Men of God

JOINS THE FATHER

Sayyid Bhikkun, the well-known Fakir, also came to see Govind Rai at Lakhnaur. His followers too raised a protest against his saluting a Kafir. He explained to them that he was right; he ordered for two baskets of sweets, one from a Moslem and another from a Hindu and placed them before the young Govind who placed a hand on each and sent for a third on which he placed both his hands. This act of young Govind was clearly symbolic of both Hindus and Moslems being held dear to him and of a new order distinct from both which he would perfect. Such was the outlook of the lad even before he completed his seventh year.

After a seven months’ stay at Lakhnaur, he and the party received his father’s orders to proceed to Anandpur. There was rejoicing everywhere in the city; people poured out in thousands to see the son of Guru Tej Bahadur. For days together, there was a regular mela. Everyone was delighted to hear him talk and regarded his speech as charming and novel since he brought with him the peculiar accent and dialect of Patna. He knew the Gurumukhi characters and could recite many of the sacred poems of Guru Nanak. And in a few days, his regular education began. Arrangements were made for a thorough study of the "Sacred Book”, for the learning of Sanskrit and Persian, and for special training in the use of arms and horsemanship.