The pilgrim of Basarke

The sadhu's reproach and Bibi Amaro's hymn

Chided for having no guru and moved by a hymn, the old pilgrim goes to Khadur.

Agreed in traditionc. 1540Basarke and Khadur1 min read

Painting of Sri Guru Amar Das Ji, the third Guru — A later artist's imagining of Sri Guru Amar Das Ji, from a set of the first nine Gurus painted about 1800-1840. No portrait from Guru Ji's lifetime is established.Unknown, c. 1800-1840, Royal Collection Trust, RCIN 925204 (as credited on Commons). Public domain. Source

According to the Encyclopaedia's account of the chroniclers, Guru Ji was on the way home from his twentieth trip to Haridwar when he fell in with a sadhu. The man asked who his guru was and scolded him on hearing that he had none. Guru Ji vowed to find one.

Printed photograph of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Khadur Sahib — Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib at Khadur Sahib, printed in the Mahan Kosh of 1930. Commons says it was possibly photographed in 1924. Source

Back at Basarke he overheard Bibi Amaro, the daughter of Sri Guru Angad Dev Ji, who had married into his family, singing a hymn of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji during her morning chores. She took him to her father at Khadur in 1540 (1597 Bk). He was over sixty, and he stayed.

How do we know?

Several traditional accounts tell this story, without close independent support.

ScholarshipGives the sadhu's rebuke and dates the arrival at Khadur to 1597 Bk/1540.[EoS]
ScholarshipCredits Bibi Amaro's singing and her escort to Khadur.[EoS]

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