Bidhi Chandiya History

[valli singh]

Baba Sohan Singh ji

(1904-1975)

From the times of the great Guru Hargobind Sahib who raised the Timeless Temple (Akal Takht) and formally began the sentry of the Knights of God much prominence was given to his brave disciple

Baba Bidhi Chand who would come to head his own spiritual lineage of enlightened seers for untold

centuries.

Thus it is with great pleasure that we present the spiritual biography of one noble successor to that royal seat of Bidhi Chand ji—in Baba Sohan Singh ji. Baba Sohan Singh ji was born at Sur Singh, Amritsar in 1904 to Baba Natha Singh who was the 9^th head of the Bidhi Chand Sampardai and his pious wife

Mata Chand Kaur . From an early age Babaji possessed a finely developed sense of spiritual intuition and was drawn strongly towards the Sikh religious assembly. In fact he spent much of his time infatuated with reciting the Words of God and in serving the holy congregation with body, mind and spirit.

As Baba Sohan Singh ji developed into a young man he impressed all who beheld him with his gracious manner and truthful mien, and, after taking the baptism of the double-edged sword he strictly upheld the Sikh code of conduct (rehit) and greatly progressed in his daily meditations to the point that his great father was thoroughly content with bestowing the prestige of the royal seat of the Bidhi Chand Sampardai upon him as well as entrusting all of its responsibilities unto him, and thus Baba Sohan Singh ji was formally appointed as the 10^th abbot of this illustrious lineage of saintly warriors.

Indeed it was the maintenance and progression of this warrior tradition within the Sampardai's lineage which was especially dear to Babaji's heart, and it was thus that he instructed his fellows to bear arms and practice horsemanship so as to uphold the valorous ways of Guru Gobind Singh Maharaj. To further this cherished aim, Babaji submitted his request to the Jathedar of Buddha Dal so as to formalize

the Bidhi Chand Sampardai, which was then mainly a devotional institution into a full-fledged battalion.

This appeal was fully accepted by Buddha Dal and thus it was in 1929 at the divine anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Maharaj at Nanakana Sahib that Jathedar Baba Sohan Singh ji lead his troupe of spiritual warriors into the festivities shining in full martial glory with battle drums thundering and blue standards waving while knights mounted on stately steeds promenaded and spread the soldierly spirit amongst the gathering throngs.

It was here during this warlike spectacle that the Baba Bidhi Chand Sampardai formally became

The Baba Bidhi Chand Dal—a divine battalion of the Knights of God. Baba Sohan Singh ji further requested at the holy feet of Guru Nanak Sahib ji that his battalion would remain nomadic (chakarvatee)

throughout India and the Punjab so as to do missionary work and preach the gospel of the gurus in areas previously untrodden by Sikh preachers, thus the Dal sent many priests on horseback far and wide to do martial displays of swordsmanship, to sing holy hymns and to teach the reading of the guru's words to the village people across India. Indeed many people would flock to the battalion's basecamp to be administered the baptismal rites of the sword.

The daily routine in the battalion at Bidhi Chand would begin with the thundering of the battle drums at two o'clock in the morning after which the Singhs would arise, have a bath and read their daily liturgy, and following the five compositions of the Nitnem, Sukhmani Sahib, Akal Ustat and Asa Di // singing would be performed followed by a continuous explication on the Guru Granth Sahib after which ardas would take place. During the day the langar would remain available for all to take their meals and in the evenings more communal singing of hymns, Rehras Sahib and Arti Arta would be performed and ardas followed by teachings from the Suraj Partap Granth. This daily ritual of spiritual cleansing continues to this day within Bidhi Chand Dal.

Whenever any traditional celebration arose such as Dusshera at Hazur Sahib or, Hola Mohalla at Anandpur,

Babaji and his Dal would arrive in high spirits and all royal splendor to display their swordsmanship and horsemanship in mock battles and demonstrations. Afterwards they would return to their basecamp and resume their spiritual devotions and recitations of scriptures with such fervor that many locals would flock to the campsite so inspired that they accepted baptism from the Dal.

In 1934 Baba Sahib Singh Kaladhari, the Jathedar of Buddha Dal was wrongfully imprisoned by the authoritarian British regime due to his insistence on a strict reliance on the Khalsa rehit regarding kirpan size. When his Dal also refused to comply with the foreigners they too were imprisoned much to the chagrin of true patriots like Baba Sohan Singh ji. For, word reached Bidhi Chand Dal that Baba Sahib Singh and his Dal would not eat because the British refused them a bibeki langar, thus, Baba Sohan Singh ji took it upon himself to travel to the prison and there provide a full bibeki langar for the Singhs. His devotion was so great that even when his brother traveled to inform him that his own wife had passed away during his exodus, Baba Sohan Singh ji was unmoved and he firmly told his brother that he would not leave until he had fully performed the service of the Khalsa Panth. True to his word,Babaji remained with Baba Kaladhari the whole time the Singhs were imprisoned.

In 1942 Babaji and his Dal traveled to Harimandir Sahib and after immersion themselves in ishnaan, they did ardaas at Sri Akal Takht that their impending trip to Hazur Sahib would be successful, after which they embarked—walking the whole way. On this excursion Bidhi Chand Dal did much parchar and seva in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Mudh Pradesh and Hyderabad as well as many untrodden villages of the Punjab.

Meeting many loyal Singhs in these places and inspiring many more they arrived with blazing glory in Hazur Sahib with their battle drums thundering and fluttering standards, here they did ardaas, after which Babaji had two gigantic iron vessels filled with Sukhnidhan and distributed amongst the sangat. The Hazoori Sikhs displayed much heartfelt affection towards Babaji and his Dal due to their frugal and spirited ways which caused them to remain at Hazur Sahib for a whole year before returning to the Punjab. Many years later Babaji and his Dal would again embark on a trek from the Punjab to Hazur Sahib on foot.

In the reformational times that Babaji lived, he tried his utmost to uphold the ancient traditions in the face of obliterative change in the Panth by negative elements. His saintly radiance was so far-reachingly recognized that many great Mahapurukhs flocked to his standard to stand firm on issues affecting the Panth such as the changing of mangals and the raagmala issue. Some of the sants who enjoyed warm relations with Babaji were Baba Mitt Singh ji Nihang, Baba Gurbachan Singh Bhindranwale, Baba Ishar Singh, Baba Nand Singh ji and Baba Jawala Singh ji amongst many others.

As the year 1975 approached, Babaji's health was marred by a sharp decline though he was always in high spirits. Many prominent Sikhs traveled from far and wide to pay their respects to the ailing chieftain such as Sant Kartar Singh ji who flew in from Bombay. One day when it was clear that his end was imminent, Babaji formally proclaimed that his son Daya Singh would head the Dal as it's 11^th chieftain in his absence.

And on the 21^st of March 1975 he passed away, but not before performing his daily schedule as an inspiration to others of arising at 2 am, bathing and immersing his consciousness in the divine. As his final moments approached, Babaji recited the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev ji to the sangat, that they must meditate on the primal spirit, live righteously and share their wealth with others, and with his last breaths he exclaimed "Wahiguru ji ka Khalsa, Wahiguru ji ki Fateh" before departing his mortal frame for the heavenly abode.

[jodhaa]

Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru

[xHarinder_singh]

Baba Sohan Singh ji

(1904-1975)

From the times of the great Guru Hargobind Sahib who raised the Timeless Temple (Akal Takht) and formally began the sentry of the Knights of God much prominence was given to his brave disciple

Baba Bidhi Chand who would come to head his own spiritual lineage of enlightened seers for untold

centuries.

Thus it is with great pleasure that we present the spiritual biography of one noble successor to that royal seat of Bidhi Chand ji—in Baba Sohan Singh ji. Baba Sohan Singh ji was born at Sur Singh, Amritsar in 1904 to Baba Natha Singh who was the 9^th head of the Bidhi Chand Sampardai and his pious wife

Mata Chand Kaur . From an early age Babaji possessed a finely developed sense of spiritual intuition and was drawn strongly towards the Sikh religious assembly. In fact he spent much of his time infatuated with reciting the Words of God and in serving the holy congregation with body, mind and spirit.

As Baba Sohan Singh ji developed into a young man he impressed all who beheld him with his gracious manner and truthful mien, and, after taking the baptism of the double-edged sword he strictly upheld the Sikh code of conduct (rehit) and greatly progressed in his daily meditations to the point that his great father was thoroughly content with bestowing the prestige of the royal seat of the Bidhi Chand Sampardai upon him as well as entrusting all of its responsibilities unto him, and thus Baba Sohan Singh ji was formally appointed as the 10^th abbot of this illustrious lineage of saintly warriors.

Indeed it was the maintenance and progression of this warrior tradition within the Sampardai's lineage which was especially dear to Babaji's heart, and it was thus that he instructed his fellows to bear arms and practice horsemanship so as to uphold the valorous ways of Guru Gobind Singh Maharaj. To further this cherished aim, Babaji submitted his request to the Jathedar of Buddha Dal so as to formalize

the Bidhi Chand Sampardai, which was then mainly a devotional institution into a full-fledged battalion.

This appeal was fully accepted by Buddha Dal and thus it was in 1929 at the divine anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Maharaj at Nanakana Sahib that Jathedar Baba Sohan Singh ji lead his troupe of spiritual warriors into the festivities shining in full martial glory with battle drums thundering and blue standards waving while knights mounted on stately steeds promenaded and spread the soldierly spirit amongst the gathering throngs.

It was here during this warlike spectacle that the Baba Bidhi Chand Sampardai formally became

The Baba Bidhi Chand Dal—a divine battalion of the Knights of God. Baba Sohan Singh ji further requested at the holy feet of Guru Nanak Sahib ji that his battalion would remain nomadic (chakarvatee)

throughout India and the Punjab so as to do missionary work and preach the gospel of the gurus in areas previously untrodden by Sikh preachers, thus the Dal sent many priests on horseback far and wide to do martial displays of swordsmanship, to sing holy hymns and to teach the reading of the guru's words to the village people across India. Indeed many people would flock to the battalion's basecamp to be administered the baptismal rites of the sword.

The daily routine in the battalion at Bidhi Chand would begin with the thundering of the battle drums at two o'clock in the morning after which the Singhs would arise, have a bath and read their daily liturgy, and following the five compositions of the Nitnem, Sukhmani Sahib, Akal Ustat and Asa Di // singing would be performed followed by a continuous explication on the Guru Granth Sahib after which ardas would take place. During the day the langar would remain available for all to take their meals and in the evenings more communal singing of hymns, Rehras Sahib and Arti Arta would be performed and ardas followed by teachings from the Suraj Partap Granth. This daily ritual of spiritual cleansing continues to this day within Bidhi Chand Dal.

Whenever any traditional celebration arose such as Dusshera at Hazur Sahib or, Hola Mohalla at Anandpur,

Babaji and his Dal would arrive in high spirits and all royal splendor to display their swordsmanship and horsemanship in mock battles and demonstrations. Afterwards they would return to their basecamp and resume their spiritual devotions and recitations of scriptures with such fervor that many locals would flock to the campsite so inspired that they accepted baptism from the Dal.

In 1934 Baba Sahib Singh Kaladhari, the Jathedar of Buddha Dal was wrongfully imprisoned by the authoritarian British regime due to his insistence on a strict reliance on the Khalsa rehit regarding kirpan size. When his Dal also refused to comply with the foreigners they too were imprisoned much to the chagrin of true patriots like Baba Sohan Singh ji. For, word reached Bidhi Chand Dal that Baba Sahib Singh and his Dal would not eat because the British refused them a bibeki langar, thus, Baba Sohan Singh ji took it upon himself to travel to the prison and there provide a full bibeki langar for the Singhs. His devotion was so great that even when his brother traveled to inform him that his own wife had passed away during his exodus, Baba Sohan Singh ji was unmoved and he firmly told his brother that he would not leave until he had fully performed the service of the Khalsa Panth. True to his word,Babaji remained with Baba Kaladhari the whole time the Singhs were imprisoned.

In 1942 Babaji and his Dal traveled to Harimandir Sahib and after immersion themselves in ishnaan, they did ardaas at Sri Akal Takht that their impending trip to Hazur Sahib would be successful, after which they embarked—walking the whole way. On this excursion Bidhi Chand Dal did much parchar and seva in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Mudh Pradesh and Hyderabad as well as many untrodden villages of the Punjab.

Meeting many loyal Singhs in these places and inspiring many more they arrived with blazing glory in Hazur Sahib with their battle drums thundering and fluttering standards, here they did ardaas, after which Babaji had two gigantic iron vessels filled with Sukhnidhan and distributed amongst the sangat. The Hazoori Sikhs displayed much heartfelt affection towards Babaji and his Dal due to their frugal and spirited ways which caused them to remain at Hazur Sahib for a whole year before returning to the Punjab. Many years later Babaji and his Dal would again embark on a trek from the Punjab to Hazur Sahib on foot.

In the reformational times that Babaji lived, he tried his utmost to uphold the ancient traditions in the face of obliterative change in the Panth by negative elements. His saintly radiance was so far-reachingly recognized that many great Mahapurukhs flocked to his standard to stand firm on issues affecting the Panth such as the changing of mangals and the raagmala issue. Some of the sants who enjoyed warm relations with Babaji were Baba Mitt Singh ji Nihang, Baba Gurbachan Singh Bhindranwale, Baba Ishar Singh, Baba Nand Singh ji and Baba Jawala Singh ji amongst many others.

As the year 1975 approached, Babaji's health was marred by a sharp decline though he was always in high spirits. Many prominent Sikhs traveled from far and wide to pay their respects to the ailing chieftain such as Sant Kartar Singh ji who flew in from Bombay. One day when it was clear that his end was imminent, Babaji formally proclaimed that his son Daya Singh would head the Dal as it's 11^th chieftain in his absence.

And on the 21^st of March 1975 he passed away, but not before performing his daily schedule as an inspiration to others of arising at 2 am, bathing and immersing his consciousness in the divine. As his final moments approached, Babaji recited the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev ji to the sangat, that they must meditate on the primal spirit, live righteously and share their wealth with others, and with his last breaths he exclaimed "Wahiguru ji ka Khalsa, Wahiguru ji ki Fateh" before departing his mortal frame for the heavenly abode.

Sevak ke orakk nib-he preet....

What a nice way to leave this world!

I have a feeling that Bidhi Chand Dal will be doing some amazing seva in the near future for the Panth. They keep a very strong pehraa of rehit and japp naam by remaining within that pehraa, Satguru jee is going to give them power that the world would not have witnessed in the future.

There is no match for rehitvaan nihang singhs.