Sant Sundar Singh Ji
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Sant Giani Sundar Singh later successively from two Udasi understanding of Gurbani (Brahm scholars, Pandit Javala Das and Gian), within two years. Sant Sunder Singh Ji Pandit Bhagat Ram. Bhindranwaalay was a great Before Sant Bishan Singh Ji Gursikh who led an exemplary life, His father at the same time taught ascended to Sach Khand he gave did massive parchaar of Sikhi, him the banis of: Panj Granthi, Sant Giani Sundar Singh Ji the inspired countless to take amrit and Baaee Vaaraa(n), Bhagat Bani, and chance to ask for anything he taught Gurbani and Gurbani Das Granthi. Around the age of 9 or wanted, as he had spent their time meanings to countless students, in 10 he was taught how to read Sri at Murale doing selfless service. his short life of 42 years or so. Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and he Sant Giani Sundar Singh Ji replied became an Akhand Paati by the without any ego, "it is up to you to Sant Giani Sundar Singh ji was efforts of his father. It was at this decide" what you grace me with. born at amrit vela at village time he joined the Khalsa Panth by Sant Bishan Singh Ji declared that Bhindran Kalan, state Firozpur, on taking Amrit from Panj Pyare. Until he should for the rest of their life 18 August 1883. His father’s name the age of 17 years he stayed at preach the word of Guru Ji, teach was Baba Khajaan Singh and his home learning the understanding of the sangat the meanings of Gurbani mother’s name Bibi Mehtab Kaur. Gurbani and developing his so he may join the path of the practice of Sikhi. Khalsa. At the age of 6 or 7, his parents who practiced the path of Gursikhi, At the age of 18 Sant Giani Sundar gave him the duty to milk the Singh ji left home after doing an buffalos and cows. This was so he Ardas to Guru Ji and seeking a could learn and understand the blessing for an improvement in his teaching from Guru Ji. Sikhi and for increased understanding of Gurbani. After He began reading the Guru Granth having the sangat (company) of Sahib at the age of ten. As he grew many Gursikhs and spiritualists he up, he learnt Sanskrit from a came to the sangat of Baba Bishan Singh Ji at Murale. It was here that Brahman at Dharmkot, 8 km Baba Bishan Singh Ji northwest of his native village, and he gained the complete Sant Bishan Singh Ji tied the dastar on two ocassions. During the since upgraded into a college of Damdami Taksal around the summer of 1925, he preached in affiliated to Punjab University, head of Sant Giani Sundar Singh Ji Kashmir valley. Chandigarh. Bhindranwale. Sant Sundar Singh also accepted Besides his world of letters and He visited seats of learning in the pupils whom he trained in the theology, Sant Sundar Singh Malva region and in the holy city of interpretation of Scripture. At involved himself in the wider issues Amritsar in search of a teacher who intervals he took out batches of his of religious and social reform then could instruct him in Sikh students with him on his preaching engaging the attention of the Sikhs. philosophy, and ultimately became tours which were devoted primarily He took part in the Akali agitation the pupil of Sant Bishan Singh of to delivering katha, i.e. explanatory and helped in having the historical village Murala, in Gujrat district discourses on the entire Guru shrines at Muktsar and Hehran (now in Pakistan). Sundar Singh Granth Sahib from beginning to brought under the control of the arrived at Murala, on 8 March 1906 end. He conducted 19 such courses reformists. and carried on with his study of the during his lifetime, besides two Sikh texts till the death, on 28 similar full-scale ones on the January 1908, of his mentor. He Dasam Granth. Instruction was now launched on his career of similarly provided in the works of expounding the sacred word and Bhai Gurdas and Bhai Santokh holding special gatherings to Singh. administer to the seekers the initiatory rites of the Khalsa. To this Sant Sundar Singh also established end, he travelled extensively in the permanent teaching centres in Punjab, especially in the Pothohar, gurdwaras at several places of Malva and Lower Chenab Canal which the most important were at Colony (Lyallpur and Sheikhupura his native Bhindar Kalan, at Bopa districts) areas. Rai in Ludhiana district and at Takhtupura, in present-day Moga Sant Giani Sundar Singh JI He went on pilgrimage of principal district. For public instruction, he Sikh shrines outside the Punjab founded Guru Tegh Bahadur school such as Nanded and Patna Sahib at the village of Rode, near Moga, He visited Nankana Sahib soon contrary are there to develop our In 1920 Sant Sundar Singh Jee after the massacre of the Akalis on outer physical practice of Sikhi and arrived at Village Akhare on a 20 February 1921 and participated our inner, thought processes. The preaching tour. Iit was here that in Guru ka Bagh morcha (1922) and wearing of the 5 K's is the young Sant Gurbachan Singh upon the morcha at Jaito (1923-25). command of the Guru. Obeying this meeting Sant Sundar Singh Jee command many Sikhs have that the gained the inner peace that One day while he was doing flourished in their Sikhi and will do he was searching for. By listening Gurbani Katha, by the grace of so in the future. to the Katha and Kirtan of Sant Guru Ji a Amrit started dripping Sundar Singh Jee, Sant Gurbachan from a corner of the 'chandoaa' Sant Sundra Singh also met Sant Singh’s heart was finally filled with (canopy). The sangat at the Sttar Singh Mastuwaney Waley. On peace and bliss. It was at this point Gurdwara noticed this and one or the completion of Akhand Paths at that he felt he should become a part two even tried the Amrit and Gangsar Jaitu, Sant Attar Singh Ji of the Khalsa Panth and he took experienced a great sweetness. met Sant Gyani Sunder Singh Ji Amrit. and told him that, "All are now To his students he made it known pressing hard that panth should be Even though he became quite ill that besides understanding Gurbani united. Sant Ji further asked Sant due to a long-term illness in 1929 and remembering Guru Ji, one Gyani Sundar Singh Ji, if he could Sant Giani Sundar Singh Ji forever should be efficient in Shastar come to Talwandi Sabo and hold remained in high spirits. He vidiaa. He would say that each Sikh conduct Katha on the whole Guru continually remained in full should be able to defend and Granth Sahib. Sant Ji agreed and concentration of Guru Ji at all times. protect the needy. He felt it was began doing Katha on Guru Granth He passed on the selfless service necessary that every Sikh should Sahib on 5 October and concluded of continuing Sri Guru Gobind follow the command of Sri Guru it on 26 March 1926 AD. Singh Ji's Damdami Taksal to one Gobind Singh Sahib Ji of being true of their students Giani Gurbachan Saint-Soldiers. The two of them met and discussed Singh Ji Khalsa. spirituality at length. He did much to promote the 5 K's Sant Sundar Singh Ji narrated the (Kes, Kacchera, Kirpan, Kanga, complete Katha of Sri Guru Granth Kara) he stated that these are not Sahib Jee at Boporai, Sant merely uniforms, but on the Gurbachan Singh Ji was the Paathee throughout the Katha and During his life, he completed the on the day of the Bhog of the Katha of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Katha, Sant Sundar Singh Ji 21 times. While completing their honoured Sant Gurbachan Singh Ji seva he had about 1300 students, with a Siropa) and he said to the of whom 1000 became Akhand sangat, “With us (in the Jatha) we Paathis; 200 became preachers; have countless Gurmukhs who and 100 katha vaachiks. Sant ji have got educated, some have paid for all the costs incurred by his gone on to full-time employment, students. many have gone on to get entangled in the demands of a Sant Giani Sundar Singh Ji spent householders life (Grahist), but the all his life in the selfless service of teachings that were taught to me by the Khalsa Panth. Sant Bishan Singh Jee Murale Vale, it is only Khalsa Jee who has met all the teachings of Sant Bishan It can be said that for all practical Singh Jee. Sant Bishan Singh Jee purposes, the Dadami Taksaal honoured me with many gifts and came to the forefront early last today I place all these gifts in the century under Sant Sundar Singh keep of Khalsa Jee. The Jathedari Ji. He was a figure of great piety of Damdami Taksal started by Sri and traditional learning. Sant Ji, Guru Gobind Singh Jee is being like many of his contemporaries, set given to Khalsa Jee – with this out to purge diversity in Sikh Siropa. doctrine, ritual and practice with the desire to engender a uniform On 15th February 1930 in the religious community. village of Boparai at Gurdwara Sachkhand, while listening to the kirtan of Asa Di Var at around 8:15am Sant Ji left the world for the charan of Guru Sahib. .