cAuthor : Rupinderpal Singh Bhandherc

Út is as difficult and beyond imagination to express and narrate the spiritual spheres
and virtues of a true saint, as if to capture the ocean in a bowl. The latter might be
accomplished one day but the spiritual sphere of a saint will never be brought under
limitation. Rare are the Divines who descend on this earth duly empowered and
equipped with Divine Grace to shower the fragrance of the Holy Name. Únvested with
the Eternal Glory of Sri Guru Nanak Sahib, Sant Baba Úsher Singh Ji arrived on this
earth on Friday 5th August 1905, in the village of Alowal to Baba Ram Singh Ji and
Mata Rattan Kaur. His influence on the world had been predicted on two occasions
prior to his birth. Firstly as a young girl Mata Rattan Kaur, while serving food to
visiting holy men, was told that she would be the mother to a very special child and
secondly, after their marriage, Baba Ram Singh was told by another holy man that he
would have a son whose influence would spread across the world like the scent from a
rose, hence the name Gulab Singh.
Sant Úsher Singh Ji's special qualities started coming to light at a young age. When
three years old he used to tell the local kids to sit down cross-legged and recite "
Waheguru, Waheguru ", whilst he gave "parshad". On another occasion Baba Ram
Singh Ji and Mata Rattan Kaur were on their way to visit a local
holy man "Vidoshe Wale Sant", and Maharaj Ji, then four years
old, insisted on going along. After bowing both Baba Ram Singh Ji
and Mata Rattan Kaur, sat a respectful distance away, however
Maharaj Ji went and sat next to the holy man in the same manner.
On doing so he asked several times whose son this was, eventually
and a little fearfully Baba Ram Singh and Mata Rattan Kaur owned
up. The holy man laughed and told them they did not realize their
son's qualities, he told them that he would be a very holy person
and people, many very influential, would come to him for advise
and to be in his presence.c

Sant Ji received their basic worldly education from the primary School of village
'Chulela'. For higher schooling he went to his uncle at Patiala and passed his
matriculation examination from the Model School. Thereafter the worldly education
could not hold his mind and in the state of asceticism he became the disciple of Sant
Attar Singh Ji of Reru Sahib.c

By the inspiration of the latter, he got baptized and was renamed Úsher Singh. Thus
motivated by the life and teachings of Sant Attar Singh Ji, he adopted the path of
devotion and from him received the boon of propagating Sikhism through "Kirtan"
(singing of hymns).c

Once a year on Sant Baba Karam Singh Ji's barsi, Sant Baba Attar Singh Ji would go
to Sehdu Sahib, there after having bathed in the extremely cold river Sant Baba Attar
Singh Ji and Maharaj Ji would sit on the river bank and do path and meditate for
many hours. On the first occasion, Maharaj Ji being unfamiliar with the cold fell ill
but it was only with the permission of Sant Baba Attar Singh Ji that Maharaj Ji was
taken and revived.
As time went on Maharaj Ji attained a higher and higher spiritual level and eventually
Maharaj Ji was bestowed a "kafni", these being the outer garments to distinguish
Maharaj Ji as a Sant. Sant Baba Attar Singh Ji explained that although Maharaj Ji
had already attained this state it was important for the Sangat and outside world to
know his standing. Sant Baba Attar Singh Ji further stated that Maharaj Ji would
attain a very high spiritual level and many very important people from far and wide
would come to be in his presence and for his advice. Maharaj Ji replied that he had no
interest and relationship with these things since they would take him away from God
and Maharaj Ji requested for Sant Baba Attar Singh Ji to bless him that he will never
forget God. Sant Baba Attar Singh Ji explained to Maharaj Ji the pitfalls that lay
ahead on Maharaj Ji's path and how to be very careful of these things. Sant Baba
Attar Singh Ji also told Maharaj Ji to keep increasing his knowledge and to learn how
to do kirtan, so that Maharaj Ji will be able to impart some of that knowledge to the
Sangat that would come to be in his presence. Sant Baba Attar Singh Ji placed
Maharaj Ji's hand on a harmonium to signify this new phase in Maharaj Ji's life.
Ún 1926 Sant Baba Attar Singh Ji and Maharaj Ji went to Dumdama Sahib for
Vasiakhi, there Sant Baba Attar Singh Ji met Sant Baba Attar Singh Ji Mastuana
Wale. When leaving Dumdama Sahib when Maharaj Ji paid his final respects to Sant
Baba Attar Singh Ji Mastuana Wale, he looked at Maharaj Ji and held him in his
arms. Sant Baba Attar Singh Ji Mastauna Wale put his hand on Maharaj Ji's head
and stated he would attain a very high spiritual level and people would come to him
for advice and to ask for Maharaj Ji's time.c

When on 21st January 1927 Sant Attar Singh Ji gave up his corporeal being. Sant
Úsher Singh Ji became sad and disconsolate. Ún order to overcome this despondency,
he set out on pilgrimage. After visiting Machiwara, Kiratpur Sahib, Sri Anandpur
Sahib, Sri Amritsar Sahib, Sri Nankana Sahib and Punja Sahib he came to Rara Sahib
and settled here. By virtue of his devotion he turned this deserted place into a sacred
place that has become famous the world over. "A saint remembers the God and helps
others remembering Him" following this principle he devoted himself to worship and
motivated the people to be 'Gursikhs' and to follow the path, shown
by the Sikh Gurus. Út is after they had settled at Rara Sahib did
Sant Ji begin their life mission of preaching Sikhi. Maharaj Ji is
universally acclaimed as one of the most charming and dynamic
personalities of their day. Tall and majestic, sweet and warm
hearted his heart over flowed with the milk of human kindness,
Pious in thought word and deed he was the very image of
Godliness. Blessed with the Divine light, he preached God·s truth
and delivered Guru Nanak·s message of love and peace to every
home in Úndia and abroad. Continuously for 55 years he recited
Gurbani and with his sweet and melodious kirtan put thousands of
burning minds to rest. After the final Diwan of each location Amrit Sanchar would
take place. By this fashion over 700,000 Sikhs received Amrit and entered the Khalsa
Panth. Ún their duty of preaching Sikhi Maharaj went on a 13 months long mission to
Africa in 1949. There he gratified the spiritual needs of the Sikh congregation with
lucid explanation of the Gurbani, interspersed with his melodious, captivating and
soul lifting recitals Dharnas, taken from Gurbani. The thousands of devotees that
attended congregations in His holy presence world wide felt as if they had taken a dip
in an Ocean of purity. Minds would be cleansed of all accumulated impurities of past
sins and Karmas in His holy presence. From this Ocean of purity which Sant Baba
Úsher Singh Ji Maharaj was and is, beams out to the whole world all the blessings and
bliss of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. There was no trace of ego, worldliness or materialism
in His dwelling places. Purity was the keynote, main-stay, life-force in His
congregations.After returning to Punjab, he continued his mission by holding annual
congregations in towns and cities as far as wide as Meerut, Delhi as well as in Punjab.
Maharaj Ji had three main Ashrams in Úndia, firstly at Rara Sahib, secondly at
Dabhlan, Patiala and thirdly at Hapur, in Uttar Pradesh. To these day all three
location are preserved in Maharaj Ji·s loving memory. On this very mission, to
propagate Sikhism he also visited England in 1974 and 1975. As Gurbani tells us,
whoever comes onto this earth must eventually leave it. Maharaj Ji had started to give
hints about the inevitable. At both his last diwans in Ludhiana and Delhi Maharaj Ji
stated that they were going to England and they would again grace this county if their
body allowed it. They arrived in England and after holding diwans in London they went
to Wolverhampton.c

Sadly on 26th August 1975, while sitting in meditation in Wolverhampton, England he

left the world for heavenly abode. The necessary arrangements were made and
Maharaj Ji·s holy body was brought back to Úndia on the 31st of August where more
than 20,000 devotees had gathered to have darshan of their most beloved master. The
holy body was then brought back to Rara sahib, Maharaj Ji·s home of the last 55
years. The next day the holy body was taken to Gurdwara Bibhaur Sahib, where Guru
Gobind Singh Ji composed 'Chaupai'. Here over 50,000 devotees had gathered to bid
farewell to their beloved master. After Ardas was performed by Sant Baba Mihan
Singh Ji, Maharaj Ji·s holy body was taken out on a boat accompanied by Sant Baba
Kishen Singh Ji Maharaj, Sant Baba Mihan Singh Ji, S.Daljit Singh Ji and
S.Charanjeet Singh Ji Coca cola wale as well as other members of sangat. Here in the
middle of the River Sutlej Maharaji Ji's Holy Body was laid to eternal rest.c