Prasan Kaur (in captivity): O 'Guru Ji with the plume'! We look to your support.
Nahru: Make your husband agree to leave discipleship of Guru Ji.
Prasan Kaur: You can kill me but don't kill your brother.
Nahru: Don't be stubborn. Leave this discipleship of Guru Ji.
Saying this Nahru went near the other room where he had kept his brother in captivity and said: Leave this discipleship. Do not force me to become a killer.
Brother: O dear Brother! What you have understood is not correct I cannot leave discipleship of Guru Ji under threat of being killed. The discipleship has removed the veil by which the fear of death has gone. Discipleship has awakened the mind. Death shall make the soul free. I am a lover of death. I play in the lap of death. The death that you think is in your hands shall only add to the weight of sins on your soul. It cannot harm us a wee bit. I do not beg pardon from you for myself and my wife but I ask you not to kill your own conscience.
Nahru: We are born to the same parents. It is a pity that I am following the Muslim religion and you become a disciple of Guru Ji.
Harwant Singh Ji: Ohi Muslim religion! It has taken you to kill your brother. See to your conscience. To force a religion is not written in the Quran. You follow any religion you like. Let me follow whatever religion I like.
Nahru: No excuses, say either yes or no.
Harwant Singh Ji: Yes', is that we shall remain disciples of Guru Ji with unshorn hair till our last breath. 'No' is in losing the faith. Even death shall not make us lose our faith.
Nahru: Alright.
Saying alright and biting his lips, Nahru went downstairs. He said to his mind: What to do? Brother has faith like steel. Sister-in-law is stubborn. If I kill them, then I get a bad name. If I free them, then I feel insulted. What should I do?
This prison is not a jail. This is captivity on the 1st floor of their house. Harwant Singh Ji and Nahru were both sons of a rich landlord who was a disciple of the Muslim saint of Sarwar. The elder son Nahru was deeply influenced by the saint of Sarwar but the younger son Harwant became a disciple of Guru Ji and now drank the sacred nectar and was named Harwant Singh Ji. The other family members did not like their becoming Gurudisciples. But Nahru was so furious that he planned to Ml them. By some cunning pretext he locked the couple in different rooms and started tormenting them. But in this agony Prasan Kaur and her husband Harwant Singh Ji did not become nervous and remained firm in their faith.
For the sentimental mother it became a perplexing situation. Her heart sided with the elder brother who was influenced by the saint of Sarwar but for the sentimental love for the younger son she could not endure his agony. If she sided with elder one, then it was more agony for the younger one and if she sided with the younger one then the elder son got angry. Mother was in a no go situation.
The beloveds of the Lord who live in high spirits are always alert. When night descended, Brother Nahru got intoxicated with wine and became unconscious. One maid servant talked this to Bhai Harwant Singh Ji. Bhai Harwant Singh Ji now fearlessly broke the door hinges with his strong hands. He came out and broke open the lock of the room where his wife was locked up. Both of them came downstairs.
Here, mother was sitting and crying. She said: Thanks to the Lord! How have you come out?
Son: Mother! I broke the door and came out.
Mother: That is why some noise was there. What do you wish to do now? Son: We are leaving.
Mother: How will I bear the separation? But you better leave. It is important to save one's life. Come, I shall open the back door. Nahru is intoxicated with wine. Take some money and some arms.
Son: It is Lord's grace. We have got everything. You give me my arms. Wealth, my 'Guru Ji with the Plume' has plenty.
Prasan Kaur: If you permit, shall I take the gifts?
Harwant Singh Ji: Alright. Good.
Saying this, they carried two shawls, gifts, arms and some money that mother insisted, "You must take". They went to the horse's stable, mounted on horses and rode away fast after wishing goodbye to mother.
It is full moonlight tonight. The auspicious moonlight that was made bright by a hundred moons and thousand suns by way of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji arriving on earth on this night. Yes, it was the auspicious night of the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. It is the month of October, rosy season, sweet season, lovely breeze, sweet and cool breeze, lovely dew drops on vegetation, nice milky moonlight.
In this moonlight husband and wife are riding fast galloping their horses. They rode till past midnight. They reached a village where a Gurdwara existed and many Guru-disciples lived there. Being already well known to the congregation, they went to the Gurdwara.
In fact it was already early morning and devotees had started coming.
Some were having a bath and some had already bathed and were ready.
Everyone was glad to meet them. They already knew them. They felt delighted. They held their horses and welcomed them. They had already heard about their confinement and agony. When they saw them free and amongst them, then their happiness knew no bounds. Everybody embraced Bhai Harwant Ji tightly with love. Everybody met his wife with hands folded and greeted her with Sat-sri-akal. They made them stay in a side-room, gave them hot milk to drink and asked them to rest and sleep.
But they who were in Guru-love and living in high spirits did not care for tiredness. They did not wish to miss the divine singing (Kirtan). They sat and listened to the singing of divine songs [Kirtan). Bhai. ji had earlier got tuition from Amrit Rai poet. When he became a Guru-devotee, then he understood religion and its fundamental principles very well. In this way, in a short time , only people gave him respect as an intellectual and a preacher. The congregation here was very keen to listen to his discourses. They requested him to stay for a few days so that they are benefited by his mind-elevating discourses.
Bhai Ji was an 'Ideal man5. The Ideal man' himself remains steadfast in recitation and remembrance of the Lord's name and then preaches the Lord's name to others.
Bhai Ji stayed there for a couple of days and gave discourses that elevated the minds of the congregation and they felt ecstasy of the Lord's name.
One day one disciple from amongst the congregation asked: How can all be united and the union should never break?
Bhai Ji said; To remain united is a bit difficult. Those who preach unity, who cry for unity, split when there is no unity and suffer.
Unity is of two types, one that splits and one that lasts. Both have two factors responsible for. People with low character get together for some selfinterest and become united. They try to fulfill that purpose. When the purpose is fulfilled, then they split due to their selfishness. For example thieves get together and steal. While stealing, they remain together but when it comes to distribution of stolen goods, then they fight amongst themselves. This unity arises from selfishness.
Second are those who leave their self-interest and for some philanthropy unite. They have friendly relations and no self-interest. They fulfill the common aim with unity. They do not have self-interest. High character and inspiration for duty is very essential for this type of unity because self-interest does not go without high character and inspiration for duty. To fulfill the aim such people unite and work together. When the work is completed then they celebrate together. See, some friends got together: Let us construct a Gurdwara.
Some donated land, some donated steel, some donated wood, some brought bricks, some brought lime and some paid for the labour. With a united effort a common wish was fulfilled. Now if all of them are inspired for duty, then everybody will feel delighted and they will do move service for the Gurdwara such as arranging divine singing (Kirtan), teaching of Punjab language, free kitchen (Langar) etc. and will consider it a privilege to do service.
But in case they are without high character, then the supplier of wood will boast: If I had not given wood how the building could be constructed?
The supplier of bricks will say: Bricks were donated by me. Steel used is very little like salt in dough.
The supplier of labour will say: Take your wood, bricks and steel away, if I had not put labour, then how the building could come up? There is no dearth of bricks or wood. The forests are full.
In this way first they will boast, then each one of them will say: I shall be the Manager of the Gurdwara. Everybody will try to push his control. The result will be disunity.
Then another conflict will arise. Everyone will want to fulfill his need. The wood supplier will say: Let me keep some extra wood. It is a common building, what if I use a little space for my wood? The milkman will say: Why not I keep my cows here at night? The grocer wall say: Why not I keep my bags of grain here? The distiller will say: why not I keep a few jars of wine in the verandah? The chess players will say: It is common for everyone. Why not we play chess here in the afternoon?
In this way the selfish interests will create disunity. Slowly the Gurdwara will cease to operate.
But if all were of high character and inspired for duty, then everybody would have been keen to do service. Nobody would have bothered about becoming a prominent Manager. Whosoever was selected unanimously as Manager would have considered it a service to the congregation and as a duty to the congregation. The purpose for which the Gurdwara was constructed would not be lost.
There is strength in unity when one feels that to give comfort to others is much better than to think of one's own comfort all the time and one wants to do kindness to others.
Let us scrutinize ourselves. We do not have to make an effort for unity. Unity lies in us. The 'Guru Ji with the Plume5 has raised our moral character. He has preached 'service to humanity5 and cto give comfort to others5. Our centre point is Magnificent Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Our aim is one i.e. to reach the Lord. Our duty is one: To go according to what Guru Ji has taught us.
Our faith is Love of God and love of humanity. Our character is pure. In this way, we love each other; we are well-wishers of each other. We have no pride of upper caste. We have no ego of city or village. Guru Ji has rid us of selfishness. Our entire community is one.
In this way he gave discourses for a few days and then departed. Now he reached another village. Here, by his motivation, a Gurdwara had come up and congregation assembled. Here stayed one musician who sang divine songs (Kirtan) and one Punjabi teacher. By assistance from Bhai Karwant Singh Ji they helped ten or twelve blind people to learn singing of divine songs (Kirtan), playing of harmonium and tabla and giving religious discourses and recitation of name. Earlier, the blind were in great distress. They begged for food from door to door and suffered. When Guru Ji rose as the sun, the blind also got light. They were put on the path of recitation of the Lord5s name and given training of some vocation wherein they could earn their livelihood with respect. They were taught music and singing of divine songsKirtan) and the art of giving discourses. In this way, these people who always suffered became eligible to sit at places of respect.
Many disciples were ready to go to Anandpur. They were waiting for Bhai Ji. One blind disciple who had completed his training was to accompany them.
Four days passed. One rich businessman of the village passed away. This trader was in his fifties. He married thrice. This third wife was hardly sixteen
or seventeen years old. The younger brother of the trader wished that somehow this lady should die so that he is able to grab the property of his bi other.
The elder brother died in the afternoon. Then he called the priest to advise the newly become widow of seventeen to bum herself on the pyre of the late husband.
In those times the dreadful custom of burning the wife on the husband's pyre was considered as a dutiful custom. Many ladies now do not know the old customs that were prevalent in those times. The custom was so much engrained in the mind of ladies that many new widows sat in the pyre with their dead husbands in their lap and did not feel afraid.
Manliness, bravery and steadfastness is always praiseworthy but this custom was a sure suicide in ignorance and mistaken belief. Sometimes the widows burnt themselves fearing the suffering of loneliness. Many times it happened that when the pyre was lit, the widow got up and ran away from there but the relatives out of superstition caught her and forcibly put her on the burning fire. Even more horrifying traits were heard. A lady who would not agree, the relatives tied her and threw the wailing lady on the burning pyre forcibly.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji was the first prophet who spoke against this horrible and bad custom. The third Guru Ji issued orders that the custom of burning the widows should be stopped amongst Guru-disciples and efforts be made to save other Hindu widows from this bad custom of burning as much as possible.
Guru Ji said:
Virtuous wives are not those who self -immolate themselves Virtuous are those who have love-pangs for the Lord. Virtuous are those who are noble and contented Virtuous are those who remember the Lord and day and night recite His name.
Guru Ji did not stop here on the issue. When Akbar came to meet the fifth Guru Ji, then Guru Ji asked the Emperor to waive tax because of famine. Along with this he also discussed the problem of self-immolation of Hindu widows. Akbar passed a law that no widow should be forced for self-immolation. Akbar stopped it altogether but due to the pressure from Hindu priests the practice was not rooted out fully. However, under the British rule this unholy custom was rooted out fully. Guru-disciples always tried to stop the unholy practice.
In this village the widow of the trader was prompted by the priests and she agreed to self-immolate herself on the husband's pyre.
Next morning when she accompanied the dead body of the husband to the cremation ground, then Bhai Ji came to know about her plan.
Immediately he rushed to the cremation ground. Many more Guru-disciples followed.
Bhai Ji talked to the lady politely: O lady! Your moral strength is great and your love for husband is great. You wish to leave this earthly world in the hope that you shall reach the heaven. Before you leave you listen to my words also.
Bhai Ji was respected as a saint in the entire village. Even the Muslims respected him. His love, service to humanity, love for the Lord and reciting the scripture had impressed everyone.
Everybody said: O lady, do listen to his sacred words.
The pandit who had seen the impact of the words of Guru-disciples at many places frowned but people did not bother.
Bhai Ji said: O lady! With what faith are you ready to self-immolate yourself? You have not created this body. The Lord has created. You are going to finish it. Now you consider: If a servant tries to finish something created by the Master, then shall the Master be happy with that? You try to equate yourself with the Master and then hope for a place in heaven. If the Master wished to finish your body, then he could make you dead. You are not sacrificing your body for some good cause. You want to self-immolate because you lived with your late husband or hope to go to heaven.
You think for yourself, how can you get salvation? Neither you have meditated on the Lord, nor have you done any service to humanity, you have not read any scripture, you have not recited the Lord's name. How can salvation come by burning the body?
The discourse turned the lady's mind. When people saw that the lady has backed out then her relatives felt distress, the pandit howled. They could not argue with Bhai Ji.
They knew that they could not force her in the presence of Guru-disciples. They will not allow that. If we go to the ruler, even then the Guru-disciples' words will stand.
Now Bhai Ji gave a strong discourse unhesitatingly. Everybody realized that it is cowardice that pushes you towards self immolation when there is suffering.
Now another big problem arose. According to the pandits, if a lady who has once agreed to self-immolate herself and put the saffron line one her head and if she backs out then a curse falls on her. This was the superstition of the pandits. The lady who backs out has no place to go.
Bhai Ji sorted out the solution that Guru Ji's refuge is the best course for her. She will be a part of the congregation. She will drink the sacxC-d nectar and get a new awakened life.
After the pyre was lit the lady accompanied the Guru-disciples. One old lady who was related to her also accompanied her. The Guru-disciples, the lady and her relative came to the Gurdwara. Both were welcomed and became Guru-disciples.
The congregation accompanied by Bhai Harwant Singh Ji proceeded towards Anandpur.
On the way they came to know that on instruction from the ruler of Delhi some prominent and rich persons have been arrested and are being escorted to Delhi for forcible conversion to Islam.
Bhai Ji sent one detective who managed to find out that there were ten policemen and seven captives. Bhai Ji now kept some good soldiers with him and asked the rest of the congregation to proceed to Anandpur. The congregation soon reached near the hills of Anandpur.
Bhai Ji with his group of soldiers went after the group of captives at a little distance behind. On the third day they reached a place in the forest where there was no habitation. It was a lonely area. They tied up the already tired sepoys with ropes and freed the captives. The captives were made to sit behind the Guru-disciples on the horses and they galloped fast
See the Lord's wonder! Who is sitting behind Bhai Harwant Singh Ji?
He was his brother Nahru Lai. They rode fast and on the third day they were able to join the congregation that had reached the hilly area earlier.
Here, when Nahru met her sister-in-law, he felt ashamed. But the pious lady paid respect to him and said: O brother! It is Lord's grace that we have met again as brothers meet each other.
Nahru: O Sister-in-law! I am ashamed. I treated you so badly. It is your greatness that you are doing goodness to me in spite of my ugly behaviour towards you. If I were in your position I would have killed you. You are great that you call an enemy like me as brother.
Sister-in-law: O brother! I am not great. Great is the 'Guru Ji with the plume', the fountain of love. Great is his congregation where flows that love. Let us forget the past. We do not remember the past. We have forgotten. If the tongue gets a cut by the teeth, then do we break the tooth? Or if an arm gets fractured, do we not support it by the neck? You are our relative. For us nobody in the world is a stranger, we all are children of one Lord. When we drink the sacred nectar and our soul is awakened, then we announce to the
world: Stop enmities, stop quarrels, stop this upper caste and low caste system, rid your ego and pride and say: One father, we are children of one Lord. O Lord you are my support. You also come and drink the sacred nectar and make your mind rise above discrimination and awaken your soul.
Nahru: O sister-in-law! You have saved me from the clutches of messengers of death. That Muslim priest Wahabuddin who was my best friend, he only deceived me. I was implicated falsely. Our house and property was confiscated and in captivity we were being sent to Delhi.
Sister-in-law: Mother-in-law and your self were already devotees of the saint of Nagaha. You were already half Muslim. Why were you afraid of embracing Islam?
Nahru: It was the cunningness of the Muslim priest Wahabu that changed my mind and then mother was absolutely against embracing Islam.
On listening to this story Bhai Harwant Singh Ji accompanied by seven soldiers started towards Hoshiarpur. On reaching near the town they sent one detective to find out the whereabouts of the mother and children. The detective returned and informed Bhai Ji that mother has agreed to embrace Islam on the condition that Nahru should be released from captivity and brought back home. safely. For the time being, mother and children are in captivity in a Sheikh's house and some men have gone to bring Nahru back. The family is at present living in Sheikh's house and a guard is kept there.
On hearing this, the Guru-disciples reached the Sheikh's house in the early hours of the morning. They posed as sellers of horses. One person became friendly with the guard and took the guard a little distance away while talking.
Meanwhile Bhai Ji entered the mansion, gave the news of Nahru's release to the family and asked the family to come out. Within moment they made them sit on horses and swiftly rode away. The companion who was talking to the guard gave some money to the guard and asked him to bring some food. Soon he rode his horse and slipped away like a drop of water on milk. On the third day everybody met at an earlier fixed destination.
By the Lord's grace they reached Anandpur, the town of bliss. They fell at the true Guru Ji's feet. When every happening was narrated to the true Guru Ji, then Guru Ji was immensely pleased to see the self respect, self defense and courage to save others at risk of one's own life. He was too glad to listen to the story of saving the young widow from self-immolation and bringing away so many people from the captivity of the Muslims.
of the river with regret of an unfulfilled desire and eyes Med with tears, bade good bye to all old remembrances and said: One has to leave everything one day. Why not leave it today? And why feel sad?
The boat moved and kept on moving. The water in the river was moving at a slow speed and the boat moved automatically. The girl who rowed the boat kept the boat in the middle of the stream and it went on and on. It is extremely cold but she is not bothered. Maybe the propelling of oars sometimes keeps her body warm. Moving like this, the night passed. Morning ascended. The sun rose.
The damsel anchored the boat on a comer of the bank. She opened a box and ate something and then slept in the boat. In the afternoon she decided to continue her unknown journey and rowed the boat in the middle of the river. The speechless boat is drifting on the bosom of water. The damsel is rowing it with her strong hands as fast as she can.
When night descended the moonlight bloomed again. She let the boat drift in the slow moving waves of water and rowed a little so that the boat remains in the centre and the movement of her arms gives warmth to the body.
Again, the night passed. It was morning time. The damsel again anchored the boat near the bank. She collected some wood, lit a fire, took out some groceries from a bundle, cooked some food, ate and again slept in the boat. In the afternoon again she started her journey in the river.
One day, the boat touched the bank of the river. The scenic spot enchanted her mind. The boat insistently anchored itself on the bank. She decided not to travel any further. She picked up a rope, tied the boat to a tree and with intention to rest at night, she collected wood, lit a fire, cooked some food and ate. Then she covered herself with a quilt and slept.
Let us see what has happened in the mansion from where down below, the damsel sat in the boat and started her journey?
The owner of the mansion is a learned Pandit, big landlord, rich and wealthy. He is sitting with his wife who is heaving long sighs.
. She spoke: O! Pandit dear! Your teaching has spoiled everything. Oh! My loving young daughter bom after a great deal of prayers and vows, this age and this situation! Who knows! Whether she is writhing in frost or is lying dead as a stone at the bottom of the river or her body that was nurtured with butter and cream is eaten up by crocodiles. O Child! Why that unfortunate