Guru Naanak Dev Ji & Sheikh Sharaf
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In Baghdad
The Janamsakhi of Bhai Bala Ji suggests that while Siri Guru Naanak Dev Ji was on their 4th Udasi travelling through Baghdad, they met Sheikh Sharaf. The Sheikh had fashioned themselves in traditional bridalwear, along with henna dyed hands, rose lips, and eyeliner.
The meeting between the two is a beautiful moment shared. The Guru asks Sheikh Ji why they dress in such a way. They respond "I have not found my Beloved (Vahiguru), so I have become a bride to be found". The Guru responds "Vahiguru takes no pleasure in such attire. It is Truth that they seek and adoring love. The Guru goes on to ask them to sing Ghazals, which they sing in Raag Dhanasari.
Guru Arjan Dev Ji & Shah Madho Laal Hussain
Lahore Darbar
It is noted in Suraj Parkash Granth that Guru Arjan Dev Ji came face to face with a homosexual poet when reviewing poetry in Lahore. As the main focus of the Suraj Parkash is around Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Shah Hussain’s meeting with the Guru is briefly mentioned, however, other sources confirm he was homosexual. When Shah Hussain presented his work to the Guru, he was deeply moved and praised his work. Shah Hussain was openly in a loving relationship with Madho Laal. The love between Madho Laal and Shah Hussain are often recounted at Shah Hussain’s urs (death anniversary), and hundreds throng to his dargah (grave), where Shah Hussain and Madho Laal are buried side by side.
Shah Hussains Poetry
ਚੁਪ ਵੇ ਅੜਿਆ ਚੁਪ ਵੇ ਅੜਿਆ। ਬੋਲਣ ਦੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਜਾਇ ਵੇ ਅੜਿਆ। ਸਜਣਾ ਬੋਲਣ ਦੀ ਜਾਇ ਨਾਹੀਂ।ਰਹਾਉ। ਅੰਦਰਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਹਿਕਾ ਸਾਂਈਂ, ਕਿਸਨੂੰ ਆਖਿ ਸੁਣਾਈਂ। ਇਕੋ ਦਿਲਬਰ ਸਭ ਘਟ ਰਵਿਆ, ਦੂਜੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਦਾਈਂ। ਕਹੈ ਹੁਸੈਨ ਫਕੀਰ ਨਿਮਾਣਾ, ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਥੌਂ ਬਲਿ ਬਲਿ ਜਾਈਂ।
Stay quiet O friend, stay quiet. This is not your place to speak. O sajana, O friend, this is not your place to speak. Inside and outside, there is only one Lord, to whom should I go and tell anything? One Lord, the Enchanter of the Hearts, is in every being, no one else is there. The humble Faqir Hussain says, I am sacrifice to Satguru again and again. – Gur Partap Suraj Granth written by Kavi (Poet) Santokh Singh in 1843, Page 197
hazrat sarmad shaheed
The naked ‘fakir’
It is noted that during the time of the 5th and 6th Guru, there was an openly gay Fakir by the name of Sarmad, who was a follower of the great Sai Mian Mir (close companion to the guru). It is very likely that Sarmad and Guru Arjan Dev Ji would have met. It was also common knowledge that Sarmad was in a loving and consenting sexual relationship with another man, Abhai Chand. Sarmad was executed by the orders of Aurangzeb.