Preface Of The Book 'Bhai Jaita The Son Of Guru' By Dr. M. K. Gill

Rare are the disciples of the Guru in this world

Who serve others

Born in fear, they live in fear, and die

In fear.

This is how the Guru Sikhs spend their lives

But those, whose minds are set on the Satguru

Taste the heavenly fruit of his grace.

(Bhai Gurdas, Var 27, Punjabi)

It is extremely difficult to become a true disciple of Guru, because, this achievement should not be a result of reparation. It should come easily by the grace of God. The realisation, attained by the grace of Guru is another name for 'Gurmat'. The axiom of spiritual modality is also rooted in Guru's Grace. The first Satguru, Baba Nanak, exemplified the ideal life style by giving himself upto Lehnaji when the later pleased him. He made him Angad, and the spirit of Nanak passed into him.

When the perfect disciple is accepted by the Guru, he becomes his integral part. Then the words of Satguru are engraved on him in the same way as the seal of Guru's Gaddi (seat) was conferred on Bhai Lehna Ji. "Amara was not homeless, he was the ref­uge of the homeless". Thus appeared Guru Amardass in his own right. Guru Amardass blessed his grand­son Arjan Dev in his childhood by saying "Dohita, Bani da Bohitha". That the daughter's son was like ship of Bani. Guru Arjan Dev honoured his servant by say­ing, "Bhai Behlo sab to Pehlon", that Bhai Behlo came first. He accepted the services of Bhai Manjh with the blessing that Manjh was beloved of Guru, and the Guru was loved by Manjh- Manjh was the ship, and the Guru was its captain to row him across the sea of innumer­able births and deaths. The Lord of Meeri and Peerin, the great liberator, blessed Bhai Bidhi Chand by say­ing that Bidhi Chand had captured the Guru's heart. It was in the same context that Guru Gobind Singh uttered these words for the Dalits:

"My name, Gobind Singh will become meaningful only if I create Sardars from the castes or families which have never tasted such honours".

Accordingly, he embraced Bhai Jaita after he had seen the severed head of his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur, and said:

You Rangretta, are the son of the Guru.

Abide with the Panth.

It is the Charisma of such blessings that goads the Guru Sikh towards the attainment of such lofty ideals.

The name of many Guru Sikhs, the disciples blessed by the Guru are included in the prayers (Ardas) along with the Gurus, their sons and the Five Belov­eds (Panj Piaras). These epitome of peace and perse­verance have become a part of our daily prayers.

Baba Jeewan Singh belongs to the same category of the martyrs. He was known as Bhai Jaita, before he partook nectar (Amrit). He was accepted in the darbar of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur, his Guru father, as Bhai Jaita, and was celebrated as Jeewan Singh by the pro­tector of the Panth, Guru Gobind Singh. Sahibzada Ajit Singh honoured him by calling his teacher 'Baba'.

He rendered a unique service by carrying the mar­tyred head of Guru Tegh Bahadur to his patron in Anandpur Sahib. As a General in the army, he pro­tected the main gate at Lohgarh fort, and looked after the holy place, which is the symbol of the whole panth. In the end his martyrdom also fell in the line with the Guru's injunction:

"When this mortal life reaches its destined end and its limits,

May I die fighting in the battlefield with limitless courage."

Bhai Jaita was steeped in the love of the Gurus. He must have felt highly honoured when Guru Go bind Singh held him in a tight embrace and said,

"Ratte Ishq Khudai - Rang Deedar Ke."

The colour becomes visible when you are steeped in the love of God.

But how miserable he would be if he saw his Rangretta being discriminated as a Sudra?

Bhai Jaita, Baba Jeewan Singh's personality is resplendent in history like meteor. But when lighten­ing flashes over the remains, Baba seems to appear in front of the fortress of Chamkaur, honouring the mar­tyrs with the beat of his drum.

Time and again attempts have been made for writ­ing the life history of Bhai Jaita, but Sardarni Mohinder Kaur Gill, Principal Mata Sundri College, Delhi, has succeeded in giving a very interesting account of Bhai Jaita, Guru's son.

Dr. Gill joined the Nagar Kirtan and the ceremo­nial journey at the Sees Marg in 1997. She examined all the historical truths, saw all the places on the way and experienced the zeal of congregation in the re­lated events. She felt extremely respectful to Bhai Jaita. And while receiving the Saropao from the Holy place in the Gurudwara at the main gate she accepted the request of the people to write this book.

The book, Bhai Jaita - Guru's son, offers invalu­able information about Bhai Jaita's entire life. It is an expression of an untiring research dominated by Dr. Gill's love of faith. The bibliography at the end of the book shows that she looked for the facts arduously, examined them minutely and then gave her judgement on the multi-face, multidimensional issues. The book is a living proof of her scholarly pursuits.

Dr. Gill has divided this book into five chapters: Bhai Jaita - The Servitor, the Resolute, the Teacher, and the General. The entire work is a beautiful combi­nation of Belief and Research. I am sure "Bhai Jaita - Guru's Son" will be an ideal gift for the Sangats.

                                                                                     Buta Singh

                                                                                     September 2000

C-1 / 6, Lodhi Garden,

New Delhi.