The True Guru                    Guru Hargobind Saheb Ji told Guru Teg Buhadur Ji to leave Kiratpur and move to Bakala. So he went there along with his wife, Mata Gujri Ji and mother, Mata Nanaki Ji. The Guru stayed and meditated for many years in this village.               When the eighth Guru left this world, he told the Sikhs that the next Guru was in Bakala, but he did not give a name. When the people heard this, they started to go to Bakala in search of the ninth Guru. However, since no name was given, many people started to claim that they were the Guru. Bakala was fill with fake gurus all claiming to be the ninth master. The Sikhs were all confused and did not know who to believe.               Makhan Shah, a professional trader was on a boat when it started to drown. He started to pray and asked the Guru to save his boat. The boat stopped drowning and Makhan Shah was saved. Makhan Shah made a promise that he would offer the Guru some gold coins out of respect.               So, he came to Bakala on October 9, 1664 in search of the ninth Guru. He was surprised to see so many people who claimed to be the Guru and was confused. He decided to test all of the imposters by offering only two gold coins to each. He thought that the true Guru would know that he promised to give more than two gold coins and would ask for the rest of the coins.               He went to each imposter and offered two gold coins and they all took them, none of them asked for the rest of the coins. Makhan Shah was disappointed that he did not find the real guru. He asked the village people if there was any other saintly man in the village. They told him about Guru Teg Buhadur Ji, that he stays in deep meditation a lot and does not come out too often.               Makhan Shah decided to go visit Guru Teg Buhadur Ji. He met the Guru and put two gold coins in front of him. The Guru looked at the two coins and said, “Two coins will not do here! You promised to give more than just these two coins.”               Guru Teg Buhadur Ji then uncovered his shoulder and showed Makhan Shah some scars on his shoulder. He said, “These scars are from the time when your ship got stuck near the port of Surat. You prayed to save your ship, so I pushed your ship using this shoulder.”               When Makhan Shah heard all of this, he gave the Guru the full offerings that he promised. Then he ran to the roof of the house and started to shout, “I have found the Guru! I have found the Guru!”               Hearing this, the Sikhs started to gather at the house of Guru Teg Buhadur Ji. In this way, the Ninth Guru was revealed to the world. Back to Main Page   | Gurmat Studies Foundation | Guru Nanak Academy | Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Gatka Akhara | Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!