Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj always respected Army officers. Many Army personnel visited Nirmal Kutiya Johalan for paying their homage to Sant Baba ji. Sant Baba ji was always happy to see Army men in uniform.
Sant Baba Karam Singh ji Maharaj of Hoti Mardaan (Grand Gurudev of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj) also loved persons serving in the Army. Sant Baba Karam Singh ji Maharaj used to often say, “These men have joined the Army with the blessings of the Almighty. They are really great men. They sometimes perform their duties far away from their homes and families. They are disciplined and during their free time recite the Name of 366 the Almighty. Since they have nothing else to do, the recitation gives them moral strength. The ordinary people of the country feel secured because of them. Their love for the country added with the meditation on the Name of the Almighty is their real strength.”
Once a Sikh Brigadier brought his entire battalion to pay homage to Sant Baba Karam Singh ji Maharaj. The Brigadier had instructed his men to accept everything in small quantities only as Parshad and they should remain quiet at the Dera.
All the men were in uniform and after paying their respects to Sant Baba ji sat in the sangat.
A few hours before the arrival of these men, Sant Baba Karam Singh ji Maharaj had instructed his attendants to prepare ‘PURI’ and ‘ALOO SABZI’ in large quantity. The attendants were astonished to receive such orders when there was hardly any sangat at the abode. Nevertheless they obeyed the orders.
Sant Baba Karam Singh ji instructed the attendants to serve langar to the contingent that had come to visit the abode with the Brigadier. The attendants now understood the reason for preparing the langar in such large quantity.The Army men sat in rows. They however accepted little quantities of langar as per the instructions of their Brigadier. The Brigadier had given the instructions because he wanted his men to be only blessed by Sant Baba Karam Singh ji Maharaj and the 500 men should not become a burden on the Dera.
Sant Baba Karam Singh ji Maharaj was observing through his divine eyes. He got up from his seat and came near the rows of the sitting men, where the langar was being served. He said in a loud voice, “The langar is in abundance and everyone should eat to his fill. Anyone who remained hungry today would remain hungry for ever.”
The Brigadier and his men got the hint and filled their bellies. The left over langar was also packed and handed over to the Jawans for later consumption. All of them received the blessings of Sant Baba Karam Singh ji Maharaj.The Brigadier and his men got the hint and filled their bellies. The left over langar was also packed and handed over to the Jawans for later consumption. All of them received the blessings of Sant Baba Karam Singh ji Maharaj.
Such Army personnel also had similar love and respect for Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. An ordinary sepoy as well as a General would visit Nirmal Kutiya Johalan for it was quite close to Jalandhar Cantonment. All received the same love from Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj.
Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj had practiced intense meditation to be one with the Lord. He had gained strength by enjoying the extract of Bhakti. He had reached the level where he easily understood about the works of the Creator. This strength led him to recognize the thoughts going on in the minds of his devotees and could easily foretell about the future.
Sardar Gurbax Singh was a rich landlord of village Khurla Kingra. Sardar Gurcharan Singh Dhillon, Superintendent of Police had persuaded Sardar Gurbax Singh to join the fold of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. Mr. Dhillon, after his retirement from Police service settled in village Khurla Kingra.
Sardar Gurbax Singh was a regular visitor to the Kutiya. He either came along with Mr. Dhillon or Giani Lakshmi Narain Singh (Retd SSP) to pay his homage to Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. He used to often bring langar or Deg Parshad, prepared with all the love by his wife.
His son was a Colonel in the Army at that time and so was his son in law Colonel Shiv Dayal Singh. Once Colonel Shiv Dayal Singh was on his annual leave and was visiting Sardar Gurbax Singh with his family.
Sardar Gurbax Singh persuaded his son-in-law to have DARSHAN of Sant Baba ji. Sardar Gurbax Singh, his son-in-law and the entire family came to pay homage to Sant Baba ji. The family of Giani Lakshmi Narain Singh also came along.
When Sant Baba ji was informed that the new visitor to the Kutiya was a Colonel in the Army, Sant Baba ji said, “He is not in his uniform.”
Giani ji immediately understood the signal of Sant Baba ji and asked the Colonel, “Have you brought your uniform along with your civilian clothes?”
Colonel Shiv Dayal Singh replied, “Yes! But it is lying at home.”
On Giani ji’s suggestion, the driver was sent home to get the uniform. Giani ji did not want the question of Sant Baba ji to remain unanswered. This was the only way to get the blessings of Sant Baba ji. Within no time the uniform was brought and Colonel Sahib changed his civilian clothes, wore the Army uniform and presented himself before Sant Baba ji.
Sant Baba ji was very happy to see the Army officer in his uniform. The sangat was served with hot milk and snacks and then Sant Baba ji took leave from the devotees.
After a few days Colonel Sahib was to resume his duties but felt the magnetic pull of Sant Baba ji. He decided to visit Nirmal Kutiya Johalan, before he proceeded to his Regiment. The entire family of Sardar Gurbax Singh, Colonel Sahib’s family and Giani ji’s family came to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan.
Everyone bowed his or her head at the feet of Sant Baba ji. When Colonel Sahib bowed his head at the feet of Sant Baba ji, Sant Baba ji said, “Welcome! Brigadier Sahib!”
Colonel Sahib kept quiet but when Sardar Gurbax Singh bowed before Sant Baba ji, he quietly said, “Maharaj ji! His rank is Colonel and not Brigadier.”
Sant Baba ji was in a state of spiritual intoxication. He did not reply and kept on smiling. He asked everyone to be seated.
At that time members of a local musical band from village Bambiwaal were present at the Kutiya. The leader of the band was asked by Sant Baba ji, “Master ji! It is the right time to play the band as Brigadier Sahib is present in the sangat.”
Sardar Arjan Singh, Band Master said, “Satya Vachan Maharaj!”
The band played happy tunes for some time. Everyone enjoyed the band playing.
Thereafter everyone was served langar and permitted to leave.
When Sardar Gurbax Singh came to pay homage to Sant Baba ji, he felt that Sant Baba ji had not heard him earlier and that it was his duty to present the correct picture. He said, “Maharaj ji! Shiv Dayal Singh is a Colonel in the Army and not Brigadier.”
There was again no response from Sant Baba ji and he instead just kept smiling.
Giani ji’s family was bid good-bye at his residence at Jalandhar Cantt and Sardar Gurbax Singh’s family then proceeded to Khurla Kingra.
On reaching home, Colonel Sahib was handed a telegram by the servant. The telegram had been received from the Army Head Quarters. The telegram mentioned about the promotion of Shiv Dayal Singh from the rank of Colonel to Brigadier. Everyone was surprised. There was happiness in the family. But Sardar Gurbax Singh was the only one full of remorse for his stance at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. He was cursing himself for insisting on clarifying to Sant Baba ji again and again.
Next morning, Sardar Gurbax Singh again came to the Kutiya with DEG Parshad. Sant Baba ji was informed about the promotion of Shiv Dayal Singh, which had been predicted by Sant Baba ji.
Next morning, SardSardar ji sought forgiveness from Sant Baba ji for not being able to understand the blessings being showered by the great saint.ar Gurbax Singh again came to the Kutiya with DEG Parshad. Sant Baba ji was informed about the promotion of Shiv Dayal Singh, which had been predicted by Sant Baba ji.
Master Arjan Singh was the Band Master of a group of Band
from village BAMBIWAAL. When he came to the Kutiya, he
was a SEHAJDHARI. He was so full of humility that he never
spoke to anyone in a high pitch voice. He never missed visiting
the Kutiya on SANGRAND or on the annual anniversaries. He
never asked for money for his services.
With the blessings of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj, he
became a baptized Sikh. Whenever someone from the sangat
called him and his group to perform at their village or residence,
Master ji never asked for money. Whatever money someone
gave him he accepted it with love. If he was sent back without
payment, he remained happy even then and never complained.
When he came to the Kutiya, Sant Baba ji was concerned about
his welfare and asked him, “Were you paid for your services?”
He had only one reply, “I am blessed by you. You are very kind.”
When Sant Baba ji insisted on being told the truth, he informed
about the amount of money he had received. Sant Baba ji then
asked the person who had sought for the services of the musical
band to pay him handsomely.
Master ji played his band in the Kutiya for fifty years. Now his
son is Band Master and he comes to the Kutiya regularly with
his group to play the band.