The tradesmen worked everyday to make the beautiful Harmandhir. Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji did the Seva with the Sikhs with great joy. There were steps around the Sarovar. The Darshani Deodi and the bridge were made; by which thousands of people came to bow in the Harmandhir. The whole place was measured carefully and crafted with skill. The Harmandhir was higher than the Sarovar so it did not flood when it rained. It was all made in squares and rectangles. There was a parkarma around the Sarovar and the Harmandhir. The Sarovar was a square. The Har-ki-Pauri was on the East side of the Harmandhir. There were 4 doors with ceilings made for each door. There was a ceiling near Har-ki-Pauri. When the second floor was made, it was an open concept to the dome. Where the canopy was to go, there was an open space to the dome. All around the second floor, there was a balcony. The ceiling was double and joined to the top as well as Har-ki-Pauri. There was a room made under the top dome. This becomes the third floor where an Akhand Paath happens today, all the time. The Sikhs worked hard to make the choona for the building. They carried the choona upon their heads to give to the tradesmen. They climbed the scaffolding and placed the raw materials. The four ends of the building were erected. The dome was made with the unique style of an upside-down lotus. This is one the remaining domes of the Sikh art style today. There were small domes on the ends of the building. The middle dome is the largest, that can be seen from afar. In this way the building was beautiful which is second to none. Inside, the ceiling is high. The condition inside was pleasant in all 6 seasons of the Indian climate. There was fresh air that came from both sides (east and west). It didn’t matter how hot it was outside, inside was always pleasant. In the cold seasons, it was not cold. In the rainy seasons, the water in the Sarovar was pure. You could see water all around the Sarovar. Seeing such a surrounding of water around the Harmandhir had a beneficial effect on the eyes. There was Amrit in the Sarovar. The water was pure. There was no other place like this on earth. There is no other place like this on earth. It made everyone feel happy. The whole place was plated with gold which shined brightly in every direction. The four gifts of Dharma, Arth, Kaam and Moksha were received there. The 4 letters V, H, G and R (Vasudev, Hari, Gobind and Ram) were and are always recited there. The 4 castes bowed there. There were beautiful colours everywhere there. The glory of the place had spread in all 4 directions. The 4 Muktis were standing there (Salok Mukti- to be able to live with the form of Akaal Purakh you meditated upon, Sameep Mukti- to be able to live beside the form of Akaal Purakh you meditated upon, Saroop Mukti- to become the same form of Akaal Purakh you meditated upon, Sayujya Mukti- to be one with the form of Akaal Purakh you meditated upon). The 4 Ashrams (Brahmacharya – ages 0-25; Ghrist – ages 25-50; Baanprast ages 50-75; Sanyaas- 75 and up) could come there. The knowledge of the 4 Vedas was given there. This was the significance of the 4 doors. The 4 ways of Mukti were given there. Guru Arjan Dev ji could see all of the described things, while standing in the middle. Guru ji was very happy with the Harmandhir. He would recite Gurbani and sing the praises of Kartar and the place. The Sangat would hear the praises and have their faith grow. They would bathe and then bow. The Sikhs that did Seva were blessed by Guru ji. Guru ji called all of the Sikhs and gave them Siropas while blessing them. All of the Brahmgyaanis were called like Bhai Bhagtoo ji and others. The desireless ones were first called; that did Simran all day long. Guru ji called them: “Brangbroh, you will get what you wish for. You did Seva with great attention. You will get its great rewards.” They all folded their hands and said: “we don’t have any desires left. Your feet reside in our heart. We wish to be immersed in the Sat, Chit and Anand Saroop. There is nothing bigger than this. We want that form to reside in our hearts which the Devatas and Devis look for.” Guru ji was happy to hear this. He gave them all Jeevan Mukti and greatness. Baba Bhudda ji was the highest and was given respect first. The second Siropa was given to Bhai Bhagtoo ji who was also mukat. The area of the Brars, Bhai Bhagtoo was given the leadership of the Sangat of that area in Malva. His generations ruled that area and became kings of Kaithal.
Guru ji then said to Bhai Behlo ji: “tell me what’s in your heart. What do you wish for?” As soon as Guru ji said this, Bhai Behlo ji wished for Mukti and received it instantly. His Aatma experienced the Aatam Parkash and became one with Akaal Purakh. He didn’t see anything else besides the Brahm. He only saw his real self everywhere. Guru ji said to Bhai Behlo ji: “take your shawl off and place it out. I wish to give you more things. I will give you the leadership of the ghosts and spirits, the betaals. These invisible powers will be in your command. They will do as you say. You can do what you want done from then. Guru Amardas ji was gracious and gave Bhai Laaloo ji this position. His glory was spread in other countries. I am now giving you this position. The souls and spirits that are looking for guidance, you will be their leader now. These souls live on islands and mountains. They can do anything they wish to. Gather them in your shawl and take them. They will be with you for generations to come. When I come into my 10th incarnation, I will give these souls mukti for serving you.” Bhai Behlo ji listened to Guru ji and spread his shawl out in front of Guru ji. When the shawl was being tied, the souls of the northern mountains escaped and grabbed Guru ji’s feet. They said: “please bless us. We are your servants. We will serve your Sikhs and not go close to the people who say your name. You can take the other souls of East, West and South, but We of the North wish to stay at your feet.” When Guru ji heard this, Bhai Behlo came back to grab them. Guru ji said: “Bhai Behlo ji, take the other 3. These souls of the North came to my shelter. They will not be in your control.” Bhai Behlo obeyed and took the souls of the 3 directions. Guru ji was happy with Bhai Behlo ji’s Seva of making the bricks. He gathered feces and manure to make the best bricks. His skin was dried up as he didn’t see his body as his own. He was focused on the Seva. He did Seva all day and all night for many years. He didn’t go home during this time nor had any rest. He dug many tonnes of dirt from the Sarovar. Guru ji said: “just as the glory of Karah Prashaad is for doing Ardaas, the Tikiri of Bhai Behlo will be done.”
Bhai Ughroo and Bhai Kalyana were given great statuses. They did a great Seva as well. Whoever did Seva with love and faith, they were given gyaan and statuses according to the Seva. When Guru Gobind Singh ji’s time comes, a Sikh named Divaan Nand Chand ji will be a Masand, his grandfather was Bhai Umar Shah. He was from Drolly near Moga. He was given the position of Masand for bringing Sikhs to the Sarovar for Seva. Bhai Umar Shah did not keep any money.
Bhai Jetha, Sikh Pirana, Bhai Paira and Bhai Langaah were great Sikhs who achieved Brahmgyaan for doing Seva. They reached the highest state of Brahmgyaan and were filled with many powers. All of the Siddhis were standing in front of them, ready for their orders. They had the ability to do anything they wanted to. They could fly, pick up mountains, travel thousands of miles, appear where they wished to, spin the world, Delhi and Lahore could be destroyed in their arms, make their bodies big which would be bigger than the sky. The Sikhs did not use these powers though. The Sikhs did not need to use them as they were desireless. They could fly to anywhere and change the form of their appearances. All of the powers of the world that were hidden, there was nothing left that the Sikhs did not have. There was humility in the house of the Guru. The Sikhs had the abilities to not be attracted to these powers. If someone did use any of these powers, Guru ji would take them away and give them wisdom. He would then give them the powers back when they were worthy of it. The powers were only to be used for good. Guru ji still did not like the use of the powers. Whoever did Seva in Amritsar, they were blessed with rewards. Many Sikhs were blessed with Brahmgyaan just as Ram Chander ji gave blessings to his servants.
In this way, the history of Sri Amritsar is said. Bhai Salo and other Masands did Seva. Money would come and go. Bhai Umar Shah, Bhai Kalyana, Bhai Jetha, Bhai Parana stayed with Guru ji. Some went to other places. They preached Sikhi wherever they went and spread the true Name: Satnam to distinguish all of the doubts. Guru Arjan Dev ji sat inside the Harmandhir and praised it. He sang in Rag Sorath to tell the glory of Harmandhir. He composed Bani in Soohi Raag, making beautiful Chands and praising the Teerath. Visiting the Harmandhir would purify the soul. Bathing in the Sarovar would wash away the sins of many lives. The Sikhs would bow to the Harmandhir and sit down with faith and devotion to listen to the Keertan. Satguru ji would sing the Gurbani which would make the minds of the Sikhs still. Whoever sang the Shabads, they received many rewards. The Sikhs would come to Amritsar during Diwali. During Vaisakhi, the Sikhs came to bathe in the Sarovar. Bathing during these two days was like bathing everyday. People came to do Ishnaan, the bath, at Athsath Teerath, which made their sins wash away. Their hearts would not be dirty again. The spirit of the other Teeraths all came here to reside in the Sarovar. They had the weight of the sins inside of them which they came to relieve there. Ganga and other holy spirits came to reside here. The Amritsar Teerath was (and is) the greatest. They were relieved on Diwali and Vaisakhi. Bathing on those days was like bathing in all of the Teeraths. All the sins would be washed away on these days. Men and women would come to bathe and be relieved of their sins.
In this way Guru ji sang the great glory in a great way. He sat in the middle of the Harmandhir one day in court. There were Sikhs there who were egotistical about the Seva they had been doing. They thought to themselves: “we did a lot of Seva of the Sarovar. We worked day and night and did not even think about it.” Satguru ji knew what was in their minds. Sri Guru ji spoke from his mouth to Baba Bhudda ji: “when Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji tested the Sikhs, which were the Sikhs that passed? When the Gurta Ghaddi was given to Sri Guru Angad Dev ji, how was Sikhi tested? Tell everyone of that history. Speak of all of the Sikhs that were with you at that time.” Baba Bhudda ji heard Guru ji and said: “you are omniscient and know everything but you wish to hear this. By understanding your wish, I will say it. Listen to it as I saw it.”