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n this article, we will delve into Saakhi #13 of the Sikha Di Bhagat Maala series.
This series explores the life stories of Gursikhs from the time of Guru Nanak Dev Ji to Guru Arjan Dev Ji, as written by Shaheed Bhai Mani Singh Ji.
The Story of Bhai Dhinga Ji
ਨਾਈ ਧਿੰਙ ਵਖਾਣੀਐ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸੇਵਿ ਕੁਟੰਬੁ ਤਰਾਵੈ ॥
Dhinga, the barber serving the Guru, got his whole family liberated.
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਸੁਖ ਫਲ ਅਲਖ ਲਖਾਵੈ ॥੧੪॥
The Gurmukhs, having sight of God themselves, make others also have the same glimpse.
Bhai Dhinga Ji became a Sikh through Guru Nanak Dev Ji and served Guru Angad Dev Ji. He used to stay very near to the Darbar of Guru Angad Dev Ji. He would serve the Guru and attend to the needs of the Sikhs. Bhai Dhinga Ji would bring buckets of warm water for the Sangat to bathe and would also massage the legs and shoulders of the Sikhs who came to visit Guru Sahib Ji from afar.
Living like the Dead
One day, Bhai Dhinga Ji came to Guru Sahib Ji and pleaded, “Please bestow upon me a teaching by which I can attain liberation.”
Guru Sahib Ji mentioned the word 'Mureed', which means a dead body. In the Malay language, 'Mureed' means a student or a disciple. In Bhai Gurdaas Ji’s Vaar, we see the word 'Mureed'.
ਮੁਰਦਾ ਹੋਇ ਮੁਰੀਦੁ ਨ ਗਲੀ ਹੋਵਣਾ।
ਸਾਬਰੁ ਸਿਦਕਿ ਸਹੀਦੁ ਭਰਮ ਭਉ ਖੋਵਣਾ।
Guru Sahib Ji said, “A Sikh should be like a dead body. If you look at a dead body, you will realise that it doesn’t question or resist any movement that is done to it by its masters. It shifts in the direction that the master puts it in, without any denial.” Guru Sahib Ji says that the disciple must be like a dead body, where there is no Haumai or ego left within him.
The Grave of Truth
Guru Sahib Ji then explains that just as a dead body is placed in a grave or a coffin, consider that grave to be analogous to the Guru. Bhai Gurdaas Ji speaks about the qualities of a Mureed in their Baani.
ਮੁਰਦਾ ਹੋਇ ਮੁਰੀਦੁ ਸੋ ਗੁਰ ਗੋਰਿ ਸਮਾਵੈ ।
The disciple who remains devoid of hopes and desires will ultimately enter into the grave of the Guru, transforming into the Guru.
When a Sikh becomes a Mureed, their ego and the other four vices (lust, anger, greed, and attachment) perish, and they merge completely with the light of the One. In life, one becomes spiritually dead, relinquishing self-conceit and embracing Vaheguru's divine will with love and humility. The Guru then blesses the Mureed with wisdom of the soul and Vaheguru (Aatma and Parmaatma), leading to liberation.
Bhagat Sain Ji
To inspire Bhai Dhinga Ji, Guru Sahib Ji gives the example of another barber who became a Bhagat - Bhagat Sain Ji. Enlightened by the Guru’s grace, they left a legacy in their Baani, which is still revered by Sikhs in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
ਸੁਣਿ ਪਰਤਾਪੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਦਾ ਦੂਜਾ ਸਿਖੁ ਹੋਆ ਸੈਣੁ ਨਾਈ।
Hearing of the glory of Kabir, Sain also turned to be a disciple.
ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਭਗਤਿ ਰਾਤੀ ਕਰੈ ਭਲਕੈ ਰਾਜ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਜਾਈ।
ਆਏ ਸੰਤ ਪਰਾਹੁਣੇ ਕੀਰਤਨੁ ਹੋਆ ਰੈਣਿ ਸਬਾਈ।
One night some sadhus came to him and the whole night was spent singing the Lord's praises.
Bhagat Sain Ji would rise at Amritvela to worship Vaheguru lovingly. During the day, he fulfilled his duty of preparing the king.
One day, a group of saints visited Bhagat Sain Ji’s house. He served them throughout the night, listening to their sermons. The following morning, as Bhagat Sain Ji was usually tasked with attending to the King, he couldn't do so as the saints were at his house, and he had to serve them.
ਛਡਿ ਨ ਸਕੈ ਸੰਤ ਜਨ ਰਾਜ ਦੁਆਰਿ ਨ ਸੇਵ ਕਮਾਈ।
Bhagat Sain Ji decided to obey the Guru’s Hukam and serve the saints. Meanwhile, Vaheguru protected the honour of the devotee by assuming Bhagat Sain Ji’s form and attending to the King in the palace.
ਸੈਣ ਰੂਪਿ ਹਰਿ ਜਾਇ ਕੈ ਆਇਆ ਰਾਣੈ ਨੋ ਰੀਝਾਈ।
God himself took the form of Sain. He served the king in such a way that the king was overjoyed.
Bhagat Sain Ji was worried, but he couldn’t do much. When the saints left Bhagat Sain Ji’s house, Bhagat Ji ran to the palace to apologise to the King.
ਸਾਧ ਜਨਾਂ ਨੋ ਵਿਦਾ ਕਰਿ ਰਾਜ ਦੁਆਰਿ ਗਇਆ ਸਰਮਾਈ।
Bidding fairwell to the saints, Sain hesitantly arrived at the palace of the king.
When he came to the court, The King saw Bhagat Ji and hugged him. The King was pleased with his service and blessed him with a royal necklace.
ਰਾਣੈ ਦੂਰਹੁੰ ਸਦਿ ਕੈ ਗਲਹੁੰ ਕਵਾਇ ਖੋਲਿ ਪੈਨ੍ਹਾਈ।
ਵਸਿ ਕੀਤਾ ਹਉਂ ਤੁਧੁ ਅਜੁ ਬੋਲੈ ਰਾਜਾ ਸੁਣੈ ਲੁਕਾਈ।
‘You have overpowered me’, said the king and his words were heard by one and all.
ਪਰਗਟੁ ਕਰੈ ਭਗਤਿ ਵਡਿਆਈ ॥੧੬॥
God himself manifests the grandeur of the devotee.
Bhagat Sain Ji realised that God had protected his honour.
Bhai Dhinga Ji listened to the story of Bhagat Sain Ji carefully and held it close to his heart. He lived his life in accordance with the teachings of Guru Angad Dev Ji, serving the Sikhs of the Guru and relinquishing his ego. In doing so, he attained liberation, as did his entire lineage.
