SUKKHU

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 Suk Jdiu 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 Sakhl 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