Stories Of Sikh Gurus

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stories in Punjabi

Welcome to the world of Punjabi Saakhis- Stories In Punjabi. Saakhis in a literal sense means stories. And this podcast is all about bringing the teaching of the ten Sikh Gurus to our lives today. Be it Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Guru Arjan Dev Ji, or any of the other 8 Sikh Gurus,  these short testimonies of their lives, as narrated from one generation to another, teaches us to follow the paths of honesty and righteousness. These Guru Saakhis, narrated by Ms. Jasmeen Kaur and distributed by Chimes Radio, will help kids of all religions to imbibe these important moral values in their day-to-day lives. So join us as we revisit these great moral stories in Punjabi language for kids.

Punjabi Sakhis: Stories In Punjabi

Listen to these Punjabi stories for kids

List of Stories in Punjabi

1. Bhoomi Daku De Vaade

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This is the story from the lives of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Once a dacoit Bhumi Daku used to live in a village. When he invited Guru Nanak Dev Ji to come and have food at his place, Guru Nanak Dev Ji asked him to make four promises.

  1. He will not steal from the poor.
  2. He will always speak the truth.
  3. If he eats somewhere, then he can’t steal from that house.
  4. He will not let anyone else take the blame for his bad deeds.

When Bhumi Daku once again thinks about going back to his old ways, he remembered the promises he made to Guru Nanak Dev Ji. While he managed to get his hands on the enormous riches of the King, but his promises to Guru Ji save him from committing the crime and act as a guiding light for him and for the rest of the villagers.

2. Vali Kandhari

Listen to the podcast “Punjabi Sakhis For Kids: Stories In Punjabi”. This is the story from the life of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

Once when Guru Nanak Dev Ji was traveling, he reached a mountainous region with Bhai Mardana. When Bhai Mardana started to feel thirsty, Guru Ji asked him to go to a spring at the top of the mountain and seek help from Peer Vali Kandhari who lived there. When Bhai Mardana went there to seek help, Vali Kandhari declined to help them out. 

Then Guru Nanak Dev Ji made water appear from the barren mountainous land. Frustrated to see this, Vali Kandhari rolled down a big rock towards them but Guru Ji stopped this huge rock with his bare hand. This is where the Gurudwara Panja Sahib was built later on. Seeing this, Vali Kandhari realized the divine power of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and accepted his defeat.

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3. Bhai Lalo Te Malik Bhago

Listen to the podcast “Punjabi Sakhis For Kids: Stories In Punjabi”. This is the story from the life of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

When Guru Nanak Dev Ji was traveling with Bhai Mardana, he reached Ahmedabad. There, Guru Ji saw Bhai Lalo who was working diligently and honestly and Guru Ji enjoyed the ‘Kodre Di Roti’ in a meal at Bhai Lalo’s place. But even that simple meal was very delicious and Guru Ji explained that this meal was flavored with honesty and truth. 

But in the same city, a rich guy Malik Bhago used to live who had arranged a massive feast and invited Guru Nanak Dev Ji. But Guru Ji declined to join but when Malik Bhago insisted, Guru Ji went to meet him. There Guru Ji held poor Bhai Lalo’s “Kodre di roti” in one hand and when pressed, pure milk started to flow out of it. Similarly, when Guru Ji pressed Malik Bhago’s malpuras, poor people’s blood started to drop out of it.

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4.Sajjan Thug

Listen to the podcast “Punjabi Sakhis For Kids: Stories In Punjabi”. This is the story from the life of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

Once there lived a man named Sajjan in Tolumba, now part of Pakistan. He was considered to be a good person in his region since he had established a place, Dharamshala, for people to stay. But he had a bad habit that if anyone forgets their belongings, he used to take them as his own and keep it. Over time, this habit took a bad turn and he started to loot any visitor who happened to come to his place. And over time, people started to call him Sajjan Thug. 

Then once, Guru Nanak Ji and Bhai Mardana stayed at his place and when Sajjan Thug listened to Guru Ji’s recitals in the evening, he had a complete transformation. He donated all the wealth he had acquired by wrongdoings to the poor and started living a moral life and helping others.

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5. Tera Hi Tera

Listen to the podcast “Punjabi Sakhis For Kids: Stories In Punjabi”. This is the story from the life of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

When Guru Nanak Dev Ji was young, he managed to find a job on the reference of his sister’s husband with Nawab Daulat Khan Lodhi in Sultanpur. His job was to weigh the food from godown to sell to the customers. But while counting, whenever Guru Ji reached No. 13 (Tera) he would completely lean in the god’s name and will give more to the customer than asked for while reciting “Tera Hi Tera” meaning “Everything belongs to you”. 

But when Nawab Daulat Khan heard about this, he went to the godown to check things himself. Everyone was then surprised to see that all the things were in order and all the wheat and money is well accounted for.

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6. Sacha Sauda

Listen to the podcast “Punjabi Sakhis For Kids: Stories In Punjabi”. This is the story from the life of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

At the age of eighteen, Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s father Mehta Kalu Ji was disappointed that Guru ji’s was neither interested in farming nor other worldly work. He thought that perhaps by engaging Guruji in trade would not only be a good profitable profession but will also make him happy. Father Kalu Ji gave Twenty Rupees to Guru ji and said, “Buy some genuine goods which can make us a profit when sold.”

Guru Nanak Dev ji along with Bhai Mardana Ji started from Talwandi towards Choohar-khaana to purchase some merchandise. They had hardly gone ten miles when they came across a village, where the saints and other people were thirsty, hungry and sick due to lack of water and an outbreak of disease. Guru Nanak Sahib Ji said that no bargain can be more truly profitable than to feed and help the needy and spent all the money on buying food and clothes for the saints and other people.

Upon reaching back to Talwandi, Bhai Mardana Ji went to the village and narrated the whole story to Mehta Kalu Ji. Mehta Kalu was very angry that they had wasted money on feeding, clothing, and taking care of needy people and didn’t make any profit. Guru Nanak Dev asked his father not to get angry on him and tried to convince his father that he had not done anything wrong with the money but has done a ‘Sacha Sauda’ (True bargain) in the true sense.

At the place where the true bargain took place, stands Gurdwara Sacha Sauda Sahib. In current times, Gurdwara Sacha Sauda is in Pakistan in the city of Farooqabad.

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7. Bhai Mana (Guru Angad Dev Ji)

Listen to the podcast “Punjabi Sakhis For Kids: Stories In Punjabi”.

Mana, a hard-working and devout Sikh of Guru Angad, served in the langar of the Guru’s kitchen. But due to Mana’s hard work, he became conceited and thought there was no other hardworking sewak in the Darbar of the Guru. Though Mana did his duty well, he became very rude and didn’t hesitate to abuse other Sikhs.

Sikhs complained to Guru Angad about the behavior of Mana. Guru Angad spoke with Mana and asked him to treat all Sikhs alike and to improve his behavior and attitude.Hearing such words from the Guru, Mana became even more rash and cursed and abused the Sikhs that had complained about him.

The Sikhs told Guru Angad that Mana’s behavior was becoming worse. This time the Guru called a congregation and summoned Mana. Guru Angad asked why Mana had not been serving everyone as instructed. Mana said, that he is Guru’s Sikh and will only do what Guru orders him to and that he was no one else’s servant. Upon hearing, Guru Angad decided to test Mana and asked him to leave the duties of Langar, gather some firewood, go to the forest and cremate himself.

Accordingly, Mana collected wood, went to the forest, and made a pyre. But on setting fire and seeing the flames Mana got scared and did not relish the idea of death. Meanwhile, a thief arrived and asked the reason the great fire had been lit. Mana related his whole story. 

The thief on hearing of the Guru Angad’s greatness began to repent and concluded that, at last, he had an opportunity of wiping out the sins of his past life. He handed over the casket of gems to Mana and in exchange sat on the pyre. The fire left the thief unharmed who thereafter became a Sikh and joined the Sangat at Khadoor Sahib. Meanwhile, Mana went to the bazaar to sell the gems and was arrested on suspicion of having stolen them and was hanged following a trial.

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8. Guru Amar Das Ji and Badshah Akbar

Akbar was a famous king of India. He was a kind and good king and respected the Sikh Gurus for their fair and just teachings. In the year 1569, Akbar came to Punjab and wanted to see Guruji. So he sent a message to Guru Amar Das Ji that he was coming to visit him.

The Sikhs were very happy at the news. Some Sikhs thought that special arrangements should be made to welcome the king. But Guruji said, “Akbar is as much a human being as others are. The Guru’s place is open to all. So Akbar will be welcomed like all other visitors to the Guru’s place and special arrangements need not be made.”

The king, along with the soldiers, arrived in Goindwal where Guruji lived. Guruji and a few Sikhs received them warmly and showed him the place. Akbar had heard of Guruji’s order that “anyone coming to visit his place must have their food in the Langar”. King Akbar was interested to know how the Guru’s Langar was run. Simple food was served to all in the Guru’s Langar. It remained open day and night and anyone no matter what caste or religion they belonged to had Langar by sitting sat in rows (Pangat) as equals. The king and his subjects, the Hindus and the Muslims, the rich and the poor are all equal here

After meeting Guruji, Akbar said “I want to make a grant of land for running the Langar. Would you mind it!”.

Guruji replied, “Dear Akbar, I am grateful to you for your offer of a grant of land for the Langar, but I am sorry I cannot accept it because the Guru likes all to work hard to earn (Kirt Karni) and to share their honest earnings (Wand Chakna) with others, by giving something to the Langar from their honest earnings to help others. 

As such, the Guru’s langar is the people’s (Sangat’s) Langar and it must be run on people’s free gifts and not on a royal grant. That is why all share equally in the Guru’s Langar and no one is looked upon as an outsider. In the Guru’s Langar, each gives as much as we can spare and takes as much as he/she needs. Here, there is no difference between kings and beggars. All sit together, and eat simple food served with loving care.” Akbar liked the Guru’s idea very much.

Akbar had made up his mind to do something for the house of Nanak and presented the land to Bibi Bhani the daughter of Guru Amar Das. Baba Budhaji was responsible for the upkeep of the land and any income generated was used for good deeds. 

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9. Amrit Sarovar Di Sthapana (Guru Ram Das Ji)

The City of Amritsar (literally “pool of nectar”) was originally called Ramdaspur (Guru Ram Das’s city) and Chakk Ramdas, or Chakk Guru, or simply Guru Ka Chakk. The habitation was started by Bhai Jetha (the future Guru Ram Das) when Guru Amar Das asked him to establish a new colony of Sikhs.

Dukh Bhanjani Beri is a historic Beri tree in the Sri Harmandir Sahib complex associated with Bibi Rajni Ji. Bibi Rajni was the daughter Duni Chand Khatri who was a rich landlord of the town of Patti. Duni Chand had five daughters. All were beautiful and talented.

He had a big ego and one day he asked his daughters, “Tell me who provides you food and shelter?” The elder four daughters readily said that their father was providing them with everything. But the youngest daughter, Bibi Rajni replied, “It is God that provides for everyone”. Hearing this, Duni Chand was enraged, he married Rajni to a leper. But Bibi Rajni did not mind, she accepted the leper as her husband and served him with great love.

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10. Bhai Gopalji (Guru Arjan Dev Ji)

Bhai Gopal was a simple man. He was a very loving devoted Sikh of Guru Arjun Dev Ji, the 5th Guru. He worked honestly at his job. He kept a storage area. Everyone trusted him with their stuff, and he would store it for them. One time a man named Jamaal Khan came to his storage place to leave 500 gold coins for storage. But being busy that day, he forgot to write it down and to store the coins.

Later, Jamaal Khan came back and asked for his stuff to be returned. Bhai Gopal looked around for Jamaal Khan’s coins but didn’t find them. He asked Jamaal Khan if he was sure that he asked Bhai Gopal to store his coins. Jamaal Khan got angry and said “You stood right there and told me that you would take care of my stuff. What kind of a fool do you think I am?!” So Bhai Gopal went and checked again but he still didn’t find the coins,

Jamaal Khan brought Bhai Gopal to the Emperor. The Emperor knew that Bhai Gopal was a Sikh of the Guru and that he would not lie. He also knew that Jamaal Khan wouldn’t lie either. So he had an idea. He asked for a big bowl to be filled with hot oil and a coin. He then said that both of you will have to try to pick out the coin from inside the bowl of boiling oil. 

Both men were shocked. So Bhai Gopal folded his hands in prayer and said “Guru Ji, you are my protector, you always take care of me when I am in need. I know you will save me now.” Saying this he reached his hand out and began to put it in the burning hot oil and he got the coin out. His hand was not hurt or burned at all!

Jamaal Khan folded his hands in prayer to all saints for help, protection, and safety. After his prayers to several saints, he reached his hand in the pot to try and get the coin at the bottom. He barely touched the oil and yelled, “Ouch My fingers It hurts” He immediately got burned.

Sometime later Bhai Gopal found Jamaal Khan’s coins in a corner of his storage building. He rushed over to tell him, but Jamaal Khan refused to take the coins saying that Bhai Gopal got him embarrassed in front of the Emperor and asked Bhai Gopal to keep the coins. Bhai Gopal said, “I’m a Sikh of the Guru, I can’t take what’s not mine.” Jamaal Khan agreed to take the coins on one condition that Bhai Gopal will take him to meet his Guru.

So Bhai Gopal took Jamaal Khan to meet the Guru. Jamaal asked Guruji that both of us were being honest. I got burned and he didn’t. Why is that?” Guruji told him, “When Bhai Gopal did his ardas, he did it with total faith. When you prayed, you called several saints but you didn’t have total faith in just one.” Jamaal Khan was amazed the Guru knew his thoughts. Both men felt very high being in the presence of the Guru.

Moral – The universe answers our prayers to the same amount we know that it will. A person who prays with a pure heart, with their whole being, and with a deep focus of their mind, truly that person’s prayers will come to be.

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11. Guru Hargobind Ji Te Sher

Emperor Jahangir had heard many things about Guru Hargobind Ji, the sixth Guru, who was a soldier/saint. Enemies of the Guru had told the emperor that the Guru is raising an army. They told him that the Guru doesn’t respect the worldly authority of the King, and calls himself “The True King”. Jahangir decided to go and visit the Guru to see his character for himself.

When he visited the Guru, he found the Sikhs to be very kind people, the Guru was very wise, strong, and friendly. He began to doubt the slander he heard, in fact, the emperor even began to admire the Guru. The Guru told him of the teachings of Guru Nanak and the way of life of the Sikhs. As they were becoming friends the Guru and the Emperor went hunting. On the hunting trip a fierce tiger, that was lurking in the jungles, leaped out at the Emperor. Jahangir himself and all his royal soldiers were too afraid and didn’t know what to do when this vicious tiger came at them.

Guru Hargobind Ji, who was very brave and strong, got off his own horse and stood between the tiger and the emperor. When the tiger attacked Guru ji quickly moved; he blocked himself from the sharp claws and teeth of the tiger and at the same time dealt a mightily blow with his sword. The Guru was so skilled and strong that he saved the emperor from the tiger. 

Emperor Jahangir was even more impressed now that the Guru had saved his life. The emperor was now convinced that Guru Hargobindji wished him no ill will and the rumors he heard were totally false. Guruji said “In the house of Guru Nanak there is all love and justice. My Dharma teaches me to be friendly with everyone and it teaches me to do good to all. May God be with you O king.”

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12. Japji Sahib Da Muqabla

Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh Guru, was very tall, brave, and handsome. He was a fearless and courageous warrior, but he also had the calm presence of Guru Nanak himself. He would talk about JapJi Sahib and how it works.

Once Guru Hargobind Ji sent a message to all his Sikhs. He called upon all his Sikhs to come in his presence and recite the Jap Ji Sahib. He sent out a message that there would be a Jap Ji competition. So people came and they sang Jap Ji to Guru Hargobind. Someone would come and sing and he would be pleased and he would bless them.

Then one day, a man came in to sing Jap Ji like everyone else. This man had great devotion in him, and he sang with deep purity and beauty. While this man was singing Jap Ji, the Sikhs of Guru Hargobind noticed that the Guru was slowly moving off his throne. They didn’t understand. 

Toward the end, after Guru Hargobind had gotten nearly completely off his throne, Guru Hargobind jumped back onto his throne. When the man finished, Guru Hargobind blessed him and then offered him a beautiful horse and some gold for how beautifully he sang Jap Ji Sahib. He bowed down to the Guru, took the horse and gold, and happily went back to his home.

It was not very surprising to the Sikhs of Guru Hargobind that somebody would be blessed by the Guru with a gift of gold. But they were very curious about why the Guru was getting off his throne and then jumped back onto it while he listened to the man sing Jap Ji. So they asked him, “Oh Guru Ji we don’t understand why you were getting off the throne and then why you jumped back onto it. Can you please explain to us why you did this Maharaj Ji?

Guru Hargobind said, “This Sikh’s Japji Sahib was so beautiful, he sang it with such a pure devotion and longing for God. I was wondering how I could bless him for such perfect devotion. The truth is, there is nothing in this world that can compare to the Naam. The only thing I could offer him was the throne of Guru Nanak, which is immortal and beyond this world. What else could I bless him with? Being absorbed in this devotion, I began to get off the throne so he could sit on it. 

Then, the man started thinking, ‘Oh, look at that healthy and expensive horse someone just brought the Guru! Oh and look, someone just brought him gold coins also. If the Guru is very much pleased with me, maybe he will give me the horse and the gold’. That is when I jumped back on the throne. You see, the gift of the Naam is beyond this world. When this Sikh of mine thought of worldly rewards, I knew that he couldn’t sit on the throne of Guru Nanak, which is immortal and beyond this world. The throne is priceless, and only one who is not thinking of himself can sit on it.

 The Sikhs understood what had happened, and they marveled at the Guru, for having such a perfect meditation that he could sit on this throne. Now you know the real value of Jap Ji. It is beyond anything in this life, it is more precious than life itself.

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13. Guru Har Rai Ji Te Gharra

Once someone asked Guru Har Rai Ji a question about the benefits of reciting Gurbani every day. They asked, “Guru Ji, may I ask a question?” Of course, the Guru lovingly allowed the question, “We always sing so much Gurbani. Sometimes we don’t understand what we are singing. Is there any use in singing these holy words when we don’t know what they mean?”

Guru Ji didn’t answer at that moment, he just smiled and waited till he could answer by giving a practical example. He waited a few days until everyone was riding somewhere together on their horses. Guru Ji asked all of them to stop and asked to bring a piece of a broken pot that was lying there. One of the Sikhs brought a piece of the clay pot over. The pot used to have butter in it. It had been laying in the sun and the butter had melted into the sides of the pot. The shiny butter left a streak down the inside of the piece.

Guru Ji explained that this is exactly what happens when we sing Gurbani. The Sikhs wondered what he meant by that. He continued, “Even when we don’t understand Gurbani, but when we sing it with devotion it still sticks to our hearts, just as the butter stuck to this pot.”

They began to understand why he had them bring the greasy piece of pot over, “Someday the sunlight of knowledge will come to our minds and then, just like this butter it will melt and the Gurbani in our hearts will turn to wisdom.” Guru Ji showed them the great benefit of Gurbani, “Even if we don’t understand it, Gurbani is the seed of our liberation.”

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14. Guru Har Rai Ji Di Nimarta

Guru Har Rai Ji was a gentle soul. Though he kept the outside look of a warrior, it’s his inside spirit that made him a true warrior. Once, as a child, the tender aged Har Rai Ji was coming back from horse riding. He saw his divine grandpa, Guru Hargobind Ji. Har Rai Ji’s eyes lit up, “Grandfather!” He got off his horse and skipped over to the Guruji who was meditating in the flower garden.” Har Rai Ji always loved to be in his grandfather’s spiritual presence. The scene was very beautiful and spiritual.

Har Rai Ji was wearing a regal robe, a chola, like a warrior prince. He got lost in his excitement and accidentally caught the thorn of a rose bush with the cuff of his chola. He didn’t notice right away but the cloth pulled on the thorn, ripped the chola a little, and jostled the flowers. The petals of the rose broke off and fell to the ground. When Har Rai ji saw what he had done, that his carelessness had caused harm to another living being, He began to cry.

A Sikh who had been watching all this told Guru Hargobind Ji who came over to provide comfort. The Guru’s warm voice always seemed to make things right, “The creator has made this whole creation. To serve god, we should take care of the creation.” The Guru’s words brought clarity to his mind, “Think of this as a warriors lesson. A warrior must first master themselves as they walk their path through the world.” Then Guru Ji gently added, “Keep wearing the chola, just lift it out of the way when needed. It is good for God’s servants to be gentle with all beings.”

These teachings impacted sweet Har Rai Ji’s deep in his heart. Though he was always prepared for a defensive battle he held a deep gentleness sacredly in his heart. His life was dedicated to being kind to all beings. He would sometimes say, “A place of worship can be rebuilt and repaired, but not a broken heart.” 

Later, it became clear that Har Rai Ji would become the next Guru. Guruship was passed on to him when he was only 14 years old. Even though he was a young man, he was spiritually very mature. He conquered his own mind and was a living channel for Guru Nanak. His presence was full of light!  

Guru Har Rai Ji always said, “Everyone’s heart is a jewel, it’s not good to break it. If you long to see the Beloved Lord, never hurt anyone’s feelings.”

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15. Guru Harkrishan Ji, Brahman Te Chhaju

Once on his way to Delhi, Guru Harkrishan stopped at Panjokhda. A local priest, a Brahman enquired who was travelling? A devotee replied that it’s the eighth Guru, Guru Har Krishan ji. Brahman met Guruji and said, “You might have named yourself Krishna but can you explain Gita to me?” Guruji replied, that even if he explain Gita to the Brahman, the Brahman won’t believe him. So instead Brahman should get anyone from outside to experience the real power of divinity.

Brahman very cleverly decided to find a person who couldn’t read or write. He found a boy named Chhaju, who stuttered and looked like he belonged to a lower caste. The Brahman thought  “He can hardly say his name, what can he explain about Gita?” So they went to see Guruji. The Brahman chose the most difficult verses of the Gita for Chaju to explain.

The Guruji said, “Chhaju, you are now a very wise scholar. I want you to explain the Gita.” With Guruji’s blessings, Chhaju began to explain the mysterious passage like a scholar, in a clear and understandable way. 

Brahman was surprised that Chhaju explained the line perfectly. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He just heard explanations of the Gita that he hadn’t thought of before. It put everything into perspective. He asked for Guruji forgiveness and said, “Forgive me, I thought you were just a little boy who wouldn’t know anything. I am just a proud man with useless knowledge. You are one with God and know everything. God speaks through you. I am like a child before you.”

Guruji blessed the Brahman to be a Sikh and he began to have an experience of the things he only used to read about. We learn from this Sakhi that the person upon who Guru ji bestows his blessings turns into a learned and intellectual person.

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16. Bandi Chhor Diwas (Guru Hargobind Ji)

The festival of lights, Diwali, is observed every year to celebrate the victory of good over evil. In Sikhism, this festival is celebrated as the day of liberation and is related to the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji. 

In 1609 AD, Guru Hargobind Ji started the construction of Loh Garh fort on the outskirts of the holy city of Amritsar for the safety of the city and its residents. Seeing this and the rising popularity of the Guru, Governor of Amritsar was alarmed and alarmed the then emperor Jehangir. On the advice of Governor and others in his court, the emperor was fearful of the Guru and ordered that he be imprisoned for 40 days at the Gwalior fort.

Rather than being a sanctuary of tranquility, Gwalior Fort was really a prison where enemies of the state, including 52 Rajput princes, were detained. True to his nature, Guru Hargobind Ji held daily prayers and the entire atmosphere turned cheerful. All inside the prison were happy, whilst the sangat outside greatly missed Guruji’s presence. 

At this time, Mian Mir, a noted Sufi saint, traveled to the Emperor’s court and asked him to release the Guru. The emperor’s wife Nur Jahan also insisted that Guruji be released. Guruji, however, could not embrace his own fortune at the expense of the other prisoners and refused to leave the fort until all 52 of the Rajput princes were freed as well. 

When this was put in front of the Emperor, he initially refused it. But then added a condition of his own: in order to be released from the fort, each prisoner must be holding on to the Guruji’s cloak as he walked out of the prison gates. The Emperor was pleased with himself because he was sure that a mere handful would be able to fulfill this condition.

Unbeknownst to him, however, the Guru delighted in this challenge by having his tailor make a special cloak with a very, very long train to which were tightly attached 52 tassels. At the appointed time, the Guru donned the heavy cloak, and his friends laid out the train, which stretched for yards behind him. 

The 52 princes picked the cloak up and grasped their tassels; 26 on the right and 26 on the left. Walking behind the Guru, careful not to let go, they stepped out into the sunlight and freedom, to the cheers of the Guru’s Sikhs. From this time on, Guru Hargobind was known as Bandi (prison) Chhor (liberator), and the day of liberation is celebrated as Bandi Chhor Divas (day). 

Sikhs in the holy city of Amritsar and elsewhere in the world, commemorate Bandi Chhor Divas, by lighting hundreds of candles in the evening around the Gurdwara.

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17. Guru Gobind Singh Ji Te Seva Di Mahima

Once upon a time, Guru Gobind Singh Ji was teaching the Sikhs wonderful lessons about our own hearts. In the Sangam, there came a rich boy who really wanted to serve the Guruji. Of course Guruji, knew what was in the boy’s heart and to test it he asked everyone, “I am thirsty, who can get me water?”

And before anyone else could answer, the boy exclaimed “I will!” and left to get the water. Soon enough the boy proudly came back with a glass of water. Guru ji said, “Your hands look soft. What do you do for work?”

The boy replied, “My parents have plenty of money, so I don’t need to work. Whenever I want something I ask a servant for it.”

It’s true that his parents had spoiled him, they never even had him do chores or even clean his room. He led a very soft and easy life while other people did everything for him. Guruji asked, “You never work?”

“That’s true, you are such an inspiration. You are the first person I’ve even thought of serving! This is the first time I have gotten water for anyone.”

Then Guruji continued teaching without drinking the water. Eventually, someone asked, “Guru ji, you asked for water, now you are not drinking. Are you no longer thirsty?” Guruji replied, “I will not drink this water. It is dirty.”

The boy did not understand, “True King, I assure you that this water is not dirty. I cleaned the glass myself, then I put in water directly from the well. It is pure!” Guru ji explained, “Your hands have dirtied the water.” The boy was surprised and said, “No Guruji, I cleaned my hands first. I brought it directly to you. There is nothing that could have dirtied the water, it really is pure!” “ Guruji said, “My boy, hands are made pure by doing service. Your hands are dirty.”

Then Guru ji spoke to everyone there, “Listen fellow sikhs, if you do not work or serve others, it is like as if you become filled with dirt. If you are filthy who will want to be near you? Your feet are made pure by going to see your Guru. Your hands are made pure by service. It is our lifestyle to serve the Sangat. This is very important!”

These words pierced the boy’s heart. He had always been a good boy but he realized he wanted to be more than that. He was no longer comfortable just receiving from others. The boy bowed his head and he made a decision: “From now on I will not just be a taker, I will also give. I won’t just let people serve me like I’m royalty. I will also be a humble servant.”

Some time had passed and Guru Ji again saw him in the Sangat. He knowingly smiled, “I am thirsty, who will get me water?” Just like before the boy volunteered right away, “I will bring you water!” 

Chanting Waheguru, Waheguru, Waheguru, the boy brought the water. Guru ji looked at his hands, which were rough and stained from work. He could see the boy was more humble. He could also see the water was different from last time. It had the vibration of love and service. This was because the boy’s heart was shining now. Smiling, Guru ji said, “THIS is pure water!” And Guru ji happily drank the water. The boy felt a connection with Guru Gobind Singh Ji that he hadn’t felt before and his heart filled with more love than ever.

We should all work honestly and earn a living. Even the first Guru, Guru Nanak showed us the way to earn our living by farming. As a little child, you should, along with your studies, serve your elders and the needy. 

18. Guru Gobind Rai Te Birdh Mata

Guru Gobind Rai was born in the city of Patna in the state of Bihar. Gobind Rai; A divine soul sent from the heavens to help this earth. People always noticed that when he played with his friends, even though he was physically stronger, he was always kind to everyone. He was always having fun, joking around and he laughed all the time. And there were so many games he liked to play with his friends. Sometimes he also liked to do mischief.

Near his house, there was an old woman who spun yarn and she used a wheel to spin raw cotton into yarn balls. One day Gobind Rai decided to make a little mischief, and he snuck up behind her chair. She couldn’t see him and suddenly he knocked her basket of yarn balls on the ground and ran away. The balls of yarn had taken ages to spin and got all dirty and dusty. So the old woman got really angry with him. She picked up a big stick and waved it wildly in her hand while shouting at Gobind Rai, “I’ve been working on that basket of yarn all day. How dare you knock it down!” She chased him, thinking she would give him a sound beating with the stick. She yelled, “I don’t care who your parents are, I’ll teach you some manners! Come here boy!” She almost caught him. But he just ran away faster not letting her catch him. He used to do this prank on her until she got fed up. 

She went to Gobind Rai’s home and began complaining to Mata Gujri Ji, his mother. She whined, “Your son! He keeps sneaking into my workroom and scattering all my yarn. All I have is that yarn. And he does it all the time. I’m so miserable. He must stop this. I have no peace of mind.” Mata Gujri was a kind and wise woman, and she could see the old woman was really in distress. So she gave the woman some clothes and some money, saying, “Here, take these. It’s the least I can do for you.”

The old woman was very poor and she was surprised and touched by Mata Gujri. It was not often she was given clothes and money. Instantly she became very happy and changed her tune, “Well after all he is just a child. Mata Ji, we shouldn’t mind if he does a little mischief. It’s alright, he can still play with me…” Mata Gujri herself was ever trusting and could never stay mad at her son. She thought, “He is sent by God so I have to accept what he does. He will protect humanity.”

After the old woman had gone home Gobind Rai came home from playing. He clearly had something on his mind, and he shared it with his mother, “Mata, you know that woman today with the yarn? Well, when I knocked it over it wasn’t her yarn that was being destroyed. It was the stains of her soul that were being destroyed. Her poverty had to be taken away. She was poor before, but after knocking over the yarn look how rich she is. It was destiny for you to give her all the nice clothes and money.”

Everyone who heard this story was amazed that this young boy, not much older than a toddler could say such things. His grandmother knew better though. She thought, “He’s a real Guru. He is bringing all the wisdom he brought with him from the heavens.”

After this, the old woman began visiting the Guru’s house more often. She began joining the Sangat for early morning prayers. She joined the company of the saints and her life became very blessed.

This is how Gobind Rai helped people. Even when he was annoying or bothering someone, he was actually helping them. Even when he was mischievous, it always turned out better for others. On one hand, this old woman was blessed with wealth on this earth. But she was even more enriched by the blessings of the heavens. Her spirit had been touched by the Guru. 

 

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