(KP)
Chapter โ 8
Sondhay Shah
After the completion of Shabad Keertan, Maae Veraae came out of the house in a hurry and asked a sevadaar to leave for Sanghar: "Please go and inform my sister-in-law that today her husband has become apparent in front of Sangat and has taken care of the responsibilities of being the Guroo. Please come, and come soon to offer your prayers."
Sevaadar hurried and left at once. In the mean time, Bhai Buddha Ji came from inside and stood by Maae Veraae. He started talking: - "Respected sister! In a short time everyone is going to know about manifestation of Guroo Ji and Sikhs from nearby places will start arriving soon, we should start to prepare for their accommodation."
Maae [Veraae] was about to speak when they heard bells ringing from nearby. They both looked around to see where the sound was coming from and saw a man holding a camelโs neck sling walking towards them. In a little time, he came near and stood by them and started to speak: "May his blessings be upon you if you guide me! Has the Guroo appeared somewhere in this villageโฆ?" [Baba] Buddha asked in curiosity: "Guroo is manifest! But what work have you got with him?" That man replied: "What does an ignorant like me know. I was sent by Sondhay Shah from Dongar. Sondhay Shah is a renowned Shah of the Lubanas." He asked me, "Load your camel with sugar, rice and other ration and take off speedily and I will come in a while with the rest of the Sangat and supplies. Go to Khadoor of the Kheras without stopping anywhere in the way. Please go there soon so these rice and sugar supplies can be accepted by Guroo Ji when you arrive there. Crowdโฆ No! Sangat of the Lubanas is coming soon as well. Everyone is coming from Dongar along with the Shah." Shah started to tell me- "Everyone there is going to take blessings of Guroo Ji" Oh I am sorry, he said, "Guroo is going to be manifesting and a lot of people will be gathering. So take off right now! No person of God should remain hungry there. It will be a big fortune for me if Guroo Ji also tastes a little of these food supplies." Brother, Shah was speedily talking; his breath was caught in happiness. I asked him: "Shah Ji, please tell me of someoneโs name or address there." And he replied, "What address or name can I tell you of the full moon? Just go straight to Khadoor of the Khehras, and wherever you see people gathered in large numbers, there will be that full moon. You will see him in the crowd of the gathering." So I took off in an instant and have reached Khadoor now, but I havenโt seen any gathering yet. I asked but even then I havenโt found any whereabouts of the Saintly Moon."
Maae [Veraae] and Bhai [Buddha] Ji were looking at each other with surprise, when they heard some people shouting religious slogans at a distance: - "Hail to Guroo Nanak forever! Hail Forever!" In a moment a few men approached and hastily entered the room where Guroo Ji was sitting. While entering the room they placed their foreheads on the floor. Baba Buddha Ji smiled and said, "Brother! Look, there is the crowd getting blessings of the full moon, why donโt you take a few steps yourself and bow down as well." That man stepped forward and bent down in respect while placing his knees together. He then took a seat in a corner. His eyes filled with tears and automatically these words came on his tongue, "Oh great man of Allah, you are wonderful! You are truly wonderful!!"
Maae [Veraae] and Bhai Buddha Ji were looking at all this with a surprise. Bhai [Buddha] took a deep breath and said, "Maae! Donโt ever take the pride that you are blessed because Guroo Ji stayed at your house for months in deep meditation and that you kept him hidden for all this time [under his command]. And mind [Baba Buddha Ji addressing his own self], even you should not have this pride that you are one of great fate because you made Guroo who was isolated for months, apparent in Sangat. Look, people knew of his manifestation even before he appeared. Guroo Nanakโs house is free of ego. Yes my mind, this house is free from any pride."
While saying this, eyes closed and tears rolled down, and settled in the beard of the one who had the fortune of applying the mark of Gurooship on the forehead of the Guroo.
On the other side Maae [Veraae] also started crying. After some time Baba [Buddha] opened his eyes and brought his throbbing lips under control and said, "People say that God cannot be seen, but look sister! Godโs greatness and dignity is visible all over. He could only be seen after a miracle takes place. The marvel of finding Guroo Ji brought me honor but the miracle of the man coming with the supplies has belittled that worldly honor. But look sister! When I referred to Guroo Nanakโs house as โego-freeโ and looked through both of these miracles, I witnessed the splendid glory of God manifested all over. Sister! God is high, highest of all, and so is his Amrit." While listening to Baba [Buddha] Ji talk, Maae Veraae looked towards the room where Guroo Ji sat and said, "Brother that is true! God is the highest." While repeating this she got lost in thoughts again and spoke after a little while, "By the grace of having exchanged words with you, I too have witnessed the glory of God. According to Gurmat, his glory is evident everywhere, but our eyes which realize his presence only open when a miracle takes place. For say, the sounds of โAllah Hu Akbar" are heard everyday from the Mosques, but no one can picture anything from the sounds or vice versa. He can only be seen by enshrining him within. This is why my Lord has said:-
ਸੁਣਿ ਵਡਾ ਆਖੈ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਇ ॥
sun vaddaa aakhai sabh koe ||
Hearing of His Greatness, everyone calls Him Great.
ਕੇਵਡੁ ਵਡਾ ਡੀਠਾ ਹੋਇ ॥
kaevadd vaddaa ddeet(h)aa hoe ||
But just how Great His Greatness is-this is known only to those who have seen Him.
ਕੀਮਤਿ ਪਾਇ ਨ ਕਹਿਆ ਜਾਇ ॥
keemath paae n kehiaa jaae ||
His Value cannot be estimated; He cannot be described.
ਕਹਣੈ ਵਾਲੇ ਤੇਰੇ ਰਹੇ ਸਮਾਇ ॥1॥
kehanai vaalae thaerae rehae samaae ||1||
Those who describe Your, Lord, remain immersed and absorbed in You. ||1||
Brotherโฆ Brother... Brotherโฆ! Guroo Angad received the blessing of becoming the Guroo because of his potential. Whoever rightfully deserved Gurooship, it went to his house, but my Guroo Nanak didnโt leave you incomplete from any place either. Ego did not come to you even after you performed the wonder of finding Guroo Jiโs whereabouts, and neither did the coming of the man with the camel degraded your status as you saw the greatness of God through both of these wonders: -
ਵਡਾ ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਊਚਾ ਥਾਉ ॥
vaddaa saahib oochaa thhaao ||
Great is the Master, High is His Heavenly Home.
ਊਚੇ ਉਪਰਿ ਊਚਾ ਨਾਉ ॥
oochae oupar oochaa naao ||
Highest of the High, above all is His Name.
ਏਵਡੁ ਊਚਾ ਹੋਵੈ ਕੋਇ ॥
eaevadd oochaa hovai koe ||
Only one as Great and as High as God
ਤਿਸੁ ਊਚੇ ਕਉ ਜਾਣੈ ਸੋਇ ॥
this oochae ko jaanai soe ||
can know His lofty and Exalted State.
And because I had your company, I also witnessed his evident greatness, instead of just hearing about it." While talking, Maae Veraaeโs eyes closed and filled with tears again.
After a while both became attentive and went in attendance of Guroo Ji. They bowed and sat down upon entering the room. Guroo Ji placed his hand upon Baba Buddha Jiโs head and said- "Guroo Nanakโs contented beloved, you are blessed forever! Your relation with the Guroo and God has come true and will always remain so. Just not have you been blessed, but your whole genealogy will remain along with the throne of the Guroo." Guroo Ji then looked towards Maae [Veraae] and said: - "Guroo Nanakโs blessed Maae! You have been blessed for ever! Your efforts and services have been accepted at the door of Guroo Nanak. His happiness is forever at you. Blessings!"
Both sat there for a while in silence when Chaudri Mehima came and spoke to Maae Veraae and Baba Buddha Ji: "Guroo Jiโs loved ones from this village have found out the news and everyone is coming here from near and far places. Most amazing is how the camel of Dongraโs sangat came here on time, and how Sondhay Shah found out about this miracle before time. Gurooโs plays are only known by the Guroo himself." Then he bowed to Guroo Ji [again] and started saying; "Oh the great one of the Lord, your plays are only known by you! What does a human hold in front of you?" He again addressed Maae Veraae and Baba Buddha Ji- "Take Guroo Jiโs permission to go and prepare for accommodation of the sangat which is coming. The man who came with the camel told me that sangat of the Lubanas is also coming by tomorrow. They will be in great numbers too." After talking, all three of them went outside.
Bhai Buddha and Chaudri left to prepare for the accommodations and to get more supplies, and Maae Veraae prepared her house so langar could be cooked. At first she thought of asking the Mehras to perform the service, but some affectionate Sikhs of village took over this seva themselves.
