Sant Baba Nidhan Singh
Sant Baba Nidhan Singh Ji was born in 1882 in Nadalon village of Hoshiarpur district of Punjab, in the house of Sardar Uttam Singh, a Sikh Rajput of Parmar clan. Even as a young child his thoughts were on God as his mentor and teacher Sant Baba Diwan Singh Ji taught him the way of seva and simran in his early years. At the age of 18 he left his family and joined the military in Jhasi, but he never took to the job, and used all his spare time in contemplation of God.
So after leaving the army he started his journey towards Nanded. He did seva at Takht Shri Sachkhand Sahib for twelve years with full devotion. When his ardent dedication he soon became a prominent figure at Sachkhand. So some jealous people started teasing him and tornented him lot. So one day Baba Ji decided to return to Punjab and do seva there. He went to the Nanded railway Station and was waiting for the train and offering prayer. Later he told others that he had suddenly noticed a special light coming from the sky and that he had actually had ‘Darshan’ of Guru Gobind Singh Ji along with his Eagle and Horse.
He said that Dashmesh pita asked him, “ Where are you going? “ Baba Ji answered him, “ Here jealous people are not letting me to do seva whole heartedly so I am thinking of going back to Punjab and will do seva there”. Kalgidhar Patshah (a third title of Guru Gobind Singh- Roughly the Great Lord who wears a Kalgi) then directed Baba Ji not to leave Nanded, telling him, "start the age old tradition of ‘Langar’ at Takht Shri Sachkhand Sahib by uttering these words - “HATH TERA KHISA MERA”, meaning that Baba Nidhan Singh should prepare Langar and see to its distribution among the devotees and leave the Guru to take care care of expenses. After this aparition Baba Nidhan Singh Ji returned to the Gurdwara to establish langar.
In the initial days resources were scarce, how exactly it was that Guru Gobind Singh's appearance in the form of light and his part of the promise (taking care of the expenses was going to manifest wasn't always exactly clear, but his hardwork and commitment lead to the Langer's continued existance on permanent footings. Slowly all the Khalsa started realizing importance of this langar and joined in the seva of Baba Nidhan Singh Ji. This is the main reason why lakhs and lakhs of devotees visit everyday and eat the Langar as Prasad of Gurudwara, even today with ever growing numbers of visitors to serve there is no shortage in Grudwara Langar Sahib. This is the magic of the words said by Kalgidhar Sachche Patshah (a title used for Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji during his lifetime, literally The Kalgi wearing Great King of Truth or True King) to a dejected and disheartened Baba Nidhan Singh. This Gurudwara is situated on the bank of holy river Godavari and is just a kilometer away from Nanded Station.
In his last address, Guru Gobind Singh Ji emphasized the importance of Langar and enjoined upon the Khalsa to continue this praxtise especially on this holy shrine, at all costs. At this, Bhai Santokh Singh, the first priest appointed at this holy shrine by Master himself with his folded hands, sought form Guru Ji, some clarifications for the time to come as to how to run the Langar and how to cover the costs, when no Khalsa was living in this corner of the country. Guru assured him not to be concerned for any thing like this and to do his duty. Making some prophecies Guru Ji told him that there will be no dearth of the Khalsa in this part of the country and if the need be, he would send some Saint especially to to raise a sangat if ever the need arose. With the passage of the time the institution of Langar was sometimes neglected by the then management and the Sikhs began to prefer the other works like construction of buildings and bungas.
Guru ka Langar was restarted at this holy place by Sant Baba Nidhan Singh Ji in the year 1912, under the holy 'enjoinder' of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Before coming to this place, Sant Baba Ji had served for long twelve years, completely absorbed in deep meditation day and night, in Gurudwara Sachkhand Sahib when he was blessed with his Eternal light. The pious simple life full of Seva and Simran of Baba Ji was itself an inspiring example to the Sikhs. Baba Ji departed from his worldly life on 4th August 1947 and we see that Guru ka Langar is running in its splendid manners since then for its worthy cause. Here priority of Seva goes to Langar which is available 24 hours, day and night, round the clock, without any discrimination. Hot tea is also served in the Langar whole day and one feels quite at home when reaching here after a long journey.
