Sacrifice. Why? Why?
This is a follow up to the article Sacrifice Why? published in the May issue of the online magazine, The Awakening Times. For those who haven’t read the article, I have copied the opening from the first article to outline the rationale behind penning this series of articles.
I chance upon a folded newspaper supplement in Mohanji’s house in Dharamshala. The image of an imposing soldier in blue dressed in full military gear catches my eye. I pick it up and hear Mohanji behind me, “Yes. Read the article. See the kind of personal stoic courage that can move mountains. Think of what a disciple can do with that inner power.” These words hook me and I devour the article quickly. It’s about one of the most famous Sikh generals, Banda Singh Bahadur and, particularly, his sordid and torturous end and how he faced it with stoicism and serenity (more on this later). I am left speechless. I read it a few more times and was in complete awe which, at the same time, was tinged with guilt.
I am amazed by stories of people – revolutionaries, spies, soldiers and, most importantly, saints and Masters – who have endured unspeakable pain and torture and yet stuck steadfastly to their higher purpose without yielding an inch from those lofty heights. I feel guilty of neither being endowed with that enduring faculty nor a purpose so self-consuming that even excruciating pain or torture cannot weaken the indomitable resolve to achieve and hold on to it. Masters take this concept to a completely different level. Unlike the rest who suffer from enemies, a Master is reviled and attacked by the very people that he helps. They go through the agony to show the world, through their sacrifice, an example of loving against all odds.
The story of Jesus immediately comes to mind. His life is described succinctly in Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe, “Nearly two thousand years ago, one man had been nailed to a tree for saying how great it would be to be nice to people for a change.” Though he only wished for and worked to give the best to the society, his reward was humiliation, torture and the intense physical suffering of crucifixion. In response, his prayer for his tormentors was, “Forgive them for they know not what they are doing!”
And he knew the power at his disposal for he said, “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” Twelve legions of angels could kick every Roman and Philistine ass a million times over and still not break a sweat. Then why go through it all? In his words, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from me. But how then should the scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so? Not my will, but Yours be done.” He went through the ordeal to fulfil the purpose of his incarnation as ordained by the will of His Father.
Like Jesus, I’d like to share some of these stories of extreme courage and strength of character against all odds that have fascinated me over the years
In part deux of this series, we will look at the story of Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth of the ten human Gurus of Sikhism.
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Guru Arjan Dev was born in the mid 1500s as the son of the fourth Guru, Guru Ram Das, and Mata Bhani, the daughter of the third Guru, Guru Amar Das. As a child, one day he found his way to the bed of his grandfather, Guru Amar Das, who was then resting. His mother ran to fetch the child before he could disturb the Guru but he had already awakened Guru Amar Das. Guru Amar Das asked the mother to allow the child to come to him. He revealed the divine nature of his grandson’s incarnation by exclaiming, “Yeh mera dohita bani ka bohita howega.” (This grandson shall be a ship to take mankind across the ocean of the world)
Even though he was the youngest, Guru Ram Das chose Guru Arjan Dev as his successor. Guru Arjan Dev became the Guru at the age of eighteen and led Sikhism for a quarter of a century. He continued the infrastructure projects of his father, Guru Ram Das expanding the town built by him, financed by donations and constructed through voluntary effort. The city that emerged from this town is now known as Amritsar, and is the holiest place in Sikhism. He is credited with completing many other infrastructure projects, such as water reservoirs called Santokhsar (lake of peace) and Gangsar (lake of Ganga) as well as founding the towns of Tarn Taran, Kartarpur and Hargobindpur.
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The Guru constructed the Harmandar Sahib (literally abode of God) also popularly known as the Golden Temple, the preeminent pilgrimage site of Sikhism. In true spirit of religious equality, Guru Arjan Dev invited Pir Mian Mir, a Muslim saint from Lahore to lay the cornerstone of the foundation of the Harmandar. The head mason moved the brick to place it in order. Whereupon the Guru prophesied that since the brick was moved by the mason, the foundation of the temple would be laid again in the coming times. The temple was repeatedly rebuilt by the Sikhs after it became a target of persecution and was destroyed several times by the Muslim invaders from Afghanistan and the Mughal Empire.
The temple was open from all four sides to denote that God existed in all four directions and that all had equal access to the temple.
Guru Arjan decreed, “My faith (Sikhism) is for the people of all castes and all creeds from whichever direction they come and to whichever direction they bow.”
Several Sikhs remonstrated to the Guru that Harmandar should be the tallest building in the neighborhood. Guru Arjan Dev suggested that the temple should be at a level lower than the city surroundings to emphasize humility and the need to efface one’s ego before entering the premises to meet the Guru.
The Guru explained, “It should be the lowest because what is humble, shall be exalted. The more a tree is covered with fruit, the more its branches descend to the earth.”
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He composed a voluminous amount of Sikh scripture. He compiled the first official edition of the Sikh scripture called the Adi Granth, which later expanded into the Shri Guru Granth Sahib – the principal scripture of Sikhism which is itself regarded by Sikhs as the final, sovereign, and eternal living guru, as the embodiment of the ten human Sikh Gurus.. He was a prolific poet who contributed more than two thousand hymns to the Shri Guru Granth Sahib (which is a third of the Shri Guru Granth Sahib) including the thirty five page long Sukhmani Sahib Bani (Psalm of Peace) which is a theological statement of the major tenets of Sikhism expressed in a devotional poetic form.
He installed the Adi Granth in the Harmandar Sahib, The Mughal emperor, Akbar, was informed of the development with the allegation that it contained teachings hostile to Islam. He ordered a copy be brought to him. Guru Arjan sent him a copy on a plate, with the following message that was later added to the Shri Guru Granth Sahib,
“In this thali (dish) you will find three things – truth, peace and contemplation. In this too the nectar of nama (repetition of the Lord’s name) which is the support of all humanity.”
He was also an able administrator who strengthened and institutionalized systems founded by his father (Guru Ram Das) – the Masands who were representatives (spiritual and administrative) of the Guru in far flung places along with the principle of Dasvand, donating a tenth of one’s income for the Guru’s langar (common kitchen) and for charity. Attracted by his spiritual magnetism, thousands from all religions and walks of life flocked to him and the Sikh population grew manifold and spread to all parts of Punjab.
The Mughal emperor Akbar had high regard for the Sikh Gurus and had even partaken of the langar (common kitchen) seated as a commoner on the floor with the rest of the community. However his son, Jahangir, was not so equitable. There were several possible causes that made him view the Sikh community and its Guru as an enemy. With Sikhism becoming a popular and majority religion in Punjab, the Mughal rulers in Delhi were perturbed by the Sikhs becoming formidable as a social group and the active involvement of the Sikh Gurus in political conflicts. The orthodox Muslim clergy who, some say, helped Jahangir in his ascension to the throne were angered by Muslim converts. Jahangir had an ongoing dynasty dispute with his son Khusrau who was liberal like his grandfather and was willed by Akbar to succeed him. While passing through Punjab, Khusrau went to meet Arjan Dev and took his blessings. This outraged the emperor who believed that the Sikhs were assisting in his son’s rebellion.
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Jahangir ordered the Sikh Guru to be arrested. Guru Arjan Dev was imprisoned in the Lahore fort. Jahangir is said to have demanded a fine of two hundred thousand rupees and also demanded that Guru Arjan Dev erase the hymns in the Adi Granth that he found offensive. The Guru refused both the demands and, consequently, Jahangir ordered that the Guru be tortured and executed. Pir Mian Mir approached the Guru and offered to intercede on his behalf. The Guru refused his help holding that everything was happening by God’s will and he accepted the Lord’s hukam (command or divine order) without any complaints.
The gentle Guru endured unrelenting torture for five days. On the first day, he was not given anything to eat or drink and was kept awake all night. The second day he was seated in a copper cauldron full of water that was boiled by fire. The third day, he was seated in boiling water while red hot sand was poured on his body from above. When Pir Mian Mir went to see him, he was aghast at the state of the Guru. He cried out, “O Master! I cannot bear to see these horrors inflicted on you. If you permit me, I would demolish this tyrant rule.”
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The Guru smiled and asked Mian Mir to look towards the skies. It is said that Mian Mir saw angels begging the Guru’s permission to destroy the wicked and the proud.
The venerable Guru said, “All is happening in accordance with the will of the Lord. Men who stand for Truth have to suffer often. Their sufferings give strength to the cause of Truth. Go, brother. Pray for me. Pray for the success of my cause. Pray for victory to truth.”
Mian Mir asked, “Why are you enduring suffering at the hands of these vile sinners when I possess ecclesiastic powers?”
The Guru replied, “I bear all this torture to set an example to the teachers of the true Name, that they may not lose patience or rail against God in affliction. The true test of faith is in the hour of misery. Without examples to guide them, ordinary people’s minds would tremble in the midst of suffering.” Upon hearing this, Mian Mir departed, commending the Guru’s fortitude and singing his praises.
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On the fourth day, the Guru was seated on a plate of iron that was heated from below until it became red hot. Then, scalding hot sand was poured over his body. On the fifth day, the Guru was meant to be suffocated by sewing him up in fresh cowhide. The Guru requested for a bath in the river Ravi which flowed along the walls of the city of Lahore. The request was granted. While leaving for his bath, the Guru saw his disciples outside the fort. He forbade them from taking any action by saying, “Such is the Will of my God. I submit to the Divine Will. Move not. Stand calm against all woes.” It is said that upon entering the river, he stood in the waters, took a dip and merged with it. Thousands watched him enter the river never to be seen again.
Throughout the torture, the Guru did not display any emotions. No reactions – not even a cry or a sigh. He continued with simran (chanting the holy name) of Waheguru (wonderful Lord). His mind was fixed on the Lord and he stayed absorbed within. Even though he could barely walk to the river, he sang the song which has been immortalized in the Shri Guru Granth Sahib.
tera kiya mitha lage. har naam padharath nanak mange
Your actions seem so sweet to me. Nanak begs for the treasure of the Lord’s name
har ka naam hridaya nit dhyayi. sangi sathi sagal tarAni.
Meditate continually on the Lord’s name within your heart. Thus you shall save all your companions and associates.
gur mere sang sadaa hai naale. simar simar tis sadaa samhaale.
My Guru is always with me, near at hand. Meditating, meditating in remembrance on Him, I cherish Him forever.
Yesterday (7th June 2019) was the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev (as per the Sikh calendar). I leave you with the great Guru’s final song – a veritable ode of surrender to God and Guru’s will. May we all work to make the words of this song the reality of our lives.
Attribution: This article uses content from Guru Arjan Dev references in Wikipedia and Sikhwiki
