Miraculous Life of Baba Sri Chand ji
Birth and family
Babaji was born in 1494, in Sultanpur Lodhi, District Kapurthala,Punjab.He entered the world laughing and the room filled with light and fragrance. A thin layer of ashes covered his body and the small curly knots of his hair shone brightly. He was no ordinary son, though yogi from birth, his right ear lobe extended into a natural ring. Many consider him an incarnation of Shivji.From childhood he loved to sit in meditation and developed great powers. Once Babaji wandered into the jungle. When the town’s people searched for him fearing he had been harmed, they found the child deep in meditation surrounded by elephants, tigers, leopards and other wild animals sitting motionless with eyes closed at his feet.
Education
Babaji was in one sense Guru Nanak Dev ji’s first disciple, learning meditation and spiritual truths at his holy feet. A Divine Family: Guru Nanak Dev ji, Mata Sulakani ji, Baba Lakshmi Chand ji and Baba Siri Chand ji.
Defeating the Pandit in debate in Srinagar
To complement his spiritual education, Guru Nanak Dev ji sent Babaji to Srinagar to study in the school of Pandit Parshotam Das Kaul. While his classmates complained that he never did his homework, he always was first in his class. He was such a good student that he was able to defeat the famous Som Nath Tripathi in Shastra debate. Baba Siri Chand ji stayed in Srinagar for 2 1/2 years during his youth.
Preserving the Family Lineage
Babaji stretches his arm into the sky and brings baby Dharm Chand to earth to save Guru Nanak Dev ji’s lineage.While Babaji himself lived an ascetic life, he not only supported family life, he actually raised the baby Dharm Chand and arranged his marriage One day brother Lakshmi Chand ji had been hunting. Babaji told him it was a sin to kill innocent animals and that he would have to give account in God’s court. Hearing this Baba Lakshmi Chand took his entire household, even the dog, mounted his horse and rode toward Heaven. Baba Siri Chand ji realized that his brother’s baby Dharm Chand was the last descendent of Guru Nanak Dev ji. If the baby left too there would be no one to carry on Guru ji’s blood line.So Baba Siri Chand ji stretched out his arm into the sky, lifted the baby from his brother’s lap, brought him back and raised him as his own son.
Hymn of Praise for Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Baba Siri Chand ji’s love and reverence for his father Guru Nanak Dev ji cannot be stressed enough. And similarly Guru Nanak Dev ji’s love for his elder son is something to be admired by all families. History has played a cruel trick on this relationship, often portraying Babaji as one passed over in the “appointment” as the Guru’s successor and therefore casting Babaji in conflict with the ensuing Gurus. Nothing could be further from the truth. And no where could a child’s love be more apparent than in his hymn of praise for Guru Nanak – Aarta – which he composed and had the whole Kartarpur Sangat sing to greet and welcome their Great Guru home from his third Udasi. Millions of goddesses kindle holy lights in His honor The Sun and moon illuminate Him with their radiance The bells ring out - Onkar
“Let us sing the praises of Nanak, King of kings, Emperor of both worlds
The whole cosmos is His temple, congregations sing sweet songs in His praise
All the gods sing hymns of His praises All wash His lotus feet
He is garlanded with mountains of flowers The True Master, the fountain of Light is merciful to the poor
The king of the winds fans Him while saints and sages meditate on His holiness
The whole universe vibrates with His celestial song Continuously illuminating the heavens
He is one with God whose name is Truth In Nanak saints find their support Siri Chand, Nanak’s son,
declares Nanak is unattainable, unfathomable, unshakeable and pure
Whoever sings Emperor Nanak’s praises resides in heaven and achieves complete salvation
Oh kind master: give protection to those who seek your shelter.
Oh Nanak: You are the savior we are just your children”.
The Love between Babaji and the Gurus
The sangat asked Guru Amar Das ji, “When we meet Baba Siri Chand ji how should we show our respect?” Guru ji with Baba Mohan ji and Bhai Jetha (Guru Ram Das ji) visited A few days later, when Babaji in Barath, he answered their question by bowing down in deep humility. Guru Amar Das ji recited “Anand Sahib” to the immense pleasure of Baba Siri Chand ji. Babaji was so impressed by Baba Mohan ji that he accepted him as his disciple. Instructing Baba Mohan ji to collect the writings of his father, Guru Amar Das ji, Baba Siri Chand ji gave him the handwritten collections of Guru Nanak Dev ji’s bani for safekeeping until they were required. He then sent him home to Goindwal Sahib with Guru ji. Baba Mohan ji used to sit on a deer skin with long hair open.
Siri Guru Ram Das ji
When Guru Ram Das ji visited Barath in 1634, Babaji was in deep in meditation. Guru ji waited patiently for 2 days. When Babaji came out, Guru ji offered him Rs 500, and other gifts of clothing and sweets.They were very happy to see each other. Guru ji recited his bani to Babaji’s delight. When Babaji visited Guru Ram Das ji at Ram Das Pur, he reminded Guru ji of the history of the Amrit srovar (sacred tank) and suggested that the city’s name be changed to Amritsar. When Babaji visited Amritsar in 1636, Guru Ram Das ji received him warmly, and with great respect seated Babaji on a higher seat than his own. Babaji praised Guru ji. One day in a lighter mood Babaji quipped, “Guru Ram Das ji you have such a long beard!” Guru ji in his unequalled humility replied, “It is to wipe the lotus feet of great men like you,” and actually bent forward to demonstrate. But Babaji caught him in a warm embrace. Guru ji shared his plan for Harmandir Sahib and its holy srovar.
Siri Guru Arjun Dev ji at Barath
Guru Arjan Dev ji visited Babaji at Barath in 1655. Two sites still commemorate their meeting. Where the Gurdwara stands today, Guru ji used to wait each day for Babaji to come out of meditation. A second site, a mile away in what was then a jungle, marked the place where Guru Arjan Dev ji used to sleep. When Guru ji shared his goal of compiling Guru Granth Sahib ji, Babaji gave whatever handwritten bani he still had, and suggested that Guru ji obtain the other portions from Baba Mohan ji. Guru ji recited 16 Asatpadis of Sukhmani Sahib. Babaji suggested that he increase the bani to 24 verses. On Guru ji’s request, Babaji provided the line to resume the 17th Asatpadi. He respectfully chose Guru Nanak Dev ji’s verse: “Aad Sach, Jugaad Sach, Hoebi Sach, Nanak Hosebi Sach”
Siri Guru Hargobind Sahib
After being released from Gwalior Fort, Guru Hargobind Sahib visited Baba Siri Chand ji to thank him for his role in influencing the Emperor Jahangir. Babaji had very strictly told the Emperor that the Guru was the true successor to Guru Nanak Dev ji’s throne and if he didn’t release him, great harm would befall the Emperor.Baba Gurditta ji who became Baba Siri Chand ji’s successor and Patriarch of the Udasi Semperdai, was the son of a Guru and the father of Guru Har Rai ji. He was also the grandfather of Guru Harkrishan ji, the older brother of Guru Tegh Bahadur ji and the uncle of Guru Gobind Singh ji. So just as Baba Siri Chand ji had remained close to the first 6 Gurus, Baba Gurditta was always in close contact with the ensuing four Gurus. We should remember that when Guru Gobind Singh ji left Anandpur Sahib, he put an Udasi in charge.
Jahangir’s Elephant and the Heaviest Blanket
The Emperor Jahangir had invited Babaji to his court and duly sent his royal elephant to carry him. Babaji laughed and said, “How can such a small creature carry me when he can’t even lift my blanket.” The courtiers all laughed thinking Babaji was joking. But as soon as they placed the blanket on the elephant, the poor creature bellowed and fell to its knees. The astonished servants bowed in deep respect. Babaji said, “I will come to the Emperor on my own.” Such was his simple way of showing God’s power to those who felt they occupied high positions in the world.
Uniting Sadhu Samaj
There were many spiritual schools in India at the time. And the Yogis and Sidhs had great spiritual power. But Babaji told them to come out of the jungles and down from the mountain tops, unite, and use their powers to help people in the world. That’s why Babaji was considered the King of all fakirs in India of the time.
Sailing Away
Once when Baba Siri Chand ji went to Chamba, the boatman taunted him, “If you have so much power why do you need a boat?” So Babaji stood on a rock and asked it to ferry him a cross the river.In 1643, when it was time for Babaji to leave the world he marched towards the jungle on a nearby hill, bid goodbye to those following him, and, in a twinkling of an eye, disappeared. Babaji’s body was never found. As many great beings before him, he comes and goes as he wishes and appears regularly to those who love him.
Cooling a Burning World
As Baba Siri Chand ji was sitting in Srinagar, Kashmir with his sacred fire burning before him, Nawab Yakub Khan came to him, filled with great anger. Out of anger he was creating conflict between the Hindus and Muslims of the area. Babaji took a burning stick from the fire and stuck it in the ground. Immediately the flames vanished and the stick sprouted leaves of a beautiful Chinar tree. Seeing this miracle the Nawab’s anger was cooled. Baba Siri Chand ji showed that God’s tree is broad enough to give shade to all people, Hindus and Muslims alike. What is so amazing is that this Chinar tree still stands today in Srinagar as a monument to peace. It is called Siri Chand Chinar.
