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Realizing the devotee's embarrassment, Guru Tegh Bahadur said, "I thought you had pledged five hundred mohurs." At this Bhai Makhan Shah's delight knew no bounds. It was the discomfiture of one who owed someone a debt.
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The Guru thought that if he did not help Bhai Makhan Shah, a devout Sikh, to identify him, he would be misled like many others and the confusion prevailing amongst the Sikhs would continue to be confounded.īhai Makhan Shah came to Guru Tegh Bahadur, and as he had with others, made an offering of two mohurs.
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They would have driven Bhai Makhan Shah away but for the Guru's intervention. His people were aware that he didn't much relish meeting visitors. Guru Tegh Bahadur was busy with his prayers when Bhai Makhan Shah arrived. Bhai Makhan Shah decided to visit the house pointed out to him. After he had gone around the town satisfying each one with the uniform offering of two mohurs a child told Bhai Makhan Shah that there was yet another holy man staying in a house across the street. A shrewd businessman, Bhai Makhan Shah decided that rather than part with the entire amount of five hundred gold mohurs he would make an offering of two mohurs to each one of the twenty-two self-styled gurus. When he reached Baba Bakala, he was perplexed to find a true living Guru at almost every step claiming offerings from the confused pilgrims. Bhai Makhan Shah hurried to Baba Bakaia to pay his homage to the living master and make his promised offering. He was told the tragic news of Guru Harkrishan's passing away and informed that his successor, the ninth Sikh Guru was in Baba Bakala. A prosperous trader, Bhai Makhan Shah, met the same fate. The devotees coming to Baba Bakala were bewildered. Then word went around that the successor to Guru Harkrishan was at Baba Bakala it is said that as many as twenty-two aspirants from amongst the Sodhi dynasty styled themselves as Guru and started receiving offerings from the Sikhs. But they were never so true as in the case of Guru Tegh Bahadur's succession. there will be unpleasantness and heart burning at every step." - These words of Guru Amar Das to his daughter Bibi Bhani when she sought to retain the Guruship for her family proved prophetic again and again.
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Since you have plugged the free flow of Guru's grace.
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Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji's supreme sacrifice.
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