Tempo:
CHAP,
m
SIKH GURUS; ARJUN
47
ranee that multitudes even of divine Brahmans had issi-ieoe. wearied themselves with reading the Vedas, and had found not the value of an oil-seed within them.^ The Reduces Guru next reduced to a systematic tax the customary customary offerings of his converts or adherents, who, under his offerings lo ascendancy, were to be found in every city and pro- ^ systemavince. The Sikhs were bound by social usage, and ^jthl^^ ^^ disposed from reverential feelings, to make such presents to their spiritual guide; but the agents of Arjun were spread over the country to demand and receive the contributions of the faithful, which they proceeded to deliver to the Guru in person at an annual assembly. Thus the Sikhs, says the almost contemporary Muhsin Fani, became accustomed to a regular government.^ Nor was Arjun heedless of other means of acquiring and engages wealth and influence; he dispatched his followers into in traffic, foreign countries tp be as keen in traffic as they were zealous in belief, and it is probable that his transactions as a merchant were extensive, although confined to the purch'ase of horses in Turkestan.^
Arjun became famous among pious devotees, and his biographers dwell on the number of saints and holy men who were edified by his instructions. Nor was ho unheeded by those in high station, for he is said to have refused to betroth his son to the daughter of ^^,.^^^ Chandu Shah, the finance administrator of the Lahore '^^j^^g ^j^J' province; and he further appears to have been sought enmity of as a political partisan, and to have offered up prayers chandu for Khusru, the son of Jahnagir, when in rebellion and s'^^'^in temporary possession of the Punjab. The Guru was Becomes a '^
1
Adi-Granth, in that portion of the Suhi chapter written of the Adi, or First Granth,
by Arjun. For some account see Appendix I. 2 •"
The Dahistan, ii. 270, &c. Cf. Malcolm, Sketch, p. 30. The ordinary Sikh accounts are to this effect. Cf. the
Dahistan, a. 271. ^ Cf. Forster, Travels, i. 298. The Sikh accounts represent that the son of Arjun was mentioned to Chandu as a suitable match for his daughter, and that Chandu shghtingly objected, saying, Arjun, although a man of name and wealth, was still a begg&r, or one who received alms. This v/as reported to Arjun; he resented the taunt, and would not be reconciled to the match, notwithstanding the personal endeavours of Chandu to appease him and bring about the union. Shah is a corrupted suffix to names, extensively adopted in India. It is a Persian word signifying a king, but applied to Muhammadan Fakirs as Maharaja is used by or towards Hindu devotees. It is also used to denote a principal merchant, or as a corruption of Sahu or Sahukar, and it is further used as a name or title, as a corruption of Sah or Sahai. The Gond converi Muhammadanism on the Narbada all add the word
Shah
"
names.
m
SIKH GURUS; ARJUN
47
ranee that multitudes even of divine Brahmans had issi-ieoe. wearied themselves with reading the Vedas, and had found not the value of an oil-seed within them.^ The Reduces Guru next reduced to a systematic tax the customary customary offerings of his converts or adherents, who, under his offerings lo ascendancy, were to be found in every city and pro- ^ systemavince. The Sikhs were bound by social usage, and ^jthl^^ ^^ disposed from reverential feelings, to make such presents to their spiritual guide; but the agents of Arjun were spread over the country to demand and receive the contributions of the faithful, which they proceeded to deliver to the Guru in person at an annual assembly. Thus the Sikhs, says the almost contemporary Muhsin Fani, became accustomed to a regular government.^ Nor was Arjun heedless of other means of acquiring and engages wealth and influence; he dispatched his followers into in traffic, foreign countries tp be as keen in traffic as they were zealous in belief, and it is probable that his transactions as a merchant were extensive, although confined to the purch'ase of horses in Turkestan.^
Arjun became famous among pious devotees, and his biographers dwell on the number of saints and holy men who were edified by his instructions. Nor was ho unheeded by those in high station, for he is said to have refused to betroth his son to the daughter of ^^,.^^^ Chandu Shah, the finance administrator of the Lahore '^^j^^g ^j^J' province; and he further appears to have been sought enmity of as a political partisan, and to have offered up prayers chandu for Khusru, the son of Jahnagir, when in rebellion and s'^^'^in temporary possession of the Punjab. The Guru was Becomes a '^
1
Adi-Granth, in that portion of the Suhi chapter written of the Adi, or First Granth,
by Arjun. For some account see Appendix I. 2 •"
The Dahistan, ii. 270, &c. Cf. Malcolm, Sketch, p. 30. The ordinary Sikh accounts are to this effect. Cf. the
Dahistan, a. 271. ^ Cf. Forster, Travels, i. 298. The Sikh accounts represent that the son of Arjun was mentioned to Chandu as a suitable match for his daughter, and that Chandu shghtingly objected, saying, Arjun, although a man of name and wealth, was still a begg&r, or one who received alms. This v/as reported to Arjun; he resented the taunt, and would not be reconciled to the match, notwithstanding the personal endeavours of Chandu to appease him and bring about the union. Shah is a corrupted suffix to names, extensively adopted in India. It is a Persian word signifying a king, but applied to Muhammadan Fakirs as Maharaja is used by or towards Hindu devotees. It is also used to denote a principal merchant, or as a corruption of Sahu or Sahukar, and it is further used as a name or title, as a corruption of Sah or Sahai. The Gond converi Muhammadanism on the Narbada all add the word
Shah
"
names.
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