77.
Sakhi Effect of Taramati Rani's Saadh Sangat
Raja
Hari Chand had a wife named Taramati Rani. She was quite beautiful and Raja
Hari chand was happy. However, he did not like to do sangat or being in the
company of God oriented saintly people. Taramati Rani, on the other hand
heard of a holy congregation which would meet daily at amritvela or in the
early hours of the morning prior to dawn.
Taramati
Rani would awaken each morning in the early ambrosial hours. She would bathe
and then dress nicely to join the congregation of holy sages. She would walk
the distance and after spending a few hours in the sangat, she would return
home before Raja Hari chand would awaken to start his day.
One
night after Taramati Rani had left to join the holy congregation Raja Hari
chand woke up suddenly. He looked around and found his wife missing. He
searched all throughout the palace but could not find her anywhere and the
guards would not reveal the truth to him either. They knew that the queen
went out in the early morning and were been given strict orders by her not
to tell the King this secret.
Later
in the morning Raja Hari chand asked his wife where she had been in the
night but she did not tell him and brushed the topic aside. He devised a
plan to find out where she went in the late night hours. The following
morning, Taramati Rani awakened at her usual time, took a bath and got
dressed to go join her holy congregation. After she left the palace, Raja
Hari chand followed her. He expected to find that she was seeing another man
at night after leaving his bed. But he was surprised to find her joining the
company of holy sages and saints.
For
the few hours that Taramati Rani was in sangat enjoying Naam, Raja Hari
chand stood outside listening and enjoying as well. He dared not enter but
he also did not want to leave yet. So he stood there and let his ears enjoy
Naam and have his mind washed clean.
The
queen reached the holy congregation and the King lifted one of her sandals from
there (so that he could prove the infidelity of the queen). When about to
go, the
queen concentrated upon the holy congregation and the one sandal became a pair
Vaaran Bhai Gurdaas Ji, Vaar 10
As
the hour was coming to an end, Raja Hari chand returned to his senses and
remembered why he had followed his wife here. He took one of her sandals
with him so later at home he would show it to her as proof that he had
caught her going out at night. He quickly left and returned to the palace
awaiting the queens arrival.
When
Taramati Rani came outside she found one sandal missing. She and the sangat
searched but could not find the missing sandal. She was deeply worried
because she was worried that the Raha might discover about her doing sangat
and would stop her in future to continue. Alas, the sangat suggested praying
(doin ardas) and God willing a solution would be found.
Together
they supplicated in prayer and asked that the missing sandal be found. In
answer to this prayer a sandal just like the one missing appeared next to
the lone sandal.
The king
upheld this feat and realized that there her matching sandal was a miracle.
I am sacrifice unto the holy congregation. When Taramati Rani arrived at the
palace, Raja Hari chand followed her in and asked her to show him her
sandals which he had given her before as a gift.
Taramati
pulled out her sandals to show him and he was deeply shocked at seeing she
had a full pair when he he was sure he had taken one of the sandals. He then
proceeded to tell her that he had actually followed her this morning and
stole her sandal as proof that he knew of her wanderings. Raja Hari chand
asked his wife how such a miracle was performed that a new sandal was
appeared for her so instantly ? After explaining the whole incident to her
husband, Raja Hari chand was very much humbled that he had ever doubted his
wife. He too began rising early in the ambrosial hours and with his wife
joined the holy congregation. Those who come in the sangat with their body
and mind even at a risk are always protected by Waheguru.
He Himself preserves the honor of His servants;
He causes others to fall at the feet of His devotees.
Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, ang. 555