Sant Bishan Singh: Difference between revisions

From SikhiWiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
No edit summary
 
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
'''Sant Bishan Singh''' (d. 1973), holy saint most of whose life was spent in works of  seva, raising of buildings by labour volunteered by devotees, at different shrine sites, came of a welltodo Sindhi family. Nothing is known about his early life except that his parents were Sahajdhari  Sikhs  and that he was in government service when he came in 1940 to the Punjab  on a pilgrimage visiting  Sikh  places of worship and saw  Sant  Gurmukh Singh of Patiala, then engaged in massive
[[Image:Santbababishansingh.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Sant Baba Bishan Singh]]
works ofseva reconstructing the shrines and sacred pools at Khadur Sahib and Goindval. Bishan Singh was so impressed by the piousness, humility and devotion ofSant Gurmukh Singh and of the large number of Sikhs volunteering their labour that he resigned his post in the government, gave away his personal belongings and joined the holy company. He worked day and night like others, digging and carrying loads on his head. This inspired spell was interrupted by the death on 30 November 1947 ofSant Gurmukh Singh. In a state of shock Bishan Singh retired to Sri Abchalnagar, sacred to Guru Gobind Singh, where he remained in solitary meditation for more than five years. Returning to the Punjab, he took to his task with his old zest. Among the works undertaken were the beautification of the Baoli Sahib at Goindval and completion of Gurdwara Qatalgarh at Chamkaur Sahib. The last major project he was associated with was the construction of a spacious divan or congregation hall, at Gurdwara Manji Sahib, within the precincts of the Darbar Sahib at Amritsar. He was one of the Panj Piare who performed its foundationlaying ceremony on 13 November 1969, which marked the 500th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, but did not live to see it completed. He suffered an attack of paralysis in November 1972 and although, responding to treatment and recovering partially, he had resumed supervision of seva, he died on 22 November 1973. P.S.G.
 
BISHNU, BHAl, an Arora of Bibra gotra, was a Sikh of Guru Arjan's time. He dedicated his life to the service of the Guru, who appointed him to serve the sangat, especially those coming from afar. Bishnu would get up early in the morning and would in winter lay hot water for the pilgrims' bath. He rejoiced in washing the feet of the Sikhs with his own hands. Bhai Bishnu, says the Sikhan di Bhagat Mala, attained liberation through
Brahm Giani Sant Baba Bishan Singh ji Muralewale were born in the village Bohith, state Gujrat (now in Pakistan). They were a great scholar and had a highly disciplined rehat. Baba ji was in a family of sehajdhari Sikhs (i.e. they hadn't yet taken Amrit). They were born in the year 1852 AD to Lal Dev ji (father) and Ratna Devi (mother). Baba ji were placed at the charan/feet of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji at the Gurdwara, as soon as they were born and then bathed. The Granthi Singh at the Gurdwara performed the birth ceremony as per the rehat maryada of a Gursikh, thus giving Baba ji the gurti (blessings) of Amrit. After the Ardas a Hukamnama was taken and Baba ji was named Bishan Singh.
service and dedication.
 
By doing the sangat of other Gursikh Saints, Baba ji learnt Gurmukhi and memorized Sri Jap(u) ji Sahib ji. By the age of 13 they had already visited the following historical religious places: Sri Harmandir Sahib Amritsar, Taran Taaran Sahib, Ganga, Paraagraj, Badree Nath, Dehradoon, Rameshvar, Mathra, Ayudhia, Nankana Sahib, Dera Sahib Lahore, Kartarpur Sahib, and Kiratpur Sahib. At the age of 21, while at Amritsar, Baba ji was impressed by the Gursikhs there. It was here where they decided the time was right to join the Khalsa Panth and take Amrit. They did this at Sri Akal Takhat Sahib. Baba ji would recite Gurbani with great concentration, and spent much time meditating on both Gurmantar and Moolmantar. They learnt Sanskrit, jog mat, puran simritian and grammar from Pandit Tara Singh and Pandit Sadhoo Singh. They spent 9 years studying these.
 
After this time Baba ji came to the sangat of Sant Giani Harnam Singh ji Bedi. Baba ji became one of the main sevadars of Giani ji. Baba ji learnt the knowledge of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji, Sri Dasam Granth Sahib ji and all the history of our Guru Sahibs from Giani ji. Baba ji were then given the seva of teaching other Gursikhs and performing the daily Katha.
 
Baba ji would forever keep their concentration at the charan of Akal Purkh. They were very strict in their rehat, especially with their kakkars. They forever stayed clear of the four cardinal sins and never let a bad thought cross their mind, even in a dream.
 
After Sant Ameer Singh ji left the world, the sangat of Murale requested Baba ji to come to Murale and have fixed abode there. At Murale there were about 200 students of Gurbani becoming kathakars, keertanis and paathis. Sant Giani Sundar Singh ji Bhindranwale, Sant Baba Prem Singh ji Muralewale and Sant Baba Bhagat Singh ji Ghebewale were among Baba ji's students. The langar (free kitchen) Seva Baba ji performed at Murale was great, langar was made available for the sangat at all times. Baba ji would perform Katha for two hours at Amrit vela. After this they would go somewhere quiet and for the rest of the day attach themselves to the charan of Akal Purkh in deep meditation. Baba ji loved to partake in Seva themselves. After doing their ishnaan (bath) and nitnem, before performing the daily Katha, Baba ji would fill 150 buckets of water for the ishnaan of their students. They would then clean the floor of the Gurdwara and then complete the Seva of Guru ji's parkash. Everyday Baba ji would ground new flour for degh. Baba ji would say; "the degh is to be offered to our 10 Guru Sahibs, we should therefore never use old flour when making degh." After a while Sant Giani Sundar Singh ji started to perform all the seva that Baba ji was doing.
 
Nobody was allowed to talk about anything other than reciting Gurbani or doing simran of Gurmantar or Moolmantar, at the Gurdwara in Murale. In those days Baba ji would only eat a couple of handfuls of beans and pulses, and a few cupfuls of water. They would spend 23 hours a day doing simran, remembering Akal Purkh. Baba ji had such a good lifestyle and had reached a great spiritual state that once on the night of Diwali, a few Gursikhs asked them to come outside and see the candles and lights the sangat had lighten. Baba ji gave them the following reply: "For many years now I haven't looked up to see the ceiling of this room. I haven't seen the moon, the sun or the stars. Why do we need to see these lights of the universe? Let me stay here and see the light of Waheguru in my heart, the lighter of all of these lights."
 
Before Baba ji ascended to Sach Khand, they appointed Sant Giani Sundar Singh ji the next Jathedar of Damdami Taksal, who was forever disciplined in Gursikh rehat and completely understood the knowledge of Gurbani. In the year 1905 at the age of 53, after the bhog of an Akhand Paath, Baba ji left the world for Sach Khand.

Revision as of 07:47, 8 February 2007

Sant Baba Bishan Singh

Brahm Giani Sant Baba Bishan Singh ji Muralewale were born in the village Bohith, state Gujrat (now in Pakistan). They were a great scholar and had a highly disciplined rehat. Baba ji was in a family of sehajdhari Sikhs (i.e. they hadn't yet taken Amrit). They were born in the year 1852 AD to Lal Dev ji (father) and Ratna Devi (mother). Baba ji were placed at the charan/feet of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji at the Gurdwara, as soon as they were born and then bathed. The Granthi Singh at the Gurdwara performed the birth ceremony as per the rehat maryada of a Gursikh, thus giving Baba ji the gurti (blessings) of Amrit. After the Ardas a Hukamnama was taken and Baba ji was named Bishan Singh.

By doing the sangat of other Gursikh Saints, Baba ji learnt Gurmukhi and memorized Sri Jap(u) ji Sahib ji. By the age of 13 they had already visited the following historical religious places: Sri Harmandir Sahib Amritsar, Taran Taaran Sahib, Ganga, Paraagraj, Badree Nath, Dehradoon, Rameshvar, Mathra, Ayudhia, Nankana Sahib, Dera Sahib Lahore, Kartarpur Sahib, and Kiratpur Sahib. At the age of 21, while at Amritsar, Baba ji was impressed by the Gursikhs there. It was here where they decided the time was right to join the Khalsa Panth and take Amrit. They did this at Sri Akal Takhat Sahib. Baba ji would recite Gurbani with great concentration, and spent much time meditating on both Gurmantar and Moolmantar. They learnt Sanskrit, jog mat, puran simritian and grammar from Pandit Tara Singh and Pandit Sadhoo Singh. They spent 9 years studying these.

After this time Baba ji came to the sangat of Sant Giani Harnam Singh ji Bedi. Baba ji became one of the main sevadars of Giani ji. Baba ji learnt the knowledge of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji, Sri Dasam Granth Sahib ji and all the history of our Guru Sahibs from Giani ji. Baba ji were then given the seva of teaching other Gursikhs and performing the daily Katha.

Baba ji would forever keep their concentration at the charan of Akal Purkh. They were very strict in their rehat, especially with their kakkars. They forever stayed clear of the four cardinal sins and never let a bad thought cross their mind, even in a dream.

After Sant Ameer Singh ji left the world, the sangat of Murale requested Baba ji to come to Murale and have fixed abode there. At Murale there were about 200 students of Gurbani becoming kathakars, keertanis and paathis. Sant Giani Sundar Singh ji Bhindranwale, Sant Baba Prem Singh ji Muralewale and Sant Baba Bhagat Singh ji Ghebewale were among Baba ji's students. The langar (free kitchen) Seva Baba ji performed at Murale was great, langar was made available for the sangat at all times. Baba ji would perform Katha for two hours at Amrit vela. After this they would go somewhere quiet and for the rest of the day attach themselves to the charan of Akal Purkh in deep meditation. Baba ji loved to partake in Seva themselves. After doing their ishnaan (bath) and nitnem, before performing the daily Katha, Baba ji would fill 150 buckets of water for the ishnaan of their students. They would then clean the floor of the Gurdwara and then complete the Seva of Guru ji's parkash. Everyday Baba ji would ground new flour for degh. Baba ji would say; "the degh is to be offered to our 10 Guru Sahibs, we should therefore never use old flour when making degh." After a while Sant Giani Sundar Singh ji started to perform all the seva that Baba ji was doing.

Nobody was allowed to talk about anything other than reciting Gurbani or doing simran of Gurmantar or Moolmantar, at the Gurdwara in Murale. In those days Baba ji would only eat a couple of handfuls of beans and pulses, and a few cupfuls of water. They would spend 23 hours a day doing simran, remembering Akal Purkh. Baba ji had such a good lifestyle and had reached a great spiritual state that once on the night of Diwali, a few Gursikhs asked them to come outside and see the candles and lights the sangat had lighten. Baba ji gave them the following reply: "For many years now I haven't looked up to see the ceiling of this room. I haven't seen the moon, the sun or the stars. Why do we need to see these lights of the universe? Let me stay here and see the light of Waheguru in my heart, the lighter of all of these lights."

Before Baba ji ascended to Sach Khand, they appointed Sant Giani Sundar Singh ji the next Jathedar of Damdami Taksal, who was forever disciplined in Gursikh rehat and completely understood the knowledge of Gurbani. In the year 1905 at the age of 53, after the bhog of an Akhand Paath, Baba ji left the world for Sach Khand.

Retrieved from "https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Sant_Bishan_Singh&oldid=23383"