Voice Of Sant Teja Singh Ji ( Gursagar Mastuana/ Baru Sahib)

[mahanpaapi]

Sant Teja Singh Ji



Birth and the Environment

Niranjan Singh Mehta, who came to be known as Sant Teja Singh Ji later on, was born to mother Ram Kaur on 14 May, 1877 in village Balowali (Gujranwala Pakistan). His father Bhai Ralla Singh, was a medical doctor in Central Jail, Lahore. The grandfather of Sant Ji, named Bhai Nanak Chand Ji, was a very pious soul who used to provide food and other financial assistance to the poor and the downtrodden. On account of his generosity, he was popularly known as Nanak Shah. The maternal grandfather of Sant Ji, Bhai Bhag Singh Ji, was a Gursikh who used to get up daily at 3 in the morning, take his bath and recite all the Gurbanis (holy hymns) of Panj Granthi (a compilation of holy hymns from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji). He used to make copies of Guru Granth Sahib Ji in his own hand. The mother of Sant Ji, Bibi Ram Kaur Ji, was a devoted Gursikh and was full of humility and contentment.
The village Balowali, where Sant Ji was born, is located in the holy land of Eminabad (Sadipur Pathana), where Guru Nanak Dev Ji blessed a carpenter named Bhai Lalo and revealed to him that the Almighty had ordained, "Nanak, go forth and apply the healing balm of the Divine Name to the scorched and burnt up hearts of men."

Education
Bhai Niranjan Singh Mehta (Sant Ji) was brought up in these environments of the area of Eminabad charged with holy bliss of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. He studied for two years in his village school under the guidance of a teacher Mian Mohamed Din. Later on he was sent to an English School by his father; first at Fazilka and later on at Lahore. He passed his BA from Government College, Lahore and LLB from Law College, Lahore in 1900 AD. He passed his MA in 1901 AD, standing first in the Punjab University, Lahore.

Marriage
While he was studying in the school, his grandfather married him to Bibi Bishan Kaur, the daughter of Bhai Jhanda Singh of village Dhaular. Sant Ji had three children; two boys, Mukand Singh and Hari Singh and one girl, Bibi Jit Kaur. The youngest boy Hari Singh was a pious soul who made several prophecies and died in his childhood.

Legal Practice and Service in Salt Department
He started legal practice at Gujjranwala but in this profession he had to do things against his conscience and therefore, left it. He competed in the All-India competition for the job of Assistant Superintendent, North India Salt Department and was selected. He served this department from 1902 to 1904. Production of salt was a government-controlled enterprise and poor people were debarred from producing salt to make their both ends meet. This frustrated him and he thought of adopting the career of a teacher. He corresponded with Sir Sunder Singh Majithia, Secretary of the Khalsa College, Amritsar, and was offered a position of Vice-Principal. He then discussed this case with his Commissioner, Mr F M Bakley who also encouraged him to take up teaching profession and granted him leave for one year to try this career. Mr Bakley pointed out that in his early life, he had an opportunity to become a clergyman, but he missed it and repented thereafter. He further told Sant Ji that in education, if one is able to reform and develop the personality of even one individual he would get divine blessings.

Vice-Principal / Principal, Khalsa College Amritsar
Sant Ji joined as Vice-Principal of the Khalsa College, Amritsar in 1903 AD. In teaching, listening to holy hymns and rendering service with love and devotion, his one year's leave came to an end. He wrote down his resignation to the Salt Department but did not yet post it. One day, Sir Sunder Singh Majithia met Sant Ji in the College Gurdwara and enquired about the submission of his resignation. Sant Ji replied that a thought of uncertainty of his service in the Khalsa College had not yet permitted him to resign from his permanent job in the Salt Department. At this moment, Sir Sunder Singh Majithia spontaneously recited a holy hymn:
Sail Pathar Meh Jant Upaaey
Ta Ka Rizak Aage Kar Dharya. (495)
(In the words of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, simultaneously with the creation of all the beings in rocks and mountains, the bounteous Lord has already placed their sustenance right before them. )
This holy hymn re-established the faith of Sant Ji in the Creator and he resigned from his permanent post in the Salt Department. This further generated a wave of love and devotion for service to the humanity in his mind.

Holy Sight (Darshan) of Sant Attar Singh Ji
Sant Ji (named Niranjan Singh Mehta at that time) became Principal of the Khalsa College, Amritsar in 1905. During this period, he met Braham Gyani (God-Conscious) Sant Baba Sham Singh Ji for spiritual blessing who hinted to him that Sant Attar Singh Ji had come to Lahore (now in Pakistan). He developed a keen desire to meet Sant Attar Singh Ji and went to Lahore at the week-end. He had the opportunity of having the holy sight (darshan) of Sant Attar Singh Ji and the latter remarked after the introduction, "Bhai, he (Niranjan Singh Mehta) is a pious soul". He thus got the grace of Sant Attar Singh Ji and attained the everlasting bliss. In the words of Guru Arjan Dev Ji:
Saadh Kai Sang Naheen Kachh Ghaal Darshan Bhetat Hot Nihaal. (272)
(In the gracious company of the God-Conscious persons, one has to struggle the least to control one's mind. With the holy sight of the God-Conscious persons, one attains everlasting bliss and resigns to His will under all circumstances.)
Within a week of coming back from Lahore to Amritsar, Bhai Teja Singh Ji came to know that Sant Attar Singh Ji had come to Tarn Taran (24 km from Amritsar). He went to Tarn Taran along with his mother, wife, his son Kuldip Singh (renamed Mukand Singh after taking Amrit) and his servant Achhar Singh. While sitting in meditation and hearing holy hymns, a Divine Voice told him, "In case you wish to become God-conscious in this birth, then you should take Amrit (the holy nectar) of Guru Gobind Singh Ji". With an intense desire to take Amrit, he begged Sant Attar Singh Ji for this. He thus took "Amrit" from Sant Attar Singh Ji along with his mother and family in 1906 and changed his name from Niranjan Singh Mehta to Teja Singh.

Dedication at Mastuana Sahib
As per the wishes of Sant Attar Singh Ji, he went to attend the holy congregation at Mastuana Sahib. A proposal to open a school at this place was finalized and Sant Teja Singh Ji dedicated his services for this purpose. Sant Attar Singh Ji then expressed, "I wish that an educational institution is established where the spiritual science as advocated by Guru Nanak and the material science of the west are combined together for teaching the students so that they may adopt the spiritual philosophy in action and become assets to the world," In order to fulfill the mission of Sant Attar Singh Ji, Bhai Teja Singh Ji made up his mind to go abroad for acquiring higher education of western sciences. This was approved by Sant Attar Singh Ji with his blessings. Sant Attar Singh Ji also gave him a sum of Rupees one hundred and twenty five and later bade him farewell with the following messages:
1. Keep your entire original form of body and hair intact, enter not into controversies, simply say with folded hands that we have not formed this, it is the gift of God.
2. Wherever you go, establish Sikh temples (Gurdwaras).
3. Convey the message to the people of western countries (Europe and America) that the development of occult powers (Ridhi and Sidhi) to work miracles are nothing. The Divine realization is much beyond these.
4. One, who develops desire and craving under the influence of ego for delivering spiritual discourses and lectures, should desist from doing so and the other, who is free from these cravings, may do so.

Higher Studies and Spreading Guru Nanak's Mission in Foreign Countries
He left for England in August 1906 under the patronage of Sant Attar Singh Ji for higher studies. He studied at the University College, London and at the Cambridge University from 1906-1908. For the first time in the history of this University, he brought round the authorities to let him tie the turban according to the Sikh religion tenets. He joined a summer school in the Teacher's College, Columbia University, New York in 1908. Later, he joined the Harvard University in USA and took his Masters' degree in 1911.
During his stay abroad, he established Sikh Dharamshala in London in 1910. A Sikh Gurdwara was got built in Victoria BC in Canada in 1912-13. He served the Sikhs and other Indian communities in Vancouver BC and organized the Khalsa Diwan there. He pleaded with the Canadian Government for Indians who were being ordered to leave the country and won the legal battle. He established the Sikh Temple at Stockton, California in USA and organized the Pacific Coast Khalsa Diwan Society in 1912. In America, he also met Baba Baisakha Singh, Baba Jawala Singh and other members of the Gaddar party (struggling for the freedom of India at that time).

AM Degree at Harvard, USA
On account of his services to the Indian community in Canada and America, he was branded as a freedom fighter (political worker) by the then British Government and as such, he had to face many difficulties in his studies. In the last trimester of his studies at the Harvard University, he had no money to pay his dues and was, therefore, served a notice by the University either to pay his fees or quit. Under these circumstances, he got immersed in the Divine within and enquired from his wife as to whether she had developed any worldly longing for material benefits. She exclaimed that she had developed a desire that on completion of this higher education, her husband would be able to get a high official post on his return to India with rich worldly comforts. Sant Ji told her that her thought of worldly desire had become a stumbling block in the completion of his degree at this last moment. He at once asked her to join in a prayer with full devotion, "O Lord ! everything is yours and we are only to render service according to Your will without developing any thought and desire for ultimate worldly benefits." In the words of Guru Arjan Dev Ji (Sukhmani Sahib):
Karam Karat Howai Nihkaram Tis Baisnu Ka Nirmal Dharam
Kahoon Phal Ki Ichha Nahee Bachhai Kewal Bhagat Kirtan Sang Rachai (274)
(The sacred duty (Dharma) of a man is that one should remain selfless and detached from the worldly greediness in his actions and performance of duties in his life. One should not desire for worldly benefits in lieu of his rendering service and duties. One should have faith in God and remain immersed in His Glory and the Divine Law. In fact, this is called ‘Karama Yoga’.)
No sooner did Sant Ji completed his prayer and recited the Divine Name than his Professor, Mr Blisso Parry came to meet him and entered his room. Dr Parry offered him one hundred and ten dollars for paying his fees and clearing his dues in the University. Dr Parry told him that he had come to know about his inability to pay his fees in the University and, therefore, he had come to offer his humble assistance. Sant Ji exclaimed that the God is bountiful and we are full of shortcomings. He then paid all the dues in University and got his Masters' degree from the Harvard University in 1911.

Light Shall Again Come From the East
During his visit to Chicago in USA, Sant Teja Singh Ji met Rev Jenkin Llyod Jones, Lord Bishop of the largest Unitarian Church of Chicago, who was a pious, learned and highly respected person. Rev Jones was an open-minded person and it was he who had organized a Parliament of all the religions of the world in which Swami Viveka Nand Ji also participated. After a brief introduction, Sant Teja Singh Ji and Rev Jones exchanged views on various aspects of spiritualism. Sant Ji explained the sacred mission of Guru Nanak Dev Ji for attaining the Divine Peace. At this point, Rev Jones got so much inspired that he got up from his chair, warmly shook hands with Sant Ji and with great love exclaimed, "Brother Teja Singh, Light shall again come from the East. We in the West are quite unfit for it." Sant Ji presented him all the six volumes of the book on ‘The Sikh Religion’ written by Mr Makalay. Rev Jones got so impressed with the Sikh Religion that he requested Sant Ji to participate in the Congress of free Christianity and Religious progress at Berlin, Germany, organized by the Unitarian Church of Chicago to explain the glories of the Sikh Religion and spiritual path shown by Guru Nanak. On his invitation, Sant Ji attended this Congress along with delegates of all the religions of the world. All the delegates spoke about the teachings and philosophies of their respective religions. Sant Ji in his address, explained the spiritual mission of Guru Nanak Dev Ji revealing that the whole created universe has sprung up from one Divine Light and the bodies of the people of all the religions, races, castes, colors and creeds are made up of one common material (five elements or Panch Tatt. i.e. earth, water, air, energy and gaseous sphere). The sense of mine and thine forms the dark clouds of ignorance against the Divine Light and becomes a bar to self-realization. Under the influence of lust, greed and sense of egoism, mine and thine, the people involve themselves in the animal instinct of actions, reactions and fighting, If we remove the veil of selfishness and egoism by immersing ourselves in the Divine Name, the Divine Light shines in all the human hearts and leads to the realization of the One-in-All and the All-in-one.
Sant Ji further pointed out that without self-realization (the Divine within), there can not be any permanent peace in the world for which Guru Nanak Dev Ji has shown the straight spiritual path. At this point, a great German Philosopher (delegate) stood up from his seat, warmly shook hands with Sant Ji and exclaimed loudly, "This is the thing we want".

Rigorous Spiritual Training
After completing his mission abroad, Sant Ji came back to India from Vancouver (Canada) in March 1913, traveling via Japan, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Malaya. He reached Gur Sagar Sahib, Mastuana (Sangrur) and offered himself in the services of Sant Attar Singh Ji, who enquired about his trip abroad and then said, "Bhai Teja Singh, you have studied in various Universities and qualified in various examinations. Now you join the University of Spiritual Science at Gur Sagar Sahib, Mastuana and pass its various examinations". He bowed his head and submitted himself to Sant Ji and prayed to qualify the tests and examinations of Spiritual Science.
Sant Attar Singh Ji exposed Bhai Teja Singh to rigorous spiritual training and tests. On his arrival at Gur Sagar Sahib, Mastuana, Sant Attar Singh Ji entrusted to him the duties of running a school, which he carried out faithfully under great stresses, strains and criticism. Many disciples of Sant Attar Singh Ji started thinking that Bhai Teja Singh has been given only the teaching duties whereas they were carrying out physical duties of digging of earth and other manual labor. Perceiving this, Sant Attar Singh Ji asked Bhai Teja Singh to dig the surroundings of big holy tank of the Gurdwara, 15 feet wide and one foot deep, within five weeks. In spite of this arduous manual work, Bhai Teja Singh Ji carried out the instruction of Sant Ji faithfully and effectively, in addition to his teaching duties. Sant Ji came after five weeks to Gur Sagar Sahib, Mastuana and on seeing the progress of teaching and digging of earth work being done by Bhai Teja Singh, approved it and showered his blessings on him, thereby indicating that he can also undertake physical work with all humility and devotion. This created further jealousy among the other disciples against Bhai Teja Singh and thus he was subjected to various kinds of criticism from them. They started putting many kinds of false complaints to Sant Ji against Bhai Teja Singh and went to the extent of saying that the latter has spoiled the work and has eroded the funds of Gur Sagar Sahib, Mastuana.
Sant Attar Singh Ji said, "Teja Singh Ji, people regard me as a saint, but it is difficult even to become a Sikh of Guru Nanak Dev Ji." This clearly indicated that Sant Ji prepared Bhai Teja Singh Ji for still strict tests of enduring criticism, abuses and defamation in the same way as admiration, fame and praises. In the next few days, the same things happened and Bhai Teja Singh was loudly criticized, abused and even man-handled by the jealous people. He endured all these with serene mind and showed great humility. So much so that the disciples and other people of surrounding villages created such a kind of atmosphere that Sant Attar Singh Ji asked Bhai Teja Singh Ji to quit this place after handing over all the charges of the school, Gurdwara, Guru Ka Langar and other infrastructure to a committee formed for this purpose. He completely submitted to the words of Sant Ji and handed over all the charges to the committee. At this time, there was a debt of Rupees ten thousand due to the receipt of advance construction material and wages of the labor engaged in construction work. On the next day when he met Sant Ji, he was asked to try to clear the debt. Bhai Teja Singh Ji with folded hands humbly told that he would mortgage his only house at Gujranwala and clear the debt of the holy place. This inspired the other devotees sitting there who exclaimed, "Bhai Teja Singh Ji has won the spiritual battle". Sant Ji was extremely pleased with the successful passing of Bhai Teja Singh Ji in various tests and showered his blessing on him saying, "Bhai Teja Singh has to render a great service to humanity and he will continue to do so wherever he goes."

Serving Educational Institutions
Sant Teja Singh Ji left Gur Sagar Sahib, Mastuana and reached Gujranwala. He mortgaged his only house and cleared the debts. He tried to keep himself aloof from the public life and engrossed himself in the Divine Name. However, within a few days, the Gujranwala public approached Sant Teja Singh Ji and requested him to restart the Guru Nanak Khalsa College Gujranwala under his patronage. He declined but when he was told that this is the decision of the holy congregation and is a binding on him, he accepted the same. He started this College in 1917 and remained its Principal up to 1919. Pt. Madan Mohan Malaria, President of Banaras Hindu University, approached Sant Attar Singh Ji in 1919 and requested him for the services of Sant Teja Singh for starting Teacher's Training College in that University. Sant Attar Singh Ji asked Bhai Teja Singh Ji to go to Banaras to help the University. Sant Teja Singh Ji joined as Principal of this College and established its working. He remained there for about one year. This gave great fame to him. The distinguished personalities and the holy congregation approached Sant Attar Singh Ji to call back Bhai Teja Singh for starting Akal College at Gur Sagar Sahib, Mastuana. Bhai Teja Singh Ji resigned the job of Principalship of Banaras Hindu University and joined service at Akal College, Mastuana, which he faithfully did till the end of 1920. Sant Teja Singh Ji also established Khalsa High School, Kallar in Rawalpindi district (now in Pakistan) and other educational institutions and carried out the instructions of Sant Attar Singh Ji for rendering service to various educational institutions and service to humanity. He was sent many a time by Sant Attar Singh Ji to resolve very crucial and vital issues of the Sikh Panth by conveying the message of Sant Ji to various organizations of the Sikhs including Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.

Final Spiritual Training
Perceiving his last days, Sant Attar Singh Ji asked Bhai Teja Singh to leave all other activities and be with him. Bhai Teja Singh Ji constantly remained in attendance on Sant Attar Singh Ji and imbibed final spiritual training and merged his identity with the One-in-All and All-in-One. Sant Attar Singh Ji bestowed his blessings on Bhai Teja Singh Ji to carry out the divine mission of Guru Nanak for the uplift of mankind without any distinction of caste, creed, race or color.

Construction of Gurdwaras
He constructed Gurdwara Tapiana Sahib Kanoha Ki Jhangi (now in Pakistan), where Sant Attar Singh Ji had constantly meditated on the Divine Name for about two years. In 1932, he undertook the construction of Gurdwara Nanaksar Cheema (Sangrur, Punjab, India) whose foundation was earlier laid by Sant Attar Singh Ji by revealing that this place had been blessed with the holy visit of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and completed it in the succeeding years and also established a Gurmat Vidyala there. He also laid the foundation of Gurdwara Janam Asthan Nanaksar Cheema in 1960 at the place where Sant Attar Singh Ji was born. At the time of his passing four storeys were completed.

The Spiritual Uplift Work
With the hearty blessings of Sant Attar Singh Ji, Sant Teja Singh Ji undertook the work of spiritual uplift among the Sikhs and other communities without any distinction of cast, creed, race or color in India and many other foreign countries.
(a) In the United Punjab: From 1928-47, Sant Teja Singh Ji preached the Divine path (Guru Nanak's teachings) in the United Punjab, particularly in the areas from Lahore to Peshawar. He used to say, "My dear fellows (both Sikhs and Hindus), leave these areas and settle down in the areas beyond Lahore." While saying so in early forties, he has had the vision of the uprooting of the people of these areas. His prophecy came true in 1947 when India was partitioned.
( At Khalsa College Amritsar: Sant Ji used to inspire the students to imbibe the divine virtues along with the worldly education. Some of the students would argue that they do not find time from their studies for reciting the holy hymns and the Divine Name. Sant Ji explained, "Where there is a will, there is a way. When I was ignorant of the holy hymns and the Divine Name, I had to exert very hard to get through the various examinations from the Punjab University. However, when I started devoting time in the evenings and mornings in the Divine Name and the recitation of the holy hymns, I felt neither tension nor difficulty in qualifying my examinations with honor and success during my studies in England and USA". In 1949, he addressed the students at Khalsa College, Amritsar and inspired them to follow the path of Guru Nanak and participate in spreading His message to the mankind for establishing the Divine peace in the world. Those students who offered themselves for the mission of Guru Nanak were taken to Paonta Sahib in Himachal Pradesh for teaching the basic tenets of the Divine Path shown by Guru Nanak.
© In African Countries: In 1954, he went to many African countries and spread the message of Guru Nanak. He advised the Asian settlers to develop love and affection for the local population and help their needy brethren. In Uganda, he told the settlers that the day may not be far off when they would have to leave this country. This did happen in the subsequent years during the regime of Idi Amin.

Addressing the Eighth Congress of Religions in Japan
He undertook the work of spiritual uplift of humanity in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, USA and Canada in 1955-56. During this period, he delivered an address on the occasion of the Eighth Congress of Religions for the world peace organized by Ananai-Kyo, Shimizu city, Japan in 1956. The full text of this lecture "The way to establish Permanent peace" is given in the following pages.

Revelation of the Tapo Bhoomi Baru
In July 1957, he revealed the Tapo Bhoomi of Baru where many Rishis, Munis and saints had meditated on the Divine Name and also blessed with the holy visit of Tenth Guru. Here, Gurdwara was constructed and provision of Guru Ka Langar was made. During the invocatory prayer (Ardas) he passionately prayed, with tears rolling down, to Akal Purakh (God) to bestow His Grace on the sacred mission so that it grows and carries His message of the Divine peace and spiritual brotherhood to the mankind in the world. He used to visit this place during summer along with his devotees for meditation and solemnization of Akhand Path till his demise.

The Kalgidhar Trust
For continuing the work of the spiritual uplift among the people through combination of the scientific education and religious education, Sant Ji organized a trust named as The Kalgidhar Trust. The activities of this Trust, based at the Sant Attar Singh Hari Sadhu Ashram, Baru Sahib, Himachal Pradesh, carried out as per the blessings and guidance of Sant Ji. Edited February 26, 2012 by sevadaar