The God-conscious being is steeped in humility. The God-conscious being delights in doing good for others. (Page 273)
Bhagat Ravidas ji was a poet and mystic, born to Raghu and Ghurbinia, who lived near the city of Varanasi. He belonged to a low-caste family. He followed the family profession of tanning hides and making shoes. Gradually he started spending most of his time in the company of saints and sadhus and built himself a thatched hut wherein he received and entertained wandering ascetics. Many stories became current about his simplicity and piety of nature.
He became famous as a vaisnava saint in the tradition of saint Ramanand. In the course of his spiritual quest, he reached a stage when he discarded images and idols and turned to the worship of the one Supreme Being. He wrote deeply impassioned devotional verses. Forty of his hymns have been incorporated in the Sikh scripture, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
The devotees of Bhagat Ravidas celebrate his birthday every year. This incident happened before the partition of the country when the Muslim community had a lot of influence on the personal life of followers of other religions. Once the devotees of Bhagat Ravidas living in village Dhilwan, near Johal, decided to take out a Nagar Kirtan on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Bhagat ji. The Muslims living in the village did not permit for the procession to be taken out. Muslims being large in number dominated the other castes.
The devotees became afraid but were determined and sat together to think of a way out in order to fulfill their heart’s desire. Some of the villagers were visitors to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan and came often to pay their homage to Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. A decision was taken that Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj be approached to find some way out.
A few leaders came to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan and expressed their anguish to Sant Baba ji.
Sant Baba ji kept quiet and did not respond. On the instructions of Sant Baba ji tea and snacks were served to these devotees. Thereafter, they came back and sat close to Sant Baba ji waiting anxiously for a solution to their problem.
After some time Sant Baba ji asked Sant Baba Gian Singh ji, “Please bring my stick and pick up the water pitcher. Let’s go out for a walk.”
Sant Baba Gian Singh ji obeyed the instructions of his Gurudev and also brought the Jutti (sandals) of Sant Baba ji. Nambardar Didar Singh, present there was also asked to accompany.
The devotees of Bhagat Ravidas, who had come to obtain solution to their problem, were unable to understand the stance of Sant Baba ji. They kept on looking at each other’s face but could not say anything. They became emotional and prayed to Sant Baba ji to help alleviate their problem. Silently they also followed Sant Baba ji.
Sant Baba ji came out of the Kutiya and started walking towards village Dhilwan.
When he was on the outskirts of the village, a villager recognized Sant Baba ji and sent a message to the Nambardar of the village that PIR ji was near their village. The Nambardar, a Muslim, knew Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj and thinking that his Pir might bye pass the village without entering it came running. He bowed before his PIR.
Sant Baba ji asked him, “Nambardar ji! Where are you heading for? We have come to your village and you are leaving.”
Nambardar ji said, “It is your grace and we villagers of the Dhilwan village are honored that you have decided to visit our village and bless it with your Holy feet. I have come to pay my homage to you on coming to know about your presence.”
Sant Baba ji smiled on hearing the words of Nambardar ji. Nambardar ji then requested Sant Baba ji to visit his house and purify the same with his sacred feet.
Sant Baba ji continued to walk inside the village and came to the house of Nambardar ji. There was jubilation all around and the villagers started pouring in the house for a glimpse of Sant Baba ji.
Nambardar ji was sitting close to Sant Baba ji when he was asked, “Nambardar ji! How many God’s are there?”
Nambardar ji replied, “Pir ji! There is only One God.”
Sant Baba ji then raised the question, “Does God belong to one religion or is He One for all religions?”
Nambardar ji said, “There is One God for all religions. There is One Lord God for all.”
The third Master Sri Guru Amardas Sahib says in the Gurbani:
ਸਭੁ ਜਗੁ ਫਿਰਿ ਮੈ ਦੇਖਿਆ ਹਰਿ ਇਕੋ ਦਾਤਾ || (ਪੰਨਾ ੫੧੦)
Roaming over the entire world, I have seen that there is One Lord who is the only Giver. (Page 510)
Sant Baba ji asked, “Nambardar ji! If someone wants to worship God, should he be stopped from doing so?”
Nambardar ji replied that the person would be a great sinner, if he stopped someone from worshiping his God.
Sant Baba ji then said, “The devotees of Bhagat Ravidas ji want to celebrate the birth anniversary of Bhagat ji by taking out a Nagar Kirtan in the village and some people are not permitting them to do so. According to you into which category do these people then fall?”
Nambardar ji was about to reply when Sant Baba ji addressed the devotees of Bhagat Ravidas ji for the first time, “Before deciding on taking out a Nagar Kirtan in the village you should have spoken to Nambardar ji. He is an elder of the village and deserved due respect. You should have requested him to join in your happiness.”
The devotees of Bhagat Ravidas did not have any reply to these words of Sant Baba ji and bowed their heads in shame. They realized their mistake.
The Nambardar on the other hand was obliged to Sant Baba ji to have thought high of him. He thanked Sant Baba ji for his kindness and grace.
Nambardar ji said, “PIR ji! This village belongs to everyone living in it. You have visited the village and it has become pure. Nagar Kirtan will be taken out and all the villagers will participate.”
The sangat immediately raised slogans of ‘Bole so Nihal! Sat Sri Akal!’
The devotees thanked Sant Baba ji for his kindness.
The Nambardar ordered the youth of the village, “You all will join the Nagar Kirtan and ensure that nothing untoward happens during the taking out of the procession through the village.”
The birth anniversary of Bhagat Ravidas ji was celebrated with great pomp and show. The Nagar Kirtan was taken out through the village streets under the auspices and guidance of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj and people of all faith joined in the celebrations.
This incident is a reflection on the extensive personality of Sant Baba ji. Followers of other faiths and Holy men were given due respect and love. Sant Baba ji was kind at heart and helped people who came to him for the mitigation of their miseries.