The Multifarious Faces of Sikhism
throughout Sikh History
Page 3 of 15
Bhai
Randhir Singh da Jatha/Akhand Kirtani Jatha
cont'd
As to how Randhir Singh began to doubt the
authenticity of 'Raagmala',
Giani Gurdev Singh of Samparda Bhindra commented:
‘Bhai Randhir Singh,
as I told you before - they were new [to
Sikhism], they had great enthusiasm. A new
person as he gets caught up in whatever
place he becomes like that. They, the five
Singhs said a prayer and pledged not to
read ‘Raagmala’ all their lives.
Ok, now Bhai Randhir Singh went to jail
and Teja Singh [Bhasauria] began to preach
that ‘Svaiya’ (scriptures from
Adi Guru Durbar) are not scripture. ‘Bhagat
Bani’ (scriptures from Adi Guru Durbar
from Sikh, Hindu and Muslim saints) that
to is not scripture. Other texts, which
are not directly [Guru’s text] are
[also] not scripture. Only texts
of Sikh Guru’s of the first, second,
third, fourth, fifth [and ninth] are scripture.
He [Teja Singh Bhasauria] got his own Guru
Granth published for he had his own printing
press. When he published the Granth and
the people found out then an edict from
Akal Takht was issued against the Bhasaurias,
stating no one was to have any contact with
them. That anyone having contact with them
would be excommunicated from Sikhism……Now,
if Bhai Randhir Singh appreciated that he
[Teja Singh Bhasauria] has attacked even
the Sikh scriptures. ‘Bhagat Bani’,
‘Svaiya’, ‘Saehskirti’
and many others [Sikh texts in Adi Guru
Durbar] then he [Teja Singh Bhasauria] was
also wrong with regards to ‘Raagmala’
[As he was with regards to these aforementioned
scriptural texts]. But Bhai Sahib [Randhir
Singh] did not think like that.
Now, Bhai Sahib could sing Sikh religious
texts. He also had great spiritual power.
Because all day in jail, he was kept in
isolation there, he contemplated “Va-eh
Guru Va-eh Guru”. In this way he had
great spiritual power. Sant Baba
Gurbachan Singh [of Samparda Bhindra] and
Bhai Randhir Singh had a meeting for three
hours at Panjkhora Sahib. Understand.
Only them two sat inside for three hours
and talked. Bhai Randhir Singh said he accepted
that: “From now on I will not say
anything to anyone that someone read or
not read [Raagmala].”
Second, the holy being [Baba Gurbachan Singh]
said…The holy being then said when
he came back: “He [Randhir Singh]
has done great study of scripture so as
he may attain salvation. But he will have
to take one more birth so as he may read
Guru Granth with ‘Raagmala’
then he will have salvation.” Here he [Randhir Singh] doubted
the Guru. He who doubts the Guru,
no matter how great a Sikh he is----- At
the end [on death bed] Bhai Sahib greatly
suffered. His end was of great suffering
it should not have been like this.’
Giani Gurdev Singh, transcript of interview
on October 2001
Bhai Randhir Singh Narangwal
Due to Bhai Randhir Singh's anti-'Raagmala'
stance, many affiliates
of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha refuse to accept
that the 'Raagmala' was indeed written by the
Gurus
Randhir Singh’s followers had begun to
organize in gatherings whilst he was in jail
during 1916-1930. They named themselves as ‘Bhai
Randhir Singh Da Jatha’. Bhai
Randhir Singh eventually passed away in 1961.
His followers were devote Sikhs who, though
possessing no classical Indian music Raag training,
spread the message of Sikhism as they understood
it to be, through their enthusiastic ‘Kirtan’
(singing of Sikh religious hymns). In time,
the ‘Bhai Randhir Singh Da Jatha’
came to be known as the ‘Akhand
Kirtani Jatha’ due to their practice
of holding extended sessions of singing Kirtan
known as ‘Rensbai’
(all night) ‘Akhand Kirtan’
(unbroken singing of Sikh religious hymns).
Akhand Kirtan
An photograph of Bhai Randhir Singh Narangwal
(with harmonium) and his followers singing Kirtan
The A.K.J. also came to be known by other Sikhs
as ‘Randhiris’,
‘Bhasaurias’, ‘Akhand
Kirtanis’, ‘Akhand
Kirtanias’, ‘Pakhand
Kirtanis’ (a derogatory term
used by those who consider A.K.J. as going against
Sikh principles of singing Kirtan in classical
musical Raag meters), ‘Pakhandis’,
etc.
