In the coming days, in anticipation of Siri Guru Gobind Singh jee’s Gurpurab, Saakhis of Guru Sahib will be written. These Saakhis are not in any order. The first one involves an uneducated Sikh, whose name is not written in history. This incident is from the time just subsequent to the Amrit Sinchaar period of 1699.

One day, Siri Guru jee was holding Gur Darbar that a Sikh pleaded before Satguru jee, “O Sache Patshah, I have come seeking your refuge. I am extremely vexed (dukhi). I have done deep Vichaar and have realized that there is no happiness in this world. Please grant me salvation and release me from the cycle of birth and death. I have not learned any kind of education and don’t even know the Gurmukhi alphabets.”

Siri Guru jee was very pleased with the Sikh and addressed him, “You are fortunate that you have realized that there is no happiness in this world but you should understand that without studying, a foolish person cannot become wise. An uneducated person is like a blind person who cannot find his way. Out of all kinds of educations, Gurmat is the best education. Learn Gurmukhi and then earn great fortune by doing Paath of Gurbanis like Siri Jap jee Sahib.”

Saying this, Siri Hazoor ordered one of his Hazoori Sikh to teach Gurmukhi alphabets and Santhiya to the uneducated Sikh. The Granthi Sikh obeying Guru Sahib’s Hukam started teaching Gurmukhi to the Sikh. First he taught him the Gurmukhi letters and then Muharni. Finally, he started teaching easy Pauris of Gurbani. Finally, one day, he took decided to teach Punj Granthi to the Sikh. He started off with Siri Anand Sahib, which is relatively easy to understand and learn.

The Granth Singh taught him the first Pankiti of Siri Anand Sahib – ਅਨੰਦੁ ਭਇਆ ਮੇਰੀ ਮਾਏ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਮੈ ਪਾਇਆ ॥ The Sikh was greatly overwhelmed with the Gurbani Pankiti and went into Vismaad. That day he could not learn any more and it so happened that 6 months passed by but he never returned to learn more Gurbani. After 6 months, Siri Guru jee asked the Granth Singh about the progress in teaching that Sikh. The Granthi Singh informed Guru Sahib that the Sikh had never come back after his first Santhiya of Siri Anand Sahib.

Siri Guru jee immediately dispatched Singhs and called that Sikh over to His Darbar. The simple minded Sikh humbly arrived at Guru Sahib’s Darbar and presented himself before Guru Sahib. The conversation that took place has been covered by the supreme poetry of Chudamani Maha Kavi, Sirimaan Bhai Santokh Singh jee as follows:

ਖਰੋ ਜੋਰ ਕਰ ਹੇਰਿ ਅਲਾਯੋ। ਕਹੁ ਸਿਖਾ, ਤੂੰ ਪਢਨ ਪਠਾਯੋ।16।
ਕਹਯੋ, ਏ ਤੁਕ ਮੈਂ ਪਠਿ ਲੀਨਿ। ਸਭਿ ਸੰਸੈ ਤੇ ਭਯੋ ਬਿਹੀਨ।
ਜਬਿ ਸਿਖ ਨੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੋ ਪਾਯੋ। ਭਯੋ ਅਨੰਦ ਕਸ਼ਟ ਨਹਿ ਆਯੋ।17।
ਇਸ ਤੇ ਪਰੇ ਪਰਯੋਜਨ ਕੌਨ। ਜਿ ਹਿਤ ਪਢਹਿ ਜਾਨਿ ਗੁਨ ਭੋਨ।
ਭਯੋ ਅਨੰਦਤਿ ਵਧੀ ਪ੍ਰਤੀਤ। ਅਪਰ ਪਢੌਂ ਮੈ ਕਯਾ ਧਰਿ ਚੀਤ।18
ਸੁਨ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਮੁਖ ਤੇ ਹਸੇ ਗੁਸਾਈਂ। ਭਏ ਪ੍ਰਸੰਨ ਰਿਦੇ ਸੁਖਦਾਈ।
ਜਾਨਿ ਪ੍ਰਤੀਤ ਭਈ ਮਨ ਪੀਨ।‘ਭਯੋ ਨਿਹਾਲ’ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਬਰ ਦੀਨਿ।

Translation: The Sikh with folded hands stood before Guru Sahib. Guru Sahib asked him, “O Sikh, you were sent to study, what happened?” The Sikh replied, “when I read one Pankiti, all my doubts vanished. When a Sikh attains Satguru, then he gets Anand and no sorrow comes near. What aim is left after one gets this spiritual state? What is there left for which one would study? I have attained great Anand and my faith has increased manifold. Now with what aim should I study further?” Hearing this Satguru jee smiled and embodiment-of-Happiness Satguru jee was very pleased with his faith. Satguru jee blessed him saying “Nihaal Nihaal”.

As soon as Satguru jee uttered these words, the Sikh reached the topmost spiritual state. All walls of delusion and doubt vanished and he became one with Vaheguru.

May Guru Sahib do kirpa on us and enable us to reside Guru Sahib’s Baani in our hearts, so that we too may attain the Avastha of Anand.

More Saakhis to follow in the coming days.

Dhan Siri Guru Gobind Singh jee Maharaj.

Kulbir Singh