(Aad Granth Sahib - Page 281)

Sri Guru Panth Parkash is indeed Gianiji's most important work of literature in which he has extensively described The Sakhis of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji and His Successors as well as the 'health' of Punjab after maharaja Ranjit Singh's death.

This granth was first published in Bikarmi 1936 in Delhi. Then it was published the second time in Bikarmi 1941 in Lahore.

However, the version mostly found available today in the market is regretfully an 'altered' version of the great granth which now contains unspeakable falsehood and fabrications that are beyond what one could imagine. Not only has the singh sabha attempted to 'change' The Sacred Lineage of The Gurus, but even the Kabits written about The Namdhari Movement have been shamelessly taken out.

Yet, with The Blessings of Sri Satguruji, the Original version of The Panth Parkash is still available and with it, the translation of the Kabits in english is provided below:

1

The Kukas, a Branch of The Khalsa Panth, have shot into Prominence during the last thirty years* or so.

In The Ecstasy of The Shabad, They are rapturously forgetful of themselves, oblivious of Their Headgears falling off.

They are precisely and eminently designated as Namdhari, though because of their loud cries, they are commonly known as Kuka. Except for their turbans falling off, they remain well within the approved tradition.

*This granth was published around 30 years after The Re-Creation of The Khalsa in 1857 A.D. by Satguru Ram Singh Ji.

2

And now I narrate how They came into being:

The Sikh rule in this land was yet whole.

On the banks of the Attock, in the heavenly tract, Pothohar*, there is a village called Choi.

In that village, in Sammat 1856, was born one Balak Singh, The Very Incarnation of God.

Arorhra by caste, an Unshakable Devotee, He was ever Absorbed in God, Discarding all worldly pleasures.

*Region between the two rivers Jhelum and Sind.

3

In name a Child, He was The Very Patron of Prophets, The master of Heavens and The Abjurer of All Things Gaudy.

The only Relation He Recognised was that with The Creator.

Being One with God, He was The Destroyer of Evil.

He Led a Life of Renunciation.

Like a Lamp Burning within a pot He did not display His Greatness.

He was Praised by all for His Love of God.

He was an Ascetic without blemish.

An Awakened soul, He was, to the Best possible extent ever in the company of Godly persons, Reciting Hymns, Singing Panegyrics and Delivering Discourses.

4

In 1885 Bikrami, His elder brother moved to another village, Hazro, and set up a shop.

Balak Singh followed, took Residence there and Earned His living by simple labour.

His Fame spread, bringing Immeasurable Blessing to Hazro.

The village prospered into another Ayodhya*.

Its adversity disappeared.

Exceedingly Fortunate were the village folk. Ever absorbed in the Love of God, they remained Awake in the company of Godly Persons.

They dedicated their lives to the service of Saintly Persons.

*Ayodhya, the Capital City where Bhagwan Ram took Avatar.

5

The Spiritual Message that Balak Singh delivered was of Immense Benefit to men and women.

It helped them swim across the vast 'Sea of Existence'.

And, The Creator Himself has revealed His Word and charged Him to Spread it for the Purification of human life.

Nevertheless, The Tenth Master Appeared in Person and Informed Him:

"Ram Singh is My Incarnation, Partaking of an Element of Mine.

 I have, therefore, Entrusted Him, and none else, With My Authority."

The Master?s Message was Clear and Firm.  

6

The Inevitable Occurred on Thursday Morning, The Fifth Moon of Magh, 1872 Bikrami.

Very well known is the village Bhaini in Ludhiana district.

On this village Ram Singh Descended like a God, Casting aside all the ills inhering in the 'Kal Jug'.

Charged with Spreading The Idea of Godhood, He, Exuding Effulgence, Came to the childless household.

His father Jassa, a carpenter by caste and mother Sada.

Even while a Child, His Mind was Replete with Divine Presence.

Dedicated to uplift of mankind, He, along with His playmates, was ever Absorbed in Him.

7

And, When Grown-up He went to Lahore, Entered service in the Army,which He Thought was a Noble Vocation.

He would Recite Gurbani , Sing Hymns, Feel Solitude and Share His Purse with the poor.

In 1898 Bikrami, He, in His platoon, went to Hazro, on official duty.

Saintly Persons held a great attraction for Ram Singh. Whatever Place He happened to Visit, He would Love to Call on Them.

8

Balak Singh was Held in High Reverence.

Like a cuckoo-fledgling brought up by a mother duck, Ram Singh Listened to and Joyfully Absorbed The Divine Eulogies.

The Good Deeds previously Accumulated, bestirred Themselves and helped Him Absorb all The Spiritual Hues.

Blessed by Fortune and Saturated with Love, He went all the way to Touch His Feet in Submission.

Balak Singh Recognized God?s Element in Him.

Satisfied that He was Deserving and Worthy to Receive.

He, of His own Volition, Offered Him Nam.

Nam, The Quintessence of The Four Vedas, Eradicates confusion, Instills non-involvement and Destroys painful failings.  

9

Balak Singh Implanted in Him Waheguru, The Supreme Mantra that Helps Accomplish all The Missions.

None other is as Extensively Effective.

There were some who would say that He has received the

revealed word from a sayadani.

Such an assertion was found wholly apocryphal, this is I say on personal testimony.

It is Waheguru.

The Mantra that Annihilates the dangerous and the susceptive ways of the 'Kal Jug', Brushes aside illusion and the cycles of births.

Ram Singh was eagerly drawn to It.

He would Receive it Repeatedly and Attentively.  

10

He Realised the utter futility of the world of affairs and Left it alone.

He Led a Life of Positive Conduct and was ever Absorbed in Meditation.

He was like The One Intoxicated, always in a State of Undisturbed Bliss.

Never downcast, He Exuded Joy and was Free from earthly desires.

His Senses under Control and The Mind Properly Disciplined, He would Look up, for Meditation, a Clean Place beside a river or a pond.

The Chant of The Nam was on His Lips, His Body Practised Austerity, and His Mind was Completely Submerged in The-Beloved. 

11

He Spent nearly 20 years of Beatitude in Single-Minded Devotion, Austerity and Meditation.

The 'ridh-sidh', the treasures, and the supernatural powers, were Revealed to Him as no more than the maid-servants of Nam.

Such was The Impact of His Practice of Nam, that whatever He Uttered Proved True.

The Heavens Themselves Spoke to This Great Man Charging Him to Spread Nam.

The Giver of Enlightenment and The Wherewithal's of Life Spread the Faith of the Tenth Master among the people, and Made them realise that The Khalsa is Singularly God's Own.

12

Charged with This Spectacular Mission, Ram Singh Set About Delivering Discourses.

He Made people give up smoking and keep unshorn hair. Particularly Fortunate were those who Partook of the Nectar and Entered The Sikh Fold. His Fame Spread Apace. People in Multitude became His Disciples.

Manifold Grew The Khalsa.

His Disciples, Soaked in The Bliss of Nam, gave up opium, hashish, poppy, liquor and various other intoxicants. They would not eat meat. They would not steal. They foreswore adultery and deception. They Practised Saintliness.

The 'Sat Jug' had returned.

13

Ram Singh Set up a hardware and drapery shop, with income barely sufficient to provide Him with Food and Clothing. He was visited by Throngs of Disciples.

Huge were The Gatherings at His Doors. Whatever Offerings were made, all went to The Free Kitchen.

Those who Received Nam from Him, immediately went into Eesctasy, forgetful of Their Turbans flying off their Heads.

They would Divulge This Secret of Their Soul to none other; because of this, many called It Kalam.*

*Kalam, muslim sermon. 'Nam' is not to be confused with the muslim kalam or revelation. 'Nam' is the Mantra Specifically Related to Sikh Doctrine.

14

Thus His Holy Fame Spread Far and Wide; those who came to weigh, Found Him full and became His Disciples.

He had a Huge Following of no less than 300,000 from Malwa*, Doaba**, Majha*** and Pothohar***.

Like Akbar, the emperor, He Appointed 22 Governors known as Subas and Blessed Them with 'Speech' as Effective as His Own.

Men and women would form themselves into choirs, play drums and melodiously Chant the Supreme Word of the Guru.

* Region comprising district of Ferozepur, Faridkot, Nabha,(Punjab) Jind and Sirsa (Haryana) Patiala, Ludhiana (Punjab) * Region falling between the rivers Sutlej and Beas.

** Region comprising districts falling between the rivers Ravi and Beas.

*** Region comprising districts falling between the rivers Jhelum and Sind (now in Pakistan).

15

They would Perform Havan* and continuously Recite The Guru Granth**, Beginning to End, in Large Congregations.

They would take a whole bath in the small hours and Engage in an Unceasing Chant of Waheguru.

Men and women, without exception, would be clad in a speck-less, Holy White.

They would keep a Woolen Rosary and Wear a Kachha (Shorts), a Kara (Steel Bangle) and a Karad (Small Sword) as Holy Symbols.

They would not accept food nor drink from, nor would they marry into a family, outside The Fold, the nearest kin being no exception.

  *Ceremonial fire kept burning by pouring on it ghee and certain perfumes for evoking spiritual advancement, prosperity, purification of mind, environment etc., and also for performing marriage ceremonies by circumambulating four times around it.

**Guru Granth: Common Name of Aad Granth Sahib.

16

They do not owe allegiance to the temples, the places of pilgrimage, the Puranas, the Sadhus or the Brahmins.

They attach no importance to giving away charities* outside the fold.

Charities and marital proposals are affectionately made and accepted within The Fold.

All of them fondly cherish the desire for political power.

They do not invite brahmins to perform marriage ceremonies or death rites.

They perform Anand Karaj** - a Ritual discovered by them conforming to The Tradition of The House of The Gurus.

They Regard Ram Singh Alone as Their Satguru, The Divine Incarnation and The Spiritual Guide.

His Word is Accepted, without demur, by All.

*The 'Charities' mentioned here are those given to the temples and not the poor or the needy.

**The Sikh Ritual for marriage ceremony, first Created by Satguru Ram Singh Ji on 3rd of June, 1863. The couple is required to circumambulate four times around the Sacred Ceremonial Fire(Agni) along with Recitation of Related Hymns from The Sikh Scripture.

17

This Way of Life caused immense unhappiness to the brahmins.

The Hindus and the muslims, in large numbers, mouthed denunciation.

Whenever They(The Sikhs) visited Gurdwaras, They would Recite Shabads, throwing off Their Turbans in Ecstasy. Such a sight caused resentment.

The pujaris, hurling abuse, would like to thrust upon them(The Kukas) their own notions, and not accept those of The Kukas.

The Kukas thus became the talk of the town.

They Grew Enormously in numbers and were Distinguished from the Hindus as well as the turks.

18

Whichever Place Ram Singh Visited, Thousands came into His Fold.

They Addressed Him with Deep Humility and made Handsome Offerings in cash.

Whenever, on The Occasion of a Festival, He Visited Gurdwaras at Damdama Sahib and Mukatsar, He was Accompanied by a Huge Gathering of The Kukas.

The Spectacle of Ascendancy and Grandeur Achieved by Ram Singh made the administrators and the clerics lose much of their peace.

He was Eescorted by the deputy commissioner and the city chief of police with His Force in toe.  

19

They Offered due Respects and made proper arrangements for His Security.

The people around, in their wisdom, made all sorts of comment.

Ram Singh Wished to Offer Prayers Conducive to a Spirit of Unity.

He, by His Conduct, Wanted The Prestige of The Panth to Grow.

He Went to The Gurdwara to Offer His Holy Parshad*.

The clerics, in a body, confronted Him with a clear injunction:

You shall build banks around the holy tank in concrete as payment of a religious fine.

Your followers shall not go into ecstasy and their turbans must not fall off.

*Karhra Parshad: Cooked Sacred Food. Invented by Satguru Nanak Dev Ji, Made of flour, ghee (clarified butter) and sugar for offering to The Guru and Distribution in The Congregation.

20

Ram Singh Said both these injunctions were beyond His Means to comply with.

He was only too Ready to Make an Offering within His Capacity.

Mahant Mangal Singh of Gurdwara Tamboo Sahib hit upon a plan to test the genuineness of His Offer.

He was only too aware that no Kuka would ever wear a blue* dress.

He brought a blue robe of honor for Ram Singh.

He respectfully Accepted the robe, yet, the clerics were not reconciled.

 *Blue and black attires are refered to as 'Soormei Rung' and considered to be apparels of muslims and thus are not worn by Members of The Khalsa Panth.

21

There was a similar uproar at Anandpur in 1922-23 Bikrami.

He was Accorded a Warm Welcome by the government officials when He Visited Amritsar during The Diwali Festival in 1924 Bikrami.

He Camped outside Chativind Gate with nearly 20,000 Kukas in Company.

He Went to The Golden Temple with Abundant Offerings of Parshad, but again, the pujaris (clerics) acted malevolently.

22

Some of them demanded thousands of rupees as bribe, while others insisted on imposition of a 'religious fine' as big as four to five lakh of rupees.

There were some other conditions too:

No Kuka shall take off his Turban while in Ecstasy, nor shall he call himself Your Sikh. And, he shall wear a blue dress.

Replied Ram Singh:

"These conditions can be Enforced by none but The Guru Himself. It is beyond Me to Change the very psyche of the people. You have only to prove that I have Committed any one of the four deadly sins* and I would pay the religious fine without demur."

*Four deadly sins (1) Killing a brahmin. (2) Killing a cow. (3) Killing one's daughter or giving away one's daughter for money, (4) Accepting food from a corrupt or immoral person.

23

A lengthy wrangle ensued. Realising that the situation could further aggravate, Ram Singh Said His Prayers in front of the Gurdwara and Distributed Parshad.

Reciting Hymns, all of Them Circumambulated The Gurdwara and Returned to Their Camps.

The pujaris had behaved in a similar fashion towards the nirmalas.

The meanly pujaris, acting like kanji* that splits milk, would oppose all attempts towards Unity of The Panth.

*Kanji: A beverage prepared from black carrot by mixing salt and mustard.

24

The pujaris persisted in their hostility towards Them.

Nevertheless, both The Kukas and the nirmalas, Blessed by The Guru, Flourished.

And now, listen, how The Kukas Sacrificed Their Lives in The Cause of Dharam(Religion) and Found Their Place among The-Martyrs-of-Faith(Shaheed).

In between the second and the third decades of the (19th Century)

Bikrami Sammat, cows came to be slaughtered in larger numbers and at various places.

The Hindus felt miserable and helpless.

They were not powerful enough to seek remedy with the Government.

25

And, then The Courageous Kukas were Roused to Action.

They Put a number of slaughterhouse butchers to Sword.

Prominent Hindus at Amritsar and various other places were arrested and persecuted by the english government.

When they were about to be executed, The Kukas, on Their Own, Came Forward, led evidence to prove that They and none else, had dealt the deadly blow.

Happily, They went to the gallows and, from thereon, to the land of God Himself.

After that, there was yet another act of rare Heroism at Malerkotla.

26

There were about 60 Kukas who, having resolved to court certain death, dispatched the butchers and protected the cows.

They were engaged by the armed forces of the muslim state of Malerkotla, but The Sikhs Repulsed them.

The Patiala troops practised subterfuge, took false oath, persuaded them to their point of view and finally got them arrested.

Absorbed in The Love of Shabad, They gladly Offered Themselves to be blown off by the cannon.

They were, according to Them, Exceedingly Fortunate to Die for Their Faith.

27

The kings and the chiefs, the courtiers and the english officers were all awe-struck by This Miracle of a Deed.

The english, after deep deliberation, deported Ram Singh, then Found utterly Free from blame, to Rangoon.

The various Subas were scattered in different directions and the ascendancy of the Panth was sought to be curbed.

In the absence of Ram Singh, his brother, Budh Singh*, is now regarded as the Master and Leader of The Kukas.

*Former Name of Sri Satguru Hari Singh Ji Maharaj.

28

They worship Bhavani, Recite Bani and Chant Waheguru over and over again.

They are Distinguished by their White Dress, White Woolen Rosary, Straight Turban and Flowing Beard.

They Perform Havan, Recite Hymns from The Guru Granth.

They are The True followers of Guru Gobind Singh, and cannot be diverted from Their Resolve to Establish a Government of Their own.

Such are The Impenetrable Kukas known for Their worshipful ways.

Gian Singh has narrated as he has witnessed them.

Appendix

   Giani Gian Singh in his Panth Parkash, gives a fairly detailed account of the continuous executions of the Sikh warriors who were taken prisoners along with their leader, Banda Singh Bahadur.

 He says:

"And, then, every day they were brought to Chandni Chowk.

Twenty-five of them would gladly Offer Themselves to be killed. Everyone of Them would Desire to be Killed earlier than the others. They, the 'Fortunate' ones, Loved to be Martyred.

They Recited aloud the Word of The Guru over and over again and with Gusto.

   They gave away their Lives Happily and Generously.

They Said: We are leaving for Baikunth, the Heavenly Abode."

And then, he departs from the narrative and tells us that he has learnt it from the writings of Khafi Khan, Ram Jas of Jaipur and Hari Charan of Meerut. Suddenly, he turns to similar executions of the Kukas in his own time. True to The Great Sikh Tradition, They had Happily laid down Their Lives Espousing a Noble Cause. They, too, had Embraced Death Reciting The Word of the Guru. Each one of Them was in a great hurry to be Present in The Heavenly Gur-Darbar.

Giani Ji says :

"The account of those Sikhs (The Bandais) has been set out in a number of books. But, now, I would speak to you, in truthful details of what I saw with my own eyes. During Nineteen Twenty-eight Bikarmi I came into contact with The Kukas. The butchers who had slaughtered cows were themselves slain by these Lion-Hearted Men of The Guru. Nearly sixty of them, Pure Souls, were arrested and were brought to Malerkotla in custody. The english(government) issued orders that they be blown off by cannon.

They were delighted to hear of this order they were indeed overwhelmed with joy. Their exuberance shot into Their miens as They Recited Aloud The Word of The Guru.

As moths rushing towards a lamp, unrestrained they made for the cannon. Their spirits in high transport, they hurried forward without a thought for Their Dear Lives.

This I saw with my own eyes, People had gathered in a large number. They saw and were filled with wonder. Wedded to the Supreme Life-Style of The Sikhs, They were not afraid of Embracing Death by Arms. They could meet the enemy on The Battle-Field and be restrained from neither laying down nor taking life."