Guru Angad Dev Ji and the Tapa)
Guru Angad Sahib Ji lived at Khadur Sahib in the Punjab, India. There lived a yogi named Shiv Nath in the same village. Yogis were saints who did not marry. They had a great hold on the people. Shiv Nath was very proud. He became jealous of the Guru’s fame. So he started making plans to get rid of the Guru by fair means or foul. He was on the look out for a chance to make the Guru feel small.
Once, it did not rain for a long time. There was a danger of drought. So the people were worried. They went to the yogi and asked him to do something about it. The yogi replied in anger, ‘How can you expect rain, you fools, when you look upon a married man as your Guru? Turn him out of the village and you will surely get rain.”
The people were carried away by the yogi’s words. They went to the Guru and said, “O Guru, the crops are dying for want of rain. If you will kindly leave this village, the yogi can save us by bringing rain for us.”
“Dear friends,” replied the Guru, “Rain and sunshine are natural. They are in the hands of God. Still, I don’t mind leaving the village if it is in your interest.” The next day, the Guru left the village. The people went to the yogi once more to ask for rain. The yogi could do nothing against the law of nature. It did not rain. The people waited for some days but then became very angry and realised their fault. They dragged the yogi out of his hut into their fields. It so happened that it rained in every field into which they dragged the yogi. So everyone was keen to drag the yogi into his own field first. They dragged him this way and that till he was sorry and accepted that he lied about the Guru.
The villagers were very sorry to have turned the Guru out of the village. They realised their mistake. They went to him and begged his pardon. They brought Guruji back with great respect. The Guru told the people to have faith in the Will of God. He then started a common kitchen in that village, with the help of his followers. This was known as the ‘Guru Ka Langar’ (“the Guru’s Kitchen”). Anyone could come at any time and have a free dinner in the Langar. Men, women and children of all castes, religions, colours and races sat and ate together. Many people cheerfully offered free service in the Langar and joined the sangat regularly.
“Why call him blind, who is blind by the Will of God? Nanak, it is he who will not understand God’s Will, who should be called blind.” (Guru Angad Sahib ji)
“What pleases Him, Nanak, is good. They who must abide by His Will, have no power of their own” (Guru Angad Sahib ji)
“When He gives His order, Men must follow, Men must act according to God’s Will; Nanak, Men come when they are sent by God, And die when they are called by Him.” (Guru Angad Sahib ji)
Acknowledgement: http://tuhitu.blogspot.com/