Page:The Sikh Religion, its gurus, sacred writings and authors Vol 2.djvu/108

96 came and sat on the margin of the Bawali weeping piteously. The aged mother was crying out, ‘Ah! Manak my son, who will protect me now? Thou oughtest to have taken me with thee.’ The Guru inquired who was weeping. The Sikhs brought the old lady to him, and she bowed at his feet. The Guru said, ‘Manak is not drowned, he will save many a one yet. Have patience, and he will come to thee.’ The Guru went and stood by the Bawali. He called out, ‘Manak, behold thy mother is weeping for thee, come and meet her.’ Manak's body at once rose to the surface. The Guru meditated on God, and touched the young man's body with his foot, upon which he walked forth from the water in the full possession of life and vigour. The Guru then addressed him: ‘Thou art my living—jiwar—son. Thy sons shall be called sons of Jiwar. Now become Mai Das's spiritual guide, go home, and wealth and supernatural power shall come at thy bidding.’ Thus, by the favour of the Guru, Jiwar and his descendants have been reverenced by succeeding generations.

By this time Mai Das's stay of eight days was at an end. The Guru told him that Manak Chand should become his spiritual guide. The Guru having ordered him to go and preach to all people thus continued: ‘Thou too shalt make converts and become a famous saint; save men by giving them God's name, read the Guru's hymns, and all blessings shall attend thee. Mai Das, having received spiritual and temporal favours from Manak Chand, returned to his village. He afterwards paid the Guru a yearly visit, obtained mental peace, found salvation for himself, and became empowered to grant it to others. The Bawali when finished yielded sweet drinking water, and the Sikhs greatly rejoiced at the completion of their labours. It was provided with eighty-four steps. The Guru decreed that whoever should attentively and reverently repeat the Japji on every step, should escape from wandering in the wombs