Thousands of Muslims were becoming followers of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji; Khawaja Raushan was a very respected Muslim Faqir with thousands of people visiting him to pay him respect and get boons. However Khawaja Raushan’s own mind was restless, he was in search of a true Guru/Pir. Once a friend told him about Guru Ji, Khawaja Raushan reached Kiratpur and met Guru Sahib. When he heard Guru Ji’s sermons he was so impressed that he decided to stay at Kiratpur. He became an admirer of Guru Sahib; he started doing Seva of Guru Ji’s horses. One day Guru Ji went out for riding his horse, Khawaja Raushan ran behind Guru Ji in Bairag. He ran more than a mile after Guru Ji, who then dismounted his horse and embraced Khawaja Raushan with great love. Guru Ji then gave Khawaja Raushan Charan Amrit and Naam as well as spiritual Gian and sent him to Doaba to preach Sikhi.

Khawaja Raushan was going from one village to another for preaching Sikhi, one day he met Sayyad Jaani Shah who was wandering in search of sublime bliss. Jaani Shah had met many Sadhus and Faqirs but could not get spiritual Gian from anyone. Khawaja Raushan told him he should go to Kiratpur to achieve your aim. Firstly Jaani Shah did not believe him but when Khawaja Raushan told his story he was determined to go. When he reached Kiratpur and sat in front of the door of Guru Ji’s house and cried loudly “Janni Ko Jaani Milaa Do (Let Jaani meet his dear one )”.

He repeated these words the whole day but Guru Ji paid no attention to him. Guru Ji did not even enquire about to was saying these words. Khawaja Raushan had guided Jaani Shah to not lose patience. In the evening Guru Ji asked his Sikhs to close the curtain. But Jaani Shah did not move and continued to speak the same words. Then Guru Ji gave a bag of money to one Sikh and told him to give it to Jaani Shah. Jaani Shah did not care about the money and started crying out more loudly. Guru Ji then said “If you want to meet you dear one then you should jump into the river”.

Jaani Shah hearing these words he ran towards the river. Guru Ji send some riders to chase after him, before the Sikhs could catch him he jumped into the river. The Sikhs jumped in and caught hold of him and brought him to Guru JI.

Guru Ji embraced Jaani Shah with great love and blessed him with Charan Amrit and Naam along with spiritual Gian. The contact of Guru Ji’s hand when he embraced him, gave him the sublime bliss which he was looking for. He started attending Guru Ji’s Darbar daily and he stared hearing anand shabad .

(Gurdwara Baba Jaani Shah)

One day Guru Ji asked him to go to his village to preach Sikhi, he was reluctant to leave Kiratpur. He said to Guru Ji “My lord, I cannot bear to be separated from you. I daily enjoy singing Kirtan, your sermons enlighten me. I feel as if I am living in heaven. All my desires have been fulfilled. I would not be able to get anywhere in this divine atmosphere.” Guru Ji acknowledged his request and allowed him to stay at Kiratpur.

Written by: Dr Ajit Singh Aulakh

Contributed by: A Gupt Singh