We have read about Baba Farid Shakkarganj in previous blogs. Now, let us see his brief course in his life time. As we are aware that he was a child born to a very pious family, in Multan (presently in Pakistan, earlier the part of undivided India). He was named Masood. The true meaning of Islam, viz, submission to the Divine will, was practiced in their home, all the time. We can go through the following link, for seeing the faith his parents had, and soon the prayers made him the enlightened being.
Now, let us go further in his life time.
The boy grew bit older, in he environment of Namaz and prayers. He lost his father, mother and child were left alone. Then, one day, his mother asked him to take faster steps to know the aim of life. She taught him the steps of meditating on the Self, and told him to go to forest for penance. He accepted the words of his mother and left for meditation. He found a tree hermitage and began his meditation. Fruits, nuts and rivulet waters became his fodder. As the meditation grew stronger, he often could not find time for collecting fruits, thus he used to pluck few leaves from the hermitage tree and consumed them.
He was about twelve years old. One day, several birds were chirping heavily. He was plucked out of the meditation due to the hue and cries. Out of irritation he cursed the bird, for they might die. And, as he said the same, the birds died in reality. Seeing the sight, he realised his mistake and them asked for forgiveness form Lord, and enunciated the words, for they might fly back again. To his very amazement, they flew back again. The powers made him rejoice him, and thought of going back to his mother, for telling her about his achievements. He left for home, and on way, he was extremely thirsty. He saw a well, and also a beautiful maiden pulling out water from the well. He paid respects to her and asked her, for some water. She didn’t reply and began splashing the water into the air. The splashed water didn’t shower on the ground, rather it disappeared into thin air. Masood was bewildered by the magic and asked the lady again for some water. The lady said that she could not lend the water unless she extinguished the blazing house of her sister, which was few miles away. Masood saw the house, but the size of the pit and the distance perplexed him again. After few minutes, the lady asked him to accept the water. She began pouring water, he continued swallowing several liters of water in a breathe. Even, Masood was left dumbfound, experiencing such a monstrous thirst. Then, she said that he was becoming ego-centric with a meagre power of changing the laws of nature, by words. He was amazed again, as a first-time acquaintance was aware about all his where-abouts. He bowed before her, and asked for forgiveness, and told her that she might be the incarnation sent by Allah, for his ego might be shattered. He left for his home.
His mother welcomed him with a deep love, and asked him to take a bath, for he receives some food. After his shower, he came running and lied down on his mother’s lap. She began brushing his ragged hair. Due to immense dryness, few hairs were uprooted, and the pain made Masood to sigh a bit. Mother told him that the trees, from which he plucked the leaves felt the pain. She explained him about the presence of Divinity in all creations on the planet. Then, she asked him to take initiation from a true Satguru, and thus asked him to go to Delhi.
In Delhi, he searched for a true being, and one day, exhausted, he was sitting in a maszid, offering Namaz. A Divine being appeared behind him and asked him if he could attain the answers, with bland prayers. The sight of the Divine being made Masood realize that he was his Guru. He prostrated before him, and asked for his blessings. The Guru asked him to come with him to his place. He had several disciples and the system of langar was also prevalent.
One day, he was receiving the prasaad. A beautiful girl was offering water to the recipients, for they could wash their hands. As Masood’s turn arrived, he saw the girl and was hooked at her sight and continued washing his hands for several minutes. This made the other disciples mock at him. Guru asked him and he said that he was unaware about the face, but he saw her destiny, which was inscribed on her forehead, and the indentations said that she would face the hell fire. Her sufferings were terrific. Thus, he decided to wash away the sufferings (for she was serving a Satguru) and she was freed from sufferings. Guru appreciated him and asked him to find his real Guru, for he was not the one who could initiate him.
He ran back to his mother and asked her about the true Guru. She was spending her last breathes. Mother said that his Guru was the same, who was his mother’s. She asked him to travel few miles from Multan, where his Guru lived, and asked Masood to tell him that his mother used to call him Shakkarganj. He served his mother, till her last breathe, and saw his mother leaving the abode in peace. He performed the last sacraments for mother and rushed to find his Guru. He visited several places and asked if they were his Guru, whose mother called him Shakkarganj. Finally, he found his Guru. As the Guru heard the name Shakkarganj, he called him Farid and said that that was his name after initiation. Then, he told him that he had attained siddhis which could divert him from the true path, and thus was saved from being diverted. Farid Ji asked him the reason of the prevailing Maya (delusion) and the powers which could blind gravest sages. Guru said that he could find the answers form within and asked him to meditate. He continued the practice.
His service to his Guru was commendable. He used to preserve the fire all night for he could heat few gallons of water for his Guru’s bath, and kept his belongings in the way they should have been. One day, the prickly cold winds and heavy rainfall diminished the power of the hot cinders, and were left as ashes and could not spark the fire for service next day. He moved out of the hermitage and looked out. He saw a tiny hut, which had a torch of light. He rushed towards the hut, for getting few helpful cinders. He entered randomly and suddenly saw a beautiful woman figure before him. The sight of Farid Ji made the seed of lust to sprout within the lady. She asked for the cause for his arrival. He told her that he needed some embers. The lady agreed but wanted some thing in return. Innocent Farid Ji agreed to grant her wish. She asked him to give her his eyes. He nodded and soon, the lady picked up a dagger and scooped out the eyes out of the socket. The spout of blood and flesh made her unconscious. But, she re-equipped up from the numb state and felt immensely guilty. She tore out a piece of cloth and wrapped it about his head. He asked for some embers again, received some cinders and left. Next morning, he completed the job of preparing warm water and managed his Guru’s clothes. Guru saw the cloth wrapped around his head. He asked for the cause. Farid Ji didn’t say anything for few seconds, and then mumbled that the fire (aag in hindi) is ready. Guru said that eyes (aankh in hindi) are ready. Farid Ji felt that his Guru was agreeing with his notion. Guru repeated the statement again, and asked him that he was saying that Farid’s eyes were ready. Farid Ji untied the cloth and saw that the injury was lost and the eyesight was restored. He prostrated before his Guru and thanked him. He practiced further and attained Nirvikalp samadhi. Then, his Guru asked him to leave and serve the humanity.
He realized several answers,
- Fasting is not celebrating the hunger. The true sense of Roza is to conquer the senses, to conquer lust is prime.
- Attachments decline our progress.
- Until and unless, we realize that each and every atomic particle is same as we are, we cannot attain Lord.
Baba Farid married later and had children. His seven generations were freed into Eternity. Even, Baba Nanak came in contact with one of his descendants. The life story of inspired Baba Nanak deeply. This transfer of knowledge made the compilation of the story of a lively saint immortal in Guru Grantha Saheb.