Ranglay Sajjan 2: Bhai Sunder Singh ji

Continuing from the Chapter on Baba Prem Singh ji and Mata Prem Kaur ji: [gurmatbibek.com]


Chapter 02: Khanjar Waliye: Saint-like Mahant Sunder Singh Ji


It was in 1910 that I had irresistible call from my beloved Gurmukhs Sri Babu Mal Singh Ji and Bhai Piara Singh Ji. Accompanied by Akhand Pathhis and Akhand Kirtani Jatha, I landed at Ambala Cantt. We had a prolonged session of Akhand Pathhs and Akhand Kirtans. In the Army Rasala No.18 Bhai Sunder Singh Ji was employed as Granthi. He was in his early youth with small, uniform growth of beard on his round, healthy face. Attracted spiritually by the Jatha programs, he was always seen along with another youthful Vir Arjan Singh (who became well known later as Bhuri wale Sant) following the Nam-imbued Jatha in a love-lorn state. He was highly strung with spiritual yearnings and his sleep had evaded him day and night. Such was the piercing of arrows of spiritual love. He had only one strong desire that he should get baptised by the Gurmukh Jatha at the earliest, so as to get similarly imbued with Nam.

Well versed in Gurmat tradition, Sri Bhai Piara Singh Ji (who has presently left for heavenly Abode) approached me with the request to include Granthi Sunder Singh Ji among the Pathhis. He explained that Bahi Sunder Singh Ji?s recitation was fluent and faultless. In turn I lovingly explained that this Vir is as yet a candidate for Baptization, still in search of Nam-Nectar. How could he become a Pathi when he is still unbaptized? This would be against the tradition of the Jatha. I realized that Bhai Piara Singh Ji was very keen to listen Pathh from the Granthi and therefore assured that his desire would soon be fulfilled once Bhai Sunder Singh is a Baptized Singh. His love yearnings are still ascending so let these rise up fully. Hearing this Sri Bhai Piara Singh Ji had nothing more to say. Sitting near by, Bhai Sunder Singh was listening to the above conversation. With folded hands he humbly submitted, ?Truly I am not yet competent to become a Pathhi of this Jatha. I am still a beggar at their door. I have listened to many Akhand Paths and participated in many. I could recite with great fluency. However the bliss I am enjoying in listening to the Akhand Pathhs of this Jatha, I have not experienced before. Every Pathhi recites Gurbani as if shooting arrows that pierce hearts. This has changed the course of my dry life. It appears as if I am soon going to be reborn with the essence of Gurmat Nectarian life.?

Bhai Sunder Singh Granthi had the insight to evaluate the pure Gurmat principles of the Jatha and firmly decided to join it. After a few Akhand Pathhs, it was his turn to get baptized. Baptizing ceremony was part of every Akhand Pathh and the Jatha was frequent visitor to Ambala Cantt. Once the decision was made known for Granthi Bhai Sunder Singh to get baptized, he adopted the discipline of Sarbloh, use of pure iron utensils in advance. He was selected among the candidates for Baptism. His joy knew no bounds. He had prepared his inner self to be imbued with Nam-dye. The arrow of Love-Divine immediately hit the bull of the target. No sooner the five beloved ones sprinkled drops of Nectar into the mouth of thirsty rain bird and the initiation of Gurmantar was heard, such was the piercing of this Divine Arrow that the highest spirituality was attained. Such was the shinning glory of the face of dear brother Sunder Singh Ji, that it was difficult to behold. The handsome face, imbued with the magical Nectarine Nam became highly splendrous. He had considerable proficiency in Kirtan earlier and when he got tuned to Nam-Bani after baptism, it attained new miraculous heights. The arrow of Shabad Kirtan originating from his heart pierced through many other similar jewels. He lost all pride as distinguished Army Granthi and its rank. He was happy to be humblest of the humble seeking dust of the holy congregation. He became the dedicated servant of the house of Guru. His dedication to service was such that he lost ego of being Baba Ji as Army Granthi. He was ever intoxicated with Nam-Nector, unaffected by his surroundings. He was engrossed in the enjoyment of celestial bliss. He forgot all about eating and drinking needs and neglected dressing up as a well groomed Baba Ji. He wore only the dress of a Gurmukh of Kachhera, a grey shirt, Kirpan with Gatra (belt across the body) and the double turban (lower one of Saffron colour and the top one black woolen). He abandoned the formal dress of Granthi Baba of tight pajama, etc., yet he appeared resplendent and majestic. Today his recitation of Akhand Path, regaling and blissful to the listeners, is beyond all praise. The recitation is like raining of fragrant Nam-Nectar. He is the most fluent Pathhi today and yet most clear and flawless to the listeners. His recitation was uplifting and swaying the minds. He recited for hours together without any fatigue with ever rising pitch. Alongside more and more glory shone on his face. His divine glow associated with Nam-Bani was unbearable for the beholders. The inner recitation of Nam went on with full force in unison with recitation of Akhand Pathh. That is how the moon-like face shone with freshness and also kept the listeners fresh and attentive.

This was a great, priceless jewel, added to the Jatha. Wondrous was his glory. In the Army Rasala No.18 he was thus a high-spirited Akhand Kirtaniya, Akhand Pathhi and one of the Baptizing Jatha of Immaculate Nam. Such was the divine blessing! The prevalent spiritual environment at Ambala Cantt. was so enriched that even the celestial angels would have been yearning for this. The Sikh Platoons, Rasalas, Regiments, Artillery happened to come together in this cantonment. This must have aroused the envy of even the stars of destiny, because this heavenly bliss was short lived. With change of historical circumstances, the army formations had to move away to new places of duty. With this our visits to Ambala Cantt. also became rarer. The transfers of our Army friends ended the gatherings of love-lorn spiritual seekers. We accepted the coming events as the Will-Divine.

After my release from life-imprisonment the news I could get was that Khanjar walia Vir Sunder Singh was no more a Granthi in Army. He was now a Mahant of a Nirmala sect at village Lohgarh near Raikot. This was a hereditary position, that Mahant Sunder Singh filled with distinction, preaching the essence of Gurmat. From Lohgarh he moved his base to the village Lohat Vadi. It became a centre for holy congregations with people joining from far and near. The environment of spirituality and rich feast of Nectarian bliss started attracting true lovers of Divine. The annual special gatherings included the Baptizing ceremonies. Many were the beneficiary souls.

With my return to village Narangwal, there was continuous flow of countless holy ones, joining in holy congregations. That is the time that Vir Bhai Sunder Singh headed an impressive Kirtani Jatha from Lohat Vadi. He had the same personality of peaceful splendour, which I had known with a glowing face and black beard around the face, like a cloud around the moon. However his body was not athletic but he had developed a paunch. We met as old friends after long separation, holding each other in tight embrace and separated yet again. I still remember parting words of Sri Beloved Vir Bhai Sunder Singh Ji. He said, ?This is blissfulness of fleeting times. The next meeting shall await the destiny.? He returned to Loht Vadi. His continuos sitting in meditation had caused fatal piles disease. He died, leaving his mortal frame for his heavenly abode!

"Blessed is such a life"

Gauri Bavan Akhri M.5 [252]

Rangle Sajjan - The imbued ones
Translated by: Bh. Jaspinder Singh Jee
Bhai Sahib Bhai Randheer Singh Jee

Some facts and interesting parts that have inspired me from the above account:

1. Bhai Sunder Singh ji was employed as Granthi in the Army Rasala No.18.

2. At this time, when Bhai sahib Randhir Singh ji met Bhai Sunder Singh ji in Ambala Cantt for Akhand Paath and Kirtan smagams, Bhai sahib writes that Bhai Sunder Singh ji was in his early youth with small growth of beard. Youthful Bhai Sunder Singh ji was attracted to the Jatha's spirituality and showed love for Naam and gurbani.

3. Because of his spiritual thirst, sleep had left Bhai Sunder Singh ji. He had no desires for anything else but only to Pesh at an Amrit Sinchaar organized by the Jatha at the earliest so he could become Amritdhari and immerse himself in the rang of Naam like the Jatha Singhs.

4. Bhai Piara Singh ji approached Bhai sahib Randhir Singh ji with a request that the yet to be Amritdhari, Bhai Sunder Singh ji, be included in the Paath seva of the Akhand Paath sahibs since Bhai Sunder Singh ji was fluent and faultless in gurbani uchaaran. Lovingly, Bhai sahib Randhir Singh ji declined to accept the request and explained that Bhai Sunder Singh ji was not yet Amritdhari and could not part-take in Akhand Paath sahibs. Bhai Sunder Singh ji would first need to be blessed with Naam.

5. Bhai Sunder Singh ji recognized that the Jatha adhered to Gurmat strictly and so Bhai Sunder Singh ji himself with folded hands, humbly submitted that he was not yet ready to part-take in Akhand Paath sahibs with this Jatha and acknowledged the need to first become Amritdhari. Bhai Sunder Singh ji expressed that he had taken part in many other Akhand Paaths and recited with great fluency but had never experienced the bliss he was experiencing from listening to Akhand Paath sahibs by the Jatha. Bhai Sunder Singh ji expressed how the Paath of Jatha Singhs was like arrows piercing hearts.

6. After having full exposure to the pure Gurmat principles of the Jatha, Bhai Sunder Singh ji with full conviction decided take Khanday ki Pahul and join the Jatha.

7. Amrit Sinchaars were part of every Akhand Paath sahib Smagam of the Jatha and the Jatha frequently visited Ambala Cantt.

8. Even before receiving Khanday ki Pahul, Bhai Sunder Singh ji adopted the rehit of Sarbloh Bibek and started to only cook and eat in Sarbloh prior to becoming Amritdhari. Bhai Sunder Singh ji kept Sarbloh Bibek just did previous discussed Ranglay Sajjan; Baba Raam Singh ji and Mata Prem Kaur ji.

9. Bhai Sunder Singh ji was selected as a worthy candidate for Amrit.

10. As soon as Punj Piaray sprinkled Amrit into Bhai Sunder Singh ji's mouth and Gurmantar was implanted in him, Bhai Sunder Singh ji attained the highest spirituality immediately.

11. Bhai Sunder Singh ji's Kirtan reached new miraculous heights after becoming Amritdhari.

12. Bhai Sunder Singh ji lost pride as distinguished Army Granthi and its rank and became the humblest being seeking charan dhooR of the sangat.

13. Bhai Sunder Singh ji's avastha became such that he no longer cared for his well groomed appearance and forgot all about eating and drinking. He's gurmukhi bana was simple; a shirt, kachaera (along with other kakkars) and dohRa DastaaRaa. He no longer dressed in the formal dress that of Granthis. Bhai Sunder Singh ji's appearance became even more resplendent and majestic.

14. Bhai sahib Randhir Singh ji writes that on a particular day, Bhai Sunder Singh ji's paath recitation was most fluent and flawless and Bhai Sunder Singh ji recited paath for hours without any tiredness with an ever rising pitched voice. Vah!

15. The glow of Naam and gurbani on Bhai Sunder Singh ji's face was unbearable for the beholders.

16. Bhai Sunder Singh ji's inner Naam Khanda would go in unison with the Akhand Paath sahibs with full force.

17. Bhai sahib Randhir Singh ji writes that Bhai Sunder Singh ji became a great, priceless jewel to the Jatha. He became a high-spirited Akhand Kirtani and an Akhand Paathi of the Jatha.

18. Eventually, Bhai Sunder Singh ji had to move along with the rank and thus, the Jatha's visits to Ambala Cantt became less frequent.

19. After Bhai sahib Randhir Singh ji's release from Jail, Bhai sahib learnt that Bhai Sunder Singh ji was no longer a Granthi in the Army. Bhai Sunder Singh ji was now living and serving in Village Lorgarh near Raikot. Bhai Sunder Singh ji then later moved to village Lohat Vadi which became a hub of gurmat for sangat and where Amrit Sinchaars were held.

20. Bhai sahib Randhir Singh ji and Bhai Sunder Singh ji met one last time before Bhai Sunder Singh ji left for Gur-puri.


May Sachay Patsha ji bless the Jatha with Kirtanis and Paatthis such as Bhai Sunder Singh ji again.

Bhull chukk maaf karni ji.

Wonderful Sewa Amritvela jeeo. With your permission, your summaries should be made part of the Gurmat Bodh of Gurmat Literature section of this site

Quote

4. Bhai Piara Singh ji approached Bhai sahib Randhir Singh ji with a request that the yet to be Amritdhari, Bhai Sunder Singh ji, be included in the Paath seva of the Akhand Paath sahibs since Bhai Sunder Singh ji was fluent and faultless in gurbani uchaaran. Lovingly, Bhai sahib Randhir Singh ji declined to accept the request and explained that Bhai Sunder Singh ji was not yet Amritdhari and could not part-take in Akhand Paath sahibs. Bhai Sunder Singh ji would first need to be blessed with Naam.

Actually Bhai Sunder Singh was an Amritdhari because he was a Granthi in the Army and without Amrit, one couldn't even be a soldier in Army, let alone being a Granthi there. The reason he was not included in the Sewa of Paathis is that he was not fully in Rehit (Bibek) and did not have Naam dridh.

This proves that today too, it is not right to include persons who are not Tyaar bar Tyaar including Bibek Rehni, in the Sewa of Siri Akhand Paath Sahib.

Kulbir Singh

I stand corrected Bhai Kulbir Singh ji. Having just heard the original writing in punjabi as written by Bhai sahib Randhir Singh ji, the punjabi script seems to have been translated into english incorrectly.

Please post the original punjabi script of Point 4 for the benifit of the sangat, so that this point may be clarified to all the readers.

kurbaan

Today his recitation of Akhand Path, regaling and blissful to the listeners, is beyond all praise. The recitation is like raining of fragrant Nam-Nectar. He is the most fluent Pathhi today and yet most clear and flawless to the listeners. His recitation was uplifting and swaying the minds. He recited for hours together without any fatigue with ever rising pitch. Alongside more and more glory shone on his face. His divine glow associated with Nam-Bani was unbearable for the beholders. The inner recitation of Nam went on with full force in unison with recitation of Akhand Pathh. That is how the moon-like face shone with freshness and also kept the listeners fresh and attentive.


Vahegurooo

Amritvela Wrote:
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> May Sachay Patsha ji bless the Jatha with Kirtanis
> and Paatthis such as Bhai Sunder Singh ji again.


You mean, may Sachay Patsha ji bless the Panth
These sakhian of rangle sajjan are such gems... and I don't think there would be anything wrong in making newly translated copies of Bhai Sahib's writing, if there is a group of individuals willing and able to do that seva, and if there are errors such as the above mentioned that should be fixed.