DESPATCH OF ELEPHANT BY JALANDHAR NAGAR KIRTAN COMMITTEE
Maharaja Kapurthala used to send a caparisoned elephant, for carrying the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, to Jalandhar at the time of the ‘NAGAR KIRTAN’ (Carrying of the holy book in procession while singing hymns through the town.) On these occasions Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj had the honor of attending on the Sri Guru Granth Sahib while riding the elephant.
The program for the ‘NAGAR KIRTAN’ used to be settled by a committee in Jalandhar. Once while settling the program, discussions arose on how much impact Sant Baba ji had in the city of Jalandhar. Members recognized that only because of Sant Baba ji’s guidance had Sikhism flourished in the city. Young Sikhs had learnt the observance of the Guru’s path and enthusiastically remained on the forefront to serve the Guru and his devotees. The members looked back in dismay at the time when there were few young Sikhs visible who could be said to be ‘Complete Sikhs’ of the Guru.
Because of the presence of Sant Baba ji, the singers of hymns and those discoursing on the Gurbani wanted to join in ever increasing numbers. The procession of the Nagar Kirtan was getting longer. People would gather in large strengths on both sides of the road to enjoy the Kirtan. People of different faiths came to catch a glimpse of Sant Baba ji. The committee felt that for this reason Sant Baba ji should be accorded special honor while bringing him from his abode at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan.
It was decided that a day prior to the Nagar Kirtan the elephant that was to carry the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, would be sent to the Kutiya to carry Sant Baba ji in style for joining the Nagar Kirtan. Accordingly a message was sent to Kapurthala for the elephant to be sent a day in advance.
The elephant arrived and was sent to the Kutiya as planned. The Mahout was told that Sant Baba ji was to be brought on the elephant, along with the devotees with full honor and respect.
When the elephant reached the Kutiya, Sant Baba ji was informed. He said to the informer, “But I did not call for the elephant.”
The attendant said, “Maharaj! The Mahout says the committee Chairman has sent it for your use.”
Sant Baba ji said, “Call the Mahout.”
The Mahout came and on enquiry informed, “The Chairman of the Jalandhar committee has sent me with the elephant so that you can ride it for participating in the Nagar Kirtan tomorrow.”
Sant Baba ji said, “Take the elephant back. In the Nagar Kirtan the elephant is used only for carrying the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, it cannot be used for carrying me. I will reach the city tomorrow for joining in the Nagar Kirtan.”
The Mahout was not agreeable to taking the elephant back and said, “You will be taken on the elephant to the city in the morning.”
Sant Baba ji said, “This is not right.” He then asked the Mahout, “Where will you keep the elephant?”
The Mahout replied, “The elephant will spend the night with me. I will chain it.”
Sant Baba ji advised the Mahout, “Chain the elephant well, and also keep a proper vigil at night.”
Being tired from the day’s hard labor the Mahout was soon fast asleep. The elephant broke its chains and ran back to its stable in Kapurthala. When the Mahout awoke, he found the elephant missing along with its chains. He got scared because he knew that the elephant had never acted thus in the past.
He went and informed Sant Baba ji, who said, “You were responsible for taking care of the elephant but you negligently went to sleep. You were warned in this regard.” Sant Baba ji smiled and added, “The elephant was not meant to serve me. It was meant only for carrying the Palki Sahib (Palanquin) of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. It had therefore to go away from here for this reason.”
The fourth Master Sri Guru Ramdas Sahib ji has said:
Serve the True Guru, O Holy people; He implants the Name of the Lord, Har, Har, in our minds. Worship the True Guru day and night; He leads us to meditate on the Lord of the Universe, the Master of the Universe. Behold the True Guru, each and every moment; He shows us the Divine Path of the Lord. Let everyone fall at the feet of the True Guru; He has dispelled the darkness of emotional attachment. Let everyone hail and praise the True Guru, who has led us to find the treasure of the Lord’s devotional worship. ||3|| (Page 586)
A telephone call came from Kapurthala to the President of the committee that the elephant that had been sent earlier had reached back and therefore another elephant was being caparisoned for carrying the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
Sant Maharaj ji reached Jalandhar at the proper time on horseback. At the same time the caparisoned elephant also reached Jalandhar from Kapurthala.
Sant Baba ji pulled up the members of the committee and said, “In the Nagar Kirtan the elephant is for the Sri Guru Granth Sahib and not for me. In future do not ever send the elephant to the Kutiya.”
The members of the committee and the congregation apologized to Sant Maharaj ji and promised never to repeat their mistake. The advice of Sant Maharaj ji was a good lesson and an eye opener for them. They also recognized how deeply Sant Maharaj ji adored the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.