Sankhep Jeevanian
A brief look into the lives of three inspirational mahapurakhs from Jatha Bhindran.
Sant Giani Sunder Singh Ji Bhindranwale
Sant Giani Sunder Singh Ji was born on 8 Bhadon 1940 bikrami, Wednesday 22nd August 1883 to Baba Khajan Singh and Mata Mehtab Kaur at village Bhinder Kalan Moga. They obtained their vidya from their father, who was a very knowledgeable individual and a very holy pious man. The birth of Sant Giani Sunder Singh was a gift from Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
To make the final words of Sant Bishan Singh Ji they preached the word of Guru Nanak Dev Ji continuously touring around India. They guided people onto the path of the Khalsa helping them avoid the falsehoods in the world. Sant Giani Sundar Singh Ji would forever keep themselves in the remembrance of Guru Ji and whenever they would do Katha they would bring peace to the listeners. One day while they were doing Gurbani Katha by the grace of Guru Ji a miracle occurred Amrit (nectar) started dripping from a corner of the 'chandoaa' (canopy). The Sangat at the Gurdwara noticed this and one or two even tried the Amrit and experienced a great sweetness. They also had the blessed vision (darshan) of 10 Guru Sahibaan.
Even though they became quite ill to a long-term illness in 1929 AD Sant Giani Sundar Singh Ji forever remained in high spirits. They continually remained in full concentration of Guru Ji at all times. They passed on the selfless service of continuing Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji's Damdami Taksal to one of their students Giani Gurbachan Singh Ji Khalsa.
Within the command of Waheguru on 4 Phagan 1986 Bikrami, 15th February 1930 AD at Gurdwara Sachkhand Boparai while listening to the kirtan of Asa Di Vaar the 16th chaka had finished. The bhog of Sri Akhand Path Sahib was completed and at around 8am Sant Ji left the world for the charan of Guru Sahib.
In their time they completed the Katha of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji 21 times. While completing their seva they had approximately 1300 students of whom 1000 became Akhand Paathee, 200 became parcharaks and 100 kathavachik.
Sant Gurbachan Singh Ji ‘Khalsa’ Bhindranwale
Sant Giani Gurbachan Singh Ji was born on Phagan Sangrand 1959 Bikrami, 12 February 1902 to father Bhai Rorr Singh and mother Anand Kaur. They were taken to the gurdwara and hukumnama was taken which was Gur Poora Bheteyo vadhbhagi and they were named Gurbachan Singh. Sant Ji learnt vidya from their Taiya Baba Kahn Singh who taught them Santhia of Nitnem, Panj Granthi, Bhai Vaaran, Bhagat Bani, Das Granthi and Santhia of full Sri Guru Granth Ji at the age of 6. They also memorized full Nitnem bani. They became a fluent pathi at the age of 7. They also started to read Bhai Gurdas Dian Vaaran and kabit savaiye, Sri Gur Nanak Parkash and Sri Gurpratap Granth including others from their taiya Bhai Kahn Singh. At the age of 9 they went to their paternal aunt's village Kishanpura where they learnt Hindi, Sanskrit and some Hindu granths from Mahant Lal Das. At the age of 14 they had the blessed vision of Sant Giani Sundar Singh Ji at Gurdwara Akhand Parkash Bhinder Kalan and asked Sant Ji to keep them in the jatha to which mahapurkh said we don’t keep singhs without beards.They then later enrolled in the jatha at the age of 19 in 1921.
Daily Sant Ji would rise at 1am after doing ishnaan and would do simran for 45 minutes. Their daily duty was to do the ishnaan of the Gurdwara Sahib, to perform Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee’s Parkash and to recite Sri Japji Sahib and Sri Sukhmani Sahib and to start the Kirtan. He performed his duty with much affection, purity, dedication with full commitment and discipline. He listened to Sant Sundar Singh Jee narrate the Katha of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee a total of 4 times and was educated in the following by Sant Jee – Bhai Gurdas Jee’s Vaaran & Kabit Svaiye, Bhai Nand Lal Jee di bani, Sri Dasam Guru Granth Sahib, Sri Gur Panth Parkash Sri Gur Bilaas Patshahi shevin and dasvin and many other writings. They were educated in other faiths to further their knowledge they studied Yog Vedant, Panj Dasee, Moksh Panth & many other Granths including Sikh history. He read 125000 Japji Sahib path and performed 3060000 meditations of Mool Mantar and countless meditations of Vaheguru simran were performed during this period.
Sant Ji would have a jatha of about 100-200 singhs which would travel to different villages across Punjab to perform Katha parchaar. Sant Ji would teach the deep meanings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji they learnt from Sant Giani Sunder Singh Ji. They performed 27 full Kathavan of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. They were performing the 28th Katha, they merged with Vaheguru on 15th Harr 2026 Bikrami, 28th June 1969 at 2.10am at Mehta. Their respected body was taken to Kiratpur Sahib where their Antim Saskaar was performed. Many students have learnt from the respected Sant Giani Gurbachan Ji who have performed gurmat parchaar across India and the west.
Sant Giani Mohan Singh Ji Bhindranwale
Sant Giani Mohan Singh was born on 13 Chet 1976 birkrami (26th March 1919) to Sardar Hari Singh and Mata Dharam Kaur at Chak 130 Sargodha (Sillanwali).Sant Ji went to the local school in Sargodha before enrolling at 8th grade King George Royal Indian Military School. Army schools were known to have high educational standards, where Sant Ji was an exemplary student.
They met Bhai Isher Singh from the local village and asked the same question which in return Bhai Isher Singh said you will need to let go of all worldly attachments. Due to the Sangat of Bhai Isher Singh Ji Sant Ji's mind was attached to naam simran and detached from the world. They guided them to Sant Ghanaiya Singh Pathlave Wale and took Amrit here. An interesting incident took place whilst Sant Ji took amrit. It is said that whilst taking amrit, Sant Ji could hear rom rom simran from within.Sant Ji stayed at Pathlava for a while learning Sarkutavli, Bhavrasamit, Vichaar Mala, Adhiatam Parkash, Parbodh Chandar Natak, Vairag Shatak etc. from Sant Giani Khem Singh.They went to Nandapur Kalaur village in district Fatehgarh Sahib to do simran on the outskirts of the village. From there they went to Anandpur Sahib. Giani Hardit Singh advised them that for Naam Simran it would be a good idea to have understanding of Gurbani Arth and Shudh Path and that they will be able to gain this from Sant Giani Gurbachan Singh Ji. Sant Ji saw Sant Giani Gurbachan Singh Ji for the first time at Anandpur Sahib and was pulled by their charisma. They quickly enrolled in the jatha at Gurdwara Akhand Parkash Bhindar Kalan in 1938. They stayed for five years where they listened and wrote three kathava of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Katha of Sri Dasam Guru Granth Sahib, Bhai Gurdas and Bhai Nand Lal Ji Di Bani, Sri Guru Nanak Parkash, Sri GurPartap Suraj, Sri Gur Panth Parkash, and Gurbilas Patshahi Shevin and Dasvin.
Sant Ji had left the Jatha and stayed at many places to do naam simran.They also went to Amritsar to learn vedant and niaye from Giani Anokh Singh, vaidak granth from Mahant Ganesha Singh and pingal granth from Pandit Amar Singh. As well as being a very high level scholar they were very good at gatka learning from Sant Dalip Singh.
Sant Ji went to Anandpur Sahib where they helped Sant Sewa Singh with the kar sewa of Kila Anandgarh Sahib deori which was started by Sant Ghaniaya Singh Ji. They were one of the pathi Singh during the Akhand Path to restore the Bauli Sahib Jal. Sant Sewa Singh Ji asked Sant Ji to stay with them which Sant Ji replied I will stay if maharaj instructs me to do seva otherwise my desire is to dedicate my time to simran, to which maharaj Ji said,
ਜੈਤਸਰੀਮਹਲਾ੪।। ਜਿਨਹਰਿਹਿਰਦੈਨਾਮਨਬਸਿਓਤਿਨਮਾਤਕੀਜੈਹਰਿਬਾਂਝਾ।।
Sant Ji attached themselves to naam simran and went to Sadabarat Gurdwara outside Ropar for 11 months. They also stayed at Hazoor Sahib for a while doing seva and simran. Due to the unexpected demise of Giani Suba Singh,Sant Ji carried on Katha of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji at Bunga Mastuana Sahib from Sorath Raag to bhog in two years.
Sant Ji was given the seva of Sampradai Bhindran and Gurdwara Akhand Parkash Bhindar Kalan on 1969. They completed this seva with utmost resilience and kept the principles of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji till their last breath. Sant Ji left this earth on 18 Maghar 2077, 2nd December 2020.
