Page:The Sikh Religion, its gurus, sacred writings and authors Vol 4.djvu/12

2 ascertaining his father s death, he caused the Granth Sahib to be read, and employed Bhai Budha for the purpose. The musicians of the temple sang the Gurus' hymns to the accompaniment of their instruments. The singing and the reading of the Granth Sahib lasted for ten days. When the final rites were ended, Bhai Budha clothed Guru Har Gobind in new raiment, and placed before him a seli — a woollen cord worn as a necklace or twisted round the head by the former Gurus — and a turban, as appurtenances of his calling. Guru Har Gobind ordered that the seli should be placed in the treasury, apparently because it was not suited to the altered political condition of the Sikhs. He then addressed Bhai Budha,' My endeavours shall be to fulfil thy prophecy. My seli shall be a sword- belt, and I shall wear my turban with a royal aigrette'. He then sent for his arms, and arrayed himself in martial style so that, as the Sikh chronicler states, his splendour shone like the sun. Guru Har Gobind then, according to the custom usual on such occasions, summoned all his Sikhs, and invited the principal inhabitants of Amritsar to a banquet. He caused a large quantity of sacred food to be made and brought into the temple for the entertainment of his guests. While Bhai Budha read the Granth Sahib in the middle of a well-ordered assembly, Gur Das stood and waved a gorgeous chauri over the sacred volume. When the reading was ended, all the assembly reverently bowed their heads. The singers again began to sing the Gurus hymns. The Sadd was intoned and a solemn prayer offered. The Guru reaffirmed instructions for the guidance of future generations of Sikhs in the performance of obsequies :— 'When a Sikh dieth, let not the obsequies of Hindus be performed for him. Let sacred food be prepared and distributed, let the Granth Sahib be intoned and a solemn prayer offered, as I caused to be done on