One day Guru Nanak was on his way to his fields in Kartarpur, when a handsome, well-dressed, young man on a horseback approached him from the front. He appeared to be a visitor. He stopped the Guru and asked him if he could direct him to the residence of Nanak, the recluse. Little did the visitor know that the person he was addressing was no other than Guru Nanak. Nor did the Guru let him know that — since the visitor only wanted to be directed to his house.
The Guru offered to escort the visitor to his house — with the visitor riding the horse and the Guru accompanying him on foot. As they reached their destination, the Guru asked the visitor to tether his horse to a pole and come in. When the visitor got in, he was surprised to discover that the old man who had guided him was none other than the Guru himself. He became penitent because he was riding the horse while the Guru was on foot. He fell on the Guru’s feet and sought his forgiveness.
The Guru consoled him and told him not to feel upset because being his host it was only proper for him to show him the deference that is due to an honoured guest.
The young visitor was Lahina, who was on his customary annual pilgrimage to the temple of goddess Durga at Jwalamukhi. He had come with his troupe, but had taken a diversion to meet the Guru. His urge to meet the Guru had arisen some weeks ago when he heard a hymn by him from Bhai Jodh.
Hold in your mind the Lord, serving whom,
Beatitude is attained.
Indulge not in evil, whose fruit you would have to harvest.
Take not recourse to foul means but cultivate foresight that may ensure safety for you in the hereafter.
Cast not your dice in such a way that you lose face with your Lord.
Do only what brings your efforts the coveted right reward.
The hymn touched Lahina’s soul. He asked Jodh to tell him who the composer was. Jodh told him that it was Guru Nanak. That caused the desire in Lahina’s heart to meet the Guru. He then requested Jodh to sing him some more hymns. Jodh was pleased to oblige him. As Jodh went from hymn to hymn, Lahina was moved even more and his desire to meet the Guru became more intense.
The diversion that he had made to Jwalamukhi provided him a welcome opportunity to meet the Guru. At the very first meeting with the Guru, Lahina became enchanted with the Guru’s captivating and charming personality. He could never have imagined that the Guru would be so unassuming and so humble with such profound wisdom. All that he had heard about religious leaders were descriptions of their pompousness and tales of them being unapproachable. He surrendered to the Guru and decided never to leave him. This was to be the end of his quests and journeys.
Lahina’s companions urged him to resume his journey with them to Jwalamukhi, but he sought to be excused. They reprimanded him for having deserted them. However, Lahina cheerfully bore their indignation and stayed on with the Guru. After he had turned his companions away, the Guru asked him:
“What is your name, dear?”
“Master! My name is Lahina.” (Lahina in Punjabi means a debt due to a creditor.)
“If your are Lahina, then you have come to the right place to claim the debt that is due to you,” said the Guru, “and befittingly, you came on horseback.”
History testifies that Lahina eventually received from the Guru what he was destined to receive, namely, succession to the Guru’s holy seat.
J.S. Neki, a psychiatrist of international repute, was director of PGIMER, Chandigarh. He also received the Sahitya Akademi Award for his contribution to Punjabi verse. Currently he is Professor of Eminence in Religious Studies at Punjabi University, Patiala.
