Guru Nanak experienced unusual mystic premonitions very early in life. As a child he showed little interest in formal education and in the activities pursued by children of his age. Instead he sought meditation and spiritual bliss in the company of itinerant sadhus and saints. He was very young when his father, Mehta Kalyan Chand, extremely worried by his son’s lack of interest in worldly affairs decided to set him up in business. He gave Guru Nanak twenty rupees (a large sum of money in those days) and asked him to go a to nearby town and purchase goods for resale, reminding him that he must try and strike as best a bargain as possible.
On the way to the commercial centre, Guru Ji came across a group of sadhus who had been meditating for days without food or basic essentials of survival. Immediately, he thought what better bargain can there be other than fulfilling the needs of the hungry sadhus, surely there can be no better way of striking a true bargain other than that of feeding God’s true devotees. Accompanied by his friend Bala, Guru Nanak bought the necessary provisions, clothes and blankets and returned to the sadhus’ conclave. The two friends then, with utmost devotion and humility, cooked the food and fed the hungry sadhus, also honouring them with clothes and blankets.
At that point Guru Ji’s main concern was for the welfare of the sadhus, little did he worry about the trouble which he would land himself in on returning home empty-handed.
Today with langars (free communal kitchens) run by Sikhs all over the world, Guru Nanak’s initial investment of twenty rupees is still growing. Neither the food, nor Guru Nanak’s twenty rupees, would ever run out.
Rajinder Singh ‘Arshi’ (Revised 8.10.16)