By Dr. Shamir Singh Virk Ph.D
Guru Nanak Dev, during his travels abroad, was always held Mardana his devoted companion with him. After travelling around Lahore and Kasur regions, he wanted to be at Sialkot. Mardana was here again with him. At Sialkot Guru Nanak Dev planned to humanize Hamza Ghous, a Muslim Sufi, who had threatened to demolish the entire Sialkot city by inviting Wrath of God. Whereas Guru Nanak Dev saved the people of the city from annihilation of Hamza Ghous. Before Mardana had decided to devote his life to the cause of Guru Nanak Dev, he had been a roaming folk singer, especially related to the life of Puran Bhagat. So at Sialkot when Mardana was anxious to visit as earlier as possibe the temple of Puran Bhagat, Guru Nanak Dev after a long walk from Eminabad, where both had stop meeting Bhai Lalo, was feeling tired and wanted to take rest. Having found Beri tree nearby, he settled down under its shade, but in the heart of heart planning to visit the temple of Puran Bhagat the day after. From one of the visitors to the Beri tree where Nanak and Mardana were present, they learnt that the community arround regarded this Beri tree to be sacred, because of their belief that holy spirts resided there. Having observed a Hindu lady accompnied with her teen daughter, after prayers tied a piece of cloth around the Beri tree and herself circled it enchanting Vedic prayers. Having been stopped by Guru Nanak Dev to have some knowhow of the community area, he learnt her coming regularly to pray for a son. Guru Nanak Dev’s explanation – “That’s not true, O holy mother… Spirits and Gods do not reside in rivers and trees. They reside in devotee’s heart. You don’t have to walk away from your home and your loved ones to get closer to God. God is where there is love and you have love at home.” [Walking with Nanak by Haroon Khalid: page 160 ]. Mardana was getting more and more confused and frustrated as Guru Nanak Dev spoke to the lady. He could find clear contradiction in his sermon. Mardana especially could not digest his words spoken to the lady – ‘He (Nanak) was exhorting to the woman to stay at home to find God whereas he was travelling the world in search of Divinity. If God is where there is love then why did Nanak leave his home and loved ones behind?’ [Walking with Nanak by Haroon Khalid: page 160]. When the lady left scene hot discussion, as to what is truth and untruth, being preached and practiced by us and also by our fore fathers. When the dialogue between Mardana and Guru Nanak receded, Guru Nanak Dev looking confused and shaken a little was in a melancholy mood thinking as what is truth and untruth. To resolve his confusion he offered Mardana four paisas and asked him to go the city to buy him truth worth two piasas and also untruth worth of other two paisas. No doubt, Mardana did what Guru Nanak Dev told him to do but he was alo confused. Aimlessly, he roamed about street to street in Sialkot city. He was almost not in a position to carry out the deal of his Master, Guru Nanak Dev. To most of the shopkeepers Mardana went he was ridiculed, laughed at or remarked pity of him a fakir, dervish or some religious asetic. So much so a vender after listening and taking the money from handed over to him some sweets and saltish eatables, with the remarks that sweets are truth and saltish ones untruth. But Mardana having not accepted the eatables took his money back. Likewise Mardana visited some other venders, but he could not succeed in his deal of buying truth and untruth. All of a sudden, he saw a dry fruit dealer. Also in his despair, he was going back to the Beri tree, where Nanak was seated. Half heartedly, he was drawn to the dry fruit dealer exhibiting religionsity Mardana blessed his son – sitting beside him by passing his hand over the boy’s head. Looking at the holy gesture of Mardana the dry fruit vender welcomed him. Having noticed the respectful greeting, Mardana offered him four paisas with the return of truth and untruth worth two paisas each. The vender looked at Mardana in surprise, having taken the money went inside the shop he reappeared after a while with a piece of paper in his hand, but he questioned Mardana for whom he was buying truth and untruth. Mardana with a little laugh told him, making this deal for his Master, Guru Nanak Dev who is sitting under the nearby Beri tree. Handing over the piece of paper to Mardana the vender told him to take the truth and untruth to his Master. The vender also told Mardana to let his Master know that there is one dealer, Maula Karar in the city who deals in such commodities, he is looking for. On side of the paper was written – ‘Life is false’ – while on the other side read – ‘Death is truth.’
Guru Nanak Dev was happy to read the both sides of the paper and inquired Mardana of the whereabouts of the vender, who had sold him the writings. When Mardana agreed to arrange a meeting of Guru Nanak Dev with Maula Karar, he greeted Guru Nanak Dev with full humility and wisdom but also with confidence. Guru Nanak Dev too exhibited respect to Karar. At the same time Guru Nanak Dev and Maula Karar had well engaged philosophical dialogue under the Beri tree. Also Guru Nanak Dev had detailed knowhow of the area and the community around. He also gathered full information of famous shrine of Hamza Ghous and Mian Mitha of the Muslim Dervish of Sialkot.Karar agreed to take them around of the shrines. So three of them now travelled together for the next few days to explore the prevalant religiousity of these shrines as well as the social practices and norms observed by the local people. Maula Karar promised to accompany Guru Nanak Dev and Mardana for the rest of their visit, whenever they revisit Sialkot city.
Some years later having visited various new regions towards Multan and Sindh, Guru Nanak Dev thought to revisit his old friends. Here it looks appropriate to mention that Haroon Khalid in his book -‘Walking with Nanak’ has quoted Mardana with Guru Nanak Dev, but Mardana passed way on 25 Nov. 1524 at Kurram in Bhagdad area, while coming back to Punjab after attending Hajj at Mecca. May be Guru Nanak Dev alone revisited Sialkot city or with Bhai Rajada his close devotee at Kartarpur. But before his visit to Bhai Lalo and Maula Karar he consulted Bhai Lehna at Kartarpur also. So after staying with Bhai Lalo at Eminabad for a couple of days Guru Nanak Dev happened to see Maula Karar at Sialkot. Reaching Sialkot found him engaged with one of his whole sale dealer, who wanted to buy a big deal of food materials from Maula Karar. Having seen approaching Guru Nanak Dev he was ready to accompany him but on the other side finding engaged in his flourishing business and his family-setup, he decided to evade Guru Nanak’s company. Thus, sending away his dealer for a while and shutting down his shop he went home. He now instructed his wife of his absence since somedays to the far away places, whenever Guru Nanak Dev comes to his house. His wife did the same when Guru Nanak Dev knocked at the door. Although, she felt a little hesitated exhibiting his deceitful behaviour. Guru Nanak Dev left Karar’s house without any suspicion. Side by side Maula Karar at his hiding place in the store room was feeling guilty of the reality being disclosed. In the same store room a snake escaping biting winter cold when sensed that its hiding place has been invaded, bit karar, who died on the spot. Finding him dead his wife started screaming and crying, but looking Guru Nanak Dev still near her doorsteps, admitting her deceit, requested Guru Nanak Dev to forgive her. Although she knew well that Guru Nanak Dev could not perform any miracle, but she was insisting him to pray God to bestow upon the life of her husband. Seeming frustrated of Maula Karar’s death Guru Nanak Dev also Lamented – ‘This is the man who taught us about truth and untruth the last time we came to him … Isn’t it sad that today he forgot but he said that day?’ After attending his last rites Guru Nanak Dev left for his next travel, but without any futher comments he recited his Holy recitation – “False is friendship with false and greedy|| False is its foundation || O Mullah no one knows || Where death shall strike||” [Siri Guru Granth Sahib; Page 1412]
