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| Sombari Baba |
Once Sombari Baba set off from Kakrighat for a yatra to Badrinath. Usually Baba went on a yatra alone, but he occasionally made an exception for someone who had a strong desire to go and could manage the difficult journey. The usual schedule of travel was as follows: wake before dawn, take his morning bath, do his practices, and then leave around 8 a.m. After walking till midday or 1p.m., he would set up camp in the forest, somewhere close to a river. There he would take his midday bath, meet people, talk to them, and distribute prasad until dusk when he would take his evening bath, do his meditation, and then feed everyone who was present. After everyone had eaten, he would make for himself a small portion of khichdi or a tikkar, of which he shared three quarters and only took one quarter himself.
The fortunate ones who were able to join Baba on yatras to holy places like Badrinath and Amarnath reported that, on both the outward and return journeys, a crowd of village folk would gather every day before Baba arrived. No one came empty-handed; everyone brought along some offerings, according to their capacity, out of their love for this great sage. Some people brought milk, others yoghurt, sweets, fresh rice from the fields, fresh flour, fruits, flowers, and so on. Those who felt that Baba would pass by their village that year did not use that year’s harvest, waiting to offer it to him first before using it themselves. If Baba did not travel that year, they first offered some of the harvests in his name and sent them to the ashram where Baba was at the time.
Whenever a crowd of people collected for darshan, Baba respected their love and stopped there for a while. At all times the crowd was full of people of all ages and all dispositions. Baba spent some time with them, spoke with everyone, distributed prasad, and sent them home happy, then he moved on. As people left, they could turn back over and over again for darshan as long as they could see him. Everyone loved Baba and thought that Baba loved him or her the most. Baba was so loving that even wicked people loved and praised him. Baba always made sure everyone was happy and then moved on. Those travelling with him reported that this took place every time Baba travelled anywhere.
On this particular yatra, after some days of traveling Baba and his companions reached Badrinath. They went to a place called Garud Gufa and spent some time there, where Baba gave darshan to pilgrims. They then went to a place called Joshimath and stayed there for a few days. The special thing about that year’s yatra was that Baba’s father had also set out from Punjab for a yatra to Badrinath. He traveled from Haridwar to Joshimath and then reached Badrinath, by which time Baba had returned from Badrinath and was in Joshi-math. On his return journey, Baba’s father stopped over in Joshimath for a day. He heard that a great sage was staying there, so with great respect and love, he set off for darshan, taking along offerings of fruit and flowers. He had no idea that the sage was actually his son because Baba had left home at a very young age and his father had not seen him since then.
Baba’s father was a wise and pious person and he belonged to a wealthy family. On arriving at the spot where Baba was, he tried to prostrate before Baba, but Baba stood up and moved back because he knew this was his father and that it would not be appropriate for him to prostrate before his son. Baba’s father had not recognized him and was surprised at this reaction from a sadhu. He felt bad and looked at Baba, wondering why he had acted in this way. Without saying a word, Baba simply looked at his father very lovingly, in the process opening the petals of his heart.
Without a word being said, the father realized this was his son and he started crying out of love. Without thinking, he hugged Baba out of love as a father and then fell at Baba’s feet out of respect for a great soul after realizing Baba’s divine nature. He said, “You have caused the upliftment of seven generations in our family. I have no regrets or pain about the fact that you left home; in fact, I consider myself blessed to have a son like you.” This time, Baba did not stop him from prostrating.
When Baba’s father offered a sum of 100 rupees, Baba said, “This gift of love from you has reached me and I accept it. Now use the money for a bhandara to feed sadhus, saints, and Brahmins.” When Baba’s father left after this darshan, the sight was incredible to behold: his countenance was beaming and he was lost in love and joy. In accordance with Baba’s wishes, his father stayed in Joshimath for three nights, added some more money to the hundred rupees and conducted several bhandaras.
When Baba’s father passed away in Punjab, Baba was at the ashram in Kakrighat. There was no chance of the news from Punjab reaching Kakrighat at the time since there were no modern means of communication. No one knew what had come to pass, but when they saw Baba conducting specific rituals (anjali) that day, everyone realized that his father had left the body that day. After that, Baba continued to perform annual rites (tarpan) for his father every year. Despite being a completely free being, Baba still followed ideal code of conduct (maryada). Baba always fulfilled his duties on both the inner and outer planes of life, and showed devotees how to be in the outer world while also making progress in the inner world. This is the path of righteousness.
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