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'''Baba Bir Singh''' (1768-1844), soldier-become-religious preacher and saint, was born in July 1768 at the village of Gaggobua, in Amritsar district of the Punjab, the son of Seva Singh and Dharam Kaur. After the death of his father in one of the campaigns against the Afghan rulers of Multan, Bir Singh joined the Sikh army. He participated in [[Maharaja Ranjit Singh]]'s campaigns for the capture of [[Kashmir]] and [[Peshawar]]. After several years of active service, he secured his dismissal from the army as he came under the influence of Baba Bhag Singh, a Sikh saint belonging to Kuri, in Rawalpindi district. Bir Singh took to preaching Guru Nanak's word and soon attracted a considerable following in the Majha area. He set up his dera in the village of Naurangabad, near [[Tarn Taran]]. The dera, named Santpura, became a popular pilgrim centre and it is said that about 4,500 visitors were fed in the langar every day. Such was the influence Baba Bir Singh had acquired that a volunteer army of 1,200 musket men and 3,000 horse attended upon him.
'''Baba Bir Singh Ji''' of Naurangabad (1768-1844), a great soldier and a Brahmgiani saint, was born in July 1768 at the village of Gaggobua, in the Amritsar district of the Punjab. The son of Bhai Seva Singh Ji and Mata Dharam Kaur Ji, after the death of his father (in one of the campaigns against the Afghan rulers of Multan) Baba Bir Singh Ji joined the Sikh army. He participated in [[Maharaja Ranjit Singh]]'s campaigns for the capture of [[Kashmir]] and [[Peshawar]]. After several years of active service, he secured his dismissal from the army after he came under the influence of Baba Bhag Singh, a Sikh saint of [[Daya Singh Samparda|Bhai Daya Singh Ji Samparda]] belonging to Kuri, in Rawalpindi district. As a student of Baba Bhag Singh Ji, Baba Bir Singh Ji immersed himself in Seva and Simran, spending all his time in deep Bhagati. Baba Bhag Singh Ji was a student of Baba Sahib Singh Ji Bedi (Una Sahib), from whom he had succeeded the seva of the Samparda. Baba ji sent Baba Bir Singh Ji to Baba Sahib Singh Ji in Una Sahib to continue his spiritual duties.


Baba Bir Singh was a true wellwisher of the dynasty of Ranjit Singh and was deeply grieved at the disaster which had overtaken it through the envy of the courtiers after the death of the Maharaja in 1839. During that critical period, Sikh soldiers and peasantry began to turn to him for guidance. On 2 May 1844, Atar Singh Sandhanvalia, who had been in residence in British India for some time, crossed the Sutlej into Sikh territory and joined Baba Bir Singh who was then camping near Harike Pattan. Prince Kashmira Singh and Prince Pashaura Singh and many Sikh sardars, including Jawahar Singh Nalwa, son of the celebrated Sikh general [[Hari Singh Nalwa]], and Diwan Baisakha Singh, had already taken asylum at Bir Singh's dera. Bir Singh's camp had become the centre of a Sikh revolt against the Dogra dominance over the Punjab.
Under the guidance of Baba Sahib Singh Ji, Baba Bir Singh Ji continued to spend long hours in spiritual meditation or Seva of the Sadh Sangat and Guru Sahib. To spread Guru Nanak Dev ji's teachings, Baba ji was sent to Majha, where he soon attracted a considerable following in the Majha area. He set up his dera in the village of Naurangabad, near [[Tarn Taran]]. The Asthaan, named Santpura, soon became a popular spiritual center where thousands would come to seek the guidance of Baba ji and countless took part in the langar every day. Such was the influence Baba Bir Singh had acquired that a volunteer army of over 1,200 musket men and 3,000 horsemen attended to him, who served diligently without any pay. Baba Bir Singh ji not only inherited the Seva of the Bhai Daya Singh ji Samparda, He was also respected as the ''Raj-Guru'' of the Sikh Empire after Baba Sahib Singh ji, receiving the title of '<nowiki/>''Guru''' (Not because he was considered as the Guru of the Panth, but rather someone who was one a great spiritual teacher and a Brahgiani saint who was one with Guru Sahibs). Baba ji had thousands of students who had achieved high spiritual levels; this included Baba Khuda Singh ji and Baba Maharaj Singh Ji, who would later succeed the Seva of the Samparda.


Perturbed at these developments, Hira Singh, the Dogra prime minister of the Sikh kingdom, sent a strong force comprising 20,000 men and 50 guns under the command of Mian Labh Singh to attack the citadel of Baba Bir Singh. The troops besieged the camp on 7 May 1844. Baba Bir Singh forbade his Sikhs to fight back saying, "How can we attack our own brethren?" He was in meditation in the presence of the Holy Book, when he was killed with a shell from the besiegers. Prince Kashmira Singh and Atar Singh Sandharivalia also lost their lives in the heavy cannonade and, in the panic, hundreds of Baba Bir Singh's followers were drowned in the river while trying to cross it. The troops, however, never forgave Hira Singh for forcing them into an action which led to the death of a holy man.
Baba Bir Singh ji was a true wellwisher of the dynasty of Ranjit Singh and was deeply grieved at the disaster that had overtaken it through the envy of the courtiers after the death of the Maharaja in 1839. During that critical period, Sikh soldiers and peasantry began to turn to him for guidance. On 2 May 1844, [[Atar Singh Sandhanvalia]], who had been in residence in British India for some time, crossed the Sutlej into Sikh territory and joined Baba Bir Singh who was then camping near Harike Pattan. Prince Kashmira Singh and Prince Pashaura Singh and many Sikh sardars, including Jawahar Singh Nalwa, son of the celebrated Sikh general [[Hari Singh Nalwa]], and Diwan Baisakha Singh, had already taken asylum under Baba Bir Singh Ji at Naurangabad Dera. Baba Bir Singh Ji's camp had become the center of a Sikh revolt against the Dogra dominance over the Punjab.


He tried to atone for what had happened by promising to build a samadh where Baba Bir Singh had been cremated, and set aside land yielding Rs 5,000 annually for its maintenance, but his critics were far from assuaged. He had to pay for this onslaught on Naurarigabad with his own life before the year was out. General Court's battalion, which had played a leading part in the action, was boycotted when it reached the headquarters and was always referred to as gurumar (killer of the guru or holy man).
Perturbed by these developments, Hira Singh, the Dogra prime minister of the Sikh kingdom, sent a strong force comprising 20,000 men and 50 guns under the command of Mian Labh Singh to attack the citadel of Baba Bir Singh. The troops besieged the camp on 7 May 1844. Baba Bir Singh forbade his Sikhs to fight back saying, "How can we attack our own brethren?" He was in deep ''Samadhi'' when he was killed by a cannon from the besiegers. Prince Kashmira Singh and Atar Singh Sandharivalia also lost their lives in the heavy cannonade and, in the panic, hundreds of Baba Bir Singh's followers drowned in the river while trying to cross it. The troops, however, never forgave Hira Singh for forcing them into an action that led to the death of a holy man.
 
He tried to atone for what had happened by promising to build a ''Samadh'' where Baba Bir Singh had been cremated and set aside land yielding Rs 5,000 annually for its maintenance, but his critics were far from assuaged. He had to pay for this onslaught on Naurarigabad with his own life before the year was out. General Court's battalion, which had played a leading part in the action, was boycotted when it reached the headquarters and was always referred to as gurumar (killer of the guru or holy man).
 
Baba Bir Singh Ji was a Pooran Sant, who not only meditated upon Naam himself, but inspired innumerable too. Baba ji initiated countless into the Khalsa Panth, guiding them spiritually on the path of Gurmat. His legacy lives on through his Itihaas and through the school of [[Daya Singh Samparda|Bhai Daya Singh Ji Samparda]], whose responsibility was later succeeded by great saints like [[Bhai Maharaj Singh|Baba Maharaj Singh Ji]], [[Sant Karam Singh|Sant Karam Singh Ji]] (Hoti Mardan) and [[Sant Isher Singh Ji]] (Rara Sahib).


==External links==
==External links==


* [http://www.santgarh.com Full History]
* [http://www.santgarh.com Full History]
* [http://www.santgarh.com Website : www.SantGarh.com]
* [https://www.santisharsinghji.com/product/nau-ratan-written-by-giani-mehar-singh/ Nau Ratan]
* [https://www.santisharsinghji.com/product/thirteen-diamonds-the-treasures-of-bhai-daya-singh-ji/ Thirteen Diamonds | The treasures of Bhai Daya Singh Ji]
* [http://www.santgarh.com Sant Garh (Harkhowal)]




Latest revision as of 18:40, 21 March 2025

Baba Bir Singh Ji of Naurangabad (1768-1844), a great soldier and a Brahmgiani saint, was born in July 1768 at the village of Gaggobua, in the Amritsar district of the Punjab. The son of Bhai Seva Singh Ji and Mata Dharam Kaur Ji, after the death of his father (in one of the campaigns against the Afghan rulers of Multan) Baba Bir Singh Ji joined the Sikh army. He participated in Maharaja Ranjit Singh's campaigns for the capture of Kashmir and Peshawar. After several years of active service, he secured his dismissal from the army after he came under the influence of Baba Bhag Singh, a Sikh saint of Bhai Daya Singh Ji Samparda belonging to Kuri, in Rawalpindi district. As a student of Baba Bhag Singh Ji, Baba Bir Singh Ji immersed himself in Seva and Simran, spending all his time in deep Bhagati. Baba Bhag Singh Ji was a student of Baba Sahib Singh Ji Bedi (Una Sahib), from whom he had succeeded the seva of the Samparda. Baba ji sent Baba Bir Singh Ji to Baba Sahib Singh Ji in Una Sahib to continue his spiritual duties.

Under the guidance of Baba Sahib Singh Ji, Baba Bir Singh Ji continued to spend long hours in spiritual meditation or Seva of the Sadh Sangat and Guru Sahib. To spread Guru Nanak Dev ji's teachings, Baba ji was sent to Majha, where he soon attracted a considerable following in the Majha area. He set up his dera in the village of Naurangabad, near Tarn Taran. The Asthaan, named Santpura, soon became a popular spiritual center where thousands would come to seek the guidance of Baba ji and countless took part in the langar every day. Such was the influence Baba Bir Singh had acquired that a volunteer army of over 1,200 musket men and 3,000 horsemen attended to him, who served diligently without any pay. Baba Bir Singh ji not only inherited the Seva of the Bhai Daya Singh ji Samparda, He was also respected as the Raj-Guru of the Sikh Empire after Baba Sahib Singh ji, receiving the title of 'Guru' (Not because he was considered as the Guru of the Panth, but rather someone who was one a great spiritual teacher and a Brahgiani saint who was one with Guru Sahibs). Baba ji had thousands of students who had achieved high spiritual levels; this included Baba Khuda Singh ji and Baba Maharaj Singh Ji, who would later succeed the Seva of the Samparda.

Baba Bir Singh ji was a true wellwisher of the dynasty of Ranjit Singh and was deeply grieved at the disaster that had overtaken it through the envy of the courtiers after the death of the Maharaja in 1839. During that critical period, Sikh soldiers and peasantry began to turn to him for guidance. On 2 May 1844, Atar Singh Sandhanvalia, who had been in residence in British India for some time, crossed the Sutlej into Sikh territory and joined Baba Bir Singh who was then camping near Harike Pattan. Prince Kashmira Singh and Prince Pashaura Singh and many Sikh sardars, including Jawahar Singh Nalwa, son of the celebrated Sikh general Hari Singh Nalwa, and Diwan Baisakha Singh, had already taken asylum under Baba Bir Singh Ji at Naurangabad Dera. Baba Bir Singh Ji's camp had become the center of a Sikh revolt against the Dogra dominance over the Punjab.

Perturbed by these developments, Hira Singh, the Dogra prime minister of the Sikh kingdom, sent a strong force comprising 20,000 men and 50 guns under the command of Mian Labh Singh to attack the citadel of Baba Bir Singh. The troops besieged the camp on 7 May 1844. Baba Bir Singh forbade his Sikhs to fight back saying, "How can we attack our own brethren?" He was in deep Samadhi when he was killed by a cannon from the besiegers. Prince Kashmira Singh and Atar Singh Sandharivalia also lost their lives in the heavy cannonade and, in the panic, hundreds of Baba Bir Singh's followers drowned in the river while trying to cross it. The troops, however, never forgave Hira Singh for forcing them into an action that led to the death of a holy man.

He tried to atone for what had happened by promising to build a Samadh where Baba Bir Singh had been cremated and set aside land yielding Rs 5,000 annually for its maintenance, but his critics were far from assuaged. He had to pay for this onslaught on Naurarigabad with his own life before the year was out. General Court's battalion, which had played a leading part in the action, was boycotted when it reached the headquarters and was always referred to as gurumar (killer of the guru or holy man).

Baba Bir Singh Ji was a Pooran Sant, who not only meditated upon Naam himself, but inspired innumerable too. Baba ji initiated countless into the Khalsa Panth, guiding them spiritually on the path of Gurmat. His legacy lives on through his Itihaas and through the school of Bhai Daya Singh Ji Samparda, whose responsibility was later succeeded by great saints like Baba Maharaj Singh Ji, Sant Karam Singh Ji (Hoti Mardan) and Sant Isher Singh Ji (Rara Sahib).

External links


References

  • 1. Smyth, G. Carmichael, A History of the Reigning Family of Lahore. Patiala, 1970
  • 2. Bhagat Singh, Maharaja Ranjit Singh and His Times. Delhi, 1990
  • 3. Ganda Singh, ed.. The Panjab in 1839-40. Amritsar, 1952
  • 4. Sher Singh, Sri Bir Mrigesh Gur Bilas Dev Taru.
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