This tour was covered in three Ambassador cars. There were fourteen Sikh devotees with Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj. The objective was kept in mind and long distances were covered without many stoppages. The love for the Almighty did not tire the devotees during the travel. Gurdwara DHUBRI Sahib in Assam was the objective.
A brief history of the Gurdwara Sahib and other events are given hereunder.
i) HISTORY OF GURDWARA DHUBRI SAHIB
King Aurangzeb had been sending many feudal Lords to Assam to capture this territory, but none were successful. Raja Bishan Singh was given the responsibility for conquering the territory. The Moghul Army also joined his forces to assist him.
Raja Bishan Singh came to Patna Sahib to receive blessings for success in his mission from Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, the Ninth Sikh Guru before proceeding to Assam.
Guru Sahib said to him, “Don’t worry! You will be successful in your mission.”
Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji the First Sikh Guru had earlier visited Assam during one of his travels. Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib ji reached Dhubri with his followers. A washerwoman by the name of NETAI was a magician. She used her magic to charm Guru Sahib and win over him but failed in all her attempts.
Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib was instrumental in the conciliation between Raja Bishan Singh and Raja Paranpal. There could have been a bloody battle if the conciliation had not taken place, as both the Armies were ready for a showdown.
At this place Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib gave a boon to Raja Ram Rai of Tripura, for a son. Guru Sahib had put a mark of on the thigh of the Raja with his ring. The mark appeared on the forehead of his son as predicted by Guru Sahib. Later Raja Rattan Rai son of Raja Ram Rai alongwith his mother came to Sri Anandpur Sahib to pay homage to Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. The Tenth Guru and son of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib. He offered a PARSADI HATHI (An elephant), a weapon which could perform five deeds, a CHANDAN CHOKI (A stool made of sandalwood) and many other precious gifts to Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib.
This place was also revered as the news of the birth of a son to Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib was received by him here from Patna Sahib. Bhai Mehar Chand and Bhai Kalyan Chand informed about the good news. Guru Sahib thanked the Almighty for His blessings. Both the Kings present, on hearing the news, fired cannon from their armoury in celebration. The devotees of Guru Sahib celebrated the birth of the son to their Guru. They expressed their happiness on the birth of the Tenth Guru.
An annual day celebration in the honor of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib is conducted enthusiastically by the Sikh sangat here. Lakhs of people visit the place on this day and receive the blessings of the Guru.
Sant Maharaj ji visited this Holy place with his sangat. Everyone paid their respects and received the blessings of Guru sahib.
ii) SANT MAHARAJ JI VISITS THE HOUSE OF AN SDO
Sant Maharaj ji stayed at the house of his devotee Sardar Jarnail Singh. He was posted as an SDO in Assam. Sant Maharaj ji stayed here for seven days. Holy Hymns were sung daily. Baptism ceremony was held in the Gurdwara at Bagdogra, where twenty five seekers were baptized. Many events occurred while Sant Maharaj ji and his followers were traveling. Two instances are being mentioned in this book.
iii) DEVOTION RAISED THROUGH SINGING OF HOLY HYMNS
One day Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj did not permit any one to stop their vehicles. The sun was setting and the devotees were tired but there was no indication from Sant Maharaj ji to take a breather.
Abruptly the cars were stopped by Sant Maharaj ji in front of a village. Sant Maharaj ji asked Subedar Zorawar Singh ji of Dhupai, “Subedar ji! Go and enquire if there is a house of a Sikh here.”
Subedar Sahib said, “Satya Vachan, Maharaj!”
He came out of the car and went towards the village. He had just entered the village when he came across a Sikh gentleman. Subedar ji approached him and said, “Singh Sahib! We have come from Punjab and are proceeding towards Assam. Is there a place in this village where we could spend the night?”
The person counter questioned Subedar ji, “Are you alone?”
Subedar ji informed him, “No! We are fourteen Sikhs traveling with our Holy saint from Nirmal Kutiya Johalan, Jalandhar.”
When the villager heard about the number of Sikhs traveling together, it immediately crossed his mind that these people might be fugitives running away from the law.
Sensing something amiss, Subedar ji said, “Well! We have just to stay for the night. We will leave early in the morning. Is it possible to stay in your house for the night?”
The villager replied, “I do not know any one of you. I do not know who you are. How can I permit you to stay in my house?”
Subedar ji said, “Don’t worry about us. We all can spend the night in the cars. It is only that we want our Sant Maharaj ji to stay for the night comfortably. In case you are to be blessed by Sant Maharaj ji, he will visit your house and make it pure with his Holy feet.”
On hearing these words the villager melted and said, “I will arrange for the stay of the Holy saint in my house.”
Subedar ji thanked him and came back. He narrated the discussion with the Sikh gentleman. Sant Maharaj ji immediately reacted, “The problem is solved.”
Sant Maharaj ji said, “Subedar ji! You walk in the front and lead us. I will follow you. The rest of the sangat can come a little later.”
Sant Maharaj ji reached the house of the Sikh gentleman. He and Subedar ji laid a separate bed sheet for Sant Maharaj ji to sit on. Sant Maharaj ji sat on this sheet. The Sikh was very impressed with the personality of Sant Maharaj ji. He felt that the God Almighty had blessed his house through Sant Maharaj ji. It was natural for him to love and respect the Holy saint.
Sant Maharaj ji enquired from him about his family and his work. Sant Maharaj ji then asked him, “Do you have a Dari (A cotton carpet)? It will be good if we can listen to Kirtan in your house.”
The gentleman had a close bond with Gurbani. He thought that the singing of the Holy Hymns from Sri Guru Granth Sahib would purify his house. He arranged for a Dari and laid it on the floor after making space by shifting the furniture.
The rest of the devotees started coming there one by one. Sant Maharaj ji asked for the musical instruments to be fetched from the cars. The same were brought and as per the orders of Sant Maharaj ji, Kirtan started.
Soon the entire environment in the house changed. Sant Maharaj ji was present in the house. Holy Hymns were being sung. The family was involved in preparing langar for the guests.
People in the neighbourhood were astonished to hear the sudden singing of the Holy Hymns and on coming to know that a Holy saint was in their neighbourhood started coming to that house.
The owner could not believe that within a short span of time his house had converted into a worshipping place. Such a situation is described in Sri Guru Granth Sahib in the following words.
ਜਹ ਸਾਧੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਭਜਨੁ ਕੀਰਤਨੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਨੀਤ || (ਪੰਨਾ ੨੫੬)
Those places are sacred where the Holy people constantly vibrate the Kirtan of the Praises of the Lord of the Universe, O Nanak (Page 256)
Liberation, comfort and proper lifestyle come from serving You; You alone cause us to serve You. That place is heaven, where the Kirtan of the Lord’s Praises are sung. You Yourself instill faith into us. ||2|| (Page 749)
The owner of the house was listening to the Kirtan intently and enjoying it. His eyes were looking at the majestic face of Sant Maharaj ji.
During the performance of Kirtan, his wife prepared langar for the sangat. The owner asked Subedar Sahib in all humility, “Guru ka langar is ready. Please seek permission from the great Holy saint for its distribution.”
Sant Maharaj ji gave the permission. Some of the followers joined the owner in serving langar to the sangat and also to Sant Maharaj ji. The entire sangat enjoyed the tasty langar. Beds were laid for everyone and the sangat was requested to rest for the night.
Next day the group was ready to leave. The owner came to Sant Maharaj ji and requested, “Baba ji! I wish that you stay here for some more days with your followers.”
Sant Maharaj ji said, “You have served everyone with love. We do not have time now and have to fulfill other plans.”
The sangat thanked him and everyone came to where the cars were parked. When Sant Maharaj ji was away from the gentleman he said to his devotees, “You people have seen with your own eyes what change Kirtan of the Holy Hymns of Sri Guru Granth Sahib can bring in an individual. This gentleman was not ready to allow us to enter his house and now is willing to keep us all for a few more days.”
The devotees bowed their heads in reverence and could gather that Sant Maharaj ji was instrumental in changing the mind of the Sikh gentleman.
iv) SERVICE OF A DOG
While on the way back from Assam, the cars entered the state of Uttar Pradesh. After traveling for some time a village was sighted. A healthy dog came running from the village and stopped in front of the car in which Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj was sitting. The car had to be abruptly stopped. Sant Maharaj ji said, “Let us stop here for a while. This dog has come in front of our car with some purpose.”
Ten minutes passed and the dog kept on standing there. Two Sikh gentlemen came from the village. On seeing Sant Maharaj ji they came closer to the cars and enquired about the great personality. They were informed about the Holy saint traveling from Nirmal Kutiya Johalan, Jalandhar to Assam and back. They paid their homage to the Holy saint and decided to serve the sangat. One of them requested Sant Maharaj ji, “Please bless the village with your Holy feet and also the blessed feet of your followers.”
Sant Maharaj ji said, “We have very little time. We have to go far.”
The gentleman said, “We do not wish to stop you. We will be happy if you permit us to serve you milk and snacks.”
Sant Maharaj ji understood their love and devotion and said, “All right! It is your love. Whatever you want to serve, please bring it here and serve.”
Both the gentlemen were happy to have got the permission to serve the fellow Sikhs and the Holy saint. They rushed to their homes in the village to get eatables for the Sikh sangat.
While the dialogue between the gentlemen and Sant Maharaj ji was going on the dog that had stopped the car was nowhere to be seen.
The sangat asked Sant Baba ji, “Pray tell us the secret of the dog.”
Sant Maharaj ji said, “He left after its service was completed.”
On seeing the astonished faces of the sangat, Sant Maharaj ji explained, “If the dog had not stopped the cars, we would have carried on with our journey. The Almighty instructed the dog to stop the cars till the time the two Sikhs appeared from the village. He performed his duty and then vanished.”
The two gentlemen brought some eatables. Everyone was served milk in steel glasses. Both the friends were happily serving the sangat. After the service and washing of the hands, they requested Sant Maharaj ji, “Maharaj! Please bless the village with your Holy feet.”
Sant Maharaj ji replied, “You have fulfilled your duty. We all have prayed for your welfare. We cannot stop here for more time as we have to go far.”