Bhai Setha ji, Bhai Ughvandha ji and Bhai Sabhaga ji were from the village of Choohneeay. They were from the Arora Caste. They did Seva of Sikhs with great devotion. They woke up early and did Simran of Guru. They fed the hungry and gave clothes to the needy. They came to Guru Arjan Dev ji and bowed their heads. They folded their hands and said: “the Langar that we prepare for Sikhs in our homes, does it reach our ancestors or not?” Guru ji said to them: “the morsels of food that reach your ancestors, Guru Nanak Dev ji has recited a Salok:
Sri Mukhvaak.. Salok Mahalla 1..
Nanak says, you get ahead what you earn and give to the needy here..1..
(SGGS 472)
The Sikhs were in doubt. They said: “the food that we give here, are they in heaven, hell or some other life form? How does the food get to them? This is our question.” Satguru ji responded to them: “when the days of the ancestors come, people prepare food and give to the Brahmins. This is what they believe: that the ancestors come into the Brahmins, no matter what caste your ancestors were. In this way it is believed the ancestors get the food through the Brahmins. The ancestors of the Sikhs live in the Sikhs. As a string is attached to the kite, which sways here and there with the kite, the ancestors are connected to the children by attachment. They are tied with the people. The Sikhs break their attachments. The Devatas of the ancestors provide the food no matter where the ancestors are if you feed the Gursikhs.” The three heard this and had faith. They decided to only serve the Sikhs and not the Brahmins.
Bhai Paira Chandaliya ji and Bhai Jetha Sethi ji came to Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji. They sought his sanctuary and said: “we have faith in your Bani, that one should earn a living of Dharma. We share our earnings with the Sikhs and then eat. The Brahmins argue with us by saying: “you do five types of hinsa (violence) ukhli- grinding grains; peesan- rubbing; badni- brooming; chulla- fire in the stove to the wood; paani- washing with water. These are the 5 hinsas that we all do. We give ahooti to the fire to wash these sins away. We make the food pure in this way. You don’t give the ahooti.” Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji heard this and said: “the food that you give to the Sikhs, the Sikhs say “Vahiguru” and then eat. This makes the food pure. Agni Devata (fire) is already inside our bodies. Narayan, the true consciousness, lives in all life. Surya Devata (sun) lives in our eyes. Ashwani Kumar lives in our noses. Dishpals live in our ears (the Devatas of space). On our tongues, lives Varun Devata (water). Our hairs have Brihaspati Dev living in it. In our hands, Inder Dev resides. Jumm Devata resides over the motor function to excrete solid waste (Ghudda). Prajapati Devata resides over the motor function for urine expulsion and reproduction (Linga). In the feet, Vishnu Dev lives. Vayu Devata (wind) lives in the skin. In this way, the Devatas live in our body. In fact, all 33 Crore (1 Crore is 10 million) Devatas live in the body. When one says Vahiguru before eating, all of the Devatas are satiated. The food given to Sikhs, with the love of the Guru, there is a great reward for that. The ones who distribute Prashaad after doing Ardaas, their sins and troubles are washed away. Prabhoo is the root of all the Devatas. If Prabhoo is happy, then all of the Devatas are satiated. Just as watering the root of a tree makes the leaves green, making Prabhoo happy will make the Devatas happy.” The Sikhs heard this and their doubts were gone. They bowed to Guru ji.
Bhai Gurditta ji, Bhai Latkan Ghoora ji, and Bhai Katara ji were goldsmiths. The three along with Bhai Bhagwana ji bowed to Guru Arjan Dev ji and said: “Gurbani says we should do Simran. Which Name should we do Simran of that will give us the home of joy?” Guru ji said: “all of Parmeshwar’s Names take you across this world. Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji gave the Name of “Vahiguru” for the salvation of the Sikhs. Just as there are 4 forms of Prabhoo by which the 4 Varans find beautiful, the 4 letters of Vahiguru are amazing. The army has 4 parts: horses, elephants, chariots and on foot; this Vahiguru Mantra is a full army. All of the vices are destroyed by this Mantra. All of the sins are washed away. It has the cream of all the Vedas. The cream of cream is the Vahiguru Mantra. This is a ship that saves people from all 4 directions. This is to save the people of Kaliyuga. Whoever does recitation of this Mantra everyday and understands its glory, no other religious action is required of them. Within the heart that the Mantra “Vahiguru” resides in, they receive the 4 gifts of Dharam, Arth, Kaam and Moksha. The gifts are literally placed on their palm. Up to what extent shall I describe its importance? The one who recites this Mantra, they become Aatam Gyanis.” The Sikhs heard this and starting doing the Simran at once. They became fortunate and achieved Hari Guru.
Bhai Murari Dhone ji from Rohtaas, came to Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji’s feet. He bowed and sat next to him. He folded his hands and said: “the Bani that you have recited and written; I read, listen and ponder upon it. My mind is not washed of filth. Why is it like this? I don’t understand.” Guru ji then spoke: “listen, the white, pure cloth can easily be dyed. The dirty cloth cannot take on a new dye. It must be washed first. Once the dirt is gone, it can be easily dyed.” The Sikh heard this and then said: “the mind is so particular; how can we wash it? Please tell us.” Guru ji then said: “Guru Nanak Dev ji has uttered Sri Japji Sahib:
If the hands and feet get dirty.. They are cleaned by washing them with water.. If urine and other impure things dirty the clothes, it is not enough to wash with water.. Soap is needed to clean that.. If the mind is dirtied with sins.. It is washed with the colour of the Name..
(SGGS 4)
The body and clothes are solid which can be cleaned with soap and water. The intellect and sins are intangible, which dirty the mind a lot. Satnam is also intangible. It cleans the mind. The colour of the love of Prabhoo, dyes the mind. With faith and patience, recite and listen to Gurbani. Do the Simran of the Name. The filth of the sins will be washed away. The Guru’s intellect will come into the mind, slowly. Sins from many births will be washed away with Simran.” The Sikhs heard this and had faith. They started to do Simran.
Bhai Aadit Suini ji, a Sikh, came to the Satguru and bowed. He folded his hands and said: “my attention is focused into my weapons. Please tell me how I can be saved.” Guru ji said to him: “do the battle of Dharma Yudh. Remember Prabhoo in your mind on the battlefield. Think of the form of the weapon-wielding Vishnu, carrying the bow. Think of how he killed the demons with his mace. Keep that form in your heart when the poor are being oppressed. Fight for their rights. This is the Dharma Yudh. If you are loyal to someone (ate their salt) don’t show your back to the enemy on the battlefield while fighting for them. Give your life for your master. You will be praised in both worlds if you die. Do the Simran of Parmeshwar. If you win, you are praised.” The Sikh heard this and started to do Seva.
Bhai Lala Sethi ji, Bhai Choohar ji, Bhai Sai ji and Bhai Nihaloo ji all got the Guru’s wisdom. They focused their attention and sang the Shabads of the Guru. They would also translate Gurbani and say it to the Sikhs. By thinking of the translations, their minds became pure. The Prabhoo resided in their hearts. Whoever heard their words, they were influenced by them. They were in bliss as well. The corrupt-minded person would become pure by listening to them. They would start doing good deeds after. Sri Guru ji said: “whoever does good deeds and has good intentions, when they give wisdom, they live by their words; their words influence those who listen to them. Their words are stored in the listeners’ hearts. They save many people.” Guru ji recited Gurbani for this:
Firstly, the root of the tree grows in the earth, then the tree gives shade..
(SGGS 1288)
“Whoever lives by what they say, their shade is casted onto others. If one does not do what they say, they can’t influence others. They do not give shade to others. The listeners are not affected.” In this way Satguru ji praised those Sikhs who had the love of the Guru’s feet in their hearts. Many Sikhs listened to those Sikhs and praised them with Jaikaras in every direction.