Baba Budha Ji: Child Prodigy who became Patriarch

Principal Amar Singh (Canada)*

* Formerly of Malaysian Education Service: now principal Khalsa Elementary School, 5987 Prince Albert St., Vancouver B.C. V5W 3E2. Canada.

Baba Budha Ji was the most revered Sikh who lived during the period of the first six Gurus. He was an apostle of service, dedication and devoutness. He had the opportunity to initiate Guru Har Gobind, and also had the vision of (Guru) Teg Bahadur Ji and (Guru) Har Rai ji in childhood. Guru Nanak Dev ji blessed him by giving him the word, "I will never be out of your sight." Guru Arjun Devji appointed Baba Budha ji as the first priest (granthi) of Durbar Sahib Amritsar. He was also given the responsibility of educating Guru Hargobind ji. Baba ji was the light house of Sikhism and saved the ship of Sikhism from many whirlpools. According to Mahan Kosh Baba Budha ji was born to Bhai Sangha Singh Randhawa and Mata Gounra on October 22, 1506 at Kathu Nagal, Amritsar. History tells us that in 1518 Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Bhai Mardana came to a nearby village and were engrossed in kirtan when a child brought milk for them and after paying obeisance to Guru ji, he said, "I have had your vision Guruji, please salvage me from the cycle of re-birth." Guru ji was very pleased with there words of wisdom from a small boy. Guru ji asked him, "You are a small boy, from where did you get this wisdom?" The boy said, "The Mughals invaded our village and they reaped the ripe and unripe crops without any consideration. I thought that no one could stop the devastation of the Mughals and who is going to stop the Yama, the messenger of death when he comes. Bless me that my fear of death disappears and I am emancipated from the cycle of rebirth." Guru ji said, "You are not a child. You have the wisdom of a seasoned person. You are a child prodigy, Budha." From then on people nick-named him Budha. (Child) Budha ji was so impressed by the personality and divine words of Guru Nanak Dev Ji that he left his home. When Guru Nanak Dev ji settled at Kartarpur Sahib, Baba Budha ji also came here and was engrossed in the service of the Guru day and night. When Guru Nanak Dev ji nominated Guru Angad Dev ji as the Guru in his own place, Baba Budha ji was asked to perform the initiation ceremony. After Guru Nanak Dev ji, Baba ji remained engrossed in seva as always. Guru Angad Dev ji left for Khadur Sahib, but Baba Budha ji remained at Kartarpur Sahib. Guru Angad Dev ji did reach Khadur Sahib but nobody knew of his place of residence. Six months passed and the Sikhs became concerned. All came to Baba Budha ji for assistance. Baba ji went straight to Sanghar, near Khadur Sahib, and met Mata Veerai. Mata ji was under instructions not to reveal the presence of Guru Angad Dev ji. Baba Budha ji opened the door, went in and paid obeisance to Guru Angad Dev ji. Guru ji was told of the attacks being made on this young garden of Sikhism and was requested to meet the challenges and strengthen this young plant of Sikhism. He accepted the challenge and started strengthening Sikhism to meet the challenges of the day.

Baba Budha ji also joined the campaign and he toured the area of Khadur Sahib and strengthened this centre of Sikhism. Guru Angad Dev ji first invigorated the practice of langar and gave a blow to all other practices of inequality that divided humanity. At the same time emphasis was laid on family life and the highest level of spirituality was to be achieved by means of family life. Baba Budha ji was given the responsibility of looking after the langar sacrament. No one went hungry from the House of the Guru. Baba Budha ji and Mata Khivi ji looked after the langar very efficiently. The result was the flourishment of Sikhism that faced the strong whirlwinds most steadily. Before Guru Angad Dev ji left for his heavenly abode, he nominated Guru Amar Das ji as the Guru of the Sikhs. Baba Budha ji was asked to perform the ceremony of installation. Guru Amar Das ji fortified the sacrament of langar and made it a ruling that before anyone could see him, he must dine in the langar. One day Datu ji came to the Durbar of Guru Amar Das ji and gave him a kick. Guru Amar Das ji caught hold of his foot and asked him whether his old bones had given him any pain. The next day Guru ji left for Basarke. When the sangat could not see Guru ji, they approached Baba Budha ji. The sangat and Baba Budha ji followed a mare which took them to Basarke and stopped in front of a house. In front of it was written: "If anyone opens the door, he is not my Sikh." Baba ji seeing this written in front of the house went to the rear and made a hole in the wall to get in. Guru ji smiled and hugged Baba Budha ji. Then the sangat also went in and paid obeisance to Guru ji. When Guru Amar Das ji returned to Goindwal, he constructed a Baoli with eighty-four steps. Baba Budha ji was asked to tug the soil. It took six years to complete the construction. Later, Guru Amar Das ji asked Baba Budha ji to install Guru Ram Das ji when he left this world in September 1574. In the same way he was asked to install Guru Arjun Dev ji and Guru Hargobind Sahib ji. Baba Budha jis daily routine used to begin about three hours before sunrise. After bathing with cold water he did nitnem and then went into the congregation of the sangat and did kirtan. By sun-rise he used to prepare everything for the langar and then supervise the construction that was going on. He supervised the construction of Kartarpur Sahib, Khadur Sahib, Goindwal, Baoli Sahib, Amritsar and Harmandar Sahib. Guru Hargobind ji also took Baba ji along with him to Hargobindpur to supervise its construction. When Baba Budha ji realised his end was near, he sent a word to Guru Hargobind ji who came to Bir Sahib at once. Baba Budha ji left for his heavenly abode on November 16, 1631. Guru Hargobind ji cremated Baba jis body with his own hands.