Sharda, the white, her Darshan gives joy. She is the root of joy. In order to sing the glories of the Guru, her fingers move on the veena. I bow to her with my hands folded.
Pith Kalu ji thought to himself: "it is time to do the Janyow ceremony for my son." The family Purohit, Pandit Hardyal ji was called and was told the wishes: "oh Brahmin, please do the tradition of the Kshatriyas." Pandit Hardyal ji heard this and said: "bring all of the Samaghri (items of need)." The auspicious day was calculated and told to Pitha ji. Pitha Kalu ji heard this and had the Samaghri bought for the Janyow ceremony. Food was bought for that day. Goats were bought for food, as was part of the Kshatriya traditions. Family and relatives were sent invitations. Other Brahmins who knew the tradition in the city were invited as well.
Everyone arrived on the set date for the ceremony. Cow dung was used to purify the place of the ceremony. The Chownka (designated pure area) was prepared for the ceremony. Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji was called to sit in the Chownka along with the Brahmins and Kshatriyas. A sandalwood stool was placed in the centre for Guru ji to sit on. He was like the moon amongst the stars. He was radiant amongst all of the Brahmins. The traditions of the Kshatriyas were carried out which involved the various Poojas and rituals of the ceremony. Pandit Hardayal ji explained the teachings of the Kshatriyas to Guru Nanak Dev ji. The traditions were explained to him. Pandit Hardyal ji was then about to put the Janyow around Guru ji's neck. The destroyer of pain, giver of Mukti saw the Janyow and said: "Pandit ji, tell me: why are you putting this Janyow around me? What benefit is achieved by this? What glory is achieved? What status does one get? What loss is there if one doesn't wear the Janyow? Tell me." Pandit Hardyal ji heard this and was surprised. He was eager to hear what Guru ji was going to tell him. He knew that the time to hear his path to Mukti was here. He wanted to hear the wisdom from Guru ji's mouth. His doubts were going to be removed. He prayed to stay alive for this day. He knew the greatness of Guru Nanak Dev ji. He asked Guru ji to get his answers: "the ones who follow the Dharma of Brahmins and Kshatriyas, wear the Janyow and become pure. Until they don't wear this, they cannot sit in our Chownka. The Dharma cannot be complete without this. The Vedas describe this tradition: one comes into the Dharam of Brahmin or Kshatriya by wearing the Janyow." The Compassionate One heard these words and said: "by wearing the Janyow, one comes into the Dharma. Do you need to do good deeds with it as well? Does it make one compassionate? If someone does bad deeds after wearing this, like killing for money, cheating and other bad deeds; does all these things till death; lying, slandering and other such deeds; does this Janyow save you from the Chandaals or the Jumms? Does it save you from going to Hell and suffering pain? What reward does the Janyow give? Sins lead to Hell." When all of the Brahmins sitting there heard this, they all went quiet. It was like they knew nothing. They knew in their hearts that whatever Guru ji said was true. To hear the answer, Pandit Hardyal ji said: "what is the Janyow that protects you from going to Hell? How does one avoid the Jumms and their pain? Tell us from your mouth. Tell us and give us joy." The Lotus Face One spoke about the Janyow that gives joy:
Sri Mukhvaak.. Salok Mahalla 1..
Compassion is the cotton, contentment the thread, chastity the knot, truth the twist..
This is the Janyow of the Jeev, if you have this, then put it on me..
It does not break, nor does it get dirty with filth, get burnt or get lost..
Blessed are those people, says Nanak, that wear this Janyow around their necks..
(SGGS 471)
"This Janyow is pure and permanent. Only a few wear this type of Janyow. Those people are blessed that wear this. They are without pain and sorrow in every dimension. They are respected by the Jumms. If you have this, the one that destroys bad deeds, give it to me. This Janyow that you have, burns during cremation. It is made of cotton that will burn. It doesn't go to the afterlife. It is fragile in this world. Fools show it off to the world." Pandit Hardyal ji heard this with love. He was drenched with Guru ji's love. He thought to himself: "what I said during his birth, it has come to reality today. This Avatar has given me wisdom. Few will know about this child's greatness. His words made my mind still. Many will not know about him. My ancestors are going to Sach Khand now. He is the master of the 3 dimensions." Pandit Hardyal ji could not speak as he was immersed in bliss. He wanted to hear more from Guru ji. The other Brahmins spoke about the past traditions: "oh child, the tradition of the Janyow is considered pure by the Vedas. This is an age-old tradition. This maintains the Dharma. Brahma started this tradition. Sanak and Sanandan wore the Janyow. If it be a new tradition, then you can doubt it, but this is an ancient tradition. Child, follow your family's tradition. Why do you want to go against it?" Guru Nanak Dev ji heard the Pandits and uttered lines of Gurbani:
Sri Mukhvaak..
A thread worth 4 Kodis (lower monetary value), you wear it and sit in the Chonka..
You make a disciple and give him the tradition in his ear (or tell him to hang the Janyow on the ear while doing bodily cleansing or excretion), by this the Brahmin becomes his Guru..
When the person dies, the Janyow falls..1..
(SGGS 471)
You wear a Janyow worth 4 Kodis that burns in the pyre. The Dharam is something that goes ahead with you. The Janyow is useless for the Aatma. If it is of no use in the afterlife, it's just a façade to show the world. I have nothing to do with the world. I don't care what they think about me. When the Jumms beat you, the string is not there. Only the Naam is priceless and is there. A person wears the thread and indulges in thefts and adultery. They are punished for it. For this reason, do the Simran of Satnam. Do Simran of Kartar, that will help you in this world. It stays with you in both worlds. It is with you in both worlds. Do Simran all the time with enthusiasm."
The Brahmins and Kshatriyas that were seated there, were amazed to hear Guru ji. Nobody could answer him as he was speaking the truth. The relatives that were sitting there, they said to Guru ji: "Listen Sri Nanak, the wise, your true words are sweet. Your father has spent a lot of money for this Janyow ceremony. If you don't wear the Janyow, this money spent would be useless. Your father did this as part of the traditions of this society. The Brahmins and Kshatriyas have come to your home. Wear the Janyow and be radiant in the world. The person that does not follow their family’s traditions, they remain detached from the caste and class society. People and the family will be happy to see you wear the Janyow. If you don't wear it, the people that are happy and joyous now, will be upset and depressed. Wear it once. After today, you can do as you please." Hearing the words of the relatives, the Lotus-eyed One spoke Gurbani:
Lakhs of thefts, lakhs of extra-marital affairs, lakhs of lies, lakhs of bad words..
Lakhs of frauds, lakhs of secrets from people (covering one’s own faults), day and night..
The thread is spun from cotton and the Brahmin twists is..
The goat is killed, cooked and eaten. Everyone then says: "the Janyow has been worn.."
When it is worn out, it is thrown away and another one is put on..
Nanak says, the thread would not break if it had real strength..2..
(SGGS 471)
"These traditions of the world have nothing to do with Dharma. The thread gets old and breaks. A new one is put on. You put a new one on, over and over again. The world is a myth. Its make and traditions are myths too. If you have such a strong thread that stops a person from doing bad deeds, give it to me. I want my desires to die. I want to reach the status of indestructibility." Guru Nanak Dev ji uttered this Gurbani with wisdom. As Guru ji spoke, the Brahmins forcefully put the Janyow around Guru ji's neck. Guru ji, the giver of joy, remained quiet then, as he had already called out their meaningless tradition. He proved his point and there was nothing more for him to say or do as they put the Janyow around his neck, without his approval. The relatives were all happy then. Pandit Hardyal ji wanted to listen to Guru ji some more. He spoke with a deep desire for wisdom: "what you have said are such high words. You have high Karma. The hearts that are pure will understand what you are saying. They will see it as true. The people that are chained with the ways of society and care what everyone else thinks, they can't let go of the traditions of their castes. What is the Janyow that one should wear, that would make one pure? Speak the words that are pure. All of the Brahmins and Kshatriyas should hear this, the Janyow that does not break or leave you." The beautiful Lotus-eyed One heard this and uttered Gurbani that breaks bonds:
Sri Mukhvaak..
Accepting and having faith on the Naam (listening and accepting the Naam), honor sprouts from it, singing the everlasting, true master's glories is the cotton..
This pure thread will be placed around your neck in the true court, it will not break, it is pure..3..
(SGGS 471)
"The one who wears such a Janyow, that person is fearless in every place. Wherever he/she goes, they are honored. Their glory and praises are sung. This Janyow does not break. It stays with you forever. Only the fortunate ones wear this Janyow. Lust and anger make the mind impure. The Simran of the Naam makes the mind pure. This Janyow is good for the ones who go against the world's traditions." Pandit Hardyal ji looked towards Guru ji and knew in his heart that he was the master of the universe. He said: "you are great! Only you know your greatness." Nobody else could understand the greatness of Guru Nanak Dev ji. He destroyed the pride of that one Purohit. Whoever would Guru ji be compassionate towards, that person would be taken out of the cycle of birth and death.
Pitha Kalu ji said: "the food is ready. Pandit ji, get up and sit in the lines, the Pangat. Don’t delay and eat the food." The Brahmins all got up and took their clothes off to eat (as was the tradition of only wearing the Dhoti and Janyow while eating). They all sat in the Pangat. The Kshatriyas were called to eat as well. They sat in lines as well. Many types of plates were placed in front of the people. The Langris distributed the food. The Kheer with ghee and dry fruits was distributed first. Everyone got some. Many types of foods were distributed. Everyone said the name of Hari before they ate. Everyone ate with delight. Paan and betelnut was distributed after, as a mouth freshener. The Brahmins were given donations and respect. They were all given leave. Pandit Hardyal ji received the wisdom that he wanted. His attention became affixed into the Naam. He got the support of Prabhoo's love.
The ones who hear this Katha of the Janyow, or speak it, with love, their indestructible Janyows (account of Simran) will not break or be dirty. They will not need to wear the Janyow. They will fall in love with the feet of Guru ji. The relatives, Kshatriyas and the Brahmins went to their homes. Pandit Hardyal ji praised Guru ji as he went back home.