From the area of Bathinda, came a person named Ganga Ram who was a Brahmin. He was a Pandit, who performed religious ceremonies and weddings. He also had a business on the side of selling oat. He had many carts filled with oats that he brought to Lahore. He travelled through the Sutlej and Beas to get to the Majha area. When he arrived in Majha, he asked someone: “I need to sell my oats. Where can I sell them? I want to sell them quickly so I can go back to Bathinda.” After asking a few people, the people told him: “Guru Arjan Dev ji is doing the Kar of Amritsar. There is a lot of food needed there for the Langar. Many Sikhs come to do Seva and workers come to work there. Day and night, people stay there, so they need food. You should go there and sell your oat. Your business will be good and you will get to take part in the Seva. You can go back happy then. There is no other place that would buy your 500 Munns of oats.” Ganga Ram ji had hope and took his oat to Sri Amritsar. He travelled slowly.
He arrived in Guru ka Chak and unloaded his carts. He set up camp and rested. He saw thousands of people there from around the lands, speaking different languages. Some were from foreign lands but they all had love for each other. He saw them all doing Seva of the Sarovar. Some were making bricks and some were preparing the grout, known as choona, for the bricks. Thousands of Sikhs were at work. Lentils and other tough materials went into the choona. Some Sikhs brought firewood for the kilns. Many gathered pebbles and dirt and kept them in one place. Some would bring them close to the Sarovar. Some laid bricks. There were piles of bricks stacked all along the Sarovar. Some carried the choona and mud to the Sarovar. Some grinded the choona and some brought it to the masons and brick layers. Guru ji sat close by to direct the Seva. Many faithful Sikhs were there doing Seva, who were some of the greatest Brahmgyaanis to ever walk this earth. They did Seva for love. They felt like they were massaging Guru Ramdas ji’s feet by doing this Seva of the Sarovar. Some workers were paid to work there. In the evening, they were paid. Many tradesmen were working. The Sikhs helped out the tradesmen. Ganga Ram ji saw the faith and devotion of the Sikhs and was amazed. He noticed the peace and tranquility of Seva and Simran. He thought to himself: “these people are working with such faith and devotion.” Ganga Ram ji had a turning point in his thought process. He got pulled towards the love of the Guru. He understood the radiance of Guru ji, as he was a scholar of the Vedas. He saw the Saint and Brahmgyaani for the first time, that he had read about. He bowed from afar and went back to his camp. He ate his food and went to sleep.
That same day, the food for Langar finished and Langar couldn’t be made. Nobody brought anything that day. The flour was finished that came from the villages. There were thousands of people there. Food is made all day long so a lot of food was needed. The day that Ganga Ram came was the day that the Langar finished for the first time. There was no Langar that day. On the next day, no food or rations came. Ganga Ram ji noticed that nobody was eating: “there is so much money that comes but there is no food. They are doing Seva day and night for their own good. They get blessed by their Guru. They give money and do Seva. I should do the Seva for the Sikhs too.” The faith of the Guru was coming into Ganga Ram ji. “I will do Seva and earn good karma. I will earn Sikhi.” Another day passed and there was no Langar. “It’s my time to do Seva now.” He thought about giving the oat. He went to the Langar and wanted to find out what was going on: “where does the Langar come from?” The Sikhs said: “the food comes with the Sikhs. The Sangat brings it. Thousands of people do Seva and eat Langar. The Sikhs bring everything. They fold their hands and give the Langar. This is the Langar of Guru Nanak Dev ji which is in abundance. It has been going on for a long time.” Ganga Ram ji said: “I came here to sell my oat. I am a Brahmin from Bathinda. I thought it would be better to sell it here. Today, I want you to take the oat from me and make Langar for the Sangat. I can’t tolerate their hunger. I don’t feel good that they hadn’t had any food. The children and women are hungry. I would love to do this Seva. Take these oats from me.” The Langri said: “I can’t make that decision. I will have to ask Guru ji if I can take your oats.”
The Langri went to Guru ji and said: “a Brahmin from Jungle (Malva) country has come to sell his oat. He wishes to offer his oat for the Langar. Please let me know what is your wish. We can take the oat and make Langar.” Guru ji said to the Langri: “weigh the oat and take what you need. He has come to sell his oats and we will pay him. The mela of Vaisakhi is upon us and a lot of money will be collected. We will pay him then.” The Langri went back to Ganga Ram ji and said: “Guru ji has ordered us to buy 100 Munns of oats from you but we will pay you on Vaisakhi.” Ganga Ram ji agreed.
Langar was made from the oats. The 100 Munns were used in one day. The next day, there was no food again. No rations were brought. Ganga Ram ji came again to ask. He had faith in his heart and did the same thing as the day before: “please take another 100 Munns.” The Langri bought another 100 Munns. On the third day, another 100 Munns were purchased. The Langar was made and the Sikhs ate and did Seva. For five days this continued. The oats were all finished now. Ganga Ram noticed the routines of the Sikhs of how they woke up in the morning and recited Bani. He was impressed with Guru Sahib ji as well. He saw the radiance upon the faces of the Sikhs and was impressed. The Brahmin was motivated. His faith grew by the day. The Sikhs did Seva. Some Sikhs paid the workers to work. They earned Seva. He saw the way of the Sikhs and his love grew. He started to do Seva himself with the Sikhs. He carried dirt on his head and recited Vahiguru. The love and faith in his heart grew. If someone’s good fortune is upon them, they do not need to be taught on what to do. It was his fate. He forgot about his home and did Seva with love. For many days he stayed with Guru ji. He did Seva with faith and devotion.
It was soon Vaisakhi and a lot of money was collected. Sikhs from every direction had come. A great crowd gathered in the Guru’s court. Many gifts were brought, including clothes and money. Some brought food and some brought money. The people that came, they had love and faith. Their wishes were all fulfilled. Guru ji fulfilled all of their dreams. The Mevra did the Ardaas for the Sikhs as they came. He presented their wishes. Guru ji would happily give them joy and peace. The Sikhs would meet Guru ji and be filled with joy. The mela went on for many days. People began to return to their homes. Ganga Ram ji was over-joyed to do the Seva during the Vaisakhi Jor Mela. The love in his heart grew. He had been there for a few months now and had totally forgotten about his home and his business. He was mesmerized by the Guru’s radiance. He only had the goal of life on his mind now. He had realised that the world was not permanent nor were the people. His attachment was gone. He only had the Guru in his mind. After a few days of Vaisakhi, Guru Arjan Dev ji remembered Ganga Ram ji and called him: “the Pandit we had bought 500 Munns of oats from, let’s pay him his money. We have the money now.” One of the Masands went to go call Ganga Ram ji. He came to him and said: “Guru ji is calling you. Stand up and come with me.” Pandit Ganga Ram ji got worried. He thought to himself: “I wonder why Guru ji is calling me.” He got up and went with the Masand Sikh. He came to Guru ji and bowed to him. He sat down near Guru ji’s feet. There was a lot of love in his heart. He was drenched in love because of Seva. He had forgotten everything about his home and the money he was owed.