One day, Guru Angad Dev ji decided to go to Goindwal, and got ready. Guru Amardas ji would meditate on Guru Angad Dev ji day and night, wishing that the great Guru would come to Goindwal. Guru Angad Dev ji walked slowly, roped in the bondage of love. Guru Amardas ji was in deep meditation, thinking of Guru Angad Dev ji. Guru Angad Dev ji had no choice but to come because of love. People on the way bowed to his feet as he walked. A person came to tell Guru Amardas ji: “Sri Guru ji is here!” Guru Amardas ji rejoiced and got up to go greet Guru ji ahead. Thinking that he was about to meet Guru ji, his eyes began to shed tears. He came ahead quite far and met Guru ji. Seeing Guru ji, Guru Amardas ji was extremely happy. There was joy in every hair on his body. His throat swelled up with emotion and couldn’t speak. He stood there, with his hands folded. Guru ji saw the love and enthusiasm that Guru Amardas ji had and hugged him tightly when he saw him. Guru Angad Dev ji said to him: “your birth in this world is a blessed one. You have me under a deep love spell. Whenever someone calls me with love to their place, I have to go. Today, you remembered me with love, that is why I had to come. I can’t sit still when somebody remembers me with love. I came for you. Show me your place.” Guru Amardas ji grabbed Guru Angad Dev ji’s hand and walked ahead towards the new houses that were made. He showed Guru ji all of the new houses with care, and then walked towards the shores of the Bipasha (Beas).
Guru ji sat down, right at the shore, once he got there. There was nobody else with them. The two Gurus were all alone. As they sat down, the Devata of water, Varun Dev, incarnated into a human form and came to meet them. Varun Dev brought an offering of the best species of fish for Guru ji and placed it in front of them. He bowed his forehead and said: “Prabhu ji, since you have set your holy feet on to this land, this place has become pure and holy. You have settled a village along the shores of the river. You have given your Sikhs a great blessing by doing this: you get them to sit in Satsang and do Simran of Satnam. They will continue to sit in Satsang here and come to the river to bathe. Saints will come and bless the river. Your feet have blessed the River Beas and I also got the chance to meet you and touch your feet.” Satguru ji heard Varun Dev’s words, smiled and said: “oh Sri Amardas ji, bless Varun with success and accept his gift. Prepare the fish. When Karah Prashaad is to be distributed, the first distribution should be for Varun Dev. (This tradition is still prevalent in the Dal Panth, Nirmalas, Udaasis and Sach Khand Sri Hazoor Sahib. This tradition was present in all Gurduaras till the 1920s. They would take a small portion of Karah Prashaad and offer the Prashaad to a nearby river, well or water body. This was done along with the distribution of Prashaad for 5 Sikhs and the Granthi Singh. They would offer the Prashaad and say the line from Gurbani: Prabhaati M1: Gur Daryo sada jal nirmal, milya durmat mail hare. The Satguru is the river with the pure water (knowledge), upon meeting the River, Guru, the mind is cleansed (SGGS 1328)). The Sikhs are to say Varun Devata’s name as Varun Devata is also a servant of the Guru. This tradition is to be part of the Sikhs’ maryada (code). Agni Dev will serve the Guru in the Langar along with other Devatas.” Guru Amardas ji folded his hands and said: “as you wish Guru ji.” Varun Dev then took leave and went back into the river. Guru Angad Dev ji spoke: “prepare this fish with spices and bring it here as I sit by the shore.” There was a Sikh standing at a distance who Guru Amardas ji called. He gave him the fish and told him to prepare it. The Sikh prepared the fish with spices and brought it back, after frying it. He placed it in front of Guru Amardas ji. Guru Amardas ji placed the prepared fish in front of Guru Angad Dev ji and asked him to accept it. Guru Angad Dev ji ate it and said: “this fish is delicious. I have never had such a delicious fish before.” Guru Amardas ji said: “Varun Dev brought you the best type of fish there was.” Other foods were there that Guru ji ate. Guru ji got up and took Guru Amardas ji and headed towards Khadoor Sahib.
Guru Angad Dev ji kept Guru Amardas ji with him at Khadoor. Guru ji gave Guru Amardas ji the service of his personal seva, as that is what Guru Amardas ji wished for. Guru Amardas ji would do Simran at all times. Guru Angad Dev ji then said to him after a few days: “go back to Goindwal.” Guru Amardas ji then came back to Goindwal, walking backwards. He faced the Guru for 9 km. After the city limits, he would bow and turn around. This place is now known as Damdama Sahib in present day. Goindwal Sahib is about 3 km from that point. This is the place where he would turn around to go back home. He would go to Khadoor Sahib during the day and then come back home at night. He spent many days like this. Guru Angad Dev ji was very happy with the seva. Guru Amardas ji’s heart was drenched in love and humility. He would serve the Guru, all the time.
Guru Angad Dev ji was the house of virtue. He was always calm and without any desire. He was the Guru, but showed himself as the bhagat, the servant of Guru Nanak Dev ji. He was above joy and sorrow; respect and disrespect; love and hate with anyone. Although he was Akaal Purakh’s light and one with Akaal Purakh, he did not ever say that in words. He was always immersed into the light of Akaal Purakh inside of him and detached from the world. Vices did not come close to him and the slightest desire did not creep into his mind. He was at the level which could not be thought of nor spoken of. It could only be understood with the knowledge of the Aatma, the real self. The form is like a lotus, which is not affected by the water. It lives in water but does not drown in water. The Aatma cannot be cut by weapons; burnt by fire nor blown by the wind; it cannot be drowned by water and does not disappear into space; time and death cannot eat the Aatma. Just as the story of the rope and the snake (the rope that looks like a snake in the darkness; the metaphor is equivalent to the form of Akaal Purakh vs the illusion of reality of the world. The world is, in fact, the form of Akaal Purakh, but because of the darkness of ignorance, we see the world as a permanent realm that is the end-point for human comprehension) everything is inside the Brahm, the Supreme (Akaal Purakh). The sun is the light of all lights and illuminates the world. The Aatma is the supreme consciousness with its existence in all. There are 6 types of jyotis (lights): sun, moon, stars, lightening, firefly, lamp flames; the Aatma is the ultimate jyot that sees all of the other jyotis. Guru Angad Dev ji is immersed in that light. The Aatma is smaller than an atom and only seen by the blessing of the Guru. The senses cannot see the Brahm. The Brahm is the greatest. The most powerful beings cannot measure the Brahm. The light of Akaal Purakh is everywhere. Without it, there is nothing: no thoughts, no senses, no consciousness. The supreme light is in everyone but the being it is inside of, is not aware and does not know it. The light has no form or colour. It is awe-inspiring and named as “Vahi.” “Go” is the darkness of ignorance in our mind which is dispelled by the Guru, who illuminates the light of knowledge “Roo.” Thus, the name of “Vahiguru” is such. Sri Guru Angad Dev ji is that form and light. He is the light of Akaal Purakh but does not say it with his mouth. He stays simple, as the form of a bhagat, a devotee. He does the Simran of Satnam all the time and preaches the way of Bhagti. He preached the way of the Sat Sangat and told them not to leave their homes in search of Akaal Purakh. He taught them the Bhagti of Love: “we are the servants of Sri Parameshver. We need to live without ego and greed. We need to be without desire and accept the will of Akaal Purakh. Whatever happens in our lives, we should accept it. Discard the pride of your body and see it as temporary. Serve Saints and come to the Satsangat to focus your mind on Akaal Purakh. Do not praise your doings. Consider yourself as the servant of the servants of Guru Nanak Dev ji. Stay focused on the love of the Parmeshwar and say: I am nothing, you are the only doer. The one Akaal Purakh, is the provider. Akaal Purakh is complete everywhere. Sing Gurbani or listen to it. Day and Night, do the Simran of Satnam. You will be saved in both worlds.” In this way Guru ji would hide his reality. He stayed hidden like this. The Sikhs that were close to Guru ji, they would talk to Guru ji and had deep discussions. The Goddess Laxmi would come and serve the court of the Guru by sweeping it with a broom. The powers of the universe, stood in attention at the feet of Guru Angad Dev ji. The nine treasures (Nau Niddhis: Padam- having children; Maha Padam- having precious gems; Kharab – riches; Kund- trading in gold; Nil- trading in precious gems; Sankh- edible delicacies; Kachhap- food and clothes in abundance; Mukund- mastery in arts, music and poetry; Makar- skill of weaponry and sovereignty on others) stood in command. Whatever was Guru ji’s command, they all followed. Other powers stood by at the Guru’s feet. Guru ji’s family and relatives were in the court but the Devatas, powers and celestial beings were hidden from plain sight, serving the Guru and doing Seva. Guru ji did not accept Laxmi (money). He took all the money collected and spent it on the Langar and the Sangat. The Riddhis and Siddhis (abilities and powers) asked Guru ji for their service but Guru ji ignored them. They can’t affect him without his command. They were always waiting for his command but Guru ji did not speak to them. Guru ji was an ocean of powers and miracles, the Riddhis and Siddhis were a mere drop in this ocean. Guru ji did not show his powers and denied that he had any. He was able to harness the supreme powers. Not has there ever been such a being, nor will there ever be such a being, that can harness such unlimited power and not have the wish to show it to anyone. Guru ji is the creator and destroyer of the three dimensions (Heaven, Hell and Physical realm) with unlimited powers. He takes pain from small beings. Great is the Guru, that is so humble.