Satguru ji: the most gracious, the protector of the poor, the ocean of compassion and empathy; his glory spread throughout the world. There was no other like him. He had the ability to rid the pain of all three worlds. He blessed the village of Goindwal, just as Ram Chander ji loved Ayodhya and made everyone happy in that city; just as Krishan ji lived in Dwarka and relieved his servants from pain; in Kaliyuga, it is Guru Amardas ji who removes many types of obstacles and pain. The biggest pain, death, Guru ji removed that from his servants’ heads. Whichever person would die, Guru ji would give them life again. Nobody died in his village till he lived there. Everyone lived on with the radiance of Guru ji. When a person would die, they would bring the body in front of Guru ji. Guru ji was so giving that he would touch them with his foot and wake them up again. The person would wake up and walk to their own home. In this way, Guru ji’s glory spread everywhere. People’s physical and spiritual wants were fulfilled. No one was ever sick in Goindwal. Every family in Goindwal grew. As no one died, the seniors saw their great grandchildren. People in Goindwal were rich. They always had an abundance of food and clothes. They had no worries whatsoever. They all praised Guru Amardas ji. The whole village bowed at Chabarra Sahib, where they would see Guru ji in the window. Guru ji would meditate there standing up, holding on to a peg. People would compare Guru ji to Ram Chander ji. Guru ji commanded Bhai Bhalloo ji: “man or woman, whoever is in pain, regardless of religion or class, bring them to me. Tell me who is sick or in pain. I will make their pain go away.”
There was a widow, in Goindwal, who was a Kshatriya woman with one son. She worked hard and raised her son without a husband. There was a time when the son got sick and had a fever for two days and died the third day. When the son died, it was midnight. The mother screamed and shouted: “oh son, I raised you with hard work. I did not get to see you happy. Why did you leave me, son? Take me with you! I will take my life. What will I do, staying alive? You were my support and the reason to live.” The woman yelled in this way. She pulled her hair and hit her head. She cried out loud and couldn’t control the pain of her grief. When it was time for Guru ji to wake up, Guru ji opened his eyes. The widow brought her dead child’s body to Guru ji’s door. She cried out loud. Guru ji heard her cry and could not tolerate her pain. Bhai Bhalloo ji was close by. Guru ji said to him: “who is that woman that is crying? Go and tell her to stop. It is the Amritvela, the time to remember Akaal Purakh. Give her hope and tell her that Amritvela is the time to receive all rewards. Tell her to stop crying and meditate on Akaal Purakh. Stay quiet till the sun comes up. Tell her to read Gurbani and I will remove her pain when the sun comes up. I need to do my Nitnem.” Bhai Bhalloo ji came to the widow and told her: “Satguru ji has commanded you to not cry during the Amritvela. When the sun comes up, your son will be alive again. Guru ji will make him alive. It is now the time for his Nitnem. Other Sikhs are reciting Gurbani as well. Recite the name of Ram and stay quiet.” The woman felt like she had Amrit placed in her ears. She had hope and faith that her son will be alive again. She was still in pain though. She shouted out loud and said: “Satguru ji, I only have your support. I have no one else besides my son. He is dead. I have come to you for your protection. Please help us.” She continued to cry: “hai, hai.” She pulled her hair. Bhai Bhalloo ji came back to Guru ji and said: “Guru ji, I tried to tell her to stop but she can’t wait. She is a widow and she’s lost her son.” Guru ji, the Most Gracious One, came out right away. He came outside and went to the crying woman. He touched the child’s head with his toe and gave him life again. The child woke up saying “Vahiguru!” Both the woman and the son put their heads upon Guru ji’s feet. The mother took her son back home with great happiness. Guru ji came back to his home and said to Bhai Bhalloo ji: “Bhalloo, this is not a good thing; to keep resurrecting dead people. Akaal Purakh does not like this. From now on, nobody in Goindwal will die. Until I am alive and in this body, nobody will die in Goindwal. This power will remain hidden this way.” Guru ji told Yamraj to not send his Jumms to Goindwal for till he is here. The Yamraj that kills all, Guru ji stopped him from coming to Goindwal: “don’t take anyone’s life in Goindwal.” For 22 years nobody died in Goindwal. Guru ji was on the throne and everyone was happy. Nobody died and everyone was rich. The families lived in happiness. They were not afraid of death. The ways of the Guru were amazing, the Guru lights lamps without oil. The Guru can squeeze oil from sand. The Guru satiates sand with water; lights fire on water and cools fire down; the moon can be made as hot as the sun, the sun is rubbed against the earth; the earth blown away like the wind; the wind is made still, like the Sumer Mountain. The Mer Mountain is blown away; the grain of sand is made into a mountain; holes are made in great big mountains; potholes are made into mountains. If the Devatas do not listen to Guru ji, then Guru ji can take them from Heaven and throw them to Hell. The people suffering in Hell, the Guru can bless them and give them mukti. Brahma’s traditions can be spoiled by the Guru, and can also fix the spoiled. The Guru can stop the flowing, and flow the steady. The Guru can make paupers out of kings and kings out of paupers. The drama of the Guru is amazing. Nobody can refuse the command of the Guru. The Guru is supreme. The Guru is omnipotent. The Guru can make or destroy anything. The tradition made by Akaal Purakh, although, the Guru does not change. The traditions are kept by the Guru. Guru ji is the ocean of compassion. The glory of Guru Amardas ji spread throughout the world. The people of Goindwal would say: “Akaal Purakh lives in our village. He has scared away Aadi, Biaadi and Upaadi illnesses.”
The Emperor Akbar came from Delhi and camped, after crossing the Beas River. He was travelling to Lahore but stopped in Goindwal. The officers who were wise, told the Emperor: “Guru Amardas ji, the one who blessed you to win the Chittorgarh fort, lives here.” Akbar heard this and thought: “the Chittorgarh fort was hard to win.” Akbar had love in his heart and wanted to see Guru ji. He gathered nice gifts. He sent his officers to request Guru ji for permission so that he may come and visit Guru ji. The messengers went to Guru ji, who was sitting near the Baoli Sahib. Bhai Bhalloo ji folded his hands and spoke into Guru ji’s ear: “Paatshaah ji, the Emperor of Delhi is here. He wishes to see you. His messengers are here to get your permission. His camp is close by. Should we clean the way and place tarps for him?” Guru ji gave the permission. Bhai Bhalloo ji had the path cleaned and the tarps placed. The Emperor came out of his tent and left his chariot, horse and army there. There were tarps laid out so the Emperor could walk bare feet to Guru ji. They were made of silk and were really expensive. Akbar was a wise and faithful person. He did not walk on the tarps. Instead, he grabbed the tarps and moved them out of his way. He walked on the ground without his shoes, with humility. He came to Guru ji. He was wearing expensive clothes and jewellery. His jewellery had rubies, emeralds and diamonds in them. The diamonds and pearls reflected light, shining bright. He was wearing fine silks. He came to Guru ji’s court. Many people bowed to the Emperor whose glory was great. Guards carrying golden maces walked in front of him, who wore expensive clothes and jewellery as well. They held the maces with pride. Akbar bowed to Guru ji and sat down, gathering his hands and feet together as a sign of respect. He spoke to Guru ji with love. He did not eat in the Langar. Guru ji’s tradition was to eat first. Guru ji noticed that Akbar did not eat before he came and this was against the traditions. Guru ji, with his glory, inspired Akbar’s mind to ask about Langar. Akbar folded his hands and said: “Guru Sahib ji, what food do you eat? What do you like to eat?” Guru ji said: “I have no desire to eat tasty foods. I eat Ogra, without any salt and spices. I eat once a day. I don’t eat anything else.” The Emperor was amazed that Guru ji was so old and ate so less. He wondered how Guru ji had so much energy and radiance by eating so less. He folded his hands and said: “Guru ji, bless me with the same Ogra. You are the same as Khuddah. You can give blessings and curses that are always true. I am blessed to have met you. Please give me spiritual happiness.” Guru ji understood his love and said: “Bhalloo, bring the same Ogra that I eat, for the Emperor, if it is ready.” Bhai Bhalloo ji brought a tray full of Ogra and placed it in front of Akbar. The Emperor put a morsel of the Ogra into his mouth. He was amazed to taste the Ogra. It was the most delicious thing he had ever eaten. It was sweeter than anything he had had before in his life. First it was sweet. The second morsel was sour. He was amazed how the same food was sour. The third morsel was salty. The fourth tasted like Kheer (rice pudding). As he ate, he was amazed at the way the taste would change. He tasted the 6 types of tastes. He kept eating and said: “I have never had Ogra without any salt but can taste everything in it.” The Emperor was fully satiated. He folded his hands and said: “Guru ji, your praises cannot be sung. You are omnipotent and complete. If you may bless me and allow, I would like to give you something. I would like to give you a Jageer/land to serve for the Langar. I will be in peace if you accept this gift.” Guru ji smiled and said: “I have no desire for anything. The treasuries of Guru Nanak Dev ji are abundant. Guru Nanak Dev ji has given us enough. The Sangat eats and the food is never in shortage.” The officers with the Emperor also folded their hands and insisted that Guru ji take the Jageer. Forcefully, Akbar wrote the deed to many villages on the name of Bibi Bhaani ji, citing her as his sister and Guru ji as his father, and placed it at Guru ji’s feet. This history will be stated in detail later on, when the history of Amritsar will be stated. The Emperor took leave after giving the deed of many villages to Guru ji. Guru ji was sitting in his court, illuminating.