Baba Harnam Singh (Bhuchon Kalan)
CHILDHOOD
Blessed indeed are we who have been favoured with the vision of the Glory of God in this holy infant. Blessed are the parents who have given birth to this holy child, blessed is the village, the town, the city nay the whole world where this Glory of God will physically stay and stride upon.
From his very birth, this holy child was never seen weeping or laughing. He had never cried for milk, had never demanded or asked for anything to eat because he was far above the human instinct of hunger and thirst.He was completely indifferent to heat and cold. He was totally free from delight and anger. He had no desire and was totally free from all worldly attachments. He was always established in some deep meditation and his face glowed like a sun. He was always in the highest state of bliss. His holy face radiated with a unique flood of light. Once a dark room was aglow with that dazzling light (parkash) of his divine face, where he was sitting in meditation for a few days in his youth.
Unaffected by hunger or thirst, pain or pleasure, heat or cold, he was totally free of any want or desire even as a child. He never felt agitated and remained totally unruffled under all conditions. His glowing face emitted the light and fragrance of Bliss-Eternal in which he himself was permanently established.
Two incidents deserve special mention which depict the majestic glory of God in the Divine infant. A sage, who noticed the infant sitting on a cot from the door of the house was wonderstruck by the majestic glory of God on Babaji's face and he came in and sat on the floor towards the holy feet of the infant divinity.
A second saint, who was of the udasi cult, and had set up a camp on the outskirts of the village with a large number of his followers. The whole village used to attend the congregation in the evening and used to benefit from the Mahatma's holy discourses. Once the lucky father of the holy infant carried the child in his lap to attend the Satsang of the holy sage and was sitting quite near him. As soon as the Mahatma set eyes on the child, he was bewildered and wonderstruck, and could not take his eyes off him. Both the holy men, in these two incidents had their eyes riveted at the radiant face of the holy child and with awe and veneration thus spoke of the rare divine glow which they had seen first time in their long lives.
"Blessed indeed are we who have been favoured with the vision of the Glory of God in this holy infant. Blessed are the parents who have given birth to this holy child, blessed is the village, the town, the city nay the whole world where this Glory of God will physically stay and stride upon".
Both the saints had seen the grandeur and glory of God on the child's face. Having beheld it and having perceived radiance and the power and glory of God, they both offered their homage to the eternal glory, shining like a rising sun on the face and congratulated the parents from the depth of their hearts.
LONG SPELL OF MEDITATION
Baba Harnam Singh Ji Maharaj was an incarnation of ‘Tap’ and the flaming glow of that ‘Tap’ and ‘Noor’ on His face was unbearable for earthly beings. Even powerful sages and faqirs could not withstand this glow.
Once Baba Harnam Singh Ji Maharaj chanced to appear at Una Sahib. Bedi Sahib learnt from a disciple that a saint with a chadar around him and with his face covered with a cloth, was sitting at some distance away from there. Bedi Sahib understood and brought meals along with a couple of disciples and offered to construct a suitable Kutia there for Babaji's sojourn and meditation. He further offered couple of attendants (sewaks) to remain in His service. Babaji very politely declined and enquired about some suitable lonely place far away from habitation and ideal for long and uninterrupted meditation. Bedi Sahib mentioned that such a place was there but a long distance away from there. He explained the entire route. Babaji set out and reached the desired spot after walking for a number of days. There were hills all around and a stream flowed by. Babaji sat under a tree with thick growth on the bank of the flowing stream.
It was here that the Lord of Tapasya sat in meditation for a whole year, arose and then again sat in meditation for two years, again opened His blissful Samadhi and again went into Samadhi for another two years. It was after an uninterrupted long spell of five years meditation and Samadhi at a stretch that Divine Lord of Baba Nand Singh Ji Maharaj left this place.
Baba Harnam Singh Ji Maharaj was an incarnation of 'Tap' and the flaming glow of that 'Tap' and 'Noor' on His face was unbearable for earthly beings. Even powerful sages and faqirs could not withstand this glow.
Baba Harnam Singh Ji Maharaj was a born spiritual Monarch. From His very childhood He was in a perpetually blissful Samadhi. In that state of perpetual Divine Intoxication, nothing perturbed Him neither intense heat nor intense cold, nor the want of food, comfort and pleasure nor pain. He was far above the opposite dualities of this materialistic world. Lust, greed, pride, anger dared not touch Him.
HIGHEST SPIRITUAL LUMINARY
- Baba Harnam Singh Ji was the highest spiritual Luminary, God has ever gifted to mankind.
Once Baba Harnam Singh Ji Maharaj, who always used to sit in a dark room, asked a Sewak whether it was day or night? The sewak out of curiosity asked Him the reasons for this query. Baba ji replied, “Just as in the sun there is no darkness, for those established in the luminous paramjot, brilliance of thousands of such moons and suns fades away into insignificance. This brilliance and light of the physical sun is only a borrowed fraction of the eternal source of light. In this Luminousity Eternal the sages always remain established. Thousands of such luminous suns and moons can not dispel the darkness of ignorance, and the delusion of ‘maya’, which a mere glance of a perfect saint could do and achieve”. Baba Harnam Singh Ji was the highest spiritual Luminary, God has ever gifted to mankind.
NATURE PAYS HOMAGE
Most compassionate Baba Ji just looked at the sky. The sky thundered with a frightening sound of lightning and instantly followed a ferocious heavy downpour......God of Rain and God of Fire rolled at the holy feet of Baba Harnam Singh Ji Maharaj in total submissiveness.
Once Baba Harnam Singh Sahib was sitting in meditation under a tree, some distance to the North of a village called Siriewale. He used to keep his face covered. Some young boys came that side and sat near Him. They requested Him to uncover His face. They also questioned Him as to why He was keeping His face covered. On their insistence, Baba Ji politely told them that the time was not yet ripe to uncover his face, because everything dry that came under His gaze would catch fire. Not realising, the implication of this remark, a couple of boys removed the cloth covering Baba Ji's face. No sooner was this done, than the whole village, and all the the dry crops stacked in it instantly caught fire. The Boys ran helter skelter in panic as did the villagers who knew not the cause of such a devastating fire. When errant boys told the elders the strange tale, they came running to Baba Ji and falling prostrate at His holy feet, begged for forgiveness. Most compassionate Baba Ji just looked at the sky. The sky thundered with a frightening sound of lightning and instantly followed a ferocious heavy downpour. Now the villagers ran to the village to salvage their belongings from heavy rain. Later when they went back to thank Baba Ji and to pay their homage to him, they found the place deserted. Baba Ji was no more there. He had already left. It was many years later that one of the villagers came to Bhuchon and recognised Baba Ji. Such was the intensity of the divine glow on His holy face. God of Rain and God of Fire rolled at the holy feet of Baba Harnam Singh Ji Maharaj in total submissiveness. Such was the Glory of the powerful sage of Bhuchon Kalan.
HOLY GLANCE
BabaJi's marvellous word or glance could transport one into the wonderous state of Nam Ras, Atam Ras where body consciousness was non-existent. The Great Master could bestow and grant such rare and highest ecstasy and bliss with a mere touch or a glance.
B aba Ji once appeared outside village Jandawale and sat under a dry pipal tree. It was the month of June. An old man named Mala Singh used to pass by that side daily. He once requested BabaJi to accept some service from him and on being allowed started bringing milk once a day. The country-side was sandy, and it being the month of June, was scorchingly hot during day time. Mala Singh noticed that Baba Ji continuously sat at one place all the time, and had not moved since the time He had come there. He could not help but ask BabaJi as to how could He bear all that burning heat sitting as He was without any shade. Babaji replied:
"Mala Singh, sadha garmi sardi naal koi sambandh nahin, sadha es shareer naal vee koi sambandh nahin."
A perfect and true sage is totally detached from body, being permanently established in Atam Ras, Har Ras. He is totally free from the opposites like heat and cold, pain and pleasure and so on. And Baba Harnam Singh Ji Maharaj was God in the garb of a sage.
Simple old man could not understand the mystic implication. Gracious Babaji asked him to come the next morning. He came accordingly. Babaji asked him to repeat the Holy Name of Waheguru and sit at a distance of a few yards, and advised him to come only when called. Accordingly, Mala Singh sat reciting the Holy Name.
Babaji called him by name and awakened him from the blissful samadhi. He realised it was late evening.
Immersed deeply in the Nectar of Nam Ras, the sikh blessed by Baba Harnam Singh Ji Maharaj became completely oblivious to burning heat of the hottest season and discomfort arising therefrom, for the whole of the day.
BabaJi's marvellous word or glance could transport one into the wonderous state of Nam Ras, Atam Ras where body consciousness was non-existent. The Great Master could bestow and grant such rare and highest ecstasy and bliss with a mere touch or a glance. The effect used to be instantaneous. Numerous were such blessed souls who experienced this bliss from His benevolent and infinite compassion.
APPLIES DUST OF DISCIPLE's FEET
So unique, mysterious and miraculous was the relationship between the holy disciple and the divine Satguru. Such wonderful is the divine reciprocation of prema, of divine love.
Once Baba Nand Singh Ji Maharaj was journeying bare-footed through a dense jungle with His feet profusely bleeding with instuck thorns. He wanted to visit His beloved Master after a year's long tapasaya and was heading towards the railway station, a long distance away. A camel rider who happened to cross His way, stopped, got down and offered the camel to Baba Ji. He made Baba Ji sit comfortably on the camel and then proceeded towards the railway station. While thus walking, the man removed the thorns from Baba Ji's bleeding feet one by one. He, at the railway station, purchased a ticket and made Baba Ji comfortable in the train. When Baba Ji reached the holy presence of Baba Harnam Singh Ji Maharaj and was in the process of paying His homage, Baba Harnam Singh Ji Maharaj applied the dust of the holy feet of Baba Nand Singh Ji Maharaj on His forehead. Baba Ji, thus bewildered, started crying. On this, Baba Harnam Singh Ji Maharaj smiled and asked Him why He did not cry when He removed the thorns from His feet on the way to railway station. So unique, mysterious and miraculous was the relationship between the holy disciple and the divine Satguru. Such wonderful is the divine reciprocation of prema, of divine love. Little did anyone know then that this towering Divinity spending all his time in deep and long meditation in complete solitude, was to become known to the world as the great spiritual preceptor and beloved Master of Mahan Baba Nand Singh Ji Maharaj.
A mere word or touch by Him was so powerful and magnetic as to awaken God-consciousness within and insulate the soul from body-consciousness.
DEAD RESURRECTED
A dead person consigned to flames could be called back in person by the Great Sage of Bhuchon. How some ignorant people, some disbelievers even doubt the samratha, capability, power of Jot Roop Har, Sri Guru Nanak Sahib
A resident of Bhuchon, who had gone out, on return found that his wife had died and had been consigned to the flames by his relatives and villagers during his absence. He started serving the place and sweeping the floor where Mahan Babaji was putting up. After a few months, Babaji called him to ask what he wanted? The man started weeping and submitted to Babaji that his wife had died when he was away from the village. On his return he tried to trace the jewellery and money which was lying with her but could not find the same.
Merciful Babaji told him to go to a nearby spot that night, where She would be waiting for him and he could find out all the details from her personally. He went accordingly. He was surprised to see his wife sitting in person there waiting for him. On enquiring, she told him the exact place in the house where she had buried the jewellery and the money during her sickness.
A dead person consigned to flames could be called back in person by the Great Sage of Bhuchon. How some ignorant people, some disbelievers even doubt the samratha, capability, power of Jot Roop Har, Sri Guru Nanak Sahib to appear in person, to appear in flesh and blood to bless the aspirations of the devout, to bless the true saints with His Holy Presence and Vision and to accept their loving offerings in person.
They sing the holy hymns and also the sacred Vars of Bhai Gurdas Ji, highlighting the physical appearance of the Lord in person to the yearnings of Bhagat Namdev and Bhagat Dhanna but unfortunately doubt the competency of their own Supreme Lord Guru Nanak to do so.
The unmanifest had manifested Himself as Jagat Guru, Guru Nanak.
After playing His Divine Lila (Play), the Manifest again relapses into the Unmanifest. It does not mean that the Unmanifest loses power and competency to manifest again at any time and at any place in the same Divine form for the sake of His true Divine Lovers, devotees and Bhagats for ever.
DIVINE EXCELLENCE
He was the Master and Creator of the past, present and future. He could recreate the dead in flesh and blood. He was awaiting 50 years in advance the loving Salami of His beloved son (Baba Narinder Singh Ji). He was the Master of Kaal, the Time.
As already stated, Mahan Babaji was totally indifferent to worldly requirements and comforts. It is interesting to note that He used to take milk once after a week or two and would take a piece of bread once in a year.
The Maharaja of Patiala who used to visit Bhuchon Kalan to pay his homage to Mahan Babaji got a palatial bungalow built there for Babaji's stay and offered precious clothes and other necessities for His comfort. Neither Babaji went inside the bungalow nor did He ever use the garments and other necessities. He was a born Prophet. He was born without any desire and remained totally detached from the world throughout His life.
Being a born Prophet He was the repository of all the Supreme and Miraculous Divine Powers from His birth. All the nine Nidhis and all the Siddhis and Riddhis stood with folded hands in His holy presence awaiting any blessed opportunity to serve Him. He was a Divine Monarch. Whatever He wished for the welfare of others happened instantaneously. He just looked at the sky to save the village and crops from devastating fire and the god of rain burst into heavy downpour instantaneously. A dead woman whose body had been consigned to flames reappeared in person to tell her husband where she had buried the jewellery and money in the house.
Baba Harnam Singh Ji Maharaj always kept His Holy face veiled, covered with a cloth. His was a most luminous body and a sunlike glow radiated on His face from His very childhood. He seldom revealed His true identity. He always tried to hide and conceal it. But no mortals could withstand the radiance and splendour of His personality.
So mighty and powerful was the divinity of this great Divine Master of Baba Nand Singh Ji Maharaj that people, startled and wonderstruck with His divine majesty, would fall prostrate at His Holy Feet. Fortunate and blessed were the people who had a glimpse and vision of His divine beauty and glow. Father used to proudly say that seldom, in living memory, the world has produced such a radiant and majestic Divinity as Baba Harnam Singh Ji Maharaj. He was God in the garb of a sage and a sage in the garb of God. Who else could be the Divine Master and Preceptor of Mahan Baba Nand Singh Ji Maharaj? Baba Narinder Singh Ji, once in the process of bathing the Holy Feet of Mahan Baba Harnam Singh Ji Maharaj and Mahan Baba Nand Singh Ji Maharaj with his pearly tears, paid the following tribute to his Great Masters:
Timeless in Time is the manifestation of Real Truth
Baba Narinder Singh Ji
He was an Ocean of Purity and could instantly purify others. His mere word or touch could elevate a person from body-consciousness to God consciousness. Persons so blessed by Mahan Babaji tasted the Nectar of Immortality in an instant.
He was the Master and Creator of the past, present and future. He could recreate the dead in flesh and blood. He was awaiting 50 years in advance the loving Salami of His beloved son (Baba Narinder Singh Ji). He was the Master of Kaal, the Time.
Links
References
- Brig. Partap Singh Ji Jaspal (Retd.), Eternal Glory of Baba Nand Singh Ji Maharaj. Chandigarh, 1992
