The Source Book On Sikhism

Hansa enters the Path of Discipleship

The brochure Bakshind Mahram (the Beloved that Forgives) of the Khalsa Tract Society, describes how Hansa (it gives no full names, only the brief ones that the Khalsa adopted), a religious teacher of the Jains, came to the Master seeking for the “hidden light” that illumines the path of life from within. Hansa was a Pandit, a great painter and a leading monk. He brought an offering of a painting of the sunrise for Gobind Singh, but the orders were that he should not have an audience of the Master. After a few days, the disciples that took and interest in him set up his painting in such a place in the garden, that the Guru (who encouraged all kinds of fine art) might see it. Gobind Singh saw it, and said: “The painting is full of light, but the painter's heart is all dark. His is cruel, very cruel”. Saying this, he went away and said nothing more, indicated 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 remaining unexplained. Then one day, a palanquin came to Anandpur, borne by the Guruís disciples land containing what was little more than a living skeleton - though not long ago a handsome young man. He was lying in a helpless condition in pursuance of his vow of self-purification and the Guru had sent of him. This young man, now half dead with the performance of his vows, was once in the same convent with Hansa, as a Jain 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 in charge of Jain nuns. 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 he forest, they met for a moment and conversed. This was a great sin according to the rules of the convent and nunnery. The girl was punished by having her eyes put out. The boy was sent to the hills for a prolonged penance, from which he was rescued by the disciples.

Hansa was responsible for all this. As to the girl, only Hansa knew her whereabouts, and he was asked to bring her 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 song as the blind girl entered. The Master looked at her, and she saw 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 joy was great, and he ordered that the nuptials of these two disciples be celebrated then and there. Great was the rejoicing of the disciples. Hansa was initiated the same day, and made a “Singh” of the true faith.

Gobind used to go on excursions to various parts of the hills. He was invited by the Rajah of Nahan to stay with him. The Master went and lived by the Jumna, at a point where stands the temple of Paonta Sahib today - on the other side of the river, at this place, runs the ancient trunk road to Sirinagar, marked by the Ashoka's famous pillar at Kalsi. He stayed with the Rajah for months, giving full training to his disciples in arts of archery and musketry. From here the Master went to Dehra Dun, the residence of the late Ram Rai, to see his widow, Mai Punjab Kaur and to settle her affairs.