Who Laid The Floor of a Sikh Shrine Repeatedly ?

answered 2017-12-05 11:41:46 -0500

Guruka Singh
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updated 2017-12-05 11:56:37 -0500

This is Guru Ram Das Ji. Guru Amar Das wanted to select his successor just as the first two Gurus had done. The Guru asked both of his sons-in-law, Rama and Jetha to make him two sitting platforms beside the Baoli at Goindwal. He held out the promise (without saying anything about the Guruship) that he who did the better work in his eyes should receive the greater honour.

When they completed their platforms, the Guru went to inspect them. Both the platforms were declared to be defective and they were asked to tear them down and rebuild them. In obedience to his command, new platforms were erected. These were also not approved and ordered to be dismantled. On hearing this Rama, the elder son-in-law, refused to build his platform a third time. He demurred, "The Guru has grown old and his reason fails him."

Jetha's work was subjected to the same rigorous standard. He continued to build platforms which were then dismantled each time the Guru pronounced it faulty. Jetha built six platforms which were then torn down and rebuilt. Finally, he built a seventh platform.

Then Jetha clasped the Guru's feet and humbly addressed him: "I am a fool. Pray have regard for your duty to me as your son. I lack understanding and and make mistakes over and over, while your knowledge is perfect."

On hearing this Guru Ji smiled and embraced him affectionately saying, "Jetha is a perfect being who has incarnated, and the world following him shall be saved." The Sikhs were astonished on witnessing Jetha's marvelous devotion and obedience, and henceforth began to recognize him as the image of the Guru.

You can read (and listen to) the story here: Who Will Be Fourth Guru?