This is a modern folk legend of the spiritual and real help that is given to not just Prahlaad in ages past but the faithful of our modern times. Though it is difficult to place the origin of this story on one person (if anyone has more information please send to: [email protected]) it is a powerful tale which has been accepted. It is an inspirational episode which will certainly remind us of our Guru, of faith and of fearlessness.
ਗੁਰੁ ਮੇਰੈ ਸੰਗਿ ਸਦਾ ਹੈ ਨਾਲੇ ॥ ਸਿਮਰਿ ਸਿਮਰਿ ਤਿਸੁ ਸਦਾ ਸਮ੍ਾਲੇ ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
My Guru is always with me, near at hand. Meditating, meditating in remembrance on Him, I cherish Him forever. ||1||
After the assassination of Indra Gandhi on October 31, 1984, Sikhs were butchered across India.
This is a
story about a Sikh couple living in an isolated village outside of
Punjab. The couple was young and were amritdhari. The Singhni wore a
dastaar and they had a young child.
The Sikh couple had an
isolated farmhouse in a Hindu dominated area. When news of the
assassination reached the area, and it was found out that Sikhs were
being killed, some local thugs also decided it was the perfect chance
to loot the farmhouse.
The
Singh found out about these plans from some well wishers and told his
wife that they had very little time and an attack was coming. The
Singh said that they should leave their farm and escape to save their
lives. The Singhnee however reminded him that they had done Parkash
of Sri Guru Granth Sahib on the top floor of the house and how could
they run away from Guru Sahib? The Singh again repeated that there
was an attack coming and said that their young child would be killed.
Singhnee jee insisted again that it would be wrong to run away from
Guru Sahib and let the mob disrespect Guru Sahib's saroop.
The Singh in frustration then said, "Once they kill us, they will disrespect the saroop anyways so what is the point in staying? We can't save the saroop if we're dead. The best we can do is save ourselves now. There is no benefit in staying! You are being stubborn and stupid."
The
Singhnee replied that while she had breath in her body, she would not
abandon Guru Sahib, even to save her life and while she was alive, no
one could dare do any disrespect.
With
the mob now on its way, the Singh in frustration told his Singhnee
that she could do what she wanted but he was leaving with their son.
He then took the infant and escaped.
Singhnee
jee went to Guru Sahib's room, and did ardaas. She
asked Guru Sahib for protection and for the courage to, if need be,
become Shahid in this seva. She then took a kirpan and waited.
When Singhnee jee saw the mob arrive, yelling and carrying weapons, ready to attack the house. She came down and stood at the door holding her unsheathed Sri Sahib. All of a sudden, the thugs in the mob began to turn around and run away, looking back in terror and then continuing to run. Singhnee jee was confused but amazed at Guru Sahib's kirpa as the mob retreated and did not return...
Some
days later, the Singh came back to the village to check on the fate
of his wife and their property. He fully expected that his wife would
be assaulted and killed and their home looted. As he was nervously
walking to his home, a Hindu acquaintence stopped him and
asked, "Singh,
where did you gather all those Nihangs from so quickly that
day???!"
The
Singh was confused and asked, "What do you mean?"
The
Hindu replied, "That day, when the mob went to attack your
house, your wife came and stood in the door and she was surrounded by
so many massive Nihangs who were so tall and carrying all kinds of
weapons. Where did you gather all of them from so quickly?"
The Singh realised that Shaheed Singhs had themselves come and protected Guru Sahib's saroop and his Singhnee's courage had been rewarded . He went home and begged for forgivness from his Singhnee and told her about how all the villagers were talking about the army of Nihangs that had protected their house.
ਸੋ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਮੇਰੈ ਨਾਲਿ ਹੈ ਜਿਥੈ ਕਿਥੈ ਮੈਨੋ ਲਏ ਛਡਾਈ ॥
That
Beloved True Guru is always with me; wherever I may be, He will save
me.