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Come yee, come, thy separation has dismayed my heart, and the one with me is withered, make it blossom afresh.

Oh, my life even if He comes now (when I am old), my existence will radiate again, and the blood gyration will rejuvenate the slackening heart.

Come yee, come to pacify my soul, the one which has been gliding for your vision and has resolved for an accomplishment.

Come, yee come, permeate vigour in me and fulfil my aspiration.

Come, yee come, so as I can behold, "The loved one has come."

Come yee, come, season is swirling, the leaves are falling, branches are palpitating, and the forest-like uncertainty has spread. The nightingale, soliciting your advent, is chirping from shoot to shoot, and the autumn (of my existence) has now unfolded.

The autumn is here and my life is at the terminal. O, my spring! come yee, come, the time is expending.

(1)

A red brick platform has been erected in the neat and tidy lawn. It is about a foot high. Its top is covered with an embroidered white cloth. In the middle, metal pedestals are adoring three brass idols; first of Rama Jee, second of Seeta Jee and the third one of Lachhman Jee. Although they seem besides each other, Rama Jee is a bit ahead of Seeta Jee, and Lachhman Jee is just behind Seeta Jee. Facing this, a noble woman is sitting crossed-legged on a mat with a black coverlet spread on it.

The noble-woman has just passed the threshold of her youth. Her eyes are affixed on Rama Jee's idol. A few minutes later her eyes glitter and she asks, "O my Dearest! Why don't you unclose your eyes once and look at me. I have spent all my life worshipping you but my destiny, my karma, is still tarnished. I have heard that you have, often, been meeting your pious devotees. When would there be my turn? Yes, yes, perhaps I am not holy enough; I am ill-fated, and from the very birth I have been virtueless, I am imperfect, but what was the Gaj (a mythological elephant)? Why did you save him? No, no, I am even inferior to him.

"Yes, yes, no doubt, the worship is arduous, meditation is demanding, and to pray by keeping away from all the profane influences is exacting. I have enacted in all respects but, my Rama Jee never encountered me. My prayer is still lacking."

Rabid, she got up, and moaning, she went to the other side of the courtyard. Veena was lying there on a wooden-cot. She brought it, and, sitting in front of the idol, she became placid like a statue. She started to dance her fingers on the strings of the Veena. She opened her lips after a few minutes and began to sing the melodious verses:

Thou speaketh not, and openeth not thy eyes.

Measureth my devotion, with yardstick of thine?

Miranl's Tar (Feeble supporting chord) weighteth what!

The spider's web costest what!

A round drop valueth nought.

Tryest thou the maid?

But insignificance is the maid.

I, the old, thou taketh no care, O, God.

Thou enumeratest the vices of us the apostate,

But thou didst grant deliverance in the ages past.

Jassi, in the age of vice, seeketh thy redemption fast.

The heart rending song was lilted in a harmonious and most resonating rhythm. Its effect was cataleptic. The singer, whose name was Jassi, had imbued her age-long separation in this melody. She was completely pacified, now, and her eyes started to shower down the tears. Her fingers were stunned, Veena was quiet, stillness had enveloped the courtyard and Jassi was in unison with the void; she perceived that the idol was in motion and was transfiguring itself into a human form; his eyes vibrated, and his lips palpitated to convey some message. Jassi deemed her worship had been accepted. Yes, there had been instances of the Lord coming to his devotees on their insistence, and, today, he must had come out of his modesty.

But Jassi was astute too. She opened her eyes physically to discern whether it was true, or was it just an illusion? The open eyes saw the idol still standing on the metal pedestal. Heart broken, she cried, what an age of vice was that? How-so-ever you might worship the idol-god, it never abandoned its metallic form to come into an actuality.

Observing her in such a state, her maid-servant, Dhabli, came forward. This damsel belonged to Bikanir and was in the service of the noble-woman. Time ago, she, the unlucky one, had deserted her home. Serving the wise, knowledgeable, and Pundits she became perceptible too. Imbued with love, she commenced her permanent lodging with Jassi.

She came forward and informed, "A Mahatma Jee has come. I have, with respect, offered him to make himself comfortable in the lounge. I have told the pious-person that Mata Jee, the Mother Dear, was in her prayer, and would come out when she was out of the benediction." She looked at her face curiously and continued, "Hey, crying again? Oh my Mistress! you will ruin your eyes. The idols neither notice your tears, nor they hear your sob and cry. I have heard in the house of the Pundit that they are there just as a mean to support your concentration. An age has passed, have they ever spoken? They will never speak. Oh my Mistress! Don't spoil your eyesight."

Hearing this affectionate chasten, Jassi did not get offended and pronounced, "Dhabli! Your thinking lacks reverence. You are prosaic. In this age of vice, the gods are uncommunicative. The passion and warmth of my worship will make them to speak."

Dhabli said, "As you may behold Dear. But you must preserve your eyesight to relish the vision. What good will it do if you cannot conceive the appearance of the gods when they do reveal themselves."

Jassi laughed it off and echoing `Rama' and `Sia Bar Rama Chandar' got up. She put away Veena safely and, after changing her attire, went into the lounge.

The Mahatma blessed her, "Rama's benediction upon you," and started conversation.

The Mahatma: "Mata Jee, we have come from Ayudhya after hearing your reputation that you are in earnest worship of Rama's idol. We had decided to have the sight of your holy presence whenever we visited Agra."

The noble woman: "Hearken thee my reverend Mahatma! My worship has been futile. During my childhood, a reclusive mendicant ushered me into the worship and liturgy of singing hymns in the prayer. I have been conducting the way he had articulated. Now, I have stepped over the threshold of forty, passed my life in restraint, observed chastity, have resolved to fasting, and have been on the pilgrimage all the years around, but my efforts have borne no fruits."

The Mahatma: "It is age of vice. Jumping down the pedestal the gods don't come to life. But the worship never goes unrewarded."

Jassi: "It despairs when a desire for the vision is not fulfilled; one is indisposed."

The Mahatma: "Mata Jee, the idol-worship, adoration, restraint, incense-burning, and flower-offering were the first stage. The zeal for the vision should have been augmented further."

The Mother: "Alright, what are the further steps?"

The Mahatma: "Devotional Singing."

Jassi: "I have been eulogizing in praise of Rama. I have been singing in front of the idol of Rama in the accompaniment of Veena."

The Saint: "No, (nodding his head), Not in front of the idol. If you have the desire of vision, neither look at, nor ponder over, as it is in the age of vice; the god does not manifest through the idol. In the contemporary life, it comes through corporeal existence.

Jassi: (In a bit of confusion) "Corporeal existence? What does that mean? Through a living being, as an embodied spirit?"

The Mahatma: (Observing Jassi's apprehension) "Mata Jee! His being is not in the material form itself. But, persuaded by love, He becomes apparent, and gets induced into an idol which is in a human form.

Jassi: (Nodding her head) "This is a hazardous path. However, there is no danger in such an idol worship; no one can cheat us. The piety of the one's own character is not risked in the idol-worship."

The Mahatma: "I have heard that you often meet the pious-persons."

Jassi: "Yes, I do meet them but I do not indulge in veneration of themselves. I just respect everybody considering them fellow congregationalists. I am just interested in the vision of Rama and whatever the wonderful play he performs, nothing less I desire for."

The Mahatma: (Effacing the wrinkles from his forehead) "Mata Jee! It is the same path what I am pleading; watch the performance of Rama's Leela."

Jassi: "The Rama Leela! The wonderful life play of Rama, which is presented by himself in the world? I have been watching."

The Mahatma: "No Mata Jee! The Rama Leela which Rama does in the world in collaboration the human beings, which is conducted by them--the pious persons. By observing the Rama-leela performed, the devotion is enhanced and sometimes the one who is performing the Rama's action, gets Rama manifested in him. That is the time of Rama's vision. The actor does, at the time, the way the god executes himself."

Jassi: "But the Rama Leela, which eventuates in the month of Asu, has been banned; the Pathan Ruler does not permit it now."

The Mahatma: "Yes, they are putting hurdles. But this Rama Leela, to which I am referring, is not that of the month of Asu. This is conducted by noble persons, performed whole day and every day."

Jassi: "The way the wonderful play of Lord Krishna is performed?"

The Mahatma: "Yes, Mata Jee! But in this, no common folk is let to take part, only picked ones, ones who are unblemished and can personify pure souls in the dramatisation."

Jassi: "Yes, now I understand."

The Mahatma: "Through them Rama communicates, may be not every time, but in a few acts of the play. Just the day before yesterday, during the act of Bhilni episode, Rama, who was evident in the pious-performer, flew in rage. Oh, what a wonderful satisfaction it infused? Mata Jee, what is harm in viewing one presentation. It is just Rama's holy play."

Jassi: (Lacking devotion) "Although the benefaction is above censure but isn't there any obstruction from the authority?"

The Mahatma: "No. They accept some charity and, then, there remains no obstruction."

The Mahatma informed her the place he was staying at, and gave her the time of performance. Jassi offered him some alms and bade him farewell.

(2)

An amphitheatre with a stage at a higher level was set up for the Rama-leela. A couple of curtains were fixed, and in front of them Rama-leela was performed, the way Krishna's life drama was enacted. People were absorbed in watching the act. The Leela was captivating. The actors seemed to be quite mature and competent.

Jassi was seated there too. The same Mahatma was occupying the space next to her and was prepared to guide Jassi; she could fulfil her desire to vision Rama in manifestation, for which she had been longing since from the childhood, and expecting the statue to come to life. Now, confiding in the Mahatma, she came to the Rama Leela everyday.

The prosaic women, Dhabli, did not abandon the company of her Mistress; she was sitting besides and was watching, too, when this human Rama transposed himself into Lord Rama. She had no devotion. She loved her Mistress and had come to chaperon her; not to let her get entrapped in some deception. She intended her Mistress not to commit some default.

Suddenly, when the episode of Bhabhikhan's enthroning ceremony was performed, the Mahatma said, "Look, now it is the time for the induction."

Jassi noticed that the pious-person, who was portraying Rama, attained splendour and brilliance. Literally, his face started to radiate.

Jassi, who had a desire to have the vision for a long time, went into soliloquized supplication, `Hey, Sia Bar Rama Chandar! You have come, and come to emancipate Bhabhikhan. But I have been begging you for your vision too. Come down of the stage and let this thirsty one pay obeisance on your pious feet; my mundane birth will become purposeful.'

She got fully engrossed in her entreaty in her mind. The Mahatma tried to eulogise but she was totally absorbed in the performance.

Dhabli, spontaneously, looked at Mahatma, sometimes on Shri Rama Chandar on the stage, and occasionally at her Mistress. She whispered to herself, `Oh, my Cherished One! Rama, the one in every mind and soul, is within you. Yes, my Rama is inside you, and your Rama? I don't know where he is. You assume in your heart that the Rama on the stage is the same which prevailed in the Treta-age, then why does he not realise the love of my Mistress, who is yearning for his vision, and is immersed in supplication for the same. But I admit my illiteracy, and I wonder in what intricacies is my Mistress entangled?'

Jassi, totally engulfed in communicating her request, kept sitting. The Leela had finished. The Mahatma, still sitting beside, announced, "The Leela has concluded."

The Mother, internally extremely perplexed, heard him and, leaning on Dhabli, endeavoured to get up.

The Mahatma continued, "Has an age-long desire being fulfilled?"

But Jassi did not respond. She bowed her head and left the place.

After the episode of the retreat to Ayudhyia, the Rama Leela reached its finale. But the people requested to restart the Leela because the whole atmosphere was very inspiring and effective. People wanted to see it once again. Jassi kept going as well, and always wished that the inadequacy might cut short to achieve the vision. Every time the Mahatma indicated to her the time of vision she resolved herself into the supplication. The Leela kept going, but the actor, in the guise of Rama, never attuned to the prayer of Jassi who was in unison with the her inherent desire. She often got up to present her monetary offering, and many times paid cash to the Mahatma and also the actor who characterised Rama. She invited the actor home for the dinner and bade him good bye with gift of cash money. But nothing could satiate her desire to vision Rama. Disheartened, she deserted the idea of going to the Rama Leela. The Mahatma realized that the women possessed intelligence; she did take one step ahead but at the second step she rectified herself. She had envisaged that in those Leelas there was no chance of factual vision. The prosaic Dhamli had even told the Mahatma, "Whether one believes in Rama as god-incarnate, just a god, a pious king, or a mahatma, it relies on ones own sentiment. But if Rama's soul incarnates in your actor, why doesn't he get immersed in the eulogies? How can he perform Leela again. If a female can come to life with the touch of Rama, then why doesn't the actor attain the manifestation for ever?" Turning to Jassi she asked, "Look here, my Mistress, remember, the iron touched by magnet becomes a magnet itself. Isn't it true?"

Jassi was over whelmed with her simple but knowledgeable indication.

(3)

Like Mira Bai, the fame of Jassi's devotion spread far and wide. The mahatmas and the saints of various sects started to approach her. In a desire to fulfil her own ambition, she would meet all of them. They all listened to her melodious eulogies and praised her adoration. But she had set a standard of their evaluation.

Once a cunning mendicant tried to take undue advantage of her faithfulness. He told her that there was great difference in the configuration of idols. The idol, which a saint had created with the shower of bis tears, became visional with the worship and vehemence and only that could become evident. The idol purchased with money was devoid of heavenly quality. Jassi believed him too. He told that on the night of Vijay Dasmi his Rama-idol articulated and showered boons. Whatever you asked it would reply to you.

She awaited for Vijay Dasmi most anxiously. She mused that the night of Vijay Dasmi would be the night of her fulfilment. When the day came, Jassi reached the place with Dhabli, who accompanied her just for sake of her protection. There Jassi sat down facing the idol with full concentration. A roaring voice ensued. Those who were awake went into trance, Those with closed eyes, momentarily, looked out and then again shut their pupils. The smoke over lapped the place and then suddenly it became clear. The idol opened its eyes, revolved his eye-balls and a voice came out, "Come yee the devotees. Ask for what you want, we have come to grant you the realization of your aspiration."

Jassi observed that the statue, standing there, was in the same state but the voice was coming out.

Dhabli was looking at it, too, but with some dissimilar intention. She whispered to her Mistress, "Don't ask for the boon in a loud voice, just recount in your heart."

Jassi was already pleading, `I desire thee, O Lord, to manifest in my statue, as well, so that I could have your uninterrupted vision. I have no other craving. Don't leave me on the mercy of the others. Come into my vision, may be for a little while but only through my idol.' Jassi was totally engrossed in her petition. She did not ask any thing aloud which the priest could hear. The priest thought that Jassi was overwhelmed with the performance of the idol. He opened his eyes and said, "Mata! Have the vision. Ask for the fulfilment of your mind's craving. The manifested Lord is inviting you to beseech for a boon."

Jassi, who never wanted to hurt any body's feeling, said, "Hey Rama, endow me with your vision, otherwise I have everything I need in my life. Please, please just bestow me with a glimpse of yours."

The voice came from the idol, "Will happen, will be done." Jassi understood that the idolised god from the statue would say more but, instead, there was a sudden explosion. The smoke enveloped the place but, instantly, it was bright. She fathomed that the idol was just the statue of deceit. However, she made some cash offering after due obeisance, and came back home. The priests and the sage did come to her residence many times requesting for further visits but she declined saying, "Lord's one vision is sufficient for me."

(4)

Jassi went to witness numerous such charms performed by various individuals. Once a women came and said, "Mata! You are wise. How come you are trapped in such happenings? Can statues ever come to life? You should find some corporeal sage who is devoid of temporal infatuation. Rama manifests in his devotees; Krishna, as well. In the adherents, who are immersed in the absolute love, the Lord Rama invests himself in them. By serving them, and appealing to them, one attains the vision through them. You should find one like that and accept him as your Guru. Remember, Datta Treh accepted twenty four Gurus but you have not even one."

Jassi rowed into deep thought, could it be true? But, to her, there seemed some mistrust on that path, too. The advising women kept coming. At the end she praised and recommended one mendicant. Initially Jassi herself went to his place and, then, he paid visits to her house. He was shrewd in his talk and well versed in the Shastras. Slowly and steadily Jassi relented.

But Dhabli, a prosaic woman, although unable to comprehend the intricacies, was enough perceptive. Her conscious was unblemished. She was always worried about her Mistress's welfare. She suspected some orchestration of the money in the play. `The mahatmas and the pious-persons are there, and are needed in this world,' she thought, `but, to glorify themselves, they were sending their envoys around.' Speculating some fake element, she commenced to investige.

When Jassi's mind was thoroughly suffused, the Mahatma twisted the situation in such a way that Jassi's faith started to consider him as the God-incarnate himself. When he was convinced of Jassi's absolute trust in him, he told her, "Jassi! Shri Krishna pronounced to Arjana, `You must abandon all the other religious beliefs and come unto my shelter alone. I will, for ever, be with you and you will become my propriety.' Now you can deliberate as well, Jassi! If you come under the protection of that Krishna, whom Arjan had taken, then, the same Krishna would manifest before you. It was not Krishna in the body-form who sat besides Arjan, it was the manifestation of Krishna and was asking Arjan to come unto his shelter. That Krishna could speak, hear, reply back, consume food and drink, and, now, the same Krishna is here in discernible form. Those, who seek the protection of that Krishna would, now, come unto his present manifestation. Krishna had said, `Ah Arjan! The path for them, who do not come into the shelter of the manifested one, is strenuous.' Now, you can reflect on your household deity. Rama, who emancipated Bhilni, was a manifestation. The Rama who ate defiled berries of Bhilni was not in the human form."

Jassi: "(As if roused from a sleep) Then, O my Lord! What is the significance of all this?"

The Mahatma: "It delineates that one may seek the protection of an accomplished sage, appraising him as Krishna or Rama, as per one's belief. His protection will benefit one in the same way as of Krishna or Shri Rama Jee's. And...."

Jassi: "Rama is the apparent incarnation of God but Krishna.... He is not my favourite. I don't know about his glory."

Mahatma: "For us both are the same. You must remain steadfast to your deity. But Rama has, now, manifested. In your mind, try to perceive Rama in some individual."

Jassi: "And, this way, Rama will come and meet me."

Mahatma: "Rama and Krishna, all of them, are manifested in the body-form of a Mahatma."

Dhabli was listening too. She took a deep breath and said, "My Mistress! Concurring to this you are my Rama. Coming unto your shelter, I have achieved Rama.

Mahatma: "You are the devotee of your Mistress? Bravo!"

Jassi: "Then, my Lord! Conduct some resolve that I get rid of the desire, and create faith in me to believe in a corporeal human. I may value him as Rama. I believe in pious-persons; congregating with them is soothing. They are Rama and they are Krishna, and there is no God apart from them. But my mind does not acquiesce There must be some deficiency in me. Please Lord, do come unto me one day."

Mahatma: (Pointing towards his own feet) "If you keep love for these footings then your fallacy will diminish; there is no other Rama apart from this evident being."

After a long discourse of the type the Mahant departed.

(5)

Today Jassi faced an unprecedented deficiency in her life. She found herself deep down in worry and duality. The substantial steps, which the Mahatma had recommended, had lead Jassi towards an obscurity. She found herself in the whirlwind of uncertainty.

Soon thereafter, she observed that Dhabli had brought crystals of alum from the shop. Holing them in her palm Dhabli, ritually, rotated her hand over the head of Jassi. She kept Jassi guessing. She went towards the fire-pit and threw the alum in there.

Jassi: (With strange feeling) "My little love! What have you been doing?"

Dhabli smiled, clapping her hands, she said, "My dear Mistress, you have been the victim of some one's evil looks. By turning alum over your head I have diminished the effect of those injurious glances, and have transferred the ill-luck back to the person who had endowed it to you."

Jassi: "Am I a little baby so that some body could confer upon me the evil looks?"

Dhabli: "You know, that egocentric mahatma, no, no, sorry, Mahatma who had come today, and a few times earlier. He beholds with enormous eye-balls, and today he was staring at you; during all the time he was siting with you and talking to you he had been victimising you with his evil gaze. It is true, I have been watching constantly."

Jassi: "But he pronounced that he was Rama."

Dhabli: "God bless. If Rama is of such a kind then please desist that Rama. I had envisaged that your Rama was handsome. If such Rama throws ill looks too, then what do you want from him? Desert this play."

Jassi: (From the whirlpool of deliberation) "Dhabli! You have become an insolent."

Dhabli: "Look! Have I uttered any thing adverse? I only know, Rama was handsome, chosen for his magnanimity and elegance by a beauty like Seeta. He couldn't be like this, the egocentric, sorry, Mahatma? Even a prosaic woman like me is dreaded by him. That Rama must be beautiful whom the knowledgeable Janak selected to marry his gorgeous daughter, Seeta?"

Jassi: (Smiling) "Yes, I understand. But I think you know a bit more."

Dhabli: "Yes, I do."

Jassi: "Then, tell me."

Dhabli: "You have discerned him as Rama. Would you be able to tolerate his adverse deed? You won't get angry with me?"

Jassi: "No, I won't get angry."

Dhabli: "You know the lady who comes here and narrates his virtues. She is on his pay-roll for going to people's homes and persuading them to become his disciples."

Jassi: (Startled) "How do you know?"

Dhabli: "Our grocer, from whom I buy salt and condiments, told me. He said, `The Lady and the Mahatma who come to your house, perhaps you don't know, are running a business. Mai Jassi is very pious and she is devoid of any deceptions. Full of sentimental attachment with worship, she couldn't recognise his motives.' Then I told him, `she would understand in due course.'"

Jassi: "Is it true?"

Dhabli: "Yes, my wise one! It is true. I confirmed at other places too; it is quite correct. Today, that wicked one, all the time sitting here, has been giving you evil looks. (Surprised) See, your face has again started to bloom; the evil look has been eradicated; bravo to my alum."

(6)

Jassi continued to meet the saints and the sages but with restrained stance. She had poetical feeling for beauty and, along with that, she possessed an as exalted ambition as a virgin, which endowed her with a doubtless faith to acquiesce every one as unblemished and truthful. But, now, her faith had been replaced by indecision and the indecision had turned into hesitation. She met the saints but only when passing by. And the ones who were synonymous with her belief, she received without any misgivings. Disguising her reluctance, she met the others too, but kept them at an arm's length.

Why did this happen to poor Jassi? Sometimes to take advantage of her love and leaning towards the worship, sometimes to get her patronage to allure others to become the disciples, and sometimes attempts were made to rob her of her money. She has been escaping but such eluding was the consequence of her own consciousness.

On the other hand, she did keep alive her quest to achieve the vision and not to abandon her posture.

In Mathura of that time a Southern Brahmin, Ram Ravan, used to be the head-priest of a Temple of Rama. He was busy twenty four hour a day in worship of the idol. He was adept in the miraculous and the physical liturgy of the idols. In fact, he was a good man of decent character. He was ritualistic as well as an earnest worshipper.

Jassi confided in him. One day, unusually defying the gaze of his idol, he came to Agra. Neither Agra was the Agra of today nor there was the tomb of Taj Mahal. But it was a city of splendour. Ram Ravan came to the residence of Mai (Jassi). Mai received him with respect and ensued the conversation. She narrated all her experiences.

The anxiety enshrouded Ram Ravan's thought. He went deep down in a state of contemplation. At the end he said, "Noble-lady! If the idol worshipper, coming across you, is not earnest, then, it is better to stay away from the one. Yes, yes, the craving you have, to vision the god, will be accomplished. You must remain alert in your love for your deity and use your intelligence beforehand to trust a human being. Had there been a saint of some other deity?"

Jassi: (Recollecting) "You mean the one who adored Krishna?

Ram Ravan: "Rama! Apart from your own divinity, you should not bring the name of any other deity on your tongue. Remain in the love of the one with bow and arrow. Don't ravel in the infatuation of the one with a flute."

Jassi: "What difference does it make! One (sage), who seemed honest, came and enunciated, `Inside you all is prevalent; reverence, love, prayer, and purity, but there is something lacking in your idol worship. You should worship the idol of Lord Krishna of Flute. Although it is immaterial but a devotee of that idol gets enlightened much quicker. Look, once Swami Jai Dev, who was an illuminated sage, one day, while writing verses, went out. In his absence, Shri Krishna, manifesting himself into a human body, and taking the shape of Jai Dev himself, visited his house and went away after writing one verse. Have you heard any other deity manifesting like this?' I replied, `I believe you are telling the truth but my age has lapsed in worshipping the one with bow and arrow. To change my revered divinity, now, is difficult.'

"Another one like that came, too. He pronounced that the accomplishment was attained by worshipping the idol of Krishna only, rather the Krishna of Childhood. Astonished, I inquired, `Is Krishna of Childhood different?'"

Any time Jassi uttered the word `Krishna' Ram Ravan put his fingers in his ears and recited, `Rama.'

Jassi: "Then he informed me that Shri Krishna Jee was same but we worshipped the first twelve years of his age. In astonishment, I asked why one part of the age of the same person was revered and rest was disregarded. He smiled a bit and said, `There are numerous reasons but the main purpose is that the tender age is very accessible. With a little affection he shows compassion.' And, Dear Holyman, this indication appropriated my heart and I thought to ask you, when you meet me again, to bring for me one idol of Rama of Childhood."

Ram Ravan laughed it off and said, "The association of such a saint is ill omen. You must keep to the observance of your own rites. Don't worry. Did any other doctrinaire come too?"

Jassi: "Yes, A woman came. She was from Bengal. She worshipped Shakti and told me that the Supreme Soul is manifested in Shiva, and Shiva Shakti resolved all actions. He (Shiva) himself was absolute. One should worship Shakti.... Dear Holyman! They don't abstain from eating meats. Just on this basis alone I was saddened and asked, `Why doesn't Shakti cast down killing?' She replied, `Production and Destruction are both His accomplishments.' Some of her conversation was knowledgeable but, Dear Holyman, I dreaded her meditative idol. She, at last, left for Jawala Mukhi in the proximity of Lahore amidst the Kangra Hills."

Ram Ravan: "My Child! Discontinue meeting the saints of diverse sects. Concentrate on the one and the only. The saints of varied creeds destroy your faith on your own deity. Realisation cannot be achieved by wavering. Don't see the saints of any other denomination except your own.... There is one aspect, the idol you are concentrating, now, is too small. That was good for your childhood. I'll send you a large gilded idol. Rather I'll come to install it here myself. It will be initiated in the composite tradition. Being a sublime idol, its affinity will ingress your heart and you will perceive the bliss."

Jassi conceded.

After preparing Jassi to accept his deity with his clever technique, Ram Ravan went his way. A few days later, wrapped up and hidden in extensive apparel, escaping the look out of Musalmans, he brought a large statue in the household of noble-woman. With reverence, he placed the antique brass pedestal with statue on it on the same platform in the courtyard. Then, he delivered a courageous sermon to Jassi and asked her not to regard and congregate with unprincipled saints.

This statue was, in true sense, an epitome of perfect art. It was sculpted in marble with face slightly dark complexioned. His divine eyes were purpose built. It had bow on his shoulder. The mood of the face and the hands was depicting as if it was blessing his devotees. Jassi's eyes were tantalized. She deliberated that this idol would definitely help her to realize the vision.

As per his own conviction Ram Ravan had acted correctly but he did not envisaged that Jassi's urge sought the manifestation of the idol into a veritable physical form.

Jassi ravished the fine art feat of a meritorious artist and thought it to be the consequence of the idol itself. There was time when the work of sculpting was at its glory in India and Ram Ravan had searched and found this statue from some antiquity of Indian art. Ram Ravan's effort did bear some fruit. Jassi stopped hailing the unethical saints. She just concentrated on those recluses who adored Rama. As Ram Ravan had ascertained, she started to believe herself to be eminent. This created an element of ego in her mind too. She considered herself above the ordinary. Now when she prayed before the idol, she got captivated by its magnificence. She sang hymns in melodious tones but her craving to have physical vision started to diminish. She was, no doubt, a compassionate and benevolent lady. She used to eulogise sacred verses and, to congregate with her, a lot of women came and participated. With the elapse of time Mai Jassi stepped into the patriarchal age.

(7)

One day, as Mai was reciting hymns while playing on the Veena, Dhabli returned from some household errand in the bazaar. She observed that Jassi was stopping intermittently. Then, suddenly her fingers discontinued the play and became numb and cold. Jassi kept sitting like an unperturbed statue. Dhabli was in a hurry. She had come to tell something but the ear of the recipient were not prepared to listen. Dhabli looked at her face with emotion as well as confusion. A few minutes later, when Jassi started to breath deeply, she directed Dhabli to bring some warm milk. Jassi sipped it very gently when she brought milk for her. As she had been pasturing since early morning, her body was desensitized. She got up and went to her bedroom. In the afternoon when she rose, Dhabli provided her food and said, "I have something to talk to you."

Jassi: "Have your meal first, clear the kitchen and, then come to the upstairs penthouse. I am going there to rest."

After concluding her tasks, Dhabli came there and told, "Look my Mistress! The one, you have been yearning for, has arrived.

Jassi: (Startled and looking around) "Where? Who?" She began to tremble.

Dhabli: "Who? I don't know. He is posturing out there. You will call him just a saint but he seems to be much higher. As you had wanted to expect, he could discern what was in your mind."

Jassi: "O, foolish! What do you know about these happenings?

Dhabli: A foolish cannot know but love (snapping her fingers) yes, love does recognise."

Jassi: "Come on, elaborate."

Dhabli:" A pious person has come and is sitting under the shade of a Margosa tree. He is very kind hearted. All the ones, who have been to you before, are not even comparable to his feet. Mind catching one, like him, is hard to find. Let's go and meet him. You may be able to get rid of your sobbing, and save your eye-sight."

Jassi: "I have reached the end of my journey. I don't want to go to any one. I have seen too many."

Dhabli: "But your thirst has not quenched? You are still yearning the same way."

Jassi: "Go, let me rest now.

Dhabli: "As you say, I am going." She went out but immediately returned, "Aye, tell me when one is dead, his dead body is lying, how does he come to life again? How would an idol get the flesh and, then, get the life in it?"

Jassi: "Go, go away. The gods can do anything."

Dhabli: "Then why didn't the god remain here when he was in flesh and blood, like other human beings. What type of love he had with his saints, they are crying to death for him. Alas."

Jassi: "That is his prerogative."

Dhabli: "In that case it will be better if your desire is dead. If he had chosen not to come into physical form, then, you must incinerate your aspiration. By keeping yourself appeased with the obsession of meeting Him, you're trying to kill yourself."

Jassi: (Dismayed) "Hey, Rama! What this stupid had remarked?"

Dhabli: "Listen to me the stupid! His desire has again grown unto you. You burn your own desire of not going to see him."

Jassi: (Smiling) "What do you know Dhabli?"

Dhabli: "Only the ignorant know the ignorant. But you are a literate, if you perceive, then go and find Him. You have wasted all your life crying, go and try to find Him any where, get your Lord sculpted in gold."

Jassi: (In rage) "You fool, what do you know?"

Dhabli: "Yes, I know this much; you used to evaluate the saints, and none of them you found up to the mark. Now, the one, who is perfect, has come. More, I don't know. The one who endured the tests by his devotees, that is God, and the ones who stood to his tests are his saints."

Jassi: "Which God?"

Dhabli: "Should I know? I had heard during my childhood that he lived above the blue skies. He is supreme and belongs to all."

Jassi: "Just this much intelligence?"

Dhabli: "More intelligence is for crying in front of idols, who neither speak, nor listen, and who say neither bravo nor get last."

Jassi could not tolerate more disrespect, tried to slap her but Dhabli had already run down stairs.

Jassi remained in the penthouse. She nodded and got herself overpowered with sleep. In the dream she encountered Dhabli dragging her to the Margosa tree. Some body was sitting cross-legged under the tree. Jassi desired to have his vision but, to her bad luck, he was sitting with head wrapped up in a white sheet. She went round but to no avail. Then, the hope for vision, hidden in side her heart, surfaced and turned into a rage. With her hand, she hit Dhabli on her head, `Foolish! you told me, to come and have the glimpse. Dhabli ran away and Jassi's hand hit hard the trunk of the tree. She felt pain in her hand and she woke up; there was neither tree nor the glimpse but Dhabli was standing there. With efforts she came to senses and asked, "Have you come back, again?"

Dhabli said, "The grocer has come downstairs. He wants to talk to you."

Jassi: "Go and make him to sit in the lounge."

When she went down after a few minutes, he was sitting in the there. The grocer, who was known as Kasturia, came forward and bowed his head to Jassi.

Jassi: "God bless you long life. Tell me child, what made you to come?"

Kasturia: "Dear Mother! For the last few days, some body has been staying under the Margosa tree in the bewildered place. He seems to be an ascetic personality. The ascetics are normally thin and lean, down to skeleton. But his is an affluent body, which gleams. It is soothing to have his glimpse. His conversation ensues a unique effect. He doesn't articulate like the easy going saints. He recites the sacred hymns of unconventional kind. It looks as if the running Jamuna water has stopped to listen. If you feel like you may go and see him, as well. This is not an ordinary play. There appears to be some strange celestial effect. I am a Jain and we normally do not bow before others, but going there I have realised that God exists and He is illuminating through him. Another peculiar feature is that the Muslims, who never obeisance before Hindus, are bowing before him. Myself, I saw the quazi paying his respects yesterday."

Jassi: "What religion does he belong to?"

Kasturia: "Mata! He appears to be his own operator. He does not look to be devotee of any sect, but he never criticises other faiths. He concentrates on the virtues of all and has no concern with their flaws. If an individual is going on some other way, he never dissuades him, only he suggests amends to his misconceptions, if any. He has his own unique splendour, impression, ability and magnificent soul."

The grocer was famous in the vicinity as a noble person. Mai knew that he was not man of twisted disposition. She believed him and consequently Dhabli too. She consented and said, "Well, my child, when you go there, take me with you, as well."

Grocer: "Mata! I'll go in about two hours, just before the evening; he has a companion with him who sings sacred hymns at that time. I'll call you before I leave."

Mai assented and, after bowing his head, the grocer left. She ventured into speculation. Ram Ravan had warned her not to meet any unprincipled person. He was Mahatma too, to break his vow was not appropriate. But, now, she felt like going there. She did not want to die while at the stage of disconsolation. If the supernatural and auspicious time had come, then, she thought, she should not miss the opportunity. If a Jain had favoured him, he must have had observed some good in him.

Dhabli: "What are you thinking, my gorgeous one? Ram Ravan had told you not to greet a saint who believed in any other sect. But, now, this one has no god at all; he is on its own. How could he (Ram Ravan) forbid you. My Mistress! Even if Ram Ravan had an encounter, he would forget all his previous convictions. Come see for yourself. Seeing is believing."

Jassi thought, `The grocer have told that he does not speak against any other faith. It seems some novel delineation and may be he is imbued in different colour, the colour of truth. Therefore, going there will not infringe the command of Saint Ram Ravan.... This Dhamli is prosaic. She is not knowledgeable, but her naive intelligence is quite chaste. She, instantly, spills the truth out. She never falls into the trap of any body but today even she is contented. Perhaps Dhabli is kneaded in some celestial colour and God has sent her to pursue me.' Deliberating thus, when called, she followed the grocer. Dhabli, as well, attiring herself in the astute Bikaniri petticoat, blouse, and head-dress, accompanied them.

(8)

On arriving the place of Margosa tree, Jassi saw the figure of a nobleman seated beneath. She distinguished the divinity and splendour depicting through him. With eyes closed in celestial demeanour, he was reciting an exalted hymn. A few congregants had settled themselves attentively. Some were the city folks. Included in the audience were a couple of famous saints and mahatmas. Two or three (Muslim) Sufi mendicants were visible, as well. And amazingly, the Quazi with his son was squatting there too. After taking a bird eye view of the congregation, Jassi lodged her looks on the noble celebrity and she felt a captivation. This captivation brought a sudden pull from the in-between of his eye-brows. This pull penetrated through from the centre of the top of the skull, at the place where head is very soft during the infancy and by touching no bone appears to be there. This pull gave Jassi's eyes a celestial closure. First time in her life she experienced the tug which straightaway, going through her heart, touched the inside of the top of her head. As the hymn had now concluded, the heavenly moving lips of the penancing eminent luminary poured out from his celestial throat:

O silly woman, why taketh thou pride?

Why enjoyest thou not the love of God, in thy own home?

Thy Bridegroom is quite near, O foolish bride. What for

searchest thou abroad?

Put the salve needles of God's fear into thine eyes and make

the decoration of the Lord's love.

Then alone shalt thou be known as devoted wife, attached to

thy spouse, if thou bearest Him love.

What can the silly young bride do, if she pleases not her

Groom?

Though she may make good many implorations, yet, such a bride

cannot obtain her spouse's mansion.

Without good deeds, nothing can be obtained though she may run

about a great deal.

Inebriated with avarice, covetousness and pride, she is

engrossed in the worldliness.

By these things the Groom is obtained not. Ignorant is the

young bride.

Go and ask the chaste bride, by what actions is the Spouse

obtained.

Whatever the Lord does, accept that as good and do away with

thou thy cleverness and will.

Attach thou thy mind to His feet, by whose love the wealth of

emancipation is attained.

Do thou that, what the spouse bids thee. Surrender thy body

and soul to Him and apply thou such a perfume.

Thus says the true wife, O sister.

By these means the Bridegroom is obtained.

Efface thy-own-self and then shalt thou obtain the Groom. What

can other cleverness avail?

The day when spouse looks with grace is of signal account and

the bride obtains nine treasures.

She, who is the beloved of her Bridegroom, is the happy wife.

Nanak, she is the queen of all.

Like this she remains imbued with pleasure, intoxicated with

glee and day and night absorbed in the Lord's love.

She is spoken of as comely, beauteous and intelligent and she

alone is wise.

The heart prevailing hymn was in Tilang Raga. It had penetrated through Jassi's soul. In spite of the hymn being in the dialect of Lahore and in hard Raga, Jassi fully understood the purport; perhaps originally Jassi belonged to the same terrain. With the discernment of the hymn she was enlightened to repent for her omissions. `Put your head on these pious feet,' her consciousness commanded her, `and accept your derelictions. If there is any possibility to rid the past deeds, it is here.'

When the eulogizing ended, Jassi went forward and put her head on the his feet. Guru Baba, yes, Guru Nanak, put his hand on her head and said, "Come yee the wise and the innocent one, what have you been priding for? It would have been a matter of vanity for you had I manifested and come only to you personally, in the body form. You have been lamenting whole life. What was your ego? You have been greedily waiting for the vision, and wanted to benefit solely yourself. You desired to be counted among the sages. But you never envisaged that the body was perishable. The one who perishes is turned into an idol so that his image may stay visible, but that can't articulate. Just in case it comes to human form, it has to perish once again; it is the religious criteria of the human body to perish one day. The one, which grows, must perish, then, how can a deity attain immortality? They say a deity lives and is immortal. But the one, who is immortal, is Formless, he exists in each and every heart. The heart, in which He dwells, is the place of His abode, a mandir, the temple. Immortal is not visible, as the visible is perishable. There is no question of organs in the immortal because, the one which is constituted of organs, is destructible; visible is perishable. Nirankar, the formless is immortal, he is, he prevails everywhere, is self-contained and abides in every heart. He is there in your heart, too. Yes, the Lord was as close as possible to your heart but you had been searching outside. You could not comprehend the prevalence of the Lord everywhere as well as inside you. You did not fathom the fright of all-prevailing authority. Neither you tried to conquer His affection inhering inside your heart. You, the one who thought herself to be sagacious and had become childlike, remained an inept individual. Isn't it incompetence? Tell me, how could the Lord deluge an infantile. The Lord is mature and you are an adolescent. You did not become perceptive enough in the beginning, did not show your love, and, therefore, could not secure your absolute husband. How could you expect Him to come to you?"

The silence prevailed at the culmination of his eulogy.

Jassi was still hanging down her head. His benevolent hand was soothingly lying on her head. In her mind, Jassi introspected, `Oh, my beneficence, meeting a sage, one attains God, then, tell me what shall I do?' and she supplicated through the core of heart, `What quick reaction will I get?'

Loo, an immediate response came, "Listen, Dear Lady! The Lord is inside you, he is all-prevailing. He does not belong to just one land, he predominates all the earth. He is near you, inside you and is ever available. Trust him and when you have created confidence in him, keep his remembrance alive. If you forget the fact that he is inside you, then, you will lose him again. Must recognise that he is, he is love, and he is your love. If this criteria remains within you, you do not enshroud it with fallacy. Consider him a sage inside you, and remain in the recollection of his presence. Then, whatever happens, accept it with conviction. When you have created such a determined faith, then, the demerits will tarry away and he, himself, will lead you. What was inside you and, is, will ensue for ever. To keep Him alive, with the essence of love, in your consciousness, is His worship. He will guide you, you proceed the way he escort you. Amalgamate your will in His pleasure to get rid of your ego. There are no walls in between Him and us. There are no textile curtains, except the existence of curtain of pride and vanity, which is diminished the way I have expounded to you. When the self-conceit is gone, then, with determination, love, and remembrance, the wife - the inquisitive wife gets immersed in the absolute form of the husband, and when He will endow her a look of compassion, she will achieve the absolute married-hood. Then, she will be beautiful, she will be sage and she will be called a knowledgeable. So far, without these virtues, without this love, and without the perception of knowledge, you have been searching for the sage. You remained a juvenile. Yes, Jassi you lingered on as an ignorant, could not regain wisdom and did not comprehend the value of what you were looking. The Love is invaluable and by applying it at an invaluable place, its price is assessed. By association with destructible, one is destroyed, and, then, one is put in repentance. You should have recognised the value of your love; would its merit depend on destructible form or by devoting it to a sentient being? Very cheaply, you traded in the precious stone for destructible form of vision. Your soul is indestructible, the Formless is indestructible. The love of an indestructible with another indestructible is the only true and accurate value. Jassi! why not, straightaway, aim for the indestructible. Nirankar, the Formless, and Soul are indestructible. The love of the indestructible with the indestructible is indestructible."

Baba Jee lifted up Jassi's head. She got up and sat down. She felt weightlessness. A unique delight pervaded all through her body segments. What she had heard in the hymn, what Guru Baba made her to understand, that illuminating awareness, brightened her comprehension.

She soliloquized in her heart: `Yes, I have been rowing in ignorance. It was a minor aspect but I could not grasp. No, not minor, a lot bigger but did not get into my modest perception, not at all. He has bestowed me with effective experience, the experience which rouses one from the slumber; worship, which is effective, and the prayer develops into the celestial union. But, yes, after all that what action will be left for me to perform? From what I understand, its features are unconventional, and it is the articulation of mind which is formless, and beyond influence. What shall I appreciate now? Which way mind will divert? The belated mind may try to go astray; who will check its flow? Should I ask? No, it will be disrespectful.'

Dhabli was watching her facial expressions, unlike a servant to master but like yearning mother who looks at her son returning after a long absence. She said, "Mistress! Come, dare now to ask more, he is the manifestation of a cloud full of nectar. Today he is here to shower, but next day he may go else where to downpour, come fill up your pool and pitchers."

Jassi: (Looking up) "Aye, you the one belonging to dry Bikanir, have you ever had the downpour? You are telling me to ask."

Dhabli's timely suggestion might not have impressed Jassi of her introspection but she understood that those were the wonders of Dhabli's internal true love. Dhabli's suggestion encouraged her and she, with folded hands said, "Oh, my Generous Benefactor! Put my heart into some strive. As the pure contemplation is formless, how could the heart keep it holding. It will again roam around empty ideas."

Guru Baba: "Never forget this, `Wahiguru, the glory to the Almighty, is inside and it is fused in us.' The act of remembrance is like a routine work. Under the influence of mundane conceptions when mind forgets His recollection, then, bring God's name on your tongue. The incantation of His name by the tongue persuades mind towards the Supreme Master, His love, benevolence, and form. When one's thinking proceeds, straightaway, towards the Nirankar, who has no physical form, then, one reaches the abode of belief. The repetition of `He has been', `He is', and the Prayer of His Name makes one a domicile of His `recollection'. Your physical prayer will be to supplant the name of Kartar, the Creator, on your tongue. This is Karam, the action, but this is the religious form of the action. Both your body and mind will flourish with this servitude. The prayer initiates meditation of the Name in the mind, and the mind's meditation of the Name merges one with the Supreme Being. The meditator and the Nirankar, remain amalgamated in each other. Through this amalgamation the nectar is emitted, and the bliss prevails. Then, the prayer of the Name becomes the absolute existence. Jassi! Remain in meditation, in benediction, and in the love of the Formless, who is imperishable."

Then, Guru Baba blessed Jassi by vocalizing the following hymn (in Asa Rag):

By repeating Thy Name, I live, by forgetting It, I die.

Difficult to utter is the True Name.

If man feels hunger for the True Name, that hunger shall consume his pains.

True is the Lord and true His Name. How can He be forgotten.

O' my Mother? Pause

Men have grown weary of recounting the greatness of the True Name but they have not been able to appraise even a jot of it.

Were all men to meet and glorify (Thee, Thou) would grow neither greater not lesser.

That Lord dies not, nor there is any mourning.

He continues to give; His provisions never run short.

This alone is His merit that like Him none else is. There has been none, nor there shall be any.

As great as Thou art, O' Lord! so, great are Thine gift.

(Thine is the personality) who makest the day and the night (too).

Vile are they who forget their Master.

O' Nanak! without God's Name, men are outcaste wretches.

Jassi was emancipated, she became the epitome of contentment, and the meditation manifested in her existence. It resulted as symbolized, `Ones in whose (heart) dwelleth He, attaineth (eternal) existence.'

With the blessedness accorded through the Master, the celestial rays penetrated and roused the slumbering Jassi. Through the miraculous vision of Guru Baba she attained the communication of Godly Name.

(9)

Jassi supplicate Guru Baba to come to her house and Guru Jee stayed there for ten days. The Holy-assemblies started to flow. Numerous mortals, going astray, approached and secured deliverance. Ram Ravan received the whisper that Jassi had altered devotion, and has bounced into the worship of Nirankar, the Formless, and she had abandoned the rituals and had gone to seek the effective knowledge. He came expediently pondering that an unprincipled sage would be sitting there and he would tell him off.

But there postured, himself, the celestially bestowed manifestation of God's benevolence. A vibration ran through his body, and he hesitated. The divine hallucination buried his internal impression. The religious prejudice did generate anger but he restrained himself. Jassi accorded him some reverence.

Guru Baba observed, as well, that Jassi's mentor of rituals had arrived. Any way, he looked at him and said, "Come Ram Ravan! Rama is prevailing in every heart. The loved one is not to be bound in one land. See, and with open mind perceive, he is omnipresent."

Ram Ravan felt diffusion of a spiritual substance inside him. But, being infused with an insight full of his dogma, composed and tried to prepare himself to ask a question. But, at the end, he had to acquiesce that Nirankar was beyond evidence and attributes, and was highest supreme being. Also that His Name was symbolic and to beseech his Name was His prayer. Ram Ravan, ultimately, stayed there for a few days and, after getting immersed in the holy-congregation, discerned the divine light.

Jassi became the colonnade of Gursikhi, the Sikhism, in Agra. Ram Ravan made Agra as his abode. Dhabli, the prosaic Dhabli, who ridiculed all and sundry, applied herself to the meditation too. It was Guru Baba's fondness to proceed to any place where there were painstaking devotees, whatever devotees' conscientiousness might be, but they must had been fastidious and true in their service. With his kindness, he inspired them to redeem the path of righteousness. The reformation of even one could inspire the reformation of many other congregationalists, and led them to the beneficence of the magnanimous supreme being.

Yes, after laying the foundation of the Name in Agra and sanctifying Jassi's house as Dharamsal, the house of righteousness, Guru Baba departed. Lo, till today this house is there and people revere it as Mai Than, the place of the pious lady.

Guru Nanak Dev was the first who went round to Agra, founded the congregational abode, and granted divine remission to Jassi (Tawarikh Khalsa 1-1). Then, Guru Hargobind Sahib came to Agra during the reign of Jehangir. (Gur Partap Suraj Ras 4, Asu-57).

After that, Ninth True Master, Guru Tegh Bahadur offered himself here for arrest to the Officials of unethical Aurangzeb. It is mentioned in Tawarikh Khalsa that a Mai Bhago used to live there. She was blessed by Fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev. She was adept in Sikhism and in meditation of Name. This Mai was there during the pontification of Ninth Guru. She had been longing for his holy glimpse. When Guru Ji came to Agra, he, before the prevalence of God's will, exalted her. It is worth noting that this was not Mai Bhago who would meet Guru Gobind Singh during the war in the gorge of Khidrana. Initially, Guru Tegh Bahadur stayed in this place called Mai Than and, then, later on moved to the venue, now called Guru Ka Bagh, where he courted arrest. Mai Than, therefore, is often referred as the Gurdwara, the Temple, of Guru Tegh Bahadur.

It is remarked in the book `Guru Asthan Darshan', "In the locality of Mai Than, a Gurdwara, has been established in the memory of Guru Tegh Bahadur. The building is quite elegant. There are sufficient arrangements of residence and Langar, the common kitchen. The other Gurdwara is in the Garden..... Guru Nanak Dev Ji came to Agra as well and through the hymn, `Infantile! What for thou art in pride,' he bequeathed her with perception, and she got rid of idols and forsook the idol worship."

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