Bau Mal Singh Jee

Brief Jeevani of Bau Mal Singh Jee -

Bau Mal Singh Jee
The life of the highly respected Bau Mal Singh Jee of the Akhand Keertani Jatha is filled with miraculous and astonishing events. Through his influence, thousands of beings became attached to Gurmat, and countless beings, due to his prayers, were blessed by the Guru’s house. The spiritual paths of many were purified, and the worldly needs of many others were fulfilled.
The loving and warm embrace of Bau Jee would enchant everyone. Whenever a Gursikh would visit his home, he would shower them with boundless Prem and humility, even going to the extent of washing their feet and drinking that water.
Guru Sahib’s Naam resided in each and every hair of his body. Upon him was the complete grace of the Satguru.

He spent approximately 65 - 70 years in the Sangat of Bhai Sahib Bhai Randhir Singh Jee and even after engaged in the Seva of the Akhand Keertani Jatha. He inspired thousands to take Amrit and, according to the Hukam "ਜੀਅਦਾਨੁਦੇਭਗਤੀਲਾਇਨਿ" (giving the gift of life and attaching to devotion), helped countless souls receive the gift of spiritual life from the Satguru.

Bau Jee was born in the year 1879 in village Sarli, district Amritsar, in the house of father Sardar Kahan Singh and mother Gulab Kaur. He was about eight years old when his father passed away. Among his siblings, Bau Jee was the youngest. His four elder sisters were already married. He had three elder brothers, among whom the eldest, Sardar Varyam Singh, was sixteen years old. There was no other elder person at home to look after the household except his mother. Extreme poverty took over the house. His mother enrolled him into schooling. Bau Jee was a highly capable child.

While studying in the third grade, elders from the Guru’s lineage (descendants from Batala, referred to as "Guru Ke") came to their town to collect annual offerings (kaar-bhet). His mother, giving him a coin, said,

"Go child, bow to the Guru's descendants."

When Bau Jee went to bow, he saw the "Guru Ke" elders wrapped in sheets, sitting cross-legged and deep in meditation. When he returned home, he asked his mother,

"What are the Guru’s descendants doing while sitting like that?" 

Mother replied, "Child, they are engaged in  Bhajan (devotional meditation)."

He further asked, "Mother, what is Bhajan?"

With loving simplicity, his mother explained, "Reciting Gurbani and experiencing bliss through it — this is how they worship God."

This thought took deep root in his mind and was etched on the tablet of his consciousness like an indelible line. Soon, Bau Jee ordered a Gutka of Japji Sahib translated into Urdu from Amritsar (since Urdu was the medium of education at that time) and began daily recitation sitting beside his mother, lovingly and attentively reading aloud to her. This marked the beginning of his spiritual life.

When the "Guru Ke" elders visited Sarli again, recognizing the potential of this gifted child and seeing the poverty at home, they recommended that Bau Jee be sent to Batala for further education. At that time, Bau Jee had graduated to fifth grade. His elder brother accompanied him to Batala and said,

"This is the Guru's house; by serving here, one receives the reward of paradise; by laboring here, one attains divine mansions. Serve diligently."

Living at the Guru’s house in Batala during his childhood, Bau Jee performed tireless Seva — washing Bhandey (utensils), carrying water — with such devotion that the family of the Guru Ke began to consider him one of their own. Along with the intense Seva, he excelled in school, consistently ranking first or second in his class.

While studying in ninth grade at Batala, in 1899, through a relative, Bau Jee traveled to Quetta and joined the 36th Cavalry Regiment. At that time, the soldiers of the cavalry were highly respected and held in great honor.

By then, Bau Jee had become strict in his Nitnem and performed his government job with utmost dedication and honesty, earning great respect within the regiment.

Back then, English-educated individuals were rare, and because Bau Jee was educated in English, he rose to the position of Head Clerk within the regiment. Due to this, he was addressed with the title "Bau Jee" till this day.

In 1910, Bau Jee’s regiment moved from Quetta to Ambala Cantonment, where many army regiments were stationed. Here, within the 8th Regiment, was an Education Officer, Sardar Pyara Singh Jee, a deeply spiritual, Naam-absorbed Gursikh, who later became renowned within the Jatha as Colonel Pyara Singh Jee. He began associating and meeting with the Singhs of the 36th Regiment.

One rainy day, Sardar Pyara Singh Jee visited the Gurdwara of the 36th Regiment and sent a messenger to call Bau Jee from his house. When Bau Jee arrived at the Gurdwara, Pyara Singh Jee, filled with Bairaag (deep yearning to meet Guru Sahib), sang the following Shabad on the Vaajaa:

"ਨ੍ਰਿਪਕੰਨਿਆਕੇਕਾਰਨੈਇਕੁਭਇਆਭੇਖਧਾਰੀ॥"
(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee - Ang 858)
"For a king's daughter, a man disguised himself as Vishnu."

This Shabad deeply pierced Bau Jee’s heart and soul, sinking into his being.

After completing the Shabad, Colonel Sahib asked Bau Jee, "Do you know why I keep following after you?"

Bau Jee replied, "I do not know much, but whatever you say, I accept."

Pyara Singh said, "I have received Satguru's command to make you meditate upon Naam."

The moment he initiated Bau Jee into the Naam, in the very first sitting itself, Bau Jee’s consciousness and concentration soared to the heavens. The eternal bonds described by "ਘੋਲਿਘੁਮਾਈਤਿਸੁਮਿਤ੍ਰਵਿਚੋਲੇ" (I am sacrificed to my beloved friend, the messenger) were formed.

Some days later, Sardar Pyara Singh requested, "Brother, now take Amrit from the Panj Pyare (Five Beloved Ones) so that you may firmly tread the Gurmat path of Naam meditation." Without hesitation, Bau Jee prepared himself.

Together with Sardar Pyara Singh, they went to his village Mahilowal, district Sialkot, and received Amrit from the Panj Pyare.

Bau Jee’s practice of Naam Simran (meditation on God's Name) intensified such that countless waves of Naam vibrations began continuously. The two devoted Gursikhs would sit together in solitude, meditating deeply upon the Naam. In a very short time, they were immersed in the colors of divine bliss.

Bau Jee used to narrate from his own mouth that while meditating one day, a condition arose where his spinal cord began to vibrate intensely and his intestines started squirming around.

When he described this wondrous event to Pyara Singh Jee, he exclaimed in astonishment, "From now on, you need not come to me — rather, I will come to you. You have surpassed me."

At that time, the Panch Khalsa Divaan Bhassaur had become a center of Gursikhi, and Panthic congregations were often held there. During one such gathering, Bau Jee arrived with his wife and children to take Amrit.

By coincidence, in the same room where Bau Jee was staying, Bhai Sahib Bhai Randhir Singh Jee was staying as well. According to his daily routine, Bau Jee rose at Amritvela (the early dawn hours) and after bathing, sat in the corner of the room and engaged in Naam Abhiyaas.

By the divine destined meeting ("ਪੂਰਬਜਨਮਕੇਮਿਲੇਸੰਜੋਗੀ" — those destined by past actions are united), Bhai Sahib Jee embraced Bau Jee tightly and said,

"Where were you hiding all this time? We could not find anyone like you. From now on, you must walk with us."

This was the first meeting between Bhai Sahib Jee and Bau Jee — a meeting that continued unwaveringly until their last breaths and even beyond into the next world. 

Thanks to Bau Jee, the Prem-filled gatherings of Bhai Sahib Jee commenced at Ambala Cantonment. Great Akhand Paaths and amazing Keertan programs took place there, with countless divine and spiritual miracles occurring, each with incredible stories behind them. Here, Bau Jee’s consciousness became absorbed in wondrous, ecstatic states, and he settled in the highest spiritual realms, losing all external awareness.

Due to this condition, he missed attending the parade. When he regained consciousness at Amritvela the next day, he remembered his job duties. Meanwhile, his officers had placed Bau Jee under house arrest at his quarters. When Bhai Sahib learned of this, he gathered all the Singhs and together they offered humble Ardaas to Guru Sahib for Bau Jee. When Bau Jee appeared before the British Colonel for trial, everyone feared he would be harshly punished and stripped of his stripes.

During the trial, the adjutant complained, "He leaves every Saturday evening (to Narangwal) and only returns Monday morning."

The company Subedar also complained, "He never appears on time for parades." But who knows what divine miracle Satguru enacted?

The Colonel said to Bau Jee, "Mal Singh! Have you become a fakir (ascetic)?"

Bau Jee humbly replied, "No, sir, I was present in the line."

The Colonel said, "Fine, but don't repeat it again." All the soldiers, young and old, were stunned at witnessing this miracle.

The following is a poem written to / for Bau Mal Singh Jee.

"In 1922, there was a story about the coming of the pension. Along with the pension, you (respected one) received one "murabba" (about 25 acres) of land at Ukaṛe (Pakistan) as a reward for good service. There itself, another murabba was given to you by a gentleman in combination with seven thousand rupees. Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh Jee was declared a rebel by the government and was serving a life imprisonment, and because Bau Jee had a deep friendship with Bhai Sahib, the C.I.D. (Criminal Investigation Department) kept surveillance on Bau Jee. However, you continued to walk safely like a lotus in water, untouched in countless entrapments and trials; not even an agent could harm even a hair on you. Around 1933, you were elected, without opposition, as a member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Committee from your area of Ganji Bar. But the truly great thing is that during this membership, you never accepted any travel expenses or any other allowance etc. from the Shiromani Committee, but instead kept serving from your own Dasvandh. During Bhai Sahib’s imprisonment, where you fulfilled all the event programs with rising spirit, there you also served by fulfilling the expenses of Bhai Sahib’s family's maintenance and the children's education, etc. After the release from jail, when Bhai Sahib went to meet Bau Jee at Narangwal, then the scene of reunion after years of separation was so emotional and unique that describing it in this small article is difficult. Many such other incidents like Subedar Heera Harbachan Singh’s coincidental meeting, and the shaking of the skull by a horse's kick, etc., could not be included here. Due to your selfless Panthic service and your high and pure Gursikh life, through the inspiration of the Central Sri Guru Singh Sabha, you were honored on September 16, 1974 at the court of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib with a certificate of honor and a Siropa, and the heads of other Takht Sahibs also went to Sri Akal Takht Sahib and presented you with Siropas. As time kept passing, showing many colors, the time of July 1979 arrived. During these days, you became completely inward-looking, there was no outward speech or any looking here and there. Rather, with closed eyes, your consciousness and attention had ascended the skies, you were absorbed in your own colors, and the radiance of your face was worth seeing. There was no physical pain at all, but the strength of the body was declining, and declining so much that by the evening of July 22, the pulse slowed down and reached 52. On July 23, Monday, at 11:30 a.m., when the recitation of the 15th Pauri of Japji Sahib was completed near you, then your soul-bird flew away."