MALUK DAS

MALUK DAS was a long-lived Vaisnava saint who spanned the reigns of the Mughal emperors from Akbar to Aurangzib. He was widely venerated and counted among his admirers and followers, Muslims as well as Hindus. He lived at Kara, on the right bank of the River Ganga, in Allahabad district of Uttar Pradesh. Guru Tegh Bahadur met him in 1666 while travelling to the eastern districts. Maluk Das had heard about Guru Nanak and the spiritual line issuing from him.

He was now surprised to see his ninth successor in princely attire and accompanied by armed disciples who hunted animals. But his doubts disappeared when Guru Tegh Bahadur explained to him that holiness of the heart had no essential connection with vegetarianism, nor was the pursuit of arms a hindrance to spiritual uplift. Maluk Das was convinced. He said to himself, “Though the Guru is clad as a prince, his mind is fixed in divine knowledge.

He is the ocean of qualities. How can an ignorant one like me praise him? Sinner am I from birth. His sanctity I did not comprehend.” Saying these words he fell at the Guru\’s feet and served him with humility. A Sikh sangat was established at Kara. A gurudwara was also built but no traces of it are left now. The samadh of Maluk Das still exists and is visited by Hindu and Muslim devotees.

References :

1. Bhalla, Sarup Das, Mahima Prakash. Patiala, 1971