Religious Problem in India

Author(s): Annie Besant
Publisher: Theosophist Office Adyar

Page 82

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THE RELIGIOUS PROBLEM IN INDIA
friend who follow him, Mardānā and Bālā, and he comes to a village where he needs food. There is a poor man, Lālu, a carpenter, a man of pure life, who welcomes the wandering Samyāsī, gives him his own bed, brings him warm food, and Nānak eats. Next day a rich banker in the town gives a great feast to Brāhmaṇas, and invites Vānak to come and eat with them. Nānak goes, but he will not take the food. Sars the host:“Why don't you take my food ?'
“Because,' said Nanak, your food is not pure, for von have cooked this food for self-glorification; it is a țāmasic gift and therefore impure.'
"You call my food impure while that of the low caste Lālu is pure? How is that?: asked Rai Bhag contemptuously
“'Yon treat your guests irreverently and contemptuously,' said Nānak, 'that shows your țămasic aims. I ate food cooked by Lālu, for it was cooked with love and brought with reverence, with no desire for repayment. You must learn a lesson from humble Läln. Your food is full of blood.'
“What proof have you that any food is impure, demanded Rai Bhag angrily
Nānak took Rai Bhay's food in one hand while in the other he took the food cooked by Låln, and, as he pressed each, from Rai Bhag's food oozed out drops of blood while from that of Lālu oozed ont milk."*
Such was the way in which Grun Nānak tanght, the teaching ever bearing on reality and exposing show. Was be a Hindi? Was he a Musulmān?
* Ibid.