may change, but the Creator is unchangeable." These words, says his biographer, were no sooner pronounced than the YōgisWaras fell at the feet of the humble Nanac. He seems to have spent about fifteen years in his different journeys, but on his return from his third excursion, he declared his resolution of not quitting his native country any more, and took up his residence at Kirtipur-Dehra, on the banks of the Ravi,+ in a convenient dwelling that was prepared for him by the Rajah of Kullanore, who had become one of his disciples. There he spent the rest of his days in peace, and, as he loved retirement, free from the cares and bustle of this world: his wife and children dwelt at Kullanore, coming occasionally to visit him. Having obtained extensive fame for wisdom and piety, persons of all persuasions went to converse with him, or listen to his discourse; and the Sikhs say, that when they * Bhai Guru Das Vali. + The Hydraotes of the Greeks. any heard him, they forgot that mankind had religion but one. He died about the age of seventy, and was buried on the bank of the Ravi, which has since overflowed his tomb. Kirtipur continues to be a place of religious resort, and a piece of Nanac's garment is still shewn in the temple there, to devout pilgrims who come to visit it. Passing by his children and relations, he named as his successor to teach his doctrines, a favourite disciple and companion, likewise of the Cshatriya cast, called Lehana, to which name he added that of Angad, signifying the deliverer of precepts. Lehana died in 1552, leaving two sons, Vasu and Datu, but named as his successor Amera Das, a Cshatriya of the tribe of Bhalé. Amera was distinguished for his zeal in propagating the tenets of Nanac, and obtained many converts to them. He had a son, named Mohan, and a daughter, Mohani, whom he married to a young man of his own cast, named Ram Das. Dying in the year of Christ 1574, he declared Ram Das his successor, who be came famous for his piety. The town of Kujarawal, where his father-in-law Amera had resided, was greatly enlarged and improved by him. It was afterwards for some time named Rampur, or Ramdaspur, but having caused a famous tank, or reservoir of water to be constructed, which he called Amritsar, or the fountain of ambrosia, the city now bears that name. Ram Das died in 1581, and was succeeded by his eldest son named Arjun Mal, who compiled and arranged the doctrines of Nanac, in a work intituled Adi-Granth, or The first Book.* Arjun for some time propagated * In communications made to the author by the late Colonel Polier, he calls it Pathy, but both Pathy and Grantha signify book. "The first sacred volume of the Sikhs contains ninety-two sections; it was partly composed by Nanac and his immediate successors, but received its present form and arrangement from Arjunmal, who blended his own additions with what he thought most valuable in the compositions of his predecessors. Though the original Adi-Granth was thus compiled by Arjunmal, from the writings of Nanac, Angad, Amera Das, and Ram Das, and enlarged and improved by his own additions and his tenets with great success, but having excited the attention and jealousy of the Mohammedan government, he was arrested, thrown into prison, and, it is said, cruelly put to death in the year 1606. The Sikhs, who till then had been a peaceable and inoffensive sect, took arms under his son and successor Har Govind. Now arose that This desperate and implacable hatred which has ever since animated the followers of Nanac and Mohammed against each other. chieftain is reputed to be the first who permitted his followers to eat all animal food, except the cow species. Har Govind had five sons, Babu-Gúrú Daitya, SauratSinh, Tégh Sinh, Anna Ray, and Atal Ray: the two last died without issue, the eldest died before his father, leaving two commentaries, some small portions have been subsequently added by thirteen different persons, whose numbers, however, are reduced, by the Sikh authors, to twelve and a half; the last contributor to this sacred volume being a woman, is only admitted to rank in the list as a fraction, by these ungallant writers."-General Malcolm sons, Dáharmal and Har Ray, who succeeded his grand-father Har Govind, in 1644. Saurat-Sinh and Tégh Sinh were obliged by the persecution of the Mohammedans, to flee into the mountains to the north of the Panjab. It appears that Har Ray, being of a mild, tranquil temper, was not disturbed by the Mohammedans. At his death, in 1661, a contest arose which of his sons, Har Crishn or Ram Ray, should succeed him. The dispute was referred to the imperial court of Dehly, when by a decree of Aurengzebe, the Sikhs were allowed to chuse themselves their spiritual leader, for their chief had now scarcely any temporal power. The choice fell on Har Crishn, who died at Dehly, in 1664, and was succeeded by his uncle, Tégh Sinh, who, at the instigation of his nephew, Ram Ray, who had remained at Dehly, was seized, brought thither, and confined in prison, where he remained two years, when he was released at the intercession of Jaya Sinh, Rajah of Jayapour, whom he accompanied to Bengal, and took up. his re |