After returning from his visit abroad, Satgurudev blessed the  ‘Bhakti Parv Samagam’ with his holy presence and blessed the saints from Delhi for a few days before proceeding on a tour to Punjab, Haryana and then Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.   Visiting innumerable places en route, when Satgurudev reached Bombay, thousands of devotees from Maharashtra and Gujarat accorded him a warm welcome.  On the request of devotees, His Holiness stayed there for three days.

The Sangat of Bombay is a live picture of unity in diversity.   The peaceful co-existence of Mahapurushas belonging to different states, speaking different languages, wearing different attire, and having divergent modes of living is the beauty of the Sangat of Bombay.  A majority of Sangat consists of Mahapurushas belonging to working class.  Though they are not affluent economically, yet their spirit of service and enthusiasm are worth watching.  During every programme of Satsang, one generally hears four to five languages.  This time too the devotees expressed their feelings of devotion in Marathi, Gujarati, Hindi and Sindhi etc. throughout the programmes held during three days.

In those days, the Satsang programmes were generally held in Nirankari Satsang Bhawans.  Government provided elaborate security at the Bhawans.  During these three days also, the Government of Maharashtra had provided special security at the Nirankari Bhawan.  Several senior police officers were there personally to look after the arrangements.  After talking to a few police officers, I felt that even they entertained a lot of misgivings regarding Nirankari Mission in their hearts.   Thus out of natural curiosity, they used to listen very attentively to all the discourses during the Satsang.  But they were extremely baffled when they heard exactly the opposite of whatever misunderstandings they had.  The conduct of the saints, the words of Mahapurushas as well as the discourses of Satgurudev provided them the correct picture of the Mission.

Shri Khem Raj Chadha had been given the responsibility of keeping a regular contact with the senior police officials.  On the second day of Gurudev’s stay in Bombay, an officer from the C.I.D. met Chadha Sahib and expressed a desire to meet Gurudev.  Chadha Sahib took him to His Holiness. After making a short conversation, the gentleman said, "Maharaj!  I attended yesterday's programme and quite liked it.  I am surprised that the propaganda that has been spread against you brands you as someone who dishonours the past Gurus and Avtars.  But in yesterday’s programme, I did not find or hear any such thing."

Gurudev said simply, "We give equal respect to all the Gurus as well as the prophets.  As you have seen for yourself, people from all religions and castes attend our Satsang.  If we show disrespect towards any Guru or prophet, then these people belonging to such diverse religious backgrounds will not like to come and sit together in such an amicable manner."

That gentleman asked a little hesitatingly, "Maharaj! Some people belonging to Sikh Community have propagated over here that you insult their religious scriptures.  They accuse you of sitting atop Guru Granth Sahib." On hearing his comments, Satgurudev remained silent for a while.  Then, trying to explain, he stated,  "I cannot perceive as to how does the educated class start believing all this.  People like us who belong to Indian culture cannot ever do such a thing.  As you must be knowing yourself that if by mistake we ever drop even an ordinary book on ground, we always pick it up, kiss it and place it on our heads in reverence.   Guru Granth Sahib contains the holy message of our great Gurus.  How can we ever dishonour it?"

After pausing for sometime, His Holiness stated further, "You attended the Satsang yesterday.  You must have observed that we do not display any religious book during our Satsang.  In the absence of a religious scripture, where is the question of keeping it either on top or at the bottom?   We give due and equal respect to all the scriptures.  We try to incorporate in our lives whatever is written in them and consider it our duty to mould our lives according to them.  Yes, this point must be understood that we do not worship any religious scripture as a ritual, because we believe that the real worship of a scripture lies in leading one’s life according to the words written therein."

"You too have a scripture by the name of Avtar Bani," that gentleman asked.  "It is being heard that a lot of objectionable things have been said about other religions in the same."

Gurudev replied in this context, "Avtar Bani is written by Satguru Baba Avtar Singh Ji.  It has been in print for the last 20-25 years.  Nobody ever raised any objection to it earlier.  For the last one or two years, a few comments have been overheard.  But till date, nobody has ever told us specifically as to what their objections are.  You must be aware that the Government had also stated that the objectionable parts in Avtar Bani must be reported so that the same can be investigated.   Till date nobody has come forward with their objections.  The fact is that there is nothing objectionable against any religion in it."

"Maharaj!  There is another scripture by the name of Yug-Purush which is being commented upon," that gentleman said further. 

"Yug-Purush is not our scripture."  Gurudev informed, "This is the biography of Baba Avtar Singh Ji that has been written by a devotee.  We have not found anything objectionable in it too.  You must be knowing that during his life, Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji said many times that objectionable parts, if any, may be brought to light so that they could be amended by the concerned writer.  Till today, however, nobody has apprised us of the same."

The gentleman was completely satisfied with Gurudev’s answers and left after bowing.  Thus blessing the Mahapurushas of Bombay for three days, Gurudev reached Allahabad after passing through a few places in Eastern Uttar Pradesh.  The Annual Samagam of U.P. had been organised in Allahabad.  During that Samagam Gurudev stated that devotees take only the shelter of the Almighty Nirankar.

Thereafter, Gurudev arrived at Calcutta for the Annual Samagam of West Bengal.  This programme had its own unique splendour.  The venue was packed to its full capacity with the presence of Bengali Mahapurushas.  A major part of the programme was held in Bengali and the culture of Bengal was more than clearly evident throughout.  During his discourse Gurudev appreciated the zeal and the zest of Mahapurushas belonging to that part of the country and inspired all to link themselves with Almighty Nirankar.

Gurudev went on a tour to South India after this Samagam.  Giving the eternal message of devotion to God to the Sangats of Madras, Bangalore, Hyderabad, etc., His Holiness reached back Delhi en-route Warsa, Nagpur and some other places.  Thus, while His Holiness was busy with the spiritual tours, the month of April 1981 approached.

‘Manav Ekta Sammelan’ had been organised in the month of April every year in some part of Northern India or the other ever since the time of Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji.  A decision was taken in the current year that ‘Manav Ekta Sammelan’ would be held on the 24^th of April every year as the apostle of the unity of mankind had laid down his life for this noble cause on this very day in 1980. 

The Sammelan was held in the Ramlila Ground of Delhi this year.   The same venue had hosted Annual Samagams of the Mission many times.  During this Sammelan, Nirankari world took two important decisions.  One was that henceforth, we would not ask the Government to nab and bring to book the assassins of Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji.  We would leave everything in the hands of the Almighty Nirankar.  The second decision was that we would rely only upon Nirankar and from that day onwards, we would not ask for any security cover from the Government.  It could take its security arrangements back.

Nirankari world could never have taken these decisions without receiving the regular guidance of Gurudev Hardev that we should merge our personal will in the will of God.

After this Sammelan, Nirankari Missionaries got busy with their missionary activities once again in a fearless and dedicated manner.  Holding of huge programmes of Satsang in public places was started.   Besides Nirankari Sangats, a lot of people from different religions would come to attend such open programmes.  They wanted to know more and more about His Holiness as well as the Mission.  Some people would meet Gurudev personally and discuss several topics. 

Once, a large Samagam was held at Indore which is a religious as also an ancient city in Madhya Pradesh.  It would not be wrong to call it a city of temples.  A large number of local devout population came to attend this Samagam.  Highlighting the principles, beliefs and ideology of Nirankari Mission, Gurudev stated:

"Sadh-Sangat!  We are not propagating some new belief.  The One who has been termed as 'Nirakar' by the Vedas and Shastras is being called by the name 'Nirankar' by us.  The difference between Nirakar and Nirankar is only lingual.  The meaning of both the words is the same.  This Formless God permeates each and every particle of the universe.  There is no place which is not pervaded by this Supreme Power.   All the scriptures as well as the saints and seers till date have affirmed that this Almighty Nirankar is ever present with us.   He is closer than even our 'jogular vein' to us.  God is essentially one even though He was remembered by different names by different saints and Mahapurushas during their respective times.  Some called Him 'Allah', some named him 'God' whereas others termed Him as 'Waheguru'.  The one who realises this Formless God with the grace of Satguru, contemplates Him and does not give any significance to any other power of nature besides Him, is a 'Nirankari' and together - such God-realised devotees are known as 'Nirankari Mission'.

Nirankari Mission has some simple tenets.  One of them is that all our belongings, be it material, intellectual or physical are a gift of the Formless God.  We should not have any pride on their account.  We have to live our life in total surrender devoid of any feeling of doership.  We must rise above all the feelings of duality and love everyone without getting entangled in the distinctions of high and low.  We must earn our livelihood by honest means and not be a burden upon society.

Sadh-Sangat! These tenets have not been created by us.  Since the beginning of this universe, these principles have been propagated.  If all the people of the world start loving each other forgetting all the differences, everybody becomes duty conscious, be it a mother, or a father, the government or the public, everyone becomes conscious towards one's responsibilities and starts working hard, then not only this country but the whole world would become happy.

If we adopt only this tenet that we will not have any pride on account of our body, mind or wealth, then all other discriminations would come to an end automatically.   All the feuds of the world are rooted in the pride of body, mind or wealth.  If we get rid of pride then we will not only enjoy the bliss of salvation during our life time but also obtain the fruit of eternal life very naturally."

After the conclusion of the programme, a few persons expressed their desire to seek some information from His Holiness.  Gurudev had to reach another place according to his pre-planned programme.  That is why His Holiness beckoned me to stay back and listen to them and he himself left after accepting their greetings.  I started talking to those gentlemen.  After expressing their appreciation for the discourse by His Holiness, one gentleman asked me, "When you people are also expounding the same Truth and the same tenets which have always been glorified by all the Vedas, Shastras and other religious scriptures since ages, then why are you giving it a new name and also giving rise to another sect?  As it is, our country is already divided in different sects and beliefs."

The gentleman had still not finished before another person interrupted him and said, "Your Baba Ji did not say anything new.  Our 'Upanishads' and Shruti-Smritis are full of such inferences." And in one breath, he read out three Shlokas :

Isha Vasyamid Sarva Yatkinch Jagatyan Jagat,
Tein Tyaktein Bhunjitha Ma Gridhah Kasya Swidri Dhanam.

(Whatever is there in the whole of universe, whether animate or inanimate, is all pervaded by God.  Live in it in a detached manner, do not get attached.  Do not consider the material powers as the be all and the end all).

Kurvatreveh Karmani Jijivishechhante Samah,
Evam Twaye Nanyathetoasti Na Karma Lipyate Nare.

(While performing one's duties, one should wish to live up to a hundred years.  The actions performed with a detached mind do not entangle a human being.  There is no other means of getting free from bondage).

Yastu Sarvani Bhutanyatmanyevanupashyate,
Sarvabhuteshu Chatmanam Tato Na Vijugupsate.

(The person who sees all the beings in God and God permeating all the beings, does not hate anyone).

After quoting these Mantras rapidly, that person asked in a pointed manner, "Sir! Did your Baba Ji not repeat the mere meaning of these very Mantras?   If so, then you only tell as to what was new in what he said?  We know all this even otherwise."

In the same manner, a Sindhi Mahapurusha also expressed similar feelings by saying that they have been reading these lines almost everyday:

Avval-Allah Noor Upaya, Kudrat Ke Sab Bande;
Ek Noor Te Sab Jag Upjya, Kaun Bhale Ko Mande.

or

Na Koi Vairi Na Hi Begana,
Sakal Sang Hamko Ban Aayi.

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