A long time ago, as Guru Har Krishan lay on his deathbed, he spoke his final words to his followers:
“You will find my successor in Bakala.”
At that time, Bakala was a quiet village in northwest India. But after the Guru’s passing, chaos broke out. Hearing that the next Guru would be found there, many dishonest men came forward, each falsely claiming to be the Guru. They demanded offerings from the people, deceiving those who were desperately searching for the rightful leader.
Months passed, and no one knew who the true Guru was.
A Merchant’s Prayer
Far away, a wealthy Sikh merchant named Makhan Shah was sailing along the west coast of India. His ship was filled with valuable goods—fine perfumes and expensive silks—meant to be sold for a great profit.
Suddenly, a violent storm arose. The winds howled, waves crashed against the ship, and rain poured down heavily. The merchant’s heart pounded as he realized that his ship was about to sink.
In that moment of despair, he closed his eyes and prayed:
“O Guru, if you save my ship, I promise to offer five hundred gold coins in gratitude.”
Miraculously, as soon as he finished his prayer, the storm calmed. A strong wind pushed the ship away from the rocks, guiding it safely to shore. His life, crew, and precious cargo were saved.
The Search for the Guru
Remembering his promise, Makhan Shah set off on a long journey to Bakala, carrying his gold coins as an offering. However, upon arriving, he was shocked to find twenty-two different men claiming to be the Guru!
Confused and uncertain, he devised a clever plan.
“I will visit each of these so-called Gurus,” he thought, “but instead of offering five hundred coins, I will give only two. The false Gurus will eagerly accept the money without question. Only the true Guru will know what I truly promised.”
He began his test, going from one Guru to another, offering only two gold coins.
At one house, a man sat on a grand throne, dressed in luxurious robes. Makhan Shah handed him two gold coins.
“Bless you, my son!” the man said, grinning greedily. “You have chosen the true Guru! Now, what else do you have for me? That fine jacket you are wearing looks expensive…”
Makhan Shah shook his head and walked away. “This man is no Guru,” he thought. “He is far too greedy.”
One by one, he visited all twenty-two claimants, but none of them questioned his offering. Had the true Guru vanished?
The Hidden Guru
Just as he was about to give up, he met an old villager and asked, “Is there anyone else here who could be the Guru?”
The old man replied, “There is one man—Tegh Bahadur. He lives in a simple hut at the edge of the village. He does not claim to be the Guru, but he is known for his wisdom and kindness.”
Makhan Shah hurried to Guru Tegh Bahadur’s hut. He found the Guru deep in meditation, sitting humbly with no wealth or luxury around him.
Quietly, Makhan Shah placed two gold coins before him.
The Guru slowly opened his eyes, looked at the coins, then gazed at Makhan Shah and asked:
“Is this all? When your ship was sinking, you promised to offer five hundred gold coins. Why have you brought only two?”
Makhan Shah’s eyes widened in shock. No one else knew about his prayer!
At that moment, he knew he had found the true Guru. Tears filled his eyes as he fell to his knees in gratitude. He placed all five hundred coins before Guru Tegh Bahadur, fulfilling his promise.
Then, overcome with joy, he ran outside, climbed onto a rooftop, and shouted for all to hear:
“I have found the Guru! The true Guru is here!”
That night, the village of Bakala erupted in celebration. The mystery was solved, and Guru Tegh Bahadur was rightfully recognized as the ninth Sikh Guru—thanks to the faith and wisdom of a merchant.
