Army officials have the privilege of postings at different cities all over India, during their service period. There are some who remain attached to the One God. Many of the seekers among this lot are followers of the Sikh faith. Whenever such seekers are posted in a town; the first thing in their mind is to find a Holy person in the area so that they can learn some aspects of spirituality.
Bhai Gurbachan Singh of village Sagranwali was a priest in the Army and posted at Pune. He was a follower of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. He came to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan to pay his homage during his annual leave. While in Pune he was trying to find a Holy personage. It was not necessary that the personality he was searching for should belong to the Sikh faith; rather he sought one who could provide to him the solace of mind. Someone informed him about one Holy saint by the name of Sant Shardha Ram ji residing on the top of hills at a place called Ram Tekri.
One day Bhai ji went to Ram Tekri to pay his homage to Sant Shardha Ram ji. Sant ji welcomed him and asked him to introduce himself. Bhai ji informed Sant ji about his background and his posting in Pune. He mentioned that he was a resident of a village near Jalandhar.
Sant Shardha Ram ji said to him, “There is one great divine personality living near Jalandhar Cantonment on the Hoshiarpur road. Have you been fortunate to have his DARSHAN?”
Bhai ji was curious to know the name of the divine person and he humbly asked, “Sant ji! What is the name of the divine person you are talking about?”
Sant Shardha Ram ji replied with a glowing face, “The divine person is Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj who lives in Nirmal Kutiya Johalan.”
Bhai ji’s heart skipped a beat. There was no way he could express his delight on receiving this information. He was full of emotions and excitedly informed, “Sant ji! What I am today is because of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. I have been baptized by Sant Baba ji and I am a regular visitor to his abode.”
Living in so far a city like Pune, Bhai ji was surprised to find a Holy saint who knew about his preceptor the great Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. Bhai ji thought himself fortunate in these circumstances.
Sant Shardha Ram ji said to him, “Please do offer my respects to Sant ji Maharaj at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan, when you happen to visit there the next time.”
Bhai ji sought earned leave for seven days from his Regiment and came by train to Jalandhar and reached the abode of Sant Baba ji. He bowed at the feet of Sant Baba ji and sat close to him after paying his respects. He wanted to disclose about Sant Shardha Ram ji but could not speak a word as his tearful eyes were trying to focus the feet of Sant Baba ji.
Sant Baba ji enquired from him, “Bhai ji! Where are you posted these days?”
Bhai ji replied, “Maharaj ji! My Regiment is in Pune these days.”
Sant Baba ji said, “A place called Ram Tekri in Pune is the abode of Udasi sadhus. A Braham Giani Sant Shardha Ram ji is involved in meditative remembrance of the Almighty. Have you ever visited him?”
Bhai ji was overwhelmed by the information and question of Sant Baba ji. Two great saints sitting so far away knew each other and the names of the places of each other’s abode.
Bhai ji replied, “Yes, Maharaj! I have been there. Sant Shardha Ram ji has sent his special respects for you. I will continue seeking his blessings during my posting there.”
Sant Baba ji accepted the respects and advised him, “It is good to pay homage to great souls. Such Braham Gianis are rare in this world. One gets succor from the DARSHAN of such Holy saints.”
Bhai Gurbachan Singh did not go to his village this time and remained in the service of Sant Baba ji. On the last day of his leave he took leave from Sant Baba ji and returned to his Regiment at Pune.
The first thing he did was to go to Ram Tekri for DARSHAN of Braham Giani Sant Shardha Ram ji.
Bhai Gurbachan Singh narrated the discussion of Sant Baba ji. Sant Shardha Ram ji bowed his head in respect. Bhai ji became a regular visitor to the abode at Ram Tekri.
Whenever Bhai ji came to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan, on his leave, Sant Baba ji enquired about the well being of Sant Shardha Ram ji and when he went back after his leave Sant Shardha Ram ji asked about the welfare of Sant Baba ji.
Once Bhai ji raised a question to Sant Shardha Ram ji, which had been lurking in his mind for long, “When did you meet Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj?”
Sant Shardha Ram ji smilingly replied, “I meet him everyday.”
Bhai ji thought that it took him two days by train to reach Jalandhar from Pune and thus how could Sant ji meet him everyday?
Sant Shardha Ram ji cleared his doubt by saying, “Every day after my bath I have the DARSHAN of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj.”
Both the ascetic divine saints had not met each other but they were able to see each other with their Holy eyes. Sant Shardha Ram ji further said, “The abode of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj is near Jalandhar Cantt Railway Station. One has to take the Hoshiarpur road from the Station. The Kutiya is away from the main road. When a person is a kilometer away from the right turn on the main road, the Kutiya becomes visible.”
Bhai ji was astonished to hear this and thought that highly mystical persons are really close to each other.
With the passage of time Sant Shardha Ram ji’s soul joined the divine light. Such Holy saints come to earth on the specific orders of the Almighty and involve themselves in purifying the lives of individuals. After completing their duties the lap of the Almighty welcomes them.
There was a huge gathering at Ram Tekri on the day of the Bhog Ceremony of Sant Shardha Ram ji. Many sadhus, saints and followers had collected to pay their respects. Bhai Gurbachan Singh was also present during this ceremony.
One of the sadhus while paying his tributes to Sant ji said with full conviction in his voice, “The world is in the control of seven sadhus. They are managing the Universe as per the orders of the Almighty. Sant Shardha Ram ji was one of them. He will not be seen by the seekers now.”
One of the devotees on hearing this stood up and asked, “Can we have DARSHAN of the other six sadhus?”
The sadhu addressing the gathering said, “Out of the six sadhus, five live in caves in different mountains and are involved in the worship of the Lord. No one can have their DARSHAN. The sixth sadhu is changing the lives of human beings with his presence. The name of this sadhu is Braham Giani Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj whose abode is at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan, in Jalandhar district. Whosoever wants to have his DARSHAN can do so. He will be blessed by Sant Baba ji as Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj is the living soul of the Almighty.”
Bhai Gurbachan Singh was moved on hearing these words of the sadhu. He became eager to go to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan and share these words with the sangat. He wanted the sangat to know about the level of spirituality and high pedestal on which Sant ji Maharaj was considered in the eyes of other Holy saints.
Bhai ji took special leave to visit Nirmal Kutiya Johalan.
On reaching the Kutiya he stretched his body completely on the ground in front of Sant Baba ji. He prayed within to Sant Baba ji to permit him to speak on the stage.
That day was Sunday and the weekly DIWAN was going on. Sant Baba ji asked one of the attendants, “Take Bhai ji to the stage and allow him to address the sangat.”
Bhai ji felt delighted that his inner voice had been heard and he had been permitted to address the sangat.
Bhai ji narrated humbly and with love the incident that had happened at Pune. The sangat was extremely happy to hear about the praise of Sant Baba ji and was fortunate to be present under the shade of the great saint.
When Bhai ji came to Sant Baba ji after his speech, Sant Baba ji said to him, “Gurbachan Singh! You have stained the reputation of a hermit today.”
Bhai ji became worried on listening to these words of Sant Baba ji. But his mind was at peace and he fell at the feet of Sant Baba ji. He folded his hands and said to Sant Baba ji, “Maharaj ji! I have not said anything of my own. I have shared with the sangat the actual happening and have repeated the words of the sadhu at Pune.”
Maharaj ji observed the love in the eyes of Bhai ji. His face glowed with a smile. Bhai ji was given PARSHAD and taken leave of.