TRUE GUIDE FREES FROM BONDAGE

Once a large number of devotees came to Anandpur from Peshawar to have an audience with Guru Gobind Singh Ji. A very handsome youth between thirteen and fourteen years was one of them. He ceremoniously bowed his head at the feet of the Guru just as his parents and other devotees had done. When he was paying his obeisance, the Guru asked him,''Child, what is your name?'' The youth replied, ''My true guide, my name is Joga''. Joga in punjabi means for Someone.
The Guru again asked, ''Bhai, who is that someone?'' The boy was very clever. He replied promptly, ''True lord, you are.''
The Guru said,''From today you are for me and I am for you.'' On hearing this from the Guru , Joga devoted his body and soul in the service of Guru's institution.
Joga remained with the Guru while his parents and other devotees returned to Peshawar. From that day on, Joga devoted his body and soul in the service of Guru's institution. He was baptised and became Joga Singh from Joga.
His parents betrothed him to a very beautiful girl from a good family. Considering the suitable time for his marriage his parents fixed a date for the ceremony and came to Anandpur to take him with them. As told by his father, Joga Singh asked the Guru to allow him to go for his marriage ceremony. The Guru said, ''Joga Singh, you can go with pleasure. There is only one condition that you should come back immediately upon my orders.''
''Your command be true, it will as your reverence wishes.'' Saying this Joga Singh touched Guru's feet and departed for Peshawar to get married. On the fixed date after the conclusion of the early morning recitation of prayers, the Anand Karaj(Marriage ceremony) of Joga Singh started. After the completion of the first two Lawans (Hymns from Guru Granth Sahib Ji) out of the four which have to be recited to complete the marriage ceremony, a Sikh handed over a letter from the Guru to Joga Singh. The letter stated, ''Return to Anandpur immediately on reading this letter.''
After going through the Guru's letter Joga Singh the marriage ceremony. The relatives pleaded with him to complete the marriage ceremony before proceeding to Anandpur. He payed no attention to their requests. He said to them, ''My Guru has written to come leaving all the works so it is my duty to leave.'' He jumped upon his horse and proceeded towards Anandpur.
It was evening when Joga Singh reached Hoshiyarpur. He deliberated with a thought that into his mind, ''Can there be a Sikh of the Guru who like me will obey the orders of the Guru, leaving even his marriage ceremony unfinished?''He became proud on himself. In the mean time he saw the prostitute, while passing a way through the bazar. Seeing the beautiful prostitute, his mind was set in spending night with her.
The Guru who knew what was in the mind oh his true devotees, had already sent a Singh beforehand, who had been entrusted with the duty of guarding the abode of the prostitute. Joga Singh saw that a Singh was standing at the door. On seeing him he turned back, thinking that he would enter when the Singh had departed.
After sometime when he returned he still saw the Singh standing at the door seeing him he turned away again. In this way Joga Singh continued to come again and again throughout the night but left every time on seeing the Singh standing there. He spent the whole night going to and fro.
At the break of the dawn, when Joga Singh came, the Singh said to him, ''Joga Singh, now it is time to meditate. Go and sing His praises.'' That brought Joga Singh to his senses. He began to repent upon his sin he had been harbouring in his mind throughout the night. The Guru himself came and saved him otherwise he would have committed such immoral deed. He began to feel ashamed of going to the Guru. With a broken heart he presented himself in the congregation at Anandpur.
After the end of the morning assembly, the Guru called Joga Singh. The Guru commended him for his sacrifice at Peshawar. Joga Singh expressing his gratitude for saving his honour during the night at Hoshiarpur, placed his head at the feet of the Guru and said, ''Benefactor as you are, you forgive the mistakes of your devotees. Please forgive me.''
The Guru granted him forgiveness but the Sikhs have not forgotten that happening as they get guidance from it.