114. GURUJI STARTED LANGAR (FOOD FOR THE VISITING PEOPLE ON SHIVRATRI AND GURU POORNIMA DAYS)

In late 70’s Guruji started langar at Gurgaon Sthan.

The people living at distant cities who were cured or saved by Guruji now started missing Him and longed for some more occasions to have His Darshans. Two auspicious days, “Shivratri and Guru Poornima were the occasions which they choose to be at Gurgaon and meet Guruji for blessings.

Gradually the number of people raised to hundreds and then to thousands and since they came from distant places, they came a few days earlier also. Some stayed for one or two days but some relished to stay for more days ranging from 2 to 15 days.

As the number of devotees increased Guruji took to arranging for their food and their stay in Gurgaon, but in an organized way.

Guruji created a Group of some people and gave them the energy & responsibility to make the required arrangements. Bittoo, Pappu sardar, Nickoo and Gaggu were the selected young boys whome Guruji gave the responsibility in total and they fulfilled it in perfection and carried it on for years.

Guruji planned and wonderfully arranged the Langar material, like wheat flour, rice, daals and other edibles. Guruji called for a secret meeting of his Shishyas and appraised them the Langar programme. He selected a few of them and commanded them to share expenses from their earnings so that the devotees get food totally free of cost. Those who were selected for such contributions felt high and privileged. None of them was ever late in this decorated task. At an unprecedented occasion, if some one was late, He got scolding and an ultimatum from Guruji for deletion of his name from the list.

Like wise the staying arrangement was also made. It was organized by the four person’s team thoroughly successful. They arranged space from the Dharamshalas, Community Halls and the residents of the colony. Even, they offered their own houses for many families while honouring them and felt obliged. This team further recruited dozens of more Sevadaars who took the command directly from bittoo and the other three. This system went well organized.

Another team was created by Guruji which arranged cooking the food (langar). This was headed by Mama ji of Jalandhar accompanied by Dr. Shankar Narayan and Beli Ram ji. This team recruited around 200 devotees mostly from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. All the Sevadars constituted different segments : each segment worked with total devotion so that Guruji is pleased. Guruji would enter their chamber, made at back of the Sthan, covered with Tent & Shamiana, every day. All Sevadars would stand up in adoration, folded their hands with smiles of contentment and would faster their speeds when Guruji left. They felt great and recharged & blessed.

The working hours were 18 to 20 every day.

The jobs were marked as :-

•  Flour mix (atta)
•   Making pedaas (round balls of atta )
•   Roti belan (press rolling the round balls to make them flat for poories
•   Deep fry the flat rolled to make the poories (fried chapaties)
•   Storing the poories in a big container for delivery to distributors
•   Cutting the vegetables
•   Cooking vegetable curry
•   Washing daal and cooking it in the big size vessels
•   Making curd raita
•   Serving the food to the public who sat in rows on carpets in the pandaal
•   Removing the empty pattals (plates made from tree leafs)
•   Arrangement of tea & water

The serving pattern was so good that more than 1500 people would sit and eat at one time.

A unique history was made. Guruji made the menu Himelf taking personal interest of high importance. Guruji discussed recipes with Mamaji as if the preparing of food was for VIP’S. Every day different daal & vegetables were prepared for the uncountable people. Guruji was very fond of feeding Raita (curds mixed with small fried pakodies). He especially commanded Mamaji to make curds from milk and pakodies from gram flour. This mixture is called “Pakodi Raita”. Some time when it was Monday, the raita was prepared from boiled potatoes mixed with curds.

Arun kumar of Delhi, one of Guruji’s devotees said to me, “Mein, Guruji ke langar khilane ke andaaz ko yaad kar ke Kayee bar ro chuka hoon”.

But Guruji never ate from langar. He and Matarani would eat “Khichdi, cooked by Matarani Herself in Her family kitchen”.Matarani always ate after Guruji.

In 1990, the langar was served to almost 50,000 people in a day and continuously for about 15 days on Shivratri and Guru poornima festivals.

The first day to start the langar must have rain showers and the last day also must have rain showers. This was the law of Guruji.

Once I asked, “Guruji, what, if the rain does not fall, will the langar go on for unlimited days?” Guruji said, “Beta, how can that be?” “I am the Guru ! Beta”.

And all the years, the start and the end of langar concluded with rain showers. Nothing changed.

The langar still continues under direct control of Matarani. Thousands of devotees take the langar even now but the days are reduced to 5 or 6 instead of 15. Beli Ramji has gone to stay with Guruji. Mama ji & Dr. Shankar Narayan are still there to lead their team. They have added many new devotees like Devraj, Kaku and Pappu Pahadia and the langar of Guruji continues with the same grace and endeavor. Matarani is the absolute controller of arranging the entire langar materials and its preparations.

Two more days, besides Shivratri and Guru poornima have now been added for langar after 1990 which are organized at “Neelkanth Dhaam”, New Delhi.

 Neelkanth Dhaam

Neelkanth Dhaam is the Smadhi Sthal of Guruji. It is the spiritual land of a very high importance. This is the place of Agni Sanskar of Guruji’s divine body. Thousands of devotees visit and attend the two fabulous functions, designated as, the Nirvaan Divas and Basant Panchmi. The devotees offer flowers at the Smadhi Sthal, bow their heads and pray. Besides these important days, hundreds of devotees visit every day and pray to Guruji for fulfilment of their desires.

This is located behind power sub-station and a little ahead of Sai Baba Mandir at Najafgarh Road, about 10 km. From Rajouri Garden.

 Nirvaan Divas.

A prasaad of Halwa and boiled-salted Black Grams is distributed amongst thousands of Guruji’s devotees visiting from 11 am to 6 pm. It is organized by Matarani.

 Basant Panchmi.

A full fledged langar starting at 11 am till 6 pm is organized by Matarani. Sweet yellow rice is the speciality along with other usual dishes.

 Samadhi Sthal.

A white marble shrine of 9 feet x 9 feet has been built at the place of Agni Sanskar is called samadhi and the entire land is named “Neelkanth Dhaam”. A white marble moorat of Guruji along with a Shiv temple is also there. A huge hall with arrangement for thousands of devotees to sit and pray, is also a part of Dhaam.

Thousands of Guru bhaktas offer flowers, bow their heads and place their demands. Their desires and demands are fulfilled unnoticed. Its again a miracle that while bowing down their heads on the Smadhi or at Guruji’s moorat people whisper their demands silently and their wishes are fulfilled. The devotees visit here every day in the morning and evening for prayers.

This place is an abode of peace and a land of spiritualism. The divine presence of Guruji is felt & experienced by those who visit with love & adoration towards the invisible God, “Guruji”.

I pray, the readers visit this most holy and spiritual place and feel the presence of “Guruji”