In Safar-E-Patshahi IX Series No. 74 we heard that Guru Teg Bahadur Ji preaches Sikhism at village Khiala Kalan and also shoots his arrow to alleviate the water shortage there
In this series we will hear that Guru Teg Bahadur Ji arrives at Bhikhi village and exhorts the people to stop worshiping graves and worship an Akal Purakh
Guru Teg Bahadur ji reached Bhikhi while preaching in the villages of Malwa. Bhikhi village is located at a distance of 70 km from Bathinda and about 50 km from Sangrur. Bhai Desu Ji lived here. The village of Bhikhi was established by a landlord of Chahal Gautar named Bhikha. He was also the village chowdhury and worshiped graves. When he came in the Sangat of Guru Teg Bahadur Ji, Guru Sahib Ji explained to him through Bani-
“Dubhida na parau Har bin hor na pujau
Marai Masan na jai “
Meaning one should not get entangled in dubidha and should not worship the bent masans. Guru Sahib Ji explained to Bhai Desu-
“Khasam chod dujai lage
Dube se vanajaria”
Meaning those who worship graves instead of one God, they drown. Bhai Desu ji, impressed by Guru Sahib stopped worshiping graves and fell at Guru Sahib’s feet and became Guru’s disciple. Guru Sahib blessed him with 5 arrows and said that in need be then drop 1 of these arrows then all your tasks will be done.
When Chaudhary Bhai Desu Ji of the village learned Sikhism, he started reciting Gurbani, stopped worshiping graves, the tomb worshiping leaders did not like it.
After Guru Teg Bahadur ji’s departure, the priests who worshiped the graves taught Bhai Desu’s wife that if you stopped worshiping the graves and stopped visiting the graves, you would be very angry. If you want to save your house from the evil one, break the arrows in your house. Bhai Desu’s wife followed the priests and broke the Guru’s blessed arrow. When Guru Teg Bahadur ji reached the village of Morh, the Guru came to know all this. Guru Sahib sent two panchayats to find out everything but Chaudhary Bhai Desu of the village had also turned his back on Sikhism by following his wife, meaning he had lost Sikhism. Know the truth, now Bhai Desu is neither on this side nor on that side. He had also wiped out his dynasty by following his own whims.
On the other hand, the Bania family of this village also attended the service of Guru Sahib. When Guru Sahib Ji found out that they use tobacco, Guru Ji forbade them from using tobacco and said that if you want to get blessings, never use tobacco and this family obeyed Guru Ji’s words. On the other hand, Guru Ji came to Khushi’s house and promised that you should not cut your beard or hair. You will have infinite blessings. The family said that Guru ji, the rituals (shaving etc.) that follow, if we do not do this ritual, keep the case, move away from our rituals, then maybe none will have a relationship with us.
Sangat ji, know the truth, Guru Teg Bahadur ji was very kind to this family and Guru ji promised that 2-2 relationships will come for you. Das had the opportunity to visit the entire family. The blessings bestowed by Guru Sahib Ji are still there today at the age of 85 years. This whole family is attached to the Guru’s house. They carry out all the joys and sorrows of their home with infinite blessings from Guru Granth Sahib Ji. They come to the Guru’s house and recite Guru Sahib’s Bani. These elders still have beards on their hair at the age of 85.
These elders say that when Guru Teg Bahadur Ji came to Talwandi Sabo, our elders used to plow the fields. When Guru Sahib Ji came to the fields he sat next to our elders. He asked Guru Ji to drink water but Guru Ji refused saying that you smoke hookah and do not have beard. Our elders said that if we kept our hair and beard, no one would have a relationship with us. Guru Teg Bahadur Ji promised them that you will have 2-2 marriages instead of 1. Our elder Diwan Singh had four sons – Gulab Singh, Mehtab Singh, Nanu Singh and Bahal Singh. Nanu Singh and Bahal Singh were Talwandi Sabo. Gulab Singh and Mehtab Singh lived here. Gulab Singh had five sons.
He said that our great grandfather’s name is Kaushial Singh. Kaushial Singh had eight sons. My father’s name is Sardara Singh. Sardara Singh had two sons, Budh Singh and Sohan Singh. I am Sohan Singh’s son Seva Singh. I was born on 12-8-1935 and I will be 85 years old now. I have never smoked beeri, smoked alcohol, or scissored my hair or beard. We take a bath, gather our beards and tie them up. Since then we have received a gift. We have to set up a langar on the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and are showing a film on the birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. We’ve been here for over 200 years. So, how many blessings Guru Teg Bahadur Ji has given here. These are the original families of Guru Sahib Ji. Even today there are 58 Bania families in the entire Bhikhi, which is called the family of Singhs. They all live there. The old Bazar Singhs also have a mohalla and two old mansions. There are about 50 more families living in Mansa. How many blessings Guru Sahib Ji has bestowed on this family. They have preserved Sikhism even today. As many Bania families as there are, they are called the Singh family. Singh must also appear behind his name. So, today Gurdwara Sahib Patshahi ninth remains in Bhikhi. You are visiting this Gurdwara Sahib. You will also have the opportunity to meet Bania families here. By the grace of Guru Sahib Ji, there are many more families here, whom we will find and bring to you. Please listen to the rest of the history in the next series.