Moral Stories: Sakhi’s of the Gurus
A Sakhi is a parable usually from the era during the times of the Gurus. However, many sakhis do exist from the period before and after the times of the Ten Gurus. Most Sakhis have a simple moral lesson and highlight important Sikh principles. Below is the list of important Sakhis with a message for Sikhs.
Revival of Manak Chand
Guru Amar Das Ji, the third Guru of Sikhs purchased some land in Goindwal and laid the foundation of a Bawli (a well with descending steps) in 1559. All Sikhs joined in the work of digging the Bawli. There was great activity throughout the construction of the Bawli. After digging very deep, they found large stones which hindered the progress.
The underwater reserve was just below the stones. The Guru asked the Sikhs if there was any one who would be courageous to drive a peg into the base to remove the obstruction. He, however, warned that the operation had great danger because if the person could not avert the gush of water, he might drown.All Sikhs remained silent and no one came forward to take such a risk. At last, Manak Chand of Vairowal, who was married to a niece of Guru Ji, offered his services.
Manak Chand, invoking God’s name and through the grace of the Guru, was able to wedge through the stone and the stream of water immediately overflowed the Bawli. He was overtaken by the gush of water and drowned. However, by the grace of the Guru, his body came to the top of the water from where he was taken out by Sikhs. He was then brought back to life by Guru Amar Das Ji with the grace of God. Therefore, he was called ‘Marjiwra’ (revived after death).The Bawli when finished yielded fresh drinkable water. The Sikhs rejoiced at the successful completion of their labor.
Bhai Lalo and Malik Bhago
Guru Nanak Dev Ji traveled to a number of places, including Saidpur, now known as Eminabad. Before Guru Ji arrived at Saidpur, the word has spread in the whole city that a holy man is going to visit their town. Malik Bhago was the chief of the town. He was a corrupt person and who had earned a lot of wealth through unfair means. He would charge extra tax to the poor farmers and would take most of their crop, leaving them hungry. He had become a wealthy person by taking other’s belongings. When Malik heard the news of Guru Ji’s arrival, he started preparing for Guru’s stay at his house.
When Guru Nanak reached Saidpur, he knocked on the door of a poor carpenter named Lalo. Guru Ji chose to stay with Lalo for sometime as a guest. Lalo would serve Guru Ji with little food he could afford and Guru Ji would eat the simple food with love. News reached Malik Bhago that Guru Ji was staying with Lalo. Malik held a big gathering and invited all the holy men including Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Guru Ji did not accept his invitation.
Malik became very angry that Guru Nanak Dev Ji refused his proposal and ordered to force the Guru to visit his place. Two guards were sent to Lalo’s home to escort Guru Ji. Guru Nanak Ji decided to go visit Malik’s palace. When Guru Ji reached Malik’s palace, Malik Bhago said, “O holy man, I have prepared so many dishes for you, but you are staying with a poor carpenter and eating his dry bread? Why?”
The Guru replied, “I cannot eat your food because your bread is ill-begotten and has been made with money sucked from the poor through unfair means, while Lalo’s bread is made from the hard-earned money.” Malik Bhago very mad after heariong Guru Ji’s remarks and asked Guru Ji to prove his point. Guru Nanak Dev Ji asked for a loaf of bread from Lalo’s house. In one hand the Guru held Lalo’s dry bread and in the other he held Malik Bhago’s bread.
Guru Ji then squeezed both breads with his hands. Milk dripped out from Lalo’s bread while blood dripped from Malik Bhago’s bread. Malik Bhago was completely shaken by his guilt and asked for forgiveness. Guru Ji asked him to distribute his ill-gotten wealth among the poor and henceforth live an honest life. Malik Bhago was re-born with the Guru’s blessing. He started living an honest life.
Sajjan Rogue
During one of his journeys, Guru Nanak Dev Ji met a Rogue named Sajjan. Sajjan always wore a white dress, displayed his rosary beads and thus posed to be a holyman. He had built a Hindu temple and a Muslim mosque at the courtyard of his residence. He would invite travellers to his residence to rest for the night. During the night, he would take away their goods and money and would kill the travellers. He had a well near his house where he would dump the bodies of the guest he killed.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji arrived at his place and stayed with him for the night. At night, the Guru did not go to bed, which made Sajjan nervous to perform his nefarious act of robbing. Sajjan asked the Guru to take rest and sleep but Guru ji replied, “God’s minstrel do not go to sleep till God sends word that he should rest.” The Guru then asked Mardana to play the rebec and he sang, “Houses, mansions, palaces painted on all sides are left hollow when thy breath stops.
You posses wealth and assets; nothing shall go along with you in the end except the sins you commit. You call yourself clever and smart, but you are unaware that you can perish in a moment. You have not remembered God. You are completely drenched in money. You have not loved the one who gave you the body and breath. When the death comes, you shall tremble helplessly. Have you sung the praises of Lord; He would have been your support at the time of your death.”
When Sajjan listened the Divine melody, he realized that Guru Ji’s words were actually addressed to him. Upon hearly the sermin, he made his obeisance and fell at Guru Ji’s feet, and prayed to him to pardon his sins. Guru Ji said, “Sajjan, in the Sovereignty of God, grace is obtained by two things, open confession and reparation for wrong.” Sajjan stood in submission. Guru Nanak Dev Ji asked him to give all of his ill-gotten wealth to the poor. He obeyed the mandate, became a follower of the Guru and started meditating on God regularly.
Why does God Himself helps His Devotees?
Once a king in India went to Guru Nanak Dev Ji and asked, “O Guru! As you told us that God Himself supports His true worshiper, but God has so many apostles, why does He support His devotees Himself? Why does not He send His apostles to help the devotees?” As he said this, his own son who was playing at the bank of a nearby river slipped in the river. The king did not wait for a second and jumped in the river right after his son to save his child. After saving his child he returned to the Guru. The Guru asked, “My dear friend, you were sitting here with me a minute ago and why did you jump in the river?” King explained that his son had slipped in the river and he went to save him.
Then the Guru asked, “Dear friend, you have so many servants then why did you jumped in the river by yourself? Why did not you send you servants to save him?” The King said, “When it come to my son. I do not want to take any chances and would do anything it takes to protect him. I love my son very much and I do not want to lose him at any cost.” Then Guru Ji said, “My dear friend, God loves His devotees the same way as you love your son. That is why he Himself saves His true worshipper.”
Realization of Offering Water to Ancestors at Haridwar
Haridwar is one of the Hindu pilgrimages situated on the bank of river Ganges. As the sun comes out in the morning, people start throwing water with their hands towards the sun from the river. When Guru Nanak Dev Ji visited Haridwar, he asked the people as to what they were doing. A priest replied, “We are offering water to our dead ancestors in the region of Sun to quench their thirst.”
Upon this, the Guru started throwing water towards the west. The Hindu pilgrims were astonished and asked Guru Nanak about what he was doing. The Guru replied, “I am watering my fields in Punjab.” The priest asked, “How can your water reach such a distance?” The Guru retorted, “How far your ancestors are from here?” One of them replied, “In the other world.”
Guru Nanak Dev Ji stated, “If this water cannot reach my fields which are about four hundred miles away from here, how can your water reach your ancestors who are not even on this earth?” The crowd stood in dumb realization. Some of the listeners came to understand the point made by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. They realized that the water that they were throwing simply returned to the river and it is a fake belief that it could reach their ancestors.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji preached against superstitions, false rituals, worship of demi-gods and goddesses. He stressed that only One God, the Formless, is to be glorified. In this way, he showed the path of truth and enlightenment. There is a Gurdwara called Nanakwara in Haridwar on the bank of the river Ganges where Guru Nanak Dev Ji stayed on his visit to Haridwar.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji Grazing Buffaloes
Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s father once sent Guru Nanak Dev Ji to graze buffaloes in the pastures. While grazing buffaloes, Guru Nanak Dev ji sat under a tree and started meditating on God. Meanwhile, the herd of buffaloes went into the neighboring farmer’s field and destroyed his crop. The farmer saw his crops getting damaged. He became furious and lodged a complaint with Rai Bular, the officer-in-charge of that area. Rai Bular came to inspect the fields, and to his astonishment, he found no damage was done to the crops; rather, the crops were blossoming. The place, at which this miracle took place, is known as Kiara Sahib.
On another occasion, Guru Nanak Dev Ji was sent to graze the buffaloes in the pastures and he fell asleep under the shade of a tree. As the sun rose higher, the shadow moved away. The rays of the hot summer sun began to fall on Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s face. A big cobra came at that place and provided shadow with its hood over the face of the Divine Master. Rai Bular was going through that area with his attendants. When he saw this strange scene, he was convinced that Guru Nanak Dev Ji is not an ordinary person. God had sent him to this world. Rai Bular then touched the Guru’s feet in great reverence and thus became his disciple.
