Sangat ji, when I think about a woman who has become a change,
or has brought change to womanhood in the Sikh Panth
I think about Mata Khivi Ji.
Mata Khivi Ji is the Mehl of Guru Angad Dev Ji Maharaj
Mehl here means wife.
In her life Sangat ji Mata Khivi Ji has shown so much of strength.
When I say strength I don't just mean physical strength, but mental strength.
Her ability to go against the stigma set by society.
And what was that which we face even now?
That is 'what will people say?'
It's true Sangat ji, it was then back in her time and it is also happening now in out time as well.
We are so concerned about what people would say.
We are so concerned about making people happy,
about doing what people, all society, thinks is acceptable.
But Mata Khivi Ji was not like that.
For her, it was not important to make people happy.
It was not important to make or do what people want her to do - what was accepted
in the eyes of society.
But it was important to her to do what was good, what made Guru Sahib happy.
What was accepted in the eyes of the Guru.
When Guru Angad Ji Maharaj, then their name was Bhai Lehna Ji
told their wife that they wanted to go to Kartarpur Sahib to stay with Guru Nanak Dev Ji,
to serve them, to learn from them on how one can do Bhagti while being a Grihst,
Mata Khivi Ji never said no.
Normally, now at this point of time if a husband or a wife, or any family member decides to
perhaps leave the household and go to search for his life purpose,
many parents or many family members would say no, why are you leaving? Who is going to earn money?
How are you going to survive?
But, at that time Sangat ji, Mata Khivi Ji said do as you wish, do what makes you happy.
If this makes you happy to go and serve the Guru and to learn the ways of doing Bhagti
whilst being a Grihst, do so.
But, oh dear husband, this is my Benti that when you come back
I would like you to teach me the ways as well.
Teach me on how I too can do Bhagti as a wife
and how both of us, as husband and wife could do Bhagti together in this house.
See how positive the reponse of Mata Khivi Ji was.
Another quality of hers was acceptance.
She accepted Hukam, which we call Bhana Manna/Hukam Manna
Gurbani Says,
To be able to obtain or get - Khasam here means Maharaj, Guru Sahib, Parmatma -
When you Mann, when you accept the Hukam, then you are accepted as well.
You are accepted in the palace of Parmatma, you are accepted in the house of the Guru.
Just like I mentioned earlier, Khasmai Bhaavai - what is accepted in the eyes of Parmatma,
So Kare - do so. Do that which is accepted in the house of the Guru.
Then one, a soul bride, who does that, then all her wishes are fulfilled.
And that is what Mata Khivi Ji practised in her life.
Now Sangat Ji, Guru Angad Dev Ji, Bha Lehna Ji has left to Kartarpur,
who is going to take care of the house?
Who is going to feed the 4 children?
Who is going to make sure that there is food on the table?
All that responsibility went on the shoulders of Mata Khivi Ji.
Not even once Mata Khivi Ji said oh no or what has happened? Why has this happened?
Not even once.
Her whole life she learned to accept the Bhana, that whatever is happening is
happening in the Hukam of Parmatma.
But Sangat Ji, remember I mentioned about society?