Cutting grass and selling it, that is how Bhai Manjh made money to eat food. He had deep faith in Sikhi. Guru ji was testing him to the highest standard. After a while, Guru ji saw Bhai Manjh as a determined Sikh. Guru ji sent another message with a Mevra: “go and take this Hukamnama. Tell Bhai Manjh he needs to pay 21 Rajitpuns to read the Hukamnama.” The Sikh came to Bhai Manjh. Bhai Manjh ji was happy to see the Guru’s Sikh. He said: “Guru ji has blessed me. Oh Sikh, please come to my house and show me the Hukamnama that Guru ji has sent.” With great respect, Bhai Manjh took the Sikh to his home. He had him sit on a bed. The Mevra said to Bhai Manjh ji: “you will need to pay 21 Rajitpuns to see the Hukamnama of Guru ji. Guru ji is happy with you and sent another Hukamnama.” Bhai Manjh ji was happy to hear this: “Guru ji has regarded me as his servant and sent a Hukamnama.” He told his wife: “the Mevra of Guru ji has come again with a Hukamnama and said that we need to give 21 Rajitpuns to see it. This is Guru ji’s command.” His wife heard him and was happy. She had a deep faith in Guru ji as well. She said to her husband: “our karma is good that Guru ji has thought of us. We are blessed. Guru ji thinks of you that’s why he sends you Hukamnamas. He thinks of us as his own. He has blessed us. I will tell you an easy way to get money. You should employ me for rent. I will serve that person. Take as much money as you need.” As Bhai Manjh was a Chaudhary at one time, his wife lived a very rich lifestyle then. She was from a very rich family as well, but because of her deep faith in Guru ji, she was not affected by poverty or being sold for the Guru’s command. Bhai Manjh ji heard his wife and did as she advised. He pawned his wife in return for money. She became a servant at someone’s home to do their household chores. He came back and gave the 21 Rajitpuns to the Mevra. He read the Hukamnama and was extremely happy. The Hukamnama said: “if you are sitting down then get up. If you are up, then come to Amritsar. You are needed to do work in the Guru’s home.” He read the Hukamnama out loud to his wife. He said to her: “I have been called for Guru ji’s Seva. I will stay with Guru Arjan Dev ji and serve him. When he will bless me and see my Seva as complete, I will receive Mukti. If he allows, I will then come back to you.” In this way, Bhai Manjh sold some grass and brought food to his home to feed the Mevra Sikh from Amritsar. The Mevra stayed the night and left in the morning along with Bhai Manjh.
In Amritsar, Bhai Manjh ji came and bowed to Guru ji. He was filled with love so he began to shed tears. His throat swelled up and couldn’t speak. Guru ji did not look towards Bhai Manjh, nor did he say anything to him. Bhai Manjh ji was instructed to do Seva with the others. He was instructed to cut wood and bring it to the Langar. Bhai Manjh would go everyday into the jungle and cut wood. He would bundle them up and tie it. He picked up the wood and brought it to the Langar for firewood. He ate from the Langar for food. He was drenched in love and was one with Akaal Purakh. His vices and desires were all dead.
After a few months, the omniscient Guru asked the Langri: “the Sikh, Manjh, what does he do and what does he eat?” The Langri said to Guru ji: “Guru ji, since that Sikh has come, he does a lot of Seva. He cuts firewood all day long and brings it here. He eats from the Langar.” Guru ji said: “there is a fault in his Seva. He is spoiling his Seva and not making it better. He eats in exchange for Seva. His mind is not going to be pure like this. He needs to eat somewhere else and do Seva in the Langar. He does Seva but he eats from here too. Wherever he gets food from, he should share that with everyone else and then eat from what’s left.” The Langri obeyed and told Bhai Manjh what Guru ji said: “don’t eat from the Langar, this is Guru ji’s command. Do the Seva but eat from somewhere else.” Bhai Manjh obeyed and stopped eating from the Langar. He then began to ask for food from the Sikhs of Amritsar. Guru ji was teaching Bhai Manjh to kill his mind and be above respect and ego. He continued his Seva and ate from other people’s houses. He took food and gave it to others before he ate. He was determined to do Seva. His body got weaker because of eating less. His strength weakened over time but the love of the Guru was in every hair of his body.
One day, Guru Arjan Dev ji called Bhai Manjh to him. He said to him: “Chaudhary, you have lost everything. You were so rich once. You had a big house, animals and a lot of respect. Today, your people talk bad about you because you stopped worshipping the Sarvar Peer. You became a Sikh. Your people are not happy that you tore down the shrine in your home. You lost everything because of that. You lost your money and your home. You should go back home so you can make your house again. If nothing works, you should go back to the Sarvar Peer. You may get everything back again.” Bhai Manjh heard Guru ji and folded his hands. He said to him: “I have received the true wealth of Satnam. This wealth cannot be taken away by the government. It cannot be burnt by fire nor drowned in water. The more we share this wealth, the more it grows. It does not deplete. When we leave this earth, that wealth helps us on our final journey. I have kept that wealth in my heart. Please don’t tempt me with the worldly wealth. I regret that I didn’t start to earn this wealth of Satnam, before. My life before Satnam was a waste. My life has been golden since I met you. I will regret it if I let go of Satnam and go back to my old life.” Bhai Manjh bowed and went back to the Langar to do Seva. His mind was engrossed in Seva. He continued to cut firewood for the Langar. All of the firewood was brought by Bhai Manjh.
One day, Bhai Manjh collected firewood in the jungle and tied it up. That day, there was no one else with him to place the bundle on top of his head. He waited for over an hour but no one else came to help him. After a while, some one came and helped him place the bundle of firewood on top of his head. He then walked towards Amritsar. It then began to rain and the wind blew hard. Pebbles flew into his eyes and there was darkness everywhere. He couldn’t see where he was going. The wind blew into his face. He steadied the firewood on his head as he walked. The dust was too much for him to handle. He walked with his eyes closed. He couldn’t walk because the wind blew so hard. In great distress, he walked. As he walked, he slipped and fell into a well. The firewood was still on top of his head. He kept the firewood bundle steady as it would get wet if it fell into the water. “If the firewood does not reach, there won’t be any Langar. I will be considered a sinner then.” Bhai Manjh stood in waist-high water and remembered the Guru. All he could think of was how to get the firewood to the Langar. He was drenched in the love of the Guru. He rejected his ego and self-respect; he rejected his dignity and was dead from the mind. He left his daughter, wealth, land, and wife for the love of the Guru. Bhai Manjh was a great Sikh. His love for the Guru was solid. He ate less and because of that, his body had gone weak. He would ask for Langar from the homes of Sikhs. He didn’t get the best roti though. He split that roti and gave a portion to the poor before eating it himself. He only had the love of the Guru that kept him going. The love had captured the Guru. Guru ji could no longer keep his test going. He knew that Bhai Manjh was in trouble: “there is no one to rescue him. He is still trying to protect the firewood. He will be stuck there the whole night if not rescued. He will not put the firewood down. He is determined.” The gracious Guru got up right away and left without his shoes. Just as the elephant “Gaj” was caught by a crocodile and was helped by Akaal Purakh (reference in the Gurbani of Guru Tegh Bahadhur Sahib ji: an elephant was in the water when caught by a crocodile. The elephant asked Akaal Purakh for help by crying out. Narayan came and sliced the crocodile to save the elephant), Guru ji came to help. He did not fix his clothes either as he left in a hurry. Guru ji asked for ropes. The Sikhs came running behind Guru ji, grabbing his shoes. Guru ji ran fast and yelled out for ropes. The Sikhs all came running after. When Guru ji came close to the well, the Sikhs all gathered as well. Guru ji reached the well first and yelled out: “who is down there in danger? You have a bundle of wood on your head, why don’t you throw it and come out?” Bhai Manjh replied: “I am Manjh, a servant of the Guru.” In the meantime, the Sikhs brought ropes and Guru ji’s palanquin. His horse came as well. Guru ji grabbed the ropes and threw them down. Guru ji yelled out: “grab these and come out.” Bhai Manjh said: “first help me take the wood out. If I leave it here, it will get wet and there will be nothing for the Langar. After that, you can take me out. Let’s take the wood for the Langar first.” When the ropes came down, Bhai Manjh tied the wood to the ropes. The Sikhs pulled the wood out. After the wood came out, the ropes were thrown down again and Bhai Manjh was pulled out. Guru Arjan Dev ji was standing there as Bhai Manjh came out. As soon as Bhai Manjh saw Guru ji, he bowed to his feet with love. He said to Guru ji: “Guru ji, this is not a new thing for you. You have been rescuing your servants in every Yuga. You protect your Sikhs day and night. When the Gaj was in great danger, you helped him when he presented a lotus flower to you. The Gaj had nothing else to give you. You came without Laxmi, as she was massaging your feet. You came barefoot then, without Garuda and Laxmi. You can’t tolerate the pain of your servants. The weak are under your protection. You also helped Draupadi in the court when she was being disrobed. You made Raja Ambreek fearless from the curse of Durvasa (from the Sun Dynasty. At night time, Durvasa came as Ambreek was fasting during the day and about to break his fast. Durvasa bathed at the river and took his time on purpose. Ambreek was about to break his fast and waited. Eventually, Ambreek couldn’t tolerate his hunger and ate the food. When Durvasa saw that Ambreek ate before him, he was going to curse him. Ambreek remembered Akaal Purakh. Akaal Purakh sent his Sudarshan Chakra after Durvasa. Durvasa ran from the Chakra and travelled the three worlds, but nobody helped him. He eventually had to bow to Ambreek to be saved). You help your Bhagats. Who can count your virtues? Sharda and Shaishnaag sing your praises. Guru ji said: “ask for something Manjh. You are a great person. I am happy with your Seva. I want to give you what you want. Your Seva has been accepted. Your troubles are all gone.” Bhai Manjh said: “this is what I ask from you: may I always remain desireless. I don’t ever want to ask for anything ever again. I only want Satnam. I want the love of your feet. May your feet live in my heart.” Guru ji then spoke: “you are my great Sikh. Ask for more.” Bhai Manjh said: “if you are telling me to ask for something, then I ask you not to test your Sikhs so vigorously. Kaliyuga will get worse and Sikhs won’t be able to pass your tests.” Guru ji said: “listen Manjh, tests are important. When gold his mixed with dirt, it needs to be boiled to take the dirt out. As it boils, the dirt separates. The gold becomes pure. The gold is then added to the treasury. The beloved Sikhs are tested and purified. They then get added to the treasury of Mukti. The Sikhs need to become like me. They achieve the blissful form through these tests. Alright, I will do as you say. I won’t test the Sikhs so vigorously anymore. Ask for more.” Bhai Manjh said: “please give me your Sikhi. I have nothing else to ask for. I only want the name of Akaal Purakh.” After saying this, Bhai Manjh bowed and was emersed in the colour of love. Guru Sri Arjan Dev ji heard him and praised his Sikh:
Sri Mukhvaak..
Manjh Payara Guru nu, Gur Manjh Payara- Manjh is the beloved of the Guru and the Guru is the beloved of Manjh.
Manjh Guru ka bohitha, jug langanhara – Manjh is the Guru’s ship which will take the Sikhs across the world.
Bhai Manjh helped all of the Sikhs as they were no longer going to be tested harshly. Guru ji hugged Bhai Manjh and gave him Brahmgyaan. He said to Bhai Manjh: “Manjh, go back to your home. Start making Langar. You will have the 9 Niddhis and 18 Siddhis. You will never be in shortage of anything. Thousands will come to eat. You will grow as much as you want to.” Guru ji and everyone returned to Amritsar. The Sikhs were praising Bhai Manjh ji.
Bhai Manjh returned home and his wealth began to come back. His praises spread throughout the land. His family came together. Many pounds of Langar were being cooked everyday. Many people got food from his home. He was happy in his family. He sang the Guru’s praises and got Moksha. He passed all of the tests that Guru ji placed upon him. He was a Brahmgyaani who emersed into Guru ji’s light when he died.