Background

In the city of Lavpur (Lahore), there lived a very faithful Sikh of Siri Guru Arjun Dev jee. His name was Bhai Budhu and by profession he was a brick manufacturer i.e. he made bricks. He was a very prominent Sikh of Lahore and was always on the forefront of all Sikh Samagams and Sewa projects. Because of his Sewa activities, he was in good books of Sangat of Lahore.

Once, he thought of a undertaking a big business project of making huge amounts of bricks. He thought of making big money and then spending more time on Sewa and Simran. He took huge loans from local bankers and employed hundreds of persons to work on making bricks which included bringing the required mud and other ingredients used to make bricks. He collected a lot of fuel (wood etc.) too in order to bake the bricks in kilns (brick ovens). He paid his employees very fairly using the money he had taken as loan.

Within months, he built hill-like kilns, where bricks were made and placed. Now the only think left to be done was light the kilns and then hope that the bricks got baked fully. It is said that due to many reasons, the bricks in the kiln do not bake fully and such brick that does not come out good, is rendered useless and thrown away. In such cases, all the effort done and money spent in making bricks is wasted.

Arriving at the Darbar of Siri Guru Arjun Dev jee

Since this last step of lighting the kilns is the most important step in making the bricks, Bhai Budhu, went to Siri Amritsar Sahib, in the hazoori of Siri Guru Arjun Dev jee, to do Ardaas and Benti for success. He did Ishnaan there, and with devotion and concentration recited a paath of Siri Jap jee Sahib. Then he arrived at the Darbar of Siri Guru Arjun Dev jee. Surrounded by Sangat, sitting on the throne, Siri Satguru jee looked more beautiful than the full moon surrounded by stars at night. Divine Kirtan of Dhur kee Baani was going on. He prostrated before Satguru jee who was seated on his throne surrounded by Sangat and earnestly and humbly did his Benti.

Satguru jee’s response has been beautifully captured by Mahakavi Santokh Singh jee:

ਕਰੁਨਾ ਭਰੇ ਰਸੀਲੇ ਨੈਨ।
ਸੁਨਿ ਇਸ ਕੋ ਪਿਖਿ ਕਰਿ ਕਹਿ ਬੈਨ।
ਕਾਰਜ ਤੋਰਿ ਸਿਧ ਹੋਇ ਜਾਇ।
ਸੇਵਹੁ ਸਿਖਯਨ ਕੋ ਮਨ ਲਾਇ।

(Satguru jee with his Nain (eyes) full of compassion, gazed at Bhai Budhu and said, “Your all tasks/works will be done. Go serve Gursikhs heartedly (with heart)”

Dhan Satguru jee!

Serving the Sangat and Upsetting a Gursikh

Bhai Budhu arrived back at his city Lahore, and he was extremely pleased to have obtained good Bachan from Guru Sahib. He organized a Samagam at his home and served the Sangat very well and humbly. First Kirtan was performed and then after Ardaas and Degh, Langar was served to Sangat. Beant (countless) Sangat had arrived and beant Langar was prepared. Many Sewadaars were working to serve Sangat.

It so happened that towards the end of the Langar, a Mastana Gursikh who had a very dishevelled look and was wearing rags arrived outside the house of Bhai Budhu jee. He requested the Sewadaar for some Guru ka Langar. He emphasized the words “Guru ka Langar”. Incidently the langar had been wrapped up and the Sangat was about to perform the Ardaas of completion at the request of Bhai Budhu jee. The Sewadaar told him that the Langar had been wrapped up and it was not possible to serve Langar now. Bhai Budhu jee too heard the argument and he got a little upset and impatiently told the Mastana Gursikh that if he had come earlier, he could have been served whatever kind of Langar he pleased but now it was too late. Bhai Lakhu felt belittled.

Interruption of Ardaas

In the meantime, Ardaas started. In olden days, it was seems like it was maryada to do Ardaas after Langar, to bless the family that did Sewa. Even today, we notice that some Gursikhs after being served by the Premi-family, do Ardaas Benti for the family that did Sewa.

The Ardaasia Sewadaar did Ardaas, “O Satguru, Bhai Budhu is your Sikh. He has done sewa of Sangat very earnestly. Do Kirpa so that his Aava (kiln) may bake well.”

Bhai Lakhu (some have called him Bhai Kamaliya), the Mastana Gursikh, interrupted the Ardaas from outside and said, “ਬੁਧੂ ਰਹਯੋ ਪਚਾਵਾ ਕਾਚਾ” (The Aava of Budhu would stay unbaked i.e. Kacha.)

Not surprisingly, Bhai Budhu was very upset when he heard these words from the mouth of Bhai Lakhu. He said, “why would my Aava stay Kacha (unbaked)? The whole Sangat has done Ardaas for me and Guru Sahib Himself has blessed me. You are not greater than the whole Sangat and Guru Sahib”.

Bhai Lakhu in his Masti (intoxication) listened to what Bhai Budhu said, and replied, “I too am a Sikh of the great Guru. Your Aava will certainly stay Kacha because you have failed to serve the Sangat properly and now too you are not feeling any remorse.” Saying this, Bhai Lakhu left. Bhai Budhu went after him to serve him Langar but he just disappeared in the Sangat and could not be found. Bhai Budhu felt very bad.

Kacha Aava and Pleading before Satguru

Bhai Budhu lighted the kilns and waited for the results. After some time when the kilns were opened and the bricks were checked, he noticed that none of his bricks had baked completely and all of his bricks were unbaked i.e. they stayed Kachee. When Bhai Budhu saw this, he was naturally very disturbed. Darkness started welling around his eyes. He felt that he was going to faint. How was he going to pay the lenders back? His house, all his possessions had been mortgaged. What was he going to do?

He could not believe that Bhai Lakhu’s Bachan had even defeated Guru Sahib’s Bachan and that of whole of Sangat. How could one Sikh be so strong. He was lost in these thoughts that all of sudden he saw a ray of light. He decided to go to Siri Amritsar Sahib and tell Guru Sahib everything.

He hurriedly arrived at Siri Amritsar Sahib. He heart was beating fast. His face had whitened out and all the hue from his face had disappeared. Drowning in the ocean of stress and worries, he prostrated before Guru Sahib. He lifted his face and narrated all that had happened. He reminded Guru Sahib of His Bachan of success in this endeavour. Siri Guru jee closed His eyes and went into Smadhi. After some time Siri Guru jee asked Bhai Budhu if he had served the Sangat as per Hukam.

Bhai Budhu jee replied in affirmative. Then Siri Guru jee asked again if everyone had been served with humility and love. At that point, Bhai Budhu jee narrated the incident of the Mastana Singh. He said that after Ardaas he tried to find the Gursikh but could not find him; He cursed and left never to be found.

Guru Sahib's Gurmat Decision

Guru Sahib again went quiet for some time. In the meantime, Bhai Budhu was greatly stressed. Now he realized his mistake of hurting a Sikh’s feelings.

Siri Guru jee opened His eyes and said, “You did not act rightfully, O Sikh. A Sikh can override my Bachan but I can’t override a Sikh’s Bachan. If you organize a Samagam for Sangat, don’t let anyone leave hungry. Only then consider that Samagam to be complete if everyone is served well. Otherwise, consider that there would remain a deficiency in the Samagam. Those who will listen to this teaching of mine, will have all their wishes fulfilled. Always respect Gursikhs and never insult any Gursikh. Consider the Bachans of Sikhs sweet (even if they don’t seem to be). If you meet them, stay humble before them.” (Bachans taken from Gurpratap Sooraj Prakash)

After imparting the above stated teachings to Bhai Budhu jee, Siri Guru jee declared that though Bhai Lakhu jee’s Bachan of bricks not baking well has come true but the Ardaas of Sangat too would come true in such way that his half-baked bricks would sell for the same rate as fully baked bricks.

Bhai Budhu jee came back happily and it so happened that a big wall of the Lahore fort fell and bricks were required to repair the wall. Due to rainfall, most kilns could not operate well and there was a severe shortage of bricks that year. The government bought Bhai Budhu jee’s bricks for the same rate as regular bricks. This way, Bhai Budhu was saved from going bankrupt and he also learned many spiritual lessons through this incident.


(Gurdwara Bhai Budhu da Aawa)

Spiritual Lessons from the Saakhi

What a wonderful Sakhi this is. Many spiritual lessons are learned from this Saakhi and here are some of them:

1. When a Sikh does an important work or task, he performs an Ardaas for the success of the project.

2. It is a tradition to bless the Sewadaar family after consuming Langar. Normally a Salok or Shabad is recited Gupt and a small Benti for Chardi Kala of the Sewadaar family is said.

3. No one should leave hungry from the Samagam. The Samagam is considered complete if everyone has been served to everyone’s needs. Of course, if someone is not hungry, then such person should not be forced to eat. The idea is to make Sangat happy.

4. Guru Sahib loves His Sikhs much more than we can imagine. Guru Sahib cannot bear the sorrow of His Sikh. Don’t bring sorrow to any Gursikh. If a sorrowful Gursikh says a Bachan, then it can even override Guru Sahib’s Bachan.

Bhul Chuk dee Maafi jee.

Daas,
Kulbir Singh

Adapted from Gurpratap Sooraj Prakash by Mahakavi Santokh Singh, Twareekh Guru Khalsa by Gyani Gyaan Singh, Ardas Shakti by Raghbir Singh Bir and miscellaneous sources including oral tradition.