- Jan 3, 2010
- 1,875
- 443
- 80
How did child Burha become Baba Budha Ji?
Dr. Dalvinder Singh Grewal
During his world tour, in the Amritsar district, Guru Nanak Dev Ji met a boy about 12 years old, named Bura. He was herding buffaloes in the forest. He started asking Guru Ji about the way to escape the fear of death. Guru Nanak said, “Dear child! You are too young to know this. Why do you think about death?” Hearing this, the boy Bura said, “Baba Ji, what is the certainty of death? Who knows when it will come? Will I grow up or not?” Guru Ji said, “Tell me, dear Bura! How did you come up with this question at such a young age?”
Bura continued, “A few days ago, the Pathan army passed through here. It went through the fields and destroyed all the crops—raw, semi-raw, and ripe. The small plants were completely destroyed. Also, Baba Ji! When my mother lights a fire in the hearth, the big pieces of wood burn later, but the small pieces of wood are burnt before them. In this way, death can come to even small children first.”
Guru Ji laughed after hearing Bura’s words and said, “You are a child, but you talk like an old man. You are Bura, but you are Budha (an old man)! If you want to be free from the fear of death, then remember God. God is much stronger than death. If you become His, death will not be able to harm you. He will start fearing you.”
After listening to the Guru Ji’s teachings, Bura started chanting the Naam at a young age and started associating with the Gurmukhs. Knowing that God resides in the living beings, he started serving them whenever needed. Guru Ji had called him Budha, so people also started calling him Budha. When he grew up, he was called Baba Budha Ji.
Baba Budha Ji had the darshan of six gurus, from Guru Nanak Dev Ji to Guru Hargobind Sahib. He lived a high and pure life by serving their congregations and meditating on God. He also performed the guruship ceremony of the second to the sixth Guru Ji. He also kept taking care of the goods and cattle of the Guru Darbar in Kathu Nangal Bir near Jhabal, where a magnificent Gurdwara commemorates his great deeds When Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was first installed in Sri Darbar Sahib, he was given the high position of Granthi. Guru Hargobind Sahib was also given Shastra education under his supervision. Despite having such a pure life, he was happy to be called Guru ka Ghahi (the grass cutter of Guru’s house). ” Such was the dedication of Baba Budha Ji to the Gurus.

