TAPA

TAPA (lit. a practioner of physical austerities) is the name given by Sikh chroniclers to an ascetic who once came to Guru Ram Das and, proud of the penances he had undergone, said, “Thy Sikhs are very proud ; they acknowledge not the Vedas and the Puranas ; they make no pilgrimages ; nor do they fast or observe the varnasrama. dharma or distinctions of caste. Thy Sikhs only reverence thee and recognize thy compositions. Their adoration is confined to the utterance of Vahiguru.

I see no religious disposition in them whatsoever. However will they attain the comfort of heaven ?” Guru Ram Das, says the Mahima Pra.ka.sh, said, “Thou dost not know the comfort of sadh sangat, fellowship of the holy. Pious fellowship is what Sikhs seek. They desire not heaven. You are proud of your penances and pilgrimages. Sikhs derive comfort from serving orders with humility.” The Tapa fell at the Guru`s feet and took his precept.

References :

1. Bhalla, Sarup Das, Mahima Prakash. Patiala, 1971
2. Santokh Singh, Bhai, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth. Amritsar, 1927-35
3. Macauliffe, Max Arthur, The Sikh Religion : Its Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors. Oxford, 1909

 

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Guru Ram Das And The Tapa

On account of the general impression produced by the Guru’s teaching, people of every class and religion flocked to see and hear him, and there was a great accession of converts. Several persons, as usual in such cases, became envious of his fame and success, and foremost among them was a Tapa or penitent (a hindu ascetic or sadhu). The Tapa said, “This is the really terrible Kalyug age. I (a penitent) bear cold and heat, yet people do not listen to me, while the people rever this married man as a Guru.” Thus the Tapa spluttered, and foamed, and impotently raged.

One day the Tapa visited the Guru’s court and addressed him, “O Guru, your Sikhs are very proud; they accept neither the Veds nor Shastars; they make no pilgrimages; nor do they fast, perform the usual religious duties of hindus, or practise austerities of any sort. They only rever you and recognize your compositions. Their adoration is confined to the utterance of Waheguru. These misguided people are losing the advantages of their human birth. Pray tell me how can they attain Swarga Loka (meaning Good Kingdom or type of Heaven)?”

The Guru replied, “Tapa, my Sikhs do not desire Swarga Loka. They do not deem Swarga Loka as a reward fit for their merits. They never engage in worship which is merely intended for the admiration of the public. Their minds are absorbed in God’s love. That is their Swarga Loka and their salvation. You do not know the glory of the saints. You have forsaken the real thing, attached yourself to false ceremonies, and forfeited your salvation. Your mind is filled with pride.”

“Through pride and boasting, people completely lose their way in this world. Without faith no devotion, penance, or worship avails. They who possess no faith are drowned in lust, wrath, worldly love, covetousness, pride, and whatever else there is of evil. It is not so with my Sikhs. Their confidence and trust are reposed in the one immortal God. At every breath they repeat God’s name, and therefore easily merit salvation. They need not penances or pilgrimages. They are in themselves pure and holy places.”

Guru Ram Das composed the following on the occasion;

ਮਲਾਰ ਮਹਲਾ ੪ ॥
Malār mėhlā 4.
Malaar, Fourth Mehl.

ਗੰਗਾ ਜਮੁਨਾ ਗੋਦਾਵਰੀ ਸਰਸੁਤੀ ਤੇ ਕਰਹਿ ਉਦਮੁ ਧੂਰਿ ਸਾਧੂ ਕੀ ਤਾਈ ॥
Gangā jamunā goḏāvrī sarsuṯī ṯe karahi uḏam ḏẖūr sāḏẖū kī ṯāī.
The Ganges, the Jamunaa, the Godaavari and the Saraswati – these rivers strive for the dust of the feet of the Holy.

ਕਿਲਵਿਖ ਮੈਲੁ ਭਰੇ ਪਰੇ ਹਮਰੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਹਮਰੀ ਮੈਲੁ ਸਾਧੂ ਕੀ ਧੂਰਿ ਗਵਾਈ ॥੧॥
Kilvikẖ mail bẖare pare hamrai vicẖ hamrī mail sāḏẖū kī ḏẖūr gavāī. ||1||
Overflowing with their filthy sins, the mortals take cleansing baths in them; the rivers’ pollution is washed away by the dust of the feet of the Holy. ||1||

ਤੀਰਥਿ ਅਠਸਠਿ ਮਜਨੁ ਨਾਈ ॥
Ŧirath aṯẖsaṯẖ majan nāī.
Instead of bathing at the sixty-eight sacred shrines of pilgrimage, take your cleansing bath in the Name.

ਸਤਸੰਗਤਿ ਕੀ ਧੂਰਿ ਪਰੀ ਉਡਿ ਨੇਤ੍ਰੀ ਸਭ ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਮੈਲੁ ਗਵਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Saṯsangaṯ kī ḏẖūr parī ud neṯrī sabẖ ḏurmaṯ mail gavāī. ||1|| rahāo.
When the dust of the feet of the Sat Sangat rises up into the eyes, all filthy evil-mindedness is removed. ||1||Pause||

ਜਾਹਰਨਵੀ ਤਪੈ ਭਾਗੀਰਥਿ ਆਣੀ ਕੇਦਾਰੁ ਥਾਪਿਓ ਮਹਸਾਈ ॥
Jāharnavī ṯapai bẖāgīrath āṇī keḏār thāpio mėhsāī.
Bhaageerat’h the penitent brought the Ganges down, and Shiva established Kaydaar.

ਕਾਂਸੀ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨੁ ਚਰਾਵਤ ਗਾਊ ਮਿਲਿ ਹਰਿ ਜਨ ਸੋਭਾ ਪਾਈ ॥੨॥
Kāʼnsī krisan cẖarāvaṯ gāū mil har jan sobẖā pāī. ||2||
Krishna grazed cows in Kaashi; through the humble servant of the Lord, these places became famous. ||2||

ਜਿਤਨੇ ਤੀਰਥ ਦੇਵੀ ਥਾਪੇ ਸਭਿ ਤਿਤਨੇ ਲੋਚਹਿ ਧੂਰਿ ਸਾਧੂ ਕੀ ਤਾਈ ॥
Jiṯne ṯirath ḏevī thāpe sabẖ ṯiṯne locẖėh ḏẖūr sāḏẖū kī ṯāī.
And all the sacred shrines of pilgrimage established by the gods, long for the dust of the feet of the Holy.

ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਸੰਤੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਗੁਰ ਸਾਧੂ ਲੈ ਤਿਸ ਕੀ ਧੂਰਿ ਮੁਖਿ ਲਾਈ ॥੩॥
Har kā sanṯ milai gur sāḏẖū lai ṯis kī ḏẖūr mukẖ lāī. ||3||
Meeting with the Lord’s Saint, the Holy Guru, I apply the dust of God’s feet to my face. ||3||

ਜਿਤਨੀ ਸ੍ਰਿਸਟਿ ਤੁਮਰੀ ਮੇਰੇ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਸਭ ਤਿਤਨੀ ਲੋਚੈ ਧੂਰਿ ਸਾਧੂ ਕੀ ਤਾਈ ॥
Jiṯnī sarisat ṯumrī mere suāmī sabẖ ṯiṯnī locẖai ḏẖūr sāḏẖū kī ṯāī.
And all the creatures of Your Universe, O my Lord and Master, long for the dust of the feet of the Holy.

ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਲਾਟਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਜਿਸੁ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਤਿਸੁ ਸਾਧੂ ਧੂਰਿ ਦੇ ਹਰਿ ਪਾਰਿ ਲੰਘਾਈ ॥੪॥੨॥
Nānak lilāt hovai jis likẖiā ṯis sāḏẖū ḏẖūr ḏe har pār langẖāī. ||4||2||
O Nanak, one who has such destiny inscribed on one’s forehead, is blessed with the dust of the feet of the Holy; the Lord carries such across. ||4||2||

~ Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Guru Ram Das, Ang 1263.

It is said the Tapa was convinced on hearing this hymn, and embraced the Sikh religion. Guru Ram Das occupied most of his time in composing hymns breathing great devotional fervour and in receiving and addressing his Sikhs. Piles of wealth were offered to him, but his thoughts were not turned in that direction.