The community at Khadur
Humayun at Khadur
The fleeing emperor loses his temper with Guru Ji and is rebuked, in a story known only from Sikh tradition.
As Macauliffe retells the Sikh chronicles, Humayun reached Lahore after his defeat by Sher Shah and asked for a holy man who could restore his throne. He was sent to Khadur with offerings, and found Guru Ji in deep meditation with the musicians singing. No one attended to him.
The angry emperor reached for his sword, but it would not leave the scabbard. Guru Ji then spoke sharply: this was the blade he should have drawn on Sher Shah, not on men at prayer. Humayun was ashamed and asked for help. Guru Ji told him that he must first go away to Persia and would recover his realm on his return.
How do we know?
Several traditional accounts tell this story, without close independent support.
The Encyclopaedia cites no Mughal source for the meeting, and neither does Macauliffe. Humayun's flight through Lahore in 1540 is established, so the story fits the map, but that is not evidence that it happened. The promise fits what actually occurred in 1555, which suggests the story was shaped with hindsight.
- ScholarshipRecords the story as coming from Sikh chronicles, with the stuck sword and the remark about his enemies.[EoS]
- ScholarshipMentions the visit only briefly and labels it Sikh tradition.[EoS]
- Later traditionGives the full story, including the promise that he would regain his kingdom after going to Persia.[Macauliffe]
