AUKHEE GHAREE NA DEKHAN DEYEE AAPNA BIRDH SMAALE
HAATH DE RAAKHAI AAPNE KOO SAAS SAAS PRITPAALE (sggs-178)

In this connection we can learn a good lesson from the story of Bhai Joga Singh. He lived with Guru Gobind Singh Ji since his childhood, doing every type of SEWA. Guru Ji loved him and was very pleased with him. When he became young, his parents came and requested Guru Ji to allow him to go with them as they wanted to arrange his marriage. Guru Ji agreed and after staying for 2/3 days in Anandpur Sahib they left with Joga Singh. Generally, when Guru Ji loves any of his Sikhs he puts them under a KASAUTI (test). Guru Ji wrote a Hukam Naama and called one of his Sikhs and asked him to go to the village of Joga Singh to deliver the same to him. But he has to hand it over to Joga Singh only when his marriage was half completed.

The Sikh reached the home of Joga Singh at the fixed date and time. When the ceremony was half completed, the Sikh handed over the Hukam Naama to Joga Singh. He opened it immediately and read to all that the Guru Ji had written "Dear Joga Singh I need you badly. When you receive my letter come back to me immediately without wasting any time." Joga Singh stopped the ceremony and told them that Guru Ji wanted him to come immediately so he was going. His parents and other relatives asked him to wait for a few minutes so as to complete the ceremony and then he could take his wife also with him but he did not agree. He left his home and reached Hoshiarpur. On the way he was drenched in HAUMAI (ego) thinking that he had made a very big sacrifice and that there was no Sikh like him.

While passing through the street he saw a prostitute sitting in the balcony of her house waiting for a customer. By now, due to his HAUMAI he had forgotten his Gurus' command and thought that there was no hurry and he could spend the night here with the prostitute. The Sikh, no doubt, played his part by obeying the order of his Guru, but now he had fallen from his high living and thinking to indulge in a forbidden act. So here comes the BIRDH (protection) of the Guru to save his Sikh from falling. As Joga Singh started to walk towards the door of the prostitute, the Guru Ji on the other hand reached there, disguised as the watchman. As Joga Singh was about to enter the house, the Guru warned him and he went away. After 2/3 hours Joga Singh tried again thinking that the watchman would have gone by now. On seeing the Sikh again, Guru Ji asked "From your appearance and BAANA you seem to be a Sikh of Guru Gobind Singh, what are you doing here? As it is now Amritwela, a true Sikh is supposed to do Simran and recite Nitnam." On hearing such harsh words he felt as if he had awakened from deep sleep and left that place immediately.

When he reached Anandpur, the morning Satsang (congregation) was going on. He bowed to the Guru Ji and sat in the Sangat. After the Satsang was over the Guru called him and said, "Joga Singh, when I took your exam, you proved to be a true Gursikh but if you wanted to examine your Guru, you should have called me somewhere else but not at the door of a prostitute." Joga Singh realized his blunder and begged the Guru's pardon by falling at his feet.

It is due to this fact that Bhagats are always very cautious and careful that they do not drench themselves in HAUMAI which will let them down in front of people and also in the court of God.

Once Kabir Ji, a well known Bhagat, was passing through the bazaar, where he met a charming young prostitute. While Kabir Ji had a short beard, the lady had a long black ponytail. Mischievously she asked, "Bahagat Ji may I know whether my ponytail or your beard is better." Kabir Ji did not reply. Time passes away and when Kabir Ji was on his death bed, he asked his followers to call that particular prostitute. Everybody was shocked and surprised at Kabir Ji, who in the last moments of his life was calling a prostitute. When she arrived Kabir Ji said "My daughter, once you asked me a question for which I can give a reply now. I dare to say that my beard is much better than your ponytail." She immediately responded "O Bahagat Ji, when I had put this naughty question, I knew that your saintly beard was definitely much better than my ponytail. Why did you not give this answer forty years back?" Kabir Ji replied "My dear daughter! This worldly ocean of fire is very dangerous and our HAUMAI can pull us down at any time. So in order to save myself from the subsequent embarrassment, I kept quiet. Now as I breathe my last I am proud to say that I am returning to my eternal home without any black spots on my life."
 

The Write-up has been mailed by Sardar Hari Singh harisingh@talwandi.com