<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>SAJJA&#7750 SHAIKH</TITLE>
<style type="text/css">
.BODY { background-color: #EAF1F7; background-image: url('images/gtbh.jpg'); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; background-position: center; color: #0066CC;}
.C1{text-align: justify;color: #0066CC;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;}
.BIB{text-align: center;color: #000099;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;}
.CONT{text-align: right;color: #FF0000;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;}
</style><META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="SAJJAṆ,SHAI">
<META http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></HEAD>
<BODY class="BODY" oncontextmenu="return false" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false">
<FONT ALIGN="JUSTIFY" FACE="Tahoma">
<p class="C1">&#65279SAJJA&#7750, SHAI<u>KH</u>, a resident of Ma<u>kh</u>d&#363mpur, 20 km southwest of the ancient town of Talumbh&#257 or Tulambh&#257, now in Mult&#257n district of Pakistan, was a thug or cutthroat who, according to the Janam S&#257kh&#299 tradition, was once visited by Gur&#363 N&#257nak. Sajja&#7751 lived in apparent piety and prosperity and maintained a mosque for Muslims and a temple for Hindus. The sleeping guests were despatched by Sajja&#7751 and his band of thugs and their goods became his property. As Gur&#363 N&#257nak accompanied by Mard&#257n&#257 passed that way during his travel across southwestern Punjab and stopped by, Shai<u>kh</u> Sajja&#7751 read in his lustrous face the signs of affluence and treated him with more than usual courtesy. At night, however, the Gur&#363 tarried long before going to bed which made Sajja&#7751 impatient. At last he came near the door to see inside. He discovered Mard&#257n&#257 was playing on his <i>rab&#257b</i> and Gur&#363 N&#257nak was singing a hymn in enraptured devotion. Sajja&#7751 was overwhelmed and falling at the Gur&#363's feet confessed remorsefully how sinful he was. The Gur&#363 said that he could yet hope for God's grace and forgiveness if he confessed and repented and delivered all of his possessions which he had collected by impious means. "Then," says <i>Pur&#257tan Janam S&#257kh&#299</i>, "Sajja&#7751 obeyed. He brought out all the things and gave them away in God's name." He converted his house into a <i>dharams&#257l&#257</i> which, according to the <i>Janam S&#257kh&#299</i>, was the first such centre established in the history of early Sikhism.</p>
<p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sajja&#7751's tomb still exists near Ma<u>kh</u>d&#363mpur, in Pakistan. A ruined mound near it is also known by his name.</p>
</font>
<p class="BIB">
BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"> Harbans Singh, <i>Guru Nanak and Origins of the Sikh Faith</i>. Bombay, 1969<BR>
<li class="C1"> V&#299r Si&#7749gh, Bh&#257&#299, ed., <i>Sr&#299 Gur&#363 N&#257nak Chamatk&#257r</i>. Amritsar, 1928<BR>
<li class="C1"><i>---Pur&#257tan Janam S&#257kh&#299</i>. Amritsar, 1926<BR>
<li class="C1"> Gi&#257n Si&#7749gh, Gi&#257n&#299, <i>Panth Prak&#257sh</i>. Delhi, 1880<BR>
<li class="C1"> Kohl&#299, Surindar Si&#7749gh, ed. <i>Janams&#257kh&#299 Bh&#257&#299 B&#257l&#257</i>. Chandigarh, 1975<BR>
</ol><p class="CONT">Gurnek Si&#7749gh<br></p><BR>
</font><img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""></HTML></BODY>
�