ਭਲੇ ਅਮਰਦਾਸ ਗੁਣ ਤੇਰੇ ਤੇਰੀ ਉਪਮਾ ਤੋਹਿ ਬਨਿ ਆਵੈ ॥੧॥੨੨॥
O
Guru Amar Daas, Your Glorious Virtues are so sublime; Your Praises belong only
to You. ||1||22||
Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Amar Das Ji, our third Guru Sahib was the oldest Guru by age whose praises are endless. In conjuction of their Parkash Purab today, let us look at some interesting facts about them extracted from the voluminous work of Kavi Santokh Singh, Sri Gurpratap Suraj Parkash Granth.
1. Clothing
Sri Guru Amar Das Ji always wore white clean unstained clothes. They did not keep any extra clothes and when they get a new piece, the old one will be given to the poor1.
2. Routine
Guru Ji used to wake up before the last remaining phase (pehar) of the night (Amrit vela). Their sevadar, Bhai Balu Ji will fetch water from the nearby Biasa River and assist Guru Ji for their ishnaan. Guru Ji kept proper personal hygiene where they used to wash their hands using sand and water each time they they use the toilet2. They also used to wash their hair with yogurt daily. Guru ji would then sit in meditation. After that, Kirtania would come into the Darbar and sing shabads in Raag which Guru Ji would listen to. As the Sun rises, Guru Ji would then give their holy glimpse to the Sanggat and fulfill their worldly as well as spiritual needs. In the afternoon, Guru Ji's Langari will do benti to Guru Ji to have their lunch. Guru Ji would wash their feet and proceed to have their simple meal. In the evening, Guru Ji will listen to Katha by a Pandit named Keshu Gopal who always had the desire to do Katha in the presence of Guru Ji. After this katha, Kirtan was sung once again in Guru Ji's Darbar. Later, Guru Ji retires to their room to rest1.3. Food
Considering Guru Ji was really old, their daily meal was a simple one; salt free oatmeal. They ate in a very small amount and only once daily1. A devoted Sikh called Bhai Lengah who was named such for having a broken leg used to travel 7.5km daily with his walking stick from his house to bring yogurt for Guru Ji's meal. Once Bhai Lengah Ji was stopped by his village leader who made fun of him and forcefully took his stick causing him to be late for Guru Mahraj's lunch time. Guru Ji didn't have their meal until Bhai Lengah Ji arrived3. Such is the love of the Guru to His beloved Sikh.
Interestingly, when emperor Akbar visited Guru Ji, his first question was on what is the favorite food of Guru Ji and what their daily meal is. Guru Ji answered that they have gone beyond these worldly tastes with the kirpa of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. When told that Guru Ji only eats daleya once a day, the emperor was surprised thinking that Guru Mahraj despite being old eats so little, yet maintain a good strong form. He then requested to be given the same prosperous daily meal of Guru Ji which later turned out to be the best meal he ever had in his life4.
Even though Guru Ji ate such simple food, the langgar for the Sanggat was of various delicious varieties. Baba Budha Ji once asked Guru Ji on why there is such difference in type of meal for the Guru and the Sanggat. Guru Ji replied "Do not see me any different from the Sanggat for I reside within everyone. If the Sanggat is happy or sad, so am I. The food that is tasty to the Sangat reaches my taste as well". At that time, Guru Ji had just ate and was gargling. Pointing at their gargle, Guru Ji said “See, all the delicious varieties are now in my mouth”. When the gargle was disposed, the Sanggat observed that it contained particles of the various food that they had3.
4. Unique Way of Doing Darshan
Guru Ji generally spent a lot of time meditating while standing and holding on a Kili Sahib (big nail) for support in their house. High on the Chubara Sahib where Guru Ji lived, there was a window near the Kili Sahib. This window is where Sanggat used to do darshan from, when Guru Ji was not in the Darbar5.5. Offerings
Guru Ji would generally not accept any other offerings from Sanggat other than ration for one day Langgar of the Sanggat. Knowing this, the Sanggat that comes for Darshan of Guru Ji daily will usually bring offerings accordingly just enough for one day Langgar6. Guru Ji believed that Guru’s kitchen must serve only fresh food delivered daily. At the end of each day, all the remaining Langgar was fed to the poor, livestock or poured into the river to be consumed by fishes. Even vessels of water were instructed to be emptied by Guru Ji by the end of the day1.6. Nobody Dies
It was the nature of Guru Amar Das Ji Mahraj that they don’t want to see the suffering of their Sikhs. Thus, they gave a Bachan to Dharam Raj that no Jamdoot (Messenger of Death) should come to their Goindwal Sahib. This is why none of Guru Ji’s Sanggat died in Goindwal Sahib during the 22 years of their Gurgadhi7.ਨਿਸਿ ਬਾਸੁਰ ਏਕ ਸਮਾਨ ਧਿਆਨ ਸੁ ਨਾਮ ਸੁਨੇ ਸੁਤੁ ਭਾਨ ਡਰ੍ਉ
॥
Night
and day, the Guru meditates on the One Lord; hearing His Name, the Messenger
of Death is scared away.
7. Prophecies & Blessings
Guru Amar Das Ji Mahraj gave a few prophecies and blessings regarding the Gurgadhi of the next Guru Sahibs:- As requested by Bibi Bhani Ji, Guru Amar Das Ji assured her that the Gurgadhi after them will stay in her husband, Guru Ram Das Ji’s lineage – Sodhi lineage8.
- Guru Ji gave the blessing that Bibi Bhani Ji’s house and the future Guru Jis’ houses will always be full of wealth4. This is evident even until today if we look at how prosperous the house of Guru Ram Das Ji – Sachkand Sri Harmandar Sahib Ji is.
- Looking at the selfless sewa of Bibi Bhani ji, Guru Amar Das Ji Maharaj was extremely pleased. They blessed her with the Bachan that her son will also be a Guru in the future and in the following generation, there shall be a great warrior with temporal and spiritual authority who shall destroy enemies and will lead thousands to salvation2. This warrior is none other Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Hargobind Ji Mahraj.
- There is a commonly known sakhi of how little Guru Arjan Dev Ji while playing came into Guru Amar Das Ji’s room while they were resting. Guru Ji then held the child in their hands and feeling his heavy weight said “This child will be a great Guru of the world, my grandson will be a huge ship of Bani who will liberate millions”. At that point of time, little Guru Arjan Dev Ji lifted his feet and placed them on the bed, trying to climb. Seeing this, Guru Ji said “You are impatient to sit on the throne now itself. Worry not, you will attain this throne from your father, for now just enjoy your childhood”2.
8. Wise horse
Guru Ji had a lovely wise horse that they loved dearly. When Guru Angad Dev Ji’s younger son, Bhai Datu Ji was furious over not getting the Gurgadhi from his father, he came over and kicked Guru Amar Das Ji in anger. He also took over all of Guru Ji’s belongings except, Guru Ji’s beloved horse because the horse had refused to allow him ride and threw him off to the ground. He insisted to take her along but his many attempts failed. Not only Sikhs of the Guru are wise, even their animals are as wise. This same clever horse was then suggested by Baba Buddha Ji to be used to search for Guru Amar Das Ji when they went missing after the unfortunate incident with Bhai Datu Ji.Since she will not allow anyone else to sit on her other than Guru Ji himself, the Sanggat bathed her with clean water and decorated her beautifully. They let her loose so that she can be free to locate Guru Ji and the Sanggat followed suit in search of Guru Ji. Baba Budha Ji and the sangat were amazed to see her movements. At times she would neigh loudly and at other times she walked elegantly in silence. After a while, she stopped at a house which was actually near to Guru Amar Das Ji’s village. She then walked towards the house, circumambulate it and finally walked towards the entrance of the house bowing her head. The Sanggat figured that this is where Guru is and Baba Budha Ji then created a hole in the house’s wall to penetrate through since Guru Ji had written a bachan on the entrance door that nobody should open it9.
9. Family Life
Guru Amar Das Ji Maharaj had an amazing householder life. They had four children (2 daughters and 2 sons) and all of them along with their spouses and children lived with Guru Ji at their family house, Chubara Sahib situated just near to the Baoli Sahib at Goindwal Sahib. They were also particularly close to one of their grandson, Sansram Ji who used to have Langgar with Guru Ji all the time. Under Guru Ji’s supervision, he started to write Gurbani. He wrote Gurbani Shabads (hymns) and learned meanings of the Gurbani composed by the first and second Guru Sahib alongside with Gurbani Shabads by his grandfather, Guru Amar Das Ji10.
Once Guru Ji was
approached by a devotee named Bhai Jagga who was told by a Yogi to leave his
family and be a Fakeer (ascetic) if he wants to get liberation. Therefore, Bhai
Jagga Ji came to Guru Ji for guidance on how to obtain Prema Bhagti (devotion
of love). Guru Ji advised him to not have the desire of leaving his family to
be an ascetic because if by abandoning household, one is able to meet Parmatma, then
why do the ascetics waste their entire days going around the city demanding for
donations. Guru Ji then further explained that a Gurmukh while living in
household does Bhagti (meditation) like a lotus flower living in the muddy
water yet remain focused facing the Sun.
If the Gurmukh earns an honest leaving, share his earnings with the needy and then use the balance for themselves, his count of virtuous deeds increases. Whereas an ascetic who eats from others has to share the fruits of his meditation and penance with the donors thus his virtues reduce. Those who serve such ascetics would gain a part of the fruits (Phal) from his Bhagti. Whereas a householder does not lose his good deeds, instead by doing Seva, he benefits from the good deeds to others. In conclusion, Guru Ji gave an analogy – just like how we feed grass to cows and in return obtain milk, in same way a Ghristi (householder) does charity and gain fruits of his good deed. You shall earn salvation if you earn an honest living and do sewa while keeping your mind constantly focused in meditation of Parmatma11.
If the Gurmukh earns an honest leaving, share his earnings with the needy and then use the balance for themselves, his count of virtuous deeds increases. Whereas an ascetic who eats from others has to share the fruits of his meditation and penance with the donors thus his virtues reduce. Those who serve such ascetics would gain a part of the fruits (Phal) from his Bhagti. Whereas a householder does not lose his good deeds, instead by doing Seva, he benefits from the good deeds to others. In conclusion, Guru Ji gave an analogy – just like how we feed grass to cows and in return obtain milk, in same way a Ghristi (householder) does charity and gain fruits of his good deed. You shall earn salvation if you earn an honest living and do sewa while keeping your mind constantly focused in meditation of Parmatma11.
10. Search of a True Guru
Before Sri Guru Amar Das Ji met Guru Angad Dev ji, they were in search of a true Guru and did pilgrimages to Ganga river. Once, on the way back from their pilgrimage, they met a Sadhu saint. As they were traveling together, they developed a good friendship and started sharing the food they brought for the journey. The Sadhu followed them back their house and stayed with them for a few days. One day, the Sadhu asked them who is their Guru to which Guru Ji said he has not found one yet. The Sadhu became angry and told Guru ji that, by eating with them, a Nigura (a person without Guru), he the sadhu had lost all his spiritual wealth that he earned after years of meditation. This is why saints and Gursikhs are usually particular who they eat from and what they eat because it affects their meditation. Guru Ji got very sad after this incident and was even more determined to find a Guru. They did continuous Ardaas with faith and even undertook a vow to remain without food until they find the true Guru12. This Ardaas was finally fulfilled when they had the glimpse of Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji Mahraj. This sakhi teaches us on the importance of having a true Guru.
May the jeevan (life) of Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Amar Das Ji Maharaj inspire us to learn and seek blessings from such great Guru so that we too can walk our spiritual paths with clarity.
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References:
1. Adhyai 29
2. Adhyai 65
3. Adhyai 64
4. Adhyai 63
5. Adhyai 33
6. Adhyai 30
7. Adhyai 62
8. Adhyai 68
9. Adhyai 35
10. Adhyai 59
11. Adhyai 39
12. Adhyai 14
