Sakhi Bhai Joga Singh

puzzled · August 18, 2019

The story of Bhai Joga Singh is one of my favourites

The Story of Bhai Joga Singh

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Joga as a young boy of maybe about 15 came to Guru Gobind Singh Maharaaj’s darbaar. He was so overcome on seeing Satguru jee and Guru Sahib asked “WHO ARE YOU?” He replied “I am JOGA” Guru Sahib asked “TOO KEHDAA JOGA? - ਤੂੰ ਕਿਹਦੇ ਜੋਗਾ?” (who’s joga are you i.e. who are you worthy of?) Joga replied “MAI TERE JOGA GURU JEE, Guru jee mai tere joga - ਮੈਂ ਤੇਰੇ ਜੋਗਾ ਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ, ਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਮੈਂ ਤੇਰੇ ਜੋਗਾ” i.e. I am yours/ I am worthy of you; Satguru ji replied, “too mere Joga, MAI TERE JOGA -ਤੂੰ ਮੇਰੇ ਜੋਗਾ, ਮੈਂ ਤੇਰੇ ਜੋਗਾ”. Guru jee asked Joga to stay with Him and become part of the Khalsa thus he became known as Bhai Joga Singh.

Love grew between Guru jee and Bhai Joga Singh, and Bhai Joga Singh loved being with Guru Sahib. Several years passed and Bhai Joga Singh’s parents came to take him home, they thought he should now be married as he had come of age. They went to ask permission from Guru Sahib to take him back home and Guru jee gave the go ahead on the condition that Bhai Joga Singh was to return whenever he was asked, he would be called when he Khalsa needed him regardless of where he was and what he was doing he should come. They agreed to this and headed off back to his village.

Gurdwara Bhai Joga Singh in the City of Peshawar (now in West Pakistan).

So the wedding preparations began and Bhai Joga Singh's Anand Kaaraj took place in the city of Peshawar. Bhai Joga Singh had been newly wedded and spent only a day as a married man, when a messenger from Guru Sahib arrived and presented Bhai Joga Singh with a letter requesting that he return as he was needed by the Khalsa. His family pleaded with him that he stay as he has just newly married and that how could he leave his wife so soon. However, Bhai Joga Singh was adamant that he would go back to Guru Sahib as nothing was more important than his Guru. Indeed the path of the devotees is sharper than the edge of a sword, and it is even narrower than a hair.

Bhai Joga Singh continued his journey to Anandpur as fast as he could. After passing through Lahore and Amritsar, he reached a resting spot at Hoshiarpur. On his way his ego got inflated and he thought, "WHO COULD HAVE ACTED LIKE ME? Certainly very few Sikhs would leave home after being newly wedded and carry out the Guru jee's order like me." This sense of pride brought his fall. At night he was overwhelmed by evil-passion and he started towards the house of a PROSTITUTE.

Bhai Joga Singh was wearing the Guru's uniform- full appearance with a Dastaar and the 5Ks adorned on his body. On his way to the prostitute, Bhai Joga Singh said to himself, "If some one sees me going into the house of a prostitute, it will bring DISGRACE to the Guru. Outwardly I am in Guru's attire. So NOBODY should see me entering the prostitute's house." On trying to enter he came across a GUARD standing there so he paused and backed away, he tried four times to enter the building but could not get past the guard seeing him. He realised how weak he was being and rode back to Guru jee.

On entering the divaan he payed his respects to Guru Sahib and Guru Jee looked at Bhai Joga Singh. Guru jee asked Bhai Joga to explain where he was last night. In shame Bhai Joga Singh did not answer. However, the all-knowing Guru knew of Bhai Joga Singh's temptations. Guru Sahib again asked, "Bhai Joga Singh! I have asked you a question, you are struggling to answer. Why cannot you answer me? Tell me WHERE WERE YOU LAST NIGHT?" As the incident unfolded Guru jee revealed that HE HIMSELF was the GUARD, and that He were there to stop Bhai Joga Singh from entering and sinning. Bhai Joga Singh fell at Guru jee’s charan (feet) and begged for forgiveness. Guru Sahib reminded him of what he had said before, “Guru Jee MAI TERE JOGA - ਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਮੈਂ ਤੇਰੇ ਜੋਗਾ” (I am worthy only of You Guru ji). Guru Sahib said “because you belong to me - I belong to you Bhai Joga, I BELONG TO YOU! Mai tere joga! - ਮੈਂ ਤੇਰੇ ਜੋਗਾ”

Such are the ways of the Beloved Guru. Once we put our complete faith in Him, He does not abandon us and let us waver.