In India, different religions coexist. Some people have a belief in witchcraft and laying of hexes. When it is said that a person is laying a hex on someone or conjuring up misfortune or disease, it is due to the belief that diseases and misfortune personified as evil spirits or demons could enter a human or animal body. Whereas the religious thought is strength for an individual, belief in witchcraft is a weakness of the mind. This weakness in some minds however, becomes the strength for those who have evil thoughts and are jealous on seeing the prosperity of others. Such people have no compunction in trying to harm others for their own benefit.
People are constantly affected by pain, misfortunes and also wickedness. People are unable to fight these diseases due to non-availability of a specialist doctor who can understand the root of these diseases and the way to remove them. A specialist doctor is one who can recognize the disease and also knows its treatment. But such spiritually elevated doctors are rare in this world. It is also true that only those who have high ideals can find such doctors. The following verse of Gurbani conveys this in as many words:
O Nanak, if someone judges himself, only then is he known as a real judge. If someone understands both the disease and the medicine, only then is he a wise physician. (Page 148)
The following incident of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj relates to the year 1969. Sardar Surajbans Singh lived in Jalandhar City. He and his family had to face terrible days full of mysterious events. Sometimes the clothes lying in the safety of his trunks would catch fire. At other times when his wife prepared dough or cooked any pulse, she found pebbles and nails in the stuff.
The family remained upset from these strange happenings. They tried their best to remove their distress but the problem continued. At last they came out with an advertisement in the local newspaper announcing a reward to a person who could help solve their problem, but no one came forward who could do anything to help them.
Colonel Gurdhian Singh, posted in Jalandhar Cantt, was a Gursikh. He had received the teaching from Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. He followed the NITNEM, sat in the company of the Holy and listened intently to the religious discourses. He also preached the teachings of Guru Sahib. He often visited the house of Giani Lakshmi Narain Singh (Retd SSP) in Jalandhar Cantt. In fact it was Giani ji who persuaded him to go to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. The first DARSHAN of Sant Baba ji was enough to attract Colonel Sahib. He was always finding some excuse to somehow reach Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. He found peace in the environment of the Kutiya and wanted to enjoy it as much as possible.
Colonel Sahib read the advertisement of Sardar Surajbans Singh in the newspaper. He immediately thought of Sant Baba ji. He decided to help his fellow Sikh. In the evening he reached the house of Sardar Surajbans Singh. During his presence the clothes caught fire and the fire extinguished on its own. Colonel Sahib was convinced that the solution of this mystery was only with Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj.
Colonel Sahib said to Sardar Surajbans Singh, “Sardar ji! Whatever is the reason for the fire, its solution lies with only one great personality.”
Sardar ji said, “Please let me know immediately. I am ready to pay whatever money is asked for. I and my family want to desperately get rid of this problem.”
Colonel Sahib said, “This is not about money but all about faith. You will have to accompany me.”
Both discussed about Sant Baba ji and ultimately Colonel Sahib convinced him to accompany him to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan.
Both reached the Kutiya but Sant Baba ji was not to be seen. Pandit Gulwant Singh of village Shreen Shankar who attended on Sant Baba ji was present there. Colonel Sahib explained the problem of Sardar ji to Pandit Gulwant Singh and requested him to humbly pray to Sant Baba ji for a solution to this misery being faced by the family.
Pandit ji assembled all his courage and requested Sant Baba ji accordingly.
Sant Baba ji said, “Such things do not happen in the houses of those persons who do PATH and pray to the Almighty.”
Pandit ji requested, “Maharaj ji! Please be merciful and help this man in distress.”Sant Baba ji said, “God resides in the collective five. If five Gursikhs pray to the Almighty in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the grief of the family will disappear.”
Pandit ji understood and replied, “Satya Vachan Maharaj!”
Sardar Surajbans Singh was explained in detail as to what was to be done. He followed the instructions of Sant Baba ji. Five Gursikhs folded their hands and prayed to the Almighty Satguru for alleviating the distress of Sardar ji. The Almighty answered their prayer. There was no fire in the house after the prayers. The wife of Sardar ji did not find any nails or pebbles in the pulses etc. The prayer of the five Gursikhs had arrested the fire and other troubles of the family.
Sardar Surajbans Singh had followed the teaching given by a true Holy saint. His problems were to get removed with the grace of this great Holy power.
The Guru’s Word is infallible and unchanging. Through the Guru’s Word, doubt and prejudice are dispelled. The Guru’s Word never goes away; through the Guru’s Word, we sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord. ||2|| (Page 177)
Sant Baba ji demonstrated the strength present in the collective prayers of five Gursikhs when they pray to the Almighty without any self-interest.
This miracle had such an influence on Sardar Surajbans Singh that he and his family became attached to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. They accepted the ambrosial nectar and became baptized Sikhs.
The family of Sardar ji is prospering and keeps on coming for SEWA to the Kutiya.
In a similar situation, the money and clothes in the house of Sardar Malkit Singh of village Saila Khurd caught fire. With the blessings and grace of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj, this stopped happening. Sardar ji was so inspired that he used to regularly bring ration for the langar on his cart. The family continues to perform this service even now.