24 August 1897

Lots of Love from Jaimal Singh to my obedient son, Babu Sawan Singh.

May the Grace and Mercy of the compassionate Lord be upon you all the time. 

Your letter has arrived informing me of your condition and I am delighted to know that you are well and happy. You write that you are under orders to go to Khairagali. Whatever orders are given will be all for the good. You are not to worry about how the Lord makes you work – just do the work. You may use a sedan chair to do your work till such time as you are able to walk well. In a short while – in a couple of months – you will be completely well. When you are at Khairagali, drink one kilo of sweetened milk every day, and also continue to take ghee daily as both are useful for purifying the blood.

It was my plea to Hazur Soami Ji to let you go to work in your own area. Even lame and limbless persons go around for many miles to work in their areas as scribes and readers, whereas your body is whole. So what does it matter if for a few days work is an effort for you? Hazur will do all the work. In any case, I would like you to go to your own area. Also, please continue with your bhajan and simran every day.

You write that you feel apprehensive because of the rains.

There is nothing to fear, my son. If the Lord wishes, he will heal the leg in an instant; and if he wills it otherwise, he will have you work without the leg. Just continue to do your work with the attention fixed in Hazur. Do not be afraid; just keep observing how he himself does whatever has to be done.

Just as you have written now, my son, send me the news of your condition every fifteen days in a letter in Gurmukhi.

Bibi’s warm regards to you, her dear brother. She is sending you a rakhi1. Best wishes to Basant Singh Ji and Chanan Singh Ji. Also best wishes to Ishar Das, Labhu Ram, Natha Singh Ji, Narain Das Ji, Munshi Ram Ji, and to all the other Satsangis. Remind them all to do their Bhajan and Simran every day. May the Grace and Mercy of the compassionate Hazur be upon them all. Heavy rains are falling all over Punjab. Please convey warm regards from Machhar to all the Satsangis there. 

24 August 1897

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Explanation: 1) The tying of a token by the sister on the wrist of her brother is a common custom in India on the occasion of the Raksha Bandan festival.

Kirpal Singh explains this custom as follows:

The Festival of Raksha is observed by our Hindu brothers, and the true meaning of Raksha Bandan is to have good intentions towards someone and be a protection for them in every way – to protect them from difficulties, unhappiness, calamities, etc., or to save them from the force of such occurrences as cannot be prevented. The custom has been upheld in India for many generations, and at the time of wars for instance, sisters would tie a small token on the wrists of their soldier brothers, and whisper the prayer, May God protect you! It is a common custom still continued nowadays, but unfortunately with time it has deteriorated from its true meaning, and we find that when the sister now ties the token, she feeds him some sweetmeat and then expects some money in return, and so the true reason for the custom is lost.

Satsang –
Protector and Protection
by Kirpal Singh, 1894–1974