Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj had mentioned about the end of his journey in this world three months in advance. Sant Baba ji asked his beloved disciple, Sant Baba Gian Singh ji, “Santa! Ask Nambardar ji to go to Sardar Piara Singh of Ladowali Road, Jalandhar (Jiwan Singh & Sons, Body Builders). Sardar Piara Singh had prepared a wooden box for the Holy body of Sant Baba Jawala Singh of Harkhowal for immersion in the river waters. Nambardar ji should ask Sardar Piara Singh to prepare a similar box for me.”
Sant Baba Gian Singh ji was astonished at this request but nevertheless obeyed the instructions and the box was prepared.
On another day Sant Baba ji instructed, “I have prayed to the Almighty Satguru. It is the Order of the Almighty that my body be kept in a wooden box and the box immersed in the river Sutlej.”
Sant Baba Gian Singh ji became emotional on hearing these words. The time that had passed in the service of this great Hermit seemed to him to be a very short span. He felt that only a few days back Sant Baba ji had asked him to carry the basket of sweets from the village of Jiyan to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. He had walked behind Sant Baba ji who had guided him for so long.
During those days many miracles were observed. Sardar Swaran Singh of village Chohak Kalan was told by Sant Baba ji, “I will remain here and will not go anywhere.”
When doctors came to examine his health, their diagnoses as per his symptoms were clarified by Sant Baba ji within no time. If the doctor felt that there was no movement in the arm of Sant Baba ji and raised this doubt, Sant Baba ji raised his arm signifying that there was nothing wrong. If doubts were raised about his legs not working, he bent his legs conveying that his body was working perfectly well.
After three months, Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj’s soul left his body and merged with Eternity.
O Nanak, he merges with the Lord of the Universe, like water with water. ||3||11||
(Page 633)
Braham Giani Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj, left for his heavenly abode on 24th Katak Samvat 2028 (9th November 1971). The news of the soul of Sant Baba ji merging with the Lord spread like wild fire in the country and abroad. The devotees started coming to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan from all directions in large numbers. The eyes of everyone were full of tears.
One devotee bowed his head in front of SACHKHAND building and shouted loudly, “Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj, you were a pillar for this world.” Saying this he could not control himself and started crying hysterically. Everyone present there who had heard his words became full of compassion and tears freely flowed from their eyes.
The devotees being ordinary human beings could not bear the separation of Sant Baba ji from their midst. For the great Hermit a new life had already begun. His soul got freedom from the body and remained steady at the feet of the Almighty. They in fact wait for the death of the mortal body. Bhagat Kabir ji has conveyed this in the following verse mentioned in Sri Guru Granth Sahib:
Kabeer, the world is afraid of death - that death fills my mind with bliss. It is only by death that perfect, supreme bliss is obtained. ||22|| (Page 1365)
Sant Baba ji’s loving disciples, Sant Baba Gian Singh ji and Sant Baba Harbhajan Singh ji Virakat, first bathed the body with soap and then with curd. White clothes covered his body and a white turban was tied on his head.
The body of Sant Baba ji was so flexible that it was easy to make him sit on a beautiful armchair. Sangat passed by the chair and paid their last homage. Sitting on the chair it seemed that Sant Baba ji was conveying to the sangat to accept the ways of the Almighty.
A vehicle was specially decorated. Next day the chair with Sant Baba ji was placed in this decorated vehicle. The last journey started after the singing of Holy Hymns and ARDAS. Sangat was served langar before the last journey started.
Sant Baba Gian Singh ji and Sant Baba Harbhajan Singh ji and other close associates sat in the decorated vehicle.
An Army brass band was present at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. Their musical instruments are supposed to be very heavy. The band usually plays with the musicians sitting on chairs. Sant Baba Gian Singh ji on that day blessed the musicians of the band and they were able to play while walking. The convoy of vehicles reached Gurdwara BHABHOR SAHIB. The brass band had reached there earlier and commenced playing on seeing the convoy.
Since the Gurdwara was situated at a place surrounded by mountains and hills, the movement of the decorated vehicle with the chair of Sant Baba ji was quite slow with the band marching in front. It was a rare sight and the public was awestruck by the sight. (Later the musicians of the brass band informed that they did know what strength had made them walk with such heavy musical instruments being carried in their hands or shoulders. They were not tired even after they covered the long distance walking in the mountains.)
The devotees were in a number of vehicles following the decorated vehicle. It was a long procession. Many devotees had reached the place directly and were walking with the convoy. Some sangat had already reached the Gurdwara and waited for the vehicle to reach.
The devotees in different vehicles were again and again shouting the slogan, “Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj is immortal! Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj is immortal!” Raagi’s and Dhaadi’s sang the Holy Hymns. The last journey concluded at Gurdwara Bhabhor Sahib.
The wooden box had already reached the spot. The pious body of Sant Baba ji was carefully placed in the box. The box had many holes in it. Heavy iron weights were hung to the box.
The last prayer was performed by Bau Nirmal Singh ji, Head Priest. The box was carried in a boat to the site where the river water was the deepest. The weight of the box was then divided on a second boat. The box rested on the edges of the two boats. The oarsmen slowly and slowly separated the two boats and the box fell in the river. It soon went down because of the heavy iron weights. Sant Baba Gian Singh ji and Sant Baba Harbhajan Singh Virakat ji and other main persons performed the immersion ceremony.
The Army, Police and private musical bands sounded the last post. Swords were reversed in honor of Sant Baba ji. The environment around was peaceful. There was no noise even from the animals and birds. The slogan,“Bole so Nihal! Sat Sri Akal!” rent the atmosphere from all sides. Flowers could be seen floating at the place the box got immersed.
A congregation was then held at the Gurdwara Bhabhor Sahib. Raagi’s performed Kirtan. After the ARDAS, Parshad was served to all.
The devotees came back to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan after participating in the last journey of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. Sant Baba Gian Singh ji blessed all including the musicians of the band and everyone was permitted to leave.
The anniversary of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj is celebrated on 24th Katak at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. Devotees from all over the country as well as abroad attend this auspicious occasion. Though sangat is not permitted to stay in the Kutiya, yet arrangements are made for their comfortable stay. The devotees from the nearby villages request the chief saint and take along with them to their residences other devotees (in their vehicles) who have come to attend the anniversary from outside the city. They drop the devotees in their vehicles the next morning. This carries on for three days during every anniversary.
In 1971, a congregation was held to pay homage to Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj and for the DASTAR BANDI (Turban tying ceremony) of Sant Baba Gian Singh ji. Shri Raghbir Singh ji Shastri, a prominent Sikh scholar also came to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan to pay his respects. In a religious discourse Shastri ji said, “The tough worship undertaken by Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj was exceptional and cannot be done by all sages. Sant Baba ji remained in peaceful penance in the hot summer days. He performed his austerities in the midst of thorny bushes; in biting cold and within the stacks of cattle feed. His TAP was unparalleled. Where my asceticism ends, Sant Baba ji’s austerity starts. It is a fact that even sadhus are jealous of the strength and spiritual powers of other sadhus but the truth that Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj was the greatest has to be accepted.”
Shastri ji then described the name of Sant Baba ji. He said, “Basant means ‘BAS’ – ‘ANT’ (The End). Sant Baba ji had reached the pinnacle of worship. The spring season was blooming in his heart. The fragrance of the blooming spring had spread and covered the three worlds.”
In the end Shastri ji said, “None of you has to worry or feel sad. Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj is present here and remain so throughout. You will feel his presence yourself after two or three days. I now pray that the Almighty bless us all with the dust of the feet of such a Holy soul, so that we lead a successful life in this world?”
Everything was normal again in a few days and everyone felt the presence of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj in the Kutiya.