Wealth and all the spiritual powers of the Siddhis fall at the feet of the Lord’s devotees; they obtain peace and poise from the Guru. ||2|| (Page 637)
One who knows God, and who lovingly focuses his attention on the One Word of the Shabad, keeps his spirituality intact. The nine treasures and the eighteen spiritual powers of the
Siddhis follow him, who keeps the Lord enshrined in his heart. (Page 649)
The Guru explains in these verses that the wealth and spiritual powers touch the feet of the Lord’s beloveds. These beloveds of the God have miraculous powers and can perform supernatural deeds whenever they want. But those who are involved in SIMRAN, do not get involved in astonishing others because they cannot think of anything else but the Lord.
Guru Nanak Dev ji while giving his teachings to Gorakh Panthis, says that the ‘NATH’ is God who has with His strength controlled the working of the universe. In front of the God there is no strength in stupendous miracles. The wonders performed by human beings have no value and are a waste of energy.
A person who recites the Name of the God attains all the nine Nidhis (Nine treaseres) and eighteen Siddhis (spiritual powers). These are hovering around the Lord’s Beloveds. The possession of such supernatural powers was just never demonstrated by these rare saints
Sardar Karam Singh belonged to the village of Khan Khane. A Muslim Fakir had given him some miraculous powers from the vast treasure he was holding. Sardar Karam Singh on attaining these powers went from place to place to demonstrate them and impress the fickle minded. He carried the powers in his hands as a monkey carries dry ginger, whose pungent smell becomes known to everyone. He proudly displayed these powers openly.
Says Kabeer, the empty pitcher makes noise, but that which is full makes no sound. ||4||1|| (Page 870)
With the passage of time, Sardar Karam Singh started using these powers on Holy
saints. Whenever he met a new saint he recited the following verse in a question form.
'ਦੀਵਾ ਬਲੇ ਅਗੱਮ ਦਾ ਬਿਨ ਬਾਤੀ ਬਿਨ ਤੇਲ ?'
How is it that the lamp of the Inaccessible is lit without
the oil or wick in the lamp?
When he did not get a satisfactory reply, he ridiculed and arrogantly walked away, showing
complete disrespect to the Holy saint.
He came to Nirmal Kutiya once. He met Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj and sat just
in front of him. He raised the same query from Sant Baba ji.
'ਦੀਵਾ ਬਲੇ ਅਗੱਮ ਦਾ ਬਿਨ ਬਾਤੀ ਬਿਨ ਤੇਲ ?'
How is it that the lamp of the Inaccessible is lit without
the oil or wick in the lamp?
Sant Baba ji did not respond to him. He again repeated his query by reciting the verse, but Sant Baba ji ignored him.
But when he kept on repeating the verse in a mocking way, Sant Baba ji looked straight into his eyes and asked angrily, “What?”
He recited the verse and Sant Baba ji with his divine strength, looking into his eyes with the spiritual eyes, took away all his miraculous powers.
Sardar Karam Singh forgot everything. He felt he had lost all his powers. He started requesting Sant Baba ji to return back his powers.
Sant Baba ji advised him to instead become a seeker and get himself baptized with the ambrosial nectar of Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji. He should involve himself in reciting Gurbani and follow the teachings of the One Mighty Force.
Sardar Karam Singh was still in his arrogance and did not pay heed to the advice of Sant Baba ji. He felt that Sant Baba ji was not justified in depriving him of his powers.
He left the Kutiya and went straight to the Muslim Fakir, to complain to him. The Muslim Fakir was another proud person and suggested that Karam Singh should go back to Sant ji Maharaj and ask for the power to be returned.
Sardar Karam Singh followed the instructions of the Muslim Fakir without using his own mind and came back to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan.
He requested Sant Baba ji, “I had only limited powers with me. You have taken them away from me. Please return my power back to me.”
Sant Baba ji again advised him, “Karam Singh! You have been following the wrong path. Try to get the actual and rightful strength of the Almighty Satguru. There is nothing great in showing off these miraculous powers.”
Sant Baba ji’s words impressed him. He wanted the complete strength which no one could snatch away from him. He asked Sant Baba ji, “Maharaj! Then please give me complete powers.”
Sant Baba ji said, “It is not so easy. First you will have to seek the ambroisal nectar of the two edged sword. Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib ji will then be your all powerful father. All the powers of the Guru Father will then come to you.”
Sardar Karam Singh realised his mistake of following an individual with limited powers. He should have been a devotee of the Lord whose powers were vast and could never be exhausted. He was a changed person. The words of the true saint had pierced his heart. He felt small in front of Sant Baba ji, who suggested him to become a beloved of the Lord.
The entire family of Karam Singh accepted the ambrosial nectar. He became a regular visitor of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. He forgot about his own powers and instead took support from the powers of his Satguru.
The Muslim Fakir was keeping a track of Sardar Karam Singh. When he came to know about his initiation into Khalsa, he became very angry. Sant Baba ji took away his powers as well. He shouted, “I will take back my powers even if I have to take another birth.”
But the Fakir soon died and nothing happened. The following verse from Gurbani conveys the truth about such individuals.
They inflict their hatred upon the Saints, and they love the wicked sinners. They find no peace in either this world or the next; they are born only to die, again and again. (Page 649)