Guru Angad was born
on March 31, 1504 in a village called Harike in Ferozepur district of
the Punjab. His father, Bhai Pheru, was a trader. His parents named him
Lehna. He was married at the age of fifteen. His wife, Khivi, was a native
of Mattei Saraan in Ferozepur district. His father could not adjust to
new environs of Harike and with his family returned to his ancestral place,
Mattei Saraan and lived there. Bhai Lehna's wife gave birth to two daughters,
Amro and Anokhi, and two sons, Dasu and Datu. When Mattei Saraan was sacked
by the Mughals and Balochis, Bhai Lehna and his family moved to Khadur,
now a famous town near Tarn Taran. Bhai Lehna grew up to bme very religious
under the influence of his mother, Daya Kaur, and became a devotee of
Durga, the mythic Hindu goddess of power. He used to organize yearly pilgrimages
of devout Hindus to Jawalamukhi, a place of Durga temple in the lower
Himalayas where fire issued from the mountains. He used to lead Durga
dance around the fire in a harness of jingling bells. Bhai Jodha, a Gurusikh,
lived in Khadur and it was his daily routine to rise early every morning
and recite Japji and Asa di Var. One day as Bhai Lehna attentively listened
to the Divine Sabad being recited by Bhai Jodha, his mind obtained peace.
After the day break he asked Jodha who had composed that stimulating hymn.
Bhai Jodha then told him all about Guru Nanak, who was living at Kartarpur
at that time. The exposure to the Divine Sabad had such an impact on Bhai
Lehna's mind that he got impatient to meet the Guru. When he was on his
annual pilgrimage to Jawalamukhi, he broke his journey at Kartarpur to
offer his obeisance to the Guru. During his meeting, the Guru spoke to
him of the True Creator, leaving such an impression on Bhai Lehna that
he threw away the jingling bells, which he was carrying with him to dance
before the goddess. He had obtained such a peace of mind that he decided
to discontinue his pilgrimage and abide with the Guru. On seeing his devotion,
the Guru said to him one day that he should go home and settle his affairs
and on his return he would initiate him into the Sikh way of life. Upon
this Bhai Lehna returned to Khadur for some time. One day as Sikhs assembled,
Guru Nanak seated Bhai Lehna on his own seat, put five paise and a coconut
in front of him, handed over the pothis of Gurbani and bowed before him.
Then he said to Baba Buddha, "This is my successor- a part of my body,
Angad; put the mark of sovereignty on his forehead in token of his ascendence
to Guruship." Baba Buddha did so. The Guru then ordered his followers
to obey and serve Guru Angad; who was in his own image. Bhai Gurdas describes
the succession to Guru Angad (Var 1, pauri-45): "Angad got the same mark,
the same umbrella over his head, and was seated on the same true throne
as Guru Nanak. The seal of Guru Nanak's hand entered Guru Angad's, and
proclaimed his sovereignty." After his appointment to the Guruship, Guru
Nanak directed Guru Angad to return to Khadur. Upon this Guru Angad returned
to Khadur and lived there.
GURU ANGAD IN SECLUSION:
The Guru sat in a room locked from outside near Khadur, and meditated
on God without any distraction or interruption. About six months passed
like this and the Sikhs did not know the whereabouts of the Guru. One
day Bhai Lalo, Bhai Saido and Bhai Ajita and other Sikhs came to Baba
Buddha and asked him the whereabouts of the Guru. They had searched Khadur
and other places but could not find him anywhere. Next morning Baba Buddha
led them to the house near Khadur where the Guru was sitting in seclusion.
The Sikh whose house it was gave them no information but went inside the
house and told the Guru about the visit of four Sikhs. The Guru told the
Sikh that they should be shown in. He embraced Baba Buddha and uttered
the following Slok: "Cut off the head which boweth not to the Lord. Nanak,
take and burn the wretched body which feeleth not the pain of separation."
(Slok Mohalla 2, p-89)
Baba Buddha requested him to grant audience to the Sikhs. After this, Guru Angad came
forth from his seclusion. When the Guru came out, sangats went to see him and presented
to him their offerings. Whatever he received, the Guru passed on to his kitchen. There
was continuous preaching, singing of hymns and meditation on Naam.
EMPEROR HUMAYUN COMES TO THE GURU:
Emperor Humayun succeeded his father Babar but he was badly defeated by
Sher Shah. Humayun inquired for some saint who could help him regain his
throne and kingdom. He was advised to seek assistance of Guru Angad. Upon
learming this Humayun came to Khadur. At that time the Guru was in prayer
and the minstrels were singing the hymns. The Emperor remained standing
unattended. Humayun felt offended and in a moment of rage, he put his
hand on the hilt and drew out his sword with the intention of striking
the Guru. Upon this the Guru said to him, "Where was your sword when you
were facing Sher Shah? Now when you have come amongst the unarmed, you
want to draw your sword on them. In a cowardly manner you fled from the
battle ground, now posing as a hero you wish to attack those engaged in
praying to God." Humayun repented and begged for Guru's assistance. The
Guru blessed him and prayed for Waheguru's grace to be bestowed on him.
Humayun went back to his country and having obtained a reinforcement of
cavalry from the king of Persia, returned to India. After fighting a pitched
battle he recovered his empire and captured Delhi, the seat of Mughal
Empire.
GURMUKHI SCRIPT:
The alphabet of Punjabi in its elementary form existed at the time of Guru Nanak, but
Guru Angad gave the final shape to the script and the order of the alphabets. This
is why the alphabet began to be called 'Gurmukhi'- spoken through the mouth of the
Guru. The significance of the adoption of this script by Guru Angad lies in the
fact that he rejected all other scripts, and adopted the script which was most
suited for writing the language of the people. Whole of Gurbani is recorded in
Gurmukhi script.
BABA AMAR DAS COMES TO GURU ANGAD:
Baba Amar Das was living in a village called Basarke near Amritsar. Before
coming in contact with the second Nanak, he was a firm believer of Vaishnav
faith and used to fast regularly. Every year he went to Hardwar for pilgrimage,
bathed in the river Ganges and would give alms to the poor. It was the
twenty-first year of his pilgrimage and he was sixty-two years old when
an incident shook him to the core. He was coming back from Hardwar when
he decided to lay down to sleep outside the village of Mihra. Here he
met a Vaishnav Sadhu (a monk) with whom he became quite friendly. They
cooked the food and ate their meal together. As they continued their journey
and as the monk found Baba Amar Das zealously discharging all the duties
of a pious Hindu, he asked him (Baba) who his guru was who taught him
such piety and wisdom. Baba Amar Das replied that he had no guru. On hearing
this monk said,"I have committed a sin by eating from the hands of a man
who has no guru. My ablutions, bathing in the Ganges, are of no avail
now. I can only be purified if I return to bathe in the Ganges again."
After lamenting like this, the Sadhu departed. This was a great shock
to Baba Amar Das and he was jolted to the core of his heart thinking he
was a man of no guru (Nigura). He started thinking seriously how he could
find a guru and he prayed for that. One day early in the morning he heard
a divine melody which thrilled his heart and he stood spell-bound listening
to the hymn. This was voice of Bibi Amro, Guru Angad's daughter, who was
recently married to Baba Amar Das' nephew. It was Bibi Amro's daily routine
to wake up early, bathe and recite Japji and other hymns of Guru Nanak.
Bibi Amro had recited the following Shabad which was heard by Baba Amar
Das: "Neither sisters, sisters-in-law, nor mothers-in-law remain with
one; but the true relationship with the Beloved, when found through the
Guru, shall never be sundered. I am a sacrifice to my Guru, I am ever
a sacrifice unto him. I have grown weary of wandering so far without a
Guru; Now the Guru hath united me with my Beloved.
(Maru M'halla 1, p-1015)
Baba Amar Das asked Bibi Amro whose composition it was. She replied that it was Guru Nanak's
hymn and she had learnt it from her father who was the successor to Guru Nanak. Baba Amar Das
then requested her to take him to the Guru. After some days he accompanied Bibi Amro to visit
the Guru in Khadur. When Baba Amar Das arrived, the Guru on account of his relationship,
wanted to embrace Babaji and show him the expected courtesies, but Babaji fell on the feet
of the Guru and said,"You are as God and I am only a worm." Baba Amar Das was so overwhelmed
on beholding the Guru that it was unbearable for him to leave his presence.
The love for the Master sprang so deep and intense in his heart that he wanted
to serve him in every possible way.
One day meat was prepared for dinner at which Baba Amar Das said to the Guru, "You are the
knower of hearts, and know that I am a strict Vaishnav and do not touch meat." At this the
Guru smiled and asked the Sikh who was serving langar that only dal (bean-curry) not meat
should be served to Baba Amar Das. But when Baba Amar Das was about to partake his food
he realized that a disciple, whose practice differed from that of his Guru, must inevitably
fail. He told the cook that if the Guru was kind enough to give him his meat leavings,
he would partake of it. In order to further remove his prejudices, the Guru instructed
him, "These are the meats to abstain from - others' wealth, others' wives, slander,
envy, covetousness and pride." The Guru then recited the Slok of Guru Nanak listed
on page 1289 on the subject.
CITY OF GOINDWAL:
One day a man, Goinda, came to the Guru and said that if he became victorious
in a lawsuit against his relations, he would found a city in honor of
the Guru. Fortune favored him and he bought the land to found the city
on the bank of the river Beas. He began the work but people were not ready
to come and populate the new city. Goinda came to the Guru and prayed
to him to grant him his desire to build the city. Upon this the Guru sent
Baba Amar Das to help him. Babaji prayed to Waheguru for His assistance.
The city's work proceeded without any further delay and Baba Amar Das
named it Goindwal. Goinda did not forget to build a palace in it for his
benefactor Amar Das. When the work was successfully completed, Goinda
went to the Guru to offer his thanks and to beg him to come and live in
the newly founded city. The Guru did not wish to leave his town, so he
asked Baba Amar Das to go and live in Goindwal. Baba Amar Das obeyed the
command of the Guru but asked him to let him continue with his duty of
bringing water from river Beas for the Guru's morning bath. The Guru granted
this wish of him. In course of time he took with him all his relations
from Basarke and helped them settle there. Baba Amar Das was now living
in Goindwal and his daily routine was to rise very early in the morning,
take a pitcher of water from the river Beas and proceed to Khadur which
was about three miles away. On the way he would recite Japji. There was
a mid-way spot which was called Damdama or breathing place where he could
rest for a while. A Gurudwara was erected on this spot later on. After
attending the morning service, Asa di Var, he would fetch water for the
Guru's kitchen, clean dishes and bring firewood from the forest. During
the day he would learn Gurbani (the Word of the Guru). In the evening
he would attend recitation of Sodar and evening Kirtan. After the evening
congregation, he would return walking to Goindwal.
GURU ANGAD AND THE TAPA:
There lived a Tapa (mendicant) in Khadur. He was revered as a guru by the people of Khaira tribe.
Tapa was jealous of the reverence shown to the Guru by his followers. He maintained that he should
be worshipped instead of the Guru since Guru was a family man and not an ascetic.
One year there were no monsoon rains and as a result there was a drought in the land. People were
distressed and went to Tapa for his help to procure rain. Tapa told them that he was a celibate,
yet no one worshipped him while everybody worshipped the family man (Guru). So he asked them to
go to the Guru and request him to procure rain for them. They went to the Guru who replied,"Be
satisfied with God's Will." They came back to the Tapa who told them,"If you expel the Guru
from the town, I will bring rain within twenty-four hours." The Guru left the town to satisfy
the people that the Tapa was just fooling them.
When Baba Amar Das arrived in Khadur next morning, he found the Guru's house empty. On inquiry
the people narrated the whole story to Babaji. In the meantime the Tapa failed to bring any rain.
Upon this Baba Amar Das asked the people whether a lamp could be substituted for the sun.
He asked them to punish the Tapa if they wanted rain. It so happened that as the Tapa was
being punished, the rains came in torrents. After that the people went to the Guru to ask
for forgiveness for their acts.
When Guru Angad heard of the Tapa's punishment, he felt much aggrieved and addressed Amar
Das,"You have not obtained the fruits of my companionship, which are peace, forbearance
and forgiveness." On hearing this Babaji fell at the feet of the Guru and humbly sought
his pardon. He confessed that he got the Tapa punished because he could not bear insult
to the Guru and promised to follow the Guru's instructions in totality.
One night in March 1552, it rained all night, cold winds blew and lightning flashed. Baba
Amar Das brought a pitcher of water from river Beas for his Master. While he was coming
to the Guru's house, he hit a wooden peg which a weaver had driven into the ground, and
he fell into the loom-pit. It was a weavers' colony and when they heard the thud of his
fall, one amongst the weavers' wives said, "Who could it be at this early hour ? It
must be that homeless Amru who sleeps not, who knows no rest and who tires not. He
is ever bringing water from the river and firewood from the forest; and what a Guru
to serve!" Baba Amar Das could not get out of the pit without spilling the water and
spent the hours till day break in the pit with the pitcher on his head. When the
Guru did not get water for his bath, he sent some Sikhs to go look for Baba Amar
Das and see if everything was alright.
The Sikhs got Baba Amar Das out of the pit and reported the whole matter to the Guru.
The Master was deeply moved. He embraced Baba Amar Das who was seventy-three years
old then and said,"My Amar Das ! He will be the home of the homeless, the honor of
the unhonored, the strength of the strengthless, the support of the supportless,
the emancipator of the captives."
After that Guru Angad installed Baba Amar Das in his seat, put five paise and a coconut
before him, and asked Baba Buddha to put mark of Guruship on his forehead. He was then
proclaimed as Guru Amar Das:
"Jot uha jugat sai seh kaya pher paltiai."
(Ramkali ki Var- Rai Balwand, p-966)
'Divine Light is the same
Way and Mode are the same
The Master has only changed the body."
(Translation of the above)
Guru Angad directed him to live in Goindwal and breathed his last on March 29, 1552.
Submission to Waheguru's order was the guiding principle in selection of the Guruship.
In spite of the opposition of his sons and relations, Guru Angad conferred the Guruship on
Baba Amar Das who was proved to be the fittest and the most worthy of the Divine legacy
of Guru Nanak.
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Listen to recitation by Giani Sant Singh Maskeen
