SUKKHU, sadhu of the Divana (lit. madmen) sect, was incited by his mentor, Ghudda, to attack Guru Gobind Singh to avenge the death of one of his followers at the hands of a Sikh. The deceased had been mortally wounded while attempting to force his entry into Guru Gobind Singh`s tent near Maluka village, in present day Faridkot district, where the Guru was then camping. Now, while Guru Gobind Singh was staying at Bajak, in Bathinda district, Ghudda collected 50 Divana sadhus to attack him, but all but two of them, Sukkhu and Buddhu, deserted him on the way.
When Sukkhu and Buddhu came into the Guru`s presence, they were so impressed by his demeanour that all intent of harm vanished out of their hearts. They humbly made their obeisance and started entertaining the sangat with their ditties. As records the anonymous author of Sakhi Pothi, their refrain was : “The beloved (soul) resides in a mud hut (body) ; neither one`s parents last nor does one`s youth.” The Guru was amused and rewarded them with a square shaped silver coin. As the Guru set out from Bajak, Sukkhu and his companion asked for and were granted the privilege of carrying him on an improvised palanquin for some distance.
References :
1. MaJva Desh Ratan di Sakhi Pothi. Amritsar, 1950
2. Santokh Singh, Bhai, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth. Amritsar, 1927-35
3. Gian Singh, Giani, Twarikh Guru Khalsa, [Reprint]. Patiala, 1970
4. Macauliffe, Max Arthur, The Sikh Religion : Its Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors. Oxford, 1909
Initial Incitement and the Call to Violence
Sukkhu was originally a sadhu allied with the Divana sect—a group known for its unorthodox views and passionate fervor. Incited by his mentor, Ghudda, he was urged to attack Guru Gobind Singh as an act of vengeance. This call to violence was rooted in a tragic event: one of Ghudda’s followers had been mortally wounded while forcefully trying to enter the Guru’s tent near Maluka village (in present-day Faridkot district). Fuelled by grief and a desire for retribution, Ghudda mobilized a troop of 50 Divana sadhus with the intention of striking at the Guru. However, on the journey towards the intended confrontation, all but two—Sukkhu and his companion Buddhu—abandoned the plan, indicating a latent hesitation amid such extreme measures.
The Transformative Encounter at Bajak
The turning point in Sukkhu’s life occurred when he and Buddhu came face-to-face with Guru Gobind Singh at Bajak in Bathinda District. Confronted by the Guru’s serene dignity and profound spiritual magnetism, the initial hostile impulse that had driven them toward violence disintegrated. Instead of experiencing anger or hatred, both Sukkhu and Buddhu were overwhelmed by a deep sense of awe and reverence. Their violent intentions evaporated, and in that moment, they embraced the Guru with humility. This sudden and radical change is a striking example of how personal presence can soften even the hardest of hearts and redirect destructive energy into one of devotion.
