Recently, Akhand Kirtani Jatha, UK, conducted Siri Akhand Paath Sahib as prelude to annual Akhand Kirtan Samagam and as per normal practice and as per Panthik provision, concluded Siri Akhand Paath Sahib at Mundavani. Unfortunately, one Jagowala Jatha of UK raised unnecessary hue and cry over not concluding the Paath at Raagmala. They took to social media mediums like Facebook and tried to make the impression that Akhand Kirtani Jatha, UK had started a new controversy. This in our opinion was done with malicious intent to malign one of the most Panthik organization – Akhand Kirtani Jatha. If some gullible youngsters had stirred up this controversy, we would have dismissed it as an act of ignorance but Jagowala Jatha has been around since the eighties and must have known that not reading Raagmala at the conclusion of Siri Akhand Paath Sahib is hundreds of years old practice and that there has been a severe split in Panth over reading Raagmala for centuries. It was this centuries old controversy that compelled the Panth in the 1940s to include a provision in the Panthik Rehit Maryada to allow Bhog of Siri Guru Granth Sahib jee either at Mundavani or at Raagmala. Akhand Kirtani Jatha, UK has done nothing out of the ordinary by concluding the Paath at Mundavani because as recent as late 1980s, Raagmala was not read at Siri Akal Takhat Sahib, Siri Nankana Sahib, Siri Tarn Taran Sahib and many other Gurdwara Sahibs. It was only when rogue elements within Sikh freedom fighters in the late 1980s, started reading Raagmala by force that it’s been read at Siri Akal Takhat Sahib.
If Jagowala Jatha had made some comments against Akhand Kirtani Jatha in their own capacity, for not reading Raagmala, we may have chosen to ignore them allowing them freedom of speech but they have dragged respectable Sikh figure and martyr Baba Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale into this controversy by releasing a video whereby Baba jee is accusing people who don’t consider Bhagat Baani, Bhatt Baani and Raagmala as authentic to be causing severe problem (Siyaapa). They have released only a short clip from some video of Baba jee due to which the overall context of his conversation is not known but it seems to be a reference to Bhasauris, who in the 1920s were excommunicated from the Panth, for their anti-Panthik activities. Under no circumstances can this video be alluding to Akhand Kirtani Jatha because Jatha has full faith in Bhagat Baani and Bhatt Baani. In any case, we have utmost respect for Baba Jarnail Singh jee Bhindranwale because he attained martyrdom for the sake of Panth but his status is that of a Gurmukh and not of Guru Sahib, therefore disagreeing with him on an issue is not against Gurmat. It’s natural for two individuals or two organizations to have some differences of opinions but these differences should never cause Gurmukhs or Panthic organizations to have unsavoury feelings for each other or for them to work against each other. Guru Sahib knew that differences within Gursikhs were bound to exist and this is why He admonished his Gursikhs as follows:
ਗੁਣਾ ਕਾ ਹੋਵੈ ਵਾਸੁਲਾ ਕਢਿ ਵਾਸੁ ਲਈਜੈ ॥
ਜੇ ਗੁਣ ਹੋਵਨਿ ਸਾਜਨਾ ਮਿਲਿ ਸਾਝ ਕਰੀਜੈ ॥
ਸਾਝ ਕਰੀਜੈ ਗੁਣਹ ਕੇਰੀ ਛੋਡਿ ਅਵਗਣ ਚਲੀਐ ॥(If there is a container of fragrance, share it with others. If there are virtues, then share them with each other. Share virtues and ignore shortcomings of others.)
Furthermore, in Ardaas we remember everyday those Gurmukhs who ਦੇਖ ਕੇ ਅਣਡਿਠ ਕੀਤਾ i.e. they saw shortcomings of others and chose to ignore them. Basically Gurmat teaches us to have immense love for fellow Gursikhs, even if they lack all the virtues of Gurmat because it’s not possible for all Gurmukhs to be at a perfect state of spirituality all of sudden after becoming Amritdhari; therefore, the only way to have harmony within Gurmukhs is to share virtues and ignore faults, shortcomings and above all differences of opinions. It’s unfortunate that Gursikhs in Jagowala Jatha have been in Sikhi and active in serving the Panth in their own way for many decades but still chose to slander and malign fellow Gursikhs related to Akhand Kirtani Jatha over an issue that even Baba Jarnail Singh jee Bhindranwale had not considered when he mingled with Akhand Kirtani Jatha Gursikhs.
In 1978 when fake Nirankaris planned to organize their event at Siri Amritsar Sahib, Sant Bhindranwale knew that they would commit sacrilegious acts against Siri Guru Granth Sahib jee; therefore he decided to stop them from organizing their event. Since the fake Nirankari event was going to be very well organized with a lot of security, Sant jee looked around for help and the only Gursikhs he could think of were the Akhand Kirtani Jatha Gursikhs led by Bhai Fauja Singh jee. Sant jee knew very well about the stance of Bhai Fauja Singh jee on Raagmala but such thoughts of discord and disharmony did not even enter his mind and he sent a request to Bhai Fauja Singh jee for assistance. On the other side, in the pious and pure mind of Bhai Fauja Singh jee too such thought did not occur that Sant Bhindranwale was not an Akhand Kirtani Jatha Singh and read Raagmala. Bhai Fauja Singh and Sant jee met and both Akhand Kirtani Jatha and Taksal Gursikhs marched over towards the fake Nirankari event. Bhai Fauja Singh and 12 other Gurmukhs attained martyrdom at that time.
There is a recording of Baba Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale whereby he is inviting Akhand Kirtani Jatha Gursikhs to organize a Raen Subaaee Kirtan. Did he not know that the Akhand Kirtani Jatha Gursikhs don’t read Raagmala and as such should not be invited to do Kirtan? Furthermore, there is an incident whereby his nephew Bhai Sarvan Singh read Raagmala at Siri Akal Takhat Sahib and was severely reprimanded by Baba jee for causing a controversy in Panth. We all know that Baba jee was very much in favour of Raagmala but still for him Panthic unity and Gurmukhi love were more important. When Baba jee was residing at Siri Akal Takhat Sahib, he could have easily started reading Raagmala over there but he did not do so out of his preference for Panthic unity and Gurmukhi love. It’s sad that Jagowala Jatha who claim to be flag-bearers of Bhindranwala thinking, acted totally contrary to how he would have acted and stirred up unnecessary controversy that has caused friction between Gursikhs of Akhand Kirtani Jatha and Taksal. It’s hard to fathom what Jagawale aim to achieve by causing disunity and friction between Gursikhs of Akhand Kirtani Jatha and Taksal. What “Chardi Kala” in Panth do they expect to achieve by getting Gurmukhs of two Panthik organizations to be at loggerheads with each other?
Sant Gurbachan Singh Bhindranwale, one of the most prominent predecessor of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, had a very high opinion about Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh jee the founder Akhand Kirtani Jatha. Once at Panjokhra Sahib, Bhai Sahib jee was staying at Bhai Atma Singh jee’s residence that Sant Gurbachan Singh jee came there with his Jatha. When he heard that Bhai Sahib was in the vicinity, he dashed to meet him. Since Bhai Sahib was many years senior to Sant jee, he moved forward to touch Bhai Sahib jee’s feet but Bhai Sahib took him in embracement. This is how these Gurmukhs used to love each other. Sant jee wrote very highly of Bhai Sahib jee, in his epic poem, as follows:
ਦਿੱਲੀ ਮੇਂ ਰਕਾਬਗੰਜ ਕੰਧ ਢਾਹੀ ਜੋ ਫਿਰੰਗੀ, ਸਿੰਘ ਸਾਵਧਾਨ ਜਾਗੇ ਸੀਸਾਂ ਤਾਈਂ ਲਾਵਨੇ।British (Firangi) tore down the wall of Rakabganj at Delhi and Singhs woke up to sacrifice their heads.
ਭਾਈ ਰਣਧੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੀਸ ਦੇਣ ਤੱਕ ਗਏ, ਕੰਧ ਉਸਰਾਲੀ ਫਿਰ ਨਹੀ ਘਬਰਾਵਨੇ।Bhai Randhir Singh went over to sacrifice his head and this way re-enacted the wall and never got despaired or worried.
ਸੰਤ ਰਣਧੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਨਾਮੁ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਈ ਜਿਨਾਂ, ਕੀਰਤਨ ਅਖੰਡ ਕਰੈ ਮਨ ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤਾਵਨੇ।Sant Randhir Singh attained eternal engrossment in Naam, and did non-stop Kirtan to satiate his mind.
ਸਤਾਰਾਂ ਸਾਲ ਜੇਲ ਕੱਟੀ ਸਰਬਲੋਹ ਬੀਚ ਛਕੇ, ਧੰਨ ਗੁਰੂ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਮਨ ਤਨ ਰੰਗ ਗਾਵਨੇ।He spent 17 years of jail while eating in Sarbloh, blessed (ਧੰਨ) were Guru’s beloved ones (Bhai Sahib jee), who sang (Vaheguru) with his mind and body.
In the above poem, Sant jee has called Bhai Sahib jee “Sant Randhir Singh”. Did Sant jee not know that Bhai Sahib did not read Raagmala? Of course he knew but did it prevent him to call him “Sant Randhir Singh”? No! Then why did the Jagowale go against the disposition of their seniors like Sant Gurbachan Singh jee and Sant Jarnail Singh jee, and started the venomous campaign to malign Akhand Kirtani Jatha over an issue that was not even started by the Jatha? The Raagmala controversy has been around for hundreds of years and has been recorded in the work of Mahakavi Santokh Singh, who wrote Gurpratap Sooraj Prakash Granth, katha of which is done in Taksal and other Panthik organizations to this day. Mahakavi jee has written about Raagmala as follows:
ਰਾਗਮਾਲਾ ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਕ੍ਰਿਤ ਨਹਿ, ਹੈ ਮੁੰਦਵਾਣੀ ਲਗ ਗੁਰ ਬੈਨ।Raagmala is not Guru’s composition and Gur-baen (Guru’s Baani) is till Mundavani.
ਇਸ ਮਹਿ ਸੰਸੈ ਨਹਿ ਕਿਛ ਕਰੀਅਹਿ, ਜੇ ਸੰਸੈ ਅਵਲੋਕਹੁ ਨੈਨ।Don’t have any doubt in this case, and if you have doubt, then see with your own eyes (ਅਵਲੋਕਹੁ ਨੈਨ).
ਮਾਧਵਨਾਲ ਆਲਮ ਕਵਿ ਕੀਨਸ, ਤਿਸ ਮਹਿ ਨ੍ਰਿਤਕਾਰੀ ਕਹਿ ਤੈਨ।Madhavnal (name of the book from which Raagmala was taken) was done (ਕੀਨਸ) by Aalam poet, within this composition the dancer uttered it.
ਰਾਗ ਰਾਗਨੀ ਨਾਮ ਗਿਨੇ ਤਹਿ, ਤਾ ਤੇ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਰਜੁਨ ਕ੍ਰਿਤ ਹੈ ਨ॥The names of Raags and Raaginis have been counted (listed) in it; therefore, it’s not the composition of Siri (Guru) Arjun Dev jee.
As per the aforementioned, Mahakavi Santokh Singh in his monumental work has very clearly declared that Raagmala is not Baani. If Jagowale are so passionate about condemning anyone who does not read Raagmala, then they should not allow Katha of Sooraj Prakash Granth in Taksal or by Taksali preachers but such is not the case. They only stir a controversy where it suits them.
The purpose of this article is not to prove anything about Raagmala but to state the fact that Raagmala controversy has not been started by Akhand Kirtani Jatha and that Panth has been evenly divided over this issue for centuries. It was totally wrong for Jagowala Jatha to use this issue to slander Akhand Kirtani Jatha. Sant Attar Singh Mastuanewale, who is accepted undisputedly as a great Gurmukh by the whole Panth, chaired the Panch Khalsa Diwan, Bhasaur for many years and anyone associated with Panth Khalsa Diwan, or Akalis of early 1900s or the SGPC of that time, was unequivocally against Raagmala. This is the reason why Paath of Raagmala was stopped from any historical Gurdwara that was freed by the Sikhs from Mahants e.g. Tarn Taran Sahib, Nanakana Sahib, Siri Akal Takhat Sahib etc.
We invite Jagowale to channel their energies towards fending off severe attacks on Taksal and Jathedars of Taksal particularly Sant Gurbachan Singh jee Bhindranwale, by people like Inder Singh Ghagga rather than attack their fellow Panthik organizations like Akhand Kirtani Jatha over non-issues like Raagmala. So far there has been no concrete response by Jagowale or others like them, to attacks on Taksal and respectable Taksal Gurmukhs like Sant Gurbachan Singh jee Bhindranwale by Ghagga type of new preachers but it's strange that they started their sinister campaign to malign Akhand Kirtani Jatha who has never worked or spoke against Taksal, over this non-issue. What right do Jagowale have to attack Akhand Kirtani Jatha over not reading Raagmala when Panth has clearly decided that Bhog at either Mundavani or Raagmala is acceptable?
It’s quite ironic that Jatha Gursikhs, including this Daas, has defended Sant Gurbachan Singh jee Bhindranwale and Taksal against attacks by anti-Panthik organizations but flag bearers of Taksal – Jagowale – have chosen to malign those very Gursikhs who have stood with Panth and who have never shied away from shedding their blood for the Chardi Kala of Khalsa Panth. By slandering Panthic organization like Akhand Kirtani Jatha, Jagowale have irreparably damaged their credibility as Panthic Jatha because one who slanders other Panthic organizations is working towards weakening the Panth and for this reason can’t be Panthic. This outburst of Jagowale against Akhand Kirtani Jatha gives rise to two possibilities – either Jagowale seriously lack political acumen and a Gurmat spiritual state of mind or they are working for the anti-Panthic powers to weaken the Panth. We would like to believe that the former is true and this is why we are trying to explain to them the detrimental effects of causing friction and infighting within Panthic organizations but if they still don’t desist from their anti-AKJ propaganda, then we will have no choice but to believe and declare them to be an anti-Panthic organization who is working for anti-Sikh powers.
Daas,
Kulbir Singh
ਸਤਿਗੁਰਬਚਨਕਮਾਵਣੇਸਚਾਏਹੁਵੀਚਾਰੁ॥