The Satguru is like the sandalwood that makes all other plants smell just like it. Satguru ji makes other people into Bhagats. Goindwal was a place of great Bhagats and Bhagti. Guru Amardas ji made this place into “heaven on earth,” with Bhagti and Keertan. The world felt the radiance of the Bhagti in Goindwal. Wherever the praises spread, people heard and came to Goindwal, seeking Moksha. They came with happiness and stayed with Guru ji. They received the four gifts (Dharam, Arth, Kaam, and Moksha) from Guru ji’s feet. Guru ji gave people everything they wanted. Whatever Guru ji would think of, that would become reality, right away.
One day, Guru ji bathed and sat down in Samadhi. Bibi Bhaani ji came to meet her father. Guru ji saw his daughter and wanted to bless her: “my daughter, your husband Ramdas will die in a few days. If he dies, what will you do? The body is temporary and fragile. It dies in an instant.” Bibi Bhaani ji was very wise. She understood that her father’s words were always true. She figured out that her husband was going to die. She took off her nose ring and placed it in front of her father (the nose ring was a symbol of married women). She folded her hands and said: “Prabhoo ji, what is there for me to do? It is all in your command. If I am to be a widow, then I will follow the Dharma of a widow. I will either burn in my husband’s pyre and die or whatever you command me to do, I will do. I will die without my husband.” Sri Guru Amardas ji heard her and said: “oh daughter, you are very wise. You are the Bhagat of Parameshver. Do not let go of your body. Do the Simran of Jagadeesh (the Master of the Universe). I will bless you. I won’t let your husband die. Although his age and breaths are complete. Today is his last day. His life is over. I know that there is no other way to keep him alive. I will give the remaining years of my life to him. I will go to Sach Khand and your husband will sit on the Guru’s throne.”
Guru Amardas ji called Sri Ramdas ji to him. He had him sit close to him and told him everything: “my son, the age of your body is complete. I have come to know that your breaths are complete. I am supposed to live 112 years. I am now 105. I am going to give you my remaining age of 6 years, 11 months and 18 days. Live the rest of your time engrossed in Prema Bhagti. You are the true heir to the throne of Guru Nanak Dev ji, that is why I am giving you my remaining life. We are both one in the same. I will go to Sach Khand. There is no difference between us. Just as a water inside a pot, is thrown in the ocean, that becomes part of the ocean. You are no longer Ramdas. You are one with the Guru. We are both one. If anyone tries to differentiate us, they will not be able to tell the difference. There is no difference. Your mind has Prema Bhagti flowing through it. You have enslaved me with your love.” Guru ji looked towards Bhai Bhalloo ji. Bhai Bhalloo ji heard Guru ji’s words and became depressed. He began to shed tears. Bhai Bhalloo ji’s mind was drenched with love for Guru Amardas ji. Guru ji said to him: “go and bring a good coconut and 5 Paisas.” Bring it quick and call Baba Buddha ji as well. You will not face the Jumms. You will meet the Indestructible Master. The desires and vices in your mind have died. Give Sri Ramdas ji a bath and make him wear the new clothes that Bhai Paro ji had given me. Don’t delay, don’t cry and only recite and sing Gurbani. Prepare all of the things needed for the Initiation of the next Guru. The time for me to go to Sach Khand is near. Prepare for my cremation as well.” Bhai Bhalloo ji, who had won his Indriyas, heard Guru ji’s words and followed his orders. He brought water from the Baoli Sahib and gave Sri Ramdas ji a bath. Sri Ramdas ji’s court had all four gifts present, all the time.
The news spread about Guru ji’s leaving and passing into Guru Ramdas ji. The Sikhs in Goindwal all began to gather with Guru Amardas ji. Bhai Bhalloo ji brought the new clothes and had Sri Ramdas ji wear them. Sri Guru Amardas ji, the most gracious, gave love and respect to his servant, Sri Ramdas ji. He grabbed his right hand and had him sit on the throne of Guru Nanak Dev ji, where he himself once sat. He asked Baba Buddha ji to place the Tikka of the Guru, made of saffron and sandalwood, onto Guru Ramdas ji’s forehead. After the Tikka was placed on Guru Ramdas ji’s forehead, his radiance illuminated brightly throughout the dimensions of all creation. His forehead was bright. There was light everywhere. The light of the light came into Guru Ramdas ji, the king of kings. He was now a super sun sitting on the Singhasan of the universe. The 9 Niddhis and 18 Siddhis came to live in his feet. The whole world will source the Riddhis and Siddhis from Guru Ramdas ji’s feet. Everyone will ask and receive from him. The Parmeshwar, who resides in all of creation, has taken on a new form as Guru Ramdas ji. The Tilak of the Guru, shined on his forehead. Guru Amardas ji placed the coconut and the 5 Paisas in Guru Ramdas ji’s lap and made him the master of the 3 worlds. Guru Amardas ji said to Bhai Bhalloo ji: “call Mohan and Mohri, my sons. Tell the whole Sangat to come. Tell them my command and tell them that I am ready to leave for Sach Khand.” Bhai Bhalloo ji called everyone to come in Goindwal. The whole village was hurrying to come to Guru Amardas ji. They found out that he was going to Sach Khand and that the throne was given to Guru Ramdas ji. The Sangat began to shed tears.
Baba Buddha ji and other senior Sikhs were in the court, along with both of Guru Amardas ji’s sons. The court was in session and Guru Amardas ji spoke to his sons first: “my sons, bow to Guru Ramdas ji. He is the humblest of all and served the Guru well. He is able to harness the great power of the Guru.” Baba Mohan ji was unaware of the world’s way. He wasn’t aware of people. He spoke in court: “I am not going to bow to him. You are giving our rightful throne to him. We should be sitting on the Guru’s throne. He stayed in our home for many years. He made a living by staying in our home and raised his family. Now he is going to be the owner of our home. After you, it should be us that should be the owners. Other relatives and servants should stay here but the throne should be for us. He could stay here as well, along with the other relatives. You are going to give him the highest seat? We are your sons. We are not going to get the Guru’s throne? If you want to give him the Guru’s throne, so be it. But I will not bow to him. We are the sons of the Guru. We cannot bow to anyone else.” When Guru ji heard Baba Mohan ji’s response, he spoke to Baba Mohri ji: “my son Mohri, you should take the status of Sikhi. Now is the time. If you don’t want Sikhi, then say it now.” Baba Mohri ji thought to himself: “this is what happened during Guru Nanak Dev ji’s time as well as Guru Angad Dev ji’s time. Both, Guru Nanak Dev ji’s sons and Guru Angad Dev ji’s sons did not bow to the next Guru.” He thought carefully. Baba Mohri ji’s fortunate destiny had come to fruition. He was blessed by Guru ji. He believed in the Guru’s completeness. He understood why Guru Ramdas ji received the throne of the Guru. He understood that Guru Ramdas ji served the Guru with love and devotion and the other sons of the Gurus did not. This status is given to the servant who loses their ego and serves the Guru. Whoever is jealous, accomplishes nothing. Instead, that person sees difficulty. He thought: “it is best to obey Pitha ji. We will be praised for listening to the Guru.” He then stood up. Baba Bhudda ji, other Sikhs and the Sangat all lined up behind Baba Mohri ji. Baba Mohri ji’s eyes lit up. He smiled and folded his hands. He faced the Guru, Guru Ramdas ji, listening to his Guru-Father’s command, he bowed to the feet of Guru Ramdas ji. Even though he was older than Guru Ramdas ji, he saw the same light in Guru Ramdas ji as his father. Baba Mohri ji was known as the “Sunmukh” (the one turned his face towards the Guru). The whole Sangat rejoiced and said: “Dhan Baba Mohri ji.” He was the first son of a Guru to bow to the next Guru. The rest of the Sangat came and bowed to Guru Ramdas ji. They put their head to Guru Ramdas ji’s feet and placed gifts in front of him. The fortunate ones folded their hands and performed the Parkarma around the Guru. The Sikhs from the Sangat came one by one to bow. Guru Amardas ji then spoke: “my son, Mohri, tell me, what do you see Sri Ramdas ji as? You bowed to him; how do you see him? How will you see him after I am gone? Tell my what’s in your heart?” Baba Mohri ji folded his hands and spoke in the Sangat: “Pitha ji, this is what I am seeing: I am seeing Sri Nanak, Sri Angad ji and you as the third form. I see Sri Ramdas ji as the fourth form. I see Sri Guru Ramdas ji as the same as the first three forms.” Guru Amardas ji and the other Sikhs were happy to hear Baba Mohri ji’s response. They wanted Baba Mohri ji to have faith in Guru Ramdas ji. Guru ji said to him: “my son, Mohri, you are great! You are the wisest and you will remain connected to me. You will be the first in everything. Your name is “Mohri,” meaning the “head.” You have proved the meaning of your name. You and I are one form. There is no difference between you and I. 21 generations of saints attain moksha, but in your case, 42 of your generations will be saints.” Baba Mohri ji, the fortunate one, said: “when the Dharmaraja asks for our karma, if you were to clear our accounts, then the generations will be saved.” Guru ji responded: “don’t worry, I have cleared all your karma accounts. You won’t go to Dharmaraja. You will come through a different path and will come straight to me. You are my pure Sikh and you have been given the status of Sikh. Your family will grow. Your family will have Sikhi. Your family will remain loyal and only worship the Guru’s house. They will see me as the Patriarch, Guru and the Dev. I will be the “Ishtdev” (the Master Lord) of your family.” As Baba Mohri ji heard all this, Guru Ramdas ji, the idol of love, with tears in his eyes, amazed by the ways of Guru Amardas ji, spoke: “Sri Prabhoo ji, give me the status of Sikhi. Please make Baba Mohri ji the next Guru. I am your servant as well as Baba Mohri ji’s. Both of your sons are eligible to be the Gurus. It is good for me to bow to the feet of both of your sons.” Guru Amardas ji heard Guru Ramdas ji and was reminded of the old boon. He said to Guru Ramdas ji: “I had to give the Guru’s throne to you. This is a very old boon (where the Bedis blessed the Sodhis that the fourth one to sit on Akaal Purakh’s throne will be from the Sodhi family. Guru Gobind Singh ji states this in his Bachiter Natak; Bhai Gurdas ji states this in his Vaars as well) that was fulfilled today. As the Bedis received the kingdom from the Sodhis, the Bedis blessed the Sodhis. My sons are without ego and enmity. You are to take care of them and keep them connected to the Guru’s house. Live with them in love.”
The whole family and the Sangat gathered at Chabarra Sahib. The whole family witnessed the amazing ways of the Satguru. The fortunate Bibi Bhaani ji got up and bowed to Guru ji. She folded her hands and said: “Prabhoo ji, you gave my husband the throne of the Guru. Now that the Guruship is in my family, I wish for the Guruship to remain in my family. I wish that no other servant will take it from my family. I would like my family members to serve the Guru and become the next Guru. Please bless me that no other family should sit on the Guru’s throne. Please have the Guru’s throne remain with the Sodhis.” Guru Amardas ji heard Bibi Bhaani ji’s words and said: “it won’t go anywhere. It will stay within your family. But remember, as the river flows, if someone tries to stop it, it still somehow flows on ahead. There will be conflicts and heavy battles. There will be bloodshed and martyrdoms. Those will not be avoided. Laxmi (Goddess of Wealth) came to Guru Nanak Dev ji’s house, but stood 36 km away from him. She couldn’t come any closer. With Guru Angad Dev ji, she was allowed to come 18 km closer. He didn’t let her come any closer than that. During my time, she came to my door and just stood there. She tried to come inside with all her strength, but I did not let her in. Now, during your time, she will come inside. She will bring problems and conflicts. This is her nature. The person who will sit on the Guru’s throne will not be affected by her. Her problems will not be able to affect the Guru.” In this way, Guru Amardas ji, blessed Guru Ramdas ji. He also gave blessings to Bibi Bhaani ji. Ramdas, Sri Satguru, has been announced in the world as the next Guru.