Did you know that the ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji was approached by Brahmins (Hindus) from Kashmir who pleaded that he help them as they were being slaughtered by the thousand or forced to convert to Islam. Even though the guru was not a Hindu himself he gave his life for the right that all people should be able to practise their faith.

 

The sixth Guru was approached by a contingent of Muslims who said that they had no place to worship. The Guru having merged with the Almighty saw all people equally and he loved them all equally. Even though Guru Hargobind Sahib had just fought a battle when a force of the mughal Emperor had attacked him and his Sikhs, Guru Ji asked his Sikhs to start construction of a Maseet (Mosque). This was completed and handed over to the muslims. It still stands today and is known as ‘Guru ki Masset’ - Mosque constructed by the Guru.

 

The fifth Guru,Guru Arjun Dev Ji invited a Muslim saint to lay the foundation stone of the Harmindar Sahib (Golden Temple), the Guru could see the divine spirituality in a person no matter what religion he/she followed. To the Gurus it did not matter if you were a Hindu, Muslim or Sikh, what mattered was that you loved God and you lived a godly life.

 

Did you know that in all Sikh temples there is a free kitchen called Langar. This was started by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. It brought equality and broke down social barriers. At the time, a person from a high caste (Brahmin) would not go near a person of a lower caste (untouchable). In fact if the shadow of an untouchable went over the food of a Brahmin, the Brahmin would stop eating and throw the rest away. With the Langar, Guru Ji asked all to sit in line, on the same level and eat together, rich or poor, high or low caste, men or women. In fact Emperor Akbar who ruled India in the 16th century heard of the 3rd Guru Nanak, Guru Amar Das Ji, and even though he was emperor of the whole of India he was not granted an audience with the Guru unless he sat with everyone else and ate food in the Langar. Guru Ji then blessed him and said “The Almighty has granted you a great empire, be a just ruler.” Emperor Akbar was a just ruler and very tolerant of all faiths in his domain (the later emperors were not).

 

One day when the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji was only 8 years old, he was sat on the banks of a river with a group of devotees when a man came and offered two beautiful gold bracelets. Guru Gobind Singhs mother delicately placed the bracelets on each of Guru Ji’s wrists and everyone was very pleased. In a fit of boredom Guru Ji took off one bracelet and tossed it into the river. A sharp intake of breath was had by all. Guru Ji’s mother was called, and she came forth and asked “ Gobind Ji, where did you throw that bracelet?” to which Guru Ji took off the other bracelet and threw it also into the river and said “About there.” The point being that worldly goods and possessions meant nothing to the Guru , all he wanted was love from his disciples.

 

In the same vein, the Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji was on tour of the north west when a woman decided to take some fruit to the Guru. She picked the fruit from the trees. With a desire to only take the best for the Guru , she took a little bite out of each one and only kept the sweet ones. When she presented the offering to the Guru there was a gasp from his entourage as the cloth was removed from the basket and all the fruit had little bite marks on them. (It must be noted that cleanliness is very important to Sikhs and any food prepared is done with the utmost of care). Guru Ji took the fruit and ate, to the surprise of all around him. Guru Ji explained “ This lady has pure love and devotion in her heart, so how could I refuse her offering ?”

 

Once devotees from Kabul (Afghanistan) came to visit the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Sahib. With great devotion they had collected provisions to take to the Guru as offerings. They travelled a long way to meet the Guru, as the journey neared its end they met a man who was very hungry. On enquiring who they were going to meet he said “Sikhs of the Guru I am hungry, give me some of the food you have in your bags.” The devotees refused saying that it was meant for the Guru only. After the long journey they reached the Guru, but the All Knowing Guru stood with his back to them. Upon enquiring what wrong they had done Guru Ji replied “When I asked for food you refused me.” The Sikhs were confused, Guru Ji explained “ When a poor or needy person asks for help, see Me in him, and as you feed him so shall you make me happy.” The Sikhs realised their folly and immediately returned to the poor man in the road and fed him.