ATTENDANCE DURING AKHAND PATH IN PROFOUND MEDITATION
On the west side of village Marula, the birthplace of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj, the Singh Sabha Gurdwara is situated. The foundation stone of this Gurdwara was laid by Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. It has been mentioned earlier that Sant Baba ji left his village in the prime of his youth. Sant Baba Harnam Singh ji of Jiyan, the Gurudev of Sant Baba ji had instructed him to begin the seeking of food as alms from his own house while he lived as a sadhu on the outskirts of his village.
During those days and then when Sant Baba ji made Nirmal Kutiya Johalan his abode, many families from this village Marula became devotees. These devotees are regular visitors to the Kutiya even now.
During the times of Sant Baba ji, the elders of the village decided to conduct an AKHAND PATH at the village Gurdwara. They decided to seek the blessings of Sant Baba ji and request him for his presence. A few elders of the village including Bhai Sunder Singh, Bhai Kehar Singh, Namdev Harbhajan Singh and Major Malkit Singh came to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan and expressed their wish to Sant Baba ji.
Sant Baba ji said, “It is indeed a noble thought. The recitation of Gurbani should become a continuous affair at the Gurdwara.”Bhai Sunder Singh said, “Patshah! We wanted to seek your approval. We thank you for your consent. We now request with folded hands that you bless us with your presence during the Path.”
Sant Baba ji conveyed his benevolence, when he said, “Go and make preparations.”
Bhai Sunder Singh again requested, “Maharaj! Please accept our invitation and bless us with your sacred presence.”
Sant Baba ji said, “Don’t worry! We will reach there on our own.”
Everyone was overjoyed that Sant Baba ji would bless their village.
Before the AKHAND PATH started Sant Baba ji reached the Gurdwara. The devotees on coming to know about the unexpected presence started reaching the Gurdwara to pay their homage to him.
When all the preparations had been made, Sant Baba ji gave instructions for the AKHAND PATH to be started. After the ARDAS, Sant Baba ji sat near the Holy Sri Guru Granth Sahib. He closed his eyes. The recitation of Gurbani from Sri Guru Granth Sahib started. Sant Baba ji enjoyed the Gurbani. He went into profound meditation. The first night passed and Sant Baba ji remained in his SAMADHI.
The news about Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj being in his samadhi since the beginning of the Path spread to nearby villages. All were talking about the great saint. People from all walks of life and all castes came to the Gurdwara to have his DARSHAN. There was no noise and everyone could listen to the sweet recitation of the Gurbani. The sevadars attended on everyone with humility and no one was permitted to leave the Gurdwara without partaking of the GURU KA LANGAR.
Sant ji Maharaj continued in the samadhi state till the end of the Path. He came out of his profound meditation and joined others in offering thanks to the Satguru, for the completion of the AKHAND PATH, during the ritualistic prayers.
Sant Baba ji accepted the DEGH PARSHAD, when it was distributed. This was the first grain, which Sant Baba ji had accepted after 48 hours. He did not get up, eat, or even moved from the place where he was sitting in the lotus position, during the entire recitation. Guru Amardas Sahib mentions in Gurbani as follows:
Those who are imbued with the True Lord are spotless and pure; their reputation is forever true. Here, they are known in each and every home, and hereafter, they are famous throughout the ages. ||1|| O beauteous and joyful mind, imbue yourself
with your true color. If you imbue yourself with the Beauteous Word of the Guru’s Bani, then this color shall never fade away. ||1||Pause|| (Page 426)
Everyone admired the spotless and pure mind of Sant Baba ji. People had observed the
extreme asceticism of Sant Baba ji. They considered themselves fortunate to have seen
that intake of food could be replaced with the listening to the recitation of the beauteous
Word of the Guru’s Bani. The hunger could be dispensed with the strength obtained from
‘NAAM’ and ‘SIMRAN’. Such a great soul was indeed blessed by the Almighty Satguru.
The following verse from Gurbani also conveys this in its own way.
Your meditation and remembrance is life-giving, God. You dwell
near those upon whom You show mercy. ||2|| Your Name is the
food to satisfy the hunger of Your humble servants. You are the Great Giver, O Lord God. ||3|| (Page 743)
Bhai Sunder Singh ji of village Marula was a devout follower of
Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. Baba Sunder Singh ji was
the father of Sant Baba Harbhajan Singh ‘Virakat’ ji and was
related to Sant Baba Basant Singh ji. Sant Baba ji had named
Bhai Sunder Singh ji as ‘BABA JI’. It was the grace of Sant
Baba ji to call him so even though such words are used for elders
and Bhai ji was younger to Sant Baba ji. The followers of Sant
Baba ji in village Marula are baptized Sikhs and regularly visit the
Kutiya to pay their homage.