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Sant Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji, the 12th leader of Taksal, headed the institution for 39 years (February 1930-June 1969) and served the panth with devotion. Throughout this time as Jathedar, they travelled as far as Orissa in South East India and completed 27 kathas of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and katha of Bhai Gurdas Ji Vaars, Bhai Gurdas Ji Kabits, Sooraj Prakash and Sri Dasam Granth.
Bhai Jaswant Singh (Bhagat Ji) was born in 1936 and has spent more than 60 years of their life teaching Gurbani pronunciation and writing its meanings. Bhagat Ji spent over 8 years learning under the guidance of Sant Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji Bhindranwale in the Damdami Taksal. Here, Sant Gurbachan Singh Ji Bhindranwale lovingly used the word ‘Bhagat’ to address Bhai Jaswant Singh Ji. Following their footsteps, Singhs in Damdami Taksal started calling Bhai Jaswant Singh Ji, ‘Bhagat Ji’.
Bhagat Ji joined Damdami Taksaal in 1961. They were blessed with the seva of recording the kathas. To accomplish this herculean task, Bhagat Ji had to travel with heavy audio recorders Grundig TK46 and TK40 that used electricity to operate. Since electricity connections to houses were not common in every village they travelled to, Bhagat Ji suffered electric shocks when trying to make a connection for the recorder.
After the recordings were complete, all the cassettes were given to Sant Kartar Singh Ji Khalsa as per Sant Gurbachan Singh Ji’s wish. Many recordings have been digitized and their audio can now be found in the Free Downloads section of our website. It is unknown where the rest of the katha and original cassettes are.
Bhagat Ji was also one of the scholars who pioneered the correction of the mangals in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji upon the SGPC’s request more than 3 decades ago. Their dedication to this task is the reason we have the form of Guru Granth Sahib Ji as gifted by our Gurus, and not an adulterated form created by the so called “educated people” of the time.
Bhagat Ji lived with Sant Kartar Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindrawale and were one of the main Santhiya teachers at that time.
Sant Gurbachan Singh Ji completed the katha of Guru Granth Sahib Ji for the 27th time in 1967 at Ganganagar, Rajasthan, India. A little while later the entire jatha (pupils of the institution), went to Sant Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji with a request to pen down a steek (text containing the meanings) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
It was decided that this project will be shouldered by 5 knowledgeable Singhs. Namely: Sant Baba Kartar Singh Ji, Sant Parmjit Singh Ji, Sri Mahant Vaidh Niranjan Singh Ji, Baba Boor Singh Ji and Bhagat Jaswant Singh Ji. Everyone did an ardas before the true Lord, Guru Granth Sahib Ji, to see this project to completion. Sant Gurbachan Singh Ji stated "from the five of you, not every one will see this project through to completion in physical form. However, whoever is still alive should see that this project is carried out." Out of the five, Bhagat Ji is the only one alive and they continue to pursue this mission.
Sant Gurbachan Singh Ji completed the katha of Guru Granth Sahib Ji for the 27th time in 1967 at Ganganagar, Rajasthan, India. A little while later the entire jatha (pupils of the institution), went to Sant Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji with a request to pen down a steek (text containing the meanings) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
It was decided that this project will be shouldered by 5 knowledgeable Singhs. Namely: Sant Baba Kartar Singh Ji, Sant Parmjit Singh Ji, Sri Mahant Vaidh Niranjan Singh Ji, Baba Boor Singh Ji and Bhagat Jaswant Singh Ji. Everyone did an ardas before the true Lord, Guru Granth Sahib Ji, to see this project to completion. Sant Gurbachan Singh Ji stated "from the five of you, not every one will see this project through to completion in physical form. However, whoever is still alive should see that this project is carried out." Out of the five, Bhagat Ji is the only one alive and they continue to pursue this mission.
Another day, Bhagat Ji was practicing Kirtan when Sant Gurbachan Singh Ji asked where they were. When Sant Kartar Singh Ji checked, they told Vadde Sant that Bhagat Ji was doing kirtan in front of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Seeing Bhagat Ji's devotion and selflessness, Sant Gurbachan Singh Ji filled up with love and blessed them by saying, "Jowar, buddi nisardi hai." (i.e. like the plant Jowar which bears fruit when it is fully ripe and tall, you will bear the fruit of seva in your older age). Their tireless research and dedication to Sikhi has blossomed with the fruit of numerous compositions, and countless people benefit from it.
Sant Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji Khalsa said to Baba Jaswant Singh (Bhagat Ji) that you had recorded the katha with such love and dedication. No one besides you would have done this seva.
ਸੰਤ ਸੇਵਾ ਕਰਿ ਭਾਵਨੀ ਲਾਈਐ ਤਿਆਗਿ ਮਾਨੁ ਹਾਠੀਲਾ ॥੧॥
Serve the Saints with loving faith, and set aside your pride and stubbornness. ||1||
Mahapursh then said I will bestow any blessing you seek, ask for anything. Bhagat ji said there was immense light on Vadde Mahapukh's face.
ਬ੍ਰਹਮਗਿਆਨੀ ਕੀ ਦ੍ਰਿਸਟਿ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਬਰਸੀ ॥
Nectar rains down from the glance of the God-conscious being.
With folded hands, Bhagat Ji lowered their head in humility and humbly asked that Daasan Das wishes to receive your darshan. Vadde Mahapurkh ji said “chunga eisey thara hee hovehga.” To this day Bhagat Ji has parthak darshan of Vadde Mahapurakh, Sant Kartar Singh Ji, Sant Baba Thakur Singh Ji and Sant Gurmukh Singh Ji Shaheed, to name a few. (Sukhmani Sahib Steek)
Another time, Sant Kartar Singh Ji was walking in a garden with Sant Gurbachan Singh Ji and Bhagat Ji crossed by them carrying pothis on their head. Sant Gurbachan Singh Ji stopped them and in bliss, commented about Bhagat Ji’s state of spirituality:
