Where did Guru Nanak Dev Ji serve the Degh when He went to Baghdad for the first time? The Degh, the Karah Prasad that was served in Baghdad, was there.
The Islamic world did not believe in Kirtan and Bhajan.
Pir Dastgir, his son, and other Islamic people came to Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj to argue with Him. They said, “This Rabab that you play here, the Kirtan that you perform, this will not work here. We will not allow this here.”
“You have done something to all these people. What miracle have you shown? What kind of power have you used? Everyone is following you with blind faith. What have you done to them?”
“Everyone is becoming crazy. Everyone is reaching above.”
“You talk about the skies and the netherworlds—Akaasha Akaash, Patala Pataal.”
Islam says there are fourteen worlds—seven heavens and seven netherworlds (Pataal Lok), fourteen worlds. And you say there are millions of worlds.
Maharaj Ji said, “Your Islam allows you to see fourteen worlds, while I see millions. What fault is mine?
“You may see fourteen worlds. But the God who resides within me—there are worlds upon worlds, universes upon universes, skies upon skies, and skies within skies, netherworlds within netherworlds. There is no end to it.”
They became even more eager to argue and fight.
They spoke very badly and harshly to Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj.
When they spoke like that, Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj said, “Cool down, become peaceful, and sit. Let us have a discussion based on thought. I am talking about discussion; I am not talking about an argument.”
They again said, “Then do something. Give us proof. Show us. Tell someone among us how many worlds there are, how many universes and netherworlds there are.”
Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj said, “You tell me, Pir Sahib. You tell me whom I should take. I can take one person from among you above.”
Pir Dastgir said, “Take my son.”
His son was somewhat arrogant and angry. He was a little stubborn and crooked in his manner. He said, “Yes, take me.”
Maharaj said, “Sit here.”
Then Maharaj started Kirtan with him and took Pir Dastgir’s son straight upwards. When he travelled above, when he saw the netherworlds, when he saw the skies, when he saw the universes and worlds, he was shaken. He started trembling there.
Maharaj demonstrated His power. When Maharaj showed him His world, he completely forgot himself. He completely forgot what he was and what he was doing. He was simply amazed.Seeing his son with closed eyes and his head moving in a mesmerized state, Pir Dastgir became angry, thinking, “They have confused my son with magic and sorcery.”
When he returned from above, Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj was showing him around, taking him through the entire upper universe.
“Come, I will show you the whole world, the entire creation, where everything is and what is where.”
When He had shown him everything above, the son began saying:
“True Master, You are everything.
“You Yourself are Narayan. Wherever I go, You are there. You Yourself are the form of God.”
Maharaj said, “This is not how it should be. We have to go down, and you should not speak like this. First, there is Prasad. First, eat this Prasad of God.”
Then Maharaj gave him Karah Prasad there, above, to Pir Dastgir’s son.
He ate the Prasad with both hands, taking it again and again.
Bhai Gurdas Ji also writes in His Vaar:
“Bhar kach-kol prasada dah
Dhuro-patalo layi kadaihi”
Maharaj Ji said, “Take it with you. Otherwise, how will anyone know that you ate Prasad when you go down? Pick up some Prasad with your own hands.”
He took the Prasad with him.
When he came back from above, he gave it to his father and to all the congregation that was standing there. They all ate the Prasad and became overwhelmed.
Then he told his father, “Father, this Nanak Ji is no ordinary power. He is the Master of the entire universe. He can go anywhere. He took me on a complete tour of the entire sky and netherworlds. He showed me everything.”
And when they ate the Prasad, they realized that this was the sign he had brought down. Otherwise, his father would have said that he was lying. Pir Dastgir also ate the Prasad and distributed it to everyone. They took a little Prasad each. When they ate the Prasad, their seats began to shake. Everyone became overwhelmed, and they too experienced that journey above.
Then they folded their hands and everyone said, “Within Baghdad, in Iraq, Maharaj Ji, if we want to eat this Prasad again, if we want to prepare it again, then how should it be made?”
Then Maharaj closed His eyes and said:
“Write it down: flour in the same quantity, sugar in the same quantity, ghee in the same quantity, and jaggery in the same quantity. Ghee and sugar in equal quantities, and flour also in the same quantity. Add the same amount of ghee and prepare it in a pan. Remember God and prepare the Prasad.
“Offer it in the same way.”
“Go, this is how the same Prasad should be prepared there.”
Guru Nanak Dev Ji served the first Degh of Karah Prasad there.
Even to the Mother in Navratri Puja, Prasad is offered. In the house of God, if you think about it, Halwa is also offered to the Mother.
In Hindi, it is called Halwa; in Punjabi, we call it Karah. Why? Because it is prepared in a Karahi, therefore it is called Karah.
So think about it: God and Bhagwati Ji receive the same offering.
There is no difference between the two. God also receives the offering of Prasad, and Mother Bhagwati also receives the offering of Prasad.
In Hindi, it is called Halwa; in Punjabi, we call it Karah.
The whole play is of Bhagwati and Bhagwan. Remember this.