On November 26, 1983, a huge Sant Samagam was organized in Chandigarh from 3.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.  Like in the past, thousands of devotees attended the same and sought Gurudev Hardev�s blessings.  Gurudev said in his discourse:

People are turning atheists today.  There are many reasons for this, but the major factor responsible for this is the vast difference or gap between the words and the deeds of the people who call themselves religious.  In word, they wish for the welfare of all but in deed, they are more dangerous than even beasts.   Looking at this, the educated community of today is getting alienated from God; they refuse to believe in the very existence of God.

Gurudev took rest for the night at Chandigarh Satsang Bhawan and proceeded for Karnal in the morning next day.

The day being Sunday, the congregation in Karnal on November 27, 1983 took the form of a huge Sant Samagam.  The Sewa Dal of that area had also organized its Zonal programme here.  Therefore, hundreds of Sewa Dal members welcomed Gurudev Hardev in their Khaki uniform.  Speaking on this occasion Gurudev said:

The spirit of service (Sewa) is the foundation of spirituality.  It destroys all kinds of miseries quite naturally.  We should, therefore, always be ready to render Sewa physically, mentally and materially.

At 6.00 p.m. His Holiness returned to Delhi along with Rev. Nirankari Rajmata ji, Pujya Mata Sawinder Ji and other saints.

It is quite difficult for Gurudev Hardev to find time from his busy schedule in Delhi, but still he always spares some time to go from place to place and bless the devotees.  This time, he reached Meerut on Saturday, December 17, 1983 along with several saints.  Devotees kept on pouring in at the place where His Holiness was staying, to seek his benign blessings.  Next day, a massive congregation was organized in the vast ground of R.A.Bazaar (Topkhana), Raj Mohalla from 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.  Since it was Sunday, hundreds of devotees and other God-loving people attended the congregation and listened to Baba Ji�s holy discourse.  In his discourse, His Holiness said:

Gursikh (disciple) is the name given to a resolute devotee of the Master.     It means that a person who leads his life according to the wishes of the Master is called a �Gurusikh� in real sense.  A true Gursikh speaks sweet words, remains humble, does not ever disrespect anyone and stays immersed every moment in the divine love of the Guru and Nirankar.  The discrimination between a friend and a foe disappears from the mind of Gursikh and he considers his own welfare only a part of the welfare of others.  Therefore, he is always busy working for the welfare of all.

From Delhi, Gurudev left for a tour of some towns of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.  The first station of his halt was Farrukhabd.  The congregation was organised in a Dharmshala from 4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. on December 24.  Devotees had come from Farrukhabad  and  the neighbouring villages.  Satgurudev said:

Most of the saints who are sitting here, are labourers who toil hard day and night to earn their livelihood.  On seeing you, people often wonder what kind of devotees you are, how can you be called devotees and where such devotees have come from.   In their view devotees are those who renounce everything and sit in penance in forests day and night.  You, however, know that all the saints and prophets who appeared on this earth from time to time, never renounced their hearth and home and went to jungles or mountains, nor did they ever teach anyone to do so.  Today, you are following the path shown by these holy men.  You are true saints.  You have always fulfilled your responsibilities.  May you continue to work hard with your own hands, earn your livelihood and look after your families.  Saints work in a selfless manner.   They never try to cheat others of their money.  They live happily within the means that God has given them.

On December 25 the congregation was to be held in Lucknow - the state capital of Uttar Pradesh.  Satgurudev reached here around 3.00 p.m.  A huge congregation was organised in the Satsang Bhawan in Singar Nagar from 4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.  Addressing the gathering, Gurudev said:

We got this human life to know the all-pervading omnipresent God.  This knowledge can be bestowed only by the one who is himself God-realised.  Life becomes happy only after meeting such a God-realised saint.

When Gurudev was taking a stroll at night, some Sikh gentlemen came to discuss something.  Gurudev spoke to them quite intimately.  During the discussion, they asked Gurudev, "We read Gurbani with full sense of devotion regularly both in the morning and in the evening, yet why does our mind not find peace?"

Gurudev said, "Mind does not become tranquil till the time it is not linked with the ever-tranquil Supreme Being.  What can I tell you as you are more conversant with Gurbani as compared to me.  It is written in Gurbani only that �Shant Payi Gur Satgur Pure� i.e., I have attained tranquility through the perfect Master."

In his sweet words Gurudev added again, "You may continue to read Gurbani in the morning and in the evening everyday.  It is a good thing to read Gurbani.   But mere reading of Gurbani will not bestow any peace of mind.  We can attain the peace of mind only by acting upon what Gurbani says."

Later, we came to know that they were the priests of the local Gurdwara and extremely sincere and true-hearted persons.

On December 26, 1983, Satgurudev reached Sultanpur along with Pujya Mata Sawinder Ji and other saints.  The congregation was held here in the local Satsang Bhawan between 11.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m.  Hundreds of simple looking rural devotees were present to receive Satgurudev�s holy blessings.  In his discourse, Satgurudev said:

The world is watching today the way the Nirankari saints lead their lives.  Only you saints can save the world burning in the fire of hatred and animosity.  You must love everyone and wish for the welfare of all.

Starting from Sultanpur in the afternoon, Satgurudev reached Phoolpur, a place in Distt. Allahabad, the same evening.  A big Samagam had been organized here by the saints from Allahabad.  It would be better to call it the Sant Samagam of Eastern Uttar Pradesh. 

Thousands of Nirankari devotees as well as devout citizens of Sultanpur accorded a loving welcome to Satgurudev and Pujya Mata Ji.  The programme was held from 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.  In his discourse, Satgurudev was all praise for the life full of devotion being led by the people here and exhorted all others also to adopt the same selflessly.

Gurudev rested for the night at Allahabad.

Next day, Gurudev Hardev left Allahabad in the morning and reached Kanpur.  An impressive congregation was held here in the local Satsang Bhawan from 4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.  The enthusiasm of the devotees was worth seeing.  Blessing the gathering by his inspiring words, Satgurudev said:

The root cause of the man�s misery is his pride.  Man may make any sacrifice but he gets entangled in its pride.  What is the use of such a sacrifice?  It is the pride, the ego which ought to be sacrificed.  There lies the true happiness and the bliss.

Some eminent local leaders were present here in Kanpur too to meet Gurudev.  They appealed to him, "Baba Ji, we have been hearing a lot about you for quite some time.  All that you are stating has already been written by our ancestors.  We want that you may join our party and preach this message of Truth, because you know our party has always been working for the welfare of all.  You talk of everybody�s welfare while we are also endeavouring day and night to awaken the people."

Gurudev said, "We are saintly people and those who follow the path shown by saints would not like to be called the followers of any group or party.   On the other hand, they worship One God who is the Creator and Nurturer of all and they consider to love the whole creation as their religion.  Saints do not unite people on any worldly basis.   They ask people to become one by knowing the One."

With these words Gurudev moved towards his room to take rest and the leaders too begged Gurudev�s leave and went to their respective homes.

After spending the night at Kanpur, Satguru Baba Ji proceeded for Agra the next morning.  The same evening, a congregation was held from 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. in the big hall of Bhagwati College.  During this programme a respectful tribute was paid to the Nirankari saint, Munna Babu Ji�s father, Seth Achal Singh Ji. 

Satgurudev stated in his discourse here:

Saints do not believe in saying but doing.  They do not preach.  On the other hand, they present an example to the world by following these teachings in their practical life.

The night stay had been arranged at Agra itself.

Next day, Gurudev Hardev reached Jaipur - the capital of Rajasthan. A congregation was held here at the local Sant Nirankari Satsang Bhawan from 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.  Blessing the gathering, Satgurudev said:

A devotee always lives as humblest of the humble.  He never feels proud of what he does.  He is proud of the Formless One on whom he always relies.

After staying for the night at Jaipur, His Holiness proceeded for Alwar next day in the morning.  The congregation in Alwar was held between 11.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m.  Besides Nirankari devotees, a number of God-loving eminent citizens of the town were also present to receive Satgurudev�s blessings during this programme.  Pointing out to the difference between the words and the deeds of those who call themselves religious, Satgurudev said:

Though everybody says verbally that God is ever present with us, He exists everywhere, He pervades each and every particle of the universe, but when it comes to belief, they either point towards the sky or start talking about some forests or caves.  When God is omnipresent, why should one go searching for Him in forests or mountains?   What we need is not to go far off, but to search for the one who knows Him.  If we come across the one who knows God, all our wandering will end.

From Alwar, Gurudev reached Rewari.  The congregation here was held in the Nirankari Satsang Bhawan from 4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.  Addressing the hundreds of saints present  here, His Holiness said:

Those who suffer from passion, anger or greed cannot become devotees, nor can the ones who are stuck in the pride of caste, creed and colour.  One can liberate oneself from desire, anger, greed and avarice etc. only by seeking the shelter of the Almighty God.

Gurudev halted there for sometime and took his lunch.  Some eminent gentlemen who had listened to his discourse came to the place where lunch was arranged and appealed to His Holiness, "Baba Ji, your discourse has caused a little confusion.  Though, all of your followers do not feel proud on account of their caste or creed, yet they are found stuck in this world of passion, anger and avarice and still you call them saints or true devotees.   How can both these things be possible simultaneously?"

Gurudev explained briefly and said, "Those who are stuck in the clutches of passion, anger and avarice, really cannot become devotees.  But those who have attained the knowledge of Truth from a God-realised saint, do not get affected by these negative feelings.  They overpower these feelings.   Passion, anger, avarice, attachment, etc.  take us away from devotion only when they overpower us, but they cannot harm a saint as he always overpowers them."

After this, Satgurudev along with Pujya Mata Sawinder Ji and the rest of the preacher saints proceeded for Delhi by road.  The same evening, His Holiness reached Sant Nirankari Colony (Delhi), where the devotees from and around the Colony were awaiting their return eagerly.

Like every year, Bhakti Parv was celebrated with a deep spirit of devotion and faith this year too.  This time, the Samagam was held on January 15, 1984 (Sunday) at Santokh Sarovar (Delhi), like in the past.

Most of the saints who spoke on the occasion begged for the boon of selfless devotion.  Some speakers expressed their anxiety over the incidents of violence in Punjab.  A number of poets read their poems on the theme: �Jo Sewa Eh Parwan Kare� - �The Service which He Will Accept.�   Most of the speakers referred to the inspiring life of Santokh Singh Ji, former editor of �Sant Nirankari�.  It may be mentioned that the name of Santokh Singh Ji is specially connected with Bhakti Parv.  Baba Avtar Singh Ji had given permission to celebrate Bhakti Parv every year at Santokh Sarovar only on account of his selfless service and devotion.  Addressing the gathering Satguru Baba Ji said:

Bhakti Parv is celebrated to take inspiration from the lives of all the saints, whether they belonged to the present times or lived thousands of years ago.  We must take inspiration from the lives of all of them.  The real meaning of devotion is to surrender  -  to surrender one�s ego at the altar of the Formless One.

His Holiness added:

Ego is the biggest obstacle in our path.  It is the real root cause of all that worries us.  If we renounce the wealth but become proud of that renunciation, then it would be said that though wealth has been renounced, pride has not been renounced.  The true bliss of devotion can only be enjoyed after renouncing pride in every form.

From Delhi, on January 20, Satgurudev Hardev reached Bombay by air.  Pujya Mata Sawinder Ji as also Nirankari Rajmata Ji accompanied him.  Rishi Vyas Ji along with other saints accorded a grand welcome to them at the airport.  The moment Gurudev�s cars reached the Nirankari Satsang Bhawan in Chembur, thousands of devotees present there, greeted them with joy.  The whole atmosphere started resounding with the happy greetings hailing Gurudev.  The same evening, a congregation had been organised in the Satsang Bhawan where Satgurudev heartily blessed everybody.

On January 21-22, 1984, the 17th Annual Sant Samagam of Maharashtra was celebrated in Bombay in an atmosphere overflowing with the feelings of zeal and devotion.  Besides thousands of Marathi saints, devotees had come from Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, etc.  Innumerable saints from North India attended the Samagam.  The devotees were blessed with the holy glimpses by Satgurudev Hardev Ji Maharaj, Mata Sawinder Ji and Nirankari Rajmata Kulwant Kaur Ji. 

On January 21, 1984, blessing a mammoth gathering of devotees Satgurudev Hardev said:

The cordial manner in which saints are sitting together, staying with each other without making any discrimination on the basis of caste, creed or language, giving due regard to every being and respecting everybody�s beliefs, is the aim of this Mission.  Saints are always a symbol of humility and brotherhood.  The Nriankari Mission today is bringing reality to the dreams of the saints and seers of the past.    We must keep embracing such noble virtues in future also.

On the second day of Samagam, a poetic symposium had been organised on the topic �Pujna Insan Ko Hai Bandgi Bhagwan Ki� - �Worship of the Mankind is the Worship of God�.  Besides Maharashtra, many poets from Delhi as well as Punjab took part in the symposium and read their powerful compositions.  Emotional tributes were also paid to the martyrs of Punjab.

Satguru Baba Ji said:

Even a child can inflict a wound, but everybody can not perform the job of stitching and healing the same.  We have to perform this arduous task.  We must always abide by the teachings of saints and sages of the past.  Very soon the efforts of all of you saints would regenerate an atmosphere of love and brotherhood in the world.

Though the Regional Sant Samagam had already concluded on January 22, a special and massive programme of �Guru-Puja� was organized on January 23 in Bombay.  Next day i.e., on January 24, another huge congregation was held in the Satsang Bhawan in Bhandup.  Saints from all over Bombay attended the same enthusiastically and received Satgurudev�s blessings.

Satgurudev left Bombay on January 25 in the afternoon and reached Delhi after about one month, visiting many other places of Maharashtra and other States en route.

This particular spiritual tour of Gurudev might have concluded with his return to Delhi but the crusade for human welfare has been going on uninterruptedly till date.  The details of the same have been reaching the readers through our magazines.

The main objective behind publishing these two parts of �Gurudev Hardev� is merely to inform the readers that Gurudev Hardev has been busy day and night in spreading the message of Truth ever since he took upon himself the responsibility of this Mission.  Despite unfavourable circumstances, Baba Ji�s holy presence as also lofty feelings for the welfare of humanity helped in spreading the Mission�s principles of Truth to one and all and thus succeeded in removing the doubts from the minds of the people.  With this concludes this series of writing.

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