Guru Angad Dev Ji

 

III

Guru Angad Dev Ji

After meeting Guru Nanak Dev Ji and serving and working with him for many years, Guru Nanak Dev ji gave Lehna the name Angad and chose him as his successor, rather than his two sons, and made him the Second Guru of Sikhism. He is remembered in Sikhism for adopting and formalising Gurmukhi alphabet and script. Guru Angad Dev ji began the process of compiling the hymns of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and contributed his 63 shlokas also to it. He was born on 31^st March 1504 in village Matte di Sarai ( now Sarainaga) in Muketsar district of Punjab. Born in the family of a small yet successful trader Pheru Mal, he was given name of Lehna. His mother’s name was Ramo also known as Mata Sabhirat, Mata Mansa Devi and Daya Kaur. Guruji’s grandfather’s name was Baba Narayan Das Trehan. Like all Sikh Gurus, Lehna also came from the family of Khatri caste with Trehan Gotra ( Clan). His entire family, including his parents left their ancestral village in face of Babar’s invasion and settled on the banks of River Beas at the village known as Khadur Sahib, now in Tarantaran district of Punjab. Before becoming disciple of Guru Nanak Dev ji, Bhai Lehna was a religious teacher at Khadur and a priest at the temple of Goddess Durga. On one of his religious pilgrimage he passed through the town of Kartarpur that was set up by Guru Nanak Dev ji. After a dialogue with Guru Nanak Dev ji he was so much influenced and impressed that he stayed and served his spiritual master Guru Nanak Dev ji throughout his life. After becoming the Second Guru, he came to the village of Khadur known as Goindwal Sahib as very few Sikhs at Kartarpur accepted him as their Guru as sons of Guru Nanak Dev ji also declared their claim to be Guru Nanak Dev ji’s successor. The Second Mughal Emperor Humayun met Guruji after he lost battle to Sher Shah Suri at Kannauj. He blessed Mughal emperor and assured him that he would get back the throne. Besides Gurumukhi script he is also known for systematising the institution of Langar(community Kitchen) in all Sikh Gurudwaras premises where visitors from near and far would get a free simple meal in a communal seating. He stressed on treating Gurudwaras as a place of rest and refuge. So he emphasised on the recruitment of such sevadars who would be polite and hospitable to all visitors. He was also a great patron of wrestling and started a Mal (Akhara) system where physical exercises, martial arts and wrestling was taught as well as health topic such as staying away form tobacco and other toxic products that could ruin young men’s health. He stressed on keeping body healthy by regular exercises and established Akharas in every village. Guru Angad Dev Ji had composed verses that are intended to be sung in following ragas:-

Sri Raga, Raga Asa, Raga Maru, Raga Sarang and Raga Malhar

Sri Raga

If one loves one’s beloved, one dies before he dies.

For cursed is the life of the lover without his love.

Pauri

Of Yourself, O Lord, You created the two lamps of the sun and the moon.

Of Thyself Thou Created the fourteen stores wherewith men Trade.

They, who are turned God -wards, reap the Profit:

Them the Yama touches not, who Drink -in the Nectar of Lord’s Truth.

They are themselves Released and also their kins; nay, the whole world is saved for their sake.

Raga Asa

Where are the stables now, where the horses, where are the drums, where the flutes?

Where are the sword-belts, where the chariots, where the red dresses ( of soldiers) pray ?

Where are the looking glasses, where the beauteous faces, no, I see them not before me

This world belongs to Thee, O Lord : You are its Master.

Raga Maru

Infinite is God, the Creator-Lord, who Manifests Himself through His Power.

O, the created one is helpless before Him, He Creates all beings and Feeds all,

and His Writ is over the heads of all. The Lord Pervades all and He Drives all as is His Will.

So, how can one say who is near unto Him and who is far ?

Yes, find the Lord in every heart, both manifest and unmanifest;

for He Works in all with Discrimination.

Raga Saranga

They, whom the Lord Blesses with His Praise, they alone Treasure God.

Yea, they whom the Lord Blesses with the ‘key’ , they alone can open Lord’s Treasure.

They, out of whose Treasures comes Virtue, the alone are Approved.

Nanak: they alone are blessed by God, whose Pass-word is the Lord’s Name.

Raga Malhar

O physician, you are yourself Wise only if you first know the Malady( of my mind).

And then suggest a Medicament with which all my Maladies are eradicated:

Yea, the Medicament with which one is rid of all one’s Maladies, and Peace abides in one’s body,

and with which you are rid of your own Ailments first: only then can you be known the Physician.