The sheath of a cannon ball is made of brass metal. When the cannon ball is fired from the cannon, the hot sheath remains inside the cannon. The case or barrel or sheath is then thrown out of the cannon. Army personnel carry this barrel of brass and display it in their drawing rooms. It is often converted into flower vase with flowers arranged in it.
Bhai Kashmira Singh of village KHUN KHUNNAN (near Gardhiwala) was serving in the Army. He brought home a cannon barrel and kept it in the quarter allotted to him by the Army in Jalandhar Cantt. No one knew the incident that would happen on account of this barrel.
Bhai Kashmira Singh was away on duty, one day. His brother tried to replace the bunch of flowers in the brass cannon barrel. There was a blast. Some of the gunpowder present in the barrel exploded. The blast was so powerful that the walls of the room in which it was kept developed cracks, apart from human loss. Bhai Kashmira Singh thus landed in a very big problem.
On investigation by the Army authorities, it was established that Bhai Kashmira Singh was solely responsible for the mishap. Bhai ji had to face a trial by a Court Martial, which is an Army Court. The Colonel heading this particular court was considered to be a very strict officer who showed no leniency for serious offences.
Although Bhai ji was not guilty yet under the circumstances he had to face the charges. The proceedings of the court started. Bhai ji started to feel worried and apprehensive about the outcome, and its effect on his career. He did not find help from anywhere else and being a devotee of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj he came to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan to pay his homage. He narrated the details of the incident to Sant Baba Gian Singh ji, and said humbly that the resolution of this difficult position was now with Sant Baba ji, who only could save his honor.
Sant Baba Gian Singh ji suggested, “It will be better if the request is directly made by you to Sant ji Maharaj.”
Bhai Kashmira Singh stretched himself on the floor in front of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. When he did not get up after sufficient time had passed, Sant Baba ji asked Sant Baba Gian Singh ji, “Santa! What has happened to him?”
Sant Baba Gian Singh ji narrated the incident in brief. When the narration was over, Bhai ji got up and sat in front of Sant Baba ji with folded hands.
Sant Baba ji asked him, “You are an Army personnel. How much Gurbani do you remember?”
Bhai ji replied, “Maharaj ji! Whatever little Bani I remember I recite daily.”
Sant Baba ji then asked him, “Are you blessed with a Guru or still at this age you do not have a Guru?”
Bhai ji said, “Maharaj ji! I am still to be baptized. I am without a Guru.”
Sant Baba ji said, “You have not sought the ambrosial nectar of the two edged sword and you don’t have a Guru. Who will save you?”
Bhai ji replied, “Maharaj ji! I am in your refuge. You have to grace me and save me.”
The kind and benevolent Sant ji Maharaj asked him, “When will you accept baptism?”
Sant Baba ji said, “All right then on the coming SANGRAND (First day of the Hindu calendar month), you will be baptized. You will then have a Guru who would look after you and your problems.”
Bhai ji said, “Satya Vachan Maharaj!”
On being granted leave by Sant Baba ji, Bhai ji came home a satisfied and happy man. His worries were now over. He shared the blessings with his wife and said, “Maharaj ji has been kind and has graced me. Together we have to accept the ambrosial nectar on the 270 coming SANGRAND. Our good fortune lies in being initiated into the fold of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib.”
Through the Guru’s Word, I have attained the supreme status. The Perfect Guru has preserved my honor. ||1|| (Page 239)
When the proceedings of the case were carried out the responsibility was found to be that
of Bhai ji. The Colonel announced, “He should be given a seven year punishment. The final
judgment will be made by a three member jury.”
On the day of the final judgment Bhai ji appeared before the Jury. One of the judges asked
him, “What do you think about our verdict?”
Bhai ji replied in full confidence, “I am not guilty. The order therefore will be given by my
Sahib in my favor.”
The judge asked, “Who is your Sahib?”
Bhai ji replied, “My Sahib is my tenth Master Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib and I have the
Holy hand on my head of a spiritual saint Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj.”
The judge remarked, “Are you so confident?”
Bhai ji said, “I have full faith and confidence.”
The judge praised Bhai ji and announced the judgement, “Sardar Kashmira Singh has not
been found guilty in this case. He may be set free. He should be posted on the same post
on which he was working before the start of the case.”
After completing his judgment, the judge told Bhai ji, “We had prepared an entirely different
order, but on further scrutiny and review of the case and the attendant circumstances
we found that you did not deserve to be awarded any punishment.”
“This miracle has happened because of my Sant ji Maharaj,” said an excited Kashmira
Singh. Standing there he bowed his head to thank Sant Baba ji.
Bhai Kashmira Singh came to Sant Baba ji to inform about his having been exonerated and
set free without any punishment. He fell at the feet of Sant ji Maharaj and thanked him
again and again.
He was later baptized with the ambrosial nectar of the two edged sword and is still loyal to
Nirmal Kutiya Johalan.