Men of God

WITH MOSLEM DIVINES

A few miles from Paunta lived Sayyid Budhu Shah held in high esteem for godliness and religious learning. With his followers he came to see the Guru. The dignity of his position prevented him from bowing to the Guru who welcomed and seated him by his side. He wanted to know how union with God could be obtained. The Guru said: “God dwells in every heart. In our ignorance we get entangled in love of our own world. ... Thus it is our self, the ego that conceals the Lord from our view... ... When we learn to bear ourselves to conformity with the Divine Will, attune ourselves to the Infinite, the screen is torn asunder and what we had vainly searched for in mountains and forests, is revealed enthroned in our hearts. We lose ourselves in Him, and find Him in ourselves. Then we are His and He is ours for ever.” These words of deep spiritual wisdom went straight into Budhu Shah’s heart, and he fell at the Guru’s feet. A few years later, when his two sons joined the Guru’s forces and fought in the Battle of Bhangani, he rejoiced that his sons were blessed with a glorious death in the cause of the Guru. The Guru was then pleased and blessed him with Nam Dan or the gift of His Name, a gift considered more precious than the most valuable worldly gift. He gave him also a robe of honour, a sword, a turban, a Hukumnama, and an order to the Sikhs that the Sayyid and his offspring should be treated with respect. Sayyid Budhu Shah begged the Guru who was combing his hair at the time to give him the comb with his loose hair as a sacred souvenir. The Guru readily granted them and the Guru’s comb, hair and sword are even now preserved in the present Sikh State of Nabha.