Only the fortunate ones can have association with Holy men. The sangat of true saints and
Mahapurkhs is not available to the unlucky ones. A section of people avoid the association
of Holy men. They are misinformed or have strong assumptions that Holy persons are
normally imposters. These individuals do not hesitate in slandering the saints.
Slandering the Saints, all one’s influence vanishes. Slandering the Saints, one becomes the lowest of the low. For the slanderer of the Saint, there is no place of rest. O Nanak, if it pleases the Saint, even then, he may be saved. ||2|| (Page 279)
Sardar Inder Singh of village Johal was a landlord. He was against the sect of saints and sadhus. He had never visited any Holy person. His wife stopped him from slandering the saints but he did not mend his ways.
If someone said to him, “All your doubts will be removed in case you have DARSHAN of a true Holy person.”
Sardar ji replied, “In case every human being is the same then there is no difference between a saint and an ordinary person.”
If someone advised him, “It is OK if you do not like sadhus but you have no right to disrespect them. Instead you should find the righteous way of serving them.”
Sardar ji replied, “Instead of offering a PERRA (globular mass of kneaded flour) to a bull or a Roti (baked bread) to a sadhu, it is better to give the PERRA to a cow and the baked bread to a bullock. The cow gives us milk and the bullock helps us in preparing the agricultural fields for a rich harvest of crops.”
Sardar Inder Singh carried such views about sadhus. The Almighty however, knows the right time to teach the right path to such persons.
It so happened that his young buffalo stopped giving milk. He soon found a solution to this problem. When he took the buffalo away from its enclosure he was easily able to milk it. This continued for three days but he observed that the milk obtained was reducing in measure. Sardar ji could not understand the reason for the decline of milk. He knew that his buffalo was otherwise hale and hearty. He thought, “My buffalo is otherwise all right, it seems that someone has cast a spell on it.”
On someone’s suggestion he went to village Tholi to an elder person who with his knowledge could name the mesmerizers and also suggest a remedy. On meeting him, Sardar ji became sure that the person was the one who could help him. He narrated his problem and concluded by saying, “Please let me know the name of the man who has cast a spell on my buffalo with his powers. I will not leave him.”
The elder person replied, “You should be patient. You have a false notion that someone has spoiled your buffalo by casting a spell.”
Sardar ji asked him, “If that is the case then why my perfect buffalo is not providing the complete milk?”
The elder person said, “Have you ever helped anyone? Have you served langar or milk of the buffalo to anyone? The Almighty has been kind and graced you with all the worldly goods then it becomes your duty to serve others.”
Sardar ji meekly asked him, “OK! Tell me, what should I do?”
The elder person suggested, “Serve the milk of your buffalo to a saint in your village. The buffalo will become all right.”
Sardar ji sarcastically said to him, “Our village is full of saints. You let me know the particular saint you wish me to serve.”
The elder person advised him, “On the south side of your village a saint known as ‘KIKRAN WALE SANT’ has his abode. You serve the milk of your buffalo to him.”
(Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj was known as ‘KIKRAN WALE SANT’)
Next morning Sardar Inder Singh milked his buffalo and collected it in a small urn. He brought the milk and came to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. The main gate was closed and he sat outside waiting for it to open.
Bhai Beant Singh, a landlord having his fields in the neighbourhood of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan was astonished to find Sardar Inder Singh sitting outside the gate of the Kutiya. Sardar Beant Singh knew very well the views of Sardar Inder Singh about sadhus. He came to him and enquired, “How are you sitting here?”
Sardar ji replied, “My buffalo has stopped giving milk. On enquiry from a learned person I have been asked to serve milk to the saint living here. I want my buffalo to become all right. I have brought milk to serve the saint.”
Bhai Beant Singh was awestruck and could not understand the mystery behind this change in Sardar Inder Singh. He wanted to help this man and did not remind him of his earlier views about sadhus. Instead he advised Sardar ji, “You keep on sitting here. Do not call for anyone. Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj will bless you. You only request him to drink the milk after paying your respects to him.”
The opportunity soon came and Sardar ji had the DARSHAN of Sant Baba ji. He narrated his trouble to Sant Baba ji after paying his respects. He requested Sant Baba ji to accept the milk he had brought for his consumption.
Sant Baba ji said to him, “This milk has been received by us. Now take this milk back to your home. Serve this milk to five baptized Sikhs of village Johal, by calling them to your residence. You should personally request these Sikhs to come to your place and serve them langar and milk.”
Sardar Inder Singh requested Sant Baba ji, “I do not know about five baptized Sikhs of Johal.”
Sant Baba ji named the five baptized Sikhs and said, “The Sewa should continue for one and a quarter month.”
Sardar Inder Singh went personally to the houses of the five Sikhs and invited them to his residence. Sardar Inder Singh performed the Sewa as advised. Everyday the five baptized Sikhs prayed to the Almighty thanking Him for the tasty treat and sought blessings of the Lord for the prosperity of the family of Sardar Inder Singh.
The result of the prayers by the Sikhs was there before him when he found that the milk from the buffalo’s kept on increasing day after day. He served the five Sikhs for one and a half months as per the instructions of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. Abundant prosperity entered the house of Sardar ji and the Almighty blessed him with His Grace.
The family of Sardar Inder Singh has continued with the tradition started by him on the advice of Sant Baba ji. They continue to serve five baptized Sikhs with langar and milk every year. The entire family initiated into the Khalsa Army and comes regularly to the Kutiya to perform Sewa.