The town of Jandu Singha is situated around three miles from Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. Many residents of this town served in the Army of Shri Hargobind Sahib ji, the Sixth Master of the Sikhs. Prominent among them were Karma, Dharma, Bhai Sudha and Bhai Budha. All of them were in the forefront during the four battles fought by the Army of Shri Guru Hargobind Sahib ji against the Moghul Forces.
After winning the battle at Kartarpur, the Sixth Guru with some of his soldiers came to Jandu Singha, on the request of his key soldiers. Guru Sahib stayed at Jandu Singha at a place surrounded by trees. There was a well nearby. It is said that there were forty soldiers with Guru Sahib.
The place chosen by Guru Sahib, belonged to the down trodden and poor people of the town. These people were so poor that they could only manage a broken cot for Guru Sahib. Guru Sahib happily and smilingly sat on the cot.
The people served Guru Sahib enthusiastically. Guru Sahib observed the utter humility and devotion with which these people served him. He was very happy and said to them, “There will be vivacity and nourishment of Sikhism at this place. I will be present here all the time and this place will be specially guarded by the Sikh martyrs.”
The people of the town continued to be blessed by Guru Maharaj. The Holy words of the Tenth Master were in fact a prediction. In 1876, some of the residents specially approached Bhai Ishar Singh of Kartarpur to indite for them a copy of the complete Sri Guru Granth Sahib. On the completion of the handwritten Holy Book, the same was brought to Jandu Singha and placed in a small room. (This Holy Book is still intact and people pay their homage and respect.)
The room where the Holy Book was placed was made of unbaked bricks.
Unfortunately the town had to face the deadly contagious disease of plague in the year 1902. People were so involved in tackling the spread of the epidemic that they forgot about the Holy Book kept in the small room. They did not remember about it even after the town had been cleansed of the disease.
Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj, a Holy saint and the beloved disciple of Sant Baba Harnam Singh ji Maharaj of Jiyan, was involved in the worship of the Almighty Satguru at his temporary abode near village Bhatolian. In the year 1912, Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj came to Jandu Singha. He came here to carry out the orders of the Almighty. The residents of the town immediately recognized the divine personality and paid their respects to Sant Baba Ji. It so happened that he was respectfully made to sit near the small room. People from far and near on coming to know about the presence of a Holy person in the town came to pay their homage.
Sant Baba ji silently observed the people and graced the people with his holy eyes. He suddenly raised a question, “What is in this room?” When no one replied, he instructed, “Please open this room.”
When the room was opened it was observed that the Holy Book was kept on a small cot. Termite had eaten the wooden cot kept in a closed room for such a long time. Sant Baba ji genuflected in front of the Holy Book with all respect and the people present there also did the same.
Sant Baba ji admonished the people gathered there, “You people have shown disrespect to the Holy Book. A new cot be brought now and the Holy Book be placed on it. A canopy should be made to cover the Holy Book.”
The devotees of Sant Baba ji were ashamed of their disrespect towards the Holy Book and complied with the instructions immediately. The Holy Book was kept on a new cot in a clean room and was opened in the ritualistic manner for the people to pay their homage.
Sant Baba ji explained to the followers, “Our Guru is far away from superstitions. He is ever guiding us in our activities. We should follow the instructions of our Guru and recite Gurbani. We should all pay our respects to the Holy Book. It should be opened every day in the morning and in the evening it should be closed and covered in the Rumalas for SUKHASAN. The priest should recite Gurbani and the people should listen to it carefully.”
Sant Baba ji then instructed for starting the continuous recitation of the Gurbani in the form of Akhand Path. Sant Baba ji remained at Jandu Singha for forty days. The Bhog of the first Akhand Path was performed in his presence. The Holy Kirtan was sung and the preachers spoke on Sikhism.
Sant Baba ji brought the residents of the town of Jandu Singha back on the track when they had gone a little astray in following the instructions of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib. With the inspiration of Sant Baba ji forty people accepted the ambrosial nectar of the two edged sword on the day of the Bhog of Sri Akhand Path Sahib. At that time Sardar Arjan Singh and his wife Bant Kaur parents of Master Kundan Singh (who is presently looking after the affairs of the Gurdwara as a member of the Managing Committee) were among those baptized.
After completion of his duty at Jandu Singha Sant Baba ji went back to his abode at Bhatolian.
When Sant Baba ji started living at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan, he often visited Jandu Singha with his followers. A band played in front of Sant Baba ji when he walked towards the town. The followers of Sant Baba ji at Jandu Singha welcomed him at the border of the town. They arranged for the playing of a separate band as soon as they saw Sant Baba ji. Sant Baba ji was then taken inside the town in a procession with full honors. This practice, started during the times of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj still continues even today. After Sant Baba ji, Sant Baba Gian Singh ji and later Sant Baba Harbhajan Singh ji ‘Virakat’ and now the present head of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan, Sant Baba Jit Singh ji is accorded the same respect and the procession is taken out in a similar manner.
The devotees through a Managing Committee are managing the affairs of the Gurdwara at Jandu Singha and are completely attached to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan.
GURDWARA OF THE MARTYRS, SAGRANWALI
The Sixth Guru of the Sikhs Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib ji fought four religious wars. With the Grace of the Almighty, he was successful in winning all the wars. The fourth and last war was won on 20th Harh, Samvat 1691, Bikrami.
The cremation and last rites of the Sikh martyrs of this war was undertaken in the presence of Guru Sahib. The ashes of the martyrs were collected in an urn and the urn was hidden under the ground near a Pipal tree (ficus religiosa) in village Sangranwali, District Jalandhar. At the time of hiding the urn, Guru Sahib said, “The whereabouts of this urn will be revealed to the world by a Holy Hermit.”
The wood of this Pipal tree (Bo tree – Ficus religiosa) was very hard. The souls of the martyrs did not let anyone cut the branches of the tree. If someone came to pluck a leaf the martyrs strictly dealt with the person. The village folk considered the spot as Holy and therefore constructed a small room at the place in 1934 (Samvat 1991) and placed the Holy Book of Sri Guru Granth Sahib inside the room ceremoniously. People paid respects by touching the ground with their foreheads in front of the Holy Book. They prayed for forgiveness in case they had done something wrong.
Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj had many a times alighted from his horse at this place and tied the reins of his horse to the tree. The story about the tree and the incidents that happened with the people continued to travel from mouth to mouth, during the years.
The elders of the village once collected together and decided that a beautiful Gurdwara be constructed at the Holy place. A group of five members, one of whom was Sardar Sadhu Singh, the present President of the Gurdwara, came to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan to request Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj for the laying of the foundation stone of the Gurdwara.
When the group requested Sant Baba ji, he replied, “Sardar ji! First of all, you and other people of the village are required to make your foundations strong.”
This meant that the elders of the village who were to be involved in the administrative and construction work of the Gurdwara should have strong foundations of Sikhism by being baptized Sikhs of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib ji.
With the inspiration of Sant Baba Gian Singh ji these persons became seekers of the ambrosial nectar and Sant Baba ji blessed them with the Amrit prepared in an iron bowl with the two edged sword.
On the request of his devotees, Sant Baba ji visited the spot where the Gurdwara was to be built. The Pipal tree’s roots had spread and were firmly established in the ground. Sant Baba ji said, “This Pipal tree be pulled out of the ground with its roots. You will find an invaluable treasure beneath it.”
On hearing these words, some of the villagers collected 30-35 persons from the village and immediately reached the spot to stop Sant Baba ji undertaking the uprooting work. The leader of this group said to Sant Baba ji that he and his group would not let Sant Baba ji or his devotees pull the tree from the ground.
Sant Baba ji said to the leader of this group, “Well! I had come here for the salvation of the Pipal tree. In case you people do not want this to happen, then I will go back.”
On listening to these words of the great Hermit, all of them were so moved that they had to ultimately request Sant Baba Gian Singh ji to carry on with the good work he had started.
At that time Sant Maharaj ji announced to all present, “This Pipal tree is hiding an invaluable treasure. Anyone who helps in cutting down the tree will become free from all kinds of bodily ailments.”
These words of Sant Maharaj ji spread like fire and all those suffering from different diseases came to the spot to participate in the felling of the tree.
In order to remove any doubt from the minds of the villagers, the first chop was made by Sant Baba Harbhajan Singh ji Virakat, the senior most disciple of Sant Maharaj ji at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. Thereafter the villagers were asked to fell the tree.
Although a month passed after the first chop, yet no one came forward thereafter to continue with the felling of the tree, in the absence of Sant Baba ji. Whatever bark had been chopped by Sant Baba ji remained there on the ground and the same was never removed from the spot.
After a month the sangat of the village visited Nirmal Kutiya Johalan for paying homage to Sant Maharaj ji.
Sant Maharaj ji asked them, “How much of the Pipal tree has been cut down?”
The elders’ informed Sant Baba ji, “No one goes near the tree as they are afraid something terrible might happen. No one is ready to take the responsibility of taking a contract for cutting the tree.”
Sant Maharaj ji advised, “This work has not to be given on contract. Instead the money to be paid to the contractor should be used during the construction of the Gurdwara. The work of the construction has to be undertaken by the sangat.”
Sant Maharaj ji then instructed the elders, “Perform Kirtan in the morning at the spot. After the Kirtan, Ardas be performed while everyone keeps the feet of Sri Guru Hargobind Singh Sahib in mind and seeks the permission for felling the tree. HUKAMNAMA from Sri Guru Granth Sahib should be recited and the work of felling started by baptized Sikhs only.”
Sangat agreed and obeyed the instructions of Sant Maharaj ji. At the time of starting the work, an unknown Sikh appeared at the place. He informed the sangat, “I was resting in the parikrama (Wide path on all four sides of the sanctum sanctorium) of the Gurdwara at Tarn Taran Sahib, when Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib appeared and ordered me to go to village Sangranwali and join the sangat for the work of felling the tree. I request you all to permit me to join you in this Holy work.”
Everyone was astonished to hear him and there was no stopping in his joining the others. The unknown Sikh had brought a saw with him. He cut the branches of the tree with his saw. After completing his work, he vanished. He did not eat or drink anything and left the site without anyone’s knowledge. Only the great Hermit knew about the whereabouts of the unknown Sikh.
Tarsem Singh of village Bhatolian repaired engines at Bhogpur. During those days he was not a baptized Sikh. He came forward on his own and hit the tree with an axe. The moment the axe touched the tree; he was overwhelmed and lost his mental balance.
Afterwards, he came to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan but did not come as a seeker of the ambrosial nectar. While at the Kutiya he used to say, “My entire body is burning from within as well as outside.”
He was in this state for twenty years from 1975 to 1995. In 1995, he was baptized and became all right. Tarsem Singh is looking after the Gurdwara at the TAP-ASTHAN of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj at village Fatehpur Bhatolian.
The roots of the Pipal tree were so deep and strong that three tractors were used to dig them up. Below the roots, there were three urns and two Kirpans (small swords). The urns were opened and it was observed that they contained ashes. Sant Maharaj ji informed the devotees, “These ashes are of the Sikhs who attained martyrdom during the battles fought by Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib.”
The sangat bowed before the urns in reverence. Sant Maharaj ji then selected five Sikhs and instructed them to take the urns to Kirtatpur Sahib. The five Sikhs were asked to visit Nirmal Kutiya Johalan on their way back to the village.
As per the instructions of Sant Maharaj ji the urns were taken to Sri Kiratpur Sahib in a NAGAR KIRTAN (Procession). At PATALPURI, where the ashes were to be immersed, a tall well-built Nihang Sikh wearing white clothes received the group. He said to the group, “I have been waiting for these urns for many days. Please give the urns to me so that I may take them to the deep waters and immerse the ashes.”
The urns were handed over to the Nihang Sikh. He was seen by the sangat entering the flow of water but thereafter was not visible. The sangat on their way back narrated the event to Sant Maharaj ji at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan.
Sant Maharaj ji said, “He who was the owner, has taken control of his things.”
Sant Maharaj ji laid a foundation stone of a Gurdwara, at the site in the year 1975. The Gurdwara was constructed in the memory of the Sikh martyrs. At present people from all walks of life visit the beautiful Gurdwara. They are able to fulfill their wishes by praying at the Gurdwara. Akhand Paths are carried out regularly at the Gurdwara. Now a langar hall has also been constructed and the langar is available at all times of the day.
The Amavasya (moonless day or the new moon day) is celebrated at the Martyrs Gurdwara with great pomp and show when Kirtan and religious discourses are held. Many people throng the place on this day and pray for fulfillment of their wishes and those whose wishes have been fulfilled also join the gathering to pay homage to the Sikh martyrs.
The Gurdwara has now become a sacred place for the Sikhs. Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib made the village of Sagranwali Holy with his presence and it was the kindness of Sant Baba Gian Singh ji who revealed the Holy place to the public and laid the foundation stone of the Gurdwara.
PROSPERITY OF THE MONEYBOX DISAPPEARS
A time came when the prosperity of the moneybox (GOLAK) at the Gurdwara of Sikh Martyrs at Sangranwali disappeared. This event is mentioned below.
The committee members on the request of the sangat resolved that since this historical site was revealed to the public by Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj, a separate hut be constructed for his comfortable stay during his visit to the place. During the meeting, a devotee announced that he would donate 7000 bricks and cash for the construction of the hut.
The devotee brought these 7000 bricks to the Gurdwara premises and the cash was handed over to the committee members. These bricks kept on lying there for quite some time and were later used for some other work, and no hut was constructed for Sant Maharaj ji. This hurt the feelings of the devotee. He requested the administrators of the Gurdwara many a times but they did not care for his pleadings. Within days of the utilization of the bricks elsewhere, the collections/donations made by the public visiting the Gurdwara, reduced to a large extent. A stage came when the administrators could not serve KARAH PARSHAD to the sangat since it became costly and instead served sugar puffs.
The sangat started discussing among themselves the role of the administrators. The administrators were also surprised about the less collection.
One day they collected and decided to visit Sant Maharaj ji at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. Sant Maharaj ji was informed of the loss of prosperity of the moneybox.
Sant Maharaj ji questioned them, “There must have been some kind of misdemeanor by you people.”
One gentleman stood up and said, “Yes, Maharaj! There has been transgression. A devotee had donated bricks and cash for the construction of a small hut for you as decided by the committee. But these bricks and money was used for some other purpose. This hurt the feelings of the devotee who had taken action on the belief that his donations would be used for the construction of the hut for you.”
Sant Maharaj ji said, “We have our hut here at Johalan. We do not require another one.”
The gentleman, who was still standing said, “Maharaj ji! You are right. But when the committee had decided for the construction of the hut then the promise should have been fulfilled. The decision was taken in presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji and thus the donation should not have been used for any other purpose. Please forgive us now. We have not been able to complete our promise. Please bless us and show us the right direction to restore the prosperity of the money-box.”
Sant Maharaj ji said, “All of you collectively go to the Gurdwara with DEG of KARAH PARSHAD. Pray at the feet of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib ji and seek forgiveness for all your misdeeds. You should seek Guru Sahib’s blessings.”
Sant Maharaj ji also advised them not to hurt the feelings of any devotee in future. The love and devotion of the devotee should always be kept above anything else.
The administrators came back to the village and as instructed prayed for forgiveness. They also started the construction of a hut for Sant Maharaj ji. Their prayers were heard in the blessed court of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib ji and the earlier prosperity of the moneybox returned.
At the time of completion of the hut of Sant Maharaj ji, the masons and workers at the site heard the sound of the hoofs of the horse of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib ji. Later they saw the hoof prints on the ground. These prints were removed on the orders of Sant Maharaj ji as he did not want the devotees to divert their attention from the actual Sikh tenets.
Undoubtedly, Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib ji is present in this Gurdwara of the Sikh Martyrs.
GURDWARA BAOLI SAHIB OF THE SIXTH GURU OF THE SIKHS SITUATED ON NUR MAHAL ROAD, PHILLAUR, DISTRICT JALANDHAR
A brief mention about this sacred place is to be found in ‘Gur Bilas Patshahi Sixth’. It is given hereunder:
‘Guru Hargobind Sahib after winning the battle fought at ‘NATHANE DI DHAAB’ stayed at village GUJJARWAAL, District Ludhiana for the night of 14th December 1631. Next day Guru Sahib crossed the river Sutlej, with his Army, on boats. Guru Sahib and his men came to the place where now the Gurdwara is situated. The boatman was given Rs.500/- by Guru Sahib as a blessing for the work he had performed. Guru Sahib stayed at the place for the night and left for Sri Kiratpur Sahib, the next day.’
A notice board at the entrance of the Gurdwara mentions this fact. It also mentions the following verse of Sri Guru Granth Sahib:
Wherever my True Guru goes and sits, that place is beautiful, O Lord King. (Page 450)
After the above verse, it is also mentioned that on the request of the sangat of the area, the foundation stone of the Gurdwara and the big hall was laid by Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan (of Hoti Mardaan sect floated by Sant Baba Karam Singh ji) on Thursday, the 9th June 1994. The construction of the Gurdwara started on this day.
Brief history that led to the laying of foundation stone of the Gurdwara by Sant Maharaj ji
A FAKIR lived naked in this area. He had immense love for the Almighty. He was blessed with supernatural powers. People therefore came to him for his blessings. However he was not comfortable with the people coming to him. He was disturbed by their presence and could not meditate on the God as per his free will.
In order to keep the people away from him, he enacted a dramatic scene for the public to start hating him and to leave him alone. He filled a bottle with colored water and held the same in his hand. He then sat on a horse driven carriage with a prostitute sitting beside him. The carriage was driven through the city. People on seeing the Fakir in this state had a natural feeling of revulsion. They felt disgusted with his action. No one expected him to perform such an act. He performed this drama for a few days. The result was evident. He was left alone as people started hating him and stopped coming to him. The Fakir became free to remember the Almighty and meditate peacefully.
Six young stout men of the area got recruited in the Indian Army. After their training, they were posted at the town of Hoti Mardaan. They were fortunate and visited the DERA of Sant Baba Karam Singh ji Maharaj.
They paid their respects to the Holy saint. The kind saint asked them, “Young men! Which area of Punjab do you belong to?”
One of them replied, “Maharaj! We all belong to Phillaur.”
Braham Giani Sant Baba Karam Singh ji asked them, “Have you ever had the occasion of paying your obeisance to a Fakir living in your area? He is a true ascetic having full faith in the Almighty.” Sant ji Maharaj then added, “If you did not get the opportunity to seek his blessings, then you should make it a point to go and pay your respects to him, when next you are in Phillaur.”
One of the youngster said, “Maharaj! A naked sadhu lives in the vicinity of the town. People had a lot of faith in him and went to seek his blessings. Now the people hate him because of his changed attitude.”
Sant Baba Karam Singh ji advised, “A saint has a free will. We should not get involved in any kind of vilification of such a great man. You should understand that there is no difference between a great Holy man and the Almighty. The Holy Fakir will now stop enacting any drama and remained clothed.”
The Army men were impressed by the words of Sant ji Maharaj. It was natural for them to request Sant ji Maharaj, “Our area is quite backward and religion has no place. Please bless our area and the people living there with your kind presence.”
Sant Baba Karam Singh ji replied, “You all will find us in that great Fakir.”
The young men then requested for a photo of Sant ji Maharaj. On hearing this Sant ji Maharaj ji said, “A time will soon come when a complete ascetic of the Hoti sect will bless the area with his Holy feet. A secret place will be revealed by him and afterwards a Gurdwara will get constructed there. His photo will grace the walls of the Gurdwara and also be seen at many important places in the entire country.”
The youngsters felt blessed and left the place happily.
During their annual leave, the Army men came to Phillaur. They observed that the Fakir who remained naked in the winter as well as in the summer season was now wearing clothes. The clothes were just enough to cover his body.
The young men came to pay their respects to the Fakir and asked him, “Why have you covered your body with clothes now?”
The Fakir replied, “The true Guru has asked me to keep my body covered.”
The great Fakir pointed his finger towards Hoti Mardaan and at Sant Baba Karam Singh ji Maharaj. The young men were surprised to observe all this. They could not understand as to how it was possible for the communication to take place between the Fakir and Sant Baba Karam Singh ji Maharaj, when they had not met? It was only a few days ago that Sant ji Maharaj had predicted that the Fakir would remain clothed from now on.
The Fakir noticed their astonishment. He did not want any misunderstanding and therefore clarified to the youngsters, “Cars and other vehicles with the sadhus are show pieces. They are there for the ordinary person to observe. The Almighty has blessed the sadhus to communicate with each other through a contact of the hearts joined by an invisible wire.”
On hearing these words, the young men bowed in front of the Fakir and returned to their homes.
The prediction of Braham Giani Sant Baba Karam Singh ji Maharaj came to be true with the passage of time. Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj was a true saint of the Hoti sect. He was instrumental in revealing the secret places of the Sikh Gurus hitherto unknown to the public. The Holy feet of the Sixth Guru, Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib ji Maharaj had blessed these places.
These places include Gurdwara Baoli Sahib, Phillaur; Gurdwara Ramsar in village, Kot; Gurdwara at Sangranwali to honor the Sikh Martyrs and a Gurdwara at Sandhwaan. Beautiful Gurdwaras can be seen at these places revealed to the public to be historic places by Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj. The Sikh sangat visits these Gurdwaras and are able to fulfill their wishes.
The prediction of Sant Baba Karam Singh ji regarding the hanging of the photos also came out to be true. The photo of Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj was not only displayed in the various Gurdwaras but also installed in the Central Sikh Museums at Sri Patna Sahib, Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Sri Darbar Sahib, Sri Amritsar and also at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib in Delhi. Apart from the devotees of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan, other people also get the opportunity to see the Holy man and pay respects to him.