THE NUPTIALS OF LOVE

Hansa, a religious teacher of the Jains, came to the Master seeking the “hidden light” that illumines the path of life from within. He was a Pandit, a great painter and a leading monk. He brought an offering of a painting of the sunrise for Guru Gobind Singh. But the orders were that he should not have an audience with the Master. After a few days, some of the disciples close to Hansa set up his painting in such a place in the garden that the Guru, a great patron of all kinds of fine art might see it. Gobind saw it and said, “The painting is full of light, but the painter’s heart is all dark. He is cruel, very cruel.” Saying this, he wasn’t away and said nothing more, indicating thereby to his disciples that he could not grant an audience to Hansa. This remark from the Master astonished the disciples who had thought well of Hansa. Meanwhile, the disciples and Hansa had many discussions in the garden on grave points of philosophy; the Guru’s coldness remained unexplained. Then one day a palanquin came to Anandpur, borne by the Guru’s disciples and containing what was little more than a living skeleton, though not long before, a handsome young man. He was lying in a helpless condition in pursuance of his vow of self-purification and the Guru had sent for him. This young man, now half-dead with the performance of his vows was once in the same convent with Hansa, as a Jain in Brahmachari. Near the same convent, there was a young girl, almost a child, whose parents had presented her to the Jain temple as an offering. She and the young man belonged to the same town, where they had played together from their childhood upwards. Both loved each other at an age when they hardly knew what love was, but their guardians had separated them, putting the boy in the temple and the girl in the convent. Hansa was in charge of the temple. For years the young people did not see each other. Then, while gathering flowers in the forest, they met for a moment and conversed. This was a great sin according to the rules of the convent and the nunnery. The girl was punished by having her eyes put out. The boy was sent to the hills for a prolonged penance.
Hansa was responsible for all this. As to the girl, only Hansa knew her whereabouts and he was asked to bring her to Anandpur. After a long search, the blind girl was brought by him to Anandpur. By this time, the great love of the Master and the nursing of the disciples had brought the young Jain Brahmachari to full health again. He was sitting in the assembly, and the music of praise was in full swing as the blind girl entered. The Master looked at her, and she faced the Master. Gobind Singh blessed her and initiated her into the Raja Yoga of Nam. It is written that she recovered her sight and that her face shone with celestial light. The Master’s was great and he ordered that the nuptials of these two disciples be celebrated then and there. Great were the rejoicings and festivities of the disciples. Hansa was initiated the same day, and made a “Singh” of the true faith.

DHAN GURU NANAK DHAN GURU NANAK