Page:The Sikh Religion, its gurus, sacred writings and authors Vol 1.djvu/270

174 Who enclosed water, breath, and life in the body, and made the great lights of the moon and sun;

Who gave us the earth as our abode, but whose many favours we have forgotten.

Sidhs, Strivers, Jogis, Jangams, and Pirs are many.

If I obtain the Name from them, I will sing their praises, and serve them heartily—

Paper and salt melt not in clarified butter; the lotus remaineth unaffected by water

What can Death say to them, O Nanak, who meet such saints?

After his successful discussion with the Jogis the Guru decided to visit Makka, the pole star of Muhammadan devotion. He disguised himself in the blue dress of a Muhammadan pilgrim, took a faqir’s staff in his hand and a collection of his hymns under his arm. He also carried with him in the style of a Musalman devotee a cup for his ablutions and a carpet whereon to pray. And when an opportunity offered, he shouted the Muhammadan call to prayer like any orthodox follower of the Arabian prophet. As usual in his peregrinations, he was accompanied by his faithful minstrel and rebeck-player Mardana. It is recorded that whenever he met children on his journey he joined in their sports. He accidentally found a Muhammadan f aqir also bent on the Makkan pilgrimage, and passed a night with him in pleasant spiritual converse. The pilgrim offered him his bhang-pouch, and asked whether he was a Hindu or a Musalman. The Guru replied with the hymn he had previously addressed to the Emperor Babar when he inquired what intoxication that was whose effects should never depart.

As they proceeded on the road to Makka, it is said, a cloud they saw over their heads accompanied them. The pilgrim became alarmed at the unusual occur-