WAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA WAHEGURU JI KI FATEH

(The sakhi has been split into two parts) It is about a sikh called almast and Satguru Sri Guru Har Gobind Sahib ji Maharaj.

There was a Sikh called Almast, which means enthusiast. In his wanderings he arrived at that part of the district of Pilibhit where there had been built a Gurudwara to commemorate Guru Nanak Dev Jis visit. Guru Nanak Dev Ji, had left his mark of his five fingers on every leaf of a pipal tree there, and made sweet the bitter fruit of a soap nut tree some forty miles to the east of it. Some Jogis, who had now taken possession, wanted to root up the Guru's pipal,name the Gurudwara after Gorakh-nath, and abolish the name of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

Almast could not endure this. Considering the Gurudwara his own, he resided in it, and performed all the menial and religious duties connected with it. The Jogis sought to expell him, and thus stated their case:

'Gorakh-nath performed penance here, hence the name Gorakh-mata. Thy Guru only stayed here as a traveller for 4 days. How can the Gurudwara be his?'

Almast pointed to the marks of Guru Nanak Dev Jis hand on every leaf of the pipal tree, and instanced the sweetness of the soapnut. It would therefore not be proper for him to resign the place to the Jogis. He bluntly told them that Satguru Sri Guru Har Gobind, who was now on Guru Nanaks throne, would soon come and humble their pride.

The Jogis were angry at this and they set fire to the pippal and left not a trace of it. Almast told them that when the Guru came, he would restore the tree, and whoever committed a sin against Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj should perish root and branch.

Night and day Almast read the compositions of the Gurus. He used to pray, ' O searcher of hearts, true Guru, render us assistance'. Enduring hunger and thirst and the inclemency of all seasons, Almast waited until Sri Guru Har Gobind Sahib Ji should come to repair and take possession of Guru Nanak Dev Jis Gurudwara.

Many years went by. Guru Ji then arrived in nanakmata, which is several miles north of the city of piliphit, the jogis seeing his retinue, thought that some raja had arrived. On hearing who it was, they hid themselves in huts made of leaves. Almast came forth on hearing the neighing of Guru Ji's horse, uttered thanksgiving that his king had returned, and seemed like a dead man restored to life.

Near the spot where the pipal tree had been, Guru Ji constructed a platform and sitting on it repeated Gurbani. This being ended he sprinkled saffron on which he had breathed Gods name when lo, it is said the pipal emerged from the ground as a serpent from its lair. In proportion as the Guru sprinkled the saffron the pipal grew and after one night it appeared in full size in all its luxuriance.

End of part 1.

WAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA WAHEGURU JI KI FATEH