Bhagat Maalaa ~ The Story of Raja Hari Chand - Part XXII

Introduction to the short stories

The short stories are a collection of stories taken from the Aadh Guru Granth Bhagat Maalaa, which have been translated into simple English. The purpose of translating these stories is to provide understanding and the significance of these stories when reciting Gurbaani.

The Sikh Gurus and other Bhagats within Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji have made references to the various saints and disciples who existed at the time of the Hindu deities. By no means are these stories a form of praise or worship of the Hindu deities, but they are used as a reference to purely develop the meaning of Gurbaani.

The stories taken from Hindu mythology provide examples from the lives of the disciples and saints as parallels to understand the power and greatness of the One Lord, the righteous practise of faith and Dharma and how one is emancipated from sin and misfortune through meditating upon the Primal Lord.

~ Harjinder Singh Khalsa
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The Story of Raja Hari Chand

There was once a Raja called, Raja Hari Chand, who lived with his wife, Rani Trilochan. Rani Trilochan was a very religious woman. Any opportunity she got to meet with the congregation, she would go and meditate upon the Lord. Every morning, many would gather together and sing the Lord's praises, in which Rani Trilochan would attend. Raja Hari Chand was not a very religious man and he never attended or took part in religious rituals.

One day, Rani Trilochan went to attend a religious prayer early in the morning. Raja Hari Chand awoke and saw that his wife was not by his side. He searched for her and wondered where she could have gone. He remained silent and did not ask about her whereabouts. That night Raja Hari Chand could not sleep and was suspicious his wife was committing adultery. Rani Trilochan got up at the ambrosial hours of the morning; she bathed and made her way to the religious function. Raja Hari Chand was not really asleep and he too got ready and followed his wife. He saw his wife enter a temple and sat in the congregation singing the Lord's praises.

Along the way, he picked up one of her wooden sandals and returned to his palace and fell asleep. The religious function had finished and Rani Trilochan went to collect her wooden sandals and found that one was missing. She became very concerned and worried. She asked everyone if they saw her wooden sandals. Rani Trilochan told the devotees that if her husband found out she has been attending religious rituals, she would be in trouble and the fact that her wooden sandals has gone missing will make him angrier and suspicious. The congregation got together and began to pray for Rani Trilochan's protection. After some time, the Lord presented Rani Trilochan with a miracle. Her old wooden sandal was returned and put on her foot. After this miracle, Rani Trilochan returned home.

Raja Hari Chand awoke, "Rani, where have you been? Where are your wooden sandals?"

"My wooden sandals are on my feet. What is wrong?" Rani Trilochan replied.

"Where are they?"

"Like I said to you, they are on my feet."

Raja Hari Chand looked at her feet and saw that both wooden sandals were on her feet. He was surprised and went to pick up the wooden shoe he picked up. He put it against his wife's shoes and saw that there was no difference between them. Rani Trilochan was also shocked and she realised that her husband must have followed her to the religious ceremony and took her shoe. She then said to her husband, "O beloved husband, do you now have faith in where I go in the early hours of the morning? I go to meditate upon the Lord. It would be better if you went with me. Just sitting with the congregation you will see how much peace comes to the mind."

Raja Hari Chand asked for forgiveness and joined the congregation with his wife.

Below is the story of Raja Hari Chand and Tara Rani as written by Bhai Gurdas Ji Vaar 10, Pauri 6:
 

ਸੁਖੁ ਰਾਜੇ ਹਰੀ ਚੰਦ ਘਰਿ ਨਾਰਿ ਸੁ ਤਾਰਾ ਲੋਚਨ ਰਾਣੀ।
King HariChand had a queen with beautiful eyes, Tara, who had made his home the abode of comforts.

ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਮਿਲਿ ਗਾਵਦੇ ਰਾਤੀ ਜਾਇ ਸੁਣੈ ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ।
At night she would go to the place where in the form of holy congregation, would recite the holy hymns.

ਪਿਛੈ ਰਾਜਾ ਜਾਗਿਆ ਅਧੀ ਰਾਤਿ ਨਿਖੰਡਿ ਵਿਹਾਣੀ।
After she had left, the King awoke in the middle of the night and realised she had gone.

ਰਾਣੀ ਦਿਸਿ ਨ ਆਵਈ ਮਨ ਵਿਚਿ ਵਰਤ ਗਈ ਹੈਰਾਣੀ।
He could not find the Queen anywhere and his heart filled with astonishment

ਹੋਰਤੁ ਰਾਤੀ ਉਠਿ ਕੈ ਚਲਿਆ ਪਿਛੈ ਤਰਲ ਜੁਆਣੀ।
The following night he followed the young queen.

ਰਾਣੀ ਪਹੁਤੀ ਸੰਗਤੀ ਰਾਜੇ ਖੜੀ ਖੜਾਉ ਨੀਸਾਣੀ।
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).

ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਆਰਾਧਿਆ ਜੋੜੀ ਜੁੜੀ ਖੜਾਉ ਪੁਰਾਣੀ।
When about to go, the queen concentrated upon the holy congregation and the one sandal became a pair.

ਰਾਜੇ ਡਿਠਾ ਚਲਿਤੁ ਇਹੁ ਏਹ ਖੜਾਵ ਹੈ ਚੋਜ ਵਿਡਾਣੀ।
The king upheld this feat and realized that there her matching sandal was a miracle.

ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਵਿਟਹੁ ਕੁਰਬਾਣੀ ॥੬॥
I am sacrifice unto the holy congregation.
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