Guru Nanak and Kauda the Cannibal
During one of his mission to enlighten people, Guru Nanak Dev Ji traveled a great distance to the wilderness of Assam with his companions, Bala and Mardana. Mardana was very hungry and tired, so they sat under a tree. After sometime, Mardana went to get something to eat. On his way he met Kauda, the cannibal. Kauda took Mardana by surprise and bounded his hand and foot by a rope and then carried him to the spot where he had kept a big pan full of oil for frying the flesh of his victims. Kauda started to light the fire under the pan. When Mardana saw Kauda preparing to butcher him, he was very frightened and prayed to Guru Ji to come to his rescue. The all-knowing Guru realized what was happening to Mardana. He started walking towards Kauda’s place in order to rescue Mardana.
Kauda was trying to light the fire when Guru ji appeared. Kauda was completely bewildered. He went towards the Guru and tied him as well. He lit the fire and within minutes the oil was burning hot. Guru Nanak Dev Ji said that he wanted to be the first to be fried. Kauda was astonished and surprised. He had never seen anyone like Guru Nanak before. Kauda carried on his routine and lifted Guru Ji to put him in the big pan.
When the Guru’s feet touched the hot oil, it became cold as ice. Kauda then knew that Guru Nanak Dev Ji was not an ordinary person. Guru Ji looked at Kauda with compassion and graciously and said, "Kauda! You do not realize what you are doing. Would you cast yourself in the burning fire of hell?" Kauda, whose conscience was dead with heinous crimes, suddenly came to realization and was overwhelmed with repentance. The very gracious and holy sight of the divine Guru made him realize his guilt and he fell at Guru’s feet and begged for mercy. The gracious Guru blessed him with Naam, the meditation on the Name of God. Kauda changed entirely and thereafter lived as a devout disciple of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. He became an honest person and a devotee of God.
Kabir Ji in chains and Freed By God
In the fourteenth century, India was ruled by Muslim kings who would kill anyone who refused to accept the Islamic faith. Kabir Ji was a true devotee of God and would eternally recite His name and mediate on God. Kabir Ji would only worship God and none else. Kabir Ji considered himself neither a Muslim, nor a Hindu.
Kabir Ji said, "I do not make pilgrimages to Mecca, nor do I worship at Hindu sacred shrines. I serve the One Lord, and not any other. I do not perform Hindu worship, nor do I practice the Muslim prayers. I have taken the One Formless Lord into my heart; I humbly worship Him there" (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 1136).
Kabir Ji was a weaver by profession. "Abandoning weaving, Kabir Ji meditated on God with love. From a weaver belonging to a low caste family, he became an ocean of excellence" (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 487). The king came to know about Kabir Ji and asked him to accept Islam but Kabir Ji refused. King ordered his soldiers to tie Kabir Ji in chains and drown him in river Ganges. The king’s soldiers brought Kabir near the bank of the river Ganges. There was no one with Kabir Ji, no friend, no family but God.
Kabir Ji said, “The river Ganges is deep and profound." Kabir, tied up in chains, was standing there. "My mind will not shake; why should my body be afraid? My mind remained immersed with God” (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 1162). The king’s soldiers threw Kabir Ji’s body tied up with chains in the river Ganges. Kabir Ji describes this situation as follows, “The waves of Ganges broke my chains and I was seated on a deer skin." Kabir said, "I have no friend or companion. The Lord is my Savior on both water and land” (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, 1162). God raised Kabir Ji from water to protect His devotee. The chain broke as Kabir’s body touched the water of Ganges river. Kabir Ji was raised from the water sitting on the deer skin floating on the surface of the river. The king was amazed by looking at Kabir Ji rising from water. The king was embarrassed and begged Kabir Ji to accept his apology.
Good blog!
Thanks for this. Keeping a copy.