The Events leading to Gathering Gurbani

The pure belongs to the 'Wonderous Enlightener'. The victory belongs to 'Wonderous Enlightener'.

Going back to history in 1592, poets had started to use the pen name ‘Nanak’ within their poetry and would claim that it was 'Gurbani'. However, such creations were meaningless when compared to Gurbani’s true message. Hence, people could mislead Sikhs with their own personal teachings and manipulate the real message. This displayed just how popular the name of ‘Nanak’ had become that people would use the name to legitimise their own works. However, Guru Arjan Dev Ji considered the potential doubts that could occur amongst Sikhs with so much unauthorised works being propagated under the Guru’s name. In order to keep the authenticity of Gurbani intact, he decided for a compilation to be made of the true revelations.

Guru Ji gathered the congregation of Sikhs within his court and ordered all to bring any Gurbani collections that they possess - attributed to Guru Nanak Dev Ji. 'Hukam-name' (edicts) were also sent far and wide to bring forth any written accounts of Gurbani that Guru Nanak Dev Ji may have scribed on their travels outside Punjab. Pehra Mokha Ji (a Sikh who had learnt the Gurmukhi script directly from Guru Nanak Dev Ji and was the scribe for the original ‘Janam Sakhi’) was instructed to write such letters.

As a result, literature such as ‘Praan Sangli’ was brought from Sangla-deep (an island situated in the south of India, now known as Sri Lanka) by Bhai Prana. ‘Ratanmala’ was brought from Kabul (present day Afghanistan) and Banno Ji brought 59 Shabads which he believed to be Gurbani. ‘Pentis Akhri’ (that presents pure Vedantic theories) was also offered to Guru Ji. Much other literature was brought to Guru Arjan Dev Ji in this same way from Sikhs across the lands. However, all of the such compositions were ruled out by Guru Ji as being ‘Kachi Baani’ (words that were falsely attributed to Guru Ji). Guru Amardas Ji also warns the Sikhs against connecting with such words in their revelation ‘Ramkali M:3 Anand’:

“Without the true Guru, other (unauthorised) utterances are false. The utterances are false without the true Guru; other (contrary to the authentic teachings) utterances are false. The speakers are false, and the listeners are false; those who recite and preach them are false. They may continually chant, 'Har, Har' (the name of God repeatedly) with their tongues, but they do not know (God, through) what they are saying. Those whose consciousness is lured by ‘Maya’ (the false illusion of the creation); they are reciting mechanically. Says Nanak, without the true Guru, other (inauthentic) utterances are false. ||24||”

(Raag Raamkalee, Guru Amar Daas Ji, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 917)

In this case, only the authentic Bani (words) were considered by Guru Ji for the compilation process. Other literature was not accepted. Some Sikhs informed Guru Ji of Gurbani ‘Pothiya’ (volumes) that were kept in Govindval Sahib (located in the Taran Taran district of the Majha region of Punjab, India) in the house of Mohan Ji (the elder son of Guru Amar Das Ji) and requested that these should also be brought forward. Upon hearing this, Bhai Gurdas Ji (the maternal uncle of Guru Ji) stood up and volunteered to go and collect these volumes diligently. Upon reaching the house, continuously knocking the doors and shouting aloud, there was still no answer. The whole night passed but Mohan Ji remained seated in his ‘Chaubara’ (which is a room consisting of doors on all four sides of it, that is built on the house’s highest floor) within the state of a continuous 'Samadhi'.

The word ‘Samadhi’ is a combination of two words and two meanings. ‘Sma’ in Farsi (Persian) means sky and ‘Dhi’ in Sanskrit means 'Budhi' (intellect). So combined together, when the intellect of a person becomes motionless like the sky, that duration of time is called ‘Samadhi’. There are two types of ‘Samadhi’, 'Sa-Vikalap' and 'Nir-Vikalap'.

Bhai Gurdas Ji returned to Amritsar Sahib unsuccessfully so Baba Budha Ji volunteered to go and bring the revelations back to Guru Ji. Upon arrival to the house, seeing that Mohan Ji was still unresponsive and still sitting in a deep meditative state, Baba Ji broke the door’s hinges and removed the doors. Upon entering, he started to move Mohan Ji in to different positions to awaken him. Witnessing this, Baba Mohri Ji (the younger brother of Mohan Ji) warned Baba Budha Ji from proceeding in such attempts in case Mohan Ji feels disrupted and utters curses him in anger. This would benefit nobody as Baba Budha Ji was a senior respected Sikh. Thus, both Sikhs returned to Amritsar Sahib empty handed.

To be continued...

The pure belongs to the 'Wonderous Enlightener'. The victory belongs to 'Wonderous Enlightener'.

References: 1. Sant Gurbachan Singh - 'Pehla Parkash' Katha 2. Kavi Santokh Singh - Gurprtap Sooraj 3. Baba Hari Singh - Gurbani Arth Bhandar 4. Kahn Singh Nabha - Mahan Kosh 5. S.H.A.R.E - Sikhi to the Max 6. Alphabet Inc. - Google