Kauda Raakash and Bhai Mardana Ji

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Once Guru Sahib and Bhai Mardana jee were travelling through a jungle. Bhai Mardana was feeling home-sick and asked Guru Sahib to go home but Guru Sahib asked him to wait a little longer. Bhai Mardana could not wait any longer and insisted on leaving right away. When Bhai Mardana persisted, Guru Sahib told him to go if he wanted to.

Guru Sahib sat there in the thick forest and went in smadhi. On the other hand, Bhai Mardana who was heading home, got trapped in a trap set by a carnivorous human – Kauda Raakash. Kauda Raakash is said to a very cruel person and ate human flesh. He used to kill humans and eat them.

When Kauda Raakash saw Bhai Mardana, he was very happy to see a healthy young man trapped. He tied Bhai Mardana jee’s legs and arms and brought him to his cave. There he had a big pan (karaahee) with oil in it. He used to fry them alive.

Now as Bhai Mardana was trapped, he realized his mistake of not listening to Guru Sahib. He found out that if one does not listen to Guru Sahib, one has to suffer immensely. He now sat there and started calling out to Guru Sahib for help.

Guru Nanak Sahib who was jaani-jaan (all knowing) heard the pleas of Bhai Mardana and reached the spot where Bhai Mardana was tied. He was behind the bushes and saw the frightened face of Bhai Mardana jee. He laughed and whispered, “Kyon Mardaniya, ghar nahi giya?” (So Mardana, why did you not go home). Guru Sahib was joking with Bhai Mardana jee.

Bhai Mardana was thrilled to see Guru Sahib arrive. At the same time he pleaded with Guru jee to forgive him and not joke with him. He begged Guru Sahib to release him. Guru Sahib kept joking with him.

By this time, Kauda Raakash came out and lifted Bhai Mardana jee to throw him in the huge kaRaahee full of boiling oil. Bhai Mardana jee started screaming and pleading to Guru Sahib but Guru Sahib kept quiet and just smiled. Kauda Raakash had not noticed Guru Sahib by this time.

Just as he was about to throw Bhai Mardana jee in the pan, Guru Sahib came out and asked Kauda Rakash to stop. Kauda Rakash was shocked to see someone there and defiantly refused to do so. As he looked at the face of Guru Sahib, he broke inside. Still he kept his composure and tried to threaten Guru Sahib.

Guru Sahib had came to rescue Kauda Raakash from this terribly sinful life he had. He showered Kauda Rakash with his divine grace. Kauda Rakash felt something very strange inside him but still his haume (ego) was not letting him obey an unarmed harmless looking person. He unwillingly threw Bhai Mardana jee in the pan full of hot burning oil.

Bhai Mardana jee screamed but did not feel anything. Kauda Raakash was surprised when he noticed that the oil in the pan was at normal temperature. He immediately knew that it was the work of Guru Nanak Sahib. At this time, he could not resist anymore and dashed at the lotus feet of Guru Sahib.

Guru Sahib did more kirpa and with the touch of Guru Sahib’s feet, Kauda Rakash’s sins washed away and he realized how bad he had been. He begged for Jeevan-daat. He begged before Guru Sahib for mercy.

Guru Sahib knew that Kauda Raakash was feeling genuine remorse. He lifted him up and gave him Amrit Naam. It is written in Janam Saakhis, that Guru Sahib opened all his gupt senses and made him a jyot vigaasi Sikh in one moment. Kauda Raakash had immense kamaayee from previous lives. He was just waiting for Satguru Nanak Dev jee's mohar (seal) on his kamaayee. Guru Sahib blessed Kauda Raakash and instructed him to do parchaar of Sikhi and open a Dharamshala (Gurdwara) in his area.

by: Bhai Kulbir Singh Ji

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

ਕਲਿ ਤਾਰਣ ਗੁਰ ਨਾਨਕ ਆਯਾ

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

ਸੁਣੀ ਪੁਕਾਰ ਦਾਤਾਰ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਗੁਰ ਨਾਨਕ ਜਗ ਮਾਹਿੰ ਪਠਾਯਾ॥
sunee pukaar dhaathaar prabh gur naanak jag maahi(n) pat(h)aayaa
The benefactor Lord listened to the cries (of humanity) and sent Guru Nanak to this world.

ਚਰਨ ਧੋਇ ਰਹਿਰਾਸ ਕਰ ਚਰਨਾਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਪੀਲਾਯਾ॥
charan dhhoe rehiraas kar charanaamrith skhiaa(n) peelaayaa
He washed His feet, eulogised God and got his Disciples drink the ambrosia of his feet.

ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਪੂਰਨ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਕਲਿਜੁਗ ਅੰਦਰ ਇਕ ਦਿਖਾਯਾ॥
paarabreham pooran breham kalijug a(n)dhar eik dhikhaayaa
He preached in this darkage (kaliyug) that, saragun (Brahm) and nirgun (Parbrahm) are the same and identical.

ਚਾਰੈ ਪੈਰ ਧਰੰਮ ਦੇ ਚਾਰ ਵਰਨ ਇਕ ਵਰਨ ਕਰਾਯਾ॥
chaarai pair dhhara(n)m dhae chaar varan eik varan karaayaa
Dharma was now established on its four feet and all the four castes (through fraternal feeling) were converted into one caste (of humanity).

ਰਾਣਾ ਰੰਕ ਬਰਾਬਰੀ ਪੈਰੀਂ ਪਵਣਾ ਜਗ ਵਰਤਾਯਾ॥
raanaa ra(n)k baraabaree pairee(n) pavanaa jag varathaayaa
Equating the poor with the prince, he spread the etiquette of humbly touching the feet.

ਉਲਟਾ ਖੇਲ ਪਿਰੰਮ ਦਾ ਪੈਰਾਂ ਉਪਰ ਸੀਸ ਨਿਵਾਯਾ॥
oulattaa khael pira(n)m dhaa pairaa(n) oupar sees nivaayaa
Inverse is the game of the beloved; he got the egotist high heads bowed to feet.

ਕਲਿਜੁਗ ਬਾਬੇ ਤਾਰਿਆ ਸੱਤਨਾਮ ਪੜ੍ਹ ਮੰਤ੍ਰ ਸੁਣਾਯਾ॥
kalijug baabae thaariaa saathanaam parrh ma(n)thr sunaayaa
Baba Nanak rescued this dark age (kaliyug) and recited ‘satinam’ mantr for one and all.

ਕਲਿ ਤਾਰਣ ਗੁਰ ਨਾਨਕ ਆਯਾ ॥23॥
kal thaaran gur naanak aayaa aa
Guru Nanak came to redeem the kaliyug.

May Guru Sahib do kirpa on us so that we may fulfil the reason of our visit to this world. May Guru Sahib do kirpa on us like he did on Sajjan Thug. This saakhi is just amazing. Guru Sahib changed Sajjan Thug with one shabad. Before retiring to his room Guru Sahib sang this shabad - "SAJJAN SEYEE, NAAL MAIN, CHALDIYAAN NAAL CHALLAN!"

Sajjan Thug was planning to kill Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj and take away his wealth. As he was making these evil plans, he heard the mesmerizing sound of kirtan of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Good karma from his previous lives had awakened, and he felt that each hair on his body was standing. This Sajjan Thug who had never even thought of becoming a bhagat, was getting absorbed in the shabad of Guru Sahib. He was wondering if this was shabad or pure nectar flowing in the form of sound.

The shabad pretty much summarized the whole life of Sajjan Thug. Tears started flowing from the eyes of Sajjan Thug. He felt his sins flowing out in the form of tears. He saw all the bad deeds he had done in the past and how many he had killed. As the tears flowed from his eyes, he felt his body getting lighter and lighter as if tears were releasing the burden of sins he had in his body. Never before had he felt like this.

The last pankiti of the shabad - "NANAK, NAAM SAMAAL TU, BADHAA CHHUTEH JITT". Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj in the end clearly asked him to take up Naam if he wants to release himself from the chains of maya. He felt himself getting drawn towards the source of the shabad i.e. Guru Sahib. As he approached Guru Sahib with his half-closed eyes, he saw the face of Guru Sahib and Bhai Mardaana Ji glowing with the Majithaa Rang of Naam.

He fell to the feet of Guru Sahib, and begged for Naam. Guru Sahib had done kirpa on him and in one shabad washed all his sins. This is all that it takes. Just one glance of Guru Sahib and we will be washed of our sins. Sajjan Thug became a great Sikh and is credited to have opened the first Dharamshaal (Gurudwara) of Guru Sahib.

The lord of billions of worlds - Guru Nanak Sahib (Kot Brahmand ko thaakur) did kirpa on billions of Sajjan Thugs of all worlds. Let us do ardaas today in the charan of Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj to deliver us from the illusion of his maya and give us amrit naam the only substance capable of making us alive.

Let us recall that leper who was kicked out of his village because he had the deadly disease leprosy. He was moved out and even his wife, mother, children and friends deserted him. He had been the centre of attention of these relations and now they had all abandoned him. Why won't they? No one wanted to catch leprosy as anyone who comes near a leper catches this terrible disease. They used to throw roti once a day outside his small hut and leave. Some days they forgot to give him roti altogether.

This leper was very heart-broken and was totally feeling dejected. Then he had a wonderful dream. His good karma from previous lives had awakened. He saw the most beautiful person who had an amazing glow on his face with another beautiful person with a similar glow on his face. He heard a voice that this person is Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the king of this world and the next and is the only person capable of cutting his misery.

The next morning he felt a new energy in his body. He started calling out Guru Nanak Dev Ji. He started remembering him day and night. How could Guru Sahib hold back to the pleas of a person calling him from heart? He himself came to the door of that leper one rainy day. He came to that door where no one dared to come for fear of catching leprosy. Guru Nanak Sahib instructed Bhai Mardana Ji to bring the leper outside in the rain.

Bhai Mardana a great Sikh did not question Guru Sahib for asking him to touch a leper. He readily went inside and brought the trembling leper outside. With one graceful glance, Guru Sahib cured him of his disease. He fell at the feet of Guru Sahib and asked for Naam medicine. Guru Sahib lifted the blessed ex-leper and gave him amrit-naam. That day in one moment, the fortunate leper, was cured of all his mental, bodily and spiritual diseases. He became one with the Guru.

So great is our Guru. May Guru Sahib do kirpa on us too and give us his amrit naam.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh