Shri AMARPUR ASTHAN Tando Adam Darbar

In the year 1920, when Satguru Swami Teoonram ji Maharaj was travelling from one place to another spreading the message of righteousness and singing the glories of the Lord, He arrived at Tando Adam. Swamiji experienced a Divine Bliss on the Sand Hill (Dib) of Tando Adam and decided to stay there to meditate. There were around 15 to 20 Saints along with Him; Swami Gwal lal, Swami Sarvanand, Sant Gurumukhdas, Sant Basantram, Sant Premanand, Murlidhar, Ganeshanand, Khiyaram, Laluram, Santdas and Hansraj. There was a forest spread across two miles of this 'Sand Hill' which the government had preserved to protect their city since there was a fear of the blowing sand covering the entire city of Tando Adam.

That evening, Swamiji himself sat under the 'Kandi' tree for meditation on a piece of cloth suitable for meditation; other Saints sat under different trees to meditate. The following day, in the morning, the watchmen of the jungle 'Saidina' and 'Sahibdina' came to Gurumaharaj and were delighted to see the Divine vision of Swamiji. Gurumarahaj told them that they need not worry anymore, all the Saints together will ensure that the sand will stop blowing with the wind. Listening to these nectar filled words, both of them sought Swamiji blessings and departed.
One evening a person named 'Moharam' came and told Swamiji that his farms and house was near the forest and in case Swamiji and the Saints needed anything they could simply order and he along with his family would be at Swamiji's service. After few days, Babu Tejuram (Head Goods Clerk, Tando Adam) came to meet Satguru Maharaj and offered Rs. 10 graciously to Swamiji, bowed his head in front of Swamiji and left. Swamiji told Murlidhar and Khiyaram to give the ten rupees to Mulchand Modi to get few utensils for cooking and essentials for eating. The Saints used to fetch water from a place nearby, 'Idal ki Press'.
Satguru Maharaj told all Saints to make the land even and moisten it with sticky soil and then again layer it with cow dung and mud so that the sand becomes firm. Every single day, morning and evening, the Saints worked hard to carry out this job. Satguru Maharaj used to take a stick in his hand and supervise everything very minutely. Gurumaharaj used to eat food only once in a day. One day thieves came and stole all the utensils bought by the Saints. When the Saints said that would go to find the thieves by tracing their footsteps, Swamiji replied that whoever has given them to us has taken them away; Swamiji was so carefree. Astonishingly that day a lady named 'Lakshmi' came to give cooked food for all Saints; after that day no one ever saw that lady again.
In the Hindu month 'Chaitra', on the 12th day in 1921, Satguru Maharaj did the first 'satsang' on the platform built by the Saints. Satguru Maharaj told the Saints to build a roof top for the place where the satsang was performed. Additionally a warehouse, a lunch hall, and 10 to 12 huts were built. A lot of people started coming there to attend the satsang; there was food available ('bhandara') all day and night there. Not only people from within the country but even foreigners used to come to the temple and partake the sacred 'prasadam'. The Pandits, Brahmans, Bawas, Priests started feeling jealous of the fame and popularity that Gurumaharaj was getting. They tied up with a wealthy businessman 'Seth Radhakrishan' and together complained to the Residence Magistrate that the jungle that government had preserved for the safety of the residents is being immorally exploited by the Saints. The Magistrate decided to personally visit and he took 4 to 5 policemen along with him. As soon as he saw Gurumaharaj his anguish disappeared and he instead bowed down to Gurumaharaj and said that I am very happy with your service and hardship. You can merrily stay here and do 'satsang'. Saying this much, he gave 10 Rupees devotionally and departed.
Thereafter, Gurumaharaj constructed a well under supervision of a renowned artisan 'Mohamad Siddique'. Moharam gifted a bull too for the well. The water from this well was extremely sweet and Saints built a garden 2 to 3 acres wide and started growing vegetables.
On the other hand, the envious Priests and Brahmans met up with Radhakrishna and sent a petition to Shahdadpur against the Saints. After 10 to 12 days, Shahdadpur's Head of Taluka came to see the place. On seeing the hard work and commitment of the Saints, he was impressed and very glad. He said “the people of the city are unnecessarily complaining against you. You have converted this Forest in to Heaven”. Saying this, he respectfully presented 25 Rupees in the holy feet of Gurumaharj and bowed his head. This news spread across the city and the Pujaris, Brahmans, Bawas and Radhakrishna got worried listening to this.
At this sacred place, Satguru Maharaj started the 'bhandara (prasadam)' on a daily basis where there was no discrimination of caste and creed. Hindu or Muslim, Rich or Poor, Scholars or Downtrodden, all got the same respect and kind of food. As days passed, the name and fame of these Saints kept on increasing, because of which evil minded people got even more jealous and they wrote a petition to the District Magistrate of Nawab Shah, putting serious false complaints against these Saints. When the petition reached the European Collector - Mr Bols, he sent his Deputy Collector there to have a look. Strangely as per God's order as the deputy collector was on the way to the place he suddenly got severe pain in stomach and had to return back. Again, after a while the civilians sent a complaint letter because of which the deputy collector was sent again for supervision. As soon as the collector saw Swamiji, he removed his cap and bowed in Swamiji's holy feet. Satguru Maharaj made him and his accompaniments sit comfortably and fed them with the 'bhojan prasadi'. The Deputy Collector offered Rs. 25 to Swamiji lovingly and departed.
After few days, Radhakrishna gathered a few other wealthy men and went to the Collector of Nawab Shah and instigated them against Gurumaharaj. The Collector assured that he himself would come and see the place. Nawabshah's collector along with a few people and policemen arrived at 8 am on the 'Dib' but since 'satsang' was going on Swamiji was not able to alight from the satsang platform. Gurumaharaj asked a devotee to fetch the Collector but the collector refused to come in and returned. Envious people further instigated the collector against Gurumaharaj because of which the collector sent the Saints a notice to vacate the place within a month. Satguru Maharaj ji was completely immersed in the devotion of the Lord and was absolutely carefree and didn't react nor did he reply to the notice. Seeing this, envious men once again spoke ill against the Saints and got a written order from the Collector to set fire to the huts built by the Saints and to displace them from there.

They got this instruction of the Collector and handed over to the supervising 'Tapedar' of Tando Adam. Then all these people got together, gathered 30 to 40 laborers and took them to the Dib. At that time, 20 to 25 Saints were sitting around Gurumaharaj; the Tapedar told Gurumaharaj that we have an order to burn your huts so please empty the huts and remove your belongings. Satguru Maharaji remained in silence for five minutes and said that to whomsoever these things belong he himself will remove it. Gurumaharaj came and sat outside and so did the other Saints. Gurumaharaj said to all the Saints to remain calm. He said “Nobody will say anything. Let them do what they want”.Then, these evil minded people and Tapidar set the huts on fire, they broke the rope of the well, destroyed the garden and vegetation. Gurumaharaj remained blissful in Divine joy and did not say anything to anyone. This was an extremely dreadful and painful scene. The devotees were very upset seeing this but Gurumaharaj as per his discipline and schedule sat and did satsang on the Sand hill. The flames of the fire were 50 to 60 feet tall. The fire went on for the entire night. Much before Sunrise, devotees from Khandu, Bhittshah, Uderolal, Thoran, Meheran, Khaibran and people from various other villages came to meet Swamiji. That day, all Saints did not eat anything and following day Mulchand Modi prepared food for the Saints. The fire went on continuously for 3 days.. This news spread like lightening in the entire State of Sindh, that jealous people have been very cruel to the Saints.
All the Saints of Sindh and many devotees came to meet Swamiji and advised Swamiji to vacate the land. After approximately a week in the early morning at 5 a.m. a European Sir along with a Madam came on the Sand Hill and questioned Gurumaharaj as to who has burned these huts? To which Swamiji replied ” you have burned them”. Listening to this both of them started laughing and told Swamiji “you don't worry; this sacred place of your will always be there but kindly send a request to the Commissioner of Karachi for this”. To which Swamiji smilingly responded “you can only go and put up the request”. They said yes, they will only arrange the needful and both of them left from there.
When the Saints curiously enquired about them, Gurumaharaj told them that they were Lord Laxmi Narayan. Next morning Greek firm's Riyali Brother cotton press Manager who was a foreigner known as 'Carter' came there along with a Sindhi Translator. He bowed down in front of Gurumaharaj and said that I have been instructed by the Lord that this Land should be given to the Saints under any circumstance. Once again bowing his head he left for the head office of Nawab Shah. With God's wish the collector Bols who had given instructions for the fire got transferred and in his place 'Kovi' a new collector was appointed. Riyali's Carter updated him about all that had happened. After that they consulted amongst themselves and reached the Karachi Commissioner. The Karachi Commissioner told Nawab Shah's collector that he has full right and they can do as they wished to.
Nawab Shah's Collector came to Tando Adam along with Sir Carter in April, 1922 in morning at 7 a.m. and reverently asked Swamiji that who had settled this sand and prevented it from blowing; this was a major concern for this city. Diwan Bhagwandas translated Satguru Maharaj's reply that these Saints have soiled day and night and worked hard for this. The Collector pierced the land with a stick and saw the sand beneath it, with which the collector understood the tremendous efforts put by the Saints and acknowledged the fact that these Saints have stilled the Sand at one place; otherwise the sand would cover the entire city. With this thought in mind the collector said to Gurumaharaj “your place will remain here and you don't have to worry about it at all”. The Collector and Commissioner consulted each other and went to Nawab Shah, got instructions and sent to Tando Adam's Residence Supervisor. Residence Supervisor and Translator together came to the Dib and informed that Nawab shah has sent an order that '7 acres and 12 Gunte', a whole number, was awarded by the government to the Saints. Saying this much, they measured the land and put stones at its boundaries and returned back. This news spread all across the state of Sindh and a lot of people from all over started coming to meet Gurumaharaj. The envious men were embarrassed and started repenting. After getting the Land, Swamiji once again built the huts, the satsang hall and the lunch hall on the sand hill.

One day all Saints requested Swamiji that He should keep some name of this place. To which Satguru Maharaj ji responded that to the East of this city is 'Akhandpuri', to the west is 'Kundanpuri', north 'Gujranpuri' is there and this place is to the south. Whoever comes to this place will be freed from the painful cycle of birth and death therefore this place will be called 'Amrapur Asthan' and in the evening He revealed this name to everyone. In this way, Satguru Maharaj and all Saints together built a grand door and a 'ghumbus'. Swamiji once started again the continuous 'bhandaro' at the darbar. All people who came to this place, did service, satsang and worshipped the Almighty and obtained the bliss of the Divine here. In 1942 Satguru Teoonram ji left his destructible body for uniting with the Supreme Lord and after that all Saints together decided to enthrone Swami Sarvanandji Maharaj as the predecessor of the Gadi. In 1947 during partition Satguru Sarvanandji Maharaj along with all the Saints went to India.

OM SHREE SATNAM SAKHI

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