CHAPATIS OF MILK AND BLOOD

Setting off from Sultanpur, Nanak crossed the river and reached Saidpur Sandiali, visiting Ram Tirath on the way. Here He stayed in the hut of a poor carpenter Lalo, who took the best possible care of Him. Nanak addressed him, saying "You have spent your entire life shaping the wood. Spare some time to shape your mind. Entertain thoughts of the divine and chant His Name. Only then will your life be considered a success." Lalo, who lived hand to mouth, used all the little means that he had, to offer the best possible services to Him. During his stay, Malak Bhagon, an extravagantly rich landlord, had arranged a huge feast and got prepared the choosiest of cuisines. When he came to know that Guru Nanak was in town, he sent Him an invitation to come to the grand meal and honour him. He however refused, and the news soon reached Malak who was also the local ruler. He sent his men to call Him, as he was dying to know the reason for His refusal. He happily accompanied his men. Malak instantly fired a question, "Why didn't you accept to attend my luncheon and eat that poor fellow's stale, tasteless, ridiculous food instead?"

Nanak held Malak's chapati (bread) in one hand and Lalo's in the other. When He squeezed them Malak was horrified to see blood oozing out of his, but milk from Lalo's chapati. Nanak explained, "You drink the blood of poor oppressed people, doing grave injustice, exploiting them all the time. Lalo's food is all hard earned and thus like milk. Anyone will prefer milk to blood." Malak realised his mistake and asked forgiveness for all his past sins. He promised to live the rest of his life living fair and square, without feasting on other people's money.

ENCOUNTER WITH SAJJAN THAG

Nanak met Sajjan at Harappa after He left Lahore. Sajjan had a unique way of robbing people and killing them. He had built a mosque and a temple side by side on a secluded place. He offered free stay to the travellers serving them food and water, thus winning their trust. Then at night he poisoned them through their food, thus killing them and taking all their belongings. Such a cold blooded murderer he was, killing innocent people for a few dimes. Guru Nanak had decided to reform him and thus intentionally accepted to be his guest. Guru Nanak started the flow of uninterr-upted divine music, as Mardaanaa played his rabaab (rebec). As celestial music fell on Sajjan's ears, he felt a strange kind of pain that reminded him of his sins and inhuman criminal behaviour; a pain that he could no longer bear. His heart was filled with remorse. He realised that Guru Nanak was a divine soul and fell to His feet pleading Him to show him the way. Nanak offered him the medicine of 'Naam' to heal his soul.

He set off for Goindwal, where He spent the night in the house of a leprosy struck person. It was his good fortune that the creator had Himself come to free him of all his scars and physical pain. When Guru Nanak left in the morning, the leaper woke up, only to find himself healed without a single sign of the deadly disease on his previously rotten body. Such was the grace of Guru Nanak's feet.

WATERING HIS FIELDS FROM HARIDWAR

Guru Nanak went to Haridwar, a holy pilgrimage of Hindus, where people come from far and wide to take a dip in the Ganges. He observed that people were throwing water towards the east. They believed that this water would reach their ancestors and quench their thirst. As He went to take a bath, He started throwing water towards the west. People found it absurd and asked why He was throwing it towards the west. He replied, "I am watering my fields in Punjab, which stand towards the west." They laughed at Him saying, "Are you out of your mind ? How can the water reach your fields which are so far away ?" "Well if it can reach your ancestors in heaven, it can certainly reach my fields that are on the earth itself", replied Guru Nanak. Guru Nanak hence succeeded in breaking the myth.

KARTARPUR IS ESTABLISHED

Guru Nanak travelled for twelve years in His first journey, known as Udaasi,

during the course of which He not only spread the word of God, but also reformed a great number of people. On his return He met His sister Nanaki and His family. His parents were delighted to have a glimpse of Him after such a long time. They urged Him to spend the rest of His life with His family, but how could He leave His mission incomplete. He reached the banks of river Ravi where Kartarpur is located today, and which is now in Pakistan. He was sitting in a field when a jat named Doda Malan accompanied by Dhuni Chand, a wealthy man, came to Him and requested Him to set up a dharamshaalaa. He consented and immediately, construction work commenced. A city began to spring around the dharamshaalaa. It is known as Kartarpur today, the city of God. He stayed here for some time and showered the place with divine music. Then He handed over the command of the dharamshaalaa to a Sikh Bhagirath and left for his second 'Udaasi', accompanied by Baalaa and Mardaanaa.