Bhai Sukha Singh UK
April 26 ·
In this short video Bhai Sukha Singh UK shares a true love story between Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj & Bhai Mardana Ji as described in the Janam Sakhi.
ਇਕ ਬਾਬਾ ਅਕਾਲ ਰੂਪੁ ਦੂਜਾ ਰਬਾਬੀ ਮਰਦਾਨਾ।
Firstly, Baba himself was in the form of Timeless and secondly, he had his companion Mardana, the rebeck player.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Bhai Mardana

It is said that Bhai Mardana first contacted Guru Nanak Dev Ji to seek help as many people in his family were dying at a young age. Guru Nanak Dev Ji approached the family and had seen that Mardana’s mother was crying because she felt her son will die. Mardana’s mother told Guru Ji that the reason she was crying is because all her children were dying. Following this, Guru ji asked what her son’s name was, to which she responded “MarJana” meaning “He will die”. Guru Nanak Dev Ji kindly asked the mother if she is willing to give him her son so that she will not have to bear the burden of her child’s death. The mother accepted this and gave her son to Guru Nanak Dev Ji to take care of. [4] As a result of this, Guru Nanak Ji gave Mardana the assurance that henceforth people in his clan will not die early. It is said that the name Mardana came from this assurance- Mar- Da- Na meaning ‘Does not die’.

Guru Nanak Ji and Mardana were brought up in the same village. The Miharban Janam Sakhi says that Mardana was ten years elder to Guru Nanak Ji and was his companion since his childhood days. It further states that Mardana sang hymns written by Kabir, Trilochan, Ravidas, Dhanna and Bern. According to Ratan Singh Bhangu, Prachin Panth Prakash, Guru Nanak Ji as a small boy gave Mardana a string instrument improvised from reeds to play on while he sang the hymns.

When Guru Nanak Dev Ji took charge of the granaries and stores of the Nawab of Sultanpur Lodhi, he became known for his generosity. Mardana, was by then married and had two sons and a daughter, Mardana went to meet Guru Nanak as Guru Nanak’s father wanted news of his son, Mardana never went back from his trip and was with Guru Nanak from then on. He used to play the Rabab (r-aa-bab ) or rebeck as Guru Nanak spoke/sang his words about God.

When Guru Nanak Dev Ji planned to travel the world to spread his message, he wanted Mardana to accompany him, Mardana wanted to marry off his daughter before doing so, Bhai Baghirath a disciple of Guru Nanak Ji helped Mardana materially to enable the daughter’s marriage and allow Mardana to accompany Guru Nanak.
The chronicles of their travels uses Mardana to show worldly doubts and bring forth Guru Nanak Ji’s message, in many situations Mardana is portrayed as doubtful and wanting clarifications in every situation. The Puratan Janam Sakhi tells of these situations.
In 1534, Mardana fell ill at Kartarpur. Guru Nanak had his body consigned to the River Ravi, and had hymns sung and Karah Parshad, the sacrament, distributed among the mourners. He consoled Mardana’s family including his son Shahzada, asking them not to weep as Mardana had returned to his heavenly home.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhai_Mardana