Baba Dattu: Difference between revisions

'''Baba Dattu''' (1537 - 1628), son of Guru  Angad and Mata  Khivi,  was born in 1537 at  Khadur Sahib  in presentday  Amritsar  district of the Punjab. Like his elder brother,  Dasu,  he too was not reconciled to  Guru   Amar Das  succeeding his father as Guru. But whereas  Dasu  had soon realized his error and acknowledged  Guru   Amar Das  as true inheritor of  Guru Nanak's spiritual legacy, Datu remained hostile. He took to yogic practices to attain supernatural powers and thereby to create a following of his own. One day he went to  Goindval  and, as says  Bhai   Santokh Singh,  Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, he gave vent to his malice by administering  Guru   Amar Das a kick as he sat amid his disciples after the evening service. The sangat was stunned, but  Guru   Amar Das turned round, grasped Datu's foot and caressing it said, "Pardon me, my Master's son ! Your tender foot may not have been hurt by my aged bones." Instead of being put to shame by the Guru's humility, Datu flew into a rage, called him a usurper and told him to quit Goindval.  Guru   Amar Das quietly left for his native Basarke. Next morning, Datu and his men collected whatever they could lay their hands on. He had his eyes especially on  Guru Amar Das's mare, but it would not let him mount it. In his effort to control it, he injured his leg. As he was returning to Khadur, he was waylaid by robbers and deprived of the booty he was carrying. Datu limped back to Khadur emptyhanded. Yet he was unrepentant and it was not until  Guru  Arjan's time that he realized his error and made amends.  Baba  Datu lived up to a ripe old age. In September 1628, he visited  Amritsar  to condole with  Guru  Hargobind on the passing away of his son,  Atal Rai,  but died soon after his return to Khadur.