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because this is the only birth in
which one can attain God-the Creator and the Master. In the human race
there are men of varying natures, which can be divided into various categories such
as Pamar (lowest beings), Bhogi (those given
to sensual enjoyments) and seekers and
realized souls. The Pamars and the
Bhogis live at the level of flesh and blood;
they live their life operating within the
circle of the mind.
After having suffered for their past actions,
they once again enmesh themselves in the web
of new actions and thus they go on making
rounds of the new births, to undergo the
fruits of their actions. This process of these
beings goes on forever. This class has neither
any faith in the Maker of the universe, nor do
they get any respite for the physical
enjoyments. Their goal is to amass wealth, to
gain power, by means fair or foul. Their whole
life is passed in practicing enmities,
opposition, sex anger, illusion, pride,
jealousy, hatred and censuring others. Since
they have no inclination for the service of
other, for remembering God, or for doing good
acts, they generally waste their life
uselessly. Since their mental state and their
intelligence resembles that of animals, they
are no better than animals themselves.
The other category is the best and is termed as
seekers. In them there is the awakening of the
consciousness to find out the purpose of life:
have we got this life only for eating and
drinking, for play and for practicing enmity
and opposition, or is there any higher purpose
of this life?
In
order to teacher wisdom and awareness, God has
created saints, God sends these self-realized
souls, at different times to banish darkness
from the world. They confer true knowledge on
the whole world, by means of their life of
light. They have always been showing the path
of riddance from suffering. They act their
part in the play of life and set their
example, before the world. It is the Grace of
God, that he manifested such saints in order
to show the right path to His own created
beings. Their exalted message are eternal
(timeless), the truth of their statements is
immortal.. By meditation on their thoughts,
one is able to discover the path of supreme
bliss. For the uplift of humanity, there have
been created in the world, men of God, sacred
sports, places of pilgrimage and other sacred
centres. At these places, men of true
knowledge come and show the right path to
people. There is also the second king of men
of God-saints, great souls, apostles and
wandering monks, who in the guise of the
Sadhus travel from place to place bestow on
ignorant folks, who have forgotten their way,
the knowledge of the path of Truth and how to
be united with their God.
One
among such exalted saints is the great soul,
Sant Attar Singh Ji of Reru Sahib. He was born
in 1867 A.D., in the month of March, in Loppon
village in
Ludhiana
district. At the time, Baba Ram Singh, the
world-famous chief of the Namdhari sect was
very popular in this area.
The
residents of
Lopon
Village
too were fully impressed by his knowledge of
Gurbani. He also crated a lasting impression
on Baba Takhat Singh, by influencing him with
the Guru's ideology of God's
Nam
and Bani. It was in this religious atmosphere
that Sant Attar Singh of Reru Sahib was
reared. At the age of five he was sent to
receive instruction in Punjabi from the
Granthi of the town, Bhai Gurmukh Singh Ji,
who was a devotee of Guru's faith. In those
days, the priests who served in the Gurdwara,
used to be far superior to saints of today, in
life's virtues, in adopting the way of Guru's
teachings and in possessing complete faith in
their religion. They did not accept any money
for reciting the Holy granth; they had no
interest in their hearts for money matters.
They were true men of Gurus, the true servants
of the Gurus' house.
Impressed by
their way of life the Sikh faith flourished in
the countryside. This child (Attar Singh)
received knowledge from such men of the Gurus.
He used to get up at 2:30 A.M. in the early
dawn. At that time, he made readings of the
Holy scripture, he devoted time in remembrance
of God, he contemplated on the Bani. From his
teacher, he learnt the way of life and used to
practice that. His father commanded
respectability in the area, being a Numberdar
and Sufaidposh (two titles during British
rule). When he had leisure from the programme
of studies, he sought to have practical
experience of the Bani that he studied. He sat
under the shade of tress, closed his eyes and
used to enjoy internal bliss, like the
ascetics. When he was 18, he was inspired by
the patriotic sentiments to serve his
motherland. He was recruited in Platoon No.
36, which had produced some outstanding
saints. That platoon was the pride of the
Sikhs. It was June 8, 1887 and he was twenty
years of age. His handsome physique,
well-filled height, broad chest and fortunate
forehead attracted all, who saw him.
Baba Karam
Singh of Hoti Mardan- a very honourable soul
used to reside very near him. This young man
at that time posted in Noshehra cantonment.
The Sikh soldiers used to go to Hoti Mardan to
have the darshan of Baba Karam Singh and many
Sikh soldiers whose life was influenced by
Baba Ji got into the habit of getting up at
dawn and engaging themselves in prayer. When
Attar Singh met Baba Karam Singh face to face,
he saluted him by laying prostrate before him,
with the greatest earnestness. When his
forehead touched the feet of Baba Ji he felt a
strong electric current thrill in every fiber
of his body. He was completely influenced by
the programme of other worldliness
(indifference to the world, offering complete
devotion to God). The Saint made him get up
and said 'Get up dear brother. Meet the holy
congregation restrain you feeling of love.
Sant Ji patted him on his forehead and on his
back. Baba Attar Singh made this petition from
the deepest recess of his consciousness.
"Baba Ji, shower you grace on me, so that
my human birth achieves its true
purpose." The great man (Baba Ji) said,
Attar Singh, the mission of your life with
which Guru Kalgidhar Maharaj, the Tenth Master
blessed you, has been lying safe as a trust
with me. Now spread you cloths to receive your
due and take care of it. You yourself practice
spirituality and spread it (the Guru's
message) in the world.
After
meeting Baba Karam Singh Of Hoti Mardan, his
life was completely changed. At all times, he
went on doing Jap of Gur Mantar by his tongue,
and in his body, it flowed nonstop in his
life; it went from his tongue to his breath,
from his breath to the unspoken speech and
from the silent speech into his heart, from
the entering the Agya Chakkar via sphere of
limitless sound and the passing through the
thousands-petalled lotus (top of the head)
entered the tenth gate. He heard the harmonies
of
Nam
from all nature, as is the Commandment of Guru
Maharaj:
Whatever the
deer, the fish and the birds utter; without
God they speak not of another.
Even getting
more than this, he saw the perfection of the
Nam
from the insensate objects of the entire
nature:
The earth,
nether-world and firmament, O my soul, all
mediate on the Lord Master's Name.
He began to
feel such consciousness and with nonstop
concentration he reached the state about which
the Gurbani ordains as under:
They, who
remember God, become like God and the playful
and sportive Lord meets them.
When one
successfully achieves such a state, one gets
the right to instruct others to the method of
the Nam-Simran. Guru Maharaj ordains thus
intimating us about the honour of that Gursikh.
Servants
Nanak ask for the dust of the feet of that
Sikh of the Guru, who himself contemplates on
God's Name and makes other contemplate
thereon.
Thus making
spiritual practices he retired from the army
at the age of forty and reached the abode of
Reru Sahib. Here stood the holy land of Reru
Sahib, which stands there, keeping alive the
remembrance of Guru Kaligidhar, the True
Emperor. It was waiting for some realized
soul, who with his own hands should discover
this holy spot and who should thereby
immortalize the memory of the Tenth Master.
When it was
time for him to take leave of Baba Karam Singh
Ji, the great saint said, "Go and yoke
the plough; go on doing service of the Guru's
house hold all your life and in your inner
mind, the Jap of Guru will also go on in your
inner consciousness for all the time. You are
blessed with he service of the Guru's
mission." Thus he began this career of
service with the effect from 18th October,
1907. To finance his own maintenance, he had
his pension from the army.
His was the
life of service and of remembering God,
Miracles and riches and successes and many
other powers were extremely anxious to serve
him as his maids, but he did not even cast a
glance on them. The frame of his dedication in
the service of the Guru's cause, like a strong
scent spread far and wide; it spread among the
rich and the poor, among the places of kings
and the queens. The Maharaja of Patiala came
to have his darshan in Cognito. At that time,
he had retuned after the ploughing fields.
Just then, he began to cut the fodder for the
animals with the cutter with his own hands,
which were all besmeared with dust and dirt.
The Maharaja of Patiala thought that some
servant wrapping a shawl around him was
cutting the fodder for his bullocks with his
owns hands. He was much impressed with his
face that was glowing radiant. To remove the
doubt of his mind he enquired thus, "I
have come from afar to have the darshan of
Sant Ji. Kindly tell me when and at what place
can I meet him." At this the great saint
signaled the Maharaja to take his seat on a
bed nearby and with extreme humility he said,
"You have come from a long distance. Do
have food in langar before you go see the
saint."
If you wish
the food can be served here itself. Pointing
towards a room, he said, kindly wait a little.
The saint whom you have come to meet will be
here soon. After finishing his work, he washed
his feet and hands. When he was proceeding
towards the room, a servant informed the
Maharaja that the saint was coming. The
Maharaja was wonderstruck to see that while
the saint was cutting fodder for the cattle,
he (Maharaja) was sitting on the bed. He fell
at the feet of the saint and made this
submission with the great love, dedication and
with all earnestness, 'Honoured sir, I have
committed a big blunder; namely I made the
mistake of sitting on the bed. Today really I
am face to face with a God-realized person.'
He revealed his identity and with full faith,
he heard the words of the saint and after
getting his blessing, he departed.
The
fragrance of his name fame reached Baba Partap
Singh Maharaj of Bhaini Sahib, He along with
the Sangat of Namdhari sect came to meet the
saint, reciting the words of Gurbani all the
way. At that time, the saint was sitting in
the congregation, wrapping himself in a sheet
and in inner contemplation. Just then, the
great man Baba Partap Singh was reciting these
lines- Bhag
Jage Aj Sathe Bhag Jage, Guru Ji Ne Sant Milae.
(With the kindness of Guru Ji, our luck has
wakened up today, and we have met the real
Saint.
When this
Shabad (holy words) was completed, then the
old ladies from the sangat who had come with
him from Bhaini Sahib passed their hands on
the sant's back and gave their benedictions
thus- Dear son. Blessed are you, the son of
the Guru. we feel blessed with meeting you.
These
ladies, the two holy mothers were incarnations
of dharam, cool-hearted, simply dressed, their
sweet words, noble nature, they at all times
did service of others with their own hands.
They were the honourable visible embodiments
of the goddesses.
He often
used to go on a pilgrimage to visit Saidhu
Sahib where in the Lunda river the body of
Sant Baba Karam Singh had been immersed. Here
religious folks used to worship Sant Attar
Singh, taking him to be the incarnation of
Baba Karam Singh. People got fulfillment of
their wishes by receiving his blessing. During
his pilgrimage to Saidhu Sahib, he used to
rest at night at the edge of the well of a
Pathan named Ajim Khan. He was a rich Pathan
& was devoted to Sant Ji.
He had a
friend named Nijula Khan, the Nambardar of the
area who was a well-known Rais (rich man) and
also a military pensioner. He had three
wives, but in the absence of a child, his
house was covered with darkness. This man
heard about the glory of the great Saint from
Azim Khan (his friend). Azim Khan told his
friend that this divine faquir, who is a true
lover (of God), and true disciple of Guru
Nanak sits in the contemplation of God
throughout the night at the edge of his well.
The fraternity of Guru Nanak is said to be a
house that can confer great blessing. A
Musalman like Mardana became his supreme
disciple and spent his whole life, singing the
praises of Guru and God. I have heard the
story even up to this extent, that when Guru
Nanak left the world, both Hindus and the
Musalmans consider him to be one of them
(each); the Hindus owned him, the Muslims
said, he is one of us (Muslims). In order to
put an end to this dispute, the great prophet
(Guru Nanak) made his body disappear. Sant
Attar Singh is also one in the tradition of
Guru Nanak. I am 100% sure that house (of Sant
Attar Singh) will fulfill your wishes. Nijula
Khan was mortally afraid of the Muslim Holy
Writ. Inspite of that, greatly pressed by his
need (to beget a son), he stood with folded
hands before the great Saint (Sant Attar Singh
Ji) at 11 o'clock. in the darkness of the
night (lest anyone should see him doing this).
He submitted, most respected Saint! you are
the beloved of God and are the disciple of
Guru Nanak, the Prophet of all Prophet. At his
door, no supplicant has ever returned with his
wish unfulfilled. I have come to your court to
beg the gift of a son. O you helper of the
poor, I have large land. I am getting handsome
military pension. I have three wives, but in
the absence of a son, I feel no ties with the
world. You have the capacity to turn the dry
ones into green. Two of my wives have gone to
God (died). When Sant Ji enquired about his
age, he replied it is 90 years. Two of my
wives have died and three are still living.
The great man (Sant Attar Singh) closed his
eyes (to see the future) and pronounce this;
Khan Sahib Almighty has showered his blessing
on you. Next Year, a son would be playing in
the lap of your eldest wife. But you should
look at Hindus and Musalmans with an equal
eye. Run a langar (community kitchen) in
your house. Regularly say your prayers five
times in a day. God will surely fulfill your
desire. Next year, that Pathan was blessed
with a son. As a thanksgiving he came to Sant
Ji, along with a band and accompanied by his
fraternity.
At dawn, the
Sant after taking his bath, sat at the edge of
a thatched cottage, in solitude, immersed in
the memory of God. It was the month of Bhadon
(August). There were crops on all sides. Day
and night, the landlord used to irrigate his
land. Nearby there was the well of Chanchal
Singh. As the well giving out water, the
machine of Persian-wheel kept on making a
sound as an indication of its continued
working. Chanchal Singh thought lest this
sound of the well, might be disturbing the
meditation of the Sant Ji, he took away the
sound-making element and put it aside. When on
waking from his meditation. the Sant did not
hear the sound of the dog, he enquired of
Chanchal Singh. The saint said that the
shoulders of bullocks get tired (by going
round and round, beating the yoke) and the
landlord gives them rest after sometime. Those
bullocks are put to great trouble for my sake.
The peasant replied, I used to stop the wheel
with my thighs and these bullocks felt no
trouble. Just then the following words escaped
the saint, almost spontaneously, 'you put the
element back on the circling wheel; it will
never produce sound again after today.' During
the life of the saint, that Persian wheel
never made any sound. The blessing of the
(God's)
Nam
are infinite. Even nature, wind, water and
river too obey the orders of the saints,
because these (saints) are not separate from
God. This Saint Ji spiritually uplifting
countless souls. His drama of life taught to
people the way of service, and remembering of
God.
He had a
meeting with Sant Attar Singh Ji, Mastuane-wale
(who belonged to a place named Mastuana). At
that time, he was sitting among the
congregation, engaged in devotional singing.
He in a loud voice told the devotional
audience to go and have the darshan of
Sant Attar Singh Ji of Reru Sahib, who is a
Sadhu in the real sense & who has achieved
and is a God-realized persons. There are so
many saints; the world terms us also as a
saint. In Sukhmani Sahib, praises &
glories have been sung about such true saints.
Thus he passed through life distributing
treasures of the blessings (of God). Maharaj
Sant Ishar Singh Ji of Rara Sahib and Baba
Kishen Singh of Rare Sahib also came into his
contact and with the touch of his alchemy
themselves were changed into alchemy. All his
life, Sant Ishar Singh Ji spread the message
of Guru Granth Sahib in many foreign countries
and converted persons to Guru's ideology.
He baptized more than a million persons. Such
Sikhs of Gurus are called pillar of light. The
memory of such saints give inspiration to
people to perform prayer and worship.
Sant Baba
Attar Singh Ji was conducting Kirtan (holy
singing) at the house of a Sehajdhari
Sikh at Doraha. At that time, an inquisitive
Gyani Ji asked, "Why are you
chanting so loudly the hymns about
otherworldliness when you yourself live at
Transcendental stage? Why don't you preach the
message of the knowledge about God?" The
great saint said, 'you wait for three more
days, you will get the answer.' It was the 5th
Magh Samvat 1983. (17th January 1927 A.D.)
There was a big wallow land. The whole day he
kept standing there and changed it into a
road. He said large crowds would feel
inconvenience. This (sentence) seemed like a
puzzle, which nobody could understand. A few
days after this on 9th Magh 1983 Samvat (21st
January 1927 A.D.), he proclaimed at 1 A.M.
after midnight, "I am ready to go into
the court of Kalgidhar Emperor (Tenth master).
No one should shed tears on my passing away.
But who could stop the grief of sangat?
(all began to weep) After sometime, he bade
the final Waheguru Ji di Fateh to the world
and shuffled off his mortal coil. He, a light,
merged in the supreme of the Guru.
In this
month of 19th January, a great soul, Sant
Attar Singh Ji Mastuane wale also left his
body and rested at the feet of the Gurus. We
can never forget the great campaign that he
waged to purify and reform the fallen Sikh
Community. These two great saints greatly
loved each other. The great work in the field
of education which Sant Attar Singh Ji
Mastuane wale did create in our hearts firm
faith, and has left lasting memories.
It was in
this very month of January, when the great
saints and God-realized soul Sant Baba Kishan
Singh Ji left his body five elements and went
and rested at the feet of the Gurus.
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