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This path is taught by the Gurus of the Sikh
to liberation. tradition.
'On the top of a small hill, there lived a Muslim fakir called Vali Kandhari who was well-known in the area for possessing miraculous powers. Mardana needed water which could only be obtained from Vali. Mardana told Vali that Guru Nanak had arrived and he advised him to see the Guru, who was a great saint of God. Vali, who claimed holiness exclusively for himself, became offended on hearing the guru's praises. He refused to give water saying that if the Guru were such a holy man, he could provide water to Mardana. When this reply was communicated to the Guru, he sent Mardana back to the Vali with a message that he (the guru) was a poor creature of God, and laid no claims to be a saint. The Vali paid no heed to this protestation and still refused to provide water. Upon this the Guru picked up one stone and a stream of water immediately issued forth. In fact this water came out from the Vali's tank which then dried up. This naturally increased Vali's rage and it is said that through his miraculous powers he hurled a small hillock upon Guru Nanak's unoffending head. The Guru, on seeing the descending hillock, held up his right hand, and as it touched the hand of the Divine Master, the hillock came to a standstill. With the divine touch, the stone melted and softened like wax and left the mark of the Master's palm indelibly deep into it. Vali Kandhari was very much astonished and at last fell at the feet of the Guru and begged for forgiveness. The Guru exclaimed, "O friend, those who live so high, should not be hard at heart like a stone." Vali was blessed by the Master.
The imprint of the Guru's hand (Punja) is still visible on the stone and the pool of crystal clear water still flows from there. There stands a Gurudwara which is known as 'Punja Sahib'. It is now situated in West Pakistan. http://members.dancris.com/-sikh/chap(3.html, accessed on August 28/05]
2 The word guru literally means dispeller of darkness.
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