Bhatt Bhika

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Bhika (pronounced Bhikkha) Bhatt, a Brahman bard of Sultanpur Lodhi in presentday Kapurthala district of the Punjab, became a Sikh receiving the rites of initiation at the hands of Guru Amar Das. He lived up to the time of Guru Arjan to whom he introduced sixteen other Brahman minstrels from his community.

They sang in his presence praises to God and the Gurus. Some of their compositions were included by Guru Arjan in the Guru Granth Sahib. One of the two stanzas by Bhikha recounts his wanderings in search of a true saint ending with his ultimate success by the grace of God. "Lord," sang the bard, "hath caused me to meet the Guru; as thou willest for me so must I receive O God!"

I wandered all over the place
Searching for a hermit with heavenly Grace.
I met many a mendicant, high flying on the ego fleet
Soft-spoken, polished, vainful and sweet.
In vain I wasted all my time, None of them was spiritually
fine. Like an empty vessal or hollow pot,
They talked a lot, all but rot.
God in their hands was just a pawn Shady deals were in their clan.
At last I reached the rightful place,
With Thee Guru Amardas I found solace.
Adi Granth, p.1395

ਗ੝ਰ੝ ਗਿਆਨ੝ ਅਰ੝ ਧਿਆਨ੝ ਤਤ ਸਿਉ ਤਤ੝ ਮਿਲਾਵੈ ॥
In deep meditation, and the spiritual wisdom of the Guru, one's essence merges with the essence of reality.

ਸਚਿ ਸਚ੝ ਜਾਣੀਝ ਇਕ ਚਿਤਹਿ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਵੈ ॥
In truth, the True Lord is recognized and realized, when one is lovingly attuned to Him, with one-pointed consciousness.

ਕਾਮ ਕ੝ਰੋਧ ਵਸਿ ਕਰੈ ਪਵਣ੝ ਉਡੰਤ ਨ ਧਾਵੈ ॥
Lust and anger are brought under control, when the breath does not fly around, wandering restlessly.

ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਕੈ ਵਸੈ ਦੇਸਿ ਹ੝ਕਮ੝ ਬ੝ਝਿ ਬੀਚਾਰ੝ ਪਾਵੈ ॥
Dwelling in the land of the Formless Lord, realizing the Hukam of His Command, His contemplative wisdom is attained.

ਕਲਿ ਮਾਹਿ ਰੂਪ੝ ਕਰਤਾ ਪ੝ਰਖ੝ ਸੋ ਜਾਣੈ ਜਿਨਿ ਕਿਛ੝ ਕੀਅਉ ॥
In this Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Guru is the Form of the Creator, the Primal Lord God; he alone knows, who has tried it.

ਗ੝ਰ੝ ਮਿਲ੝ਯ੝ਯਿਉ ਸੋਇ ਭਿਖਾ ਕਹੈ ਸਹਜ ਰੰਗਿ ਦਰਸਨ੝ ਦੀਅਉ ॥੧॥੧੯॥
So speaks Bhikhaa: I have met the Guru. With love and intuitive affection, He has bestowed the Blessed Vision of His Darshan. ||1||19||

__________


ਰਹਿਓ ਸੰਤ ਹਉ ਟੋਲਿ ਸਾਧ ਬਹ੝ਤੇਰੇ ਡਿਠੇ ॥
I have been searching for the Saints; I have seen so many Holy and spiritual people.

ਸੰਨਿਆਸੀ ਤਪਸੀਅਹ ਮ੝ਖਹ੝ ਝ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਮਿਠੇ ॥
The hermits, Sannyaasees, ascetics, penitents, fanatics and Pandits all speak sweetly.

ਬਰਸ੝ ਝਕ੝ ਹਉ ਫਿਰਿਓ ਕਿਨੈ ਨਹ੝ ਪਰਚਉ ਲਾਯਉ ॥
I wandered around lost for a year, but no one touched my soul.

ਕਹਤਿਅਹ ਕਹਤੀ ਸ੝ਣੀ ਰਹਤ ਕੋ ਖ੝ਸੀ ਨ ਆਯਉ ॥
I listened to preachers and teachers, but I could not be happy with their lifestyles.

ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮ੝ ਛੋਡਿ ਦੂਜੈ ਲਗੇ ਤਿਨ੝ਹ੝ਹ ਕੇ ਗ੝ਣ ਹਉ ਕਿਆ ਕਹਉ ॥
Those who have abandoned the Lord's Name, and become attached to duality - why should I speak in praise of them?

ਗ੝ਰ੝ ਦਯਿ ਮਿਲਾਯਉ ਭਿਖਿਆ ਜਿਵ ਤੂ ਰਖਹਿ ਤਿਵ ਰਹਉ ॥੨॥੨੦॥
So speaks Bhikhaa: the Lord has led me to meet the Guru. As You keep me, I remain; as You protect me, I survive. ||2||20||

References

  • Macauliffe, Max Arthur, The Sikh Religion. Oxford, 1909
  • Mani Singh, Bhai, Si`khari di Bhagat Mala. Amritsar, 1955
  • Santokh Singh, Bhai, Sn Gur Pratap Suraj Granth. Amritsar, 1926-37