On his return to India the Guru, having heard of the fair of Shivrat[1], went to Achal Batala[2] to preach his doctrines. The whole country crowded to see and hear him, and showered offerings on him. The Jogis on witnessing his success became very jealous and determined to humble him. Bhangarnath, their superior, asked him why he mixed acid with his milk, that is, why he a holy man led a family life. ‘When the milk becometh sour,’ said Bhangarnath, ‘no butter is produced by churning. Why hast thou doffed thy hermit’s dress, and donned ordinary clothes?’
The Guru replied: ‘O Bhangarnath, thy mother was an unskilful woman. She knew not how to wash the churn, and so spoilt the butter in producing thee. Thou hast become an anchoret after abandoning thy family life, and yet thou goest to beg to the houses of family men. When thou doest nothing here, what canst thou obtain hereafter?’
Bhangarnath made no reply to the Guru’s question but broached another subject: ‘O Nanak, thou hast exhibited miracles to the world; why art thou slow to exhibit them to us also?’ The Guru replied: ‘I have nothing worth showing you. Man hath absolutely no shelter except in the companionship of the hymns of the Guru. Were man to move the earth, that would not induce God to grant him undeserved favours. Hear the Word; I speak verily, I have no miracle except the True Name:—
- ↑ A festival in honour of the god Shiv held on the 14th day of the dark half of Phāgan (February–March). It was usual for Jogis to congregate on the occasion of this festival. In the Aīn-i-Akbari it is stated that the Emperor Akbar used then to hold meetings of all the Jogis of the Empire and eat and drink with them. Under the influence of such carousals they used to promise him that he should live three or four times as long as ordinary mortals.
- ↑ Achal, about three miles from Batāla, contains the shrine of Sāmkārtik, son of Shiv. For a full account of Batāla see the Khulāsat-ul-Tawārīkh, whose author was born there.
