The writer of this Katha is a mortal and therefore without skill. These writings do not do justice to the greatness of the Guru. The one thing that this Katha does have is the love and devotion for the Guru. The praises of the Guru are in here. The flow of the Ganga is from side to side at places. This may not be a good thing but people still see the Ganga as Holy and bathe in it. There will be mistakes and missing Kathas. The readers/listeners should not pay attention to the mistakes in this Katha. One should only see the glory of the Satguru.
Bhai Bala ji speaks:
Listen Guru Angad Dev ji to the Katha which washes the filth from the mind. As the sun came up, Baba Kalu ji called one of his servants and said to him: “go to the house of Pandit ji. The Jyotishi Pandit Hardyal ji, call him quickly. He is our family Pandit.” The servant quickly went to Pandit Hardyal ji’s home. The servant called Pandit ji from the outside. Pandit Hardyal ji heard the plea and opened his door. He saw the servant. The server said: “Pandit ji! Mehta Kalu ji has called for you. Come with me right now!” Pandit ji said: “it is my time to do Pooja. I will come right after I am done. I won’t be doing anything else.” The servant heard this and came back home and told Baba Kalu ji.
When it was around 10 am, Pandit Hardyal ji came to Baba Kalu ji’s home. Baba Kalu ji bowed to the Pandit and had him sit on a beautiful seat. Pandit ji blessed him. Baba Kalu ji had the Pandit sit with respect and love. He sat right next to him. Baba Kalu ji said: “listen Pandit ji, Gobind has given me a son. Please bless me with your grace and see what the Lagan and Mahurat was. Please see the good and bad. Please prepare the “Janam Patri,” birth chart, of my son.” Baba Kalu ji brought Kumkum and paper. He did the Pooja of Ganpati and respected the planets. Pandit ji said: “the word with which the child was born with, put that in my ear. What time was the child born. Call the nurse and midwife who delivered him.” The name of the nurse of Guru Nanak Dev ji was Daulata Dhai. She was called by Pitha Kalu ji at once. A servant was sent to get the Samaghri which was asked for by the Pandit.
The items required for the Greh Pooja were brought by Mehta Kalu ji. He sat next to Pandit Hardyal ji and said: “3 Paihars (1 Paihar is 3 hours) and 2 Gharries (1 Gharry is 22 minutes) of the night had passed when my son was born.” Pandit ji asked the nurse: “what word did the baby say when he was born? When he cried, what sound did he make?” Dhai Daulata said: “listen Brahmin Raja, I will tell you the amazing birth of this child. I have delivered many kids before but I have never seen such an amazing baby as this one. When this baby was born, he was laughing like a wise person. He was smiling like a scholar. I heard the word “Sat Kartar” from his mouth. I saw good omens from his body. I have never seen such great omens before. This boy is not a normal boy.” The Jyotishi Pandit heard everything and thought about everything. He calculated the Nakshatra, time and day. He noticed that everything had great omens. It was a great Lagan when the boy was born. Any other baby that was born at that time in the world became an Aatam Gyani. The Pandit thought to himself: “this baby is an Avatar! Mehta Kalu is very fortunate. This is either Vishnu or Shivji who has come to save the world. (He was actually the one who created Vishnu and Shivji) I see the great omens in his chart. This power is greater than Vishnu and Shiva. A Chattar (royal canopy) will hang over his head. It is the Purbi Nisa night when he was born. He will be Chakravarty. He will win every direction. The world will bow to him. There is no doubt that he will win every place. I need to see this child right away. His Darshan will make my life a blessing.” Pandit ji said to Mehta Kalu ji: “show me the child right now!” Daulata Dhai was told: “go and get the child and bring him to Pandit ji.” Daulata Dhai went right away to the place where Mata Tripta ji was with the newborn child. Daulata said: “Mata ji, Pandit ji wishes to see the child.” Mata ji refused to give her child as it was cold. She said: “don’t you know its cold? How can we take the baby outside? The child is soft. Why is Pandit ji asking to see the child? He can make the chart without seeing the child.” Daulata mentioned that Mehta Kalu ji commanded to bring the child. Mata Tripta ji eventually agreed. She wrapped up the baby and gave him to Daulata Dhai. Daulata brought the baby to where Pithaji and Pandit ji were sitting. Daulata was mesmerized with the sight of the baby. The body was small while inside was a great Jot that illuminated the universe. Just as a small seed has a great tree in it, that is how the baby was.
Pandit Hardial ji looked at the baby and inspected the body. He looked at the lines on his feet and forehead. He looked at his palms and became filled with bliss. Pandit ji got up and bowed to the baby. His calculations were correct. He confirmed it when he saw the baby. His heart was filled with bliss and love. He put the baby’s feet to his forehead. This was the first head to touch Guru Nanak Dev ji’s feet. He was like a Bhagat seeing their Isht Devata. He had a great joy in his heart. Guru ji’s limbs were beautiful. They were supreme. The Yogis think of these limbs and do Bhagti of. His feet were soft. His arms were longer than other babies. His shoulders were high. His features were precious like gems. His fingers were of the same length. His chest was wide. He had the Chavar Rekha in his right hand. In his left hand he had the Chattar Rekha. His cheeks were round and soft. His nose was sharp. The forehead was like the half moon. The eyebrows were like bows. Pandit ji said: “listen Kalu, your child is beautiful. He has the 32 characteristics of a supreme human being. He has mounds on his palms. He will be wealthy but won’t keep the money for himself. I have read Samudrika Vidya and am using my wisdom. I see that he has all the good signs of a Devata. I have come to the conclusion that he is the Avatar of the Sat, Chit and Anand.” Dhai Daulata brought the baby back to Mata ji.
Pitha Mehta Kalu ji did the Sharaads in celebration. He gave donations to the Brahmins as per the traditions of the Vedas. He had a great feast for them. Pandit Hardyal ji guided him. Mehta Kalu ji said: “Pandit ji, please do the baby’s Naam Karn. Please analyse your Vidya and tell me a great name.” Pandit Hardyal ji said: “listen Kalu, this baby’s name should be extraordinary. I need to think about what to name this Avatar. You should do the traditions of your Bedi family now. If a beggar comes to you, don’t send him/her empty-handed.” In this way, Pandit ji left after giving Baba Kalu ji his blessings. He went home and tried to find a good name.
Leaves were tied in a string and hung over the door of Baba Kalu ji’s house as a sign of celebration. Many beggars came to the home to beg. The Hijras and Kleevs came to dance with their dhols and instruments. They sang songs in sweet voices. The bells in their ankles rang to the beat as they clapped and danced. They twirled and jumped as they sang songs. They spoke jokes to make fun of the family. The family and relatives gathered to celebrate. They all wore expensive clothes with nice jewellery. The beautiful women of the neighbourhood came. They were young and beautiful. They had the walk of the elephant. Their eyes were beautiful. They sounded like cuckoos as they sang. They wore colorful clothes. They came to Mata ji and gave her their congratulations. The house was crowded with friends and relatives. There were sounds of celebration everywhere.
The wives of the Devatas took on human forms and came to see the form of Parmeshwar. They came and sang songs. They were being blessed by Parmeshwar for singing his praises. They were looting the joys of the world. There was joy everywhere in Baba Kalu ji’s home. Dhundhabs and Shehnais were played at the door. Taadhis and Bhatts came to show their skills. They asked for money. Pithaji gave them money. They sang their songs and gave their congratulations. Men, women, Devatas and celestial beings were all celebrating. Nobody left empty-handed. Mehta Kalu ji gave a lot of donations.
Mehta Kalu ji did the traditions of the Bedi family. The men and women continued to celebrate. Everyone praised the newborn baby. They all felt pure. Their minds were pure. They said: “we have seen children of Shahukaars but we have never seen such a great celebration before.” They all met and agreed with this. They said: “this baby is fortunate. There is so much joy in the home of Mehta Kalu ji.”
The traditions of the sixth day took place. Rice was thrown. The Pooja of 8 Joganis happened. After 13 days, Pandit Hardyal ji came and said to Baba Kalu ji: “name the baby: “Nanak!” There is no other name equal to this name. There is no one else equal to him.” Baba Kalu ji gave Pandit ji a chola. Mehta Kalu ji said: “Pandit ji, I am in wonder, hearing this name. It’s never been heard before. I haven’t heard this name in Hindus or Muslims. I don’t wish to keep this name. Use your Vidya to find another name. Examine good and bad before naming him. It should be deserving of a Khatri family. Tell us a name which sounds good. Just as names of us Hindus have been kept in the past, think of such a name. It shouldn’t be a name which seems doubtful.” Pandit ji said: “your child is a really big Avatar. The Avatars of Hari: Ram and Krishan; only Hindus worshiped them. Not Muslims. Both Hindus and Muslims will worship this child. Hindus and Muslims will become his Sikhs servants. Whoever connects with his feet, they will be saved in this world and reach Mukti. Whoever will do his Sangat, will cross this world ocean. His name will be illuminated in the whole world. He will save many people. He will give Naam and Bhagti to a lot of people. He will be praised in jungles, plants, earth and the skies. He is the Avatar of the Param, Puratan, Akaal Purakh. He has come in human form. The humans will recite his Name. Land, earth and water will give him way. They will be in his command. Day and night will be in his command. I thought about the name: “Nanak,” in my heart after considering all this. This is why I have thought about this beautiful name. Hindus and Muslims will recite and Japp his name. This is a root name. I looked in his Janam Patri to name him. I haven’t made anything up to make anyone happy. Kalu ji, don’t think that I am lying. I am speaking the truth and I am confident of everything that I have said. I will tell you the meaning of his name. The letters are supreme. The Nanna of his name means “Purakh.” The Kana, A, means “Akaar,” which points to the Akaar of the Purakh, the existence of the Purakh, the complete one. The second A would stand for Anak. The second Nanna added to it is An Ak. Ak means “pain”; An means “no” – so it is the Purakh who has no pain. That is the meaning of “Nanak.” The ultimate meaning of Nanak is: the Sat (infinite existence), Chit (consciousness) and Anand (bliss) who is in the control of the Bhagats.” Mehta Kalu ji was really happy to hear the meanings of the name of “Nanak.” He gave Pandit Hardial ji Bheta and gifts as he took leave.
As Pandit Hardial ji left Pitha Mehta Kalu ji’s home, he was thinking to himself and was upset. He was upset because he was old and may not be able to see this child grow up and do his amazing things: “I may not be able to see his glory. I wonder if I will still be alive as he grows up. If I am fortunate, I will see him speak. When he will be able to speak, Sangat will come to him and receive Mukti. I will come to him and request him to give me Mukti as well. I hope I will be able to do that. Oh Omniscient One, if you can hear my thoughts, please be gracious and keep me alive till I can hear your wisdom. When you will speak your wisdom, keep me alive till then. I wish to see you do your amazing tasks.” He kept this wish of Mukti in his heart. He did Simran of the Name. In this way, time went on and Guru Nanak Dev ji’s body grew like the moon after the 2nd day of the new moon. Just as Gyaan increases in the heart of the Mumukshu (seeker of Mukti) and hatred is destroyed, that is how Guru ji grew.