Lehal Library

33 Birth of Sikhism by Hindus of the lesser castes. While visiting Hindu places he had long discourses with the local pandits. He also spent many days with Shaikh Shara£, Shaikh Ibrahim, and other Sufi saints at Pak Pattan and Multan. The substance of these discourses was later put in verse by the Guru. The following incident illustrates Nanak's method in conveying his message. He wanted to prove to the pilgrims bathing in the Ganges the absurdity of making offerings to dead ancestors: 'One day the holy Guru came to Hardwar and went to the eastern part of the city. He saw a vast multitude bathing in the river and praying by offering water to the Sun. The holy father had divine vision whereas the others saw only with their eyes. Although the world came to bathe in the sacred Ganges, in lhe eyes of the holy father not one was pure. The Guru entered the Ganges, and whereas the others were offering water to the rising Sun, he offered it in the opposite direction. The people questioned: "Man of God, why offerest thou water in that direction?" The holy father asked, 'To whom do you offer the water?" They replied: "V•le offer it to our ancestors." The holy father asked: "'Where are your ancestors?" They replied: "Our ancestors are in the land of the Gods." The holy Gum asked: "Brothers, how far is the land of the Gods from the land of mortals?" They replied: "49.½ crore kos." The father asked: "Will it get there?" They replied: "Sir, the Sii.stras assure us it will," The father heard, and instead of offering a few drops started throwing up a lot of water. The people asked him again: "Brother, to whom dost thou offer this water?" The holy Guru replied: "Brothers, I have a farm which is dry. Even when there is much rain, there not a drop stays on my land: that is why I am sending the water." They asked: "How will it ever reach there?" Then the holy Guru replied: "Brothers, your ancestors are a long way away, my farm is much nearer. The land of your ancestors is far and also high up, and if water can reach there, my farm is only 250 kos, why shouldn't it get there?" When they heard this, lhey said in their own minds: 'This man is not crazy, he is a great man and they fell at his feet."22 22 This incident, for some inexplicable reason, docs not appear in Lhe Janamsii.khi edited by Bhai Vir Singh. 1t is. however, mentioned in the others and in almost the same words.