Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj encouraged the devotees to love Gurbani. There were many instances when reputed singers of the Holy Hymns came to the Kutiya. Sant Baba ji asked them to perform Kirtan. The sangat listened to the sweet music. Sometimes these Kirtan Jathas were given more time than the others so that the sangat could benefit from their melodious singing.
Once Bhai Kabul Singh, of Delhi, came to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan to pay his homage to Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. He used to perform Kirtan. His group members had also come with him to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. Sardar Kartar Singh joined him on the Tabla.
Sant Baba ji asked Sardar Kabul Singh, “From where have you come?”
Bhai Kabul Singh said, “We have come from Delhi.”
Sant Baba ji asked, “What do you do in Delhi?”
Bhai ji informed Sant Baba ji, “Apart from my work, I perform Kirtan.”
Sant Baba ji further asked him, “Have you come here alone or are your group members with you?”
Bhai ji replied, “Maharaj ji! All the members of the group have come to pay their homage.”
Sant Baba ji explained to him, “Those who sing the Holy Hymns of the Lord are really great persons. It is necessary to love Gurbani to get the sweetness in the voice. Performing Kirtan is a great PUNN (Virtue). It can also be a sin.”
Bhai ji asked, “Maharaj ji! It is easily understandable that Kirtan is sacred but how is it a sin?”
Sant Baba ji explained further, “When you perform Kirtan without any greed, the Kirtan is sacred. When Kirtan is performed after settling money in return, then it no longer remains sacred and gets converted to a sin. There is no difference then between an ordinary singer of songs and a person who performs Kirtan. When we talk of greed, it really means that Kirtan is performed while thinking about the money that will be offered by the sangat on listening to the Kirtan. You should never consider whether the sangat is less or more. Kirtan becomes a business, if you settle money in return for its performance. Guru’s Baani is sacrosanct and cannot be a part of business.”
Bhai Kabul Singh was very impressed with the teachings of Sant Baba ji. He respectfully bowed his head and said, “Maharaj ji! I seek your Holy Blessings. Please be kind to me and give me strength to perform Kirtan without craving for money.”
Sant Baba ji smiled but did not say anything further.
Whenever Bhai Kabul Singh performed Kirtan with his Jatha, he never decided for a particular sum of money in return. He had received the Blessings of Sant Baba ji, which was his real wealth.
The Kirtan of the Lord’s Praise is a priceless diamond.
It is the ocean of bliss and virtue. In the Word of the Guru’s Bani is the wealth of the unstruck sound current. The Saints hold the key to it in their hands. ||2|| (Page 893)