Bhai Nand Lal Ji's Kitchen

[Akaal Purakh Di Fauj]

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Before reading the sakhi below could I request all Sikhs of Dhan Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj to post stories about Satguru Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj for the next few weeks? As Sikhs of that Guru we are meant to follow our Guru’s footsteps and if we don’t even know where he walked how can we follow him? So please even if it’s a very well known sakhi please post so we can all learn something about our beautiful friend, father, king and guru.

Many people of all religions began to flock to Sachkhand Sr Anandpur Sahib Ji to be blessed with the darshan of that king of this world and the next Satguru Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj. Maharaj had started many kitchens, which were run by his beloved Sikhs. Just like today Guru Ji’s langar was served free to all those who came into the house of Dhan Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj.

Bhai Nand Lal Ji was in charge of one of these kitchens. One day antarjami Dashmesh Pita Ji decided to visit all his kitchens in disguise. Guru Sahib went to his kitchens a little bit before langar was meant to be served and told the sevadaars that he was very hungry. Maharaj in disguise was met with great love but was told to return later on when langar would be served. All of the kitchens Maharaj went to gave him a similar response.

The last kitchen that Kalgidhar Ji visited was the kitchen run by Bhai Nand Lal Ji. Here Maharaj was also told that langar was nearly ready. As Maharaj turned to leave Bhai Nand Lal Ji came running after him with whatever was ready and began to plead with him to sit down. Bhai Nand Lal Ji said, “The home of Guru Nanak Dev Ji is like no other in this world or the next. No one shall leave empty handed.” Guru Maharaj in disguise smiled at Bhai Nand Lal Ji and began to eat his langar.

The next day Guru Ji told the sangat the whole story. Maharaj then told his beloved Sikhs to follow the example of Bhai Nand Lal Ji.

Even today Guru Maharaj comes to his own home in disguise. Do you great that unknown stranger with love or do you turn them away?

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

[Singhstah]

wow!!

[lowest of the low singhni]

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

"How did you get that black eye?" asked Guru-Father, GurDev-Pita Gobind Singh Jee. The teenager dressed in a long blue gown, wearing a sword looked at his Master's feet and responded with silence.

The King of this World and the next, radiated glory in all directions and the lovelight washed over the quiet young man, "Dear child of mine, your turban has been knocked, your nose is bleeding and you have a black eye. Now you don't get that from just cleaning the stables. So I order you to tell me who did this to you?"

The slender young warrior continued looking lovingly at the Master's feet and humbly replied, 'I was feeding the horses Guru jee when you suddenly slapped me.'

The Khalsa warrior who had brought the young Singh in to Guru Jee's royal court quickly interrupted, 'O Guru with the Royal Plume Kalgee-Dhar Patshah, True King and Cherisher of the Poor, Gareeb Nivaaj, this saintly boy will not tell you, but I saw that mighty Singh over there just walk across to the boy and without even uttering a word he swung his arm with full force landing his palm on the boy's right cheek. Guru Maharaj forgive my younger brother for his answer , he is not lying for he sees your face in everyface, everywhere and all the time. He speaks little and is always engrossed in service and meditation, seva and simran. He was attacked for no reason, that is why I dragged him here to get some justice. He did not want to complain.'

Some warrior Nihangs dressed in blue battle clothes, grabbed the Singh accused of the attack and escorted him into Guru King Guru Gobind Singh Jee's divine prescence.

'Explain your actions.' ordered the Helper from Waheguru, Nasaro Mansoor Guru Gobind Singh Jee.

The Singh was built like a mountain with an ego to match he replied in rough voice 'Guru Jee, this boy is half my age, everyday he does seva and simran, he speaks little and when he does its full of love and humility. I can't stand him. Everyday I do seva along side him, I see how much you love him and bless him, wereas I get no look of grace. He was getting too close to you and I hate him. I had to teach him a lesson!'

Guru Gobind Singh Jee reprimanded the Singh and gave him some community service to do, then he got up and hugged the young Singh who was still looking at the Master's feet, 'Dhan GurSikh, Great is the GurSikh who even in suffering accepts it as a divine gift.'

Ketia Dukh Bukh saad mar.

Eh Bhee Daat Teree Datar.

Countless many continously suffer pain and hunger.

O Giver, Even these are Your Gifts'

(Guru Nanak Dev Jee in Jap Jee Sahib).

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

[Singhstah]

Guru Gobind Singh Ji's love knows no extent....

Bhai Nand Lal Ji as always brought Guru Gobind Singh Ji langar, prepared with their own hands... Guru Sahib would sit and enjoy this food daily, Bhai Nand Lal Ji noticed that Guru Sahib would always leave a tiny morsel of their food, only enough for one bite. They would then open the nearby window, where a small dog would bark for food. Guru Sahib would throw the dog this tiny burki of food.

Bhai Nand Lal Ji would look at this - Guru Ji and their love for this Dog and smile amazed, thinking "This Dog has such amazing Karam, he gets to eat left over food from the most amazing, most perfect human, the form of our Lord himself - this Dog is truly a blessed dog, I can only hope for karam like his"

Guru Sahib, the knower of all smiled.

The next day the process was repeated, Bhai Nand Lal Ji again, brought Guru Sahib langar and Guru Sahib, as always left a little morsel for the barking dog. Watching this, Bhai Nand Lal Ji had an idea...

The following day, before bringing Guru Ji langar, Bhai Nand Lal Ji took the dog home. At his abode, he fed the dog the richest of foods, he fed him til his stomach could take no more. Content that the Dog was full, Bhai Nand Lal Ji returned the dog outside the window of Guru Sahib. He then returned home and prepared Langar for Guru Sahib.

That day, Guru Sahib enjoyed the langar to the full, as they ate, Bhai Nand Lal Ji took up their position, beside the dog outside the window - thinking, this was his chance. He too, could possibly have the luck of this dog, and taste that tiny morsel that had also touched the lips of the tenth Human form of Vaheguru.

As Bhai Nand Lal Ji sat awaiting paitentlly, Guru Sahib continued to enjoy their food. Eventually, Bhai Nand Lal Ji's wait came to an end as Guru Ji opened the window on time.

Bhai Nand Lal Ji looked up, still hiding behind the dog and watched, waiting to be fed like a King with this tiny bite from Guru Sahib's own food.

Guru Sahib, knower of all hearts, began to talk. "Nand Lal" they said, "Today the food you made was exquisite, like never before... I had to eat it all - today no burki was saved for you Nand Lal"

Bhai Nand Lal Ji's eyes filled with tears... as his heart broke into a million pieces... he stood up from beside the dog and with tear filled eyes asked Guru Sahib, "Guru Ji, that bad am I that this dog has better karam then me - every day I've watched you save even the smallest bite for him, yet this one day, my destiny is such that you cannot offer me the same treatment" Bhai Nand Lal Ji was almost inconsolable, til Guru Sahib pulled him towards them, and held him close.

"Nand Lal, don't ever think your destiny is bad - you've not received a morsel of food I may have left but Nand Lal, you're a part of my heart - nothing can change those karam of yours, no morsel of food."

Bhai Nand Lal Ji wept in Guru Ji's arms, as Guru Ji held their 'brother' close...

Bhai Nand Lal Ji's love for Guru Sahib was amazing, a love that one should have with their father, their mother, the family - this is our Guru Ji, and such is the destiny - that our Guru Ji loves us...

[Freed]

Gurfateh !

A picture of the Sakhi posted by Bhai Sahib;

from Sikh Heritage in Paintings - From the Collection of the Punjab & Sind Bank 1995, page 76

[jodhaa]

Gurfateh !

A picture of the Sakhi posted by Bhai Sahib;

from Sikh Heritage in Paintings - From the Collection of the Punjab & Sind Bank 1995, page 76

WJKK WJKF

I was told this story before by a singh who did sangat of the nirmal kutia johla wale sants, he stated to me that the roop the johla wale sants keep is the roop of what Guru Gobind Singh ji took when he went to see Baba Nand Lal Ji, Please see http://www.gurdwara.org.uk/gurdwara/founders/founders3.html

Great story....and a great message....akaaaaaal

[lowest of the low singhni]

Guru Gobind Singh Ji's Arrows

Narad Muni (not the one who meditated with Bhagat Prehlad Ji) was a bhramgyani. He once visited Satguru Siri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj and presented him with the feathers of a "Humayu" bird. Guru Ji tied each feather to five arrows, strung them on a bow and shot them in all four directions and one up into the heavens. He asked his Gursikhs to go and look for the arrows he had fired. They looked hard but couldn't find them and so returned empty-handed to their Guru. Guru ji then explained to the Gursikhs that he had been presented with the feathers of the Hamuyu bird by Narad Muni Ji, and this bird of the sky had power in all its body parts. Guru Ji explained whatever was attached to the parts of that bird, the bird was able to take away to its own haven. Guru Ji was describing that just as the Humayu's feather had taken the arrows to the bird's sanctury, Mool Mantar, Gur Mantar and Gurbani also worked like those feathers except they could take people to the sanctuary of God. So whosoever recites these and practises on his Naam, those Gursikhs will eventually find bhramgian and be carried to the country of parbrahm(God), the one which is above the entire universe. To obtain God one should have strong faith and determination.

[Akaal Purakh Di Fauj]

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Over the last 4 years I’ve noticed that every couple of months some old/new posters write a long rant complaining about the quality of posts on sikhsangat often reminiscing about the ‘good old days’.

Let no one ever do this again. If anyone’s does can they please be forwarded to this thread and be reminded of the saying, “Be the change you want to see in the world”.

Finally Admin can this thread please be closed and made into a sticky to act as a reminder to all of us who would rather talk about ourselves than our father, Satguru Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj, the king of kings, the saint of saints and the only boat which can carry us across this terrifying ocean.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh