The tenth Master Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib created the Khalsa with his blessings. He baptized his followers with the ambrosial nectar of the two edged sword. A baptized Sikh was expected to recite Gurbani as a daily regulation (Five Banis in the morning, one in the evening and one before going off to sleep).
The recitation of Gurbani and the remembrance of the Lord was a code of conduct prescribed by Guru Sahib so that the mind of his Sikhs did not wander and remained at the feet of the Lord. Following this practice, there were many who continuously recite the Guru Mantar in their minds.
Sri Guru Granth Sahib has a vast ocean of invaluable spiritual teachings. It was a great gift from the Tenth Master to the Sikhs that the Holy Granth Sahib was given the status of the Guru. In order to lead a better life on this earth and make their future secure in the Lord’s court, the Sikhs just had to follow the path prescribed by Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
At the time of creation of Khalsa, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib recited the five memorized Bani’s and prepared the nectar with the two edged sword. Later the five Loved Ones (Panj Piaras) recited the memorized Bani’s and baptized Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. Learning the Bani’s by heart became a habit for the Sikhs.
Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj felt happy to hear Banis from his devotees. Even the Raagi Jathas were asked to sing the Holy Hymns without assistance from any Holy Books. Sant Baba ji stressed that it was always good for the devotees to memorize as much Gurbani as they could.
Master Mohinder Singh and Master Gurdev Singh belonged to Bhai Ke Samraavan. They usually came together to pay their homage to Sant Baba ji. Sardar Ujjagar Singh Maulvi, of their village, introduced them to the divine abode of Sant Baba ji. Both were friends and were teaching in a school. They felt peace on seeing Sant Baba ji and followed all his instructions.
In the year 1955 (Samvat 2012), both the friends were still young. Sant Baba ji blessed them with his divine eyes and they changed their dress from wearing a pant shirt to Kameezpyjama. They also started wearing the Kirpan (small sword) on their body. Within two years of their sangat with Sant Baba ji, both were baptized with the ambrosial nectar on the 16th of March 1957.
They were so blessed that they sought permission from Sant Baba ji for every task they undertook and Sant Baba ji guided them. With the influence of Sant Baba ji they memorized the Nitnem Banis, Asa-di Var and Sukhmani Sahib.
In 1958, Master Mohinder Singh decided to visit the Holy historical place of Sri Hazoor Sahib. He came to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan, to seek permission from Sant Baba ji to undertake the journey. Sant Baba ji was in full bloom that day. When Master Mohinder Singh informed Sant Baba ji about his plan to visit Sri Hazoor Sahib, Sant Baba ji said, “It is a virtuous thought.” He then asked Master Mohinder Singh, “How much time will the train take to reach Sri Hazoor Sahib?”
Master ji replied, “Maharaj ji! The train will take two and a half days to reach the destination.”
Sant Baba ji said, “That is a long time. What will you do on the way?”
Master ji replied that he would recite Gurbani and the time would pass.
Sant Baba ji instructed, “Master ji! While going to Sri Hazoor Sahib, memorize the Shlokas of Bhagat Kabir ji. These Shlokas contain easy solutions to individuals about the doubts of spiritual pursuit.”
Master ji replied, “Satya Vachan Maharaj!”
Sant Baba ji then asked, “Master ji! You are fortunate that you will be undertaking the DARSHAN of the Holy place. Don’t forget the Lord after the DARSHAN. While return ing, you will have plenty of idle time with you in the train. What will you do on the way back?”
Master ji said, “I will follow your command.”
Sant Baba ji said, “OK, then memorize the Shlokas of Bhagat Farid on your way back.”
Master ji agreed to do so and after seeking the blessings left the Kutiya. On the way back home, he thought, “What an exalted type of sadhu is Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. His only anxiety is to inculcate in his devotees the Guru’s teachings and what better way was there than to ask the devotees to remember Gurbani from Sri Guru Granth Sahib.”
Master ji did not find any difference between the Lord Almighty and Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. He often told the other devotees that Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj was the Lord personified. A Holy saint full of love for the Lord alone could give such precise instructions and guidance.
Sant Baba ji instructed him, “Master ji! I feel like listening to the Shlokas of Bhagat Kabir ji. Please recite them.”
Master ji was not ready for such instructions and his heart skipped a beat. He felt that reciting all the shlokas that he had recently memorized was not an easy task. He was afraid that he might forget some of the Shlokas. But then he suddenly became alert and obeying the instructions started reciting the Shlokas from his memory.
It appeared from the recitation that Master ji had memorized these Shlokas a long time now. He did not fumble during the recitation. He, however, made a small error and recited the word ‘Aws’ as ‘rws’ while reciting the following 242nd of the 243 Shlokas,
Forsaking the Diamond of the Lord, the mortals put their hopes in another. Those people shall go to hell; Ravi Daas speaks the Truth. ||242|| (Page 1377)
Sant Baba ji’s eyes were at that moment looking at the ground. Without lifting his head, he said, “Master ji! Recite this Shloka again.”
Master ji repeated the Shloka but made the same mistake.
Sant Baba ji again said, “Master ji! This shloka be recited again.”
Master ji felt that he was making a mistake while reciting the Shloka but could not recollect what mistake he was making. He recited the Shloka the third time and made the mistake again.
A priest sitting behind Master ji whispered to Master ji, “Master ji! The word is ‘Aws’ and not ‘rws’”.
Master ji realized his mistake immediately and spoke the correct Shloka. Sant Baba ji had heard the voice of the priest. He said, “Master ji! You need to recite the last Shloka now. He then addressed the priest, “Bhai ji! Let us now hear all the Shlokas of Bhagat Kabir ji from you.”
The priest was not expecting such an order from Sant Baba ji nor did he remember all the shlokas. He stood up and folded his hands. He said to Maharaj ji, “Maharaj ji! I do not remember all the shlokas.”
Sant Baba ji explained to him, “If you did not remember, then why did you interrupt. It is easy to find fault. Master ji had recited all the shlokas correctly and you interrupted to correct his one mistake that he made on the second last Shloka. A person who remembers so much of Gurbani is certainly to be felt proud of. If one is not complete in himself, then he has no right to find imperfections of others.”
The priest was trembling and fell at the feet of Sant Baba ji and asked for his forgiveness for the mistake he had made.
Master ji too learnt a lesson that day. His respect for Sant Baba ji increased manifold.
Time passed and Master ji continued to visit Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. One day before starting from his place Master Mohinder Singh thought in his mind, “Sant Baba ji has blessed me and my family with lots of happiness. I can only thank him for all that he has done with his blessings. In case Sant Baba ji gave him his Rosary (Mala) on which he did his NAAM SIMRAN, then it would really be wonderful.”
Master ji reached the Kutiya with this wish in his mind. He found Sant Baba ji sitting under the mango tree.
Master ji touched the Holy feet and sat close to Sant Baba ji. He kept his gaze on the feet of Sant Baba ji. Sant Baba ji remained quiet for some time. Then he cleared his throat and Master ji looked at his Holy face. Sant Baba ji rotated the Mala by raising his hand. Master ji could not understand his action.
Sant Baba ji called Master ji and said to him, “Master ji! Take this Mala.”
Master ji accepted the Mala happily. His wish was fulfilled. His mind was now full of respect and love for Maharaj ji. He was besieged with emotions. Master ji touched the feet of Sant Baba ji and thanked him. He requested Sant Baba ji, “Maharaj ji! What should I recite on this rosary?”
Sant Baba ji in a matter of fact way, recited the following Shabad from Sri Guru Granth Sahib:
Bhairao, Fifth Mehl: Standing up, I am at peace; sitting down, I am at peace. I feel no fear, because this is what I understand. ||1|| The One Lord, my Lord and Master, is my Protector. He is the Inner-knower, the Searcher of Hearts. ||1||Pause|| I sleep without worry, and I awake without worry. You, O God, are pervading everywhere. ||2|| I dwell in peace in my home, and I am at peace outside. Says Nanak; the Guru has implanted His Mantra within me. ||3||2|| (Page 1136)
Master ji understood that Sant Baba ji was instructing that he should focus his mind to the
Guru’s Mantra. Master ji remembers the divine teaching and follows it to this day.