Sakhi: The Sikh and the word of the Guru

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A Sikh always obeys the hukam of the Guru

The term 'Sakhi' refers to the common account of historical events in Sikhism. It is a tale usally from the era during the times of the Gurus. However, many Sakhis do exist from the period before and after the times of the Ten Gurus. Most Sakhis have a moral lesson and highlight important Sikh principles. Sakhi means "sakhshi" gavah or "real witness". "Lke bala janamsakhi" means Bhai Bala was the witness of the all sakhis in that book.

Amongst many other sakhis during this time, this sakhi is from the time when Bhai Lehna Ji was trying to follow and obey each one of his Guru's, Guru Nanak Dev Ji's, hukam (order) in order to become a true Sikh of his true Guru. A few years later from this time, Bhai Lehna Ji received Guruship from Guru Nanak Dev Ji and got named as Guru Angad Dev Ji.

The actual account

One day Guru Nanak Dev Ji asked the sangat (followers) to follow him walking to a place unknown to the sangat. After walking for a while, they all reached a place surrounded with bushes and trees.

There seemed to lay a human dead body covered with a white cloth over it. Guru Ji looked towards the sangat and asked everyone that if they consider themselves as his Sikhs, they should start eating the dead body immediately without any questions or delay.

Each one of the followers got scared or afraid of the thought of it, many ran away, many hid themselves behind the bushes.

The sangat disappears

Here we should note that many people cannot even bear just the sight of a dead body - the thought of eating a dead body is out of question. Many amongst us with a faint heart would start vomiting even at the sight of two drops of blood.

So in reaction to Guru Ji's order, many followers said that they were Guru's Sikhs, but what kind of hukam (order) was that? Upon noticing this reaction, Guru Ji said that on one hand they were claiming to be his Sikhs, and on the other hand they do not obey his hukum (order). In conclusion no one stayed - they either hid themselves or ran away.

Only one person remains

In the end, there was just one peron who stayed - he was Bhai Lehna Ji. Bhai Lehna Ji did Parikrama of the dead body, i.e., walked all around dead body with his hands folded. Seeing this, Guru Ji questioned Bhai Lehna Ji as to why he was doing the Parikrama, and why didn't he start eating the dead body?

Bhai Lenha Ji asked Guru Ji that from which side of the dead body should he start eating it - from its feet side or from its head side? Guru Ji said that he should start from the feet.

Bhai Lenha lifts the white cloth

The moment Bhai Lehna Ji lifted the white cloth off the dead body, he noticed that it was not a dead body under the cloth, but there lay Kadaah-Prasad spread in the shape of a human body.

The moral of the story that we should receive is that if the Guru points his Sikhs to any direction to walk, the Sikhs should start walking in that direction even with their eyes closed.

If, as Sikhs, we consider Guru Nanak Ji our true Guru, or a swaroop of God himself, and consider our Guru to be capable of any possibility which is impossible otherwise, then we should not have any kind of doubt in our minds.

Finally, Guru Ji gave his blessings to Bhai Lehna Ji.

Based on Vaar by Kavi Santokh Singh Ji, narrated at Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurudwara, Model Town Extension, Ludhiana on Oct 1st, 2011.

See also


(I ask forgiveness of the readers/sangat for any inadvertent inaccuracy - Bhool Chook Maaf Ji)