The Ādi Granth, or the Holy Scriptures of the Sikhs (1877) · 17

* T^ 7H3T3 "as tlie old form of Sikh salutation.

' TvTST is an honorary title given to Rliatrl merchants, corresponding to master.

" About tlie ^TTJH V5^i see the remarks, p. i, note L The first marriage and th; blilh of the first child is also frequently added. I liave seen and examined many of this kind.

' i.e. I do not know it, you know it better.

true." Guru Angad was much pleased with Bhal Bala. "Well, BhaT Bala, take some disciple and go!" Bhal Bala said: "0 Guru, whom thou sendest, him I take with me." Then Guru Angad called Lala, the Punnu. He was a disciple, a Jat. Guru Angad said: " Bhal Lala Punnu, thou art a disciple, thou art attending to the Guru, go thou with Bhal Bala to Talvandi, bring the Janam-patri of Guru Nanak." Lala, the Punnu, said: "Blessed is our lot, that we shall see the Janam-patri of Guru Nanak, we shall consider it as if we had had an interview with Guru Nanak." Guru Angad said: "BhaT Lala, may the creator come into thy mind!"'

Bhal Bala, the Sandhu, and Lala, the Punnu, came to Talvandi, (the village of) Rae Bhoe, the BhattT. Having arrived there they met Mahata Lalu. They said: " Bhat Lalu, give us the Janam-patri of Guru ISTmak! Guru Angad asks for it." BhaT Lalu answered: "It is not with me." Bhai Bala said: "Thou art the brother of Mahata K'du, search thou in the house." Lalu, the Vedi, rejoined: " Bhai Bala, thou art the friend of Guru Nanak, speak the truth: is Angad Guru or Siri Cand?"' He told them also something else. Bhai Bala said: "Bhai Lalu, Angad has become Guru, before whom Guru Nanak put five paisas and a cocoa-nut and bowed his head.^ "What competition is there against him? "We have sought and found him. To his honour, Siri Cand, as being his son, due reverence will be paid." Then Bhai Lalu said: "Bhai Bala, look, I am searching. My brother's wife has departed and my brother Kalu also." They began to search in the house. Searching and searching they found on the fifth day the Janam-patri and Bhai Lrdu gave it into the hand of Bala, and Bala put it into the hand of Lala, the Punnii. Then Bhai Lala said to Bhai B'da: "Bhai Bala, go thou also with me! much honour will be paid to thee." Bhai Bala answered: ""Well, brother, go on!"

"When Bhai Lala and Bala went away, Lalu, the Vedi, said: "Ye take away the Janam- patri of Guru Nanak, but take also with you some offering of mine!" Brda said: ""Well, brother Lalu, whatever comes into thy mind, that is good." Bhai Lalu gave five paisas and a cocoa-nut and said: "Put my offering before Guru Angad, bow the head and say: '0 Guru, if ever his honour Siri Cand should take offence (at this), you must render me assistance.' " * On this Bhai Bala said: "0 Lalu, there is no ground for fear."

Bhai Lala and Bala took the Janam-patri and brought it to Khandur, (a village of) the Khahara Jats, and put it before Guru Angad. Guru Angad was very much pleased and said: " Bhai Brda, may the creator come into thy mind! to-day thou hast procured us an interview with Nanak." Having taken it into his hands Guru Angad kissed it and put it on his eyes and on his head. "When he looks at it, he sees that the letters are shastri.* Guru Angad reflected: "May there be such a disciple, who is read in both kinds of letters? " Mahima, a Khahara-Jat, in whose house Guru Angad was staying, said: "Guru, in Sultanpur is Paira, a Mokha Khatri, he reads both letters." Guru Angad then said: "Bhai Mahima, he should be brought." Mahima

' t'TH^ ^7) name of the eldest son of Nanak, as in the later Janam-Sakhis he is always meutioued first; in the old Janam-Saklii Lakhmi-das is on the contrary mentioned first; see p. viii, 1. 22.

' This rite of investiture with the Gurusliip, practised also by the folloHinjf Gurus, when nominating their successor, difi"ers somewhat from that mentioned on p..\lv, 1. i. But from what follows, it may be concluded that it was the comniou way of doing homage to a superior.

^ The passage runs thus in tlie original: ^ djdtTV Spft fJTH^ ^^ vT^ "^HT 1^7^ 31 B'TT tf^WTTTr o^ j{J^|. Tliis passage, being very significant as to the violent character of Siri Cand, was in tlie Lahore lithographed copy changed in the following way: % ^ fTf^ ^^ vT^ "^Tt Wi^ 3t ^TT ajHT 7i (J Jc\(: if ever Siri Cand should take offence (at this), you must not he angry (with him)! (sic!)

^ i.e. Devanagarl. This notice is very important, as it shows that the so-called Gurmukhi letters were in use before the Sikh Gurus, and not invented by them.

answered: " Well, Sir, I will bring him, at my bidding he will quickly come." Mahima went to Sallanpur and brought Paira, the Mokha. Having come, Paira, the Mokha, bowed his head and Guru Angad showed him the Janam-patrT. He read it off quite fluently. Guru Angad was much pleased and said: "Paira, put this for us into GurmukhT letters!" Paira answered: " Well, Sir! procure good paper, I will write it." The Guru procured paper, iuk and pen, and gave them to him. Paira wrote and Guru Angad caused it to be written. Say, 0 brother: vah Garuji! — The narrative is continued.

The Janam-patri of Guru Ndnak is written}

In Sambat 1526, the fifteenth of the light half of the month of Katak, Ifanak was bom at TalvandT, (a village) of Rae Bhoe, the Bhatti. He was born in the house of Kalu, a Vedi KhatrT by caste. In the Kali-yug the name of Baba Nanak was given to him. He fouudcd his own sect (or way). Whilst one watch and a half of the night were remaining, in the moonlight night an unbeaten sound was produced at the gate of Baba Nanak. The thirty-three crores of gods, the eighty-four Siddhs,- the nine NTiths,^ the sixty-four Jogiuls,* the fifty-two Ylras,' the six Jatis,'' paid homage to him (saying): "The incorporeal Supreme Spirit has come to save the world; to him homage should be paid, who has come as an Avatar! " At mitlnight and twenty-four minutes he was bom in the house of Kalu, the VedT.' The family priest of Kalu the Vedl was the Brahman Hari Diyal. Early in the morning Kalu went to the house of Hari Diyal and said: "Pandit, do me a favour!" The Pandit said: " Mahata Kalu, why hast thou come at such a time?" Kalu rejoined: "A male child has been born. Do me the favour and set down his Janam-patrl." Hari Diyal said: " Well, Mahata Kalu, having performed (religious) service and worship I will come. Meanwhile go thou." Kalu came again to his house. The Pandit came afterwards, after the day had risen for five Gharls." Having come he called out: " Mahata Kalu, I have come." Kalu led him in; he had spread out cushions and seated the Pandit upon them. Being seated the Pandit said: " Mahata Kalu, bring paper (and) saiTron,' and let me hear also the sound, the child emitted, when it was bom; tell me the time when it was born." Kalu said: "I know about the birth, that it was midnight and twenty-four minutes when it was bom, but about the sound I know nothing." On this the Pandit said: "Ask from within; ask the midwife Daulat." '" Kalu called the midwife Daulat out. She came out saying: "Why have you called me out?" Kalu said: "The Pandit is asking, thoii knowest it, tell it." The mid- wife answered: "Pandit, what do you ask?" The Pandit said: "What sound did the child emit when it was born?" The midwife answered: "0 Pandit, how many children were born

' It is quite evident that nhat follows cauiiot be the original Jauam-patri of Nanak. Tlie headings we liave added.

^ Perfect Jogis. ' The nine Natlis of the Jogis.

* The TlfdlA^ (<r\r*I«ft) fire a sort of female fiends attendant upon Durga.

' It is not known exactly, who are meant by the fifty-two Viras. Tliey are perhaps a sort of deified heroes. ^ The 7T3^ (ijffi) are ascetics; who these six are is not known. The Jainas worship seven Jatis. ' In the Lahore lithograplied copy the words from: " In the Kali-yug" to here are left out.

* A Ghari is twenty-four minutes, five Gharis therefore = two hours' time.

"?T3i or saffron is used, to hlot out any letter, that may be written by mistake. '° As far as may be concluded from the name, a Musalmau midwife.

under my hands! but such a child and iu such a manner was never born. The voice he emitted was such, as if some very wise one would laughingly join (us). I am quite out of my wits about this child." The Pandit said: " Hear, Kalu: the child is born when the twenty-seven lunar mansions were full. If he were born before midnight, he would become a great merchant; this one is born in the following watch, the night deflining (already). This night was a very momentous point of time, on his head an umbrella' will needs be turned. I am very much surprised, I will see what sort of umbrella will be turned (over him)." The Pandit was sunk in deep reflection and said: " Kiilu, let me see the child." Kalu asked for the child from within, from his wife. But the wife of Kfilu said: " I shall not give it, the days are chLUy." The Pandit said: "It will do him no harm, you may rely on my word." Then Kalu brought him out in his clout on his hands and sat down with him before the Pandit. The Pandit was versed in divine knowledge. Having seen him he stood up, joined both his hands and worshipped him. The Pandit said: "Kalu, take him away." Kalii brought the child to the inner room, and having returned said: "Come (again) and point out some name for it; for in what auspicious moments is it born! " The Pandit said: " Kalu, I will determine on a name and give it him." The Pandit reflected for thirteen days. When thirteen days had passed, a coat was put (on the child) and the name given: Xauak the Formless one.' Then K'llu said: " 0 Pandit, this name should not have been given, this name is common to Hindus and Turks." The Pandit said again: "This is a man, in whom is a great Avatar; he has come to thy house; such a great Avatar has never been before. There has been Sri Ram Cand and there has been Sri Krisn, the Lord; those the Hindus worship, but this one both Hindus and Turks will worship; his name will be current on earth and in heaven. Wood and grass will say: " Niinak, Nlinak! " ^ The ocean will grant him access, he will mentally recite the Formless (Supreme) one. And he will be much given to ablutions and the creature he will consider as a creature. "Without the Supreme Lord he will acknowledge none else. 0 Kalu, this will be my grief that I shall not see his dignity (he will attain to). "What do I know how long my life will be?"

When Nanak had become five years old, he used to lose everything which he took from the house. Kalu went to reproach the Pandit: "Well, Pandit, a (fine) umbrella is turned (over him) 1 " The Pandit said to Kalu: " Now thou reproachest me, but that time will come, when thou with a straight face wUt not utter a word."*

When Nanak became big, he commenced to play with boys, but his view did not agree with that of the boys; he studied with himself over the Formless one.

When he had become seven years of age he began to talk of the Shastras and the Vedas. Whatever he talks, that he understands. Every one puts reliance on him. The Hindus begin to say: "Some form of a god has been born." The Musalmans say: "Some holy man of God is born."

Then Kalu said: " 0 boy Nanak, leam now to read."

^ III A. this name frtdo^ld^, the Formless one, is not even hinted at.

' vTlH ■rtl^JTT is here used in the sense of: to be done = to be said, not in tlie sense now common: to become.

* This whole passage is simply left out in the Lahore litliographed copy, as derogatory to NSnak, for whom it ouly has praise.

Kalu went to the (village) schoolmaster and said:' "0 schoolmaster, look out for an auspicious moment, for we will send the boy to school." The schoolmaster answered: " Ifow the time is good." Then Kalu asked from his wife for a two-pice piece, betel-nut and rice, and brought it and handed Nanak over to the schoolmaster for the purpose of reading. Kalu said: "0 schoolmaster, teach 2fanak to read!" The schoolmaster said: "Well, that shall be done, Sir! " Then the schoolmaster wrote him a wooden slate and gave it him.^ Nanak read one day. On the following day he remained silent. The schoolmaster said: "Nanak, why rcmainest thou silent? whj- dost thou not read? " Nanak answered: " 0 schoolmaster, hast thou read anything, which thou mayst let me read?" The schoolmaster said: "I have read everything." Then Nanak rejoined: " 0 schoolmaster, by reading these words nooses are laid (on men); that which we must read, is all wind." Then Nanak uttered a Sabd in the Sirl Eag, ilahala I.