Early Experiences as a Sadhu

THE years 1911 and 1912 were spent in touring in Garhwal, Nepal, Kulu, the Punjab, and many other places, whilst each year during the six months of hot weather the Sadhu went alone to Tibet. The following incidents give some idea of his life and work at that time.

Sundar Singh was one day making his way to a certain village when he caught sight of two men in front of him, one of whom suddenly disappeared. A little further on he overtook the remaining man, who accosted him, and pointing to a sheeted figure on the ground told the Sadhu that this was his friend who had died by the way, and he had no money to bury him. Sundar had only his blanket and two pice which had been given him for the toll bar, but these he gave to the man and passed on his way. He had not gone far when the man came running after him, and sobbed out that his companion was really dead. The Sadhu did not understand, until he began to explain that it was their custom to take it in turns to prey on the public by pretending one of them was dead.

This they had done for years, but that day when the man went back to call his friend there was no response, and on lifting the cloth he was horror-stricken to find him actually dead. The wretched man sought the Sadhu’s forgiveness, being assured that here was some great saint whom he had robbed of all he had, and thus had the dire displeasure of the gods fallen upon them. Then Sundar spoke to him of the Lord of life, and in that penitent moment the man accepted the messaye. He sent him to a mission station near Garhwal, where in due time he was baptized.

On one cf his long journeys in the mountains the footpath divided at a certain point, and he was in doubt as to which path to take. He chose the wrong one, and upon arrival at a village he found he had gone eleven miles out of his way. Turning back Sundar met a man with whom he entered into conversation, and began to speak to him of Christ. Then the man produced from the folds of his clothes a copy of the New Testament, which he confessed to having hid when he saw the Sadhu coming, in thé belief that he was a Hindu sanyasi. The man had doubts to which he could find no solution, but Sundar so dealt with them that the man found Christ. In speaking of this to the writer, Sundar remarked : ‘“Then I knew why I had gone astray, for Christ had sent me to help this anxious soul.”

At Narkanda the Sadhu found some men reaping in a field. Joining them he spoke to them, as they worked, of Jesus and eternal things. At first they listened with indifference and then with disapprobation. They had no mind to hear about a strange religion. Some of the men began to curse and threaten him, and one took a stone and hit him on the head. After a time the man who had thrown the stone was seized with a severe headache and had to stop work. The Sadhu then took up the scythe and reaped with the others. This softened their hearts and at the end of the day the men invited him to accompany them home. In the quiet of the evening a better opportunity was afforded for the giving of his message, and then he went away. The reapers, having rested, began to take stock of the harvest gathered that day, and to their astonishment found a greater yield than they had had in previous years. They were then afraid, and declared amongst themselves that a holy man had visited them and this increase was proof of it. Then they strove to find the Sadhu, that they might give better heed to his message, but found him nowhere.

This incident was published in a North Indian paper, The Nur Afshan, by one of the men present on the occasion, who made an appeal through its pages to Sundar to return amongst them that they might receive his message.

At the ancient city of Jalalabad the Sadhu found himself amongst a cruel and treacherous people, who seeing he was a Christian laid a plot to take his life. Sitting to rest himself, the news was brought to him by one less evil-disposed than the rest, but as he had done nothing to warrant such a thing he found it difficult to believe it possible. However, he decided to take the warning and to seek a safer retreat. Only the common serail, infested with mosquitoes and viler insects remained, so to this he went. Next morning, when he had lit a fire and was drying his wet clothes, a number of Pathans arrived. Much to his amazement the foremost of these men came in and fell at his feet. The Pathan then explained how they had sought to take his life, but sceing him had altered their intention, for instead of his being frozen as they had expected, he was well and none the worse for his experiences. They were driven to believe that here was one favoured of Allah, and they begged that he would accept of their hospitality and accompany them home. The Sadhu spent a very happy week with them, and they gave good heed to his teaching, so that he believes there will be fruit of his labours amongst these rough and hardened men.