Guru Gobind Singh and his three companions left Chamkaur Sahib at the dead of a December night. The Guru pointed to a star ‘and said to his companions, “We shall proceed in the direction of that star.” Because of pitch darkness, the Guru got separated from is three companions. He travelled barefooted. His path lay through wild land covered with thick thorny bushes. His feet Rot pierced with thorns. Blisters also appeared on them. His clothes got tom by getting entangled with 1 thorny bushes. The night was pitch dark a bitter cold wind was blowing fast under the circumstances he should not make much progress.
As short time before dawn he reached near a village named Kheri. There he was recognized by two Gujar, They raised an alarm.
He was forced to kill them. As the imperial army was after him, he could travel only by night. During the day he tested among clusters of thorny bushes, He had nothing to eat but the tender leaves of the plant. He had nothing but a clod of earth to rest his head on. But amid all these hardships the Guru’s heart and mind were as firm and strong as ever. When he lay down to sleep, his hands always grasped his drawn sword, ‘The Guru was travelling through the Machhiwara forest, Feeling exhausted, he lay down to take rest. His three ‘companions had travelled in the direction of the star Pointed out to them by the Guru. They reached the same spot. They found him sleeping with an earthen water pot for his pillow. They awakened him. They told him that the imperial army was in hot pursuit. It might be on them at any time. But he could not walk as his feet were blistered and painful. He told his Sikhs to go and take shelter in a neighboring garden. But how could they go leaving him there? Bhai Man Singh took him on his back and carried him to a well in that garden. There he took water and bathed for the first time after many days. He felt much refreshed.
The garden belonged to Gulaba Masand, a resident of Machhiwara. He heard of the Guru’s presence in his garden. He hurried to meet the Guru and offer him his services. He took the Guru and his companions to his house. He lodged them in the upper story. But, as the imperial army was after him, it was not safe for the Guru stay there for long. He had to move on somehow.
In that village there lived two Pathan brothers named Ghani Khan and Nabi Khan, They had been in the Guru’s ‘Service for some time, they heard of his being in their village. They also heard of the risky situation in which he then was. They decided to help him. They went to him and offered their services. They said, ‘O true king, permit us to carry you to a safe place.”
While the Gura was in Gulaba’s house an old Sikh lady, named Gurdev, came to see him, She had been spinning and weaving cloth for him. She had been, at the same time, praying that he might be pleased to visit her village to accept it. On hearing of the Guru’s presence in her village, she brought and offered that cloth to him. He got it dyed blue. He got it made into are be and a sheet. He Muhammad an sacred place near Multan, ‘They travelled on in this way without any mishap. One day, however, they were overtaken by a detachment of the imperial army which had been searching for the Guru, Its commander suspected that the Uchch ka Pir was no other than Guru Gobind Singh. He ‘questioned the bearers of the litter closely and long. He was not satisfied with their answers, He sent for Qazi Pir Muhammad, who had been once the Gunn’s Persian tutors, He asked the Qazi to identify the occupant of the litter. The Qazi said, “Don’t stop this great and holy personage. Don’t put him to any inconvenience. He is a high saint in union with Allah. Let him proceed unmolested.’ The ‘commander was satisfied. He made apologies to the Uchch ka Pir for having suspected and inconvenienced him. He begged him to go whither he pleased. For this timely service the Qazi was given a Hukamnama or letter of recommendation addressed to Sikhs in general, It was highly prized by the Qazi and his decedent.
Thus escorted, the Guru proceeded towards He has in the Ludhiana district. In that village lived Mahant Kirpal Das, He was the same Udasis Mahant who had distinguished himself in the battle of Bhangni. He welcomed the Guru most devoutly and cordially. Ghani Khan and Nabi Khan were permitted to go back home They were given a pair of gold bracelets and a Hukamnama, In that Hukamnama it was written that Ghani Khan and Nabi Khan were dearer to the Guru that his own sons.
Mahant Kirpal Das was eager to serve the Guru, But he had heard the imperial orders against helping or sheltering the Guru, He feared lest some local official should come to know of the Guru’s stay at his house. The Guru read his mind, He decided to move on. Mahant Kirpal Das acted as one of the bearers of Guru’s litter for some miles. Then he was allowed to go back.
“From Hehar the Guru moved on to Jatpura. There he was met by a Muhammedan named Rai Kalha. He was a rich and important person and the Chaudhry of Jagraon and Rai Kot. He was a devout admirer of the Guru. He knew of the imperial orders against helping or sheltering the Guru, But that knowledge did not deter him from serving the Guru, He took him to his house and treated him with a most loving hospitality. The Guru stayed with Rai Kalha for many days.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 22, 1995
