Inner Strength - 5
In last four write ups I tried to give picture of what malady is still gripping Sikhs particularly rural folks but grave worshipping is not the only malady there are few more I would like to mention and that will help in introspection. We have a set of smart managers who are good in oration of Gurbani and attracting follower ship.Guru Gobind Singh ji had a great vision and according to his age at the time of his Jyoti -Jyot he was only in his forties. But he knew that this Society, he and 9 Gurus have tried to install on principles of Kirat Karni, wand shakna, simran has not become fully purified  and there will be more people with vested interests who will try to exploit people. The superstitious beliefs were not yet eradicated from minds of people. For this reasons he laid down the code of conduct for Sikhs to be followed in future. For this reason he passed on the Guruship to Granth Sahib ji and from now onwards Shabad Guru will be the only Guru of Sikhs and we are supposed to draw all the inspiration from Gurbani because that alone will show us the path to emancipation and union with Wahe Guru. Further he stopped the tradition of daswand and masands because he knew that money corrupts and the corruption in Masands had taken deeper roots. Contrary to his dictate in the name of preaching Gurbani many Deras have come up and they have attached themselves to prominent Gurudwaras or settled their deras in prominent places.They regularly send their masands whom they call Sevadars to collect cash and kind. During harvest time one can see medium size trucks and small jeeps collecting grain from farmers. They throw big bags in farmers homes to be filled with new grains and way back they collect them. They collect lakhs of tonnes of grains this way and sell it in the market and make cash. Kirat Karni is taboo for these Dera Chiefs only smart business enterprise.

Inner Strength - 4 
Baba Shekhpataji is a grave of a Muslim near Jandiala Guru off Jallundhar Amritsar Highway. The belief from this grave is spread that when cow or buffalo starts giving milk you make an offering of Kheer made from that cow or buffalo' s milk at this grave so that it gives milk for longer period and remains healthy during its milking season. Hoards of farmers come to make offerings from all over Punjab. The overflow of Kheer is so much that even the dogs in the area refuse to eat kheer. This blind faith in such boon is so nonsensical that the rational thinking stops totally. What a cow or buffalo needs is proper feed and healthy living area, love and care. The prosperity that a dairy can bring is not by this boon but a proper dairy management but the superstitious believes make a healthy mind stump. There is no lack of education in Punjab but we have stopped thinking rationally and analytically. The hoard mentality needs to be tackled genuinely with a greater understanding to dissipate the fears that create to originate such fears. Sikh intellectuals and university professors should make more interactions with farmers and discuss the matter with gurbani quotes. 

Inner Strength - 3
Baba Garhaji bada Zahraji is a grave of a Muslim near my village on Khadoor Sahib- Tarn Taran Road. The belief has been spread that if you are in any kind of difficulty this majar Baba who died centuries ago will solve because he knows you are in trouble and if you are out of the trouble you promise to bring Alcohol as offering on this majar. Every June thousands of people gather for this Urs of Majar and offer Alcohol. There is a sort of village fair with lots of stall of mithai, toys and all the things usually done in Melas of this kind. There is also a stage for the cheap type of dancing by girls on loud music. Men get drunk unlimited because the Prasad here is Alcohol. Prominent Sikhs of the village collect money for langar. Once I happen to pass from there and my blood was boiling to see all this utter nonsense and #Sikhs enjoying their own degradation, -drunk out of control. What are we teaching to our new generation? There are around 6-7 such majars where people call for #GranthSahib recitation. The communication between the intellectuals and rural folk is completely broken. We need another Guru Singh Sabha movement to bring back people from this degradation. 

Inner Stength -2
Baba Shahid : 39 years ago after my marriage I came to my husband's village near Khadoor Sahib and the in-laws wanted me to go with them to pay obeisance to a grave known as Baba Shahid and I was confused because I was taught to pay obeisance only to Granth Sahib ji. Anyway I asked about the history of the grave and nobody knew it  but my inner voice told me to refuse to pay obeisance. The grave belonged to a Muslim old man who was poor and had occupied part of our land to keep his goats. 25 years later I came to village again and some ignorant Sikh NRI's from Hong Kong  built a Gurudwara on it. I  was appalled to see this progress and worst part was they kept Grave( Majar) in the centre in its original state and started doing Akhand path of Granth sahib on a lower level on one side. All the ignorant villager were and paying obeisance first to grave and then to Granth Sahib. I asked the granthi why was he doing Path here by insulting the holy book. His answer was simple ; if  I don't do it some one else will do it. The write up is to show that so much ignorance is living around us and it is difficult to begin a dialogue with such primitive people. Dhan Guru Nanak ji who had the courage to challenge such ignorance. I wonder what our Gurudwara Prabandhak committees are doing in such matters. Akhand Path are being organised on all such majars. Women folk of the villages are going every Friday to offer prayers and oil. Do we refuse to learn ?

Inner strength - Guru Nanak#tag while passing on his Guruship to Guru Angad Devji suggested that Guru Angadji go back to Khaddor Sahib area to do the missionary work for Sikhism. Guru Nanak was much worried about the influence of Sarwariyas( grave worshippers) on ignorant people. By Sikh missionary work you can emancipate people from the curse of ignorance. Guru Angad ji simplified the Punjabi Mahjani script into 35 akhri and a new script was born and it was taught to people in that area. Later this script came to be known as Gurmukhi. In those days only Brahman and upper castes could learn to read and right. This was a challenge by Gurus to the age old supremacy complex of high caste Hindus. It was broken but the sway of sarwarias is still immanent in this area of Majha. I shall mention few of these grave traditional places and you can judge that the inner strength required to cast away fear, superstitious beliefs is still lacking in Sikhs. Each one of us if bring Guru's teachings in a right way to implement within our families that will be right tribute to the great revolutionary ideas that Guru Nanak tried to infuse in our society.

Guru Nanak Prakash - 15
The past and the recent History of mankind has seen many revolutions to protest the political and economic subjugation and oppressions by the ruling class be they Monarchs or dictators. One wonders why Guru Nanak who totally understood the political, economical, social conditions of this country and all his life rebuked, reprimanded and protested the oppressors, Siddhas, Brahman, exploiters and rulers didn't take the path of revolution but chose religion as his central theme. Though his thinking was revolutionary and he had the courage to challenge the tyrant, the oppressor he chose religion to bring forward his revolutionary, reformatory ideas because he very well knew that to bring about a revolution you need like minded people. His acute sense of perception, hiswanderings across the length and breadth of country and his in depth knowledge of history and religions of this country and his understanding that downtrodden, bruised, suppressed by caste system and devoid of education to know their human rights people cannot and will not support his revolutionary ideas. He knew these people had developed a system of tolerance against Foreign rulers and suppression from own society and religious doctrines. An awakening to revolutionary undertakings amongst such lethargic people was not possible. That is why he chose the path of religion. He was an enlightened soul, a poet of outstanding expressions and paid tribute to the Almighty for all his understanding of His Creation and the Bani he received from Him.
He knew that to bring people out of their slumber it will take few generations such was the condition of this country, such was the deterioration in human values, such was the political subjugation, such was the social and religious suppression by high caste Hindus. To continue his missionary work he needed successors and in the golden years of his life he settled down in Kartarpur and started farming. People started coming to him and he chose Bhai Lehnaji one of his disciple to carry forward his mission and he embraced him and said you are my Angad now that means his body and soul. By that he means a person who understood his concepts, knowledge and mission. Thus a tradition of Guruship was started to carry forward his missionary work. Guru Angad was asked to settle in Khaddor Sahib area because influence of Sarwarias( the grave worshippers was strongest here and was not leading to the Truth of Almighty).

Guru Nanak Prakash - 14
As a child Guru Nanak was very inquisitive and often sat with the wandering Sadhus and Jogis who travelled away from main routes of the invaders. He was very inquisitive to know about the world beyond his village. They often discussed the religion, political and social situations of the country, plight of the poor and downtrodden and debated on the truth of the Almighty. He also learnt about the Siddhas from them. They believe in Shiva as their Supreme God and with their Yogic discipline attain super natural powers. When he grew up and started wandering called Udasis he often encountered these Siddhas in Himalayan Mountains as they were living in those regions away from the civilisation. Guru Nanak was perturbed by their indifference in the matter of country and plight of poor and downtrodden. The world all around was suffering and they were busy in selfish pursuit of achieving emancipation from this world and union with God. He felt that this pursuit was of physical nature because after attaining these super natural powers these people could not contribute to the humanity and he wonders how even after achieving these siddhis these people could unite with the Almighty because their hearts were full of arrogance of achievements, selfishness and there was no place for the Almighty. There are many verses in the Granth Sahib that show his rejection of such people. I will mention here one verse from page 637 which I personally feel is very beautiful.
He says:" A person when reciting the name of the Almighty reaches that state of mind where he gets elevated to feel that his heart is full of the light of morning sun and he feels like the opening of the lotus flower and he gets elevated to that knowledge which he may not get after achieving all eight 'siddis' and nine 'treasures' and dips in the holy rivers."

Guru Nanak Prakash - 13
As said earlier that Guru Nanak reprimands both the donor of offerings and the Brahman for taking them. The most degrading social consequences of making offering are begging. What started as sacred duty to make offerings and give charity has resulted in a class called beggars and this has spread all over the country the members of this class behave like pest and don't move away unless you give them something. Hindus have selected Amawas and Sankrat - 'changing of moon phase and beginning of month as auspicious days when offerings should be made to get returns from Gods. Around these two dates hordes of beggars line up outside temples. Guru Nanak has shunned this cultural downfall of the society where offerings have a religious sanction because it has the creation of sub-human class of beggars. I will mention just one verse from Ang 1012 of Guru Granth Sahib though his work is very elaborate in this matter He says," A disguised person colours his clothes prescribed by the Brahman that is saffron, makes a begging bowl and bag of cloth, goes door to door for begging and reminds people to take path of truth and forgets that he has forgotten the Lord himself and wanders through the world aimlessly, lost himself and his self respect like a gambler."
In his bani Jappuji Guru Nanak reminds us the Lord Almighty is a great Giver and he keeps giving without making any distinctions. He has given us planet earth with so many precious materials that we have been exploiting it for millions of years but it never ends. Still we keep asking for more and if we do not control our greed it removes shame, pride and self respect from within us. This development of the negative attributes makes us forget that we have the part of divine heritage within us. Once you forget the divine presence within you you can turn savage, plunderer, tyrant or even a thief.

Guru Nanak Prakash - 12
Worshipping in Hindu context always entails offerings made to deities and that are often in material nature like gold, silver,live stock, clothes and anything that they think deity would be pleased with and in return fulfil their wishes. The Brahman who had established as the self appointed leader and medium to reach the deities now started fixing exact time and date for rituals and to make these offerings when God would be pleased the most. The web of such superstitions was getting so complex that it was difficult to bring people out of this net because the fear was a factor that indoctrinated such beliefs. Guru Nanak has written many verses on this matter which are documented in Granth Sahib. For him 'simran' that is reciting His name is the only way that the Almighty returns the offerings. In his verses he reprimands both the priest and the donor for making offerings. Priests because it makes them idle and they don't want to labour for their earnings and they give birth to another class of idle people like Sadhus and beggars in the guise of holy men who go door to door for alms. In today's context their place has been taken by several Babas and Deras. These people are shunned by Guru Nanak.

Guru Nanak Prakash - 11
The consolidation of Sikh tenets was completed during Guru Nanak's life time but to spread the mission was not an easy task. The disparity, the social deterioration and wide spread blind faith in superstitions, sway of pundit or Brahman and in Punjab the sarwarias ( grave worshippers) was so strong that in his life time it was not possible to bring about a revolution to effect change in the prevalent situation. He was a great thinker and his travel experiences enriched his powers to execute his thinking in very practical manner. After all his travels and missionary work he settled down in Kartarpur and took up farming to prove his point of 'Kirat karni' when there was no dearth of money because he had large follow ship and people did bring offerings for their Guru. He started the tradition of langar - community kitchen here so that his followers who came from far off places could get food but he insisted that this food will be cooked jointly and served sitting in a row irrespective of caste or class. All those people who objected to sit in a Pangat or eat food cooked by low caste were not given an audience. This was done to bring home his tenet that all human beings are equal and only this way the human brotherhood can be ensured. To ensure brotherhood he promoted the Congregational worship where all his Sikhs join together and sing the praises of Lord with music. He proved his tenet - rejection of idol worshipping, that you don't need idols for worshipping to praise lord. In Hindus the religious rites and rituals were performed only by a priest or Brahman thus by Congregational worshipping the role of Brahman was forever over. Another tenet that he promoted was challenge to tyranny and unethical living of the rulers. he reprimands the rulers who indulge in merry making without any care for their jewel like country that they lost to the invaders. He says:"History always remember those who live and die for their country and do some welfare for the country and not these dogs who ruined this jewel like country," GG page 360.

Guru Nanak Prakash - 10
The simplicity with which Guru Nanak has explained us the Truth about the Creator Person and His purpose of the Creation is explicit in Guru Nanak's Bani. The way he explains us the Truth revealed to him by Divine Master can guide us to live life as ordained by the Creator in a truthful way called 'Sachiar'. If we can achieve this truthful living then we shall be accepted and united with the Almighty. Guru Nanak also understood that one life span may not be sufficient to make people understand the Will or 'Hukam' of the Great Master because of the gloom and darkness that encircled the Hindu society called 'Kur Pasara' by him was much more intense and deep rooted. So he created the Order of Gurus to take forward his mission. Here also he leaves his impression of of understanding the human nature with his sharp intelligence. Guruship was given to a person who understood his mission completely and not just to his son with the tradition of those days to pass on position to heirs.

Guru Nanak Prakash - 9
On religious front he promoted the oneness of God and rejected the idol worshipping and multiplicity of God. For him praising the God also called Simran is the only way to understand His Truth. His belief that the Almighty while creating us human beings has put a part of Him in us and by Simran we awaken that part of Him within us. By awakening his presence within us we can abandon ego called 'Haume' in Gurbani from our mind. Once the ego is abandoned we become humble and humility guides us to understand the equality of human beings. Once we understand that all are equal irrespective of gender, caste or class we shall understand that we have to labour for our earnings called 'Kirat Karni' in Gurbani and those earnings which we earn from our labour should be shared 'wand chhakna" in Gurbani with those who are unable to earn. On social front he promotes Congregational worship because that gives us the company of virtues people - 'sadh sangat ' and he promotes 'langar' and 'pangat' that is to cook and eat food sitting in a row irrespective of caste, gender or class. While doing that we abandon our ego become humble and understand that God has created us equal.

Guru Nanak Prakash - 8
Guru Nanak was an enlightened soul that was clear in his childhood when he was learning from Maulavi and told him that he couldn't go beyond the digit 1 and with that he meant the oneness of God. Again at the initiation ceremony of Janeyu thread that all high caste Hindu boys go through. The belief in high caste Hindus is that all boys are twice born - one birth that takes place in mothers womb and the other one is after initiation into Hindu dharma by ceremonial thread ceremony. This initiation gives the rights to boys to perform all rituals for their parents and grand parents. Girls are denied this right. When the pundit was about to wear the thread Nanak held his hand and said:" Pundit ji you are wearing me this thread so that my inner spiritual birth takes place then why this cotton thread? This will wear and tear and burn on pyre at my death. Why don't you wear me a thread that matches my soul and go with it after my death." This was his first blow to the age old traditions, blind faiths that were made to earn money and were nothing but empty ritualism. All his life he made many such challenges to the Brahman, Jogis, Naths, priests, Maulavis and the tyrants. One thing is remarkable that he was clear in his mind and purpose and he was enlightened about the Truth. He gives his insight about his realization of Truth as: "Truth is high, but higher still is the truthful living."
God's creation human kind and his living, his purpose to be born as human being and his evolution into a society all these developments were central to his thought process. His wanderings of 47000 miles across Asia on foot broadened his enlightenment and he realized that for the betterment of the humanity, religion has to be the central theme. That is why he stressed on praises of the Almighty God. At the same time he promotes the living of a householders life while doing that.

Guru Nanak Prakash - 7
Guru Nanak was bestowed with intelligence, analytical mind, blitz like grasping power, irresistible hunger for knowledge and reasoning mind. Apart from that he was very handsome, fair with beautiful mesmerising eyes and melodious voice. He could debate for hours and no one ever won a debate with him because he always had the right answers and right questions. His never lasting quest in search of Truth took him to wanderings. In Sikh Panth we call it Udasis but they are not to be mistaken for word Udasi that means away from worldly matters, only praying to Lord and without the concern for humanity. On his Udasis he collected very valuable information on the social conditions of the country in various parts, the arbitrary and dominating behaviour of the priest class, political subjugation and oppression of the poor by the rulers and the priests. During these Udasis he also collected the verses of various Bhaktas from 12 th century onwards. The verses of only those Bhaktas are enshrined in Guru Granth Sahibji that fall in tune with the concepts of Sikhism. For example Meera Bai was also a poetess and sang the praises of Lord but since she believed only in the incarnated Krishna she couldn't get space in this monumental documentation called Guru Granth Sahib. Guru Nanak not only collected the information and verses of Bhaktas he wanted to reveal the Truth that he was enlightened with and convey to people. He chose sacred places where people went for pilgrimages because he could get large congregation of people to spread his mission. He always chose the ambrosial hours of the morning and started singing his praises for the Lord. Bhai Mardana accompanying him with his Rabab. 

Guru Nanak Prakash -6
At the time of Babur's carnage in Saidpur Guru Nanak along with his companion Mardana was present there. They were arrested and jailed there and forced to grind grain to make food for the soldiers. Guru Nanak was on his mission in search of truth. His missions are called Udasi in Sikh panth. Because of his fakiri chola he was spared death. Guru Arjun ji has documented all the poetry written during that period in Guru Granth Sahibji so this makes it a very authentic historical documentation. When he saw such naked violence in such a short period where thousands were killed, captured and exploited for no fault of the sufferer the Poet in him says;" where are those sports, those horses and those stables? where are those bugles and clarions? where are those who buckeld on their swords and were mighty in battles?" Even while he was contemplating on the reasons for this naked violence he still doesn't forget to admonish the Almighty for the happening of such terror. In one of his verse in GG.page 360 he asks God:" Khurasan khasmana kaya Hindustan daraya ll appe dosh na deyin Karta jam kar Mogul charaya ll eti maar pai kurlane tain ki dard na aiya ll1ll Meaning: Having conquered Khurasan, Babur has terrified Hindustan. The creator does not take any blame on Himself and has sent the Mogul as death's messenger. So much terror was inflicted upon people, O God didn't you feel any compassion?

Guru Nanak Prakash - 5
Guru Nanak ji's birth is contemporary to the invasions by Babur or may be before him Temur. These invaders were ferocious like animals and vicious because to establish their power and to create fear amongst people they would burn down village after village. They will loot the gold and all types of food grain. Punjab was always like a military camp or chhavni because the invader and later when they established their rule appointed their Subedars with large contingent of soldiers to safeguard the borders. The atrocities on people continued but the brunt was always born by the women. they were captured and molested and were exploited to cook the food for the large contingent of soldiers. The subjugation of traumatized women was worst thing that a civilized society could bear. On seeing so much destruction by Babur at Saidpur and such pitiable condition of women the poet in Guru Nanak wonders: " they who wore beautiful tresses parting of whose hair was dyed with vermilion, hair now shorn with scissors and dust is now thrown upon their heads. they dwelt in their chamber and now cannot find seat in Public. When Babur's rule was being proclaimed no Pathan prince ate his food. How shall now Hindu women now bathe and apply their frontal marks without their sacred squares?" Guru Granth Sahib Page 417 Asa Mahala 1. Guru Nanak was devastated at the condition of Indian women after the barbaric attack of Mogul Babur. He remembers that women in the country were treated like princes at the time of their wedding and now they have to suffer this trauma. He says, they were carried in palanquins, wearing priceless jewellery and they were welcomed with costly nuts and rituals of the land." this is also documented in GG page 417. Guru Nanak also contemplates at the reason for this carnage and thinks this whole drama is created by the Almighty to awaken the Indians from their slumber. The upper class was indulging in easy life because there was no dearth of wealth and the lower classes were lead by superstitions and misguided to belief in their fate. When the news came that Babur is coming to attack India both Muslim and Hindu priest told their subjects to wear talisman and charms, worship and pray that the invader become blind and they suffer from epidemic. Guru Nanak's witness of this episode is documented in Granth Sahib page 418.

Guru Nanak Prakash -4
The greatest disadvantages that the social deterioration in a society can bring are the changes in values, helplessness and humiliation. The invaders humiliated the Hindu society to such an extent by capturing women, violating their chastity and kidnapping them to be sold in the markets of Afghanistan and Arabia. Purda or veil for women is result of that time period. Even the tradition of sati that is burning of widow on her dead husbands pyre is result of that time period. The women always bore the brunt of misplaced priorities. Helplessness of learned increased to such an extent that they took the path of Sadhus, jogis and Naths and kept away from civilization and lived in far off places away from the routes of invaders on mountains and jungles. For their living they depended on the civil society and dwellings of nearest villages. They preferred the route of escapism rather than living in the society and infusing the fighting spirit amongst people to fight the foreign devils. The worst thing that happened was that we didn't learn any lessons. The high caste continued their atrocities on low caste people and to safe guard their own vested interests they became more and more vicious so much so that any voice that raised against them was silenced violently. The Bhakti movement and their creators had to face bans from villages and social sanctions to their families. Unabated the Bhakit movement continued and produced some of the best poetry in the praise of Lord. though the main aim of these Bhaktas was to redeem their right to worship and thus promoting human equality. All those bhaktas who promoted One God theory and equality to humanity have their Bani enshrined in Guru Granth Sahib.
The Islamic rulers of India had merged their value systems with those of rich and affluent and were busy enjoying the life and their corrupt officials continued their reign of terror. Punjab bore the brunt of all invasions because of its geographical position and plains. the route of most of the invaders kept changing and nobody where the next devastation will take place. Most Hindu Rajas had retreated to mountains because they were away from the marauding invaders. Such atrocious conditions continued till the invasion of Mogul dynasty. That is the time when Guru Nanak was born and he witnessed the worst genocides of the history. In his time he witnessed a destruction caused by Babur and plight of Indian women at the hands of invaders.

Guru Nanak Prakash - 3
Before the invasion of Moguls in India the Turks had taken over from Pathans and established their Sultanat with Delhi as their Capital and ruling on other parts through Subedars. All the high posts were given to the foreigners who came along the Rulers. Lower posts were given to the local converts and Hindus. After the death of mighty Hindu king Harsha there were several smaller Kingdoms who whenever necessary made alliances with Muslim Rulers against their own people. For them safeguarding their own territory for the purpose of revenue was more important. On the social front Hindu Society was on the path of deterioration. Belief in fate overpowered the belief in God and self, shagun and muhurat even in daily routine became important part of their life and the full advantage was taken by the priest class or the Brahman, with that he not only had material gain but consolidation of his powers in the society. to retain this position he prohibited the reading of religious text by others and started establishing rules that prohibited marriages and other social interactions in the society. The atrocities of Brahman for their vested interest became vigorous and they prohibited the entry of lower castes into their dwellings and made them carry shoes in their hands whenever they saw the high caste people. the dwellings of low caste were pushed far away from main villages so that the air touching them couldn't come and touch the high caste. The humiliation of human beings so impregnated on the psyche of low cast born that they thought it is their fate and they will have to bear this and not utter a word of protest. The influence of this kind of culture was casting its image even on Muslims as well. Most converts were considered lowly by the ruling class and their upliftment was not important. They fell victim to the same fate as lower castes of Hindus with hatred and humiliation. They were hated by Hindus as well and called maleschh. They also started believing in omens, wearing taweez and ganda to ward away evil spirits and bring charms. The Rulers took to the ways of Hindu kings to enjoy and merry making and forgetting the woes of their subjects and forgetting their preparedness for any possible invasions that could be stronger and violent.

Guru Nanak Prakash - 2
In the beginning of the 9th century Islamic invaders started coming to India and the Indian society was already divided and weakened. Caste system didn't allow everybody to unite and fight the foreign devils. The ruling class had no respect for the downtrodden and only their vested interests were supreme. The invader were very organised and better equipped and their religious zeal to become conqueror was much stronger. When Islam was taking over the Asian continent the religious powers were vested in Khalipha or the King and he was given the title of Jileh Ilahi that means next to Allah. To win over territories and to spread Islam the power of King was necessary so he had religious sanctions to behave in any arbitrary manner with the subjects that came under his power. To humiliate non-Muslims taxes like Zazia or pilgrimage tax were collected and all non- Muslims were declared Kaffir - unfaithful who do not believe in Allah. The Khaliphas were entrusted with the religious sanctions to convert the unfaithfuls or kill them. Thus a reign of terror started and engulfed large parts of Asia. It was easy to win over India because it was already in shambles and deteriorated social conditions. Islamic ruler who had taken over India didn't have the courage for forcibly converting people here because of the large numbers and because the large population was scattered in villages and thirdly because the rulers were small in numbers and they needed their accompanying forces for military needs. To rule over the large territories and for the purpose of revenue local people were needed. The forcible conversion here was no solution because that would jeopardise their material gains. Like in other parts of Asia the social humiliation continued here. Along with these earlier Turk rulers a large number of Sufis came to India who propagated Islam in their own way. They believed in one Supreme God and human equality and they propagated the message of God by singing His praises and falling in trance while dancing to unite with Him. Since their approach was sectarian they fell away from the mainstream Islamic believers. But their sway was very strong and they lived away from villages on the graves of their earlier leaders. The activities around graves became very powerful because like Hindu Pundits they also started giving boons or punishments for any misdeeds. The strongest sway over the large number of people was that of Sarwarias who influenced and converted many tribes of Hindus into Islam particularly in Punjab region where their influence was strongest.. In the 12 th century there came another wave of Bhakti movement that was started by the downtrodden Hindus who were denied the right to enter temple and worship. These Bhaktas started infusing fighting spirit and independence into the people and commanded a large follower ship. Their mode of communication was also singing the praises of Lord.

#Guru Nanak Prakash - 1

Many historians feel that the State of India is one unit because of the political rulers that ruled over India. This is not only a myth but the limited thinking and learning the lessons of History from Institutions of political power who ultimately control the books and their publishing cannot bring neutral perspectives. The binding force in India has always been #religion. As the indus civilization started influencing people and the vested interests that always pushed people in taking refuge in far flung places the societies developed religion into an institution. In any institution there are hierarchies and if the people at helm are wise the disparity in society remains minimised and there is harmonious environment all over. But this never happens in reality because there are always people who want more share then the others and then there are others who just like to dominate whether they deserve or not. These are the circumstances when class and caste systems develop and in the long run they weaken the society. The loyalties of the people are grabbed by muscle power and money. The interests of the nation are dissipated or thrown out of window. In the time of crisis there are very few who can take care of the nation. Vedic religion kept people under their sway for centuries but the deterioration in the moral and ethic behaviour of the ruling classes caused the newer religious waves to come and spread and so came Buddhism and Jainism. Christianity came to India in the first century AD but couldn't spread because Hindu renaissance was taking place and by the third century Buddhism started waning out of India. Hindu renaissance brought many changes in the vedic religion. Iconography and mythological stories in the form of Purans were brought to make it interesting. During this period caste system took its worst shape and the communication and relation within the society degraded to such an extent that the ground was ripe for invaders to come and take over this country. I am not saying that there were no brave Kings who could stop the invaders but they were so weakened by the ruling Brahman class that fighting the terror of invaders was left only for the Kshatriyas and no other class felt the need to take responsibility for safeguarding this country from marauding invaders. Pathans invaded then came the Turks who ruled for centuries and the Moguls terrorised people for another centuries.

Looking forward...: Heritage of Martyrdom -10Today I shall conclude my...

Looking forward...: Heritage of Martyrdom -10Today I shall conclude my...: Heritage of Martyrdom -10 Today I shall conclude my series of postings to commemorate the Shahidi Gurpurab of Guru Teg Bahadurji and rememb...

Heritage of Martyrdom - 1
When Mogul Babur was committing genocide after genocide, burning, looting, abducting men to become slave women to object of lust thus causing innumerable atrocities Guru Nanak ji and Mardanaji were also arrested in Saidpur and put into jail. They were spared death because not they were in Fakiri chola but because there was that Aura that surrounded him that even the nastiest oppressor was afraid to kill him. Guru Nanak wrote fearlessly about such oppressive forces and passed on this knowledge to his successors. After Guru Nanak, Guru Angand Devji, Amardas ji and Guru Ramdasji saw some peaceful time because Emperor Akbar started interacting with Hindu Kings of Rajputana and inter religious tolerance came into existence. Emperor Akbar himself visited Guru Amardasji in Goindwal Sahib and ate food in langar before getting an audience with Guruji.
Mogul Jahangir who succeeded Emperor Akbar was not as liberal as his father and also not a good administrator so he had to depend on his courtiers who were under influence of Subedar Shaikh Ahmad of Sirhind. Shaikh Ahmad was of Naquashbandi
sufi order who didn't tolerate Akbar's policy of neutrality in tolerance of the religion of Kafirs. As soon as the week Emperor Jahangir came into power the orthodox Muslims wanted to reverse the policies of Emperoro Akbar and Sikh religion was the first to bear the brunt of Jahangir's hostility. This because the saintly, the most humble person Guru Arjun had consolidated the Sikh tenets and a huge follower ship was seen to follow his teachings and there were prominent Muslim intellectuals who wanted to be friends with him. Apart from this he had completed the holy tank started by Guru Ramdasji and constructed Harmandir Sahib on the basis of true secular tenets of Sikhism. His monumental work of compiling Guru Granth Sahib was completed.
With Jahangir's hostility due to all misguidance of his courtiers the detractors of Sikhism saw their chance to eliminate Sikhism. Prominent among them were the Subedars of Punjab and a Hindu official Chandu Shah of Lahore Darbar. A campaign of slander was started and Emperor Jahangir ordered the arrest of Guru Arjun Devji and was told to be killed by extreme tortures. So hot sand was poured on his body and he was made to sit on hot plates and when his body was full of blisters he was ordered to be thrown in cold waters of Ravi. There was a belief in ancient tribes of Arabia that great souls should not be burnt or put in graves because their spirits can rise and make likes of them from each drop of blood. That is why Guru Arjun was thrown in River.
The supreme sacrifice of Guru Arjun was to prove a turning point in the history of India because it set the heritage of martyrdom for the sake of your beliefs and your rights and it was a direct challenge to the tyrant. Guru Arjun devji's martyrdom exemplified the core of moral strength and that a virtuous soul can be courageous soul too who can lay down his life for the religious convictions.

Heritage of Martyrdom - 2
Guru Arjun Devji had taken many bold steps in consolidating Sikh tenets and increasing his sphere of influence it was evident that his actions will be observed by the rulers. Since he was a great visionary he could foresee the very near future. On one side he was challenging the Hindu values and superstition ridden society and doing missionary work in accordance with the house of Nanak on the other side he was preparing his son Hargobind with weapon training like archery, swordsmanship and horse riding. When the summons came from Lahore he knew exactly his fate and he told Baba Budhaji and his son to take over his work and that now time has come that you take weapon to protect your rights with sword. At his succession ceremony Guru Hargobind wore two swords and dressed like a soldier. He called these two swords as Miri and Piri - that means temporal and spiritual. One a symbol of power and the other of his spiritual inheritance. He was young ( 11 years) in age and rose to the occasion and held people in awe because of his extreme physical strength and excellent horsemanship. He performed his spiritual duties with diligence. He sent messages through his masands that from now onwards the offerings should be in the form of horses. Soon he had a force of five hundred swordsmen and horses.A new impulse of chivalry, spirit of faith and courage was seen in Punjab. He started forging a revolutionary streak in his till now peaceful Sikhs because community was now being prepared to fight the injustice, tyranny and violation of human rights. He was a very good military general that he proved with his several small battles with local Mogul Subedars that he won. Though Emperor Jahangir arrested him and kept him at Gwalior Fort but he started becoming friendly with the Guru and allowed him to carry on his missionary work and Guru travelled outside Punjab to Kashmir, Himachal and far off to east.

Heritage of Martyrdom - 3
The mogul Emperors had established their rule in Northern India and they had given posts of Subedars to take care of these parts under them. Punjab being border state the best Subedars were put up here and it was literally converted into military camps where soldiers needed large amount of rations. Most of the villages were with Hindu population and agriculture was also in their hands. All those people who converted into Islam under fear were given agriculture land and they were mostly Shudras. It was now turn of South where Moguls wanted to concentrate to win over territories and establish Islam. They didn't fear Sikhs because like them there was brotherhood in them and they were against idol worship. There was a bloody war for succession in Mogul reign where Shahjahan was made captive and Aurangjeb took over as Emperor after a bloodbath. Moguls who had taken liberal view and policy of tolerance towards non -Muslim was not agreeable to Emperor Aurangjeb. He wanted to revive the barbaric tradition of his great grand father Babur and convert people into Islam by force. His contemporary Guru Har Rai and Guru Harkishanji were also summoned to give clarifications in the matters of religious phrases enshrined in Guru Granth Sahib as he was told they were anti Islam. Guru Har Rai could not tolerate the distortion in Guru Nanak's Bani by his own son so he was banned from Guru's vision after he returned visiting Emperor Aurangjeb. For Guru Har Rai the conviction to own beliefs and those of Guru Nanak was more important then the love of a son. At the tender age of eight Guru Harkishanji also showed the same conviction and understanding of Bani and proved his love for the Almighty in the darbar of Aurangjeb. Such holy men who stand for their beliefs and convictions the worldly Kings cannot touch them.

Heritage of Martyrdom -4
Guru Teg Bahadurji succeeded Guru Harkihsan amongst much confusion created by greedy people with vested interests who wanted to grab Guru's gaddi. Guru Teg Bahadur ji were most favourite son of Guru Hargobindji but the Gaddi didn't come directly to him because the great visionary knew exactly that the right time had not come to take over the house of Nanak. Guruji saw in him all those qualities of his father Guru Arjun Devji - his humbleness, wisdom, his beautiful poetry and the most important his dedication and conviction to the teachings of Guru Nanak. He proved to be an excellent swordsman at the age 14 that is why he got title name of Teg Bahadur. Guruji wanted him to develop that moral, strength and conviction that only the great men have in the face of extreme atrocities and tyranny. To prepare him for a greater feat where he will be standing like an iron wall in adversities Guruji sent him to Bakala his mother's village. In those 13 years he was meditating and contemplating to take house of Nanak in newer direction that will prove the end of Mogul tyranny.
After attaining Guruship he travelled to all those places where Guru Nanak travelled and preached.

Heritage of Martyrdom - 5
Guru Teg Bahadur's travels were notified to all Masands and every where he went people were waiting eagerly by beautifying their homes and gardens. When he came they were blessed and Guruji was satisfied to see the legacy Guru Nanak started was flourishing in those far off places. On the way to far east he had left his wife at one of the disciple's home in Patna as she was pregnant. He received the message that a son was born but he couldn't return to see his son. His mission was very important to spread the word of Guru Nanak. When he was in Dacca he heard of the atrocities of the Emperor Aurangjeb and his vow that he will purge Hindustan from infidels and convert whole nation fit for Islam. Daily mounds of Janeyu were collected and people were forced to take upIslam or they were killed. When Guruji heard of the sufferings of people he decided to return to Punjab and on the way collected his family from Patna. For the first time he saw his son who was named Gobind Das. Guruji returned to Punjab and settled in Anandpur Sahib where Gobind Das received education both in worldly affairs and weaponry. The Subedar of Kashmir Iftikar Khan followed the forcible conversion policy of Emperor vigorously and set about converting people by the sword. Guru Hargobind had done lot of missionary work in Kashmir and made friends with local people. People thought of the boldness with which people from House of Nanak faced the challenges of Tyrannical rulers. So they came to Guru Teg Bahadurji and asked him to find the solution. Guru ji was contemplating on this matter when his son Gobind saw him and asked what makes him so contemplating, Guruji replied;"grave are the burdens the earth bears. She will be redeemed if a truly worthy person comes forward to lay down his head. Distress then will be expunged and happiness ushered in". Gobind Das in his innocence replied: " none could be worthier then you to make a such noble sacrifice."
Guru Teg Bahadur was pleased to hear such brave answer and confirmation from his son who was barely nine years old. He told his visitors about his resolution to lay down his head and go and tell the Emperor if they can convert Guru Teg Bahadur to Islam they will all convert voluntarily to Islam.

Heritage of Martyrdom - 6
When Guru Teg Bahadurji declared his resolution to present his head for the sake of human and religious rights of people and challenged the tyrant to persuade Guruji to convert into Islam, it was not just declaration of his resolution but he actually left for Delhi to complete that great task that his father Guru Hargobind had prophecied at the time of his birth : "One day this child will be doing a great task that will have no parallel in the human history." A resolve to court execution and and deem justice for the suffering people he left for Delhi. On hearing about his intentions Emperor gave orders of his arrest and he was arrested in Malikpur near Ropar along with his accompanying Sikhs. He was sent to Sirhind and faujdar of Sirhind sent him to Bassi Pathana where he was treated to harshest tortures. To bend him his accompanied Sikhs were put to still harsher tortures by putting them in boiling water, cutting them into two and burning them alive. The resolution was for a cause and Guru and his Sikhs had vowed to fulfil their resolution prayed to Akal Purakh for the strength. After the extreme tortures for more than three months Guruji was taken to Delhi for execution. The executioner was astonished to see the composure with which he met his sword. His face showed no anger and no hatred and he sat absorbed in prayer as the executioner prepared his strike. The empathy of the people for the beheaded body of the Guru ji was one thing of concern because nobody came to claim the head and body out of fear of the oppressor for whom he had given his head. This incident was going to have far reaching repercussions because the Hindus were still not prepared to stand on their own and fight the tyrant and the oppressor.

Heritage of Martyrdom - 6
When Guru Teg Bahadurji declared his resolution to present his head for the sake of human and religious rights of people and challenged the tyrant to persuade Guruji to convert into Islam, it was not just declaration of his resolution but he actually left for Delhi to complete that great task that his father Guru Hargobind had prophecied at the time of his birth : "One day this child will be doing a great task that will have no parallel in the human history." A resolve to court execution and and deem justice for the suffering people he left for Delhi. On hearing about his intentions Emperor gave orders of his arrest and he was arrested in Malikpur near Ropar along with his accompanying Sikhs. He was sent to Sirhind and faujdar of Sirhind sent him to Bassi Pathana where he was treated to harshest tortures. To bend him his accompanied Sikhs were put to still harsher tortures by putting them in boiling water, cutting them into two and burning them alive. The resolution was for a cause and Guru and his Sikhs had vowed to fulfil their resolution prayed to Akal Purakh for the strength. After the extreme tortures for more than three months Guruji was taken to Delhi for execution. The executioner was astonished to see the composure with which he met his sword. His face showed no anger and no hatred and he sat absorbed in prayer as the executioner prepared his strike. The empathy of the people for the beheaded body of the Guru ji was one thing of concern because nobody came to claim the head and body out of fear of the oppressor for whom he had given his head. This incident was going to have far reaching repercussions because the Hindus were still not prepared to stand on their own and fight the tyrant and the oppressor.

Heritage of Martyrdom - 7
The mutilated body of Guru Teg Bahadur lay in Chandni Chowk of Delhi and no one dared to come forward to claim for fear of reprisal from moguls. But the nature manifested her sorrow and that night a storm came to provide cover to Guru's Sikh so that a dignified funeral could be given to their Master. The martyrdom was not a small happening its magnitude and immense consequences were far reaching in its impact. The Akal Purakh had prepared Guruji for this moment and was given that moral strength to execute an act of self-giving in order to safe guard the religious rights of people. He showed the spiritual insight and moral discipline that was descended from Guru Nanak in highest order. Like Guru Nanak he did not believe in those outwardly symbols of tilak and Janeyu but he still set out to give challenge to the tyrant for his co-fellows. It was not a passive decision but a deliberate act of sacrifice to confront a challenging situation. The tyrant could not convert him to Islam so he had to honour his challenge and the sufferings and fear of conversion started deluging. Soon after the execution the emperor left for south never to come back. The supreme act of martyrdom has no parallels in the human history an act of philanthropy, nobly motivated, deeply spiritual an act to give one's life under God's will.

Heritage of Martyrdom - 8
After hearing the details of execution of his father and what happened thereafter Guru Gobindji was perturbed. He was an enlightened soul and understood that seven hundred years of slavery, political and social subjugation and deep rooted reasons- in the division of society that kept Hindus withdrawn from unity, acts of bravery needed some reformative changes. He resolved to create a set of unique people who will not hesitate to lay their lives for a common cause, who will stand united to fight the oppressor, who will lay their lives for the honour of women, who will restore the belief in one God and His creation, who will teach a lesson to the blood thirsty Islamic rulers and who will be equal to their Guru. After attaining all the virtuous characteristics a person reaches those heights where he can stand equal to his Guru- "Appe Guru Chela." Thus the order of Khalsa was ordained and code of conduct for becoming the Khalsa the purest form of Human being was laid. Without any political powers, without any revenue, without any properties, without the support of his Hindu brothers a great task was being undertaken. His resolve was so pure and divine, so vigorous and virile so full of love for the country that all his material needs were small in face of the mammoth task that will awaken a large section of the society to come forward and stand behind him to challenge the tyrant and restore the honour of this country. Make the brave soldiers out of the downtrodden lot that one could says: "sparrows will fight the eagles and one will fight the million and the quarter."

Heritage of Martyrdom - 9
The psyche of defeat and surrender had to be superseded, the lassitude behaviour of reconcile to their fallen state had to be resuscitated in people. The creation of the Khalsa was the divine inspired vision for the upliftment of fallen people of Hindustan. A new impulse of chivalry arose in northern India that resulted in endless chains of shining deeds of sacrifice and gallantry. The freedom from bondage of slavery, inhuman system of caste discrimination, inequality in society and gender had infused the new impulse by the baptism of his 'Amrit'. The hostile reaction to his new impulse was not only from the Moguls but surprisingly from the Hindu hill chieftains of Himachal who saw an adversary in him because of his principles of equality, superstition free society will hamper their sway over people and they couldn't follow the democratic rights because the revenue paying simple folks will become brave and demanding. They joined hands with Moguls and a fierce battle was fought in Anandpur Sahib. The united forces of Sirhind, Lahore and Hindu chieftains from Hills fought with just few hundred Sikhs. Guruji's two sons sacrificed themselves and the other two were captured along with their grandmother but didn't fear the death by getting bricked in a wall. The loss of his family, his favourite Sikhs and his dwellings didn't deter him because he still had greater task to fulfil. He wrote a letter recorded in History as Zafarnama or epistle of victory to the Emperor and reprimanded him for betrayal by his forces and reminded him of devout duty of being a good Muslim and that he had left the path of a good ruler and forgotten his duties to his people. The seven hundred years of blood bath of innocent people, reprisal, vengeance, intolerance and pride in killing people couldn't be the teachings of a good religion like Islam. The wrong interpretation by the rulers who just wanted to rule and live life of luxury and their unjust cravings to free the world from infidels has created the feelings of hatred for them not only in India but all over the world. Even after slaughtering millions of people for centuries they couldn't fulfil their cherished dream of making this world all Islamic. Guru Gobind Singh's sacrifice of whole family will remain irrevocable in the history of mankind. He turned the tide against the Islam in India and made this country a gift of Khalsa a symbol of pride, bravery, gallantry.

Heritage of Martyrdom -10
Today I shall conclude my series of postings to commemorate the Shahidi Gurpurab of Guru Teg Bahadurji and remember all those great souls of Sikhs - men and women who laid their lives to fight for their rights, tyranny, inequality, freedom of their places of worship from the Britishers and Mahants, freedom of the country. The Sikh community is ever grateful to the deeds of these gallant Sikhs and to remind ourselves of these great sacrifices to continue this heritage of martyrdom we have enshrined an eternal prayer we call Ardas and thousands of Gurudwaras all over the world remember them in daily prayer. Wahe Guru ji ka Khalsa Wahe Guru ji ki fateh!

Heritage of Martyrdom - 1
When Mogul Babur was committing genocide after genocide, burning, looting, abducting men to become slave women to object of lust thus causing innumerable atrocities Guru Nanak ji and Mardanaji were also arrested in Saidpur and put into jail. They were spared death because not they were in Fakiri chola but because there was that Aura that surrounded him that even the nastiest oppressor was afraid to kill him. Guru Nanak wrote fearlessly about such oppressive forces and passed on this knowledge to his successors. After Guru Nanak, Guru Angand Devji, Amardas ji and Guru Ramdasji saw some peaceful time because Emperor Akbar started interacting with Hindu Kings of Rajputana and inter religious tolerance came into existence. Emperor Akbar himself visited Guru Amardasji in Goindwal Sahib and ate food in langar before getting an audience with Guruji.
Mogul Jahangir who succeeded Emperor Akbar was not as liberal as his father and also not a good administrator so he had to depend on his courtiers who were under influence of Subedar Shaikh Ahmad of Sirhind. Shaikh Ahmad was of Naquashbandi
sufi order who didn't tolerate Akbar's policy of neutrality in tolerance of the religion of Kafirs. As soon as the week Emperor Jahangir came into power the orthodox Muslims wanted to reverse the policies of Emperoro Akbar and Sikh religion was the first to bear the brunt of Jahangir's hostility. This because the saintly, the most humble person Guru Arjun had consolidated the Sikh tenets and a huge follower ship was seen to follow his teachings and there were prominent Muslim intellectuals who wanted to be friends with him. Apart from this he had completed the holy tank started by Guru Ramdasji and constructed Harmandir Sahib on the basis of true secular tenets of Sikhism. His monumental work of compiling Guru Granth Sahib was completed.
With Jahangir's hostility due to all misguidance of his courtiers the detractors of Sikhism saw their chance to eliminate Sikhism. Prominent among them were the Subedars of Punjab and a Hindu official Chandu Shah of Lahore Darbar. A campaign of slander was started and Emperor Jahangir ordered the arrest of Guru Arjun Devji and was told to be killed by extreme tortures. So hot sand was poured on his body and he was made to sit on hot plates and when his body was full of blisters he was ordered to be thrown in cold waters of Ravi. There was a belief in ancient tribes of Arabia that great souls should not be burnt or put in graves because their spirits can rise and make likes of them from each drop of blood. That is why Guru Arjun was thrown in River.
The supreme sacrifice of Guru Arjun was to prove a turning point in the history of India because it set the heritage of martyrdom for the sake of your beliefs and your rights and it was a direct challenge to the tyrant. Guru Arjun devji's martyrdom exemplified the core of moral strength and that a virtuous soul can be courageous soul too who can lay down his life for the religious convictions.