This mind is satisfied only with the Name of the Lord. Chanting the Name of the Lord surely brings in unexpected results. The tasks of such individuals get accomplished without any hindrance. The worries are eliminated, and the doubts and attachments are altogether removed. Such an individual sees in everyone none other than God. The Supreme Lord God in return, protects him, and no pain or sorrow afflicts him any longer. He derives pleasure in the continuous chant of Gurbani. These individuals are however, very rare. But surely they can be found in the company of the Holy men.
One day Bhai Bikram Singh Vaid of Kukar Pind village came to pay his homage to Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan.
When Vaid ji was paying his respects, Sant Baba ji, said to him, “Vaid ji has come! It is good that you are here.”
Vaid ji could not understand about the welcome and replied, “Yes, Maharaj!” He sat close to Sant Baba ji.
Sant Baba ji said, “Vaid ji! Please make necessary preparations to start an AKHAND PATH.”
He proceeded towards the Darbar place. Vaid ji had agreed to obey the instructions of Sant Baba ji without realizing that he was alone and the AKHAND PATH was to be carried out for 48 hours continuously.
One of the attendants standing there however expressed his doubt, “Maharaj ji! There is only one person here who can perform the functions of a priest. Normally five persons are involved in the recitation. How will Vaid ji perform this work of five priests alone?”
Sant Baba ji did not respond. In the meantime Bhai Ujjagar Singh Maulvi, of Bhai Ke Samraavan came to the Kutiya. On seeing Maulvi ji, Sant Baba ji said, “It is really good that you have come today.” Sant Baba ji said with a smiling face, “Now two AKHAND PATHS can be carried out simultaneously.”
Maulvi ji was also instructed to undertake the preparations for the AKHAND PATH.
Another devotee, Bhai Naranjan Singh also came to the Kutiya. When Sant Baba ji saw him, he said, “Another priest is here. Vaid ji and Maulvi ji can now recite the PATH, and Bhai Naranjan Singh will perform the duty of filling in to give rest to the other two.”
Two AKHAND PATHS were started simultaneously. Vaid ji and Maulvi ji recited the Gurbani from Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Bhai Naranjan Singh took over the recitation for some time to give rest to Vaid ji and then took over from Maulvi ji to give him rest.
Sant Baba Gian Singh ji was attending on the DEG during the entire recitation.
The recitation continued for 48 hours and during this time Sant Baba ji remained in profound meditation, sitting nearby. He came out of his SAMADHI on the completion of the recitation.
The fifth Master Sri Guru Arjan Dev ji has explained in his verses that Gurbani was very sweet and acted like nectar for the mind. Guru Sahib did not permit Gurbani to leave his mind even for a fraction of a second.
My Beloved has brought forth a river of nectar. The Guru has not held it back from my mind, even for an instant. ||1||Pause|| Beholding it, and touching it, I am sweetened and delighted. It is imbued with the Creator’s Love. ||1|| Chanting it even for a moment, I rise to the Guru; meditating on it, one is not trapped by the Messenger of Death. The Lord has placed it as a garland around Nanak’s neck, and within his heart. ||2||5||134|| (Page 404)
With the blessings of Sant Baba ji three priests conducted the recitation of two AKHAND PATHS for 48 hours. They happily involved themselves in reciting the Gurbani. There was no doubt that the strength to perform this strenuous task, was passed on to the devotees by Sant Baba ji. Mind you, the priests were reciting the Gurbani loudly in the presence of Sant Baba ji and not merely reading it in their minds. They were fully attentive and conscious of what they were reading aloud and did their best to recite the words correctly.
1. Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj once went to village Kukar
Pind. The villagers collected around him as if they had come to
see some fair. But one landlord could feel that a Holy person had
come to bless the villagers. He requested Sant Baba ji to grace
his house and accept langar. Sant Baba ji said to him, “You
should request the sangat present here to accept the langar.”
These words of Sant Baba ji had an immediate reaction. The
villagers felt ashamed. Their hearts filled with love and faith for Sant Baba ji. Some of them started cleaning the ground in front of Sant Baba ji with the loincloth they were wearing. Everyon then sat in the pangat and accepted the langar.
This incident occurred almost sixty years back. There wasn’t at
that time a single Amritdhari Sikh in the village. Jathedar Balbir
Singh a devout follower belonging to this village used to tell the
sangat during his religious discourse in the Kutiya that whenever
someone felt like serving langar to five Amritdhari Sikhs, the
same had to be collected from other nearby villages. It was with
the blessings of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj that at present
many families of this village are baptized Sikhs.
2. Once a Sikh from Kukar Pind told Vaid Bikram Singh, a
respected person that he would like to stay for the night at Nirmal
Kutiya Johalan. Vaid ji advised him that it was not right to follow
his mind and should avoid doing such things. He did not listen to
the advice and went to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan with the wish in
his mind. Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj permitted him to
stay at the Kutiya for the night. He was amazed to see the happenings
at night. No one slept but everyone was engrossed in
reciting Gurbani. Next day he came back to the village and said
to Vaid ji, “Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj is not an ordinary
saint. He is really a great Holy person. The soft spoken sadhus
of the Kutiya are totally immersed in remembering the Lord.”