Guru Amardas ji had Baba Buddha ji with him as he placed the coconut and 5 Paisas in front of Guru Ramdas ji. He bowed to him and gave him all his powers. Guru Ramdas ji was now the same form as Guru Amardas ji. Guru Amardas ji did the Parkarma of Guru Ramdas ji three times and then bowed to him again. Baba Mohri ji, lead the Sangat and bowed his head to Guru Ramdas ji. The rest of the Sangat also came to bow and recognize Guru Ramdas ji as the next Guru. Guru Amardas ji, the washer of sins, gave the Gurta Ghaddi to Guru Ramdas ji and got ready to leave for Sach Khand. He made him the master of the universe. Guru Amardas ji’s eyes were blooming. He was eager to go to Sach Khand. His face was radiant like the full moon. He was giving his servants bliss and happiness. His face was bright and his words were sweet as honey. His words would make everyone’s pain go away. People found out, far and wide: “Guru ji is going to leave is body today. He is really happy to go.” As people found out in the villages in and around Goindwal, they left whatever work they were doing and headed to Guru ji’s home. Some came on horses and some came on carts. Others ran to Goindwal to see Guru Amardas ji for one last time. They came as quick as they could and said: “to see the Guru is a big reward.” There was no one who didn’t want to come. The Sangat came from every direction and met Guru Amardas ji at Chabarra Sahib.
8km away, in Khadoor Sahib, the son of Guru Angad Dev ji, Baba Dattu ji, found out that Guru ji was going to leave. Many years ago, being under the influence of slanderers, he hit Guru Amardas ji in the chest with his leg. Since that dreadful day, Baba Dattu ji’s leg had a deep pain in it. The pain was in his bone. He was embarrassed and didn’t come to ask for forgiveness. When he heard that Guru Amardas ji was leaving, Baba Dattu ji thought to himself: “I have borne the pain of my leg for many years. I should ask for forgiveness now. I didn’t go before because of my ego but Guru Amardas ji is a gracious being. He will have pity on me. He will give me what I ask for. If I don’t ask for forgiveness, my leg won’t stop hurting and I won’t be accepted in the next world. I will not get this opportunity again. If he leaves this world, I will regret it.” Baba Dattu ji left for Goindwal quickly.
Guru Amardas ji was sitting in the Chabarra Sahib. Baba Dattu ji bowed down like a stick in front of him. He grabbed Guru ji’s feet and began to shed tears. He said: “I have come to your sanctuary. Please protect me.” Satguru ji opened his eyes and saw Baba Dattu ji. He got up from his seat and grabbed his hands. He tried to make Baba Dattu ji sit on his seat. He tried to grab Baba Dattu ji’s feet and said: “you blessed me by coming here during my last moments on earth. You are the same as Guru Angad Dev ji to me. I am blessed to see you. What can I do for you? My life would be a success if I may be able to serve you.” Baba Dattu ji wiped his own tears, folded his hands and said: “please do what I ask. Prabhoo, I am a sinner. I was stubborn and struck you with my leg. Jealousy had burned my chest. Secondly, I was in the company of bad people who lead me astray. My mind was crazy because of those people’s influence. I wish to ask for forgiveness. I was embarrassed for many years and didn’t come to you. I sinned and was in pain this whole time. Oh Gracious One, please forgive me. You are great, patient and the forgiver.” Guru Amardas ji heard him and said: “you are the son of my Satguru. I am your servant with my mind and body. I am ready to go to Sach Khand. Sri Ramdas ji is the Satguru now. I gave him the seat of Guru Nanak Dev ji, the throne that I sat on. Please keep your grace on him. You are elder, please remove all of the obstacles. When his son becomes the Guru, after a while, he will come to you to Khadoor Sahib. He will touch you and then your pain will go away.” In this time, Baba Dasu ji came as well. Other Sikhs came to meet Guru ji. They folded their hands, bowed and sang: “Dhan Dhan Guru.” Guru ji then said to the Sangat: “I am now in Sri Ramdas ji. He is my form now. I live in him. Worship him just as you worshipped me. There is no difference between us. I gave him my age and made him sit on the throne. Whoever has faith in him, shall receive what they ask for. Now I am going to turn inwards.” The whole Sangat heard the Guru’s words with their own ears. They all shouted out: “Jai Jaikaar.” They folded their hands with humility. Their throats swelled and they could not speak further. It was the full moon in the month of Bhadron (August-September) 1574 AD, the Guru was going to emerge into the “Indestructible light.” Baba Mohri ji was standing there along with the Sangat. Guru Amardas ji said: “prepare the pyre. Prepare the palanquin to take my body.” Baba Mohri ji folded his hands and said: “what is the tradition by which we should carry out the cremation? What is our family’s tradition? Please tell us what to do and what not to do.” Sri Satguru ji then spoke: “I don’t need any tradition. I am about to receive the Siropa in the court of Akaal Purakh. So don’t be sad, be happy for me as I am going to be celebrated in Akaal Purakh’s court. Sing Gurbani after I am gone and feed everyone Langer. That is the only tradition you need to do. You can take my bones and place them in the Ganga River as per the traditions of the elders.” Mohri ji then said: “please tell us how to live as Ghristis. Without money, tasks cannot be completed. What type of work should we do, by which our households are run? If we don’t work, money won’t come. So please tell us what shall we do that will run our households.” Guru ji said: “my family should do work that is pure. It should be without fraud and lies. The work according to Dharma makes everything successful. If an obstacle comes in your way, do an Ardaas to me and I will come to fix it. Oh son, the work of Dharam is best. Do the Simran of Hari. This is the best Bhagti. As you do Bhagti in the Ghrist path, you receive the highest bliss and the doubts are destroyed. The Bhagti of Hari is the greatest Dharam. Don’t cheat anyone and earn honestly. Without Bhagti, without Simran, the other tasks are useless.” Guru ji then spoke to the Sangat: “do the Bhagti of Hari. Your pains and obstacle will be destroyed.” Guru ji looked towards the Sangat and his family. Thousands of people were standing, crying and their hands were folded. Guru ji fulfilled all their wishes. They all got what they wished for, in their hearts. Satguru ji said: “my sons, my family, my Sikhs, don’t mourn my passing. Stay happy and do Simran of Hari. Do Keertan and Katha. Listen to it and sing it.” Satguru ji had the house cleaned and sprinkled with sandalwood essence. Garlands of colourful flowers were hung everywhere. Satguru ji sat on his seat. Thousands of Sikhs were present. As everyone witnessed, Guru Amardas ji took a white sheet and covered his body with it, from head to toe, as he laid down. Guru ji immersed into the Brahm Saroop and went to Sach Khand.
There were many events taking place in the sky. It became very divine. The sun’s light dimmed down. A vessel from Sach Khand came to get Guru ji. Many other lights were illuminated in the sky. The vessels of the Devatas were present and covered the sky. The Devatas showered flowers as the light of Guru Amardas ji sat in the vessel. A pleasant-smelling wind came. The clouds rumbled in celebration. The Devatas all came: Brahma, Vishnu, Shivji, Inder, Sun and Moon along with Gandarvs, Sidhs, Rishis and other celestial beings, came and sung songs of celebration. They bowed to Guru Amardas ji and showered him with flowers from their realms. They said: “jai jai.” They played many instruments in celebration. The Apachras, the beautiful dancers of heaven, came to sing the glory of Guru Amardas ji, raising their arms up high. Their vessels were embedded with precious gems. Guru ji’s vessel was the most beautiful. It was made of a metal not existing in this world. Guru ji sat in the vessel. So handsome he was, that made billions of Kamadevas look pale. Everyone did his Jaikaar and bowed to him. They met Guru Amardas ji and were filled with bliss. As Guru ji was seated in the vessel, the Devatas surrounded him and walked along. They showered Guru ji with flowers and sang songs of joy. They all walked towards Sach Khand. Along the way, the Devatas had to stop to the point as much as they were allowed to go. Not all were allowed to go to Sach Khand. Only Guru ji could go to Sach Khand. They would bow and go back to their dimensions as Guru ji’s vessel went higher. Satguru ji arrived at the highest dimension as the Devatas watched. His light emerged into Akaal Purakh, like water mixes with water.
In Goindwal, the men and women sang Guru ji’s praises: “Dhan Dhan Satguru.” They got ready to bathe Guru Amardas ji’s body with water from the Beas River (Bipasha). Satguru Ramdas ji, Baba Buddha ji, Bhai Bhalloo ji, Baba Mohri ji, having love in their hearts bathed Guru Amardas ji’s body. They placed Guru ji’s body in a carrying palanquin. Guru Ramdas ji, Baba Bhudda ji, Bhai Bhalloo ji and Baba Mohri ji picked up the flat palanquin on their shoulders. Many Sikhs were there and walked along. Many conches were blowing, crisp rice, and flowers were rained upon Guru ji’s body. Guru Amardas ji’s grandchildren were there as well. The Chaurs were being waved on his body as it travelled on the flat palanquin. Rababis sang Gurbani as they walked. The Sikhs recited Gurbani just as Brahmins would recite passages from the Vedas. Golden coins were showered and given to the poor. The scent of the flowers spread everywhere. They brought Guru ji’s body to the shore of the Beas and found a spot for the cremation. Sandalwood was used to prepare the pyre. Thousands of Sikhs were there, as Guru ji’s body was placed on the pyre. Other essences and ghee were placed on the pyre as everyone did Simran of Satguru Amardas ji. Baba Mohri ji lit the pyre with fire, starting from the position of Guru ji’s head and then went around the pyre. The Kapaal Kriya was complete and everyone got up with Baba Mohri ji. They did the “Tilanjal Dhaan” (giving of the Sesame seed water) as per the traditions of the time. Everyone then bathed in the Beas and came back to the village. The Sikhs gathered at the Baoli and remembered Guru Amardas ji: “Guru Amardas ji’s radiance is unmatched. Dharmaraj obeyed Guru ji and no one died in Goindwal. What can be greater than this? We have heard that no child died in the kingdom of Ram Chander ji. He would give life to the child if it died. In Goindwal, nobody died: child, adult or senior.” In this way, they sang Guru ji’s praises. Everyone did Simran and nobody mourned. As Guru ji gave everyone what they wanted, they were worried if their wishes were going to be fulfilled in the future. It was 1631 Vikram, Bhadron, full moon, Tuesday, when Satguru ji left from Sach Khand. For 22 years, 5 months, and 11 days, the gem of the Bhallas sat on the throne of Guru Nanak Dev ji.
Guru ji opened the treasure of miracles. He gave many gifts to the Sikhs and saved their souls. He was the Parameshver that dispelled all sorrows. The servants that served him with their mind and body, they received great statuses. There was no limit to Guru ji’s virtues. He was Bhagavan in the form of a saint who had no beginning and no end. Munis did his Simran. Kavi Santokh Singh ji says: the master of the Devatas, Master Guru Amardas ji made his servants immortal. He was the greatest. He is the greatest. The Katha of Sri Guru Angad and Sri Guru Amar ji was completed. I wrote it with the deepest emotions of my heart. The First Raas ends without any obstacles for everyone to read.
Thus ends the Katha of Guru Amardas ji.
Thus ends the 1st Raas.