Obeying the instructions of his Gurudev, Sant Baba Harnam Singh ji, Sant Baba ji did not continue living further in the Shivalik Mountains. He left the mountains and walked to a spot near village Bhatolian. There was a mango tree on this place. It was known as ‘Challi Mango’ tree. Sant Baba ji made this spot as his abode. The place was three kilometers east of village Bhunge. Two well-known villages Fatehpur and Kabirpur surrounded the spot.
Although today sprawling agricultural fields surround the place, yet during those days, the place was a complete jungle. Many wild animals and snakes moved freely in the area.
The residents of the villages observed Sant Baba ji and thought that he must be a holy soul that had come to bless them. They approached Sant Baba ji and requested him, “This place is not safe for humans. We request you to please choose a place closer to one of the villages.”
Sant Baba ji politely replied, “All places are made by the Almighty. The Lord is present everywhere.”
One of the persons said, “You are right. But the wild animals and snakes will not let you meditate.”
Sant Baba ji explained, “Every one has a duty to perform. I will perform my duty and the animals and snakes will perform theirs.”
The villagers did not persist further. They decided among themselves that the holy saint was here for a good cause and they should not interfere unnecessarily.
Sant Baba ji remained at this place for about thirteen years. The wild animals continued roaming around. Villagers saw the snakes surrounding the place. But none harmed the meditating hermit.
The villagers came to pay their homage to Sant Baba ji. He was a very quiet saint. People felt like having his darshan again and again. Though many times when they came Sant Baba ji kept his eyes closed and did not come out of his meditation, yet these people did not stop coming. They were recipients of a strange solace in the presence of Sant Baba ji. The devotees brought donations in the form of cooked food or fruit. Even after a long wait when Sant Baba ji did not open his eyes, these persons left the langar/parshad for Sant Baba ji. Sant Baba ji distributed the parshad amongst the animals and he himself ate very little.
Sant Baba ji was kind to the animals and loved each one of them. The animals also responded by being faithful to him. Animals do not detest human beings the way humans hate each other. It is another matter that some of the animals eat and prey on grass eating animals.
Sant Baba ji was blessing the animals with his love. The animals behaved like his disciples. The villagers observed them to have changed. Who knew what the actual transformation, in the next birth, would be like?
It is said that when Sant Baba ji left this place, a cobra made this place as its abode. No one came near the cobra.
Later, during the times of Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj, the
beloved disciple of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj, the devotees
approached for the construction of a Gurdwara at the place of
the meditation. Sant Baba Gian Singh ji consented to the proposal.
Arrangements were made for an Akhand Path near the spot. A
cobra appeared and the villagers diverted it towards a sack and
captured it. The villagers could have killed it but waited for the
instructions of Sant Baba Gian Singh ji. When Sant Baba Gian Singh
ji was told about the capture of the cobra, he came to the spot. The
cobra was released from the sack. Once out of the captivity, the
cobra started moving towards Sant Baba Gian Singh ji. The villagers
moved forward to block its advance, but they were stopped by
Sant ji. The cobra after moving a few steps suddenly stopped in its
tracks. The villagers examined it with sticks, but found that it was
dead. The deadly snake had completed its journey in this world
and died near the feet of a holy saint.
Sant Baba Gian Singh ji asked the sangat to dig a pit in the ground
and bury the snake there. He gave a silken scarf to cover the dead
snake.
Sant Baba Gian Singh ji explained to the sangat, “The snake was
protecting the place of meditation of Gurudev. Since the sangat
has now decided to look after the place and build a Gurdwara, the
duty of the cobra is over.”
A beautiful Gurdwara now stands at the place of Tapasya of Sant
Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj.