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Amritsar is a thickly populated city now but there was a

time when it was a very small town. We are talking of the times when this town had been blessed by the Guru that it would develop into a dynamic centre of religion, business and culture. It had in a short period transformed from a mere settlement into a small town. It had become a trading centre - a busy centre of business and employment and it was known as a place of promise and opportunity. Though the population was not very large, the town was full of hustle and bustle. Everybody knew the art of living. The modern generation has everything but it lacks the art of life. What was that art? It was the wish to treat others as brothers and sisters. Everybody is now conscious of his rights, but to care for the rights of others -Is avery rare quality. And who are the people whom we call others? These others were those human beings who also loved God, considered all humanity their own family and loved their fellow beings and they tried to live a humane life. They tried to become ideal human beings and considered others to be like themselves. They never hurt anybody. They believed in the principle of ‘live and let live’. They tried in all maters to treat others as their fellow beings. For them life was not mere existence; it was a mission.

The town of Amritsar was then known asa centre of culture and honest business. These days everything has decayed. As we are rapidly coming under the influence of western life style, qualities like honesty, love friendship etc., are declining rapidly. Greed and lust are increasing. Those who valued honesty and love called the simple folk of Amritsar honest and lovable, but those who had been blinded with selfishness and were suffering from the vices of greed and lust called these people

crazy and stupid. The wisdom of such persons lies in their selfishness and their self-centredness and in personal gratification. Selfishness is at the core of their life. They suffer the fate of those who out of greed spend their whole life in collecting material objects and in the end painfully realize that they could take along nothing while leaving this world and that they had been wasting their life. They waste their life in useless pursuits. It is a pity that they spend the whole of their life without devoting even a moment to the service of God.

With the passage of time religion and high values created by religious teachers are losing their force and charm. The result is, everybody thinks that the Sikhs and the Sikh religion are in a state of crisis. Undoubtedly the number of devoted, dedicated and pious persons is on the decline.

_ After along time one could see a glow of cheerfulness on the faces of the inhabitants of this holy city. Poor but cheerful flower-girls selling flowers in the streets. Clean and colourfully dressed women bartered food grains for flowers. One was preparing a garland while another was making bouquets. Every . woman seemed to be preparing something with flowers. The menfolk were busy in decorating their shops: Water was being sprinkled on the roads in the markets. Everybody was busy doing something. The peep le from neighbouring villages were flocking to the city. |

Today Sri Harmandir (this is now known as the Golden Temple) was also looking extraordinarily beautiful. This was not a fair, but a religious festival. Everybody was either singing Gurbani or listening toit. What was the cause of such festivity? Was some king coming to pay a visit to the city? No, it was the king of Kings, the beloved of God who was being eagerly awaited by the people. Was some Emperor who terrifies the people, coming there? No, it was the saviour of the people who was coming. He had liberated innocent prisoners. He spread his message not through force, but through love. He was the protector of the innocent and the father of orphans. He was the king who would not awe the people; rather he won the hearts of the people through love and dedication. He did not

sit on a throne of stone or gold; his throne was in the people’s hearts. He was not a tyrant, but the beloved king of the people. The people did not praise him to seek partnership in the loot or exploitation of others. He was praised for his quality of enriching the people, for giving spiritual joy to sad hearts. He wore a sword not to terrorize the people, but to give courage to the exploited and the poor so that they would live with dignity and fight for their rights, fight for their liberty and for justice. He dealt in love, he dealt with love, he gave love, he was paid back with love, he was the fountain of love, his domain was love, he was love itself. How great was he! His sword was not to kill the innocent, but to protect them. It was not to destroy anything but to preserve high traditions. This sword was free from violence, greed and lust and it was a symbol of sinner, it killed the sin. This sword was not violative of peace; it ended war and restored durable peace. This sword did not stand for death, sorrow and tears; it was a symbol of courage, heroism and sacrifice. This sword was not meant for beheading one’s brother; it protected those who fought for justice and for putting an end to tyranny. To wear a sword and to use it for such noble purposes is only for the brave. When the short-tempered or the immature hold a sword, they cut themselves to pieces. The wearer of the sword wants to take the world to a point Where swords are not needed. But this world is so full of swords which have spread havoc in society that to protect the world a mighty sword is needed to blunt all the swords which spread injustice, inequity, hatred and lawlessness. It is like a diamond cutting another diamond. The sword hanging by the side of Guru Hargobind symbolised the resolve to prepare the innocent sparrows to fight the hawks. Great are they whouse this symbol of Durga (The Hindu goddess of might} to defend the innocent. The sword is the deathknell for those who perpetrate hatred and tyranny. Friends, today the sixth Guru, who had bravely faced the onslaught of tyranny, was coming to Ramdaspur (earliername of Amritsar}. He had ensured the release of fifty-two prisoners who had been imprisoned for life. He had not only taken them

out of the fort of Gwalior, but also from the prison of spiritual ignorance. He had given them the lesson of true life. He had trained them how to use their swords not to kill, but to defend the downtrodden against oppression and exploitation. He had taken away their earlier swords which were used to kill those who asked for the right to be used as a shield. The Sixth Guru who had become a symbol of justice and love was retuming home after his impnsonment at Gwalior. Froma distance when he saw the domes of Amritsar resplendent with glory, he alighted from his steed and started on foot. The people were advancing towards him to welcome their Guru; Bhai Buddha Ji, Bhai Jetha and others were extremely happy. The Guru was surrounded by his devotees who were singing the Bani. On the other side Bhai Gurdas, Bhai Sain Dass and others, with their hands folded, with their eyes aglow, were full of joy. They were advancing towards the Guru with all humility and dedication. Their meeting was a confluence of two rivers. They fell at the feet of the Guru. They met as rivers meet the sea. Who can describe the scene of their meeting! They all went. straight to the Harimandir and from there they advanced to Sri Akal Takhat. They had a meeting which was followed by Kirtan. They said their prayers together. People in large numbers were standing and waiting for the Guru. It appeared as if the entire population of the city had come out and waited by the road side. The roofs of building were bulging with women and childrén. The devotees were singing Gurbani. The people were showering flower-patels and there was fragrance all around. Everybody was carrying a garland to welcome the Guru. The atmosphere was reverberating with music. It is beyond description how the people’s Guru giving his love to the people and receiving their love and regards was slowly moving through the thick crowds of devotees. It was as if the master swan was passing through a group of swans. The Gurustopped in front of every household where he was given a splendid welcome. One wanted to excel the other in his efforts to pay homage to the Guru. Thereafter the Guru reached the house of his mother. There the mother, a personification of perfect peace,

bubbling with love, was waiting for her apostle son. The Guru, at whose feet everybody had fallen was so humble himself that he fell at her feet. The scene was exceedingly beautiful. It was a grand spectacle. The mother embraced the Guru and kissed his forehead. Then she paid homage to the Guru. The son did not let her touch his feet. He saw in her face the glorious face of his father the fifth Guru. His eyes welled up with tears. Dear friends, who could realize the state of mind of these two. They were the embodiment of love and spiritual joy. Their feet were on the ground, whereas their heads were high among the stars. On the one hand the mother’s heart was overflowing with maternal love for her son and on the other hand she was all devotion. The whole scene was beautiful and radiating spiritual bliss.

According to tradition and convention the son paid his regard and respect to his mother and he presented an example of as on’s devotion to his mother. He had proved to the world that though he was adored by the people and was called Guru, yet he could not accept his mother bowing before him. Whatever may be the position or rank of the son, father and mother always deserve the highest regard and he gave a message to the people that they should always, like him, pay their highest respect to the parents. The mother offered him a seat and enquired about his experience at Gwalior. When the Guru finished his narration, she stood up with hands folded and the Guru also stood up. She bowed her head to God and started saying her prayer. Both mother and her son were so lost in prayer that for quite sometime, they did not open their eyes. Thereafter the mothers at with her son for quite sometime. Then the mother thought of the others. How could she be happy enjoying the situation alone? Great men always think of others’ welfare more than their own. She called Bibi Ramo and sent for Bhai Sain Dass, Bhai Narayan Das, his wife Prem Devi and the other members of their family. The Guru was very happy to meet them at his residence. He blessed everybody. He discussed with them various matters for sometime. Bibi Damodaritouched the feet of her husband. This way the whole

family had ahappyreunion. The day passed in festivities. When night set in, the Guru went to Sri Harimandir and thereafter to the residence of Bhai Buddha. From there, he reached Akal Bunga where a congregation was held. Thereafter, he went to his place of rest.

The Guru got up very early in the moming, had his bath and sat in meditation. He came to Sn Harimandir when the devotees were Carrying Sri Guru Granth Sahib into the temple. The recitation of Asa-Di-Var was going on. After the ceremonies, prayers were said. Thereafter he came to Akal Takhat. Here, he was soon surrounded by his devotees. He spoke to everybody and answered their queries. The Sindhi . devotee was also sitting in a corner. The Guru's eyes turned to the place where he was sitting. He called the Sindhi, made him sitclose to him and said, ‘How are you?’ Instead ofreplying in words, he fell at the Guru's feet. His heart was bursting with joy. The Guru asked about his welfare once again, but he was too emotionally overwhelmed to reply. The Guru touched the devotees forehead and said, “God is great, God is great.” These words moved the Sindhito such an extent that every pore of his body sang divine laudation. His heart was awakened. His whole personality underwent a change. The whole world was transformed. In the presence of the Guru he became a part of the Guru. His body was merged in his soul and his soul was merged into the supreme soul. All this happened instantly. He found the stability for which he had been longing for quite some time. The Guru gave him the name ‘Bhai Jodha’ (Brave) and blessed him to devote his tme and energy in the service of Sikh religion and humanity. Bhai Sain Dass was blessed through the blessings to Bhai Jodha. The Guru praised Bhai Sain Dass for his dedication and service and said, “Bhai Sain Dass as you have helped Bhai Jodha in finding the spiritual path, you should help Bhai Dhesa also.” The Bhai was overwhelmed with this noble praise. He had been known for his humility. Emotionally he was so overwhelmed that he could not utter a word. His eyes were full of tears of joy. The Guru immediately understood that his praise of Bhai Sain Dass

had embarassed him. The Guru got up and embraced the Bhai and said, “Devotion of the people from Dalla village is veyome comparison. [am greatly pleased with you.

‘The Guru spent his days in holding congregation and spreading the message of love and spiritual peace. One day a message was conveyed that the Emperor was coming to visit the Harimandir. The Emperor was conducted to the Harimandir for a visit. He was on his way to Kashmir, which is about two hundred miles away. The Emperor requested the Guru to accompany him to Kashmir. The Guru gladly accepted the request. The Emperor left for Lahore the same day and the Guru started his journey a bye to his in-laws and arranged for their comfortable devotees. Some devotees accompanied the Guru on his journey and the others stayed back to look after the routine affairs of the shrine. In the Guru’s absence, Bhai Sain Dass and his wife Bibi Ramo contributed holding congregations.

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