So I've decided to post them here! I think I'll make into an olden-goldies series of bollywood songs. As you'll realise, most of them are in some kind of raag (probably the reason I appreciate it..)
Nawab Kapur Singh led the Khalsa during a period of turmoil. Nawab Kapur Singh ji was initiated into the Khalsa by Panj, which included Bhai Mani Singh Ji, along with his father and brother, Vaisakhi 1721.
During this period the mughals realised that they wouldn't be able to defeat the Sikhs, so they decided to make a treaty where the Sikhs would be allowed to live freely without having price on their head! The Sikhs where given a large estate. Sardar Kapur Singh was chosen to lead the Sikhs, and to control the land. He was given the title by Five Sikhs, at whom's feet he first placed the robe of honour he had received, before putting it on. Although reluctant, he had to accept the decision made by the community, but made one request. That "he should not be deprived of his old privilege of serving in the community kitchen (Langar)." (Some say that he used to clean the dung of the horses in the barns...and that he requested that, he should not be deprived of that seva).
He got the honour of leading a whole nation, yet all he requests is that he should be allowed to continue doing seva, which most of us are reluctant on doing!
During this period the population of Sikhs had grown, so the army was dvided into two groups; Buddha Dal (army of the old) and Taruna Dal (army of the young; jawan). Nawab ji led the Panth during a period of turmoil in Sikh history, and he was involved in creating the Khalsa Army; Dal Khalsa, and creating misls (groups of Sikhs with different functions, some would protect the Gurdwara etc), under the leadership of Jassa Singh Ahluwalia who was another great Sikh warrior of the time.
It was during this period that Hindu girls was abducted by Persian invaders (Nadir Shah), and the Dal Khalsa would pursue to their rescue. The smaller holocaust occurred during this period. 1748 he requested to be relieved of his duties due to his old age, and proposed Jassa Singh Alhuwalia to be the commander of the Dal Khalsa.
What's cool is; is the fact that he wasn't just a soldier, he reflected a Sikh; a saint-soldier; a person who wouldd, at time of peace, sit and actually do seva, and serve people, and not just lead.
Read more about Nawab Kapoor Singh;
The reason I’ve written this up, is because I myself didn’t know much about him, and thought it would be something we’d all learn something from, since I hadn’t heard about him much till quite recently =)
ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਭਗਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਪਾਇਆ ॥
ਭੋਲੇ ਭਾਇ ਮਿਲੇ ਰਘੁਰਾਇਆ ॥4॥6॥
kahu kabeer bhagath kar paaeiaa ||
bholae bhaae milae raghuraaeiaa ||4||6||
Through innocent love, the Lord is met. ||4||6||
Says Kabeer, He is obtained only by devotional worship.
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Continuing the series posts on people who inspire me.
My second post on people that inspire me is about:
Bhagat Puran Singh Ji. Or, as some would call him: ‘the bearded Mother Teresa'
Wow. What a personality. What devotion for mankind. Synonymous to compassion.
So much love. Truly a ‘Puran’ (complete) being.
Bhagat Puran Singh Ji, was the founder of the Pingalwara. The literal meaning of Pingalwara is, house of the disabled.
Born as ‘Ramji Das’, he later on became a Sikh. The story of how and why he became a Sikh is also so uplifting. There is a book by Patwant Singh about Bhagat Puran Singh Ji called, Garland around my Neck by Patwant Singh which can be ordered from both from singhbrothers.com and dtfbooks.com. The book has a lot of pictures and is simply amazing!
Khushwant Singh writes that he was a
tall, shabbily dressed man, who may be found tramping with his wooden sandals or riding a rickshaw, along with an invalid.
Those words create is such a beautiful picture. There’s many photographs of Bhagat Ji trampling around on his rickshaw, helping someone who is in need. He wouldn’t ask anyone else: “Oye! Tu eh kar, Oye! To oh kar”. He did it all himself. He was such a great person, that he wouldn’t make any distinction based on creed, caste, race etc… he recognized the jyot of parmatma in everyone…
The Pingalwara created by him still stands in
Bhagat Ji was awarded by a Padam Pooshan (an award from the Indian Government), which he later on returned after the Attack on Sri Darbar Sahib.
Bhagat Puran Singh Ji renders true love for humanity, and shows how a Sikh should serve humanity shattering all superficies labels.
For many years, Bhagat Puran Singh ji physically carried Piara (an incontinent and mentally disadvantaged person) on his back while he carried out the great sewa for the sick and handicapped. In paying tribute to this, the book mentioned earlier has been named "Garland Around My Neck".
I still havn't worked our how to post pictures properly so, you will have to check the links:
Bhagat Puran Singh and Piara 1
Bhagat Puran Singh and Piara 2
More info and pictures of Bhagat Ji can be found here
Here is my favourite. I use this as my wallpaper:
Just look at the peace. The calmness. The sehaj.
Read more about Bhagat Puran Singh Ji:
Dhan Guru Dhan Guru Pyaarey.
P.s Leaving for Punjab soon check the wicked Hukam Guru Ji blessed with tonight:
Click here for Hukam
Just that I havn't really been "Contemplating my Lord and Master, my True Guru".
Seems like a happy Hukam (",)
Bhull Chukk Maaf
Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh
There's certain individuals/pious people that inspire me. Every time I'm feeling sad and, they happen to cross my mind... Everything changes.
Since I'm passing through a 'low period' and am in an emergency need of inspiration [getting a lot of it from some blogger friends...mentioned in the links to the right...smillies to all of you (",) ], I decided to make a series of posts about people that really inspire me. This will be the first post. I will make a post now and then about someone who really inspires me. Hopefully these individuals might inspire some of you too, to read more about their life and contributions... I will not write about their personal life, but mainly what makes them inspire me.
First:
Bhai Sahib Bhai Gurdas Ji
What's the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Bhai Sahib? Nirmarta. Gureebi.
It is not for no reason that Guru Arjan Dev Ji gave Bhai Sahib's Vaara the status of 'konjee' (key) to Gurbani. The key to a deep appreciation and deeper understanding of Gurbani.
Bhai Sahib was given the duty to write the bani according to the instructions of Pritham Shaheed Guru Ji - Guru Arjan Dev Ji. How high ones spiritual level one must have...to be entitled to such a great seva. Offcourse, it was later on 'checked' by Guru Arjan Dev Ji.
There is so much that can be written about Bhai Sahib, yet he can only be understood through his composition. The immense humility. The immense love and compassion that can be found in Bhai Sahib's composition is unbelievable. It has to be read to be understood, and cannot be described in words. Absolutely wonderful
Bhai Sahib composition also shows how humble and compassionate a Sikh should be, and how a Gursikh should generally be...
Two of the Shabads by Bhai Sahib that render his humility:
ਹਉ ਅਪਰਾਧੀ ਗੁਨਹਗਾਰ ਹਉ ਬੇਮੁਖ ਮੰਦਾ॥
ਚੋਰੁ ਯਾਰੁ ਜੂਆਰਿ ਹਉ ਪਰ ਘਰਿ ਜੋਹੰਦਾ॥
ਨਿੰਦਕੁ ਦੁਸਟੁ ਹਰਾਮਖੋਰੁ ਠਗੁ ਦੇਸ ਠਗੰਦਾ॥
ਕਾਮ ਕ੍ਰੋਧ ਮਦੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਮੋਹੁ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੁ ਕਰੰਦਾ॥
ਬਿਸਾਸਘਾਤੀ ਅਕਿਰਤਘਣ ਮੈ ਕੋ ਨ ਰਖੰਦਾ॥
ਸਿਮਰਿ ਮੁਰੀਦਾ ਢਾਢੀਆ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਬਖਸੰਦਾ ॥21॥36॥
ho aparaadhhee gunehagaar ho baemukh ma(n)dhaa||
chor yaar jooaar ho par ghar joha(n)dhaa||
ni(n)dhak dhusatt haraamakhor t(h)ag dhaes t(h)aga(n)dhaa||
kaam krodhh madh lobh mohu aha(n)kaar kara(n)dhaa||
bisaasaghaathee akirathaghan mai ko n rakha(n)dhaa||
simar mureedhaa dtaadteeaa sathigur bakhasa(n)dhaa ||aa||aa||
I am a sinner full of sins doing mistakes all the time and have turned my back to the Guru.
I am a thief, lost in lust,a gambler and I loot other people's homes.
I am a slanderer, bad person ungrateful and do corrupt acts.
I indulge in sexual desire, anger, greed, attachment and ego.
I break the trust of people (not trustworthy) and ungrateful and nobody wants to keep me.
After all this o friend, If one remembers the Creator, Satguru Ji will forgive you.
Shabad 2: Click here
I strongly recommend everyone to read Bhai Sahib's Vaara.
Tomorrow I shall try to post about someone else who inspires me a lot...
