Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa! Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

With Guru Sahibs kirpa the site has been updated, please see the traditions section for a new article on Sarbloh which discusses the Sarbloh Sarbloh Parkash Granth and its relations to Sarbloh Bibek within Khalsa Maryada and to Sikh psyche.

Link to page: http://www.nihangsingh.org/website/trad-sarbloh.html

Jaap of the week# Say Mul Mantr once out loud followed by Vaheguru 5 times. Say Mul Mantr again, then Vaheguru five times. Do this times 25 times all together. The slower the better and its better if you do more. Do as much as you can maintain for the next seven days. Can be done any time, amritvela recommended. After completion, do a benti to maharaj to bless you with kirpa to do more naam simran and ekta of the panth. Please email jaap@nihangsingh.org so we have an idea of how many Sikhs are doing each week.

Suitable for those who want to add something to their abhiyaas, or those who want to start up on a path of spiritual development. Great opportunity for sangata to do abhiyas collectively around the world.

www.NihangSingh.org

- Mir Ghulam Hussain Khan “The Review of Modern Times” 1763, Translated by M. Raymond 1789.

Jathedar Baba Banda Singh Ji Bahadur

Chaupai : (After Guru’s blessings to Banda Singh), the Khalsa Singhs approached the Guru, And with folded hands they prayed before the Guru,
That the Guru had bestowed the sovereignty on the Khalsa Panth,
As He had repeatedly declared His Will and testament before the Khalsa. (1)
The Singhs admitted that they would vanquish the Mughals with Guru’s blessings, And the Mughals would perish due to the express Will of the Divine.
(But after the Mughal’s fall) if Banda Singh laid a claim to sovereignty,
Then in that eventuality, the Khalsa Panth would not support him. (2)

Dohra : Hearing this assertion of the Khalsa, the Guru felt delighted,
And directed Banda Singh to honour Guru’s Will and testament.
The Guru warned Banda Singh against defying the Will of the Khalsa,
Otherwise he would come to grief and face humiliation. (3)
If he kept the Khalsa Singhs satisfied and well looked after,
Then he would also prosper and flourish as well.
But if he ever neglected and maltreated the Khalsa Singhs,
Then he would come to grief and face hardships. (4)

Chaupai : Banda Singh agreed to and accepted all the Guru’s commands,
And the Khalsa Singhs, under his command, marched immediately.
Banda Singh got several letters written by the revered Guru,
In the names of all those prominent Singhs who lived in Punjab. (5)

Dohra : Whosoever would join and assist the Khalsa forces,
He would stand benefitted and rewarded in every respect.
But those who do not join and defy the Khalsa Panth,
They would be treated as mere subjects and ordinary public. (6)

Chaupai : Banda Singh prayed with folded hands to the Guru,
That he would abide by the collective Will of the Khalsa.
But during the period of extreme crisis and hardships,
The Guru’s blessings must shield and protect the Khalsa. (7)
He also entreated the Guru to bestow him with certain miraculous powers,
So that he might also win some fame and reputation.
But if he ever betrayed and defied the Will of the Khalsa,
Then the Guru had every right to withdraw His pleasure. (8)
Hearing this, the Guru repeated his earlier declaration,
That he had handed over all the powers to the Khalsa Panth.
Since the Guru had admitted Banda Singh into the Khalsa Panth,
Banda Singh was equally entitled to share those powers. (9)
Whenever the need arose, he should gather an assembly of five Singhs,
And make a joint prayer for the fulfilment of his wish.
Receiving these instructions, Banda Singh launched on his mission,
And marched with his contingent towards Sirhind. (10)

Dohra : (One day during Banda Singh’s march towards Punjab), it occurred to him, That he should test the result of Guru’s word spoken to him.
(As instructed by the Guru), he held a congregation of the Singhs,
And he joined as one of those congregated for a prayer (Ardas). (1)

Chaupai : In order to check the validity of Guru’s assurances given to him,
He called a congregation of five Singhs as instructed by the Guru.
He himself stood with folded hands among the congregation,
And they prayed to the Guru with complete faith and devotion. (2)
They prayed that since they had no budget to maintain themselves,
The Guru must answer their prayer and provide them with money.
In an instant, the devout Lobana Singhs arrived there in a contingent, And offered thousands of rupees as Guru’s Daswandh from their income. (3) They offered their total collection to Banda Singh voluntarily, And Banda Singh accepted their offering after a thanks-giving prayer. This miraculous incident tied Banda Singh in permanent bondage with the Khalsa, As he felt convinced of the Guru’s blessings in his heart of hearts. (4) After that Banda Singh started organising congregations daily, Where he made the Singhs recite Akaal Ustat and Chandi Di Vaar. He made the congregation meditate upon the name of God, And himself started meditating on the sacred name of Waheguru. (5)

Dohra : Thus, Banda Singh led an expedition of Singhs towards Punjab, And the Khalsa Singhs kept on joining his jatha all along the way. In order to avenge the murder of Sahibzadas from the Mughals, The Sikhs kept on joining the Khalsa force under his command. (6)

Chaupai : Wherever Banda Singh put up a camp for a short while, That region’s Sikhs made offerings of money and provisions in plenty.

As Banda Singh himself had possessed command over the magical spirits, Many Singhs approached Banda Singh with prayers for favours. (7) As Banda Singh’s fame and reputation spread in this manner, He felt reassured of his own powers and Guru’s blessings on him. He bestowed his blessings on those who prayed for a male child, As well as those who prayed for material assets and affluence. (8) If a person with some bodily affliction approached him for relief, Banda Singh cured him of his affliction with a prayer to the Guru. He kept on leading the congregational prayers and meditation, And kept on fulfilling the wishes of his devout followers. (9) His fame and reputation spread to such an extent, That both the rich and the poor alike came to seek his blessings. Even those who spoke ill of him or slandered him at his back, Became his followers after having a glimpse of his face. (10) Wherever he put up a camp on his way to Punjab, He would display a pile of gold coins in front of his seat. If a poor vendor selling oil offered a cup of oil as his humble contribution, Banda Singh would reward his services with a gold coin. (11) f a potter made a humble offering of an earthen pot to him, Banda Singh would reward him with another gold coin from his pocket. Even if a lowly sweeper offered a bundle of firewood, He was also rewarded with a gold coin by Banda Singh. (12)

Dohra : Thus, no body went unrewarded whosoever approached him for any favour, And Banda Singh kept on rewarding them generously with gold coins. But whosoever came mounted on a horse and armed with weapons, Banda Singh allowed him to join his contingent of Khalsa Singhs. (13)

Baba Banda Singh Ji leading the Sikh warriors in battle

Baba Banda Singh Ji's former dera, now Gurdwara Banda Ghat, Nander

When Satguru Guru Gobind Singh arrived at Narain Dass camp (dera),
Narain Dass had gone out to another place.
Seeing a very well bedecked bedstead inside his bed chamber,
The Guru climbed up the bed with a quick jump. (1)

Chaupai : The Guru’s Singhs slaughtered all the goats (moving about in Banda’s field),
And put their meat in the cauldrons on fire for cooking,
Narain Dass’s followers informed his master immediately about this incident,
And brought him along after inciting him (against the intruders). (2)
Feeling outraged at the sight of the Guru sitting on his bed,
Narain Dass ordered his captive spirits to dislodge the intruder.
But as these captive spirits tried to lift up the bedstead,
The Guru pressed its four bedposts down with his four arrows. (3)
Although the magical spirits tried their best to lift the bedstead,
They failed to lift the bed even by one inch from the ground. (4)
Feeling extremely incensed and outraged at the immobility of the bed,
Narain Dass burst out in anger at his captive magical spirits:
They must despatch that intruder to his death,
Without wasting any more time in disobeying out his orders. (5)

Dohra : The spirits, then, informed their master, the Banda,
That they had lost all their might and nerve (against their adversary).
The more they had tried to harm him with their powers,
The more they had felt intimidated and terrified by him. (6)

Chaupai : The moment they wished to inflict any torture on him,
It came back upon them with even greater intensity.
The moment they tried to move nearer to him,
They felt themselves being burnt in a raging fire. (7)
Then, these captive spirits told their master in clear words,
That they had accepted defeat against that new intruder.
The moment they had endeavoured to confront him,
The mounting rage and wrath on his face unnerved them. (8)
They felt relieved only when they bowed their heads before him,
And felt an immediate sense of relief followed their submission.
Hearing their intimidated voices and responses of his spirits,
The Banda felt astonished and scared about his own safety. (9)
The moment he cast a glance on Guru’s face with his own eyes, He felt the Guru to be much more powerful than his own self. Then he ordered his spirits to deal with the Guru’s Singhs, Who had slaughtered his goats in his field. (10)

Sortha : Then these magical spirits went out to the field,
And went near the Guru’s Singhs (to inflict harm on them).
But they were astonished to find Guru’s arrows protecting them,
As Lord Krishna’s Sudarshan Chakra2 was found (operating in the battle of Mahabharta).(11)

Dohra : When Narain Dass (Banda’s) spirits returned without harming the Guru’s Singhs as well,
Then alone the Banda was convinced of Guru’s Divine powers.
He declared the Guru to be a perfect Divine Satguru3 ,
And accepted his own inferior status to the Guru’s Singhs. (12)

Chaupai : Thereafter, the Banda bent down on his knees before the Guru,
Which made the Guru to address him in these words:
What was his saintly Order and who his spiritual guide?
Why did he play nasty tricks on the saints? . (13)
Did he think that there was none else as mighty as himself?
Did he alone have the monopoly over miraculous powers? (14)

Dohra : The Guru admonished him for making fun of the saints,
As it always recoiled on those who indulged in such a mischief.
The petty pranksters, black magicians and low-caste fake saints alone,
Indulged in such mean tricks to earn their livelihood. (15)

Chaupai : Then Banda declared himself to be the humble servant of the Guru,
And declared the Guru to be his spiritual guide and master.
He begged forgiveness of the Guru for his past misdeeds,
And promised never to indulge in any of his past activities. (16)
He proclaimed himself to be the humble servant of the Guru,
And promised to carryout any command of the Guru.
He beseeched the Guru to take him into his fold,
And consider him as the most intimate disciple of the Guru. (17)

Dohra : As Banda beseeched the Guru to accept him as his disciple,
He bent on his knees with folded hands before the Guru.
The Guru felt pleased (at his change of heart and transformation),
And accepted Banda to be his disciple and to follow the Guru’s path. (1)

Chaupai : The Guru warned Banda of the rigours of becoming a Guru’s disciple,
As it involved an unconditional surrender of one’s complete self before the Guru,
Since accepting His way of life meant total surrender of one’s pride,
It was an extremely difficult and rigorous way of life. (2)
Since becoming a Guru’s Sikh meant complete dissolution of one’s ego,
It involved renouncing one’s family ties and accepting Guru’s ideological order.
It resembled the renunciation of an insect, which severed its links with its own species,
And forged an allegiance with another order of species of humming bees. (3)

Dohra : The tradition of Sikhism’s ideological code was as difficult to follow,
As a walk on the razor’s edge more sharp than a strand of hair.
A devotee must serve the Guru with complete commitment and devotion,
And yet remain humble during his service to the Guru. (4)
Whatever conditions the Guru laid down before the supplicating Banda,
The Banda accepted all those stipulations in complete humility.
The Guru, then, named him as Banda Singh from his earlier name

Chaupai : When Banda Singh beseeched the Guru repeatedly for mercy,
The Guru blessed him out of his benevolence and grace.
Banda Singh, then, sought Guru’s permission to allot him some task, And begged for any kind of service that he could render unto the Guru. (6) Satguru remarked that if Banda Singh was really worthy of a great task, He must set out and destroy the murderers of Guru’s Sahibzadas. The Guru directed him to destroy the Hill principalities after destroying Sirhind, As that was the task assigned by the Guru to him. (7)
While protecting the Guru’s Sikhs, he must destroy the enemies of the Sikhs,
And must protect those as well who accept his sovereignty.
He must create anarchic conditions from Delhi onwards,
After that he must raze the whole of Punjab and Hill states to the ground. (8)

Dohra : There is a parasitical creeper that ruins a tree from the top,
This creeper is known by the name of “Bando” in the world.
Banda Singh should become a similar poisonous creeper of the Guru,
And squeeze, sap and destroy the oppressive Mughal empire. (9)

Dohra : Whatever express wish the Guru conveyed to Banda Singh,
Banda Singh accepted to execute the Guru’s order in word and deed.
Soon this news spread out far and wide in the whole world,
That Guru had invested and annointed Banda Singh with his spiritual powers. (10)
The Guru then handed over his double-edged dagger to Banda Singh,
Which he accepted and wore around his person as an armour.
Feeling enraged at the loss of their legitimate right of being Guru’s heirs,
The Khalsa Singhs stripped Banda Singh of Guru’s armour. (11)

Chaupai : As the stripped Banda Singh complained to the Guru (about the Singh’s act),
The Guru went into peels of laughter with immense joy.
The Guru remarked that with Singh’s forcible possession of their legitimate right,
His mission of empowering the Khalsa Panth has been fulfilled. (12)
Thereafter, the Guru blessed Banda Singh with five of his arrows,
Remarking that these five arrows were invested with miraculous powers.
Whenever he felt it extremely necessary to shoot these arrows,
He should shoot only one of these arrows in extreme situations. (13)
These arrows had powers of activating dust-laden storms,
And impair the visibility and eyesight of the enemy force.
This raging blinding storm would force the enemy to turn their backs,
And help the user in destroying the enemy and winning the victory over them. (14)

Dohra : He should permit those Singhs to join his own group
Who volunteered to join under his command (in this expedition).
He must admit them into his contingent with due honour and respect,
And direct them to lead their own contingents in this war. (15)

Chaupai : The Guru directed him to invite the Majhail Singhs to join him,
And instruct them to lead his forces from the front.
These Majhail Singhs were the bravest of the brave and so much committed,
That the Mughals would flee from the field scared of them. (16)
These Singhs, being the most brave and the most mighty warriors,
Deserved to have the full blessings and grace of their Guru.
They, being known for keeping their promise in word and deed,
They were among the bravest of the brave and the mighty. (17)
They, being committed followers and disciples of their Guru,
Had been invested with all the spiritual powers of their Guru.
The Guru had passed on his sovereignty to these Singhs,
Which they had preserved and imbibed in true spirit. (18)
The Majhail Singhs and the Guru were an image of each other,
As the Guru and these Singhs were part of one another.
The Guru instructed and briefed Banda Singh so thoroughly,
That he might accomplish this great mission successfully. (19)

Dohra : Then Satguru ordered Banda Singh to launch his mission,
And instructed him to proceed to the state of Punjab.
Those who had murdered the Guru’s innocent Sahibzadas,
He must slaughter them and make a blood bath of them. (20)

Chaupai : Whatever instructions and guidelines the Guru gave to Banda Singh,
He wrote these down in black and white on a piece of paper.
Banda Singh requested the Guru to despatch only those Singhs with him,
Who could educate him about the basic tenets of Sikhism. (21)
Accepting Banda Singh’s plea the Guru sent Majhail Singhs with him,
Prominent among them being Baba Binod Singh and Baba Kahan Singh.
The Guru also sent Daya Singh and Onon Singh from Bhalla family,
As well as a few more Singhs from his own bodyguard. (22)
S. Baaj Singh Bal from Mirpur near Patti was also sent with Banda Singh,
The Guru sent all these four brothers to accompany Banda Singh.
Besides these, the Guru sent many other trusted Singh followers,
Who were most dear and intimate with the Guru. (23)
The Guru gave a written message to the brave Singhs of Majha,
That they must join Banda Singh as soon as they received Guru’s message.
They must slaughter all the enemies of the Khalsa Panth,
Who had murdered the innocent Sahibzadas of the Guru. (24)
Thereafter they must loot and plunder the Hill chiefs,
Who had betrayed and conspired against the Khalsa Panth.
First of all, they must murder Wazir Khan (governor of Sirhind),
And then mutilate and desecrate the dignity of his dead body. (25)

Guru Gobind Singh Ji blessing Baba Banda Singh with 5 arrows

Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji

In contrast to other historical Sikh texts, Sri Gur Panth Prakash Granth mentions Baba Banda Singh’s previous name as Narain Dass, while most other text’s mention it as Madho Dass.

We would like to continue the story of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s travels to the South.

Click here for part 1.

http://www.nihangsingh.org/blog/?p=859

Dohra : With the blessings of the late Great spiritual saint Dadu,
Even the Guru’s falcons fed themselves with vegetarian food.
The Guru and his followers felt extremely delighted at this hospitality,
When they were invited to visit the shrine of Dadu Dwar. (1)

Chaupai : Saint Jait Ram took the Guru around the premises of his shrine,
Even as his followers’ showered rose petals to welcome the Guru.
The Guru remarked : Praise be to all the great saints of the world,
And curse be on those who slander and speak ill of the saints. (2)
The Guru quoted lines from Sukhmani2 in praise of the saints,
Which praises the spiritual powers and blessings of saints.
Besides this, there followed a discussion and exchange of views,
Which benefitted and stimulated both the Guru and Saint Jait Ram. (3)
Mahant Jait Ram narrated a new incident during this discussion,
About a place which he had visited some time back.
A person named Narain Dass was the occupant of that place,
Who belonged to the sect of Bairagi saints of that place. (4)
He had placed one large-sized bed in his shrine,
Upon which Saint Jait Ram was asked to sit by the Bairagi.
While Saint Jait Ram accepted his request as a mark of honour,
The wicked Narain Dass intended to play mischief with him. (5)

Dohra : After making saint Jait Ram sit on this splendid bed,
He toppled the bed upside down on the noble saint.
After playing this very obnoxious mischief on his guest.
He felt extremely delighted and broke into a burst of laughter. (6)

Chaupai : He indulged in this mischief with the saints of all the six saintly orders (of Hindu’s),
Without having any sense of fear or the curse of any spiritual saint or prophet.
A person who proclaimed himself as a Guru and prophet,
Was, in reality, a slanderer of saints without any spiritual lineage. (7)
Saint Jait Ram advised the Guru to avoid a visit to this place,
And follow another route during his journey to the South.
The Guru remarked that everything happened according to God’s Will,
How could the Guru avoid whatever is ordained by God? (8)
The Guru asked Jait Ram the way to the seat of Narain Dass,
As well as the exact location and Name of his monastic seat,
The Guru would go and examine the strength of his occult powers,
And ascertain the Guru from whom he has acquired these powers. (9)
The Guru would dispossess him of his powers if he chose to confront,
Otherwise put him on a path of sanity if he chose to follow the Guru.
With the blessings of Guru Nanak, the Guru would make him his own follower
And initiate him as a Khalsa and his most intimate follower. (10)

Mahant (Jait Ram’s) speech:
Dohra : There is a town on the banks of the river Godwari,
Which is known by the Name of Nander in that region.
Narain Dass Bairagi’s place is situated on southern end of this town,
Which is a well-known and familiar place in that area. (11)

Chaupai : Since Narain Dass Bairagi used to be a Prince in his early life,
He had joined a group of homeless wandering saints
While moving along for a long time with these Sadhu’s,
He came across a saint possessing powers of of black magic. (12)
He served this magician for a long time along with these mendicants,
And received complete knowledge of the art of black magic.
By handing over a book containing all the secrets of this art,
This wizard made his disciple as equally competent a black magician as himself.(13)
His teacher warned him after handing over this book on black magic,
That he must not make any publicity about his magical powers.
The book would remain in his possession as long as it remained a secret,
But it would ruin him the moment he made its contents public. (14)

Dohra : The book contained secrets about possessing a beautiful woman and wealth at home, And about possession of horses, weapons as well as an art of alchemy. Since the book contained secrets about various kinds of talismans and wonder drugs, The powerful kings were always on the look out to snatch this book. (15)

Chaupai : The kings and feudal lords kept following the owner of such a book,
And murdered its owner for fear of his causing harm to their rule.
They were always scared of their sovereignty being snatched away,
Because such a black magician possessed unlimited magical powers. (16)
They killed such a black magician by lodging him in their own houses,
Because they were always scared of his powers of black magic.
Since they were always desperate to take possession of such a book,
They always treated the black magician as their rival and wished to eliminate him. (17)
Now I would like to disclose the name of this book of black magic,
Which was written by the greatest black magician named Alunia Sidh.
This black magician Alunia was the most favourite disciple of Gorakh Nath,
As I have heard about his fame and reputation from my ancestors. (18)
This book contained every kind of knowledge and information,
Which is very rarely available anywhere in the whole world.
It contained information about every kind of invocations and spells,
As well as information about magical solutions and working out auspicious occasions. (19)
It provided clues about alchemy which converted base metals in gold,
As well as incantations to tame poisonous snakes and possess magical powers.
Besides containing such powerful invocations as Rudar Jal and Indira Jal,
It contained every information about the wonderful black magic of Orissa state. (20)
It had tips about losing one’s identity in water as well as walking on water,
As well as all the secrets about space and flying into space.
It contained techniques of dousing raging fires as well as setting things on fire,
As well as methods of standing in the midst of fire and eating hot burning coals. (21)

Dohra : It contained invocations which if repeated and meditated upon,
Provided a person with the powers of exercising control over men and matters,
As well as powers to confer blessings of a male child, wealth and prosperity,
On whomsoever it wished to bless and bestow these gifts. (22)

Chaupai : The book provided complete knowledge about what lay hidden below the earth, Which could be instantly taken out through its magical sayings.
Its words could make herbs and forest plants speak about their healing qualities,
As well as alchemical information about converting base metals into gold. (23)
Its magical hymns had powers to change the sex of female into male,
As well as change the sex of a male into female sex.
It is also filled with science of telepathy of silently knowing others feelings,
As well as cast spells upon a person to make him restless, mobile or dance. (24)
It could teach strategies to decimate one’s enemies and protect one’s followers,
As well as perform such impossible tasks of plucking stars from the skies.
Its strategies could break the siege of fortified forts,
As well as war tactics of winning a victory over one’s foes in a battlefield. (25)
Its invocations could cause winds to blow and rain to fall,
As well as powers to change the direction of winds and storms as one wished.
Its magical tricks could cause hailstorms and lightening,
As well as its curses once uttered could never remain unfulfilled. (26)

Dohra : It imparted knowledge of ruling over ghosts, evil spirits and haunted persons, As well as acquire attributes of various gods and powerful supernatural phenomena, It could impart powers of divine entities like the Jachhs, Rachhs and Kinnars, As well teach ways to have communion with these divine entities. (27)

Chaupai : A person endowed with such black magical powers could ensure anybody’s victory, As well as bring about defeat for whomsoever he wished.
He could tame such wild, poisonous and mighty animals like lions, scorpions,
As well as bring about peace and prosperity to any king’s kingdom. (28)
He could capture thieves, burglars and poisonous insects easily,
As well as provide relief with just an utterance of a word.
He could save a person who reached him after a snakebite,
As well as restore to life a dead person due to snake poisoning. (29)
He could save people infected with rabbies caused by mad dog or Jackal’s bite,
As well as provide instant relief to the afflicted with a single utterance.
He could tame lions, tigers and wild bears with a spell on them,
And render them incapacitated from moving their jaws and paws. (30)
He could grow trees and create orchids on the palm of his hand,
As well as squeeze the essence of things by casting a spell.
He could neutralise the toxic effects of cyanide, opium, alcohol and cannabis,
As well as deaddict a human body from the abuse of all the toxic intoxicants. (31)

Dohra : He was possessed with eight kinds of supernatural powers,
Such as reducing one’s body into an atom, getting immobile or losing weight,
He could exercise complete control over any object or any desire,
As well as acquire every thing that he desired or wished. (32)

Sortha : This book in Narain Dass’ possession had complete record of the past and the present, As well as every event that would happen in the future. It had tried to describe all those events and incidents, Which could happen in all these ages. (33)

Dohra : If I venture to describe all the details about this book,
My epic would get excessively voluminous and big.
The book also contained directions to have a glimpse,
As well as the road map to achieve salvation from birth and death. (34)

Chaupai : Banda Bahadur got a hold of such a rare and extra ordinary book,
That he could not keep a secret and revealed his powers.
Saint Jai Ram accused Banda Bahadur, of testing the spiritual powers of saints,
Who had become a slanderer and condemner of all the saints. (35)
He warned the Guru against visiting the seat of the wicked Banda,
Repeating his warning many times to stop the Guru from such a visit.
Satguru replied that he would not avoid this visit at any cost,
As he would definitely visit his place and encounter him. (36)
Despite his spiritual powers of feeding Guru’s Carnivorous falcons with
course grains,
Saint Jait Ram had been defeated and humiliated by Banda.
The Guru requested Saint Jait Ram to send one of his followers with him,
So that he might be a witness to the Guru’s encounter with Banda. (37)
With the great blessings of the apostle of truth the Great Guru Nanak,
The Guru would definitely teach a lesson to the Banda.
After uttering these words, the Guru left the place of Saint Jait Ram,
And proceeded towards the directions of Banda’s seat of power. (38)

Dohra : Soon, Satguru arrived in the Banda’s territory,
And put up his camp after selecting a suitable site.
Water was being drawn by a water-mill without being pulled by a pair of oxen,
Which was a big surprise for all the spectators out there. (39)

Chaupai : Banda had built an extremely splendid palatial building,
Which dazzled the eyes of every onlooker who looked at it.
He had installed a huge bed inside that big structure,
Which was covered with excellent cushions and pillows. (40)
The bed remained uplifted from the earth for a height of a little more than a yard,
On which Narain Dass (Banda) used to sit majestically.
If anybody else happened to sit on this strange bed,
He had the strategy to throw him upside down from the bed. (41)

To be continued……

King of Kings, Dasam Patshah Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

Rattan Singh Bhangu came from a lineage of Sikh warriors, and had first hand knowledge on many historical and religious practices of the Sikh nation.

Rattan Singh’s grandfather was the renowned shaheed singh Bhai Mehtab Singh Ji, who beheaded Massa Rangar for the desecration of the Harimandir Sahib at Amritsar. Rattan Singh’s father was Bhai Rai Singh Ji, who as a child survived an attack by the Muslim Government, which left his whole family dead. Bhai Rai Singh Ji later joined the Karora Singhia Misl of the Budha Dal.

Below is a passage from Prachin Panth Prakash relating the Guru’s travels to the Deccan (South India).

Dohra : When Satguru Guru Gobind Singh proceeded towards the South,
There lay the abode of Saint Dadu at Dadu Dwar on the way.
The Guru put up his camp at the spot of Dadu Dwar,
Along with a force of five to seven thousand Singh soldiers. (1)

Chaupai : It was marked by beating of drums and unfurling of the Khalsa flags,
And a loud recitation of Gurbani without any kind of fear.
The Guru’s Singhs were heard reciting “Chandi Charitar” and “Chandi di Var”,
As well as the recitation of Guru’s composition, “Akal Ustat”. (2)
This recitation created an environment of soothing rain in mid June,
And crocking of frogs out of joy during monsoon rains.
And the cooing and dancing of peackocks at the sight of thundering dark clouds,
Such was the holy scene created by the recitation of Gurbani by the Singhs. (3)

Dohra : Some Singhs were seen reading and reciting scriptures in one corner,
While a few others were found reciting the Guru’s composition “Sri Mukhvak” (Jaap Sahib) .
At another spot, a few Singhs were singing Gurbani to the accompaniment of Rababs, Which created an atmosphere of God Indira’s majestic Divine Court. (4)

Swaiya : If a melody of trinkets, percussion and water stringed instruments emanated from oneside, The sound of double percussion and stringed instruments was heard from the other side. If a perfect melody produced by a wind instrument was reverberating from one place, The delightful melody by string instruments was audible from another direction. As if it was the creation of mythological gods like Yaksha, Kinnar, and Narda, combined harmoniously with the musical compositions of Tomar. Such was the splendour and majesty of the Guru’s Divine Musical concerts, that even God Indira would feel envious of the Guru’s Divine presence. (5)

Chaupai : While some devoted Singhs touched the Guru’s feet out of reverence,
Other sought permission from the Guru to set up a camp nearby.
Some others burnt incense sticks and circled around the Guru,
As the stars revolved round the polestar at night. (6)
Some prostrated themselves before the Guru out of veneration,
As the gods are believed to prostrate before Chief of gods Indira.
Some stood still in the Guru’s service while sheltering the Guru’s head with a canopy as a planted tree stood still and steady on the earth. (7)
They kept standing around the Guru like permanently fixed poles, Even in the midst of scorching heat and blistering winds. (8)

Dohra : The Guru’s Khalsa flags shone like a brilliantly shining sun,
Likewise the sparkling majestic waving hand fans shined brightly.
The canopy over Guru’s head sheltered his face like a dark cloud,
Under a vast outstretched tent like a thick huge cloud. (9)
The Guru sat on his royal throne like the God Indira,
Armed with weapons like the mighty Indira with his bow.
The flywhisk (chaur sahib) was being waved around his majestic face,
As a if a peacock was dancing in joyful delight. (10)

Chaupai : The news of the Guru’s arrival spread in the whole town,
Hearing which people rushed to have a glimpse of the Guru’s face.
After the people felt blessed and convinced of his Divine mission, They made generous, abundant offerings to the Guru. (11)

Dohra : The Guru’s arrival was indeed a great miraculous event,
As all the people felt wondrously struck with the Guru’s appearance.
Even the holy saints came to pay their obeisance to the Guru,
Leaving the encampment of saint Dadu’s Dadu Dwar. (12)

Chaupai : The saints of Dadu Dwara heard the news from the people,
That the tenth Nanak had arrived at their place.
In order to invite and provide shelter to the Tenth Guru,
The Chief saint of Dadu Dwara came along with his followers to the Guru. (13)
The Guru received this great saint with great respect and honour,
As was the tradition among Indian saints to receive a new saint,
Touching the Guru’s sacred feet, the saint felt extremely delighted,
And congratulated the Guru for being the incarnation of Guru Nanak. (14)
The Guru remarked that all the saints were part of the same Divine,
As water lost its individual identity after mixing with milk.
Shri Jait Ram was the name of this chief of saints,
Who was indeed a noble and virtuous saint of this great order. (15)

Dohra : Saint Jait Ram stood before the Guru with folded hands,
And made a humble request to the Guru on his arrival.
He remarked that he and his followers felt blessed,
That the Great Guru had come to visit their place. (16)

Chaupai : He pleaded that he be allowed to serve one meal to the Guru,
As it was a religious tradition to serve food to the Guru’s congregation, upon this request, the Guru informed this chief of saints,That he would not be able to feed all the Guru’s force. (17)The Guru told that many among his force being non-vegetarians, Would not be able to feed themselves with his vegetarian food. To this objection of the Guru, Saint Jait Ram made a remark: With the blessings of Saint Dadu even Non-vegetarian would accept a vegetarian meal.(18)

To be continued……