Vaaheguroo jee kaa Khaalsaa, Vaaheguroo jee kee fateh!
I know the following attempt at putting my personal feelings in words for Bhai Jeevan Singh jee will not be enough. Whilst there is a great sense of loss around us all, there is a very strong current of love, gratitude and an enormous feeling of humility that we were so blessed to have had sangat of such a Gursikh in our life time.
My recollection of dates is vivid but I remember doing darshan of Bhai Jeevan Singh jee in the early 2000’s. Coming from a non-Amritdhari family, there wasn’t any guidance in regards to where to go. I happened to end up at a Raensbhayee by total luck and it was there that I first experienced a Jatha Raensbhayee and had darshan of Bhai Saahib. I was overwhelmed with the beauty of Jatha as soon as I stepped in and this amazement was yet to shape the rest of my life. After matha-tekhing in Darbar and as I turned around to be seated, I had darshan of Bhai Saahib for the first time. I stood still staring and wondering who I was seeing before me. Bhai Saahib was sat with eyes closed adorned in surmayee dastaara with Khanda and chakkar, robed in bana with sarblohi mala’s around chest and wrists, with this ever so bright but calming light shining from him. Various thoughts flooded my mind and I wondered who this ever so handsome Gursikh could be. Bhai Saahib later done Keertan and the anand I experienced there was the first of its kind. I can say I haven’t experienced such anand ever again. Coming from a non-Amritdhari family and having undergone an Amrit Sinchaar in which I felt incomplete and still empty, I was experiencing a great deal of comfort and familiarity during the Amrit Varkha of Akhand Keertan. Later that night, Bhai Saahib sat in a room and did Nitnem and Keertan of Sri Asa Kee Vaar followed. Bhai Saahib and Bibi jee (Bhai Saahib’s Singhnee) showered me with so much love as though I was their own child and as if we had met before. This point is undeniable that whoever Bhai Saahib met, Bhai Saahib radiated so much love and humility that he won hearts of everyone. Upon leaving, I again met Bhai Saahib in the johRa ghar and to my amazement; Bhai Saahib was doing jhoReya dee seva. There was also a Jatha book stall at its side. I took home Jail Chitian and Ranglay Sajjan and it changed my life forever.
After this point, I was never fortunate enough to see Bhai Saahib in England again but I made regular trips to Punjab and darshan of Sri Harmandar Saahib jee always concluded with darshan of Bhai Saahib. I recall it being perharps in 2003 that I visited Bhai saahib at their residence for the first time. A Singh from Gurdaspur was accompanying me. I had peshed in a Jatha Amrit Sinchaar by this point and by great mercy of Vaaheguroo jee I had adopted the rehit of Sarbloh bibek. Bhai Saahib was in good speaking order then and asked me to recite Jap Jee Saahib. Bhai Saahib followed by reciting various shabads and loudly doing Gurmantar abhiyaas whilst holding me tight. I can’t begin to write what I was feeling during that moment. Bhai Saahib kept trying to touch my sinful feet and out of pure love, kept lifting my chola to his forehead to which I stood up upon failing to reach Bhai Saahib’s feet. Bhai Saahib asked for a Bibi jee there to bring mangoes. The mangoes came washed in a steel plate with a steel knife but Bhai Saahib from a distance, with a huge smile on his face, tapped his Sarblohi Kara. The Bibi jee returned again but this time with a baata and Sarblohi knife. To say I was astonished would be an understatement.
Fortunately, I have had the opportunity to travel to Punjab frequently and have had darshan of Bhai Saahib accordingly. Whenever I went, there was never a moment I saw Bhai Saahib sitting or laying down without the phone to his ear listening to Paath from Gursikhs around the world or without Keertan playing on the stereo or on the television from Sri Darbar Saahib.
During the Akaal Chalana of Bhai Surat Singh jee (Pooran jee) in December 2008, I witnessed the most memorable moment of Bhai Jeevan Singh jee during his gaze at Pooran jee during the antim darshan. It was as if though some last spiritual moments were taking place with Bhai Saahib’s eyes full of tears. That was a moment never to be forgotten.
I was fortunate to do darshan of Bhai Saahib during my last visit to Punjab last March of 2014 and I felt like it would be the last for me. Alas, we all received the news of Bhai Saahib’s going to Gurpuri yesterday evening (GMT time). Words all fall short for my love and appreciation of Bhai Saahib but I know that Bhai Saahib’s worth was known to all around the world. There is no one that doesn’t know the name of Bhai Jeevan Singh jee and his Jeevan will be forever an inspiration and tale for many generations to come. Dhan are those who knew Bhai Saahib on a more personal level and enjoyed sangat of such a humble and Naam rassiyan Gursikh. It is so comforting that so many recordings of Bhai Saahib’s Akhand Keertan are available and will be treasured along with the countless Gurmat filled memories. Who can replace Bhai Saahib today having done the immense Gurmat parchaar around the world? He lit up darkened lives of falling people and connected them to Shabad Guroo and not to himself.
ਭੁਲ ਚੁਕ ਦੀ ਖਿਮਾ ਜੀ,
Jatinderpal Singh
ਸਤਿਗੁਰਬਚਨਕਮਾਵਣੇਸਚਾਏਹੁਵੀਚਾਰੁ॥
