Makkhan Shah Lubana — Finding the True Guru

Makkhan Shah Lubana was a wealthy Sikh merchant whose ships traded across the oceans. Once, his fleet was caught in a terrifying storm. As the ships were about to sink, Makkhan Shah prayed intensely to Guru Nanak, promising to offer 500 gold dinars to the Guru if his crew and cargo were saved. Miraculously, the storm calmed, and the ships reached safely.

To fulfill his vow, he traveled to the village of Bakala, where the 8th Guru, Guru Har Krishan, had indicated the next Guru would be found ("Baba Bakale"). But upon arriving, Makkhan Shah found chaos: 22 imposters had set up camps, each claiming to be the 9th Guru, collecting offerings from innocent Sikhs.

Makkhan Shah devised a test. He decided to place exactly two gold coins before each claimant. "The True Guru," he thought, "is omniscient. He will know that my vow was for 500 coins, not two."

He visited all 22 imposters. Each one blessed him enthusiastically for the two coins, ignorant of his true vow. Disappointed, Makkhan Shah asked if there was anyone else. The villagers mentioned a quiet, solitary man named Tegh Bahadur who meditated in a basement.

Makkhan Shah went to the basement and placed two coins before the meditating Tegh Bahadur. The saint opened his eyes and smiled. "Makkhan Shah, why are you offering only two coins? What about the 500 gold dinars you promised when your ship was sinking?"

Overjoyed, Makkhan Shah ran to the rooftop of the house, waving his scarf and shouting at the top of his lungs, "Guru Ladho Re! Guru Ladho Re!" (I have found the Guru! I have found the Guru!). Thus, the true 9th Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, was revealed to the world.