THE house of Bagrian is closely linked with the spread of Sikhism in the Malwa region of Punjab. Guru Arjun Dev Ji and later Guru Hargobind Sahib baptised the successive descendants of the family, i.e. Sindhu and Rup Chand. In recognition of the services of Rup Chand in the Sikh cause, Guru Hargobind named him as his own brother and bestowed on him the benediction of langer, a free kitchen, which to this day feeds the poor and those who visit the place. Thus came into use the family name ‘Bhaika’. This benevolence was further graced when the last Guru, ordained that the descendants of the family would be considered as his descendants. Two of the brothers from the Bagrian family had accompanied Guru Gobind Singh to Nanded Sahib. Sir Lepel Griffin in his book, ‘Chiefs and Families of Note’ records that the house of Bagrian has been a beacon of spiritual light to the Sikh ruling princes and the Sikhs in general.
In 1754, the Mughal Governor presented to the family the village of Bagrian along with 29 other villages. Bagrian became a seat of Sikh spiritual thought and has been prominently associated with various Panthic and public institutions and the Sikh Sabha movement, especially under the guidance of His Holiness Bhai Sahib Bhayee Arjan Singh.
The House of Bagrian has served the cause of Sikh faith for close to four centuries. Raja Gajpat Singh of Jind was blessed with a daughter but the despicable custom of those days was to kill most of the female children at birth. Accordingly Gajpat Singh had placed the female child in a pitcher to be buried. At that moment Bhai Guddar Singh of Bagrian arrived and told Gajpat Singh that the girl he had put in the pitcher to be buried, will, in due time give birth to an ‘avenger’ who will rout the Mughals and establish a great kingdom in the Punjab. That girl later gave birth to Ranjit Singh. Maharaja Ranjit Singh visited Bagrian in 1807 to pay homage to the then head of the Bagrian family, Bhai Sahib Singh.
The eldest son of Arjan Singh, Bhai Sahib Ardaman Singh, was born on September 20, 1899, in Bagrian village. His early schooling was from Ludhiana and for his graduation he attended Khalsa College, Amritsar. Bagrian House in Simla became the confluence of many thinkers, statesmen and enlightened Sikh scholars, the likes of Bawa Harikishen Singh, Principal Teja Singh, Bhai Kahn Singh of Nabha, Baba Prem Singh Hotimardan, Sardar Sardoor Singh Cavishar etc.
Bhai Sahib Ardaman Singh was an enlightened soul, deeply immersed in Sikh religious philosophy, nit naem and meditation. His scholarly bent of mind, profound knowledge of Sikhism, erudition and saintly disposition evoked reverence and gave him a place of eminence amongst the Sikhs. He was the guiding light and source of inspiration for various Sikh associations and their work. His 100th birth anniversary falls on September 20, 1999. To commemorate the occasion his book entitled “Thoughts of Bhai Ardaman Singh” is being released by Bhai Ashok Singh.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99sep20/edit.htm#8
Lot of thanks.General sahib! there is need to bring forth history of guru's beloved Sikhs so that people may make personality view of Khalsa.
ReplyDeleteThere were other such families who sacrificed a lot and earned Guru's grace like Bhai Bidhi chand, Bhai bhagtu, Bhai Ganga ram, Bhai droli wale, Sodhi Dhilwan wale etc.Lot more is required to be written about those also.
Again thanks for bringing forward the brief life sketch of Bhayee Ardaman Singh Ji, an enlightened soul of multi-dimensioned personality who can inspire.
Thank you Dadaji
ReplyDeleteIt is quite an interesting article! Where did you get so much information?
Did you get some of it from Amiji?
Sincerely, Jaivir Singh