Bhai Luddha ji went back to Lahore and was well received by his Sangat in Lahore. The Sikhs came and folded their hands. They bowed to each other and asked how they were doing. They asked about Amritsar: “how is Satguru ji blessing the Sikhs in Amritsar? Where does the Master sit to do Divaan? How did Guru ji meet you and speak to you? What commands did he say to you? Tell us everything. What was Guru ji wearing when you bowed to him?” Bhai Luddha ji said: “how many virtues can I recount of Guru Arjan Dev ji? I only have one tongue that cannot sing the Guru’s praises. If I had a thousand tongues, that still would not be enough to sing his praises. Guru ji is deep, like the ocean. He is patient and calm. He is handsome and has a radiant personality. He is blessing thousands in this world. He has many virtues but one of his virtues makes me sacrifice myself unto him. He is benevolent. He is compassionate towards the people of Kaliyuga. He helps them with his mind, body and wealth. He established the Amritsar Sarovar in which thousands bathe. It washes their sins away. They do Simran of Satnam. He is collecting all of the Bani of the elder Gurus and making one binding. He is writing more Shabads and adding it to the Guru Granth Sahib ji. The Bani is giving peace to all. The Bir of Guru Granth Sahib ji will have all of the Bani in it. The Bani blesses all, and will bless all, even after him. The Bani will destroy attachment, ego and other vices. He has made a pathway for all of the Sikhs. They will recite the Bani and listen to it; which will purify their minds and take them towards greatness. The Sikhs do Simran of Satnam and are being blessed. Guru ji has all of the powers. He is doing a generous and benevolent act for all. He is adding the Bani of Bhagats into the Guru Granth Sahib ji as well. The Bhagats come and recite new Bani. He has organized the Granth in Raags. He first writes the Guru’s Bani and then the Bhagat’s Bani. A lot of Bani has been written. The task is almost done. Guru ji is making an effort, day and night with this task.” Bhai Luddha ji told the whole city which made everyone happy.
In Lahore, during that time, there were 4 famous Bhagats that lived there. They were on a good path and everyone respected them. They were worshiped by the people of Lahore. There names were Kana, Chajhoo, Shah Hussain and Peelo. When the news of Guru ji’s compiling the Guru Granth Sahib ji spread in Lahore, these 4 Bhagats heard it as well: “the Bhagats’ Bani was being added as well.” The Bhagats got worried and thought to themselves: “Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji is on the throne of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji and his praises are spread far and wide. He is the wisest, Omnipotent, with great patience and full of virtues. He called other Bhagats for their Bani, why didn’t he call us?” They wondered why Guru ji didn’t call for them. They were a little angry. One day, the four of them got together to discuss this. They said: “the Guru Granth Sahib is being compiled for the path of Mukti and the Bani of the well-known Bhagats is being added. This Granth will be known in the world. It will be praised in the world. If our names are not written in this Granth, no one will know us after we are gone. We need to make an effort to have our writings added to the Guru Granth Sahib ji.” Kana said: “who was it that brought this news? Ask him first what the truth is.” Peelo said: “it is a Sikh named Luddha Parupkaari. He helped two Raagis get forgiveness from Guru ji. He knows this for sure that the Guru Granth Sahib ji is being written. He has confirmed all this.” Shah Hussain said: “let’s call Bhai Luddha and ask him. He will tell us the whole story. We will then see what needs to be done.” Chajhoo sent one of his servants to get Bhai Luddha ji.
The servant went to Bhai Luddha ji. When Bhai Luddha ji heard the news of him being called, he immediately came to the Bhagats and bowed to them. The Bhagats said: “what happened with Satguru ji? What did you see and hear there?” Bhai Luddha ji folded his hands and said: “Guru ji is composing Bani and is focusing on this task, day and night. He is composing beautiful Shabads and Bhai Gurdas ji is writing. He writes the Bani of the five Gurus and the Bani of the Bhagats is being written. Bhagat Kabeer ji’s Bani and other Bhagats’ Bani is written in various Raags. They come themselves to Guru ji and compose the Bani. The Granth is a ship that will take everyone across this world ocean. Most of the Bani has been written. There is only a little left. Only a few days now.” Kana asked Bhai Luddha ji: “how do the Bhagats come to Guru ji? Did Guru ji call them or did the Bhagats come by themselves, without an invitation? Can anyone see them? Where do they sit?” Bhai Luddha ji responded: “Guru ji sits in a jungle, alone, and writes the Bani. He started with Sri Raag and then the Bhagats came when he was done the Raag. The 15 Bhagats came by themselves. They had a discussion with Guru ji and then Guru ji had them meet Bhai Gurdas ji. The Bhagats come and Bhai Gurdas ji writes their Bani. Guru ji sits with them.” Bhai Luddha ji then left. The 4 Bhagats then said to each other: “the Bhagats weren’t invited. We don’t need to be upset. Let’s go to Guru ji and have our Bani included as well. We will be known forever. The wishes of your minds will be known by all.” They all rested at night.
The next day, Kana got ready and mounted his chariot. The other 3 Bhagats got ready and started off as well. They all had a little bit of ego in them. They were Bhagats and did Bhagti but had pride of themselves. They spent a night on the way and reached Amritsar the next day. They arrived at Guru Arjan Dev ji’s court. Guru ji was seated in the Sri Harmandhir Sahib and illuminating. Guru ji knew with his divine vision that the 4 Bhagats had come with pride. Guru ji got up and met them outside. They all bowed to each other. Guru Arjan Dev ji respected them and had them sit down. Guru ji said: “you have been gracious to visit me today. I am happy. You are always drenched in the path of Mukti. Bhagats like you travel only for the purpose of blessing all. Whoever you meet, their attachment is washed away and they are free from pain. You bless the ones that come to you. You have won your vices. Please tell me your reason for coming here today.” Kana was the most egotistical. When he heard his praise, he became prouder of himself. He said: “we have heard your praises. There’s a reason why we have come to your home. We have heard you are compiling the Guru Granth Sahib ji. You have compiled the Gurbani of 5 Gurus plus the Bani of many Bhagats in Raags. Those Bhagats’ bodies and homes do not exist in this world now. People don’t know them much. Hindus fight about them as well as the Turks. People don’t know those Bhagats and won’t remember them. We are alive and in front of you. People come to visit us as well. Poor and rich, all know of us. High and low, all know us four. People listen to us and bow to our feet. People take our words like the word of the Vedas. Our praises are spread in every direction. Don’t you know about our praises? You are writing the Bani of the dead Bhagats. You didn’t ask us. If you don’t add our Shabads, who will accept your Granth? Nobody will read, listen or believe in it, if you don’t write our Shabads. You didn’t do good by not calling us. You are the Guru of the World. You should have known about us.” Guru Arjan Dev ji said: “I have collected all of the Gurbani that was spread out. The Bhagats came to me to add their Bani. I told them to recite new Bani according to the Bani of the Gurus. They then composed new Bani that I have added. You have come now; you should tell me your Bani. If it is according to the Bani, then I will add it.” Kana had the ego of Brahm Gyaan. He was happy. He composed a Shabad out of ego. He thought to himself: “the Guru is on our side. I am not any smaller. He does know me. I will compose Bani which will have Brahm Gyaan in it. My Bani will be known in the world.” He composed Bani according to the motto: “Ahung Brahm Asmi” (I am the Brahm).
Kano Vaach..
Ohi ray mai ohi ray, jako bed Puraan sab gaavai khojat khoj na koi ray.
Jako Naarad Saarad sevay, sevay devi deva ray.
Brahma Bishan Mahesh araadhay, sab karde jaki seva ray.
Kahe Kana as mum Saroop hai, apranpar alakh abheva ray..1..
I am that, I am that, which the Vedas and Puranas sing about, by looking they can’t find the end.
Naarad and Sarasvati worship, Devis and Devatas do Seva of.
Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva meditate upon and do Seva of.
Says Kana, I am that form, that which is infinite and cannot be characterized..1..
When Kana spoke his ideology, Guru Arjan Dev ji rejected it right away: “this is not according to the ideology of Gurbani. If Sikhs would read this, they will get filled with ego. They will think they are Akaal Purakh and be filled with ego. It is correct what you are saying, the Aatma is Parmatma but the people of Kaliyuga will see it the wrong way. Instead of Mukti, they will go to Hell. For this reason, I can’t add this Shabad. I will give you some examples: Brahmgyaan is like ghee. In the Kaph (phlegm and cold) state of Ayurveda, if one eats ghee their phlegm will increase. The egotistical person is like this. The ego will grow more. In the Pith state (fire), full of desires, their fire will grow. They will get diarrhea (physically by eating ghee). Spiritually, the Gyaan will make them get more engrossed in their desires, thinking they are Akaal Purakh. Instead of getting stronger, they will get weaker; instead of Mukti, they will go to Hell. Ghee makes the ill, more ill. Instead of peace, they will be in more pain. Within the Brahm Gyaan, just like ghee, we need to add sweetness like sugar balls to it. Bhagti and Gyaan need to be together. Bhagti is the sweetness to the Gyaan. Humility is the Bhagti. See yourself as everyone’s servant. Know in your heart that you are Brahm, but never say it from your mouth. Hirday Gyaan (knowledge of Brahm in the heart), mukh Bhagti (Simran) and vartan vairagya (live like a visitor in the world, detached) were the 3 things Guru Nanak Dev ji told Guru Angad Dev ji. Sugar and Ghee are good for all and they will be blessed. Ahung Brahm is known in the mind but from the mouth, call yourself a servant. Our ideologies are different. How can I write this Shabad in the Guru Granth Sahib ji? Contradictory Shabads cannot be written in one place. You should write your own Granth. Humility is the highest in Sikhi. The humble person can meet the Guru. The one who is high, will fall by the blowing of the wind. They will by in trouble.”
When Kana heard Guru ji’s words, Kana had nothing to say. He couldn’t think of anything. He was upset. His eyes become red with anger. He said: “you have insulted me in the court in front of everyone. I came to give you my Bani but you did not respect me. You debated with me to not write my Shabad. There is the Gyaan of all of the Vedas in my Shabad. I am going to curse you for not accepting my Bani. You will be disrespected and will have to endure pain from the Turks. They will punish you and kill you. You won’t have your family with you at the time of your death. The Sikh Sangat will not be with you either.” Guru ji was calm and thought to himself: “he is angry and cursing me, but this is what is already going to happen. Akaal Purakh spoke through his mouth to say the future. First of all, he came with ego and called himself a bigger Bhagat than Bhagat Kabeer ji. His Shabad was full of ego as well. He is not calm. He has become egotistical by listening to the Gyaan of the Vedas. I didn’t add his Shabad and he got angry. If I don’t curse him, his ego will grow more. I can’t stay calm. People will say the Guru’s house is smaller. Guru Nanak Dev ji’s home will be talked bad about. People’s faith and devotion will be hurt. He saw Bhagat Kabeer ji and Bhagat Ravidas ji as smaller than him. He needs to be punished.” Guru ji then said to Kana: “you will not make it back to Lahore. Your hatred will give you death. You will be surprised.” Kana got angrier and said: “my age will be 500, who can kill me? No trouble can come near me because I can stop my breaths with Yoga. Death can’t come near me. I will sit in a hut and take my breaths to my Dasam Duaar. Nobody is better than me in Yoga. Jumms can’t come to me. Your curse is fruitless. It will have no consequences. I will use my Dasam Duaar.” Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji said to him: “the hut that you will sit in, you are proud of your body, that body will break first. Where will you keep your breaths? You will die now. Your time is up. Be upset from the world and do Bhagti. Don’t be proud. Do Ardaas to Akaal Purakh. Don’t’ be attached to your body. You are going to separate from it very soon. You lived your life. The ego in your mind is a figment of your imagination.” Guru Arjan Dev ji did not say anything after that. The Sangat was quiet as well. Everyone was surprised to hear the curses. When the words reflect the mind’s thoughts, destiny plays its cards. The meeting was not a success.