A Life of Service, Wisdom, and Supreme Sacrifice.
Shaheed Bhai Mani Singh Ji.
You were born in village Dargahi Shah, district Jhang, on the 1927th of Sammat, in the house of Shri Maan S: Prem Singh Ji and Mata Thakur Devi Ji. Mata Ji named you Amir Singh Ji, when you were about fifteen years old after completing your education, one day Shri Maan Sant Jawahar Singh Ji arrived in your town along with the Sangat and led the flow of Gurbani Kirtan. One day, such was the joy of the Kirtan that the whole night passed, neither the Saints rested, nor the Sangat broke their fast, there was a joyous and joyful atmosphere on both sides.
The Sangat forgot themselves in enjoying the joy. At this event, Sant Amir Singh Ji’s father S: Prem Singh Ji also came to attend the Saints along with his Barkhurdar.
While enjoying the joy of this divine kirtan, he was inspired that if he could present his child in the company of such great men, he would be worthy in every way. According to this inspiration, he took his child with him and the next day went to Shri Maan Sant Jawahar Singh Ji and prayed that Maharaj! Please place this child at your feet and perform divine kirtan.
Shri Maan Sant Jawahar Singh Ji read everything about the future from the child’s face and with great joy, like a jeweler testing a diamond, he decided to wear it in a crown. In the year 1942, Bikrami, as per the orders of the saints, S. Prem Singh Ji took his child [Sant Amir Singh Ji] with Sant Jawahar Singh and others and reached Shree Amritsar. In front of the Sato Wali street, the great Sant Baba Amir Singh Ji and others had arranged a dera, in which Sant Jawahar Singh Ji himself used to reside, and there he kept the child [Sant Amir Singh] with him.
S: Prem Singh Ji left the boy in the service of the saints and went back. Shri Maan Sant Amir Singh Ji became ready to serve Sant Jawahar Singh Ji and became his subordinate and used to beat the drum and tie ropes to sell them in the market to run the dera’s car. After that, he brought the money and presented it to the saints. At the same time, he became familiar with the art of Raga Viya and remained engaged in continuous service for about three years. When Shri Maan Sant Jawahar Singh Ji started going to Gurpuri in Sammat 1945 Bikrami, he gave the arm of this boy [Sant Amir Singh Ji] to his disciple Shri Maan Mahant Baba Uttam Singh Ji and said, “This great scholar, the head of the Taksal run by the Panth, that is, Shree Dasam Patshah Ji, you should take care of him in every way.” He ordered the boy that from today onwards, you should know him as your Gurudev and serve him till the end of your life. The last command of Sant Jawahar Singh Ji, which Shri Maan Sant Amir Singh Ji and others have followed by taking care of Shri Maan Sant Uttam Singh Ji, is the same as what has been said in the praises of Bhatt and the third Patshah Ji –
“ਤੇਰੀ ਉਪਮਾ ਤੋਹਿ ਬਨਿ ਆਵੈ॥” (Page 1396]
Where he spent 24 hours in the service of Gurudev, he did not let any deficiency in the service of his teacher Shri Maan i.e. Bhagwan Singh Ji. By rendering great service to these great men, Shri Maan Sant Amir Singh Ji engraved that same deep meaning in his heart and took upon himself the heavy burden of maintaining this service, which he received from Shri Maan Gyani Bakshish Singh Ji for six years continuously with devotion and service, and he kept showering all his lovers with the same taste from Sammat 1951 to Sammat 2011 i.e. 60 years. He did not only keep the treasure of Maharaj Ji’s Bir open, but also with it Dasam Bir, Varan Bhai Gurdas, Kabit Savayye, Ghazals Bhai Nand Lal Ji, Shree Nanak Prakash, Gur Pratap Suraj and other great Vedanta scriptures would be kept flowing throughout the day.
The special quality among them was that whenever a student came to them and whenever he asked for the clarification of some doubt or requested to be reacquainted with some forgotten meaning, they would get his pleasure without hesitation. Only one or two examples of his great benevolence are given- Once upon a time, a police officer named Gurbaksh Singh came to his house to spend a 9-month leave from the police. He was a great devotee of Gursikhi and a lover of Naam-Bani. According to the ancient Sanskar, he had a great passion for reading and listening to Bani from the beginning. After spending three months at home, he started searching for a great person from whom he could listen to the true meaning of Gurbani and overcome his inner deficiency. Thus, he spent three months in search but did not find any living, fully enlightened Mahatma who could satisfy his mind. When he heard the praises of Shri Maan Sant Amir Singh Ji, he came to him and requested that I am very much interested but time is short, only three months are left. Please grant me the blessing of listening to the entire story in such a short time.
The saints, in their benevolent and kind nature, said, ‘Good! Listen to the story with the students in the morning and we will make you a high student during the day.’ Thus, Saag would spend the whole day giving up his rest and teaching him. Even when he went out to the canal, he would accompany him, while walking on the way, while lying down after eating prasad in the camp, he would teach him the story every time. Thus, after teaching the entire story in three months, he was given leave before the end of his leave. In this way, another Ravidassiya lover, who was very fond of reading, came to the saints and requested that he also be allowed to receive the gift of this great nectar and be delighted. The saints’ vision was the same, but the other students, seeing this, could not bear it and started saying, “Maharaj! If you have to make this student sit among us and teach him the story, then we will all go, teach him only.” We will not let the chamar sit in the middle.
The saints said, “ਪ੍ਰੇਮੀਓ! ਹਰ ਰੋਜ਼ ਗੁਰਬਾਣੀ ਦੀ ਕਥਾ ਸੁਣਦੇ ਹੋ, ਚਮਾਰ ਤਾਂ ਦੇਹ ਅਭਿਮਾਨੀ ਪੁਰਸ਼ ਹੈ।”
“ਸਾ ਜਾਤਿ ਸਾ ਪਤਿ ਹੈ ਜੇਹੇ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਇ॥”
[ਪ੍ਰਭਾਤੀ ਮ: ੧, ਪੰਨਾ ੧੩੩੦
But when he did not agree, the saints told that lover, “Bai! You have to do the Santha, we will do it for you alone after all the saints have left.” He agreed. He made him complete the entire Santha by teaching him every day from nine to twelve. Similarly, another lover whose name is G. Kesar Singh Ji, and at that time he was working in the Wazir Hind Press to correct the Granths etc. of Bhai Sahib Bhai Vir Singh Ji. He came to you and requested for education and, from 1925 to 1929, he listened to four Kathas of Shree Guru Granth Sahib Ji continuously. Then he prayed for the study of Dasam Granth Ji, saying, “Maharaj! When you teach Katha in the afternoon, the servant does not get time off from duty, please give him some other time.” So you fixed a good time for him to come from Shree Darbar Sahib Ji in the morning before the Amrit Vel Katha and in such years, you taught him the entire Dasam Granth alone. This is an example of one of your great benevolences. You had such a respect for Gurbani within you that you are your own example.
At that time, Shree Maan Baba Uttam Singh Ji wrote and prepared the holy book of Shree Guru Granth Sahib Ji with his own efforts. [Which I have mentioned earlier] While binding the book, the pages had swelled due to being Kashmiri paper. A lot of weight was put on them to press them down. On the same day, Mahant Sahib Ji and others also fell ill. Two months passed and he did not get better despite many treatments, so Shree Maan Brahm Gyani Sant Amir Singh Ji, fearfully and fearfully, requested his Guru, saying, “Maharaj! You know the whole story, the servant thinks that his body is suffering so much due to putting weight on Shree Guru Granth Sahib, if you remove the weight, then you will definitely agree. Mahant Sahib accepted the loving request of his beloved disciple [great man] and removed the weight, he also agreed on the same day.
Seeing your sacrifice, even the loveless king and the foreigner are forgotten. When you obeyed the word of your revered father, Mr. Prem Singh Ji, and went to the shelter of Sant Jawahar Singh Ji, your parents became very sad due to your separation from them, as they were the only son and a talented person. At first, Mother Ji was patient, thinking that he would return soon after completing his education, but when you did not return after many years, Mother Ji herself went to Shree Amritsar and requested Mahant Baba Uttam Singh to take her child home with her. After going home and parting from Gurdev, Mother Ji did not feel at all happy, and after staying for a few days, she returned to Amritsar. After some time, Mother Ji came again and requested Baba Uttam Singh Ji as before, because she knew that even if he had to go, he would not break his promise to Gurdev and would definitely go. Hearing Mata Ji’s prayer, Mahant Baba Uttam Singh Ji called Aap Ji near and said, “Your mother has come to take you away, what do you think?” He said, “Maharaj! Keep me at your feet and Mata Ji is taking care of her son who is trapped in the trap of attachment. Please grant me the boon of another son.” Mahant Sahib also loved others as much as his worthy, talented and obedient disciple Sant Amir Singh. He also wanted to stay with us. So he told Mata Ji, “Now you leave these people alone. After your time of suffering, according to “ਸਾਧ ਬਚਨ ਅਟਲਾਧਾ॥”, your younger brother, whose name was S. Kishan Singh Ji, was born. Then Mata Ji did not make much effort to take him away.
A brief glimpse of their patience is that many scholars would ask the same meaning four times in the story, but they never got a headache.
Their attire was very simple, an open shirt, which did not need to be buttoned, a double turban like a dill, which was directly screwed on, and in the winter they would wear only a kachhira and a khadar chadar. They always kept Bhumasana to respect their elders. Every day, after getting up at one o’clock and taking bath etc., they would listen to the sermon of Shree Darbar Sahib Ji as a daily ritual, after that they would come to the dera and get the Santha organized, the Bhog of which would be offered every year before Diwali and a new Santha would be started after the Gurpurab of Punya of Kattak. Thus, for sixty years continuously, they used this invaluable treasure unwaveringly. There is no country, region, village, city or town where no noble person has been blessed with literary and spiritual knowledge from you, and there is no religion among the six darshans where no saint has been able to learn from you.
Some of the holy names of the great and noble persons inherited from you are:-
- Shree Maan Pandit Nischal Singh Ji Sant Pura Model Town [Jagadhari]
- Shree Maan Mahant Haridashr Singh Ji Shahjivane Wale.
- Shree Maan Mahant Hira Singh Ji Patiala Wale and his disciple Sant Gupal Singh Ji [Mahant]
- Shree Maan Mahant Asa Singh Ji Guniana Mandi and his disciple Sant Tirath Singh Ji [Mahant]
- Shree Maan Sant Moti Ram Ji (Delhi). Shree Maan Giani Sobha Ram Ji.
- Shree Maan Sant Manna Singh Ji Amritsar, Dera Baba Sham Singh Ji, Atta Mandi and his disciple Sant Narain Singh. Shree Maan Bawa Sant Das Ji [Mahant] Jalandhar.
- Shree Maan Bawa Sant Das Ji Mahant Jabi Wale.
- Shree Maan Sant Tikan Ram Ji Haridwar.
- Shri Maan Mahant Ram Chand Ji and his disciple Sant Bhagwan Singh Ji [Kalanour]
- Shri Maan Giani Kirpal Singh Ji. | Shri Maan Giani Sunder Singh Ji.
- Shri Maan Singh Sahib Giani Chet Singh Ji (Granthi Shree Darbar Sahib Ji, Amritsar.)
- Shree Man Singh Sahib Giani Arjan Singh Ji Granthi Shree Darbar Sahib.
- Shree Maan Giani Pritam Singh Ji (Shimla.)
- Shree Maan Giani Prem Singh Ji Bans (Bareilly).
- Shree Maan Gian Kartar Singh Ji Vaid (Balachaur.)
- Shree Maan Giani Kartar Singh Ji Ragho Majra (Patiala).
- Shree Maan Sant Thakur Singh Ji Nirmal Ashram Guru Nanak Nagar (Hoshiarpur).
- Shree Maan Sodhi Teja Singh Ji. Author of Deep Sagar and other books.
- Shree Maan Giani Sohan Singh Ji and Giani Sunder Singh Ji (Ambala).
- Shree Maan Giani Labh Singh Ji.
- Shree Maan Mahant Bishan Singh Ji Dera Sant Karam Singh Ji (Amritsar).
- Shree Maan Mahant Muhkam Singh Ji (Amritsar).
- Shree Maan Giani Didar Singh Ji Dhundha Wale.
- Shree Maan Giani Bhagat Singh Ji (Amritsar).
- Shree Maan Giani Makhan Singh Ji (Reru Sahib).
- Shree Maan Giani Jagir Singh Ji (Maur Mandi).
- Shree Maan Giani Jagir Singh Ji (Jalandhar City).
- Shree Maan Giani Kartar Singh Ji (Sachkhand Hazur Sahib).
- Shree Maan Giani Nirmal Singh Ji (Jhikka).
- Shree Maan Giani Hari Singh Ji (Harkhowal).
- Shree Maan Giani Kishan Singh Ji.
- Shree Maan Giani Channan Singh Ji.
- Shree Maan Giani Balwant Singh Ji (Nirmal Bagh Haridwar).
- Shree Maan Mahant Gurmukh Das Ji Dultan Wale.
- Shree Maan Mahant Puran Das Ji Talwandi Wale.
- Shree Maan Giani Bishan Singh Ji ‘Creet’ Satsang Bhawan Nirmal Cantonment (Haridwar).
- Shree Maan Mahant Brahm Muni Ji Garend Wale (Hoshiarpur).Shree Maan Giani Ladha Singh Ji (Virakt).
- Shree Maan Lala Bal Mukand Ji (Vedanti).
- Shree Maan Jagat Singh Ji (Vedanti).
- Shree Maan Sant Mohan Singh Ji (Vedanti).
- Shree Maan Sant Ladha Singh Ji (Virakt).
- Shree Maan Sant Arjan Singh Ji Muni Teekakaar.
- Shree Maan Giani Asa Singh Ji.
- Shree Maan Sant Jagat Ram Ji Udasin Vaid is currently the Mahant of Patiala.
- Shree Maan Sant Pala Singh Ji (Virukt).
- Shree Maan Gurdev Singh Ji Vedanti.
- Shree Maan Giani Ranga Singh Ji.
- Shree Maan Giani Santa Singh Ji Tarn Taran.
- Shree Maan Giani Balwant Singh Ji [Jandiale Wale] Hoshiarpur.
- Shree Maan Giani Kesho Singh Ji.
- Shree Maan Giani Jodh Singh Ji [Harkhowal].
- Shree Maan Pandit Amar Singh Ji.
- Shree Maan Sant Asa Singh Ji.
- Shree Maan Giani Dharam Singh Ji Surme resident of Delhi.
- Shree Maan Giani Ram Singh Ji.
- Shree Maan Giani Gurbachan Singh Ji Dera Mishra Singh Ji Amritsar.
- Shree Maan Mahant Hakam Singh Ji Dera Sant Mishra Singh Ji Chowk Lachhmansar Amritsar.
- Shree Maan Mahant Mool Singh Ji Kolsar.
- Shree Maan Giani Teja Singh Ji Ved Shastri.
- Shree Maan Giani Anek Singh Ji Vedantveta.
- Shree Maan Mahant Harnam Singh Ji Gali Bagh Wali Amritsar.
- Shree Maan Pandit Bhan Singh Ji.
- Shree Maan Pandit Gurbaksh Singh Ji Nagoke.
- Shree Maan Giani Waryam Singh Ji Dhur Kot District Sangrur.
- Shree Maan Sant Oankar Singh Ji Mahant, Village Pathlawa.
- Shree Maan Sant Gobind Das Ji Karta Priya.
- Shree Maan Giani Ishar Singh Ji Dera Sekhwan.
- Shree Maan Mahant Gurmukh Das Ji Sindhi Haridwar.
- Shree Maan Mahant Uttam Das Ji Sindhi [Bombay].
- Shree Maan Vedant Muni Sant Mela Ram Ji Alawalpur.
- Shree Maan Sant Sunder Singh Ji Kuthari Dera Lyallpurian Amritsar.
- Shree Maan Giani Ranga Singh Ji.
- Shree Maan Sant Harbhajan Singh Dera Baoli.
- Shree Maan Giani Ram Singh Hazur Sahib.
- Shree Maan Sant Bir Singh Ji Panj Gramin.
- Shree Maan Sant Harbhajan Singh Ji Granthi.
- Shree Maan Swami Chetan Prakash Ji Bombay [Kalyan].
- Shree Maan Sant Kesar Das Ji Nirban Akhara Brahm Butta Amritsar.
- Shree Maan Mahant Hari Das Ji
- Shree Maan Giani Utam Singh Ji (Sarangrhe Wale)
- Shree Maan Giani Sadhu Singh Ji Reru Sahib
- Shree Maan Giani Sampuran Singh Ji ‘Ber’
- Shree Maan Pandit Bhaan Singh Ji Kokri Phoola Singh Jila Faridkot.
- Shree Maan Giani Bola Singh Shahdra
- Shree Maan Giani Damodar Singh Ji Sindhi Devpura
- Shree Maan Giani Hari Singh Ji Sindhi.
- Shree Maan Giani Ram Singh Ji Sindhi, Kalba Devi Bambe
- Shree Maan Giani Beer Ji Dera Ugo
- Shree Maan Giani Heera Das Ji Nath
- Shree Maan Giani Gurbakhsh Singh Ji Gholia
- Shree Maan Giani Balbir Singh Ji [Shaastri]
- Shree Maan Giani Guran Ditta Mal Ji [Karta Sidhant Updesh]
- Shree Maan Gobind Hari Ji
- Shree Maan Giani Bhagwan Singh Ji Rishikesh, Shree Bhagwan Bhawan Railway Road.
- Shree Maan Swami Anand Hari Ji.
- Shree Maan Giani Mahinder Singh Ji Rishikesh.
- Shree Maan Giani Gulab Singh Ji Thoha Khalsa Wale, [Ajj Kal Rishikesh Han].
- Shree Maan Giani Hari Singh Ji.
- Shree Maan Giani Pratap Singh Ji [Ambala].
- Shree Maan Sant Jagat Singh Ji [Ambala].
- Shree Maan Pandit Jaswant Singh Ji Chonk Farid Amritsar.
- Shree Maan Giani Shaam Singh Ji Dera Sant Mishra Singh Ji.
Jinaa Ne Society De Kosh Likhan Vich Madad Kiti Hai.
- Shree Maan Giani Nahar Singh Ji Vaid Pind Ghunnas, Daak Khana Tapa, Zila Sangrur.
- Shree Maan Giani Narinder Singh Ji ‘Soch’ Aap 1924 San Vikhe Padhe Rahe Han.
- Shree Maan Giani Ude Singh Ji Ropar Nivasi.
- Shree Maan Giani Asa Singh Ji Rasoolpur.
- Shree Maan Sant Gurbachan Singh Singh Ji Dera Sant Khadak Singh Ji [Chonk Baba Sahib].
- Shree Maan Giaan Sant Mela Singh Ji.
- Shree Maan Pandit Gurdas Singh Ji Shaastri.
- Shree Maan Sant Bakhtawar Singh Ji.
- Shree Maan Giani Kishan Das Ji Akhara Sangalwala.
- Shree Maan Giani Parag Das Ji Bange.
- Shree Maan Sant Pritam Das Ji Nirban Village Sero.
- Shree Maan Sant Hari Das Ji Phelu Di Patti District Jalandhar.
- Shree Maan Mahant Sewa Das Ji Manak Wale.
- Shree Maan Sant Jiwan Das Ji Village Akaliya [Sangrur].
- Shree Maan Mahant Dayal Das Ji Dera Asmail Khan.
- Shree Maan Giani Kesar Singh Ji [Editor].
- Shri Maan Giani Mahan Singh Ji Editor “Khalsa Samachar” Amritsar [The margins of the written holy book of the Dera have also been put by you.]
- Shri Maan Giani Mahinder Singh Ji Ratna Shree Gurmat Press Amritsar.
Unlimited lovers have gained self-realization from you, who will be mentioned in detail in your separately published life.*
Thus, after carrying the burden of the service of the Gurbani Sampradayi Taksal for 60 years, at the age of 84, he crossed the age of 84 and sat at the feet of the Guru on 17 October 1954, according to 2011 Bikrami 1 Katak, and behind him, according to the meaning of “ਹੋਦੈ ਗੁਰੂ ਬਹਿ ਟਿਕਿਆ“, he took the throne from his own fragrant fruit garden with his own hands.
“ਤਖਤਿ ਰਾਜਾ ਸੋ ਬਹੈ ਜਿ ਤਖਤੈ ਲਾਇਕ ਹੋਈ॥” [पैठा १o੮੮]
According to Shri Maan Panth Bhushan, Knowing Shree Maan Sant i.e. Kirpal Singh Ji, the treasure of humility, the storehouse of wisdom, the ocean of tolerance and the boundless source of overflowing sweetness, to be endowed with all the virtues, he gave permission to complete the story of Shree Guru Granth Sahib Maharaj which he had begun and whose recitation was at the beginning of Tukhari Rag, and said,
“ਜੋਤਿ ਓਹਾ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਸਾਇ ਸਹਿ ਕਾਇਆ ਫੇਰਿ ਪਲਟੀਐ॥” (ਪੰਨਾ ੯੬੬)
According to the great saying of Shree Maan 108 Brahm Gyani Sant Amir Singh Ji handed over everything to Shree Maan i.e. Kirpal Singh Ji by paying homage.
Due to severe pain, Maharaj Ji was admitted in a special room in the month of Bhadron and was treated for a month and a few days. Then, sitting in the hospital, he said that you are worthy in every way, even if you want to ask anything else, then ask. You are the one who has to take care of this Santha, then Shri Maan Sant Giani Kirpal Singh Ji with folded hands and placing his head on his feet humbly requested that your gracious hand be placed on his head. You can also make a mute person understand.
“ਜਿਉ ਬੋਲਾਵਹਿ ਤਿਉ ਬੋਲਹ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਕੁਦਰਤਿ ਕਵਨ ਹਮਾਰੀ॥” [ਪੰਨਾ ५o੮]
I have no power, you yourself have to place your gracious hand on the head of the servant, the servant will follow your orders in every way. After a few days, as per the doctor’s advice, Maharaj was brought to his Dera around 20th Assu, Sammat 2011. He came to his place of service and expressed his gratitude. All the students of the Dera took full part in the service. At the end, he made Giani Kirpal Singh Ji sit next to him and while giving him auspicious teachings, he said that he should take good care of the service of Pujya Gurudev Sri Maan 108 Mahant Baba Uttam Singh Sahib Ji. Giani Kirpal Singh Ji again requested with folded hands, “Swamy Ji! I want your blessed hand on my head, as if you yourself have to do the service.”
Thus, after listening to the words of devotion, he entrusted everything to his beloved disciple, Shri Maan Sant i.e. Kirpal Singh Ji, through his gracious vision and bequeathing the Dera, and on his bright forehead, on 1st Katak 2011, he left this world and attained liberation and went to the feet of the Guru.
“ਜਿਉ ਜਲ ਮਹਿ ਜਲੁ ਆਇ ਖਟਾਨਾ॥ ਤਿਉ ਜੋਤੀ ਸੰਗਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਮਾਨਾ॥” [ਪੰਨਾ २੭੮]
During the procession of his body, the eyes of lakhs of devotees were filled with tears of dispassion and love. At that time, saints of every sect were arriving and saying, “Today, the sun of the royal assembly of Seva Panthi Addan has set.” And “The loss that has been suffered by the Sikh sects and other lovers and the people of the world will never be compensated.” Such a great philanthropist Vidya Bhushan Sant Sri Mann 108 Brahm Gyani Sant Amir Singh Ji’s Katha Sathan, Sri Mann Sant Gyani Kirpal Singh Ji is constantly taking care of the Katha and providing the Sangat with a storehouse of nectar.
“Note:- If any lover has any special research about you, please write it down and send it to the address of the Dera. We will be very grateful and that too will be published in the book.”