Nanak Dev of the Bedi Clan
As a child, Guru Nanak Dev lived with his father Kalu, mother Tripta, and sister Nanaki, in the village of Talwandi (now Nankana Pakistan).
The family belonged to the Bedi clan of Kashatria Hindus. Methu Kalu, a property owner and landlord, held a position of prominence in the village acting as accountant, and keeper of records, for the village land owners and their agricultural produce. He worked under the direction of the village headmaster, Rai Bular Bhatti, a local Muslim chieftain.
Nanak Dev the Herdboy
"Apae gaoo apae rakhvala||
Thou Thyself are the cows and Thyself the grazer." (Guru Nanak) SGGS||1020
Nanak Dev's family kept a herd of buffalo and cattle for milk, butter, and yogurt. Nanak’s father assigned him the task of herdboy. Nanak had to mind the farm animals while they grazed and keep the livestock away from his family's, garden plot. He had to make sure the herd also stayed out of the neighbor's rice paddies, didn't wander into the sugar cane and wheat fields, or disturb any of the other crops on which the small farming community depended to sustain village life.
While his herd grazed in the pasture, Nanak Dev passed the time in meditation, contemplating God. He gained a spiritual perspective about all that he witnessed in life.
Guru Nanak Dev wrote:
"Khatree so jou karmaa kaa soor ||
He alone is a Kashatria, who is a hero of good deeds.
Pun daan kaa karai sareer ||
He makes use of his body to give charity;
Khaet pachhaanai beejai dhaan ||
He understands his farm, and plants the seeds of generosity.
So khatree dargeh parvaan ||
Such a Khshaatriyaa is accepted in the Lord’s Court.
Lab lobh jae koorr kamaavai ||
Who so practices greed, possessiveness and falsehood,
Apnaa keetaa aapae paavai ||17||
He receives the fruits of his own labors." SGGS||1411
Nanak Dev's Herd Destroys a Farmer's Crops
"Vakhar raakh mu-ee-ae khaajai khaetee raam||
Protect your riches, O mortal; your farm is being eaten." (Guru Nanak) SGGS||1110
Nanak Dev took the family livestock out to graze one day on the order of his father Kalu. The herd munched contentedly and settled down to chew their cud. Nanak took the opportunity to rest and slipped into a meditative trance.
After some time had passed, a commotion aroused Nanak Dev. He learned that his herd had wandered on to a neighboring farmer's land trampling the fields, and damaging crops. The buffalo had waded into his rice paddy pulling up tender shoots. The cows had entered his garden and eaten the most succulent of his produce.
Nanak drove the cattle from the farmer’s field, rounded up the herd, and headed them towards home. The farmer ran after him. He complained bitterly to Nanak’s father that his livelihood had been destroyed. The farmer demanded that Nanak’s father compensate him for the value of his lost crops as his family could not fare without a harvest. The farmer insisted that Rai Bular come to assess the damages. Kalu scolded his son severely for his carelessness and sent for the headman. Nanak told the farmer not to worry and assured him that God would bless his crops.
"Man haalee kirasaanee karanee saram paanee than khaeth||
Make the fear of God the farm, purity the water, truth and contentment the cows and bulls.
Hal halaemee haalee chit chaetaa vatr vakath sanjog||
Make humility the plow, consciousness the plowman, remembrance the preparation of the soil, and union with the Lord, the planting time." (Guru Nanak) SGGS||955
The Farmer's Crops are Restored by Nanak Dev
Nanak Dev and his father Kalu returned with the farmer to his land and waited in the fields for the hakam to arrive and evaluate the destruction. Concerned about the costs he would have to pay Kalu sternly rebuked and reprimanded his son Nanak for not keeping better watch over the herd.
Rai Bullar came with some officials to survey the fields, determine the extent of the loss, and the amount of reparation due. Absorbed in contemplating God, Guru Nanak Dev stood by in a deep state of composure while the officials searched the neighbor’s fields and crops thoroughly for damage. They could find little to report. No evidence existed of the herd having been in the farmers crops. Only a few hoof prints appeared at the edge of the field.
A crowd of neighbors, who had gathered to watch, turned to denounce the farmer for his complaint. Utterly astonished, the farmer clutched the remains of ruined stalks in disbelief. The fields and crops which had been trampled down, and eaten up, appeared lush and green.
Shaking his head, Kalu berated Nanak for all the trouble and excitement he had caused admonishing him to watch the animals entrusted to him more carefully in the future. Certain that he had witnessed a miracle, Rai Bular gently suggested to Kalu that perhaps his son Nanak Dev had been born for some other purpose in life than that of being a cowherd.
"Naao beej bakhsees bohal duneeaa sagal darog||
Let the Lord's Name be the seed, and His forgiving grace the harvest. Do this, and the whole world will seem false.
Nanak nadaree karam hoe jaaveh sagal vijog||2||
O Nanak, if He bestows His merciful glance of grace, then all your separation will be ended." (Guru Nanak) SGGS||955
Read About Historic Gurdwaras Commemorating Guru Nanak's Childhood
