Sri Guru Hargobind JI’s Mission

When the ceremony to become the 6^th Guru was taking place, Guru hargobind sahib asked Baba Buddha Ji for 2 swords – Miri & piri. One for temporal power & the other for spiritual power. One to protect innocent down trodden people and the other to defeat oppressors.

In 1606 Guru Hargobind sahib constructed the Akal Thakt infront of Sri harimander Sahib. There they sat on a throne raised 12 feet off the ground, dressed as the king of Kings. Wearing a kalgi and the two swords. Sri harimander Sahib was the seat of spiritual authority and the Akal Thakt (Gods throne) was the seat of temporal Authority.

Guru hargobind Sahib asked all the Sikhs to bring horses and weapons (shasters) to the darbar. They introduced shaster vidya to the Sikhs and told them that the Sikhs must defend themselves and the weak. They built an army of over 1000 Sikhs.

Sitting on a throne wearing a kalgi, building and training an army, were things that only the mughals and Hindu rajas were allowed to do. But Guru hargobind Sahib went out of their way to do these to prove that the Sikhs of Guru Nanak Dev Ji were saint soldiers.

Throughout history wars and battles have always been fought for land, money and women. However Guru Hargobind Ji fought 4 battles in self defence (they never attacked first) all the wars were fought for righteousness and justice. Guru ji was victorious in all the battles with Wahegurus blessings.

By establishing the Akal Thakt, Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji gave the Sikhs sovereignty. He created a state within a state.

Mata Ganga Ji & Baba Buddha Ji

One day Mata Ganga Ji did a benti to her husband Guru Arjan Dev Ji, that just as they bless the sangat with everything they wanted, could they not bless her with a child.

Although Guru Arjan Dev Ji were the Guru themselves they replied to Mata Ganga Ji that if she wants anything she should do the seva of a great Gursikh.

Mata Ganga Ji thought the greatest Gursikh she knew was “Baba Buddha Ji” he was very wise as he had been doing seva since the time of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

The next day Mata ji got her servants to prepare a great feast of several dishes, she got dressed in very expensive beautiful clothes, she got together a band of musicians, and they marched to where Baba Buddha Ji was, Mata Jee was riding on a horse, everyone else was walking.

However, when Baba Buddha Jee saw this royal pump, they turned their head away from Mata Ganga Ji.

When Mata Ji asked Guru Arjan Dev Ji, why this had happened, they explained to her that when you are blessed with any kind of seva, you must do it with humility. You must lose your ego and do it in a way which pleases God. Not in the way we might like to.

Mata ganga Ji was a very blessed person and she recognised what Guru Ji was trying to teach her. So the next day she woke up at Amrit Vela, had a bath and wore simple clothing with no jewellery or make up. She made a very simple langar of roti and saag for Baba Buddha Ji. From the moment she woke up she recited SATNAAM WAHEGURU and did not speak a word to anyone.

She then left carrying the langar by herself for the place where Baba Buddha Ji was.

Once Baba Buddha Jee saw Mata ganga Ji, bringing the Langar in this way, he ran towards her and said “Oh Mother, I am so happy you have brought food, I cannot wait to eat the langar cooked by your dear hands.

Mata Ji immediately started serving the Langar to Baba Buddha Ji. Whilst eating Baba Ji picked up a onion and smacked in on the ground and said “that just like i have smashed this onion, you will have a son that will smash the heads of tyrants”

On hearing this Mata ganga Ji was very happy.

The moral of the Sakhi is that today if we were to do Guru Ji’s or the sadhsangats seva in the same way Mata Ji did (without ego we too would be blessed by Waheguru)

Guru Hargobind Ji & the Slate lady

Once there was an elderly lady who alongside her husband used to do lots of seva in the darbar of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji. They had been both doing Langar di seva daily for 20 years and had never once asked Maharaj for anything.

One day the bibi went to get Darshan of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji as they sat on their throne in the Akal Thakht. As the Bibi bowed down in front of Guru Ji, Guru Ji blessed her and said “Mata Ji I am so pleased with all the seva you have been doing for so many years, ask for anything you wish for.

The Bibi thanked Guru ji for their blessings and said “Oh Guru Ji, my husband & me have no children and we have been longing for a son or a daughter for a long time, can you bless us with a child. Guru Ji looked long and hard at the Matas face and said “Mata Ji both you and your husband have been blessed with the seva of the sangat, but unfortunately there are no children written in your destiny”. The Bibi then bowed down once again infront of Guru Ji and left the Darbar feeling very sad.

Bhai Gurdas Ji (a great Gursikh who had the seva of Writing Gurbani for Guru Arjan Dev Ji) saw the very sad expression on her face and said “Mata Ji you are normally very happy when you come out of the Darbar sahib. Why are you so sad?”

The Bibi explained to Bhai Gurdas Ji how Guru ji told her that there were no children written within her destiny and that was one thing she really longed for. Bhai Gurdas Ji laughed and said “Oh Mata Ji you just didn’t know how to beg “. The Bibi was abit shocked at Bhai Gurdas Ji’s response, she replied “You are a great sevadar of Guru Ji please tell me how to beg” On hearing this Bhai Gurdas Ji explained to the bibi how to beg Guru ji and gave her a slate and a piece of chalk, then he told her to go back to Guru Ji.

The Bibi went straight back to the Darbar Sahib only to find that Guru ji had left and was going horse riding. She quickly went to Guru Jis stalls and found Guru Ji on his horse. She bowed down on the ground infront of them. Guru Ji on noticing her said “Mata Ji you have my blessings, however as I told you earlier it is not written in your destiny.

On hearing this Bibi got up at once. She handed over the slate and chalk to Guru Ji and said “Maharaj – If it is not written in my destiny, please write it now. You write it before I came on earth and you can rewrite it now. Guru Ji you are the same light of Waheguru if you didn’t write it up there please write it here now merciful Guru Ji”

Guru Ji was overwhelmed with happiness as tears started to come from their eyes. They said Mata ji you are truly blessed” and taking the slate in one hand they started to write the figure 1 with the chalk. As they started to write Guru Ji’s horse moved and the one became a seven as Guru Ji was writing. Guru Ji said that Akal Purakh has blessed you with seven sons”

The Bibi was overjoyed with the Gurus blessings. Our history tells us that 4 out of her 7 sons got Shaheed in the battle of Chamkaur Sahib. The Moral of the Sakhi is that we need to recognise that the light of God that has came to this earth in the form of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and has been passed down to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Just like the Bibi we need to learn to know how to beg infront of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji seeing them as God on earth only then we will realise that they can make anything and everything happen. All our wishes and needs can be fulfilled by our eternal Guru – Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Waheguru on earth)