Bhakti Yoga

A tree spirit revealed that Hanuman attends every Rama Katha in disguise. Tulsidas identified and met Hanuman, who led him to divine vision of Lord Rama. Divine assistance comes to sincere seekers.

When Akbar imprisoned Tulsidas demanding miracles, Tulsidas recited Hanuman Chalisa. A horde of monkeys sieged the palace until he was released. True bhakti manifests divine protection.

When Krishna saved blind Surdas from a well and granted him vision, Surdas asked to be made blind again. After seeing his Lord, nothing else was worth seeing. True devotion values divine vision above all worldly sight.

Guru Amar Das constructed a sacred well (Baoli) at Goindwal with 84 steps. He explained that Sikhs who recited Japji Sahib on each step with firm faith would achieve liberation and escape the cycle of birth and death. This became the first Sikh pilgrimage center.

Workers leave a half-split log with a wedge during lunch. A curious monkey pulls the wedge out - the log snaps shut, trapping him painfully. Avoid meddling in matters you do not understand.

Bibi Rajni was married to a leper as punishment for crediting God rather than her father for her sustenance. While she gathered food, her husband observed crows emerging white from the pool after entering black. He bathed in the water and was healed. The ber tree became known as Dukh Bhanjani Beri (tree that relieves afflictions).

Guru Amar Das tested his two sons-in-law by asking them to build platforms repeatedly. While Bhai Rama gave up in frustration after rejections, Bhai Jetha (future Guru Ram Das) humbly rebuilt the platform seven times without complaint. This demonstrated his humility and patience, leading to his selection as the fourth Guru.

Shishupala, born with three eyes and four arms, was destined to be killed by Krishna. His mother secured a promise that Krishna would forgive 100 offenses first. At Yudhishthira's Rajasuya, Shishupala publicly insults Krishna repeatedly until he reaches the hundredth offense. Krishna beheads him with his discus, but Shishupala's soul merges with Krishna—liberated through his obsessive hatred.

In 1675, around 500 Kashmiri Pandits led by Kirpa Ram Dutt came to Anandpur Sahib seeking help. Emperor Aurangzeb had given them a deadline to convert to Islam or face death. They sought refuge with the ninth Sikh Guru.

When Muslim saint Pir Bhikan Shah visited infant Gobind Rai in Patna, he placed two earthen vessels before him - one with milk (Hindu faith) and one with water (Muslim faith). The child reached out with both hands and touched both pots simultaneously, signifying he would favor all people and religions equally.

After administering amrit to the five beloved ones, Guru Gobind Singh knelt before them with folded hands and requested they baptize him in the same manner. Through this remarkable act of humility, the Guru became the sixth Khalsa, his name changing from Gobind Rai to Gobind Singh.

Before his death in 1708, Guru Gobind Singh declared that no human would succeed him. Instead, he installed the Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal living Guru. He bowed before the scripture and proclaimed that Sikhs should henceforth look to the Granth for guidance. This revolutionary act established the unique Sikh concept of scripture as Guru.

When 40 Sikhs deserted Guru Gobind Singh during the siege of Anandpur, Mai Bhago - a brave Sikh woman - shamed them and led them back to fight. On December 29, 1705, all 40 attained martyrdom at Khidrana. With his dying breath, leader Mahan Singh requested the Guru tear up their disclaimer. The Guru blessed them as Chali Mukte (40 Liberated Ones).

At Paonta Sahib (1685-1688), Guru Gobind Singh established the Kavi Darbar with 52 poets who translated Hindu epics and Sanskrit classics into Punjabi and Braj. Every full moon night, poets gathered to write and recite poetry. The Guru composed Jaap Sahib, Tav Prasad Savaiye, and Chandi Di Var during this period.

In December 1704, Sahibzada Zorawar Singh (9) and Fateh Singh (6) were captured after being betrayed by servant Gangu. Brought before Wazir Khan and offered riches if they converted to Islam, both refused. They were bricked alive in a wall. Their grandmother Mata Gujri also died. Now commemorated as Veer Bal Diwas.

After losing all four sons, his mother, and most Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh composed the Zafarnama - a 111-verse letter to Emperor Aurangzeb rebuking him for breaking his oath sworn on the Quran. The letter had such a profound effect that Aurangzeb saw the Guru as his only hope for redemption and withdrew all actions against him.

Governor Mir Mannu imprisoned thousands of Sikh women and children. Daily, babies were killed and their body parts hung around mothers necks. Women were forced to grind grain while starving. Yet they sang: We are the plants Mir Mannu sows, the more he cuts, the more we grow. Despite unspeakable torture, not one woman converted. Their collective resistance became legendary in Sikh history.

When Sikhs were being hunted with bounties on their heads, two Sikhs - Bota Singh and Garja Singh - defied the persecution by setting up a toll booth on a busy road. They announced themselves as Sikhs and collected tolls from travelers to prove Sikhs still lived. When a Mughal army came, these two Sikhs fought hundreds, dying gloriously rather than living in hiding.

Banda Singh Bahadur was appointed by Guru Gobind Singh to avenge the execution of the Gurus younger sons at Sirhind. On May 24, 1710, at the Battle of Chappar Chiri, his forces defeated Wazir Khan, who was killed by Bandas arrow. This established the first Sikh territorial rule.

The elderly Bhai Mani Singh, custodian of Harmandir Sahib, was arrested for organizing Diwali celebrations. When he refused to convert, the executioner was ordered to cut his body joint by joint. As each joint was severed, Bhai Mani Singh recited Gurbani. When his hands were cut, he continued from memory. He blessed even his executioners, showing divine grace in his final moments.