The Multifarious Faces of Sikhism
throughout Sikh History
Page 2 of 10
Samparda
Bhindra cont'd
Giani Kartar Singh informs us that Baba Sundar
Singh also learned ‘Kirtan’
(singing of Sikh scripture) from Pundit Jawala
Das Udasi. Giani Kartar Singh also spoke of
another non-Amritdhari Khalsa Sikh Udasi
who taught Baba Sundar Singh Ji:
‘Then he learned ‘Brahm
Vidiya’ (knowledge of all pervasive
God) from Giani Bhagat Ram Ji
of Hamidi.’ ‘Khalsa
Jiwan Ateh Gurmat Reht Maryada’, by
Giani Kartar Singh, Pa.22
In 1905, Baba Sundar Singh eventually became
the ‘Shish’ (student)
of the renowned Nirmala Sikh saint, Sriman 108
Baba Bishan Singh Ji. In time, Baba
Bishan Singh Ji ‘Murale Waley’
would train Baba Sundar Singh to carry on the
tradition of Sikh ‘Santhia’
(the tradition of correct reading and interpretation
of Sikh scriptures).
Sriman 108 Baba Bishan Singh Ji Nirmala
'Murale Waley'
Baba Bishan Singh was a master scholar, poet,
and historian
Another Nirmala saint, Sriman 108 Baba
Gulab Singh Nirmala also taught Baba
Sundar Singh during this time. The eminent Sikh
scholar, Dr. Trilochan Singh wrote the following
after interviewing Baba Sundar Singh’s
brother, Baba Inder Singh,
and his successor Baba Gurbachan Singh thus:
‘Sant Sundar
Singh, founder of Bhindranwale Taksal was
student of Sant Gulab Singh, a Nirmala Saint
and actually belonged to the Amritsali Taksal.
I had the opportunity to meet Sant Inder
Singh, brother of Sant Sundar Singh many
times and got first-hand material about
the Saint’s life from Sant Gurbachan
Singh. Sant Inder Singh died at the age
of 104.’ ‘The
Turban And Sword Of Sikhs, by Dr. Trilochan
Singh, Pa.390
Sriman 108 Baba Inder Singh Ji 'Bhindra
Wale'
Baba Inder Singh, brother of Baba Sundar Singh
Ji was over 97 years of age when this photograph
was taken
From approximately 1910 onwards, Baba Sundar
Singh became an itinerant Sikh preacher. Although
Baba Sundar Singh was a Nirmala Sikh, he was
to some extent influenced by the Tat Khalsa
Singh Sabhia mentality that was in existence
at the time. It was Baba Sundar Singh Ji who
was amongst those prominent Sikhs who spearheaded
the ‘Singh Sabha’
movement amongst the rural Sikh population:
‘The Singh Sabha movement
first for many years remained confined to
towns in particular Lahore and Amritsar.
But in 1903-4 it began to gather strength
in the villages. At the beginning some Sikh
Sants gave this movement a new lease of
life and made it powerful. Amongst
whom written in the pages of history in
gold names of ‘Brahm Giani’
Sant Attar Singh Mastuana (a Nirmala Sikh),
Bhai Randhir Singh Ji Narangwal (of Akhand
Kirtani Jatha fame), Sant Magar Singh Ji
Ram Garh, ‘Brahm Giani’ Sundar
Singh Ji Bhindranwalla etc. - holy men their
names shine like the north star.’
‘Ethas Dam Dami Taksal, ’,
by Didar Singh Khjal, Pa.117
Sriman 108 Baba Attar Singh Ji Nirmala
'Mastuana Waley'
Baba Attar Singh, one of the key figures of
the Singh Sabha movement, was a
'Shish' of Bhai Boota Singh Nirmala, 'Mahant'
of the Nirmala dera of Bhai Ram Singh Nirmala,
in the village of Chima
