March

Looking at the pages of our history this month, we see three events connected with the Gurus-the Gurgaddi Dives of Guru Har Rai ji and the days on which Guru Angad Dev ji and Guru Hargobind Sahib ji merged with the Eternal Light (joti jot samana). Khalsa College, a great Sikh institution, was founded in Amritsar and it was in the same city that the Kar Sewa, the do-silting/cleaning to the sarovar (tank) at the Harmandar Sahib- was undertaken in 1973 after a span of 50 years

We also look at military advances, including the capture of Delhi and the building to two important Gurdwaras there, the capture of Peshawar by Maharaja Ranjit Singh as well as re- verses like the deposing of Maharaja Daleep Singh by the British. We have Akali Phula Singh’s and Bhagat Singh’s example of supreme sacrifice, and the treachery of the functionaries of the Khalsa Darbar who betrayed the Sikhs to the British.

What can we learn from all this? Many things, since we all look at history through our individual perspective, but one thought comes to mind: steadfastness of belief in the caching of our Gurus and building. as well as nurturing, proper institutions has and will always be the bed- rock of our community’s advancement.

Guru Angad Dev Ji

Bhai Lahina, who was to become the Second Guru of the Sikhs, was born on March 31, 1504. He was on a pilgrimage when he decided to stop on the way at Kartarpur, to seek an audience with Guru Nanak Dev ji. The moment he met the Guru, Bhai Lahina declared that his pilgrimage had come to an end and decided to spend the rest of his life in the Guru’s sewa.

Such was Lahina’s devotion, limit- less faith and boundless humility that Guru Nanak Dev ji bestowed the name Angad on him to signify that the disciple had become as much a part of him as his own limbs. And when the time came, he chose to bypass his own sons and nominated Angad his successor-he transferred his own light to him, Angad became Nanak, Nanak

Guru Angad Dev ji shifted to Khadur Sahib. His wife, Mata Khivi ji looked after the langar where everyone, including the Guru, partook of the meets together. Such was the Guru’s fame that Emperor Humayun also came to Khadur Sahib to seek Guru Angad Dev ji’s blessings. Sixty three of the shalokas written by Guru Angad Dev Ji are incorporated in the Guru Granth Sahib. Guru Angad Dev ji passed away at Khadur Sahib on 29 March 1552, passing on succession to Guru Amar Das ji.

Article extracted from this publication >> March 3, 1995