Guru Nanak's Tale of Panja Sahib and Chashma sahib

God is Omnipresent : Guru nanak's Miracle at Mecca

His last journey was to the west where He was accompanied by Mardaanaa. He never differentiated between Hindus and Muslims. He dressed like Hindus when visiting a Hindu holy place and like a Muslim at Muslim shrines. He merged into a congregation of Hajjis, travellers to Mecca. He covered Himself in a blue attire, held a stick in His hand, placed a book underneath His arm and a 'Musala', a mat Muslims used to sit on to pray, on His shoulder. He retired to sleep, but to the astonishment of everyone His feet pointed towards the main mosque, Kaaba, which was believed to be the home of Allah, the Muslim God. Muslims were aghast, and blasting into anger called on the Priest to express their objections. Guru Nanak heard their arguments with due respect and asked them to place His feet in a direction where they thought the house of God was not. As they moved His feet, Kaaba moved, following them, moving in the same direction. They realised the fallacy of their belief and felt ashamed. His motive was to just teach them that God is not confined to temples and shrines, He is omnipresent. Next morning He started reciting kirtan of Allah's name in the mosque. It was however prohibited and considered a sin. The king was informed, and out of fury he ordered to stone away Guru Nanak from the place. As the mob lifted their hands to aim stones at Him, their hands were stuck in mid air. It was then that they realised that none could punish a messenger of God. They bowed to Him and asked forgiveness for the treatment they meeted out to Him. He journeyed through Baghdad and other countries of the middle east thereafter to further propagate His message.

Guru Nanak's Tale of Chashma Sahib

Guru Nanak was touring Afghanistan with his accomplice Mardaanaa. As they were passing a city named Sultanpur, Mardaanaa felt overpowered by his thirst and expressed his desire for water. Guru Nanak sent him to fetch water from a Muslim Saint Abdul Gaus. The Saint however refused him saying "Isn't your master even that powerful that he can quench your thirst." On Nanak's direction, Mardaanaa made repeated requests for water but to no avail. The enraged Saint, annoyed by the repeated requests, started beating Mardaanaa who had to run to Guru Nanak to save his skin. He closed his eyes and meditated for a while. A few moments later the eyes opened and He spoke, "Have as much water as you desire. God has sent a spring of water (Chashmaa) your way." Mardaanaa drank to satiate his thirst, while the Saint was overwhelmed with the miracle he had just witnessed. He became a Sikh of Guru Nanak and followed the path shown by Him for the rest of his life.

Guru Nanak's Tale of Panja Sahib

The tale of Panjaa Sahib is very similar to the tale of Chashmaa Sahib but it became more popular by virtue of it occurring within India. Though now the place lies in Pakistan.
As He was passing the small township named Hassan Abdaal near Rawalpindi, a city in Pakistan, Mardaanaa felt very thirsty. There was however no sign of water nearby. It was only to be found in a spring on a small mountain occupied by a Muslim Saint, Vali Kandhari. Without his consent, no one could fetch water from the spring. Guru Nanak sent Mardaanaa uphill to request the Saint for water, but the arrogant 'Vali' refused him. Vali abused Mardaanaa saying, "Being a Muslim, you should be ashamed of being a follower of a 'Kafir' (Kafir is a term used for a non
believer of Islam or God)." Despite these harsh words Mardaanaa made repeated requests on Guru Nanak's insistence; but all of them fell on deaf ears. Vali was so furious that he ran towards Mardaanaa with a heavy stick, ready to thrash him apart. Scared Mardaanaa ran for his life, tumbling and rolling down the hill to find protection in Guru's feet. "My Lord ! I am ready to die of thirst in your feet but can no more beg the pompous Vali for water." He comforted him saying, "Get up Mardaanaa, there comes water for you." Mardaanaa turned around to find a spring of water running down the hill. He drank as much as he could and chanted, "Dhan Guru Nanak ! Dhan Guru Nanak !", which meant "Guru Nanak you are great." The raging Vali set a gigantic rock rolling down towards the two standing at the foot of the mountain, with a cruel intention to crush them. Mardaanaa turned to Guru Nanak uttering, "What now my Lord ?" He assured him safety with a smile saying, "Just watch the colours of God." He stopped the mammoth rock with his palm, as though it were made of paper. Till date the rock stands on the slope with an imprint of Guru Nanak's palm embedded into it. A Gurdwara has been built at this place, known as 'Panjaa Sahib'

Guru Nanak's Passing Into Eternal Realms

As Guru Nanak arrived back in Kartarpur after completing all His journeys to spread His message to all corners of this globe, He had decided that it was time for Him to end His earthly sojourn. But before that, He wanted someone who could shoulder His responsibilities and complete the work He had just touched. So He started testing His Sikh followers and His own children. The process was quite rigorous. Nanak was impressed by 'Bhai Lahna' and converted him to 'Guru Angad', handing him the divine seat of Sikhism. He journeyed into heavens on Asu Vadi 10, Sammat 1596 Bikrami. A feud arose between Hindus and Muslims, each wanting to perform the cremation ceremony according to their own customs. As they uncovered the sheet to claim Guru Nanak's body, to their bewilderment, there was none to be found. Each sect settled with half the sheet of cloth and performed their customs with it.

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