Guru Nanak Dev ji's mission was to show the true path to the deluded people who were practising evil under the spell of delusion. They had to be enlightened and emancipated. This mission of Guru ji took him to the places where somebody was practising evilness under the incantation of beguilement.
Guru Nanak Dev ji crossed the border into Assam and reached the city of Kamroop. This city was then ruled by a lady called Nurshah who practised black magic. She and her women companions had brought the whole country under their rule by the power of black magic.
Guru ji had a rest under the shade of a tree on the outskirts of the city and Bhai Mardana went to the city to get some food. In the city he encountered three well dressed women who threw their spell over Mardana and made a lamb of him. He behaved like a lamb and obeyed the commands of these ladies.
Guru Nanak Dev ji saw what happened to Bhai Mardana and immediately went to the city to save him. When Nurshah saw Guruji coming into the city, she tried to captivate him, but to no avail. Then she tried to tempt the Guru with her riches. When this alluring effort also failed, she fell at the feet of Guru ji and begged for mercy. She admitted being deluded by her preceptor Nurshah whose name she had adopted. Guru ji then sang a song which made a strong impact on her soul.
Guru ji sang an eye-opening song:
"The Light of the Lord shines,
When we turn our mind to Him,
When we discard evil doing,
And do what is good,
Misery vanishes,
And is replaced by happiness.
Nanak says serve Him,
By serving Him all suffering is destroyed.
He is the giver of all the bounties of life."
Nurshah became a disciple of Guru Nanak Dev ji and changed her lifestyle in entirety. She entered the world of Nam and immersed in it. Her slaves were released and she adopted the path of selfless service. At this place stands the Gurdwara of Barcha Sahib.
After a short successful sojourn, Guru Nanak Dev ji proceeded on his mission. He left behind a legion of enlightened souls whose holy duty was to carry on the mission of humanity initiated by Guru ji.
Before leaving this area, Guru ji met a thief by the name of Bhoomia who expressed his difficulty in giving up the habit of stealing. Guru ji advised him to do three things: (1) always speak the truth, (2) be true to yourself, and (3) do not trouble the poor. When Bhoomia experienced these three things, his life changed dramatically. Once he stole from the house of the ruler of this place. When Bhoomia realized that the poor were troubled, he presented himself to the ruler and admitted his theft. Bhoomia gave up this habit of stealing and changed his lifestyle to be a man of honesty and integrity.
Guru Nanak Dev ji with his minstrel, Bhai Mardana, travelled incessantly and finally Bhai Mardana succumbed to fatigue, hunger and thirst. He insisted Guru ji to have a rest. A shady tree was chosen by Guru ji for a short rest. Bhai Mardana went on a hunt to find something to eat, but he fell victim to a cannibal who was looking for a catch. He was delighted to see a man coming his way.
He was Kauda, a very notorious cannibal, in that vicinity. He caught Bhai Mardana by surprise and bound him hand and foot. He carried him to the spot where he kept a big pan of oil for frying the flesh of his victims.
Kauda lit the fire to boil the oil and Mardana was extremely terrified to see this happening. He prayed to Guru ji to save him. The Guru visualized the situation of Bhai Mardana and set himself to save him.
All of a sudden the fire under the pan went out and the oil in the pan began to cool. Guru ji looked at Kauda compassionately and made him realize the sins he was committing. Kauda's dead conscience was awakened and he led a life of delicacy and modesty thereafter.
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