--- Pir Dastgir and Guru Nanak Dev
ji
Timeless Nirankaar
(the Lord Waheguru), Himself came to earth in the form of Guru
Nanak. Guru Ji visited many countries to preach Divine message along
with his companion Mardana, the Rebab player.
 Today Guru Nanak Dev Ji
came on the outskirts of the city of Baghdad. It was early morning. The cool
breeze was blowing. The sky was blue and the sun was shining. Many people were
passing by. For them it was time for early Naamaz (Muslim
Pray). Guru started singing Divine Words, while Mardana started
to play the Rebab. Guruji then called the word “SATNAM” loudly in such a
style that listening to which the whole city went into absolute silence in
astonishment. (Some say that Guruji recited Sat Sri Akaal). Guru’is voice, full
of Divine Melody, drew the attention of surrounding people of Bagdad.
Bhai Gurdas ji
said…
It was a pure Divine
bliss that clamed people’s mind and soul. They were absorbed within
their own consciousness. The news spread in the city like fire in the forest.
Now where there is Amrit (ambrosial nectar), also present is
the poison. This is the truth. Gurbani says:
Poison and nectar
dwell together. Sandalwood trees are beautiful but snakes full of poison
encircle them too.
Similarly while many
people were getting blessed with Guru’s Divine bliss also there were some people
who started to argue and condemn the demoralizing Divine Poetry in the musical
form. Some even threw stones on Guruji, but Guru Nanak began to sing other
Divine Words. The gentle strains of His music along with Divine words soother
their hearts. They forgot to throw stones at Him. But still some orthodox
Muslims got upset by the performance of His music in the lands of Islam and
decided to punish him and approached their high priest Pir
Dastgir. The Pir Dastgir asked them to bring Guruji to his
accommodation.
Shortly after that Guru Nanak
was in Pir Dastgir’s residence. There was also sitting another holy man named as
Bahlol. Pir was sitting in his “PRICIOUS THRONE” while Guru ji was
standing on the ground surrounded by many ordinary people. The holy man [Highest
Priest] now began to question Guruji to give justification of what was happened
in early morning.
Pir Dastgir asked, “O Hindi
Faqir (Saint), why were you singing unprincipled and immoral musical verses on
the sacred land of Bagdad? Don’t you know that according to Muslim Shariat (code
of law), music was forbidden? Which category of Faqir (Saint) do you belong to
and what is your background?
Pir Dastgir further
declared that music animates the passion and was regarded by Muslims as a means
of bodily pleasure and vulgar joy and consequently banned in Islamic
countries.
Guru Nanak
explained to Pir Dastgir the true function of music.
Guruji stated, “Music is a powerful instrument of both good and evil. It melts
the hearts and thus and can be a vehicle of spiritual inspiration.
God the great Musician has
created the cosmic melody-the gentle rustle of the reeds (a thin strip of
material which vibrates to produce a sound on a musical instrument) and waving
plants, the murmur of the stream, the gushing of torrents, the humming of the
bees, the constitutes the orchestra of nature. Love of music is a part of human
nature. Whenever a person is happy or alone, he sings or hums a
tune.”
Why not use the natural
characteristic for music for higher goals and values. Why not sing holy songs in
praise of Allah, the Lord of the Universe! This kind of music attunes the
individual should to the Universal Soul. The corrupt passions of man are thus
directed to sublime channels. As such, music can be used as an aid to spiritual
fulfillment.”
The Pir
Dastgir was greatly impressed by the Guru's argument
in favor of sacred music. He and his followers who wanted to
lynch the Guru for the alleged crime against Islamic tradition became his
admirers and friends.
Now Pir
Dastgir came to a state of Humbleness and asked Guru
Nanak Dev Ji,
“O Hindi Faqir, since the day I
am meditating, there are three questions always echo my brain all the
time.
- First question:-If the
God (Khuda/Allah) has created the world, and then who had created GOD? Who was
before God?
- Second Question:- Where
does God (Allah) live?
- Third Question:-What
does Khuda (Allah/God) do?
Question is always a burdon on
anyone’s mind. If a person is walking with lots of weight on head, then it is
very hard to walk comfortably. Similarly if we have lots of question on our mind
then we grow anxious, until a perfect answer is discovered.
Pir Dastgir had burden of
questions too. When he judged Guru Nanak a potential of easing his mental load,
he offered three questions to Guru Nanak and said,
“These questions have been
constantly straining my mind for many years. In Islam we
believe Allah lives seven skies above the earth and according
to some in seven nether including earth itself. But I want you to explain about
HIS existence”
Now Guru ji said, “Your
questions are very valuable and priceless, but difficult too. I
know you are a highly spiritual leader. I have heard that people has utmost
respect for you and bring pearls, diamonds rubies and jewelries to offer you as
obeisance. They bring lots of money to you and bow before you. They also pay
respect by donating golden coins on your feet for sake of seeking answers to
their sufferings. Now I want you to show me those pearls, diamonds rubies and
jewelries? I want you to bring them to me before I answer your
questions.”
Pir Dastgir instantly had a
current of shock waves flowing through his mind. He was now
thinking, I have not yet received any answer to my questions, but payment is
already being asked. But because he wanted to end his accumulated mental stress
over the years, he ordered his disciples to bring a plate full of diamond, pears
and gold coins to offer Guru Nanak in a hope he might get the
answers.
Guruji now looked at Pir
Dastgir and said, “Pir, I want you to count these
diamonds one by one.”
Pir was bit astonished but he
stared counting as…
“1” [Ek] ……… “2” [Do’] ………
“3” [Tin] …………..”4” [Char]
When Pir reached the count of
FOUR, Guru stopped him and said, “You are not a good accountant, you lack basic
counting skills.”
Pir said, “I have counted
correctly up to four”
But Guru Ji said, “ Yes while
counting up to “4” you made a mistake and I want you to recount.”
He started counting again, “1”
[Ek] ……. “2” [Do’] ……… “3” [Tin] …………..”4” [Char]. Sooner when he reached the
count four, Guru stopped him again and said,” Pir, you are wrong
again.”Pir grew bit
angry but politely said, “I am going to recount again, just stop me to a point
when you think I am wrong. I just want to know where the problem is, in my
counting?” Satguru
said, “ Ok, I will tell you”. Now he started counting as......
“1” [Ek] ……. , Guruji stopped him and said, “Pir, start
counting prior to “1” [Ek]. Pir replied nervously, “How can I count
prior to “1”. Before “1” [Ek], is NOTHING. I must start with 1”.
Guru Nanak Dev ji said,
“YES”. “1” … Ek Onkar. There is nothing before “1”. He is only ONE. Everything start from
“1”. One is HIM.
He is
seed, the origin, the primal Lord.”
Guru ji recited Mool Mantar and
said it is a seed. Nothing is beyond this. It is the primal truth that the
creator is “1” [Ek]. It is the foundation of the whole world and
beyond..
“There is only but ONE
God, the Eternal Truth, Almighty Creator, and Unfearful, without Hate
and Enmity, Immortal Entity, Unborn, Self-Existent. The ONE who was True before
the creation, The One Who was True in the beginning of the creation, The One Who
is True now, and O Nanak, The One Who shall be True forever”.
WOW!!!!!, said Pir. He was so
happy and satisfied, so were the people around him. Pir grew so emotional and
came from a state of ego to a state of humbleness and politely offered
second question to Guru Nanak,
“Hey, Nanak, this
seed who is the creator of this world and after, where does He live?
Where would we search Him? In our Islam it is said that He live in seven skies
above the earth.”
Guru Ji came into blessing mood
and asked Dastgir to tell someone fetch a pot full of Milk. The pot full of milk
was offered to Guru Nanak instantly. Guruji now was focusing His blessed vision
upon milk very anxiously and said,
“Pir,
there is something in it.”
Pir got so worried and started
thinking that some notorious person may have added something into it. But Pir
knew his followers were very kind to him and will not do anything wrong against
his will. So said, “O Hindi Faqir, there is nothing in it, I am so
sure.”Guruji, “There is
something in it” “What
is it, then, tell us please?” asked Pir. Guru ji said, “Butter!!!!!
Now you show me where is it? Can you see it? Simply tell me yes or no.”
Pir Dastgir was a highly
spiritual saint so he instantly agreed with Guruji and said, “Yes, there is
surely “Butter” in it but it is not visible”.
Each and every drop
of milk contains butter and also the fire is contained in all firewood.
Similarly in each and every living being resides HIM. God Light
is contained in the high and the low; the Lord lives in the
hearts of all beings. He is pervaded and saturated in each and every
heart. The Perfect Lord is completely permeating everyone, everywhere; He
created the Creative Power of the Universal energy, within which He
dwells. HIS creative
power resides in Nature. He is saturated in to water, land, and
sky; He Himself is All-pervading. His Creative Power is omnipresent, in
all form and color
Pir was listening very
carefully to Guruji’s Divine Message and was so thrilled. He
was so happy again and fully convinced with Guru’s answers and asked his final
question,
“Nanak, such a powerful God, what does it do? What is His
profession”?
Guru Nanak Ji smiled and
replied,
“Dastgir, you can carry on asking me questions and I will be answering them one
by one with Divine Knowledge. But now I am thinking that you
are insulting Allah, Divine power. God has its shape in Divine Knowledge
(Shabad). [Waho Waho Guru’s Shabad is the creator itself). His true picture is,
contemplation (study and understanding) of Shabad. His power is
in His Shabad. I am thinking that you are not respecting the Divine Words coming
out of my mouth. You yourself are sitting at a higher place in a “Precious
Throne” and listening to “Divine Message” about Him. This is principally and
ethically wrong”.
By now, listening to
Guru’s soothing words had already melted at Dastgir’s mind. His
heart was pierced by Guru’ spoken words and gently asked, “Nanak, what should I
do, then?”
“Just do what you actually
should do, come out of your Throne and walk down to a ground
level. I will sit in your throne. You can then ask as many
questions you want and I will answer them all.” Guruji Replied.
This is rule/principle of the
world; teacher/judge always sits at higher place or in a higher
chair.
Dastgir thought, this business
is not that expensive. I want to gain Divine knowledge and
Nanak wants to give me without any cost. By replacing seat for a moment is not
going do any harm. I must exchange sitting locations, as I needed answers to my
questions that had been bugging my mind for many years now. This is the time to
receive ultimate peace for my mind and soul.
Pir Dastgir came
down and sat at the level of Guruji’s feet and Satrguru Nanak
was now sitting in his Throne. Dastgir Pir asked his final
question with full devotion and love,
“Nanak, Tell me
quickly, what does He do?
Guruji replied, “Dastgir……..
This is what He [Allah/Waheguru] does. A person who sits on the Throne, brings
him down and person who is on the ground, place him at the higher
place.”
- God changes the beggar into a
king, and the king into a beggar.
- God makes idiotic fool to be
transformed into a Pandit (Superior), a religious scholar, and the Pundit
(Superior), into a fool.
- God assumes so many forms, and
plays so many games, and yet, He remains detached from it all.
- God makes laughing people cry,
and crying people to laugh.
- God fills what is empty, and
empties what is full - such are His ways. He Himself spread out the expanse of
His Maya, and He Himself beholds it. Make people die and bring dead in to
life.
- God makes business profitable
and profitable to bear losses.
This is HIS task.
This is His profession. No one knows the state of the
Lord that how incalculable, infinite, incomprehensible and immaculate
is He, who is a mystery to the entire world. All we can do is that Cast off all
our doubts and pray by focus our consciousness on His Feet i.e. Guru
Shabad.
Dastgir was so
satisfied. Tears were flowing through his eyes. Guruji’s Divine messages were
saturated in his heart and he fell on to Guruji’s feet. The throne on which
Dastgir enshrined Guru Nanak was called “Amar Singhasan” and still
situated in Bagdad. Pir Dastgir had a board and fixed on the throne with the
following Label:
"Rabul Majeed Hazrat Baba
Nanak"
Its
translation: The Blessed Messenger of God, Hazarat Baba
Nanak.
Gurudwara in
Bagdad, Iraq where the whole incident took place, 1511AD...
Waheguru Ji
Ka Khlalsa …………………………… Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh
Amardeep Singh [BSc
BEngg.(Hons) MEngg]
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