Bhai Bhikari Bhabra
Bhai Bhikari Bhabra was a resident of Gujarat city (now in Pakistan). He used to serve the Guru’s disciples and other saints, discuss spiritual matters and recite Gurbani. One day a disciple prayed to Guru Har Gobind to meet a perfect disciple. Guru ji asked him to go to Gujarat.
The disciple went there and met Bhai Bhikari who took him to his residence and looked after him with great hospitality. The disciple found that Bhai Bhikari’s son’s marriage was to take place the next day. There was a lot of festivities and music in the house. New ornaments were being made and costly clothes were being stitched. Then the disciple found a bier made of sandalwood (a frame to carry the dead body) and other necessary items needed in cremation ceremony. The disciple inquired about the things needed in a cremation ceremony when the preparations of his son’s marriage were in progress. Bhai Bhikari said that he would answer the question the next day.
At night the marriage ceremony of Bhai Bhikari’s son was performed. A lot of charity was given and the bride was brought home. After the marriage Bhai Bhikari’s son suffered an acute pain in his abdomen and died. All the people who were singing auspicious songs started mourning. Bhai Bhikari was very calm. He took out the sandalwood bier and performed the cremation of his son.
After all this, the disciple inquired that if Bhai Bhikari was aware of his son’s death, why did he perform the marriage? Bhai Bhikari said that his son was a sage in his last birth and the daughter-in-law was a prostitute. One day she brought offerings for the sage. They were both attracted towards each other. After some time both died. The sage took birth as his son. Bhai Bhikari knew all this because he was blessed with Divine Knowledge. He said that the daughter-in-law would serve the saints in his house, listen to Gurbani and thus be liberated in this life.
Then the disciple asked Bhai Bhikari that if he had this much of knowledge, why did he not request Guru ji to extend the life of his son? He said that there was no use in asking for false objects from Guru ji. The foremost duty of a disciple was to remain happy in the will of Guru ji.
Waheguru…
Acknowledgement: http://tuhitu.blogspot.com/