Bhai Mardana
Bhai Mardana (1459-1534) Guru Nanak's longtime Muslim companion throughout his extensive journeys across the country and abroad, was born the son of a Mirasi couple, Badra and Lakkho, of Talvandi Rai Bhoe, now Nankana Sahib, in Sheikhupura district of Pakistan. The Mirasan were a caste of hereditary minstrels and genealogists. Bhai sahib was ten year older than Guru ji and was his childhood friend and companion.
Guru Nanak and Mardana were both born and raised in the same village. The Miharban Janam Sakhi describes the latter, who was ten years senior in age, as the Guru's companion since his childhood days and as one who sang to him songs from Kabir, Trilochan, Ravidas, Dhanna and Bern. According to Ratan Singh Bhangu, Prachin Panth Prakash, Guru Nanak as a small boy gave Mardana a string instrument improvised from reeds to play on while he sang the hymns.
As Guru Nanak was employed to take charge of the granaries and stores of the Nawab of Sultanpur Lodhi, the stories of his generosity and hospitality spread far and wide. Mardana, already a married man and father of two sons and a daughter, wanted to visit Sultanpur and seek his bounty. Meanwhile, he was charged by Guru Nanak's father Mehta Kalu, to go to Sultanpur and bring news of the welfare of his son. Mardana went to Sultanpur, never to part company with Guru Nanak again. His occupation was playing the rabab or rebeck as Guru Nanak recited God's glory.
When Guru Nanak prepared to go forth into the world to preach his message, he invited Mardana to accompany him. Mardana hesitated, for he did not wish to leave his family until his daughter had been married off and for this he did not have sufficient means. One of Guru Nanak's disciples, Bhai Bhagirath, bought the needed provisions and Mardana was able to give away his daughter in marriage. He was then ready to accompany Guru Nanak on his travels.
To relieve the rigour of the journeys, the biographers have described several humorous situations relating to Mardana's touchy behaviour links with desire for food. It is said that he displayed panicky behaviour when prospects of getting the next meal seemed less than certain. He was not easily convinced when Guru Nanak told him to be patient and have trust in something turning up, and wished always to have a reserve of food ready beforehand so that there was certainty that he would not have to endure hunger. The prospect of being without rations created a major problem for Bhai Mardana - hunger-phobia! As the Puratan Janam Sakhi narrates, Guru Nanak and Mardana had not traveled very far from Sultanpur when the latter complained that he felt hungry and needed something to eat immediately.
The Guru pointed to the village they had passed and said that, if he went there, he would be well entertained by Khatris of the Uppal caste who lived in that village. Mardana turned his footsteps in that direction and, arriving in the village, he found everyone more than hospitable. He was fed sumptuously and given ample alms. As he saw him return loaded with a bundle, Guru Nanak, as says the Janam Sakhi, rolled on the ground laughing. Mardana realized the oddity of what he had done and did not know how to get rid of what he had collected. He threw the bundle away when the Guru pointed out to him that those articles would be more of a burden to him.
The Janam Sakhi also contain many anecdotes picturing Mardana in despair out of agonizing hunger or petrifying fear and Guru Nanak or Nature coming to succour him somewhat miraculously. Once the two were passing through a remote wilderness when suddenly a violent storm overtook them. So severe was the tempest that the trees of the jungle began to fly about. Mardana, trembling with fear, thus spoke to the Guru, "True sovereign, thou hast brought me to my death in this forest. I shall not here get a shroud nor a grave." The Guru asked him to remain calm, but Mardana moaned, "I have not faced a calamity like this in my life. What is going to befall my poor soul today?" Then Fire broke out. Smoke was all over and the blaze on all four sides. Mardana covered up his face and laid himself down on the ground saying, "Farewell, life." Then came water. Thick clouds gathered and poured water in torrents. "Raise thy head, Mardana," spoke the Guru, "and take thy rebeck." Mardana tuned the strings and Guru Nanak sang: "If the fear of God is in the heart, all other fear is dispelled..."
According to Puratan Janam Sakhi, Mardana and the Master were taken prisoner by the Mughals at Saidpur. The Guru was given a load to carry on his head and Mardana to lead a horse holding its rein. Mir Khan, the Mughal commander, saw that the Guru's bundle was floating a cubit above his head and Mardana's horse was following him without the reins. He reported the miracle to Sultan Babar, who remarked, "Had there been such faqirs here, the town should not have been struck." Mir Khan asked him to see for himself.
There is some dispute amoung the historian about the place where Bhai ji died but it is believed that in 1534 fell ill and died in Baghdad on the return journey (udasis) from the east. With a heavy heart Guru ji performed the obsequies of Mardana with his own hands. A humble monument was erected in memory of Mardana.
Within an enclosure on a wall an inscription in mixed Turkish and Arabic marks the site. Mardana was called Murad by the residents of Baghdad and being older than Nanak by ten years was considered Guru. Consequently the inscription which was put up after Guru Nanak's departure said:
"Guru Murad died. Baba Nanak faqir helped in constructing this building, which is an act of grace from a virtuous follower, 927 A.H." Mardana appears to have died in December 1534 A.D. at the age of 75. The monument lies near a graveyard, 2.5 kilometres away from the railway station.
Upon the Guru's return to Punjab, Guru ji informed and consoled Mardana's son Shahzada, and other members of his family and asked them not to weep for Bhai ji as he had returned to his heavenly home.
Mardana was a poet of some merit. One of his salok appears in Guru Granth Sahib in Bihdgare ki Var along with two others of Guru Nanak's addressed to Mardana. He is convinced that an evil body may be cleansed of sin in sangat (GG, 553).
| Four Gursikhs whose Bani is included in the Guru Granth Sahib |
| Baba Sundar ✝ Bhai Mardana ✝ Rai Balvand ✝ Bhai Satta |
ਸਲੋਕ ਮਰਦਾਨਾ ੧ ॥
सलोकढ़ मरदाना १ ॥
Salok marḝĝnĝ 1.
Shalok, Mardaanaa:
ਕਲਿ ਕਲਵਾਲੀ ਕਾਮ ਮਦ ਮਨੂਆ ਪੀਵਣਹਾਰ ॥
कलि कलवाली कामढ़ मदढ़ मनूआ पीवणहारढ़ ॥
Kal kalvĝlī kĝm maḝ manūĝ pīvaṇhĝr.
The Dark Age of Kali Yuga is the vessel, filled with the wine of sexual desire; the mind is the drunkard.
ਕਰੋਧ ਕਟੋਰੀ ਮੋਹਿ ਭਰੀ ਪੀਲਾਵਾ ਅਹੰਕਾਰ ॥
कढ़रोध कटोरी मोहि भरी पीलावा अहंकारढ़ ॥
Kroḝẖ katorī mohi bẖarī pīlĝvĝ ahaʼnkĝr.
Anger is the cup, filled with emotional attachment, and egotism is the server.
ਮਜਲਸ ਕੂੜੇ ਲਬ ਕੀ ਪੀ ਪੀ ਹੋਇ ਖਆਰ ॥
मजलस कूड़े लब की पी पी होइ खढ़आरढ़ ॥
Majlas kūṛė lab kī pī pī hoė kẖuĝr.
Drinking too much in the company of falsehood and greed, one is ruined.
ਕਰਣੀ ਲਾਹਣਿ ਸਤ ਗੜ ਸਚ ਸਰਾ ਕਰਿ ਸਾਰ ॥
करणी लाहणि सतढ़ गढ़ड़ढ़ सचढ़ सरा करि सारढ़ ॥
Karṇī lĝhaṇ saṯ guṛ sacẖ sarĝ kar sĝr.
So let good deeds be your distillery, and Truth your molasses; in this way, make the most excellent wine of Truth.
ਗਣ ਮੰਡੇ ਕਰਿ ਸੀਲ ਘਿਉ ਸਰਮ ਮਾਸ ਆਹਾਰ ॥
गढ़ण मंडे करि सीलढ़ घिउ सरमढ़ मासढ़ आहारढ़ ॥
Guṇ mandė kar sīl gẖio saram mĝs ĝhĝr.
Make virtue your bread, good conduct the ghee, and modesty the meat to eat.
ਗਰਮਖਿ ਪਾਈਝ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਖਾਧੈ ਜਾਹਿ ਬਿਕਾਰ ॥੧॥
गढ़रमढ़खि पाईझ नानका खाधै जाहि बिकार ॥१॥
Gurmukẖ pĝīai nĝnkĝ kẖĝḝẖai jĝhi bikĝr. ||1||
As Gurmukh, these are obtained, O Nanak; partaking of them, one's sins depart. ||1||
ਮਰਦਾਨਾ ੧ ॥
मरदाना १ ॥
Marḝĝnĝ 1.
Mardaanaa:
ਕਾਇਆ ਲਾਹਣਿ ਆਪ ਮਦ ਮਜਲਸ ਤਰਿਸਨਾ ਧਾਤ ॥
काइआ लाहणि आपढ़ मदढ़ मजलस तढ़रिसना धातढ़ ॥
Kĝiĝ lĝhaṇ ĝp maḝ majlas ṯarisnĝ ḝẖĝṯ.
The human body is the vat, self-conceit is the wine, and desire is the company of drinking buddies.
ਮਨਸਾ ਕਟੋਰੀ ਕੂੜਿ ਭਰੀ ਪੀਲਾਝ ਜਮਕਾਲ ॥
मनसा कटोरी कूड़ि भरी पीलाझ जमकालढ़ ॥
Mansĝ katorī kūṛ bẖarī pīlĝė jamkĝl.
The cup of the mind's longing is overflowing with falsehood, and the Messenger of Death is the cup-bearer.
ਇਤ ਮਦਿ ਪੀਤੈ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਬਹਤੇ ਖਟੀਅਹਿ ਬਿਕਾਰ ॥
इतढ़ मदि पीतै नानका बहढ़ते खटीअहि बिकार ॥
Iṯ maḝ pīṯai nĝnkĝ bahuṯė kẖatīah bikĝr.
Drinking in this wine, O Nanak, one takes on countless sins and corruptions.
ਗਿਆਨ ਗੜ ਸਾਲਾਹ ਮੰਡੇ ਭਉ ਮਾਸ ਆਹਾਰ ॥
गिआनढ़ गढ़ड़ढ़ सालाह मंडे भउ मासढ़ आहारढ़ ॥
Giĝn guṛ sĝlĝh mandė bẖao mĝs ĝhĝr.
So make spiritual wisdom your molasses, the Praise of God your bread, and the Fear of God the meat you eat.
ਨਾਨਕ ਇਹ ਭੋਜਨ ਸਚ ਹੈ ਸਚ ਨਾਮ ਆਧਾਰ ॥੨॥
नानक इहढ़ भोजनढ़ सचढ़ है सचढ़ नामढ़ आधारढ़ ॥२॥
Nĝnak ih bẖojan sacẖ hai sacẖ nĝm ĝḝẖĝr. ||2||
O Nanak, this is the true food; let the True Name be your only Support. ||2||
ਕਾਂਯਾਂ ਲਾਹਣਿ ਆਪ ਮਦ ਅੰਮਰਿਤ ਤਿਸ ਕੀ ਧਾਰ ॥
कांयां लाहणि आपढ़ मदढ़ अमढ़रित तिस की धार ॥
Kĝʼnyĝʼn lĝhaṇ ĝp maḝ amriṯ ṯis kī ḝẖĝr.
If the human body is the vat, and self-realization is the wine, then a stream of Ambrosial Nectar is produced.
ਸਤਸੰਗਤਿ ਸਿਉ ਮੇਲਾਪ ਹੋਇ ਲਿਵ ਕਟੋਰੀ ਅੰਮਰਿਤ ਭਰੀ ਪੀ ਪੀ ਕਟਹਿ ਬਿਕਾਰ ॥੩॥
सतसंगति सिउ मेलापढ़ होइ लिव कटोरी अमढ़रित भरी पी पी कटहि बिकार ॥३॥
Saṯsangaṯ sio mėlĝp hoė liv katorī amriṯ bẖarī pī pī kateh bikĝr. ||3||
Meeting with the Society of the Saints, the cup of the Lord's Love is filled with this Ambrosial Nectar; drinking it in, one's corruptions and sins are wiped away. ||3||
References
- 1. Sabadarth Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Amritsar, 1969
- 2. Vir Singh, Bhai, ed., Puratan Janam Sakhi. Amritsar, 1982
- 3. Kirpal Singh, ed., Janam Sakhi Parampara. Patiala, 1969
- 4. Gian Singh, Giani, Panth Prakash [Reprint]. Patiala, 1970
- 5. Satbir Singh, Puratan Itihasik Jivanian. Jalandhar, 1969
- 6. Harbans Singh, Guru Nanak and Origins of the Sikh Faith. Bombay, 1969
- 7. McLeod, W. H., Guru Nanak and the Sikh Religion. Oxford, 1968
