Giani Arjan Singh of village Mugowaal went to Uttar Pradesh and settled there. He was a devotee of Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj. Whenever he came to pay his homage to Sant Maharaj ji in Nirmal Kutiya Johalan, he requested for blessing his house in Uttar Pradesh.
Sant Maharaj ji traveled to his house in the year 1985.
There was a Tahli tree (Indian Rosewood) in front of the house of Giani Arjan Singh. It was not very high. During the summer season the tree did not cast a big shadow. Sant Maharaj ji sat under the shadow of the tree. He moved his cot under the shadow as the shadow moved. The devotees observed this action of Sant Maharaj ji. Sant Maharaj ji was in fact making the place Holy with his presence.
ਜਿਥੈ ਬੈਸਨਿ ਸਾਧ ਜਨ ਸੋ ਥਾਨੁ ਸੁਹੰਦਾ || (ਪੰਨਾ ੩੧੯)
Beautiful is that place, where the Holy people dwell. (Page 319)
The place under the tree became Holy and people started worshipping the tree. The people of the village revered it. Later, on the request of the sangat, Sant Maharaj ji decided to construct a building for a Gurdwara. Everyone joined in this service wholeheartedly and soon a beautiful Gurdwara was constructed.
Every month a SEHAJ PATH is started and the Bhog of the PATH takes place on the full moon’s day. Apart from this the devotees arrange AKHAND PATH from time to time. Day by day the sangat is increasing in the Gurdwara and just paying homage with full faith fulfills their wishes.
Every PURANMASHI (Full moon’s day) those who seek the ambrosial nectar are initiated into the fold of the Khalsa Army of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. Mahant Pritam Singh is ably looking after the administration of the Gurdwara.
The devotees living in the area arrange transports like trucks and cars and reach Nirmal Kutiya Johalan during the anniversary celebrations. They come to the Kutiya with full love and faith. Once in the Kutiya everyone gets involved in some kind of SEWA.
b) A family baptized by His Holiness by visiting their home
The families of Bhai Fakir Singh and Bhai Mehnga Singh live in Pallia in Uttar Pradesh. They longed to be baptized. First they went to Sri Amritsar Sahib, but the committee asked them to come on a different day. They came back to their house without achieving their mission.
Then they specially visited Sri Hazoor Sahib, Nanded. From there also they had to return disappointed.
These individuals decided that now they would not go anywhere as seekers. They had already been to two historical places and returned without being initiated. They prayed to the Tenth Guru Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib that if he wished them to be baptized then arrangements be made for the baptism in their house. They had so much faith in Guru Sahib that they knew that their wish would be fulfilled.
The one who knows the True Lord God, is called the True Guru. In His Company, the Sikh is saved, O Nanak, singing the Glorious Praises of the Lord. ||1|| (Page 286)
During his tour to UP, one day early in the morning, Sant Baba Gian Singh ji went to the house of Bhai Fakir Singh in Pallia. A knock was made on the closed door of Bhai ji. A voice was heard from inside, “Who is there?”
Sant Maharaj ji replied, “How can you ask this question – ‘Who is there?’ when you pray for getting baptized at your house. Please open the door. We have come to initiate you into the Khalsa Army with ambrosial nectar of the two edged sword.”
On listening to these words the entire families of the two devotees became thrilled. A congregation was held there. The Ragi’s sang the Holy Hymns. The PANJ PIARAS (The Five Beloved) prepared the ambrosial nectar and baptized the members of the two families.”
The families regularly visit Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. Bhai Mehnga Singh joins the service of reciting Gurbani during the AKHAND PATHS at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan.
c) Sant Maharaj ji visits village BAALO PATTI
In the year 1985 the state of Punjab was passing through difficult days of terrorism all around. Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj traveled fearlessly with his followers to Uttar Pradesh. Some of the followers were carrying weapons but some of them had left the licenses of their weapons at their residences.
While in Uttar Pradesh, Sant Maharaj ji reached the house of Sardar Bakhtawar Singh in village BAALO PATTI.
The Police on coming to know that many Sikhs had gathered in the village encircled the village at night around 10 pm. The villagers came to know about the village being encircled by policemen. The followers of Sant Maharaj ji who were not carrying the licences became afraid. They requested Sant Maharaj ji to cover up their mistake.
Sant Maharaj ji said, “If you have forgotten the license then at least have faith in the Almighty.”
Sant Maharaj’s words always had a deep meaning behind them. After a little investigation by the seniors, the Police cordon was removed.
After the Police left, some of the followers requested Sant Maharaj ji, “Maharaj ji! We should leave the village before sunrise.”
Sant Maharaj ji did not reply. It started raining and sangat had to wait for the rain to stop. In the morning the Police officials again turned up for an in depth investigation. Colonel Malkiat Singh and Subedar Zorawar Singh interacted with the officials. After the discussion, the senior official said, “I would like to talk to your Holy saint.”
Colonel Sahib said, “You are welcome to discuss anything with our Sant Maharaj ji.”
The officer came to Sant Maharaj ji and paid his respects. He then asked Sant Maharaj ji, “Maharaj! Please let me know the nature and details of your functions during your stay in the state. I would like to write down your itinerary.”
Sant Maharaj ji replied, “Why don’t you remain with us and watch for yourself the activities that we perform.”
Sant Maharaj ji then looked at the officer with his Holy eyes. The officer immediately bowed before Sant Maharaj ji and left.
The Police reached every place wherever a congregation was held. The congregation was limited to only religious preaching.
Sant Maharaj ji did not allow anyone to discuss politics in the sangat. The Police officials were pleased to observe that there was nothing political in the congregation. They were instead blessed by the DARSHAN of Sant Maharaj ji.
d) LIQUOR WILL NOT BE DISTILLED HERE
Many devotees of Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj live in the Gardhia Munshi area of Uttar Pradesh. Sant Maharaj ji reached this area whenever the sangat remembered him.
Once, Sant Maharaj ji was returning to Jalandhar with his followers after the tour to UP. When the car reached the town of Kanjli, Sant Maharaj ji desired to drink water. An attendant on seeing a tubewell running, said, “Maharaj ji! There is a tubewell nearby. If you permit me I will go and fetch fresh water.”
Sant Maharaj ji said, “No, not here! Let us go a little ahead.”
Sant Maharaj ji said to the driver, “You should stop the car where I ask you to do so.”
A house became visible from the road. Sant Maharaj ji asked the driver to stop the car. The car was stopped just in front of the house. This house also had a tubewell. An old man wearing a long shirt (A Chola) with rosary in his hand came out of the house.
Sant Maharaj ji said to the old man, “We would like to drink some water.”
The old man saw Sant Maharaj ji. He spoke in a modest voice, “Water cannot be served in the cars. Please come inside the house with the sangat.”
Sant Maharaj ji blessed the house with his Holy feet on observing the affection that the old man displayed. Sant Maharaj ji was made to sit on a cot covered with a bed sheet. The sangat sat on a Dari (A cotton carpet).
Water was first served and then milk was served to everyone.
Later the old man came to Sant Maharaj ji and said to him, “I have seven sons. All are involved in distilling country liquor. They have the bad habit of drinking. The practice is against Sikh principles. Please be kind enough and grant them the life of a Gursikh.”
Sant Maharaj ji said, “Well old man! Call your seven sons and bring them here.”
All the seven sons appeared before Sant Maharaj ji who spoke the following words:
Kabeer, those mortals who consume marijuana, fish and wine no matter what pilgrimages, fasts and rituals they follow, they will all go to hell. ||233|| (Page 1377)
Drinking the wine, his intelligence departs, and madness enters his mind; he cannot distinguish between his own and others, and he is struck down by his Lord and Master. Drinking it, he forgets his Lord and Master, and he is punished in the Court of the Lord. Do not drink the false wine at all, if it is in your power. (Page 554)
Sant Maharaj gave his preaching to the young men, “From today do not distill liquor and stop drinking alcohol.”
Sant Maharaj ji then said to the old man, “Old man! You should not worry now. Liquor will not be distilled in this house after today.”
Sant Maharaj ji left the place with his followers.
After a few days the sons started with their old work of distilling liquor. It so happened that whenever they placed the ingredients for distilling in the liquor drums, these drums were found to be empty when they wanted to take out the distilled liquor.
The sons thought that since their father was against the distillation, he must be emptying the drums. Next time they kept a daily watch in turn. But this time also they found the drums empty. They became fed up with this work and gave up the distillation of liquor altogether.
After a year Sant Maharaj again visited the village Kanjli and met the oldman and asked him, “Have your sons stopped distilling liquor?”
The oldman informed, “Maharaj! They tried their best to distill liquor. But whenever they tried to take out the liquor from the vessels in which the ingredients were poured, the vessels were found to be empty. Since the day your good self had said –‘Liquor will not be distilled in this house.’ – the same has not been distilled here.”
The family thanked Sant Maharaj ji for his blessings and for his showing the right Gursikh path. It is true that the words uttered by a sadhu never go in vain. Gurbani also says:
Night, day, and the stars in the sky shall vanish. The sun and the moon shall vanish. The mountains, the earth, the water and the air shall pass away. Only the Word of the Holy Saint shall endure. ||1|| (Page 1204)
e) GLORY IN PRAYING
Sardar Mohan Singh of village Chohak Kalan was a devout follower of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. He bought agricultural land in Uttar Pradesh and shifted there with his family. He came to know about the presence of Sant Baba Gian Singh ji in Uttar Pradesh. He thought, “How nice would it be if Sant Maharaj ji blessed my house with his Holy feet. I will be able to serve the great Holy saint and also the sangat.”
He discussed with his family and all agreed. He went to where Sant Maharaj ji was staying. He requested Sant Maharaj ji for arranging an AKHAND PATH (A 48 hour continuous recitation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib from beginning to the end) at his residence. Sant Maharaj ji gave him the permission for the AKHAND PATH. Sardar ji felt that his desire was fulfilled.
While the AKHAND PATH was going on at his residence, one of the villagers reported to the Police officials, “Sardar Mohan Singh is a Sikh. On the day of the Bhog, many Sikhs will collect at his house. There are many who have come from Punjab and no one knows about their background. Any untoward incident can happen.”
On this information, the Police officials came to the house of Sardar Mohan Singh and asked Sardar ji to stop the recitation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Also that he should stop people from visiting his house. He would be arrested if he did not follow the order.
Sardar ji was a blessed soul and was not afraid of Police action. He said, “Remembering the Almighty is no offence. I have started the recitation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib with the instructions of my great Holy saint. I do not have the power to stop the recitation. The meaning of AKHAND PATH is that once the recitation is started it cannot be stopped in between.”
The Police officer said, “There is a feeling that there will be a political discussion here. You people are going to be involved in giving fiery speeches against the country. We will not permit this to happen.”
Sardar ji replied, “You people have been misled by someone. Our Holy saint forbids us from indulging and giving importance to such issues. In the presence of the Holy saint, nothing else beyond the recitation of Kirtan and recitation of Gurbani can ever take place. You should be present here to see for yourself the discipline that is followed.”
Sant Maharaj ji started two hours earlier than the usual time for the residence of Sardar Mohan Singh. On the way someone mentioned about the presence of Police officials in the village. Sant Maharaj ji ignored any warning. He said to the driver, “You keep on driving. We are not going to listen to anyone. We have come here to complete our mission.”
Sant Maharaj ji was not stopped on the way and everyone reached the house of Sardar Mohan Singh. The Police force was present there. A Muslim Police officer on seeing the spiritual face of Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj not only bowed his head in reverence but also stretched his body on the ground and paid his respects.
The congregation was held wherein the Kirtan of the Holy Hymns was undertaken. Later after the Bhog, the langar was served to the sangat. Apart from Sikh families, people from other religions joined the congregation and shared the langar. The Police officials also partook of the langar.
There was nothing in the congregation beyond the recitation of Gurbani, singing of Holy Hymns and serving of langar. The senior Police officer was very impressed that everyone from the village had happily gathered to celebrate the presence of the Holy saint. The Police official sent a report to his seniors mentioning that if the administration permits the Holy saint who had come from Punjab, to tour the entire state of UP for the next six months, all fighting between different communities would end in the sate.
No one was ever satisfied on seeing the majestic face of Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj. The head automatically bowed in respect on seeing him. Sant Maharaj ji did not have to speak but his actions showed the respect he had for the Holy Book of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. If someone prostrated in front of him, he used to ask the person to pay his respects to Sri Guru Granth Sahib. He advised people to have faith in the Living Guru – Sri Guru Granth Sahib – and with true devotion the person would be able to fulfill all his wishes.
During the tour of UP in 1985, Sant Maharaj ji stayed in the state for about a month. Three separate teams were formed to carry out AKHAND PATHS at the same time at different places. Thirty AKHAND PATHS were carried out during the stay. Sardar Mohan Singh, whose incident is mentioned above, also carried out the AKHAND PATH in his residence in this series.
All this could be achieved because of the spiritual life led by Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj.