Tikana Bhai Jagta Ji Sahib
History of the Tikana Sahib
The most prominent center of the Seva Panthi Mission and home of the Chief Preceptor of the Seva Panth is located in the most beautiful part of Bathinda District in Punjab, in a haven called 'Goniana Mandi'.
The Chief Preceptor of the Tikana Sahib is a most kind, generous, compassionate saint Mahant Baba Kahan Singh Ji. He is the thirteenth spiritual descendant of Bhai Kanhaiya Ji. He was anointed as the Chief Assignee of the Tikana Sahib by Mahant Baba Tirath Singh Ji on January 15, 2008.
Bhai Seva Ram Ji's first Dharamsala
This Tikana was originally established in Nurpur Thal in West Punjab (now in Pakistan) by Bhai Seva Ram Ji in 1688 AD, who was Bhai Kanhaiya Ji's first and most prominent disciple. Bhai Seva Ram Ji, on a missionary tour, as his disciple arrived at Nurpur, which was an arid part of then District Sargodha. He noticed an acute shortage of water and the suffering of the local population. On further enquiry, he ascertained that people had to trudge several miles to procure water for their daily needs. He resolved to alleviate their pain by getting a well dug in the area, and further resolved to start a Dharamsala there to preach Gurbani to the people. While supervising the construction of the Dharamsala, a young man approached him for his blessings. Bhai Ji was tired and he asked the man if he would massage his aching feet. The boy had the spirit of 'Seva' within him and without hesitation, started serving. He stopped only when Bhai Ji was aching feet were relieved. Bhai Ji then asked him what his name was and the young man replied, "People call me Sehja". Bhai Ji was very pleased to hear his name and thus spoke. "If you forsake your worldly ambitions and involvements, attend the holy congregation with devotion, daily, you will surely attain the state of "Sehaj" (Equipoise)that your name suggests. The boy then summoned all the courage he could get and humbly admitted a moral dilemma. He was tormented by sexual desire and being afraid of the vice he felt that he was unfit for a holy congregation. Those thoughts were quite unsettling and he was afraid that he would succumb to them one day. Bhai Seva Ram listened to him patiently and then said. "O Sehja, of this vile affliction abandons you, will you then promise to attend the holy congregations regularly." The young man excitedly exclaimed, "Surely, my master. surely! I will entirely dedicate my life to your service and serve humanity with all my heart." Bhai Seva Ram Ji was very pleased at Sehja's response and cast a gracious glance at him, reciting the following verse from the Guru Granth Sahib:
ਨਸ ਵੰਝੋ ਕਿਲਵਿਖੋ ਕਰਤਾ ਘਰਿ ਅਾਿੲਅਾ ॥
"Flee all sins, The Creator has come to my home."(Asa M.5, Page 460)
This had a remarkable effect in calming Sehja, who later became known as Bhai Sehaj Ram Ji. Bhai Sehaj Ram Ji's acquired spiritual education from the Nurpur Thal dharamsala and he became a proficient reciter of Gurbani, a wonderful raagi, and an expert at exegesis of the Granth Sahib.
Bhai Seva Ram Ji blessed five other very prominent disciples, like Bhai Rana ji, and in 1710 AD, Bhai Seva Ram Ji came into contact with Bhai Santokha at village Khahi, brought his vices under his control and blessed him with Divine Naam. He was followed by Bhai Budhar Ji, Bhai Sahib Ram Ji and Bhai Addan Shah Ji. And when he left his physical frame in 1728 AD, he passed the torch on to Bhai Addan Shah Ji, who though never resided at the Nurpur Thal dharamsala, had complete control over it.
Bhai Bhalla Ram Ji is the chosen one
Bhai Addan Shah Ji sent many sadhus to manage the dharamsala after Bhai Seva Ram Ji, and provide the necessary expenses, but every one of them returned unsuccessfully, under one pretext or the other. He was concerned about the welfare of the the dharamsala and wondered who out of his 250 chelas/sadhus he could assign to manage it. As he was quietly thinking about the subject, Bhai Bhalla Ram Ji walked in. Bhai Bhalla Ram Ji was a self abnegating personality, totally selfless, completely devoted to his path, but yet positive thinking and self-confident. Those were all qualities that Bhai Addan Shah Ji was looking for. He thought if he should accept the assignment,he will be successful in managing the Nurpur Thal dharamsala. In a very pleasant and kind tone, he asked him. "Bhai Bhalla Ram! Will you accept the duty I grant you today?" "It will be a matter of great honor for me, my master. I will consider it a great blessing," replied Bhai Bhalla Ram Ji. Bhai Addan Shah Ji then said, "You know that the most primal establishment of Bhai Seva Ram Ji, the dharamsala at Nurpur Thal, is lying vacant and unattended to for a long time. It is my wish that you consent to the management of the dharamsala. You will receive my blessings as well as those of Bhai Seva Ram Ji as well. Now, I understand that separating from me will be hard for you and that is why I am asking for your consent. If you give it to me , I will make you the assignee of the dharamsala and make all arrangements. Bhai Bhalla Ram Ji patiently heard his master and then humbly replied, "O Cherisher of the poor! I am your your slave. What ability does a bought slave have to dare express his views? I am your humblest servant and you are my benign support. Your wish is my command and I accept your command with pleasure." Bhai Addan Shah Ji was very pleased with Bhai Bhalla Ram Ji's response and asked him to take a seat. He called in Bhai Swai Ram and Bhai Balak Ram, two other sadhus and ordered them to accompany Bhai Bhalla Ram Ji to Nurpur Thal. They, unhesitatingly obeyed as well.
Bhai Bhalla Ram Ji did not ask for a penny for his new endeavor. All he needed and did receive was a blessing from Bhai Addan Shah Ji. Other sadhus before him had been sent to Nurpur with thousands of rupees for provisions and expenses. So some other sadhus came to Bhai Addan Shah Ji and suggested that he provide some funds to Bhai Bhalla Ram Ji, but Bhai Addan Shah Ji declared, "My friends, it is not the funds provided by me that will sustain the Nurpur Thal dharamsala. It will be Almighty Vaheguru and Bhai Seva Ram Ji himself that will help him manage the dharamsala. besides, Bhai Bhalla Ram Ji is a saint of great distinction, and he is devout, benevolent and kind. His own splendor will prevail upon the local population and she shall greatly assist him in this noble cause. He will be successful in his mission. Bhai Bhalla Ram Ji and the other Sadhus, made obeisance and kissed Bhai Addan Shah Ji's feet and with his permission left for their new mission.
They reached Nurpur unimpeded and went straight to the Dharamsala, paid their respects to the memory of Bhai Seva Ram Ji. The news of their arrival spread all over town. People began to talk about the newly arrived Sadhus, especially noticing the new assignee, his noble spirited and peaceful personality. They flocked to seek his blessings and brought offerings, as well. Bhai Bhalla Ram Ji immediately took a tour of the complex and determined that the building was in need of substantial repair. Without any delay, he started the reconstruction. The local population was very pleased, and the donation and offerings poured in, and many people began to help in reconstruction. When the project was completed, Karah Parshad was distributed among all those who volunteered, and the holy congregation, three times a day, was recommenced. Gurbani Nitnem, Kirtan and Katha were re-started. The morning darbar was from 3 AM to 10 AM, the afternoon darbar was from 3 PM to 5 PM and the evening darbar was from 7 PM to 9 PM. The evening darbar was concluded with the recitation of Kirtan Sohila. The local population benefited immensely from the holy congregation and many renewed their faith. the glory of Bhai Bhalla Ram Ji grew from day to day. He started going on missionary tours and would also travel to Amritsar to pay his respects to Harmandir Sahib. The Seva Panthis have always been great devotees of all the Gurus, but especially loved Guru Ram Das Ji.
Bhai Jagta Ji comes to seek the Sanctuary of Bhai Bhalla Ram Ji
- TIKANA BHAI JAGTA JI SAHIB [1]
- GONIANA MANDI, DISTT. BATHINDA
- PUNJAB (INDIA)
- TEL : +91-164-2262012, 2262051, 2263333
- mail us at
- [email protected]
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