GURDWARA SRI GURU SINGH SABHA, ADDA HOSHIARPUR, JALANDHAR CITY
The present place where Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha is situated in Jalandhar City was earlier known as the place of JALANDHRI NATH YOGI. Though Jalandhri Nath Yogi was no more yet his spirit was said to be wandering in the area. His voice could be heard many a times.
Udasin Yogi’s later occupied the place. The common man was not happy with the type of living of these Yogis. People felt the need of a Gurdwara at the site. They felt that the construction of a Gurdwara would help in calming the spirit of the Nath Yogi. The people living nearby would be able to follow the Sikh tenets prescribed by Guru Sahib and Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
For the purpose a truckload of bricks and iron rods was brought to the place. Jalandhri Nath Yogi pushed the truck away from his territory. The people though were surprised to see this happening yet were visibly frightened.
Whenever someone came closer to dig the ground for foundation, a voice was heard by the person, “Whosoever wants to touch my place, should come with death written on his forehead.”
A young man came forward with all his confidence and moral strength but he too on hearing the voice had no option but to withdraw.
Ultimately the sangat of the area and members of the committee including Sardar Jiwan Singh, President, and Sardar Gurbachan Singh Khera, General Secretary, passed a resolution and came to Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan to request him to undertake the construction of the Gurdwara at the site.
Sardar Jiwan Singh, President, stood up and made the request on behalf of the sangat. He concluded his humble request by saying, “Maharaj ji! Your blessings are necessary to sail the ship of our problem to the shores. It will be impossible for us to go ahead with our plans without your sacred hands on our head. Please agree to our request and give us date and time for your presence at the site. We all want that the foundation stone of the Gurdwara should be laid with your sacred hands.”
The benevolent Sant Maharaj ji respected the feelings of the sangat and gave the date and time of his reaching the site. The committee members thanked Sant Baba ji and happily raised Sikh slogans on his agreement. Pamphlets were published and distributed in the City announcing the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Gurdwara by Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan.
After offering prayers to the Lord at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan, Sant Maharaj ji started from the Kutiya alongwith the sangat and reached the site as per the scheduled time. Many people had already collected there. Most of them had come to see how Jalandhri Yogi dealt with Sant Maharaj ji.
After Sant Maharaj ji had inspected the site he announced to the committee members, “The time has come for the foundation stone to be laid for the Gurdwara.”
The Udasin Yogis occupying the place heard the words of Sant Maharaj ji and immediately vacated the place and left bowing in reverence before Sant Maharaj ji. One hurdle had been cleared without any effort.
Prayers were offered to the Lord and Sant Maharaj ji requested the Lord to be present with the sangat till the completion of the task.
Sant Maharaj ji laid the first brick of the foundation stone with his sacred hands. No one heard any kind of voice. The people collected there were astonished by the absence of any action by Nath Yogi. People considered Sant Maharaj ji to be having miraculous powers that had calmed the wandering spirit of the Yogi. Some of them present there felt that Nath Yogi would still take some kind of action.
Nothing untoward however happened. The Almighty answered the prayer of the sangat and everything went on smoothly. The whole environment was filled with the Sikh slogan of ‘Bole So Nihal! Sat Sri Akal!’
After the completion of the ceremony, Sant Maharaj ji collected the committee members and other Sikh personalities and advised them, “You should now start with the construction of the building as per the plans. You should not seek and collect funds from the sangat. No announcement of this kind should be made. The sangat will perform the SEWA. You should not stop anyone from performing the service with his own hands.”
One member of the committee was apprehensive of the words of Sant Maharaj ji and said, “Maharaj ji! This is a big project. We will require funds for its completion.”
Sant Maharaj ji understood the feelings of the person and said, “You should not worry. The building of the Gurdwara is that of the Guru and Guru will be present here to complete the task.”
The meaning of these words was clear to many but some gloomy individuals still felt that the collection of the funds was a must.
These people were unaware that the public had already started collecting near the foundation stone. They were bowing their heads in front of the place and donating money. On the advice of Sant Maharaj ji, an Akhand Path recitation was started after erecting a tent near the site.
During the 48 hour recitation and at the time of BHOG of Sri Akhand Path, public reached there in large numbers to pay obeisance. There was no shortage of firm belief for the Guru during this time. The sacred Name of the Almighty was praised for his kindness and people received His Blessings. Different people brought mortar, bricks, sand, cement etc and placed it at the site. The committee members were astonished to see the Sewa of the people that had started without any announcement of any kind.
Next day the wandering spirit of Nath Yogi came to Sant Maharaj ji at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan and said, “Maharaj ji! With your kindness, I have been granted salvation by Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji.”
Sant Maharaj ji smiled and did not reply. The spirit of Jalandhri Nath Yogi was calmed and no one heard any sort of voice thereafter.
A beautiful Gurdwara now stands at the site. The recitation of Kirtan and Gurbani has made the place sacred.