If an iron piece is to be given a specific shape, the ironsmith puts it first in the furnace. It is kept there till it becomes red-hot. It is then hammered into a particular shape. Great saints sometimes bless individuals in a similar manner. The difference is that they hammer the individual with divine knowledge for removing his ego and convert him easily from an egocentered one - a MANMUKH to a Guru centered one - a GURMUKH.
Sardar Ujjagar Singh belonged to the village of Bhai Ke Samravan. He was married to the sister of Nambardar Didar Singh of village Johal. Ujjagar Singh did not believe in Sadhus and Saints and tried to remain away from their fold. Though his in laws were devotees of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj, he did not have any belief in the great saint.
His wife was a devout Sikh and a devotee of Sant Baba ji. She kept on persuading her husband to at least go for DARSHAN of Sant Baba ji but Sardar ji did not budge from his stand. The wife however, had full faith in Sant Baba ji and believed that one day the mind of her husband would change and he would start following the teachings of Sant Baba ji. She prayed for this fortunate day to come soon.
It so happened that Sardar ji started suffering from a terrible disease. The treatment of medical Doctors and Hakims did not have any affect. He was becoming weak day by day. Once during this time he came to his in laws place at Johal.
His mother in law tried to reason out with him that his disease could only be cured by Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj.
When a person is suffering his stamina to face the pain gets reduced. His willpower also becomes weak and he becomes willing to try any type of treatment if it could help him recover and alleviate his pain. Ujjagar Singh agreed to go and pay homage to Sant Baba ji. His mother in law said to him, “It is good that you have agreed to go to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. You will see that you will be cured by just the DARSHAN of Sant Baba ji. He is a great divine soul. I request you, however, to concur with whatever he says to you and also obey his orders.”
Sardar ji replied, “OK! I will go and visit Sant Baba ji. Thereafter, I will not come back and instead go from there to my village.”
The mother in law suggested to him, “Before leaving do seek his permission.”
Sardar ji again said to her, “I will leave for my village from there.”
Sardar ji came to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. He genuflected in front of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in the Darbar Sahib. He was informed that Sant Baba ji was not in the Kutiya and had gone to Garh Shankar. He could not pay his homage and returned to his in laws house. He decided to go back to his village Samravan only after he had DARSHAN of Sant Baba ji. His visit to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan had attracted his inner self and it became difficult for him to take any other decision.
Next day when he visited the Kutiya he found that the entire environment was very peaceful. Purity and piousness was reflected everywhere. He was very impressed with the serene atmosphere. But Sant Baba ji was not present in the Kutiya that day also. This happened on three consecutive days.
On the fourth day he was able to have DARSHAN of Sant Baba ji. He introduced himself to Sant Baba ji and told him about his in laws.
Sant Baba ji asked him, “Did your mother in law give any advice to you?”
Sardar ji was perplexed and mentioned to Sant Baba ji the advice given by his mother in law.
Sant Baba ji remained silent after this. Sardar ji sitting in front of him looked at the glowing face of the spiritual man. He enjoyed the presence and received comfort and warmth from Sant Baba ji.
On Sant Baba ji asking him about his work, he informed that he was a teacher in a school teaching Urdu language to his students.
Sant Baba ji was happy to know this and gave him the designation of ‘MAULVI JI’.
Sant Baba ji asked him, “Maulvi ji! Can you cook SAAG (Green mustard cabbage)?”
Sardar ji replied, “Yes, Maharaj!”
Sant Baba ji instructed him, “I feel like eating SAAG today. Please prepare SAAG for me. You will have to go to the fields to fetch the GANDLAAN. Mind you, you should not get SAAG from the fields of your in laws.”
Without hesitation, Sardar ji with the blessings of Sant Baba ji obeyed his order. He plucked the green mustard leaves and stems and brought them to the Kutiya.
Sant Baba ji on seeing him said, “Maulvi ji! There is no firewood. Please go and fetch some bagasse. I had observed some of it lying on the way when I had gone for a walk. People had thrown them on the ground after enjoying their juice.”
Sardar ji went out again to fetch the remains of the sugar cane. The people of the village saw him. They talked to each other and discussed about his behavior. One of them said, “The son in law of Nambardar ji has been collecting bagasse thrown away by the people. What does he want to do with these remains?”
Sardar ji was unaware of the peeping eyes and performed the work without any hesitation. He came back to the Kutiya and prepared a mud fireplace. The bagasse collected by him was burnt in the fireplace. The mustard leaves were kept in a broken earthenware pot on the fire. He used a broken twig to churn the liquefied mixture.
After some time Sant Baba ji asked him, “Maulvi ji! Is the SAAG ready?”
Sardar ji replied, “Yes, Maharaj! It is ready.”
Sant Baba ji said, “Then bring it here. Let me taste it.”
Sardar ji brought the preparation in the broken earthenware to Sant Baba ji. Sant Baba ji broke a piece from the earthenware and converted the same into a spoon. He ate the SAAG with this spoon. The SAAG was without salt, spices and oil.
Sant Baba ji on tasting the first spoon said, “It is really delicious. I have never eaten such a dish earlier. You should also eat it Maulvi ji.”
Saying this, the rest of the SAAG, which had now become SEET PARSHAD, was passed on to Sardar ji by Sant Baba ji.
Gazing upon your elephants, you have gone astray in doubt;
you do not know the Great Lord God. I judge Bidur’s water to be like ambrosial nectar, in comparison with your milk. ||1|| I find his rough vegetables to be like rice pudding; the night of my life passes singing the Glorious Praises of the Lord. Kabeer’s Lord and Master is joyous and blissful; He does not care about anyone’s social class. ||2||9|| (Page 1105)
Sardar ji ate the SAAG that had been prepared by him and now converted into PARSHAD. He felt the taste of nectar in his mouth. There was a free flow of graciousness in it.
Sardar ji’s ego caved in without his knowledge when he without raising any doubt obeyed the strange orders of Sant Baba ji. Not only the self-esteem had been attacked but also all ailments of his body got assuaged with the blessings of Sant Baba ji.
Sardar ji’s ego caved in without his knowledge when he without raising any doubt obeyed the strange orders of SaSant Baba ji conveyed through his actions that in the state of oblivion, one’s mind changes and one gets rid of all sickness. The achievement of emptying the mind of ego ensures an easy passage for the blessings.nt Baba ji. Not only the self-esteem had been attacked but also all ailments of his body got assuaged with the blessings of Sant Baba ji.
Maulvi ji’s long illness was cured and he became normal. He became a staunch devotee of Sant Baba ji. He started moving on the path that leads an individual towards the One Lord. He followed the Sikh tenets to the hilt and Sant Baba ji involved him in the SEWA through his joining the recitation of Gurbani during the AKHAND PATHS.