Trader who proclaimed Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji as Guru at Bakala
Makkhan Shah Lubana
Makkhan Shah was a wealthy trader and devout Sikh. Tradition remembers him for finding Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji among many rival claimants at Bakala in 1664, and for announcing the discovery from a rooftop. His story comes from later Sikh narrative and differs in detail between sources.
Who he was
The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism calls him the son of Naik Dase Shah, a trader of the Lubana clan from Tanda in the present Muzaffarabad district. It says he received Sri Guru Har Rai Ji at his home in Kashmir in 1660. Gupta describes him as a carrier of goods who travelled with his family, servants, pack animals and armed men.[EoS][Gupta]
Bakala, 1664
According to the tradition, his cargo was in danger and he vowed a gift of gold coins to Guru Ji if it came safely to land. He arrived at Bakala on Diwali, 9 October 1664, and found twenty-two claimants. He gave each two coins, and none spoke of his vow.
Told of a retiring man who lived in the town, he went to Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and again offered two coins. Guru Ji blessed him and remarked that the gift fell short of his promise. The tradition says he paid the rest in delight and ran up to the roof, shouting that he had found Guru Ji. The Encyclopaedia's words for the cry are Guru ladho re. The story's reports of Guru Ji's knowledge of the vow are told as tradition.
The account appears in Bhai Santokh Singh's Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, and Macauliffe draws on Gurbilas literature.[EoS][EoS][Macauliffe][Gupta]
Afterwards
When Dhir Mall's masand Shihan raided Guru Ji's house, Makkhan Shah retaliated and brought back the goods, along with Dhir Mall's own property and the volume of the scripture he held. Guru Ji had everything returned, and taught him the value of forgiveness.
He went with Guru Ji to Amritsar, where they arrived on 22 November 1664 and found the Harmandir closed to them. He asked to force an entry, and Guru Ji forbade it. He stayed with Guru Ji through Punjab until they reached Kiratpur, where he took his leave. His later life has not been confirmed from the sources read, and no dates of birth or passing are known.[EoS][Macauliffe][Gupta]
What the sources disagree on
- Timing against the recognition of Guru Ji
The Encyclopaedia's entry on Baba Bakala dates Guru Ji's formal installation to 11 August 1664, and its entry on Makkhan Shah dates his arrival to 9 October. If both are right, the story cannot be what first settled the succession. The Baba Bakala entry has him making the public announcement after the installation, at a time when rival claimants were still active.[EoS][EoS][Gupta]
- Where he came from
The Encyclopaedia and Gupta say Tanda, near Muzaffarabad. Gupta notes that Giani Gian Singh places Tanda in Jhelum district. Macauliffe says he came from Gujarat in the Deccan.[EoS][Gupta][Macauliffe]
- The size of the vow
The Encyclopaedia and Macauliffe say 500 gold coins. Gupta says 101.[EoS][Macauliffe][Gupta]
- The danger to his cargo
The Encyclopaedia's Makkhan Shah entry speaks of a vessel run aground, its life of Guru Ji of a storm, and Macauliffe of a sinking ship. Gupta speaks only of a calamity.[EoS][EoS][Macauliffe][Gupta]