THERE IS NO DECREASE BUT ALWAYS AN INCREASE IN THE INEXHAUSTIBLE TREASURES OF THE GURU
It is a tradition at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan that the Guru’s Holy Food is distributed to the sangat when they sit in rows. The sangat chants ‘SATNAM-WAHEGURU’. The Holy Food is served to everyone. The chanting goes on till the Holy Food is distributed to all. After raising the slogan of ‘Bole so Nihal! Sat Sri Akal!’ everyone starts eating at the same time.
The chanting of ‘SATNAM-WAHEGURU’ during this occasion has some peculiar characteristics and values, as follows:
1. There is no talking and discussion of any sort between the individuals while they are involved in chanting the Name of the God. 2. It is with the blessings of the Almighty that one receives the langar and to thank the Lord the chanting is done. 3. There is purity in the tongue that chants the Name of the Lord and the food eaten with it becomes nectar for the individual. 4. There is equal distribution of langar to everyone (It is another matter that a person may ask for less of it as per his requirement) who start eating at the same time. 5. ‘Guru ka langar’ becomes inexhaustible when the chanting of the Name of God is carried out.
Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj introduced this practice in the Kutiya. The fact of the matter is that it is easy to say the words ‘Guru ka langar’ but it is difficult to believe that the langar is received by us due to the blessings of our Guru.
Let us read about an incident in this regard.
An annual congregation was held in the orchid of Bhai Lachman Singh of village Bambeli. It was undertaken at the behest of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj who was present there to grace the occasion. This congregation was held after the celebrations of the anniversary of Sant Baba Harnam Singh ji Maharaj around the 20th of December. This Diwan had a lot of significance. Devotees from far and wide joined the congregation. Discussions on Gurmat were carried out and preachings of the teachings of Guru Sahib was undertaken. Baptism ceremony was also arranged during this Diwan.
Once, the sangat from village Jaitpur collected before Sant Baba ji. They included Bhai Harnam Singh, Bhai Gurdit Singh, Bhai Jawahar Singh and Bhai Swaran Singh. A request was made, “Maharaj ji! The sangat of Jaitpur requests permission for preparing ‘Guru ka langar’ and distributing it in the Diwan. Please bless us.”
Sant Baba ji said, “When it is ‘Guru ka langar’ then why ask me about it?”
The request was accepted. The afternoon langar was brought by the sangat of Jaitpur. As usual the congregation was held and many people joined it.
The elders who had arranged for the langar observed that the number of persons collected that day were more than usual and became afraid that the langar might be less for distribution to everyone present. They came to Sant Baba ji and informed him of their fear. One of them pleaded before Sant Baba ji, “With your grace, a lot many people have joined the congregation today. There is a feeling that the quantity of langar may not fall short.”
An unfazed Sant Baba ji said, “Go and announce the distribution of langar.”
The langar was announced and people sat in rows. The men and women sat separately.
Sant Baba ji stood up from the place where he was sitting and came to the rows of the sangat. The sangat on seeing Sant Baba ji lowered their heads in respect. Sant Baba ji started the chanting of ‘SATNAM-WAHEGURU’. The sangat responded in unison.
The distribution of the langar started and Sant Baba ji and the sangat continued with their chanting. The people were uttering the Name of the God with all love and humbleness and the grace of Sant Baba ji was added in it. There was no reason why the result was not positive.
Everyone filled his or her belly but there was no shortage of the Holy Food.
One has to learn from such instances. Sant Baba ji spoke less but his actions conveyed a lot. There was a deep meaning in all his actions and words for the common devotee to follow.
After Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj, Sant Baba Gian Singh ji, Sant Baba Harbhajan Singh ji ‘Virakat’ and now the present Holy saint Sant Jit Singh ji chants the Name of the Lord during the distribution of ‘Guru ka langar’.
You are So Great, O Giver, O Great Giver! The treasure of Your devotional worship is never exhausted. One who takes pride in himself shall never be right. The soul and body are all at Your disposal. ||2|| (Page 154)
The truth is that the One Almighty who is All Giver keeps the stores of his devotees filled.
The sangat of Jaitpur had a lot of love for Sant Baba Basant
Singh ji Maharaj. The masons and other mechanics took part
with enthusiasm in the construction of the buildings of Nirmal
Kutiya Johalan. Prominent among them were Bhai Jawala Singh,
Bhai Tara Singh, Bhai Harnam Singh and Bhai Naranjan Singh.
When Sant Baba ji’s soul joined the eternity, at that time also the
devotees of Jaitpur were involved in the SEWA at Nirmal Kutiya
Johalan. They had full devotion towards Sant Baba ji and did
not care for the shortage of money. They stayed and worked at
Nirmal Kutiya Johalan sometimes for six months at a stretch.
They were sure that Sant Baba ji was taking care of the needs of
their families back home. They served selflessly without thinking
of any return. These devotees were all Sikhs, baptized with the
ambrosial nectar.