Pir Dastgir and Guru Nanak Dev ji
Timeless Nirankaar (the Lord Waheguru), Himself came to earth in the form of Guru Nanak Dev ji. Guru Ji visited many countries to preach Divine message along with his companion Bhai Mardana ji, the Rebab player.
1_Fir_Baba_GayaToday 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 ji 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. Guru jis voice, full of Divine Melody, drew the attention of surrounding people of Bagdad.
Bhai Gurdas ji said…Diti_Bang_Niwaj_Kar
It was a pure Divine bliss that calmed 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:
melagar_bere_Hai
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 demoralising Divine Poetry in the musical form. Some even threw stones on Guruji, but Guru Nanak Dev ji continued singing the Divine Words(Keertan). The gentle strains of His music along with Divine words soothed their hearts. They forgot to throw stones at Him. In the meantime approached their high priest Pir Dastgir. Pir Dastgir asked them to bring Guruji to his accommodation.
Shortly after that Guru Nanak was in Pir Dastgir’s residence. Pir was sitting on his “PRICIOUS THRONE” while Guru ji was standing on the ground surrounded by many ordinary people. The holy man -Pir [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 Dev ji 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 soul 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.”
Pir Dastgir was greatly impressed by Guru ji’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 which always echo in 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 ji 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 ji 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”.
Sagal_Vasanter
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’s 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 Satguru 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.”
Shin_meh_rao
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 Dev ji 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
Gurudwara in Bagdad, Iraq where the whole incident took place, 1511AD…
Acknowledgement: http://tuhitu.blogspot.com/