Under the directions of Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj one hundred and fifty baptized Sikhs joined this tour. The entire group comprised of Ragis, group of musicians who sing religious songs and Sikh preachers. The group members traveled by two buses, and by the Matador of Subedar Zorawar Singh of Dhupai. Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj traveled in the car of Jathedar Balbir Singh of Kukar Pind.
Some incidents from this tour are as follows:
i) A lady blessed by Sant Baba Karam Singh ji Maharaj of Hoti Mardaan in the form of Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj
The tour started from the Holy city of Sri Amritsar. After visiting the historical places in different cities the group reached the city of Jabalpur.
The devotees at Jabalpur had to wait for two days as the group got delayed on the way. The group members stayed at the Jabalpur Gurdwara. The management team of Jabalpur were enthralled with the presence of Sant Maharaj ji in their midst. The sangat had been granted a rare opportunity to serve the devotees of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. The group members were served snacks etc. Bedding was laid down for them to rest and relax.
An old lady, who happened to live in Jabalpur during those days, was a devotee of Sant Baba Karam Singh ji Maharaj of Hoti Mardaan. She had vowed to offer some money and a shawl at the feet of Sant Baba Karam Singh ji Maharaj. She was alone and had grown old and this wish of her remained unfulfilled. The day Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj reached Jabalpur, the lady dreamt about Sant Baba Karam Singh ji Maharaj, during the night.
Sant Baba Karam Singh ji Maharaj instructed her, “I have come to your city of Jabalpur and am staying in the Gurdwara. I am waiting to receive your offerings.”
The old lady got up in the morning and was very cheerful. She felt that her long desire would get fulfilled. There was no doubt about the instructions she had received in the dream. Her heart felt that it was a divine order, which she should obey.
She collected the offerings and went to the Gurdwara. She came to know about the presence of the Holy saint who had come with his followers from Punjab. Under the aegis of Sant Maharaj ji a Diwan was held in the Gurdwara. After the Bhog and Ardas, the old lady came towards Sant Maharaj ji and placed her offerings in front of him. Subedar Zorawar Singh of Dhupai stopped her from doing so. He said, “Sant Maharaj ji does not accept any offerings?”
The old lady angrily said, “Don’t come in my way. I have come to offer the things I had vowed to offer Sant Baba Karam Singh ji Maharaj of Hoti Mardaan.”
Subedar Sahib told the old lady, “This Holy saint is Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj. He is from the Hoti Mardaan sect.”
The old lady said, “You people are all blind. You are unable to have the DARSHAN of the Lord. This Holy saint has the complexion of Sant Baba Karam Singh ji Maharaj who came in my dream last night and asked for his offering from me. He informed me that he was in the Gurdwara waiting for me. I have come to give this offering to Sant Baba Karam Singh ji Maharaj.”
Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj was watching this scene quietly. He said to Subedar Sahib, “Let the old lady fulfill her desire.”
The old lady placed a shawl and a sum of Rs101/- in front of Sant Maharaj ji. Sant Maharaj ji accepted the shawl while the money was asked to be placed in the moneybox of the Gurdwara.
The old lady was happy and felt satisfied, as a big burden had been removed from her shoulders. She returned home after the Darshan of Sant Maharaj ji.
The followers of Sant Maharaj ji were very impressed by this event and bowed their head in reverence before Sant Maharaj ji.
ii) Producing milk from dry udder of a buffalo in Allahabad
According to the instructions of Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj, no one was permitted to carry any eatables with him on this tour. This was announced at the beginning of the tour. He had also mentioned that the person who was found to be carrying any eatables would be dropped on the way.
The tour reached the city of Allahabad. Here the caravan was stopped near a mango tree orchard. Sant Maharaj ji said, “Let us have something to eat here.”
The outskirts of the city where the caravan had stopped was a lonely place. The devotees were in suspense as to from where food, milk or even water would be obtained?
The driver of the bus came forward and announced that he had four kilos of sugar along with tealeaves, which the earlier passengers had left behind.
Sant Maharaj ji said, “That means there is no problem in preparing the tea.”
The devotees collected some stones and bricks lying around and made a small cooking fire. Dry wood was collected and a fire ignited. Water was collected from a nearby tubewell and kept for boiling in a pan on the fire.
Now only milk was needed for tea. Sant Maharaj ji asked Bhai Karam Singh and Bhai Ajit Singh of Jagadhri, “There are two buffaloes standing there. Go and fetch some milk by requesting the owner.”
Both picked up a pan and went to the direction pointed out by Sant Maharaj ji. They approached the owner of the buffaloes and said to him, “We need some milk for preparing tea. Please lend us some milk.”
The owner explained, “One of the buffalo is off milk and the second one gives milk every third day and that too only one fourth of a Kilo. I have already milked the buffalo today.”
Both came back and reported to Sant Maharaj ji the information given to them by the owner.
Sant Maharaj ji said, “Go and tell the owner to pat one of the buffaloes and milk it.”
Both of them again approached the owner and told him about the remarks of Sant Maharaj ji. The owner said, “Sardar ji! The udders of the buffalo are completely dry. There is no milk. Nothing will happen even if I pat the buffalo? It is not going to make any difference.”
Bhai Karam Singh requested him, “The words of Sant Maharaj ji are divine words. You just pat the buffalo and sit down to milk it.”
An irritated owner agreed to milk the buffalo. He said, “OK! Give me your pan.” He patted the buffalo and sat down to milk it. He was astonished to see that three and a half litres of milk was obtained from the dry udder of the buffalo.
When both the devotees came back with the milk, the owner also joined them. He touched the feet of Sant Maharaj ji and said, “Maharaj! Please let me know what words you spoke to my buffalo that it was able to give so much milk. I will also speak those words everyday to milk it.”
Sant Maharaj ji did not reply to his question. Instead he asked Bhai Karam Singh to pay the owner for the milk.
The owner pleaded, “I do not require the money. Please do let me know how you were able to get the milk from the dry udder of my buffalo?”
A sum of fifteen rupees was placed in the pocket of the owner. Sant Maharaj ji said, “Your buffalo was to serve its milk to the members of this group. It has done so. You may please leave now.”
The owner bowed his head and left with many questions left unanswered.
Preparation of the tea with the milk, sugar and tealeaves was started.
Giani Malkiat Singh of village Hazara did not know the instructions of Sant Maharaj ji of not carrying any eatables. He had kept a box full of PINNIS in the dickey of the vehicle. He came to know about the instructions later on the way but had kept quiet till now. Today, he gathered his courage and made a request to Subedar Sahib, “By mistake I have brought a box of PINNIS. Could you request Sant Maharaj ji for serving them with the tea that is being prepared?”
Subedar Sahib said, “Don’t worry Giani ji. Take out the box. Let us serve two PINNIS to Sant Maharaj ji in a bowl.”
Subedar ji offered the PINNIS to Sant Maharaj ji and requested him, “Maharaj ji! Giani Malkiat Singh has carried a box of PINNIS by mistake in his car. He did not know about your instructions. He is offering them to you to eat. Please accept and excuse him for his mistake.”
Sant Maharaj ji a bundle of kindness in his heart did not mention about his instructions and said, “A little while ago, it had become difficult to prepare tea. The Lord is so kind that now these PINNIS have been made available by Him for eating with the tea.”
Sant Maharaj ji ate the PINNIS and also asked for them to be served to the followers. The devotees were served PINNIS and tea. All the PINNIS were finished there and none were left to be carried along.
In a secluded place where there was nothing to be found, the Almighty blessed his devotees through Sant Maharaj ji and tea and PINNIS were served. Sant Maharaj ji said, “We should always remember the merciful Lord. He alone is the benevolent One and because of His kindness we are able to eat such tasty products.”
By His Grace, you partake of the thirty-six delicacies; enshrine that Lord and Master within your mind. (Page 269)
iii) A VISIT TO SRI HAZOOR SAHIB
The tour reached the Holy historic city of Sri Hazoor Sahib after leaving Jabalpur. Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj stayed at ‘NIRANKAR NIWAS’ alongwith the followers. Moni Joginder Singh, the Head Priest of Takhat Sri Hazoor Sahib, came to know about the presence of Sant Maharaj ji. He immediately came to visit Sant Maharaj ji. After paying his respects Moni ji said, “Maharaj! Please be kind and bless me with your presence at my residence.”
Sant Maharaj ji observed a lot of love and affection in the words of Moni ji and went to his residence. A special raised seat was prepared and Sant Maharaj ji was requested to sit on it. Sant Maharaj ji sat on this seat. Keeping the respect of Sant Maharaj ji in mind, Moni ji laid his mat on the floor, besides Sant Maharaj ji. He was about to sit on his mat when Sant Maharaj addressed him, “Moni ji! Please come and sit with me.”
Moni ji was respected because of his position in the Sikh society. Moreover he had been performing the SEWA of the place of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib dutifully and with love. However, Moni ji’s eyes were full of tears when he sat beside Sant Maharaj ji. He considered it to be an honor to sit beside such a great saint.
During the night Sant Maharaj ji and Moni ji talked on the subject of divinity, devotion and love for the Almighty. All the doubts of Moni ji about various issues on spirituality were cleared by Sant Maharaj ji. He was very happy and was impressed with the simplicity with which Sant Maharaj ji expressed his logic. Sant Maharaj ji’s words touched his heart.
He fell at the feet of Sant Maharaj ji and said, “I have come across many ascetics, but none could clarify the difficult issue in such a simple manner.”
Sant Maharaj ji only smiled and did not say anything. After some time Moni ji said, “Patshah! We will like to honor you with an extraordinary KHILLAT (A dress). We will dress you with our own hands.”
Sant Maharaj ji nodded and said, “As you wish.”
Next day, after breakfast, Sant Maharaj ji was made to wear a KHILLAT. It had broad borders and was full of golden embroidery. A turban was tied by Moni ji on the already tied turban of Sant Maharaj ji. Sant Maharaj ji was then made to wear a SHERWANI, which was also full of golden embroidery. Moni ji presented a sword and then touched the feet of Sant Maharaj ji. He said, “I have today observed in you the brilliance that sparkles from Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib.”
The entire devotees of Sant Maharaj ji were also adorned with robes of honor and presented a packet each of PINNI Parshad.
Sant Maharaj ji visited the Takhat at Hazoor Sahib in the new dress with the sangat and thanked the Almighty for his kindness. The followers of Sant Maharaj ji who were accompanying him were grateful to the Lord for their being in such august company.
Leaving Sri Hazoor Sahib the group went to Gurdwara Nanak Jhira. It is located in the foothills amidst an atmosphere that is replete with serenity. Jhira means a fountain or spring.
Guru Nanak Dev ji visited Bidar, then a small village, in the course of his tours across the country. People thronged to hear him. Guru Nanak heard of their woes about only brackish water being available in the area and their longing for sweet potable water. Pir Jalaluddin and his followers from the nearby Muslims monastery also paid obeisance to the Guru and impressed upon him the need for sweet water in Bidar. In deference to their wishes, the compassionate Guruji uttering Sat Kartar shifted a stone with his wooden sandal, and lo and behold out gushed a spring of sweet water from the spot that has never dried since. The water at this place is known to cure several ailments.
The administrators of the Gurdwara on observing the divine Sant Maharaj ji and his amritdhari followers were very impressed. They all were overwhelmed with joy on seeing such a large contingent of baptized Sikhs. They honored each individual with a saffron robe and PINNI Parshad.
The eventful tour of the entire country in the year 1978 would remain close to the hearts of all the 150 Sikhs who were part of the group of Sant Maharaj ji.