Baba Buddha Sahib: An Epitome of Sikhi
- In Religion
- 11:04 PM, Oct 21, 2024
- Dr Gursharan Singh Kainth
Bhai Buddha is one of the closest companions of the Guru Nanak - the founder and first Guru of Sikhism and is one of the most revered and sacred saints in Sikhism. He holds one of the most important and pivotal positions in Sikh history. Bhai Buddha also known as Baba Buddha (Gurmukhi: bābā buḍhā; lit. meaning "wise old man"; was a most venerated primal figure in early Sikhism. Baba Buddha was born into the Randhawa clan. He was born in a Jat family on October 6, 1506, in Katthu Nangal, 18 km north-east of Amritsar. Originally named Bura (Gurmukhi: būṛā), he was the only son of Bhai Suggha and Mai Gauran. Later the family settled down in Dhalla village not far away from River Ravi opposite Kartarpur.
Bura to Buddha
As a child, while grazing cattle outside his village, he met Guru Nanak. Guru Nanak sat under a Tahli tree, where Gurdwara Janam Asthan Baba Buddha is located. The remnants of the Tahli are said to be present inside the Gurdwara Sahib. He asked Guru Nanak many questions regarding life and death, such that, at his young age, Guru Nanak blessed him with the name Buddha, as he spoke as if he were a wise elder.
Guru Nanak Dev had made a rule for his congregation. Whoever attended his court; all of them would recite words of devotion and sing bhajans and kirtans with the entire congregation. This routine of the court continued every day as a rule. Guru Sahib often noticed that during the shabad kirtan, a small boy would come and stand silently behind him.
One day Guru Nanak Sahib asked that boy, 'Son, why do you come here every morning, it is time for you to sleep. What pleasure do you get from reciting the Vaani now? Doesn't your mind go towards games?'
The boy bowed his head and said respectfully, 'Once my mother asked me to burn wood in the stove. In that process, I saw that my mother first burned small, thin logs in the fire because small logs would catch fire faster than big logs. The fire would take longer to affect big and thick logs. From that time itself, it settled in my mind that perhaps knowledge can also catch on quickly in us children. That is why I love your company the most.
One day, when he was young, he was grazing cattle outside the village when Guru Nanak happened to pass by. According to Bhai Mani Singh's, Sikhan di Bhagat Mala (The Holy Sikh Jewels), Bura went up to him and, making obeisance with a bowl of milk as his offering, prayed to him saying:
"O sustainer of the poor! I am fortunate to have had a sight of you today. Absolve me now from the circuit of birth and death."
The Guru said, you are only a young man, yet you talk very wisely." Then he related a story to Guru Nanak, "Some soldiers set up camp by our village and then they mowed down all of our crops, the ripe ones and the unripe ones, as well. Then it occurred to me that, when no one could check these indiscriminating soldiers, who would restrain death from laying his hand upon us, young or old."
Guru Sahib was pleased with the wisdom of that boy and said, 'You are young in age but very old in wisdom.' After that day, that boy was named Budha Singh. From that day, Bura, came to be known as Bhai Buddha, buddha in Punjabi means old wise man (wisdom usually only comes with age). Later, when advanced in years, he was known as Baba Buddha. Bhai Buddha became a devoted disciple. Baba Buddha Singh lived till the time of the sixth Nanak Guru Hargobind.
Military Career
According to Sikh hagiographies and oral histories, Baba Buddha learnt the Sikh martial art system of Shastar Vidya from Guru Nanak himself. Baba Buddha provided the successive gurus of Nanak training in the martial art and was ordained by Guru Hargobind to instruct recruits into the first Sikh army, in Shastar Vidya.
Guru Arjan Dev placed his young son, Hargobind, under Bhai Buddha's instruction and training. While Guru Hargobind was in jail, Baba Budha reformed the Nihang army, at the time called the Akal Sena, although now it is named the Budha Dal after Jathedar Baba Buddha Randhawa.
Spiritual Career
Bhai Buddha became a devoted disciple of Guru Nanak. His marriage at the age of seventeen at Achal, near Batala, did not distract him from his chosen path and he spent more time at Kartarpur where Guru Nanak had taken up his abode than at Katthu Nangal.
In the absence of Guru Nanak from his home, Baba Budha stayed in the service of Guru Nanak’s wife Mata Sulakhani and sons Sri Chand and Lakhmi Das. Guru Nanak built a strong connection with Bhai Buddha. Such was the eminence he had attained in Sikh piety that, at the time of the installation of Bhai Lahina as Guru Angad, (Nanak II), Guru Nanak gave him the honour to apply the ceremonial tilak on the forehead to pass on the Gurgaddi (Guruship) to Bhai Lehina (Guru Angad Dev). Bhai Buddha lived to a ripe old age and had the unique honour of anointing all of the four following Gurus until Guru Hargobind Sahib.
Baba Buddha dedicated himself to Seva of all the Gurus he interacted with. He continued to serve the Gurus with complete dedication and remained an example of holy living for the growing body of disciples. He learned Guru Angad Dev’s Gurmukhi script and took on the Seva of teaching it to others.
Baba Buddha helped Guru Amar Das Ji with the construction of Baoli Sahib at Goindwal - the first Sarovar.
At the time of Guru Ram Das and Guru Arjan Dev, Baba Buddha helped to look after the Seva of digging (the excavation) of the Amrit Sarovar (Amritsar) the city that lent its name to Amritsar, under Guru Ram Das and Guru Arjan Dev. The beri tree under which he would sit, supervising the excavation of the Amritsar pool still stands in the precincts of the Harmandir Sahib. It is known as Ber Baba Buddha Sahib.
Granthi of Sri Sarbar Sahib
After the completion of Sri Pothi Sahib, Guru Arjan Dev asked his Sikh, Baba Buddha where to install Sri Pothi Sahib.
Kaho Granth Sahib Kis Thana
Nit Sobhe Jhe Mahed Mahana
Baba Buddha replied with folded hands and a deep bow,” Who is wiser than you? But I am of the view that Sri Pothi Sahib may be installed at Sudha Sar.
Tao Sonnhu Sar Sudha Majhara
Hari Mandir Sunder Darbara
Sadha Sathapan Granth Su Laaik
Sobhehgo Eim Tahan Subhake
Guru Arjan Dev was very much elated on hearing such a response from Baba Buddha and said:
Banyo Sudhar Sar Vich Hari Mandir
Eh Sum Nahi Triloki Ander
Tatha Granth Sahib Subh Racheyo
Sarabuttam Hari Nameen Khcheyo
Guru Arjan Dev at last decided to ceremoniously install Sri Pothi Sahib at Sri Darbar Sahib at Amritsar. For this event, the Guru in consultation with his principal advisers fixed up Bhadon Sudi 1 1661 Bikrami. The Guru called for all his principal Sikhs, Masands and other Sikh sangat at Amritsar so that Prakash Utsav can be celebrated with great enthusiasm, gaiety and religious fervour. On that night the crowds of Sikh sangats along with Guru Arjan Dev slept on the floor of Sri Ramsar.
Granth Sahib Aader Ke Haet
Butal Saine Guru Samet
The next morning, Guru Arjan Dev thought of a person who can recite Gurbani from Sri Pothi Sahib. The Guru had a glance at Baba Buddha who dedicated his life to Guru’s mission.
Guru Arjan Dev therefore appointed Baba Buddha to be the first Granthi (the one who knows the Granth) to be the custodian at Sri Harimandar Sahib and honoured him with the title of Bhai Sahib.
Baba Buddha was carried the Granth on his head; Guru Arjan Sahib was waving the chaur (royal whisk). The beautiful revered Hargobind was also part of the procession. The atmosphere was divine: sound of many sankhs (conch), vibrations of dundabhi (drums), and cheers of jai-jai-kar (hail or praise). Baba Buddha took the first Sri Mukh Vak recitation from Sri Pothi Sahib which reads as
Santa Ke Karz Aap Khaloya
Har Kam Karavan Aya Ram
(Suhi Mahalla 5; SGGS 783)
Bhai Buddha thus became the first high priest of the sacred shrine, now popularly known as the Golden Temple, yet he lived with such an exemplary simplicity that he was pleased to eat bread with raw onion.
Following the martyrdom of Guru Arjan on 30 May 1606, Guru Hargobind raised opposite the Harimandar an eleven feet high platform and called it Sri Akal Takht - the Timeless Throne or the Throne of the Timeless. The construction of this platform was undertaken by the Guru, Baba Buddha and Bhai Gurdas, with no other person being allowed to take part in it.
After the Martyrdom of Guru Arjan, the investiture ceremony of Guru Hargobind was held on this new platform that Baba Buddha and Bhai Gurdas had built. Even then, the new platform facing the entrance of the causeway to the Harmandar Sahib was referred to as the Akal Takht Sahib. Baba Buddha, as he had done so many times before, was called on again to perform the initiation as he had done before, but on that day (24 June 1606) Guru Hargobind took Sikhi in a new direction for he asked Baba Buddha for a sword, rather than the traditional seli that had once been worn by Guru Nanak.
During this investiture ceremony, Guru Hargobind then put on not one but two swords; one on his left side and the other on his right. He declared that the two swords signified "Miri" and "Piri"- "Temporal Power" and "Spiritual Power", one which would smite the oppressor and the other which would protect the innocent.
Baba Buddha subsequently retired to the forest, where he tended the livestock of the Guru Ka Langar. What is left of that forest is still known as 'Bir Baba Buddha Sahib'.
The following tuks (lines of Gurbani) can be found in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib that refers to the ascendency to Guruship of the fourth Sikh Guru, Guru Ram Das:
ਹਰਿ ਭਾਇਆ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਬੋਲਿਆ ਹਰਿ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਸੁਜਾਣੁ ਜੀਉ ॥
ਰਾਮਦਾਸ ਸੋਢੀ ਤਿਲਕੁ ਦੀਆ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੁ ਸਚੁ ਨੀਸਾਣੁ ਜੀਉ ॥੫॥
The Lord was pleased as the True Guru spoke; he was blended then with the all-knowing Primal Lord God. The Guru then blessed the Sodhi Ram Das with the ceremonial tilak mark, the insignia of the True Word of the Shabad. ||5||
Putran De Dani
Sri Guru Arjan Dev - the fifth Sikh Guru, had no offspring from his first marriage. His first wife Mata Ram Devi died without giving birth to a child. Then Guru Arjan Dev was married to Mata Ganga Devi on June 19 1589, at the age of 26-years-old. Guru Arjan Dev and Mata Ganga Devi too did not have a child for a long time after their marriage. Being without a child for many years Guru Arjan Dev's wife Ganga Devi became anxious.
So she talked to her husband and the Guru. “My beloved husband and Guru, I need to ask you something very important. Can you bless me to have a child so that our lineage can continue? I want to make sure there is stability in the house of Nanak.” Guru Arjan looked at his wife and kindly explained, “If I bless you to have a child, I’m blessing myself to have a child. This cannot be, I am not here to bless myself, I am here to bless others. I am nothing.”
Mata Ganga asked again, “My dear wise husband, surely there is a way. Surely you know of something I can do.” Guru Arjan said, “You need to seek the blessing of another holy man. Why don’t you request this blessing from a saint like Baba Buddha?” Baba Buddha was an aged and reclusive personality, Mata Ganga would seek him out while barefoot for his blessings. She took her husband’s suggestion as an order. She immediately called all her servants, “Get ready we are going to travel to the village where Baba Budha lives.”
Baba Buddha Sahib was the administrator of the land of Bibi Bhani (daughter of Guru Amar Das) who had as a jagir land grant (consisting of 500 biggas) of productive agricultural land bestowed upon her by the Mughal emperor Akbar. As a result, the land became known as 'Beer Baba Buddha Sahib'. The land was used for farming and educational activities.
Baba Buddha used to live in this jungle outside on Chaball – Amritsar road near chabaal Kalan village in Amritsar district (now in Tarn Taran district) at a distance of 20 kms from Amritsar. Now a Gurdwara Bir Baba Budha Sahib popularly known as Bir Sahib is the situated where Baba Budha Sahib spent much part of his life (1506 - 1631).
A caravan was prepared. She made sure her servants prepared the finest food, so she could give it to Baba Budha as an offering. She put on her most beautiful dress. She rode in a carriage and a whole group of her royal servants and attendants came on horses.
They were a most impressive procession! The grand procession made its way to the village outside of Amritsar, where Baba Budha lived. When she got there, she asked a villager, “Where is Baba Budha, I have come to give him an offering.” The villager said, “He said he knows why you have come. He also said he doesn’t want to talk to you and he wants you to leave him alone and go away right now.” The first attempt that Ganga made to seek the blessing of Baba Buddha ended in failure as she was accompanied by noisy carts and an entourage of girls, which came across as ostentatious and an unbefitting entrance of the family of the Sikh guru from the perspective of Baba Buddha.
Baba Buddha also refused to accept gifts Ganga brought with her. Baba Buddha claimed that only the Sikh guru could bless someone, not him and thus Ganga returned home without the blessing she had sought.
This made Mata Ganga even more sad than she was before. She went back and asked the Guru, “What should I do now?”
After recounting the event to her husband Arjan, the Guru instructed Ganga on the correct manner of approaching a saintly individual with a request for a blessing. Guru Arjan told his wife to return this time on foot, with a simple meal prepared herself. Guru Arjan Dev advised Mata Ganga Devi to go do Seva of a Gurmukh and get blessings for a child.
She realized that she didn’t need to make a big scene like that. She got up early the next morning. She kneaded some dough with her own hands while humming prayers. She chopped vegetables for subjee and lovingly prepared a home-made meal of Missi roti along with butter and buttermilk. Of course, she brought some raw onions. Holy men love onions. It is always a perfect gift. Then she left bare-foot and told no one where she was going.
She carried the food on her head for more than 12 miles until she got to the village where Baba Buddha lived and requested for a boon.
When she arrived Baba Buddha was standing outside the village joyously waiting for her. When she got to him, he said, “I have been waiting for you! I’m hungry!” As they sat down, she humbly asked him about having a child.
After a failed first attempt, Baba Buddha eventually granted her wish and blessed her. Baba Buddha took the onion and smashed it in half with his hand and predicted that she would have a son who would break the heads of the enemies like this, and destroy the cruel oppressors. He told Mata Ganga that such a son would be born in her house that would crush evil the way Baba Buddha crushed the onion.
Baba Buddha was greatly pleased this time and whilst separating the pods of an onion from the food prepared personally by Ganga he blessed her to give birth to a illustrious, tall, brave, good-looking, and strong son- the future Guru Hargobind Nanak VI on 21 Assu 1651 Bk/20 September 1594.
This prediction came true when Guru Hargobind Sahib, who lived up to those expectations, was born to her. The saying "Dal Bhanjan Gur Soorma" refers to Guru Hargobind Sahib's valiant nature. The couple would give birth to a son named Hargobind at Vadali (located close by to Amritsar) on 19 June 1595. Guru Hargobind Sahib, was the only child of Guru Arjan Dev.
Death
After a lifetime of following the Sikh Gurus, Baba Buddha passed his last days in meditation at Jhanda Ramdas, or simply called Ramdas, a village founded by his son, Bhai Bhana, where the family had since shifted from its native Katthu Nangal.
Baba Buddha died at the age of 124 on 16 November 1631 at the village of Jhanda Ramdas, on the banks of the Ravi River. Guru Hargobind was at his bedside and honoured him by carrying him to his funeral pyre and reciting passages from the Adi Granth.
The Guru, according to the Gurbilas Chhevin Patshahi, gave his shoulder to the bier and performed the last rites. Bhai Gurdas, further to quote the Gurbilas, started a reading of the Adi Granth in memory of the deceased. The obsequies concluded with Bhai Gurdas completing the recital and Guru Hargobind presenting a turban to Bhai Buddha’s son, Bhana. Two shrines stand in Ramdas commemorating Baba Buddha, Gurdwara Tap Asthan Baba Buddha Ji, where the family lived on the southern edge of the village, and Gurdwara Samadhan, marking the site of his cremation. Baba Budha ji spent here 21 years 11 months and 13 days.
Baba Buddha embodied the core Sikh values truly making him a guiding light for the Sikh community. His humility, selflessness, and unwavering faith make him a role model for generations of Sikhs. He remains a revered figure, his legacy etched in the very fabric of the religion.
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