Shri Guru Ram Das Jee knew exactly what each of his three sons was like. He also knew Shri Arjan Dev was the only person qualified and capable to take on the challenges of guruship. He had displayed all the qualities of a good gursikh time and time again.
Guru Ram Das Jee was born in Lahore(now in Pakistan) where his family was settled. Guru Sahib’s cousin Bhai Sahari Mal also lived in Lahore. Bhai Sahari Mal came to Amritsar to invite Guru Sahib for his son’s wedding. Guru Shaib told him it wouldn’t be possible for him to go because thousands and thousands of Sikhs came to see the Guru at Amritsar. Sahari Mal understood situation and asked Guru Sahib to send one of his sons instead. Guru Sahib agreed.
Guru Sahib called in the eldest sonm Pirthi Chand and told him to accompany his ‘tayia jee’ to Lahore for his son’s wedding. Prithi Chand worried that Guru Sahib might appoint someone else as the next guru in his absence. He also wanted to maintain control of everything happening at Amritsar. He didn’t want anyone else taking over these duties. He told guru sahib everything in Amritsar depends on him and no one else would be able to run things if he left for Lahore.
Guru Sahib told him not to worry about managing things and everything will be taken care of by the sangat. He whined about how difficult things get at weddings kept making excuses. Guru Sahib gave up on him and called the second son, Mahadev.
Mahadev liked to keep to himself and be bothered by anyone. He didn’t know anything about worldly things and told Guru Sahib he had no knowledge about weddings and wasn’t interested in going. He too didn’t listen to Guru Sahib.
Guru Sahib then called in Arjan Dev and asked him to go with his tayia jee and take part in all the wedding. After the ceremonies he was instructed to stay there are preach sikhi and teach people gurbani. To this Arjan Dev bowed down and said ‘saat bacchan’ and left with his tayia Sahari Mal.
As the wedding concluded and all the guests left Arjan Dev would have diwans at Dharamsala in the morning and evening. Kirtan and katha would be done, he would recite gurbani and explain the meaning. Day by day the sangat kept growing.
After a long time Guru Sahib Jee sent Baba Bhudha Jee to bring Arjan Dev Jee back to Amritsar. The main Sikhs were consulted and it was decided Arjan Dev Jee would be the next guru. A huge gathering of Sikhs from far and wide took place and five coins with a coconut shell was placed in front of Arjan Dev Jee and Guru Sahib walked around three times and bowed down. Baba Bhudha Jee placed a tilak on Arjan Dev Jees forehead.
With Arjan Dev Jee becoming the Guru the middle brother Mahadev showed no emotion and was busy mediation. But the eldest brother Prithi Chand was furious at what had happened. He claimed it was his right to guruship and felt he was conspired against. He made a scene and vowed to get revenge. He threatened to use his money power and connections with the government to get his way.
Guru Ram Das Jee tried to calm him down. Then Guru Sahib uttered the following shabad:
ਸਾਰਗਮਹਲਾ੪ਘਰੁ੩ਦੁਪਦਾੴਸਤਿਗੁਰਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ॥
ਕਾਹੇਪੂਤਝਗਰਤਹਉਸੰਗਿਬਾਪ॥
ਜਿਨਕੇਜਣੇਬਡੀਰੇਤੁਮਹਉਤਿਨਸਿਉਝਗਰਤਪਾਪ॥੧॥ਰਹਾਉ॥
ਜਿਸੁਧਨਕਾਤੁਮਗਰਬੁਕਰਤਹਉਸੋਧਨੁਕਿਸਹਿਨਆਪ॥
ਖਿਨਮਹਿਛੋਡਿਜਾਇਬਿਖਿਆਰਸੁਤਉਲਾਗੈਪਛੁਤਾਪ॥੧॥
ਜੋਤੁਮਰੇਪ੍ਰਭਹੋਤੇਸੁਆਮੀਹਰਿਤਿਨਕੇਜਾਪਹੁਜਾਪ॥
ਉਪਦੇਸੁਕਰਤਨਾਨਕਜਨਤੁਮਕਉਜਉਸੁਨਹੁਤਉਜਾਇਸੰਤਾਪ॥੨॥੧॥੭॥
Pirthi Chand kept talking nonsense and finally Guru Sahib told him never to show him his face. Burning in anger he left.
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