Guru ji cursed the evil-minded Masands. In his tenth incarnation as Guru Gobind Singh ji, he was going to punish the Masands. When Ahmed Shah Abdali came to Punjab in February 1762 CE and fought with the Bhudda Dal and Tarna Dal army, after the war, he came to Amritsar and destroyed the steps of the Sarovar and filled it with dirt. He blew up the building of Harmandhir Sahib. The Singhs of the Bhudda Dal and Tarna Dal then fought back and killed the Pathans. The Singhs became the kings and re-constructed the Sarovar and building of Harmandhir Sahib. Bhai Des Raj ji was the engineer and the first brick was laid by Baba Jassa Singh Ahluwalia ji. While Abdali was blowing up the building of Harmandhir Sahib, a brick flew back and hit Abdali in the nose. His nose swelled up to the point which became the reason for his death. The Singhs conquered the land all the way from Kabul to Tibet. Sher-e-Punjab Maharaj Ranjit Singh ji then coated the building of Harmandhir Sahib with gold. In this way the root of the Masands was pulled. The Khalsa made the Sarovar with choona. The Sarovar was 500 feet by 490 feet. When the Singhs conquered Kasoor, the Singhs came upon 50 Lakhs worth of gems. All of the Misls spent money to make Harmandir Sahib. The foundation of the building was poured with melted coins (or steel). The foundation was twice as deep as the building which went further than the Sarovar. In this way the building was constructed with a very strong foundation. Maharaja Ranjit Singh ji added gold and gems.
Now the Katha continues. Guru Arjan Dev ji was blessing the world. Guru ji directed the Kar by sitting next to the Sarovar. He wrote Gurbani that praised the Sarovar. A great crowd came to do Seva. Some were digging and some were laying the bricks. They did Simran of Guru ji as they did Seva. There was Prema Bhagti happening there.
The Creator of the Universe; who is the sustainer and the destroyer; the Master of Laxmi and Maya; the Master of all the worlds; is under the say of the Bhagats. Akaal Purakh, sitting in Sach Khand, the Omniscient One, the Omnipotent One, said to the powerful beings close by: “I came to the world as Sri Nanak and saved people from going to Hell. Now that form is in its 5th incarnation as Guru Arjan, who thinks about saving the world by making Harmandhir Sahib. He is my form but he sits as a servant and a Bhagat. He is in the form of a Bhagat to show the world how to be a Bhagat. He is showing the path of Bhagti to save the people. The Amritsar Sarovar is being constructed for this purpose. He is telling the Sikhs about the greatness of the Sarovar. Guru Arjan Dev ji is going to make a beautiful temple for me. In it, Keertan and Simran of me will happen there. Bhagti will be constant in that temple, Harmandhir Sahib. People from every direction; every class and caste will come there. Everyone will come to do Simran of me there. There won’t be any false guise here, only Prema Bhagti. People will connect with Keertan here and join with me. I only love Bhagti and I listen to my Bhagats. Just as Guru Nanak Dev ji was a Bhagat, I will show everyone that my Bhagats are greater. I will go and do the Seva of the Sarovar now. I don’t want anyone to recognize me. I will go disguised as a labourer.”
Vahiguru Akaal Purakh ji, the destroyer of evil and the Master of Maya, took on the form as a worker and tied a kumerkassa to his waist. He picked up a shovel on his shoulder and held a basket in his other hand. To illuminate the praises of the Bhagats, a proof that Akaal Purakh is under the spell of the Bhagats, the Master of the Universe came to Amritsar as a worker. He mixed among the workers and began to work. As Akaal Purakh ji came; Brahma, Vishnu, Kuber, Naarad, Agni, Shiva and the other Devatas found out. They all came running to watch this amazing act. They shouted “Jai Jai” from the sky. This was an unprecedented thing for them to see. Akaal Purakh came to do Seva. The Devatas were amazed to see this and said: “only Akaal Purakh knows what Akaal Purakh does. Your praises cannot be fully sung. You love your servants without limits. You show the world this from time to time. You are sitting in the form of the Bhagat Guru and at the same time you are in the form of a worker doing Seva in the Sarovar. You came to Kabir’s house and helped his business. You came to Namdev’s and built his roof. To help your servants, this is your way. You moved the Mandir for Namdev and made a cow alive again. You became a Mughal and met Namdev. You came as a masseuse and massaged the king for Sain. You served the king for your Bhagat. How many incidents can we recall? There are too many. You do a lot for your servants. You are omnipotent and are here to dig dirt and carry it away. The place where the Parkash of Guru Granth Sahib ji is now, Akaal Purakh ji dug dirt under there. The Devatas came to see this view. They decided to take on human forms as well and do Seva along with Akaal Purakh. Akaal Purakh commanded the Devatas on where to dig. They all did Seva with great enthusiasm. The Devatas were all powers that ran the universe. They are all forms of Akaal Purakh in the form of fire, water, food and electricity. In a little time, the Devatas and Akaal Purakh dug a lot of dirt. This is the place where “Har ki Pauri” is now. Guru Arjan Dev ji noticed that a lot of work was done that day. He looked around to see what was going on, as there weren’t a lot of Sangat from outside that day. He noticed that the people working that day had the power of Akaal Purakh inside of them. They were all very beautiful. He noticed one worker that was very handsome, above the rest. His eyes were mesmerizing; his teeth were perfect. His hair was long. He was built strong. He was directing everyone else. The others followed what he did. They were all respecting him. They gave him way wherever he moved. The Devatas knew where Akaal Purakh was in human form. Guru ji figured out that this was none other than Akaal Purakh. Akaal Purakh had come to do this drama. A lot of work was done in a short period of time. Akaal Purakh was doing Seva in the area of Harmandhir Sahib with all of the Devatas. He worked really fast. Guru ji watched Akaal Purakh do the Seva and heard Akaal Purakh tell the Devatas that this was his home on Earth. The Devatas did the work quickly. Guru ji saw this and noticed that the Devatas had come as well by changing their form. Guru Arjan Dev ji was over-joyed, like a lotus blooming seeing the sun. He walked bare-foot towards Akaal Purakh. The one form, Guru-Parmeshwar (the Guru) and the other Parbraham-Parmeshwar (away from Maya); but at the same time, the same form, the same light; looking at each other. Guru ji saw Akaal Purakh and began to sing the praises of Akaal Purakh. It was morning so he began to sing the morning Raag of Soohi along with Bilawal mixed with it (Bilawal-Soohi Mishrat). He stated his joy and sang in front of Akaal Purakh:
Soohi Mahalla 5..
To fulfill the tasks of the Saints, Hari came himself and did the work..
The earth is beautiful and the Sarovar is beautiful with the Amrit Naam residing in it..
The Amrit came in it and all the tasks were completed..
The world said Jai Jai; all of the pain was gone..
The complete Purakh, that resides in all, away from Maya, whom the Vedas and the Puranas sing about..
Parmeshwar fulfilled the promise. Nanak sung the name of Akaal Purakh, and so he came..1..
9 Niddhis, Siddhis, and Riddhis were given, the Karta made sure there was no shortage..
Eating, spending and using, there was joy. There was an abundance..
The gifts grew, there was no shortage. The Omniscient one is achieved..
The millions of problems ran away and pain did not come near..
Peace, tranquility and bliss is only there now, all the hunger is gone.
Nanak sings the praises of the master who is amazingly great..2..
The task was his; and so he came to complete it. The human is nothing..
The Bhagats are singing the praises and look great. They shout out jai jai.
Singing the praises gives bliss, it is only done in the Sadhsangat..
Whoever did the effort of the Seva in the Sarovar, what praises can be sung of them?
The bathing at 68 Teeraths, all the religious acts, the equivalent rewards are achieved..
The purifier of the sinner, the amazing master, Nanak only seeks his support..3..
My master is the creator and the treasure of all virtues, oh Ram, what praises shall I sing?
It is the plea of the Saints: give us the pleasure of Naam
Give me the donation of the Name and do not let me forget you, even for an instance..
I wish to sing the praises of Gopal, the sustainer, forever..
Whoever loves your name, their mind and body are drenched with the Name..
Nanak says, all the wishes are fulfilled, who has witnessed this..4..7..10..
(SGGS 783)
Guru ji sang the praises of Akaal Purakh while standing in front of him. There was love in both forms of Akaal Purakh. Tears began to flow. They hugged each other and became one. Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji made his plea and sang the glory of Akaal Purakh to him. Guru ji extended his hands and touched Akaal Purakh ji’s feet and bowed to him. Akaal Purakh grabbed his hands and hugged him. Both had become one. His face was handsome like the moon. Akaal Purakh ji said: “you are doing a great thing by showing the way of Bhagti. This Sarovar will save many people by bathing in it. This Sarovar is the foundation of Sikhi. Sikhi will exist because of this Sarovar. Here, people will listen to Keertan which will make their egos vanish. Make the Harmandhir in the middle of this Sarovar. Make a beautiful Mandir in the middle. Embed gems and diamonds into it which will be more beautiful than the full moon. Make four doors in every direction of this Mandir. On its roof, prepare a dome in the middle. Construct a bridge on the west side and make steps to bathe from every side.” Akaal Purakh was holding Guru Arjan Dev ji’s arm and walking him around to show him where the Mandir should be built and where all of its doors and steps should be. He continued: “this will be my Mandir. No other Devi or Devata will be worshiped here except me. It will be a Mandir unlike any other. It will be my supreme temple, where I will be worshipped. There will be no place like this in all of the three worlds. The glory of the Simran and Keertan will illuminate from here. This place will give people Mukti and save them from Hell. My Simran and Keertan will happen here, every moment of the day and night. The ones who come with faith and devotion, they will come and sing Keertan. Their doubts and troubles will be gone. They will come to me in Sach Khand, who come here. They will no longer be bounded to the birth and death cycle.” Akaal Purakh ji showed Guru ji on how to make the Mandir and that only Keertan shall happen here. “Do what it takes to save the people from Hell. Preach Sikhi. There will be a time that you will need to fight the Turks. Take on 5 more incarnations. Create the Khalsa Panth who will protect the Sarovar all of the time. They will sing my praises. Preach Sikhi with good traditions and then come to my form after 10 incarnations. This is the reason why you have taken on the human form. Make the Mandir.” After saying this, Akaal Purakh ji disappeared in front of everyone. All of the Devatas bowed to Guru Arjan Dev ji as the Guru is the highest of all Devatas. They made their pleas to Guru ji to accept their Sevas. They then went back to their dimensions while singing the praises of the Guru. The Sangat continued to do Seva and were amazed to see that Guru ji was speaking with joy: “who was Guru ji speaking to? They were all very nice-looking people. Where did they come from and where did they go? They did the Seva but we don’t know who they were. We haven’t seen anyone on Earth like them with such radiance and illumination.” Guru ji sat back down on his seat and continued directing the Seva. Sikhs and workers continued the work. Many people did the Seva, near and away from Guru ji. Many Sikhs came. They would come and then go after doing Seva. The Seva of Amritsar Sarovar was in progress. The steps were being built. Guru Arjan Dev ji would tell the Sikhs of the greatness of this Sarovar.