Braham Giani Sant Baba Harbhajan Singh ‘Virakat’ Ji Maharaj
Sant Baba Harbhajan Singh ji Virakat was born in village Marula in the year 1929. His father Sardar Sunder Singh and mother Sardarni Jit Kaur were fortunate to be blessed with the birth of a son. He was only seven years old when he was given as an offering at the feet of Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj, by his grandfather Sardar Jeen Singh and father Sardar Sunder Singh.
Virakat ji spent his entire life at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. He renounced all the worldly wishes and served selflesly at the Kutiya. He worked in the corral of the Kutiya and looked after the cows and horses. He was named ‘VIRAKAT’ because of his attitude by Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj and is remembered as ‘Virakat ji Maharaj’ by the devotees. Virakat ji was imparted education at the local Government School. His spiritual knowledge was a blessing of Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj. He was a student and a researcher of Sikh history.
He regarded Gurbani in highest esteem. The love for spiritual scriptures can best be analysed from the fact that he remembered by heart GUR BILAS of the Sixth Guru, GUR BILAS of the Tenth Guru, BIJEY MUKT, all SOORAJ PARKASH’S and DHARAM SHASTRA. Everyday he recited from his heart twenty-five Baani’s. He was a very knowledgeable sadhu and guided the other sadhus in their spiritual pursuit.
Sriman Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj observed the height of spiritual knowledge attained by Virakat ji and in 1955 blessed him with the GATI. Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj instructed his beloved disciple Sant Baba Gian Singh ji to look after Virakat ji, as he was a soldier from Paradise.
Virakat ji was given the responsibility of running the kitchen of the Kutiya by Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj, which he performed superbly. Virakat ji served Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj, when he was the Chief of the Kutiya with all his love and faith for 30 years. Virakat ji followed every order of his Gurudev as if it was a spiritual order.
His remembrance of the Almighty at all times, humility and habit of following every instruction of his Gurudev enlightened him to the extent that whatever he spoke came out to be true.
Whenever someone came with a problem, Virakat ji Maharaj used to direct him to the Darbar Hall to pray before Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji for the wishes to be fulfilled.
The soul of Sant Baba Gian Singh ji Maharaj merged with the eternal Supreme on 6th November 2001. On 18.11.2001 during the bhog ceremony Sant Baba Harbhajan Singh ‘Virakat’ ji Maharaj in the presence of thousands of devotees, was appointed the Chief of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. Though Virakat ji Maharaj managed the Kutiya for a short period yet he followed the discipline of his Gurdev and encouraged individuals with Gurbani Kirtan and baptizing them.
On 8th March 2002 the soul left the body of Virakat ji and became one with the Eternal. His Holy body was kept in a wooden box and immersed in the deep waters of river Sutlej at Gurdwara Bhabhor Sahib (Nangal).
