History of Nirankari Mission with Special Ref, to Life of Rev. Buta Singh Ji Maharaj

1. HISTORY OF NIRANKARI MISSION WITH SPECIAL REF. TO BABA BUTA SINGH JI

2. Founder of N irankari Mission ( B aba B uta Singh J i ) Born in 1873 village - Hadwal Distrct – Kaimalpur ( Undivided India) joined army and served for number of years, then resigned Started trade of tattoist

3. AS A TATOOIST Ample oppurtunites to engage people of diverse background on spiritual matters Like : Attributes of God His relationship with man The purpose of life Self Realisation God consciousness

4. CONVERSANT Due to British Soldiers and other people of diverse background Conversant in different languages English Urdu Punjabi Pusto Persian

5. Married life Parents arranged marriage to Lajwanti ji When Buta Singh ji was at the age of 18 years After13 years of blissful married life In 1904 Lajwanti ji became victim of Plague Subsequently, married Banti ji from village Hadwal Both led a simple meaningful and spiritually rich life

6. C hildren Had no children But regarded every child as his own children He was: Loving Fatherly figure Guide Guardian for all

7. Yearning for the Lord From the very early age of chilhood Buta Singh ji used to accompany his parents to gurudwara and attentively listen to kirtan (singing of holy hymns). He used to sing holy hymns also In many verses of the gurbani (sacred words of gurus ) God is addreses as ‘you’ or ‘thou’ which denotes a first person conversation, Intimating that the addresse is close by or indeed within hearing distance.

8. ‘If God is omnipresent and with me at hand’ ‘why can’t I see it ?’ This question constantly occupied his mind so much that he would become impatient and emotional with tears in his eyes to find the answer. One such verse is as follow: Tu darayoo mera dana beena mai mashhlee kaisae ant lavan jeh jeh dhaekhaa theh theh thoo hai thujh tae nikasee foot maraa ~ Adi Granth,page 25

9. As you’re the omniscient,all -seeing ocean, How can I,a mere fish, fathom your bounds, Whereever I look,Isee your presence there Devoid of you,in agony I’d die aground On reciting or hearing these words,many Q’s would arise in his mind – ‘What is this ocean?’ ‘How are we fish of this ocean ?’ It is said that those who pray in earnest to meet the Lord,are never dissapointed

10. HOME COMING One day he was absorbed in kirtan singing Mohan ghar aavo , Haun karon jodariya ~ Adi Granth page 1209 Meaning My beloved Lord, Come home to me, I plea

11. An incident occurred It was meeting with Kahan Singh ji Who had been looking for such an unparralled,pious disciple. Kahan Singh ji sensed his relentless thirst for the Lord vision He approached Buta Singh ji and asked: ‘My dear brother does the Beloved really come to your home or were you singing merely for praise and applause?,

12. The almighty Nirankar was unveiled to him He received the answers he had long waited for He reverently fell at his Preceptors feet and paid homage As the Preceptor,s hand rested on his head ,he experienced heavenly bliss

13. Buta Singh saw God all around him, there was no end to his happiness He exclaimed: ‘I ve found him! ‘I ve found him!’ The lord had entered his home; and he had entered the Lord,s home Just like river merging with the ocean,his soul merged with the super-soul, unifying everything into the oneness of God’s name; ‘ Tuhi Nirankar !’ Tuhi Nirankar !’ Tuhi Nirankar ’

14. Buta Singh saw God all around;thre was no end to his happiness He exclamed : ‘I ve found him! ‘I ve found him!’ The lord had entered his home; and he had entered the Lord,s home Just like river merging with the ocean,his soul merged with the super-soul, unifying everything into the oneness of God’s name; ‘ Tuhi Nirankar !’ Tuhi Nirankar !’ Tuhi Nirankar ’

15. Right time to search for the seekers Kahan Singh Ji felt that time has come to grant permission to Buta Singh Ji Buta Singh Ji was now 40 year Permission granted to promulgate the divine knowledge to the world at large He resolved to dedicate all his energy and time to do so He commenced the search for needy souls

16. Whoever came in contact with him he would engage them in conversations He would ask: Relationship of individual’s with the Almighty Lord, the ultimate source of all souls? Do you know who he is ? Do you know where he is? Do you know your real home? Do you know that it is He the Lord who protect us all in good and bad times?

17. The realisation Motive of asking questions was to identify the thirsty souls Anyone who expressed the slightest desire to find the real home Baba Ji instantly conferred the realisation On seeing his great zeal to propagate the Truth a friend told him not divulge it ,but to keep it to himself Baba Buta Ji replied ,’I have sackful of seeds ,I am scattering them where ever I go .Even if a single seed were to germinate and grow into a fruit-bearing tree it would be enough to fill my granaries’.

18. Congregationsand followers Place - Baba Buta Singh Ji’s residence Time - Early Morning ( 4am) No Holy Dais – Baba ji used to sit on the floor at the same level as His enlightened disciples Prominent Followers at that time: Avtar Singh ji Labh Singh ji Gopal Singh Premi Des Raj Following Grew Up Day By Day Room allocated in his house for congregation By Gokhul Singh Kohli , a Lawyer

19. Divine Duo On 25 May 1929 Historical Day – Baba Buta Singh Ji invested Avtar Singh ji with enlightenment Dedication Of Avtar Singh Ji : Acted upon every word of his True Master Served tirelessly Dedicated everything he had Assist in the propagation of the Truth Served Baba Buta Singh – From 1929 – 1943 Divine Duo, in the spiritual world, will be remembered throughout the ages .

20. Baba Avtar Singh Ji as Satguru (True Master) As Avtar Singh ji along with his wife Budhwanti Ji served selflessly Baba Buta Singh ji his wife Banti ji and mother-in-law for so many years staying in one house Baba Buta Singh ji in his last days was Koh Murrie (Hill Station ) In the presence of all saints invested coat and scarf on Avtar Singh Ji and prostrated before him in front of many saints.

21. Command Of Baba Buta Singh Ji Addressing everyone, He said: ‘From today, everyone is to accept Bhai Avtar Singh as your spiritual guide . You must obey all of his instructions.’ ‘I am garlanding you saints with flowers,but garlanding Avtar Singh with razor blades. My speech may sound sharp, but my successors’s you will find will be soothing and sweet . But I will be speaking through him’

22. Specially Turning To Avtar Singh Ji Baba Buta Singh ji said: ‘This scarf is like a garland of razor blades . They will harm you only if you turn your neck . So keep your neck straight.’ What indication he was advising was? To concentrate on enlightening the ignorant. Not to divert his attention under the influence of the material world.

23. The Departure Of Baba Buta Singh Ji Suggested Baba Avtar Singh Ji to call all remaining enlightened saints by letter or telegrams , to Koh Murrie so that he could meet them all. Given instruction was to dine in groups of 4 or 5 from one plate for reason of convenience and practicality. Demonstrated that how to rise above social strata’s , prejudice and small mindedness.

24. Last Address of Baba Buta Singh Ji After eating saints gathered along with his beloved children Gurubachan Singh and Sajjan Singh Ji for the blessings . Baba Ji said: ‘After enlightenment,everybody has served me according to their measures and means . But Baba Avtar Singh and his family served me night and day ; they never failed to serve me on any occasion . Their service is an example and a real source of inspiration for those who wish to walk the Guru’s path . My time has come . As the love of devotees is never corporeal ,but spiritual ,no one should grieve after my departure . To propagate the work I started is to be your true devotion . I have called you for the purpose of meeting you so that you should know who will lead you after me .’

25. Manifestation of Satguru (True Master) He draped his own scarf around Baba Avtar Singh. He bowed to Baba Avtar Singh His silence said everything he wanted to say After brief silence said; ‘I am heartily pleased with the fact that you have chosen your spiritual leader such an individual who has passed every test and successfully overcome every adversity . From now on , Bhai Avtar Singh is in fact Buta Singh!’

26. Last Procession With Pomp And Ceremony After the last blessings showered on saints He laid down on white sheet repeated the words ‘ Tuhi Nirankar , ‘ Tuhi Nirankar ….’ With folded hands he saluted the saints , and expired.’ He fulfilled his promise- he would not go without announcing his departure Procession of his last journey conducted with pomp and ceremony Baba Avtar Singh Ji performed the final rites and lit the funeral pyre.

27. First Chapter Of Nirankari Mission Concluded Duration of mentorship of 14 years From 1929 – 1943 Sowed the seeds of the Sant Nirankari Mission Born in 1873 Expired in 1943 Lived to be 70 years old 1 st chapter of the campaign for human liberation , in the form of Nirankari Mission concluded with Baba Buta Singh’s departure.

28. Baba Avtar Singh Ji As Successor Baba ji worked tirelessly day and night to take the message of Truth further His wife ( Budhwanti Ji ) supported and remained like a devotee,took care of saints visiting them,serving herself selflessly no matter Day or Night. Turmoil following partition of India. Forced by the circumstances even Nirankari devotees, who believed in universal brotherhood, had to migrate to India.

29. Delhi As a Centre of Nirankari Mission Settled down in Delhi Baba Avtar Singh ji resumed his missionary activities and congregations Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji on his own assumed the responsibilty of supporting the family.

30. SUCCESSORS OF MISSION 1 st Baba Avtar Singh JI 2 nd Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji 3 rd Baba Hardev Singh Ji

31. Baba Gurbachan Singh as successor On December 3, 1962 Baba Avtar Singh said,”Henceforth,Gurbachan Singh will be addressed as Baba JI and not as “Seth Ji ” or “ Bhapa Ji ”. He should be rever as I am.” Formally appointed as Head of the Mission on November 5, 1963.

32. Baba Gurbachan ji as True Master A s True Master speeded up the tempo of preachings,thus attracting large numbers to the Mission ROLES PLAYED: 1 st Mussorie Conference (July 17 & 18, 1965 2 nd Mussorie Conference ( May 14-16, 1973) World –wide Tours Silver Jublee Smagam ( 25 th Annual Smagam,1972) Social Reforms Reverance for Womenhood ( made his wife Rajmata Kulwant Kaur Ji ) an equal partner in propagating the Mission.

33. Baba Avtar Singh Departs On September 17, 1969 Left for his heavenly abode Till date Mission became World-wide movement. The dead body cremated at the Electric Crematorium,Mahatma Gandhi Road,Delhi . No special importance given to 17 th September Instead, 15 th August is observed every year as (Salvation Day) To pay homage to Baba Avtar Singh as well as other saints of Mission and to draw inspiration from theirs lives.

34. Violent Opposition,Fatal Attacks When Mission became Mission of Masses misguided and fanatics started targeting saint and Satguru also. Baba Gurbachan Singh ji fell to their bullets in Delhi,on 24 th April,1980. Along with his disciple Chacha Pratap Singh Mortal remains cremated at the Electric Crematorium with full honours on April 27,1980

35. Baba Hardev Singh Ji As Successor Baba Gurbachan ji gave clear indication that ‘ Satguru ’ would now manifest in the form of Baba Hardev Singh Ji He confirmed the same before he breathed his last ‘ Bhola ’ in Hardev had already been transformed into ‘ Satguru ’ – to function as a messenger of Eternal Truth.