Gurbani Word Of The Day: Tejo

ਤੇਜੋ (tejo)
Meaning: noun: Tej Bhan, the father of Guru Amar Das

Quote:
ਭਲਉ ਭੂਹਾਲੁ  ਤੇਜੋ ਤਨਾ   ਨ੍ਰਿਪਤਿ ਨਾਥੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਬਰਿ॥
bhalau bhoohaal tejo tanaa nripat naath naanak bar
O noble of Bhalla dynasty, the son of Tej Bhan! (Guru Amar Das!) With the blessing of Guru Nanak, you have become the King of kings
Bhatt Salya, Guru Granth Sahib, 1396

Message: Spiritual Elevation

Baba Tej Bhan, the father of Guru Amar Das, was a farmer and trader. He was well known and respected in the village because of his good work and integrity.

Amar Das grew up as a very religious man, performing all the ritual pilgrimages and fasts of a devout Hindu. It was only after he met Guru Angad that he embraced the path of Sikhi.

By virtue of the teachings of the Guru, he was able to rein in negative impulses of excessive lust, anger, greed, attachment, and conceit.

He was elevated to a higher spiritual state and eventually anointed as the third Guru, succeeding Guru Angad.

Though his life took a spiritual turn after meeting Guru Angad, yet the impact of positive parental guidance should not be overlooked.

Besides inherited traits, values imparted by parents have a lasting impact. The verse below by Guru Ram Das sums it all very nicely.

ਧਨੁ ਧੰਨੁ ਪਿਤਾ   ਧਨੁ ਧੰਨੁ ਕੁਲੁ   ਧਨੁ ਧਨੁ ਸੁ ਜਨਨੀ   ਜਿਨਿ ਗੁਰੂ ਜਣਿਆ ਮਾਇ॥
Blessed, blessed is the father; blessed, blessed is the family, and blessed, blessed is the mother, who gave birth to Guru Amar Das. -Guru Ram Das, Guru Granth Sahib, 310

To read more about Baba Tej Bhan, click here.

Etymology: The Bhallas trace their origin to a pious man, who being philanthropic and kindhearted, was known as bhala, literally a good person. It might be his name or an honorific. Read more, here.

 

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