Saturday, May 01, 2021

History of Guru Teg Bahadur Jee - Part 3: Compassionate & Helping Nature

Guru Teg Bahadur jee was not interested in showing off and worldly distactions. In ‘Mehma Prakash’ it is written that Guru Teg Bahadur jee possessed great knowledge. He had humility in his heart, and acted with royalty (dignity and grace). He was the ocean of patience and had a giving nature.

ਅਤਿ ਨਿਮ ਭੂਤ, ਬੀਰ ਗਤ ਦਿਆਲ ਰਾਜ ਬੇਖ, ਵੈਰਾਗ ਬਿਸਾਲ
ਹਿਰਦੇ
ਧੁਨ, ਸਭ ਜਗ ਬਿਉਹਾਰ । ਸਹਜ ਸਮਾਧ, ਏਕ ਲਿਵ ਤਾਰ

When his father, Guru Hargobind Sahib jee, would come, he would keep his eyes lowered. He would stay close to the Guru and always ready to offer himself to do any Seva (selfless service). Guru jee would also make (Guru) Teg Bahadur jee sit near him, and gave him lots of love and affection.

As soon as they saw or knew someone was suffering or in need, they would immediately fulfill their needs. Once they took all the expensive items from his home and took them to give to someone less well off who was in need. He was only yet four years old, when Baba Gurditta jee, his eldest brother, got married. On the day of the wedding, Guru Teg Bahadur jee was prepared for the wedding. He was given a new dress to wear and given some bangles and other valuables. The wedding procession was getting ready to to set off for Batala when a crying child came to the sight of (Guru) Teg Bahadur jee. When (Guru) Teg Bahadur jee ran across to the child and asked him, “Why are you crying?” The child replied, “You are wearing beautiful clothes, and I have no clothes in home for me to wear.” (Guru) Teg Bahadur jee took off all of his dress, along with the bangles and valuables he had, and gave them all to the child. The wedding procession is ready to set off, when (Guru) Teg Bahadur jee returns home without his clothes.

Mata Nanak jee was taken aback to see (Guru) Teg Bahadur jee without his dress, to which (Guru) Teg Bahadur jee replied, “Dear mother, I will get new clothes right now, but no one was going to fulfill need of that poor child.” When Mata Nanak jee informed Guru Hargobind Sahib jee of what (Guru) Teg Bahadur jee had done. Guru jee became very happy and told Mata Nanak jee, “If today my beloved son has given his Libaas (clothes) to someone without clothes, then I have faith that tomorrow he will give up his breaths for someone else’s Libaas (clothes) and Vishvaas (faith).”

(Guru) Teg Bahadur jee was the embodiment of detachment to worldliness. He was unaffected by the heat or cold, sunlight or shad, and pain or suffering. The Guru Teg Bahadur jee from a childhood was an embodiment of the following Gurbani verses:

ਜੋ ਨਰੁ ਦੁਖ ਮਹਿ ਦੁਖੁ ਨਹੀ ਮਾਨੈ
ਸੁਖ
ਸਨੇਹੁ ਅਰੁ ਭੈ ਨਹੀ ਜਾ ਕੈ ਕੰਚਨ ਮਾਟੀ ਮਾਨੈ ੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ

That man, who in the midst of pain, does not feel pain, who is not affected by pleasure, affection or fear, and who looks alike upon gold and dust (has God residing within them). ||1||Pause||

(Sorath M:9, Ang 633)

 

Source:
Principal Satbir Singh's book, 'Et Jin Karee: Jeevani Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Jee' (page 15), and Dr Sukhpreet Singh Udhoke, 'Katha Jivan Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji' (YouTube: 22/06/2017)

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