11 March 2009: Parkash diwas:
Satguru
Balak Singh Ji – (the guardian of Sikhism).
SatGuru
Balak Singh Ji was born in
March 1784 A.D. corresponding to full moon of Chetra, 1841 Bikrami, in Sarwala,
District
Camblepur. His father was Baba Dial Singh and mother Mata Bhag Bhari.
He was a sage by birth with unusual habits, in his childhood he was very calm
and serene in nature and loved
to remain in solitude. He would spend most of his
time in reciting hymns in praise of God. He loved to remain in the company of
Saintly persons rather than the boys of his age. As he grew up, he abjured all
the worldly pleasures and gaudy things. He would spend most of his time in deep
meditation. In April 1812 while he was in deep meditation on the bank of river
Haron, Guru Gobind Singh Ji along with his five disciples appeared there in
person and blessed him with Gurgaddi. Guru Gobind Singh Ji said, "I will
reappear in my 12th incarnation in the family of a carpenter. Then my name would
be Ram Singh and my village would be on the banks of Sutlej River. I will then
take this Gurgaddi back from you".
Giani Gian Singh Ji had narrated this fact in his famous opus Panth Prakash
in the following words:
Nevertheless,
The Tenth Master appeared in person And informed him:
Ram Singh is my incarnation partaking of an element of mine.
I have, therefore entrusted him, and none else, with my authority.
The Master’s message was clear and firm.
(Panth Parkash-1st Edition)
According to Giani Gian Singh:
The Namdhari Sikhs regard Satguru Balak Singh Ji, the 11th incarnation of Guru
Nanak Dev Ji. Satguru Balak Singh Ji shifted to Hazron in 1828 Bikrami and set
up a shop there. He earned his living by honest and simple labor. The poor
people particularly benefited as they could get every thing cheapest rates. His
fame spread far and wide. He now started delivering regular religious
discourages which transformed innumerable drunkards, smokers and meat eaters
into saints and pious persons. Satguru Balak Singh Ji now all the more absorbed
himself in deep mediation for hours. One day Guru Balak Singh Ji was in deep
Mediation, when the Creator appeared in person and asked him to devote himself
for the welfare of the suffering humanity. He should meditate on Naam Simran
himself and inspire others to do the same. Satguru Balak Singh Ji replied
humbly:- "O Lord! My only desire is to worship and be one with you, so as
never to be separated again. Kindly entrust this task to someone else".
"Guru Gobind Singh has already bestowed upon you the Gurgaddi. You only
have to carry on this duty till the arrival of Thakur Ji (Sri Satguru Ram Singh
Ji)", the Lord replied. Thence onwards, he started preaching Sikh tenets
and blessing the people with Naam: Religion of Naam and of the Guru’s.
Giani Gian Singh ji has narrated this fact in Panth Prakash in the following
words:
The Spiritual message that Balak Singh delivered was of immense benefited men
and women.
It helped them swim across the Vast Sea of Existence.
And the Creator Himself had revealed His Word and charged him
to spread It for the purification human life.
(Panth Parkash-1st Edition)
The people held him high esteem and felt salvation in his words. Sri Ram Sahi
Ji, Baba Sangta Ji, Dhani Ram Ji were some of his devotees, who reached
spiritual heights and became saints of high caliber. Thus a large number of
Sikhs became his disciples and devotees. The spiritual following his Gursikhi
Maryada and Sikh tenets, they were able to swim across the vast sea of
existence. Naam blessed by him was the destroyer of evil and led a life of
renunciation; he was an awakened soul and always recited Gurbani in his
congregation. Satrguru Balak Singh Ji preached his disciples to always follow
the path of righteousness, truthfulness, honesty and selfless service to the
weaker section of the society. He made it obligatory for all his followers to
get blessed with Naam from the Guru, mediate upon it and recite Gurbani daily.
He left for his heavenly abode on 6th of December in 1862.
|
Avtar Or Parkash Diwas |
Pagan Sudi 15, 1841 Bikrami |
|
Date of Birth |
March, 1784 |
|
Place of Birth |
Village Sarwala |
|
Gurgaddi Diwas |
1812 / Vaisak Sudi 10, 1868 Bikrami Village Hazron |
|
Joti Jot Diwas |
6th Dec. 1862 / Maghar Sudi 1919 Bikrami Hazron |
|
Father |
Baba Dayal Singh Jee |
|
Mother |
Mata Bhagbhari Jee |
|
Wife/Wives |
Mata Totti Jee |
|
Children |
None |
