carefree and nonchalant. He makes people understand and takes out the dirt of their minds.
Now, Guru Nanak Dev Ji went towards a desolate place. There was a pyre of wood. It appeared that a dead body was kept over it covered with a white sheet.
Guru Ji said: All of you go but if you wish to stay with me, then you go and eat what is lying there. What was lying under the sheet appeared to be a dead body. Everybody trembled. Everybody's mind saw outwardly. The minds could not perceive the real. Nobody understood that Guru Nanak Dev Ji who is all love, all goodness, all handsomeness, his orders will also he handsome. Nobody perceived this. (God bless, we are not equal to the dust of the feet of this congregation). Everybody trembled and became afraid. Many went away. Some stayed. To those who stayed back, Guru Ji said: Obey my order or go. So, most of them went back. They didn't want to go. They did have love for him but the test is beyond their strength. They cried. They had attraction
for Guru Ji. They were baffled. They are going back but not breaking their love for Guru Ji in their hearts.
Now Bhai Lehna Ji only remained.
Guru Ji ordered: Eat otherwise go.
Bhai Lehna Ji asked: From which side should I lift the sheet?
Guru Ji: Lift from the south side.
When Bhai Lehna Ji lifted the sheet, it was sacred sweet lying there.
In the old biography is written that Gorakh, Head of the Gorakh sect, was on a visit to Guru Ji. Guru Ji showed him the perfect Guru-discipleship.
When Gorakh saw this perfect disciple-ship, then he said: O Nanak, your Guru Ji will be that who will be a part and parcel of you.
Then Bhai Lehna Ji was named Guru Angad Dev Ji.
Meaning: Like, you are a perfect and unparalleled disciple of the Lord, similarly, your perfect and unparalleled disciple will not be just a disciple he will be a prophet and Guru Ji. You will consider him competent for Guru-ship and appoint him Guru Ji of the world.
The true Guru Ji, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, now bestowed extreme graciousness on Bhai Lehna Ji who fell at Guru Ji's feet and was in gratitude. He looked towards Bhai Lehna Ji with graciousness and said: You are my form now. You are Supreme Guru Ji. Guru Nanak Dev Ji bestowed so much graciousness on Bhai Lehna Ji that his soul got fully immersed in the Supreme soul. He became one with the Lord. Bhai Lehna Ji came out perfect in discipleship. Bhai Lehna Ji came out without an iota of ego. Bhai Lehna Ji came out perfect in love of Guru Ji. Bhai Lehna Ji came out steadfast in Guru-love.
Now only one Lord's glimpse was required so that his soul got completely immersed in the Supreme soul. He gets dyed completely in the love of the Lord. So, the benevolent Guru Ji bestowed his graciousness and exalted him. Now, the true Guru Ji, Guru Nanak Dev Ji returned to the house in sweet and handsome appearance. The congregation was delighted to see his magnificence. Everybody fell at his feet and asked forgiveness. Now everybody had complete faith and became earnest in endeavour.
When people saw the exemplary discipleship of Bhai Lehna Ji, then everybody had a reassured faith in Guru Nanak Dev Ji, They became morally strong and heartened. Their faith became resolute.
They fell at Bhai Lehna Ji's feet and said: Bhai Lehna Ji is great. He was a support for everyone and Guru Nanak Dev Ji bestowed so much grace on him that he raised Bhai Lehna Ji to the sphere of grace and then to the true sphere of Lord's abode that is indescribable,
Then Guru Nanak Dev Ji exalted Bhai Lehna Ji as a prophet. Bhai Lehna Ji's soul got fully immersed in the Supreme soul.
Bhai Lehna Ji is now the master of spiritual knowledge and a prophet. He is in total bliss but he still considers himself as a disciple of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and has more love and respect for him. Guru Nanak Dev Ji also has more grace for him.
The tests that were done to make people understand goodness are over. The love and respect that Bhai Lehna Ji had in obeying Guru Nanak Dev Ji and the image of the Lord that he saw in Guru Nanak Dev Ji was tested the moment he picked up the sheet. Guru Nanak Dev Ji embraced Bhai Lehna Ji forthwith.
Bhai Lehna Ji's life was Nanak-love. When Guru Nanak Dev Ji saw Bhai Lehna Ji as a perfect disciple, he also saw that Bhai Lehna Ji hasn't an iota of ego that was proved by this test. Then the disciple became perfect disciple. He did not remain as disciple but became one with Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
See, in the world, the servant becomes a master many times. When a soldier comes in the good books of the Commander, then he is appointed as a Captain in the army. These are the practices of the world.
But here, this is a spiritual field. When the ego that was kept in Bhai Lehna Ji to show him as a disciple, went away absolutely, then he became an image of Guru Ji. The Lord sat on a throne in his heart as was in Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
In this way, the image of Guru Ji became an image of the Lord.
Guru Ji is in whom there is not an iota of ego. Guru Ji is whom the Lord has appointed as Guru Ji.
Bhai Lehna Ji is surely without an iota of ego. The Lord has sat in his heart by the grace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Now he has to be appointed only.
Now, what difference does remain in Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Bhai Lehna Ji? Guru Nanak Dev Ji was a prophet as an image of the Lord. Now Bhai Lehna Ji is the image of the Lord.
That is why Guru Nanak Dev Ji named him Angad and he asked him to use the name Nanak also.
Now Feru's son Bhai Lehna Ji is not just Bhai Lehna Ji, he is Angad i.e. image of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. His soul is immersed in Guru Nanak Dev Ji's soul and a new image of Guru Nanak Dev Ji is born. The newborn image is the same, whether you call him Guru Nanak Dev Ji or Guru Angad Dev Ji.
Bhai Lehna Ji had all the good virtues like, humility, sweetness, patience, forbearance, courtesy, strength to sustain spiritual power and love that was boundless. He had not an iota of ego. He was always in delight, sweet and in
blossom. His face emitted radiance and his body was like a fountain of love. He was in exuberance always. His glimpse filled with ecstasy and rapture.
Seeing all this, the congregation realized that Bhai Lehna Ji who has been mixing with us like us has proved his humility. He has proved that he has no ego. He is always ready to obey the orders of Guru Ji. Like iron becomes magnet by the touch of magnet he has become like Guru Ji. Maybe he was a prince amongst us poor people whom we have been thinking poor like us. We can foresee that he is going to sit on the throne of Guru-ship and bless us the Lord's Name with love.
The congregation became glad in this wish and thought that somebody amongst us shall be on the Guru-ship throne. They wished that Guru Nanak Dev Ji who can read the minds should make their wish true. This wish of the congregation and their being glad did not remain hidden. This became a talk in the congregation and mother Bibi Sulakhni Ji also listened. Her sentiment has no bounds. On listening to the above wish of the congregation she came to the gurdwara where Guru Ji was sitting and told Guru Ji in plain words than the congregation is talking like this and that is something I do not like. Our sons are worthy. The elder one is like a recluse. The younger one also is inclined towards spiritualism. You please give the Guru-ship to the sons. This is a kingdom of earth and heaven. This should remain in the family. That is the tradition in the world. The true Guru Ji listened and kept quiet.
At this time Guru Ji was sitting in the gurdwara. One cat went running in fear. She had a dead rat in her mouth that fell down.
Guru Ji asked Sri Chand Ji who had just come and was sitting near: O son, go and throw this out.
There came a frown on Sri Chand Ji's face as if he was too big for this work and he started looking right and left for a servant who would pick up and throw it out.
Seeing Sri Chand Ji in a quandary Guru Ji made a gesture to Lakhmi Chand Ji. He hurriedly ran outside to look for a servant who would do the job.
Meanwhile, Bhai Lehna Ji came inside and Guru Ji asked him. The light of the world immediately obeyed Guru Ji and did the job.
Then Guru Ji, the appreciator of true love said: O Sri Chand Ji's mother, should I consider Bhai Lehna Ji my own son or a stepson. Saying this he made her realize that like the water stays where the level is low, similarly, the Name stays where there is humility. Where ego is there, it is a higher level. There the Name that is a grace cannot stay.
The above happening was an illustration only to show that the sons have ego in them and they are not in acceptance of the Lord's will. The Lord's
Name can stay where there is acceptance of the Lord's will and no ego, where there is equilibrium of both. One who is attuned to the Lord, only he has the resonance of the Lord's Name in him. Those who are not attuned will not have that resonance.
After explaining all this, then the true Guru Ji further explained the Lord's secret. He said: It is in nobody's hands. Everything is in the Lord's hands. On whom He is gracious he will get this seat.
Sri Chand Ji's mother, Bibi Sulakhni Ji saw the truth, was convinced, bowed to Guru Ji and went home. She was sad and disappointed because the sentimental love for the sons did not let the sadness go but she did see the evident truth and went pondering over that.
After this again, Guru Ji put to test Bhai Lehna Ji and the sons in the presence of their mother on two or three occasions. Then she fully realized that the sons have ego in them and Bhai Lehna Ji has no ego and is immersed in the Lord's love. Bhai Lehna Ji's mind is one with Guru Nanak Dev Ji's mind and so far as the spiritual power is concerned Bhai Lehna Ji is an image of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
The congregation became sure that Guru Nanak Dev Ji is a true evaluator of merit. He does true justice. He weighs everything truly. He has sacrificed the sentimental love of sons and given weight to virtues.
Then they thought, now let us see whom he chooses from the congregation,
Whether it is Bhai Lehna Ji or Bhai Buddha Ji? Bhai Buddha Ji was considered as a revered saint. So, they thought he might be chosen. Bhai Lehna Ji was immersed in Guru Nanak Dev Ji's love and Bhai Buddha Ji was inexhaustible in service. Bhai Buddha Ji was in a high spiritual beatitude but Bhai Lehna Ji was still higher in that.
One early morning around 'four o-clock' Guru Ji came to the gurdwara, the congregation also came.
Guru Ji said: O Bhai Buddha Ji, what is the time? Bhai Buddha Ji: It is 'three o-clock'.
Guru Ji said: No. It is 'four o-clock'. You see minutely, see the stars and then tell.
Bhai Buddha Ji went out, saw the stars and came back and said: O Guru Ji, it is 'three o-clock'.
Three times Guru Ji asked him to check again. Three times he gave the same reply.
Then Guru Ji asked Bhai Lehna Ji to check the time. Bhai Lehna Ji: O divine master, time is running according to your command. Whatever is your will, it will run according to that.
Bhai Buddha Ji's vision was that Guru Nanak Dev Ji is a prophet from the heavens. But Bhai Lehna Ji was immersed in 'Guru Nanak Dev Ji-love' and his vision saw him as an image of the Lord and everything under his command.
At that time it was 'four o-clock'. Bhai Buddha Ji calculated according to his mind. But Bhai Lehna Ji saw time as a creation and Guru Nanak Dev Ji as the Creator and he did not let his ego come in.
In these tests it became evident that the seat of Guru Nanak Dev Ji is not a worldly Guru-ship seat. It is from the Lord and Bhai Lehna Ji is the taker for the same.
One day the true Guru Ji went for a bath in the river. Bhai Lehna Ji while sitting on the bank got so much immersed in meditation and love of Guru Nanak Dev Ji as if unconscious. Guru Nanak Dev Ji finished his bath and came out Bhai Lehna Ji did not notice. Guru Ji picked up clothes from Bhai Lehna Ji's lap and wore them but Bhai Lehna Ji did not know. Guru Ji stood there for a long time seeing him and feeling wondrous but Bhai Lehna Ji remained in that meditation.
Now, Guru Ji woke up Bhai Lehna Ji from his meditation. Then Bhai Lehna Ji felt embarrassed and fell at Guru Ji's feet.
Guru Ji now, held Bhai Lehna Ji's arm with love and brought him to the gurdwara. The congregation also assembled. Guru Ji called his sons and family.
He ordered Bhai Lehna Ji to sit on the seat of Guru Ji. Then he walked in a circle around him, offered five pennies and a coconut and bowed his head down. Yes, Guru Ji of the world bowed his head down to his own beloved disciple.
He made the disciple Guru Ji.
In one of the books is written: Guru Ji made the Ganges flow in the reverse direction.
How did Bhai Lehna Ji bear this flow of Ganges in the reverse? Bound by the order he kept sitting but when he saw Guru Ji bowing down to him, then in extreme pain he said: O Lord of the universe, O king of kings, I cannot bear your bowing down. It pains me.
Then the true Guru Ji put his hand on Bhai Lehna Ji's mouth and said: Now, please do not utter any words. Whatever you will utter will become true. You are Guru Ji and the whole world your disciple. Your name is Angad now. Give the Lord's Name to everybody.
Saying this, he bestowed the name Guru Angad Dev Ji.
Then Guru Ji said to Bhai Buddha Ji: O dear, you are the leader in
disciples. You put the saffron dot denoting Guru-ship on the forehead of Guru Angad Dev Ji.
Bhai Buddha Ji got up and put the saffron dot with extreme love and then fell at Guru Ji's feet.
Then Guru Ji asked the entire congregation and family members to bow down to Guru Angad Dev Ji. Everybody bowed down but the sons did not.
After a few days Guru Ji asked Guru Angad Dev Ji to go and stay at Khadur.
It was very difficult for Guru Angad Dev Ji to separate from Guru Nanak Dev Ji but as ordered he agreed.
While going he asked: When can I come for your glimpse?
Then Guru Ji said: I will come to you. You need not come.
Guru Angad Dev Ji, now, as ordered went to Khadur. He reached Khadur. In pangs of separation, Guru Angad Dev Ji spent time like this: The whole day he would sit in meditation. In the evening, he ate something and then went out of the town and sat there immersed in the love of the Lord in meditation. Early morning he would take a bath and come and sit in Mai Virai's house in a room.
Eight months passed like this in pangs of separation of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Now, Guru Nanak Dev Ji felt the pangs of his beloved Guru Angad Dev Ji and accompanied by Dhiru and Sadharna he came to Khadur. Guru Angad Dev Ji was sitting in meditation in love of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Guru Nanak Dev Ji shook him in his meditation. Guru Angad Dev Ji opened his eyes and saw the radiant face of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
On seeing Guru Nanak Dev Ji he was overwhelmed. He had tears of love in his eyes and impatiently clamped his feet. Guru Nanak Dev Ji hugged and embraced him.
For a long time both of them sat together in immense delight. O great Guru Nanak Dev Ji. O great Guru Angad Dev Ji.
For full two months Guru Nanak Dev Ji stayed there. The whole day the congregation assembled and singing of hymns went on.
On listening about the extreme meditation of Guru Angad Dev Ji, Guru Nanak Dev Ji said: I have blessed you immense spiritual strength. Why do you meditate for long periods?
But Guru Angad Dev Ji sat in meditation engrossed in love of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. How could he come out of the rapturous engrossment?
Guru Nanak Dev Ji is the image of the Lord. Bhai Lehna Ji, in this way remained engrossed in the love of the Lord.
This engrossment is life. Without this it is lifelessness.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji departed for Kartarpur after two months. Bhai Lehna Ji wished to accompany him but Guru Ji asked him to stay back.
Again, Guru Angad Dev Ji was in craving and pangs and engrossed in meditation.
Almost after four months again Guru Nanak Dev Ji felt a pull of love from Guru Angad Dev Ji.
Love has much strength. It influences even the Lord.
While sitting in Sadharna's house Guru Nanak Dev Ji felt a pull of love. Alone, he got up and slowly walked up to Khadur. It was early morning and Guru Angad Dev Ji was sitting in meditation outside the town that Guru Nanak Dev Ji came and put his sacred hand on Guru Angad Dev Ji's head. Guru Angad Dev Ji was overwhelmed and immediately fell at Guru Nanak Dev Ji's feet but Guru Nanak Dev Ji took him in his embrace and patted him with tender love on his back.
See, Guru Nanak Dev Ji's love for Guru Angad Dev Ji. It is wondrous to see grace and respect in love from both sides.
Then they came to Mai Virai's house and stayed there. For many days both of them stayed there.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji saw that Guru Angad Dev Ji has become weak. The dazzle on his forehead is unbearable but the pangs of separation and his meditating for long periods has made him weak bodily. So, Guru Ji decided to stay on for a fortnight. Guru Nanak Dev Ji would give a discourse everyday so that Guru Angad Dev Ji remains in exuberance and cheers. But whenever Guru Nanak Dev Ji thought of going back, then Guru Angad Dev Ji's restlessness kept him back.
Both are Guru Sahibs, both are prophets. Both are full of immense spiritual strength. Then see how much love they have for each other.
In this way, one day Guru Nanak Dev Ji departed. He departed in happiness because now he saw Guru Angad Dev Ji in enthusiasm. He blessed Guru Angad Dev Ji with more happiness and more spiritual strength. Then he came to Pakhoke town and stayed at Sadharna's house. From here he went to Kartarpur.
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