The true Guru and party now left Danapur and kept travelling halting at Aare, Damra and Baxar and reached Chhota Mirzapur. The Guru-disciples were spread throughout the country. At every place devotees came and welcomed Prince-Guru. The Managers of Jagta Sfeth were hospitable. At every place the congregation assembled, sang divine songs (Kirtan) and recited the Lord's name. There were many devotees in Mirzapur. They became so exuberant to meet him that the love of the congregation made Prince-Guru stay there for three days. The congregation assembled everyday and sang divine songs [Kirtan). Maternal Uncle Kirpal Chand Supervised the singing of divine songs (Kirtan) and discourses. Prince-Guru's magnificence and radiance elevated the minds of the devotees. He blessed thei Lord's name that gave ecstasy to the congregation.
On the fourth day the party departed from here, (crossed the Ganges and reached Kanshi. Guru Tegh Bahadur had put his sacred feet at Kanshi. Prince Guru stayed at the place where Guru Tegh Bahadur] had stayed earlier.
Guru Nanak Dev had visited Kanshi earlier and! the Gura-disciples were spread far and wide. Then Bhai Gurdas also stayed here for a long time.
Since then a large congregation had been formed.
When they came to know that Prince Guru haj come, then everybody from far and near thronged to have his glimpse. People came in large ni-nbers joyfully. Everybody got ecstasy on having his glimpse and listening to his discourse. Everybody was served food at night and then they slept. Next day, after the morning assembly they took Prince-Guru txp visit and put his sacred feet at various prominent places. It was all joy and happiness all round. Next day, a group of needy and poor came. Prince-Gunji picked up all gifts and
money whatever had been offered to him and distributed it to the needy and poor. Then Bhai Gurbaksh came with his congregation who brought all kinds of gifts and money and presented it to Prince-Guru.
When the devotees saw that Prince-Guru has distributed all that was offered to him, then they brought more money and offered it to Prince-Guu.
On seeing people making so much offering of money to Prince-Guru some learned Brahmins came in the afternoon to have his glimpse.
On seeing his magnificence and radiance in this young age they were impressed. But doubt arose in their mind whether he could be a prophet at this age, as we hear.
One learned Brahmin questioned Prince Guru: Your ancestors and your self are Khatris. It is the Brahmin's right to accept charity. Khatri's religious code is not to accept charity and offering. Why do you accept this offering?
Material uncle wanted to reply but the Godly soul himself spoke: O respected Pandit! The offerings that are made to idols of Shiva, Vishnu or goddesses, those the Brahmins take. Have I kept any idols of worship that I take offerings made to idols? People give me presents considering me as a Prince of the Lord. It is out of their love. It is not given under any threat or greed. Our ancestors utilized the money to help the poor, got wells constructed, got tanks constructed. There is a free kitchen where everybody irrespective of caste and creed can eat food. So much so that sometimes they finished all the money by night and did not keep anything even for the next morning. They developed villages where everybody started earning. Later, my ancestors kept an army and were victorious four times in battles that nobody dared to face. Our accepting the offering is like a tree accepting water. The tree takes plain water but gives delicious fruits to the world. The Gurus blessed prosperity, religion and salvation. That fulfilled their worldly desires as well. You know our ancestors gave their lives for the sake of religion but did not use the money to save their lives. Instead, they utilized the money in constructing wells, tanks and towns like Taran-taaran and Kartarpur where people got work and made a living.
One Pandit: What you say is that whatever you have done is to save the religion but when you mention blessing of prosperity, religion and salvation. Out of these, the first two are visible to the taker but salvation comes after death. How can you insist that you give salvation also?
Prince-Guru replied: What is the use of salvation that one would get after death and is not visible while living? While living in this life itself, when one gets out of sentiment, desires and ego and imbibes the Lord's name in one's
SRi KALGIDHAR CHAMATKAR (VOLli
self, then the mind is elevated and feels a sensation tf the presence of the Lord incessantly. One gets salvation while living in thiji world. Our ancestors said: In this world and in the next world too, a tue disciple of the Lord lives a life of blossom and beatitude.
leads down.
On listening to this reply the Pandits bowed their
One Pandit said: I ask forgiveness. We heard your greatness in this childhood. So, a doubt crept in our mind. You know, a scholar lives in doubt His mind is satisfied only after testing. This is the fault in education.
Prince-Guru: You are all Brahmins and you consider yourself worthy of being worshipped. But all of you worship Ram and Krishna who were Khatris. We do not believe in the system of caste. But you are already in the worship of Khatris. So, the best thing would be that you consider the Lord-sent Gurus as prophets and take their blessings. If you remain in jhe system of caste you will get away from religion. !
Then the Brahmins became humble and praised Prince-Guru and saki: We agree that the Lord has sent you to save the world from suffering. You are great! !
In the entire town of Kanshi it became known | that he is a Lord-sent prophet. Every day, the congregation assembled and there was singing of divine songs (Kirtan). Prince-Guru stayed here for ten days. He blessed recitation of the Lord's name to everyone. From here, he planned to go to Prayag.
[Prayag] i The party crossed the Ganges and after halting at IVJirzapur for some time, they reached Prayag. Here also he stayed at the pace where Guru Tegh Bahadur had stayed while going to Assam. On hearing the news of the arrival of Prince-Guru, a large number of devotees came to seek his blessings. The congregation assembled twice, once in the morning and again in the evening. Prince-Guru blessed the congregation and accepted the offering that the devotees made with love. Sometimes, he would give a nice discourse. He stayed here for five days. Then the party departed for Ayudhya.
[Ayudhya]
After blessing a large number of devotees on the way Pjince-Guru now reached Ayudhya. He stayed at the place where a Gurdwara jxists now. Here also he stayed for two or three days and blessed the Lord's name to the people. He went sight-seeing to see some ancient spots like Guptaaij Ghat etc. He distributed money to the needy and poor.
Page 61 of 558 >
SR! KALGIDHAR CHAMATKAR (VOL - '.)
[Guru Nanak Matta] He departed from Ayudhya and reached Guru Nanak Matta. Guru Nanak had put his sacred feet here and won over the Siddhas. Later, the Siddhas overpowered the Guru-appointee and took control of the place. Then the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind travelled from Punjab, reached here and reinstated the Guru-disciple as the Head of the Gurdwara. Prince Guru blessed the Lord's name to everyone and then departed.
[Pilibhit ■ • Dev Nagar] From Guru Nanak Matta he came to Pilibhit. Here lived a very prominent personality who was deeply devoted to the Guru. His name was Raja Shamsher Bahadur. He was the son of Raja Bagh Bahadur whom the sixth Guru, Gura Hargobind had blessed the Lord's name. He was a deep devotee. He made Prince-Guru and party stay at his house for five days with great respect, love and affection and was very hospitable ail the time. When Prince-Guru departed, he showed great adoration for Prince-Guru.
Prince-Guru left Pilibhit and came to Dev Nagar. From his Mother, he heard how Bidhi Chand did service to the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind. Here exists a shrine raised over the ashes of Bidhi Chand, a deep devotee of the sixth Guru. The congregation assembled and divine songs [Kirtan) were sung. He blessed the Lord's name to everyone. Here he blessed Bidhi Chand's heir Sunder Shah and his disciples who were all Lord-loving. They welcomed him w ith great respect and devotion.
[Lucknow]
Then he proceeded to Lucknow. At Lucknow, Bhagat Bhagwan, a saint of the Udasi sect welcomed him and was very hospitable. He respectfully made him stay with him. Prince-Guru gave him a sword as a token gift. This is still with his heirs even now.
Moving from here, the party reached a pilgrim centre named Brahmavart near Bathoor. This is situated on the bank of the river Ganges. He blessed the meditative with the Lord's name.
[Mathura]
Travelling from here via Chandausi and Khurja, he reached Mathura. Here, Brij Lai Chobey was very hospitable to the party. Prince-Guru blessed the Lord's name to everyone. Moving further, visiting Vindraban and halting at some places, holding assemblies and blessing the devotees, the party reached
Hardwar. They stayed at the Gurdwara of the third Guru at Kankhal for five days. The congregation assembled every day. He blessed the Lora?s name to everyone. Travelling further, he came to Santalsar, iShagwanpur, Booriye, Deeplay and finally reached Lakhnaur that is in Ambala District Here lived Bhaijetha, Cash Collector of the Guru. Dad Guru Te
&h Bahadur had sent a Bhaijetha arranged a : the party stayed and in one's own house.
message that Prince-Guru and party should halt here, large mansion where Mother and other members o arranged for all comforts. Everybody felt as if staying
News spread in the villages around that Prince-Gunk is staying at Lakhnaur. Then all the devotees from all over, thronged to have his glimpse and do service for him and get his blessings. The congregation assembled in the morning and evening. There was hustle-bustie during the entire day. Prince Guru went for horse riding. Prince-Guru made companions and played games. They shot arrows and practiced. It was all merry time playing and laughing.
There was a well near where Prince-Guru stayed but the water was saline. The villagers prayed to Mother to get a new well dug up that might give sweet water. One well already existed but was hidden. Nobody knew about it. Mother intuitively told the devotees to dig up that par acular place. The place was dug and the water was sweet. Mother paid money for the digging. This well exists and is known as Mother Gujri's well. -
Near Lakhnaur lived Shah Bheek who had gone tjo Patna to meet Prince Guru. Now again he came to Lakhnaur to have Princje-Guru's glimpse.
Shah Bheek came along with his devotees. Princp-Guru was at that time playing Bat and ball with other children. Shah Bheek fell at the feet of Prince Guru and prayed: You appear as a child but I recognize you. You are a prophet of the prophets. Lord has given me the vision of what is going to happen. Please bless that my dynasty should remain when the Mughal rule ends.
Prince-Guru replied: Yes, your dynasty shall remain for long. The saint's dynasty is still living. When the saint retpmed, then his devotees asked him: Why you bowed to a Hindu saint?
Shah Bheek said: He is a Lord-sent prophet. He| shall try to remove the friction between Hindus and Muslims and other castes. He is a beloved of the Lord. When he came I saw his splendour on earth. TThen I went to have his glimpse. Then his devotees felt delighted. j
Prince-Guru goes for horse-riding on his Ablak Ijiorse.
One day he went horse-riding to the mound o Rajput Chiefs who were disciples of Shah Bheek came
Bhustali. There, some They came and greeted
him. They presented some arrows and a bow to Prince-Guru. Prince-Guru blessed them and said: Live long. They lived for quite long.
Then he visited Bhano Xheri, Sular. Here Gurdwaras exist in remembrance. One Cash Collector named Ghoga of Nanheri took him to his village. There, some villagers talked to Prince-Guru regarding the bad character of Ghoga.
Prince-Guru immediately left the place saying: Ghoga the deceitful. He did not even drink water offered by him at his house and came to Ambala and rested. Here at Lakhnaur one day, Prince-Guru was playing with his friends in the open lands of Lakhnaur when one saint named Arif Din passed that way. He saw children playing and stood there. Then he looked at Prince Guru. In wondrousness he stood and bowed his head down. Then he took him aside and conversed with him. Then he came back, sat in his palanquin and went away. When they reached their destination, then his followers asked him: How is it that you bowed to a Hindu child? Then the saint said: I will tell you the truth. When I sit in meditation, sometimes I get a vision of the unseen world. I see everybody standing outside the Lord's door but he goe§ inside. He has a deep relation with the Lord. I was dazed to see him on earth. He has come to fight tyranny and save people. It is God's will. Then the followers bowed their heads.
At Lakhnaur all the saints, sadhus, pirs, fakirs, pandits, rich people, middle class, poor people, all became devoted to him. The congregation assembled twice, once early in the morning and again in the evening. People listened to divine songs (Kirtan) and recited the Lord's name and got peace of mind. Prince-Guru blessed the Lord's name to everyone.
Now he was told to come to Anandpur. It was a scene of emotion when he departed. People could not bear the separation. The congregation walked a long distance accompanying Prince-Guru. Then he rode on his Ablak horse and went.
[Ropar]
Having left Lakhnaur Prince-Guru halted at Rano Majra, Nandpur Kalaur, and reached Ropar. One Muslim priest Maula Shah lived here. He came to meet Prince-Guru and with great respect fell at his feet.
Seeing his love, Prince-Guru looked towards his face and said: O dear! How come you touched my feet?
Muslim Priest: I am a devotee of your father Guru.
Child prince: How did you become his devotee?
Muslim Priest: When your father Guru Tegh Bahadur was overseeing the coming' up of the town of Anandpur, then I passed by from there. In astonishment I asked: Whose houses are coming up here?
I was told: These houses are coming up for Guru Tegh Bahadur who is the ninth incarnation of Guru Nanak.
In much astonishment, I asked: Is onehouse not sufficient for the Guru? For whom are these big mansions coming up? His ancestors had said: Those who remember that the world is perishable, they do not amass riches.
Then one devotee said: These are for the devotees.
I was again astonished that he was a meditative at Bakala and he did not like to come out of his room. He preferred aloofness and was not willing to occupy the Guru-seat. With great difficulty the devotees made him agree to occupy the Guru-seat. His scripture tells renunciation of worldly desires. How is it that he has become worldly?
Then my mind said: Let me have his glimpse. Then I met him.
Since I was a meditative I could see the Lord's splendour on his face. I greeted him with respect and sat down. He blessed his love on me. It was time for lunch. He asked me to have lunch. I had lunch. Then he said: O saint! You rest here. While resting, I dozed off to sleep. In that sleep I reached the heavens. On seeing a blossoming face, I asked: You look very handsome. May I know how you reached here?
He said: O Priest! I was living on earth as a lion. One day, there was torrential rain, hail storm and extremely cold breeze blew. I was out hunting for prey. With great difficulty I reached my hut. My hrat was quite big and I had made doors on three sides. When I reached near my hut, I listened to voices of men and women coming from inside the hut. I imagined that due to extreme cold some travellers have taken shelter here. 'Phen O priest I thought as if I was a human. I should not go inside otherwise everyone will run out and die with cold. If I do not go inside then they will b e in comfort. Sages say: To give comfort to others is much better than to look to one's own comfort. In this thought, I went and sat at a little distance. In that extreme cold my body became frozen and in that state I died. In lieu of doing the goodness and sacrificing myself, I have got comfort, a place in heavens.
Then, O Prince-Guru, I woke up. I do not know or your father related a parable to make me understand or it was a fortunate happening within my mind that cleared my doubts but I came to understand that the miraculous Guru is getting temples made for the congregation. He is immersed in the love of the Lord only. His mind is not attached to the world.
whether it was a dream
But as per Guru Nanak's doctrine he lives in the family but with mind detached. Service to humanity is his basic idea. Then I got up to go and have his glimpse. On the way, I saw some children playing with bricks and sand. They made different types of houses with sand and then razed everything and went away. When I saw the play I realized that this play was meant for me to see. There was no attachment in the children. like the non-attachment of the children, his constructing the houses is without any attachment. He is spending the money coming from the devotees for their comfort or for the comfort of humanity, so that the money is spent usefully. Sadhus, saints, needy may stay and get comfort. In this way, no doubt was left in me. Then I went and fell at his feet. He was very gracious to me. He blessed me the recitation of the Lord's name. My mind got elevated and I felt the sensation of the presence of the Lord inside my body and outside in nature. I had kept many fasts and did other practices but I was away from the Lord. I was in despair. I could not get happiness. With the blessings of your Dad Guru I got ecstasy and rapture. Then I became fearless from my Muslim religious brothers and considered him as the true Guru. Since then, I recite the Lord's name incessantly. I live in ecstasy. I do goodness to others. Where necessary, I get inns made.
O Prince-Guru! This is my story and my relation with you. That is how I have come to kiss your feet.
Prince-Guru was delighted to hear all that. Then he said: When the Super consciousness is not connected to the Lord then one is empty. If the Super consciousness is connected to the Lord then one is full. When one is full, in remembrance of, the Lord's name, then one sees the Lord inside the body and outside in nature and humanity. Then one likes to do goodness to humanity.
On seeing the deep insight of Prince-Guru and listening to the Spiritual doctrine in such short words, he became full of devotion. He fell at Prince Guru's feet again and said: What the Lord does is ail goodness. What he really meant in these words was that the Lord is gracious. Whomsoever he wishes to give prominence he gives. Age is no bar. He has made you great. You are great! You are great!
Now Prince-Guru, after blessing the Lord's name to the people, departed from Rohtak and reached Kiratpur. Even before his arrival, news had spread that Prince-son of Guru Tegh Bahadur is arriving.
o o o o