During his first preaching odyssey Satguru Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji he
reached Jagannath Puri via Cuttack. Enroute, he apprised the masses of
his ideology, freed people from superstitions and infructiuous deeds,
caste based differences and freeing them from the shackles of fake
hermits and Yogis. This incident took place in 1510. A Brahmin named
‘Kalyug’ had made his abode there. He was a learned man beside being
very rich. Many pilgrims were his followers and often stayed in his Dera
(Camp).
This Pandit was swindling the gullible people who were not aware of what the true religion was. Many rich persons who visited him were more interested in knowing about their future life or the life hereafter. They would feel happy listening to good and favourable stories about themselves. Pleased with such fables, they would make handsome offerings to him.
In Jagannath Puri, where Satguru ji condemned the ritualistic. Aarti (A form of prayer in temples), he also unmasked the deeds of ‘Kalyug’ pandit. Kalyug Pandit was sitting in meditative mood while many devotees were surrounding him. He had a small pitcher like metallic container placed in his front in which the pilgrims were putting their offerings. He would close his eyes for sometime and open them again. Sometimes he would close one of his nostrils, either right or left with his hand. Then he would suddenly declare that he is seeing Vishnu Bhagwan in the heaven. Similarly he would claim an audience with other gods and his visits
to Brahmpuri (Abode of Brahma) and Shivpuri (Abode of Shivji). The devotees were listening to all his claims with rapt silence and expected that soon he would take them to the divine trip too. He then asked all those present to shut their eyes and perceive the heaven in their minds, and he would help them see it.
When all those present there closed their eyes, Guru ji signalled Bhai Mardana to pick up the small pitcher like container from his front and hide it behind him in a bush. When the ‘Panda’ opened his eyes, he did not see the container in his front. He was beside himself with rage and started shouting loudly and asking who had taken his small container. “Don’t crack jokes with the Saints. We don’t crave for money... etc.”, he said.
The pilgrims in his attendance were also surprised. Hearing his shouts, many more people gathered around. Guru ji steped forward and said, “Pandit ji, you were able to see Brahmpuri, Shivpuri and Vishnupuri, why don’t you look around in this Universe ? You may be able to locate where the container is lying”. Hearing these remarks the ‘Panda’ vexed still more. Some present also said, “Pandit ji, you were seeing the divine abode but now you can’t find your small pitcher. How could it be ?”
People understood the deceit of the Pandit. Guru ji well disclosed his beguile and advised people that those who sit in meditative postures, closing their eyes, nose and ears were not to be trusted. They were like herons who stood still on one leg in the water to pounce upon at fish and frogs. Here was that ‘Pandit’ who could see the divine abodes but could not spot his money container lying behind him. Guru ji further explained that these were the tricks used by the imposters to swindle people of their hard earned money. Satguru ji explained to all the pilgrims that one may succeed in collecting money by closing eyes, nose, ears and sitting still like a heron, but it can neither lift the character of a man nor raise his spiritual life.
This human life is not meant to be wasted in such spurious and fake acts. Remembering God is the right path of this life. Perpetual meditation of His name relieves a man from the worldly desires. Kalyug Panda was highly impressed by the personality of Guru ji and his sermons. He requested Guru ji to honour him with his stay in his abode. Guru ji agreed and during this period apprised him with his idealogy. He was then appointed as a missionary by Guru Nanak to spread his message; whereas he used to swindle the people earlier, now he was teaching them to follow the right path of life as dictated by the Guru. The place where Guru ji stayed in front of the temple, it still exists and is named ‘Mangoo Math’. For our guidance, Guru Nank Dev ji composed the above event in the following shabad of Rag Dhanasree.
ਧਨਾਸਰੀਮਹਲਾ1ਘਰੁ3
ੴਸਤਿਗੁਰਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ॥
ਕਾਲੁਨਾਹੀਜੋਗੁਨਾਹੀਨਾਹੀਸਤਕਾਢਬੁ॥
ਥਾਨਸਟਜਗਭਰਿਸਟਹੋਏਡੂਬਤਾਇਵਜਗੁ॥1॥
ਕਲਮਹਿਰਾਮਨਾਮੁਸਾਰੁ॥
ਅਖੀਤਮੀਟਹਿਨਾਕਪਕੜਹਿਠਗਣਕਉਸੰਸਾਰੁ॥1॥ਰਹਾਉ॥
ਆਂਟਸੇਤੀਨਾਕੁਪਕੜਹਿਸੂਝਤੇਤਿਨਿਲੋਅ॥
ਮਗਰਪਾਛੈਕਛੁਨਸੂਝੈਏਹੁਪਦਮੁਅਲੋਅ॥2॥
ਖਤ੍ਰੀਆਤਧਰਮੁਛੋਡਿਆਮਲੇਛਭਾਖਿਆਗਹੀ॥
ਸ੍ਰਿਸਟਿਸਭਇਕਵਰਨਹੋਈਧਰਮਕੀਗਤਿਰਹੀ॥3॥
ਅਸਟਸਾਜਸਾਜਿਪੁਰਾਣਸੋਧਹਿਕਰਹਿਬੇਦਅਭਿਆਸੁ॥
ਬਿਨੁਨਾਮਹਰਿਕੇਮੁਕਤਿਨਾਹੀਕਹੈਨਾਨਕੁਦਾਸੁ॥4॥1॥6॥8॥
No, no, this is not the time, when people know the way to Yoga and Truth.
The holy places of worship in the world are polluted, and so the world is drowning. ||1||
In this Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Lord's Name is the most sublime.
Some people try to deceive the world by closing their eyes and holding their nostrils closed. ||1||Pause||
They close off their nostrils with their fingers, and claim to see the three worlds.
But they cannot even see what is behind them. What a strange lotus pose this is! ||2||
The K'shatriyas have abandoned their religion, and have adopted a foreign language.
The whole world has been reduced to the same social status; the state of righteousness and Dharma has been lost. ||3||
They analyze eight chapters of (Panini's) grammar and the Puraanas. They study the Vedas,
but without the Lord's Name, no one is liberated; so says Nanak, the Lord's slave. ||4||1||6||8||
This Pandit was swindling the gullible people who were not aware of what the true religion was. Many rich persons who visited him were more interested in knowing about their future life or the life hereafter. They would feel happy listening to good and favourable stories about themselves. Pleased with such fables, they would make handsome offerings to him.
In Jagannath Puri, where Satguru ji condemned the ritualistic. Aarti (A form of prayer in temples), he also unmasked the deeds of ‘Kalyug’ pandit. Kalyug Pandit was sitting in meditative mood while many devotees were surrounding him. He had a small pitcher like metallic container placed in his front in which the pilgrims were putting their offerings. He would close his eyes for sometime and open them again. Sometimes he would close one of his nostrils, either right or left with his hand. Then he would suddenly declare that he is seeing Vishnu Bhagwan in the heaven. Similarly he would claim an audience with other gods and his visits
to Brahmpuri (Abode of Brahma) and Shivpuri (Abode of Shivji). The devotees were listening to all his claims with rapt silence and expected that soon he would take them to the divine trip too. He then asked all those present to shut their eyes and perceive the heaven in their minds, and he would help them see it.
When all those present there closed their eyes, Guru ji signalled Bhai Mardana to pick up the small pitcher like container from his front and hide it behind him in a bush. When the ‘Panda’ opened his eyes, he did not see the container in his front. He was beside himself with rage and started shouting loudly and asking who had taken his small container. “Don’t crack jokes with the Saints. We don’t crave for money... etc.”, he said.
The pilgrims in his attendance were also surprised. Hearing his shouts, many more people gathered around. Guru ji steped forward and said, “Pandit ji, you were able to see Brahmpuri, Shivpuri and Vishnupuri, why don’t you look around in this Universe ? You may be able to locate where the container is lying”. Hearing these remarks the ‘Panda’ vexed still more. Some present also said, “Pandit ji, you were seeing the divine abode but now you can’t find your small pitcher. How could it be ?”
People understood the deceit of the Pandit. Guru ji well disclosed his beguile and advised people that those who sit in meditative postures, closing their eyes, nose and ears were not to be trusted. They were like herons who stood still on one leg in the water to pounce upon at fish and frogs. Here was that ‘Pandit’ who could see the divine abodes but could not spot his money container lying behind him. Guru ji further explained that these were the tricks used by the imposters to swindle people of their hard earned money. Satguru ji explained to all the pilgrims that one may succeed in collecting money by closing eyes, nose, ears and sitting still like a heron, but it can neither lift the character of a man nor raise his spiritual life.
This human life is not meant to be wasted in such spurious and fake acts. Remembering God is the right path of this life. Perpetual meditation of His name relieves a man from the worldly desires. Kalyug Panda was highly impressed by the personality of Guru ji and his sermons. He requested Guru ji to honour him with his stay in his abode. Guru ji agreed and during this period apprised him with his idealogy. He was then appointed as a missionary by Guru Nanak to spread his message; whereas he used to swindle the people earlier, now he was teaching them to follow the right path of life as dictated by the Guru. The place where Guru ji stayed in front of the temple, it still exists and is named ‘Mangoo Math’. For our guidance, Guru Nank Dev ji composed the above event in the following shabad of Rag Dhanasree.
ਧਨਾਸਰੀਮਹਲਾ1ਘਰੁ3
ੴਸਤਿਗੁਰਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ॥
ਕਾਲੁਨਾਹੀਜੋਗੁਨਾਹੀਨਾਹੀਸਤਕਾਢਬੁ॥
ਥਾਨਸਟਜਗਭਰਿਸਟਹੋਏਡੂਬਤਾਇਵਜਗੁ॥1॥
ਕਲਮਹਿਰਾਮਨਾਮੁਸਾਰੁ॥
ਅਖੀਤਮੀਟਹਿਨਾਕਪਕੜਹਿਠਗਣਕਉਸੰਸਾਰੁ॥1॥ਰਹਾਉ॥
ਆਂਟਸੇਤੀਨਾਕੁਪਕੜਹਿਸੂਝਤੇਤਿਨਿਲੋਅ॥
ਮਗਰਪਾਛੈਕਛੁਨਸੂਝੈਏਹੁਪਦਮੁਅਲੋਅ॥2॥
ਖਤ੍ਰੀਆਤਧਰਮੁਛੋਡਿਆਮਲੇਛਭਾਖਿਆਗਹੀ॥
ਸ੍ਰਿਸਟਿਸਭਇਕਵਰਨਹੋਈਧਰਮਕੀਗਤਿਰਹੀ॥3॥
ਅਸਟਸਾਜਸਾਜਿਪੁਰਾਣਸੋਧਹਿਕਰਹਿਬੇਦਅਭਿਆਸੁ॥
ਬਿਨੁਨਾਮਹਰਿਕੇਮੁਕਤਿਨਾਹੀਕਹੈਨਾਨਕੁਦਾਸੁ॥4॥1॥6॥8॥
No, no, this is not the time, when people know the way to Yoga and Truth.
The holy places of worship in the world are polluted, and so the world is drowning. ||1||
In this Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Lord's Name is the most sublime.
Some people try to deceive the world by closing their eyes and holding their nostrils closed. ||1||Pause||
They close off their nostrils with their fingers, and claim to see the three worlds.
But they cannot even see what is behind them. What a strange lotus pose this is! ||2||
The K'shatriyas have abandoned their religion, and have adopted a foreign language.
The whole world has been reduced to the same social status; the state of righteousness and Dharma has been lost. ||3||
They analyze eight chapters of (Panini's) grammar and the Puraanas. They study the Vedas,
but without the Lord's Name, no one is liberated; so says Nanak, the Lord's slave. ||4||1||6||8||
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