THE SOLDIER SAINT From Agra the regiment moved to
Delhi. Jaimal Singh, deprived of his Master's company, began looking for some
spiritual seeker with whom he could associate. He soon discovered one Baba
Karam Singh, also in the army, who was a great devotee of the Lord. He began
visiting him frequently and would sit at his quarters enjoying the elder's
company. When one day Baba Karam Singh asked Jaimal Singh what attracted him to
his place, he very simply replied,
"I come here because since my childhood I have loved sitting at the
feet of the lovers of the Lord." Baba Karam Singh was delighted to find a fellow spirit soyoung in years,
and a lively discussion on Spirituality ensued. It turned out that Baba Karam
Singh, like Baba Balak Singh of Hazro, mistook the pranic rhythm for theprinciple
of Naam sung of in the Granth Sahib. The young soldier, who had not yet
attained his majority, began with great humility to correct his error. He
quoted relevant passages from the Sikh scriptures to show that the Divine
Shabda was the prime energy activating everything, evenprana, but was not to be
identified with prana. He dwelt on the fact that all great exponents of Sant
Mat or the Path of the Masters had clearly and unequivocally declared that in
our time pranayama and other such practices could not bring inner emancipation.
He then spoke of his great teacher at Agra and of his inspiring teachings, and
helped Baba Karam Singh to get on to the right path to God. After the great Rebellion of 1857, the regiment in which Jaimal Singh
was employed was disbanded. He had not met his family for a long time and
proceeded straight home. His mother's joy at seeing him again knew no bounds. But
he was not destined to be with her for long. On receiving the news that a 24th Sikh Regiment had been formed at Peshawar, he bade his family
farewell and proceeded to join it. After some time in the Northwest Frontier
Province the regiment was transferred in January 1858 to Ambala. In September
of the following year it was transferred to Sagar, a city on the banks of a
large lake in central India. By now Jaimal Singh's fellow soldiers had got used
to his rigorous spiritual discipline; but during the days the regiment would be
marching, they were surprised to find him excavate a small dugout in which he
would then sit in a reclining posture, his back resting against the earthy
embankment, and pass the entire night in meditation. While stationed at Sagar, Jaimal Singh one night requested Swami Ji in
meditation that the regiment be transferred next to Agra so that he could have
the benefit of sitting at his holy feet. A man of God-realization can work
strange miracles, being at one with the Will of God; and a Guru's love for a
true disciple is so great that he denies him nothing. (*3) Jaimal Singh's prayer was granted; and next
morning he casually observed to Bhagwan Singh, his mate and a devoted admirer,
that as and when the regiment would be transferred it would be moved to Agra. (*3
What we cannot explain in terms of what we know, we normally term as a
"miracle." Thus the first witnesses of locomotion looked upon what
they saw as a wonder; yet today hardly anyone would take it as such. In like
manner, he who has mastered the inner Science knows that what people take as
miracles are not miracles as such, but are based on the higher laws of
creation, accessible only to the scientists of the Spirit who have explored the
mysteries of the inner Path. See in this connection the chapter, "The Law
of Miracles," in The Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramhansa Yogananda.) On that occasion Bhagwan Singh took little notice of what was said, but
when the news of its next stationing was received, the story of the prophetic
soldier spread through the regiment like wildfire. The orders for moving to Agra had not yet been received when Jaimal
Singh applied for annual leave. The leave was granted but when he reported
before departure, his superior informed him that he had to rejoin, not at
Sagar, but at Agra. The sepoy was so overcome with the news that instead of
going home he went straight to Agra. Swami Ji received him with great affection and Radha Ji especially
prepared halwa to mark the occasion. The great Guru regarded him as a puran
Gurmukh, a true disciple, and recited to him some of the mystical poems he had
composed during Jaimal Singh's absence from Agra and which were later collected
by Rai Saligram Ji, another noted and distingushed disciple, along with many of
his own compositions, in the volume entitled Sar Bachan. One of the verses he read referred directly to his disciple: Yeh dlaun hai dhur lok adhur ki Koyi pukre Sant sipahi This music streams from a transcendent plane within and is
caught by a soldier Saint. SAR
BACHAN, SHABD 9 (p 94) Jaimal Singh made the most of his time with the Master. He attended the
Satsang regularly and often chanted the verses on which Swami Ji later
discoursed. Meanwhile the 24th Sikh Regiment moved into town, but he continued
to stay at Punni Gali for he still had some leave to his credit. One night
Swami Ji asked him to carry a number of sheets and clothes and accompany him to
a poor locality. There he personally distributed to the needy according to
their wants the gifts he had brought for them. The recipients were full of gratitude and enthusiastically thanked and
blessed the magnanimous stranger. But Swami Ji was not the man to draw praise
for himself even when it was his rightful due. "Oh," he exclaimed to
those who flocked around him, "do not thus burden me with thanks. I am
only an agent of my generous Master. It is to him that all credit is due." When the nocturnal mission was over, the great teacher turned to his
disciple and said, "Jaimal, my son, always serve the poor in this way,
never claiming anything as your due." Jaimal Singh went back to duty when his annual holiday was over. But he
made it a point not to miss any opportunity of visiting his Master. He would
often arrive at Punni Gali at noon and stay on till late in the evening. One
day, lost in Satsang and Bhajan, he forgot completely that he was on duty at
night. It was early in the morning that he reached the army quarters and went
straight to his mate. "Have you completed your duty?" asked Bhagwan Singh. "Why, was I on duty last night?" ventured Jaimal Singh. "Are you being funny? As if I didn't see you going out dressed for duty last night!" Jaimal Singh made no further reply. He was musing on the unfailing care
of his Master and wondering what exactly had happened. If he still had any
doubts about the miracle, they were soon dispelled. The Havildar above him, on
meeting him shortly after, also referred to his night duty and that his
attendance had been duly marked in the night register. As soon as he could get
away, he hastened to Punni Gali and fell at his Master's feet. "How little
we erring mortals deserve the grace you shower on us!" he exclaimed, and
related the strange happenings of the preceding night. "I hope you have not spoken of them to any of your army friends." "Sir, I was too dumbfounded to utter a word." "Excellent! Excellent! Now keep it to yourself. And mark if any
such thing ever happens in the future, remember to restrain yourself and not
make a public fuss about it." This miracle was to be repeated when a similar situation arose not long
after. The year and a half that the 24th Sikh Regiment spent at Agra passed on like a happy dream. Before
the regiment departed, Jaimal Singh spent three days with Swami Ji. On the last
day when he had to bid farewell, he humbly fell at his Master's feet. Swami Ji
raised him from his feet, pressed him fondly to himself, and observed,
"There is no difference between us whatsoever for we are alike permeated
with the power of Naam." From Agra the regiment proceeded to Peshawar as is the wont in army
life. The 24th Sikh Regiment
kept moving from one cantonment to another every two or three years. Among
various places at which it was stationed, the most important were Rawalpindi, Abbotabad, Mianmir near Lahore, and Jhansi. While at
the last mentioned station, Jaimal Singh was promoted to the rank of a Naik. In October, two years later, he was once again on his way to Agra to
spend the annual leave with his Guru. Who can describe the beatitude to be
experienced at the feet of a Divine Teacher! The time slipped by and before he
could even realize it, Jaimal Singh's day of parting arrived. He went to Swami
Ji for blessings and to bid him farewell. "This is going to be our last
meeting," observed the Master. "My mission on earth is ahnost over. I
need hardly repeat that I have cast you in my own mold and you are of my very
essence." When Chanda Singh, who was also at Punni Gali at that time, heard that
Swami Ji intended to leave the world in a short while, he exclaimed, "What
will become of us?" and begged him to leave someone behind to carry on his
work in the Punjab. Swami Ji smiled and replied, "Your prayers have already been granted by the Almighty, and
Jaimal, whom I have already given authority for Initiation, has been deputed
for the task." Then turning back to Jaimal, he said, "Put all seekers that come to
you on the path of Naam; but see that you steer clear of sects and creeds. Ours
is the path of Nanak and Kabir. Whosoever is fired by spiritual zeal, whether
of this faith or of that, has a right to it. Carry on in all humility, and
whatever you do, do it as a servant of the Saints." He then turned to
Radha Ji and placing his hand on Jaimal's back declared, "He is indeed our
Gurmukh son," and taking a saropa or headdress he lovingly bestowed it as
a parting gift to his apt and faithful disciple. This great love and honor was
too much for the humble Gurmukh and, overwhelmed, his eyes were filled with
tears. His heart was heavy as he left, thinking of the approaching end of his
Master's arthly sojourn and the difficult burden that was being placed on his
shoulders. From Agra, Jaimal Singh returned to his regiment at Jhansi. The rest of
his story as a soldier is simply told. It is unnecessary to enumerate the many
places at which the 24th
Sikh Regiment was stationed from time to time. Whatever happened,
wherever he went, Jaimal Singh let nothing interrupt the routine of his
spiritual sadhnas. Like a lover in the frenzy of love, he was forever centered
in the joy of the inner life. Even when his regiment was in action in the
Northwestern Frontier during the Anglo-Afghan War in 1879, he would leave his
quarters at night, go into the wilderness, dig a pit and, with his rifle tucked
under his knees, get lost in meditation. Enemy snipers would often spot him,
but seeing his Radiant figure make out that he was no ordinary soldier but some
great fakir, and leave him untouched. At times when he arose from his sadhna,
they would even bow before him in reverence. As Jaimal Singh, who had been 18
when he had first entered the army at Agra, grew into a mature man and passed
from youth to middle age, he slowly but steadily won the hearts of all around
him. At first some of his companions might have sportively dismissed him as an
orthodox nonentity who did not know the art of enjoying life, but was lost in
the reading of scriptures and tedious spiritual sadhnas. But as the years
passed by, they realized that they had among them no ordinary mortal. His
prediction to Bhagwan Singh at Sagar of their regiment's next posting got wide
currency and won him many admirers. While stationed at Jamrud during the Afghan
War, his mate Bhagwan Singh, who had gone with a convoy, suddenly fell ill and
died. At the very moment his spirit was leaving its physical frame, Jaimal
Singh, many miles away, abruptly exclaimed, "Wah wah nipat gaye,"
i.e. "Well, well, it is at last over." Inder Singh, who had joined the regiment at Jhansi, and had developed an
intimate attachment for his revered senior, becoming his first initiate, was
sitting with him. He was not a little surprised by this dramatic outburst, and
asked his teacher what it meant. Jaimal Singh was reluctant to declare himself.
"Why bother about that which does not concern you?" he said, but when
Inder Singh persisted he told him that Bhagwan Singh had passed away. The young
soldier noted the time and date and when the news of his colleague's death
arrived, he found it to be correct. Such strange happenings were not infrequent where Jaimal Singh was
concerned, and with the passage of time he became an institution in the
regiment. Everyone respected him, and even the English officers held him in
great veneration, calling him "Lord Bishop." All those spiritually
inclined sought his company, and no less than those who suffered from some
worldly affliction. Thus, Subedar Kharak Singh, who had been married for many
years without issue, begged him for the blessing of a child. Jaimal Singh
observed that he was not destined to have a child, but when Kharak Singh
continued to press him, his prayer was granted. The child was born, but the
happy father failed to give away in charity the sum of Rs. 500 which Jaimal
Singh had strictly enjoined him to distribute. Not long after, the Subedar fell
seriously ill. Jaimal Singh was called, but he said that it was too late now
and the evil was past any remedy. A few days later, Kharak Singh passed away. Was
it mere chance or was it because of Jaimal Singh that the members of the 24th Sikhs showed an extraordinary interest in
spiritual matters? It is not an unusual phenomenon that the true holy men
spread an aura of peace wherever they are, drawing the devotees of the Lord
toward themselves and influencing those around them. This regiment became known
for its religious inclinations and many a sadhu would pay it a visit wherever
it was stationed. Jaimal Singh was always invited whenever any sadhu paid a visit to the
regimental center or when any of its members went forth to meet them. When once
some of the young Sikh soldiers had to be baptized as adults into their faith,
he was unhesitatingly chosen to conduct the ceremony and gave an illuminating
discourse on the inner spiritual significance of the ritual. His recitations
from scriptures began gradually to be attended by more and more people, and in
later years Jaimal Singh, who by then had come to be popularly addressed as
"Baba Ji," "Bhai Ji," or "Sant Sepahi," often
discoursed briefly on their true import.
His magnetic personality, his
impeccable character, his spiritual mastery and his growing fame gradually drew
around him a small circle of very devoted followers from the regiment, men like
Inder Singh, Bagga Singh, Bhagwan Singh, etc.,
who became his earliest initiates. But Baba Jaimal Singh's military
career was conspicuous not only for its rigid adherence to a high spiritual
ideal, but also for its equally remarkable performance in the field of army
duties. True to his Master's behest, Jaimal Singh was extremely regular in his
official routine. Nothing could keep him away from his work except, perhaps,
his absorption in the Divine, on which occasions Swami Ji miraculously filled
up the gap. He was known for his honesty and impartiality and, though a strict
vegetarian himself, did not hesitate to have meat distributed to his fellows as
duty bound when once he was called upon to do so. Once an officer asserted that
his vegetarianism was in all probability undermining his capacities as a
soldier and suggested that he should take to non-vegetarian food to develop
more stamina and muscle. Jaimal Singh was unconvinced and challenged any
"meat-eating toughs" to surpass him on the field. He was later
requested to explain the grounds for his abstinence, and gave a full discourse
to the entire regiment developing at length the reasons why meat should be
avoided and exploding the popular myth that vegetarian food is in any way
deficient in vitality. His service roll, covering 34 years of active service,
proves the truth of his assertion. It records not a single instance of
hospitalization. Like his great Guru, Jaimal Singh was unassailable both in
swartha and parmartha - worldliness and godliness. His exemplary regularity,
sobriety and courage, his readiness to shoulder responsibilities, and his
honest discharge of all his duties, for all his quietness and unobtrusiveness,
did not go unnoticed. In January 1869 he was awarded a medal for the rank of a
Naik while at Jhansi. In Mianmir on the same day, three years later, he became a Havildar; and
when the 24th Sikhs were at Multan from 1880 onward for three years, he
received a second medal for loyal and meritorious service. He retired on l5th
August, 1889, after full 34 years of faithful and creditable service; and when
he bade his regiment farewell, the hearts of all were heavy - juniors,
colleagues and seniors - for they lost in him not just a steady, hard- working
comrade, but a friend, a teacher (he taught Gurmukhi to the officers) and what
is far rarer, an unfailing and inspiring moral and spiritual guide. The
accounts of Baba Ji left by his army colleagues and others are of a piece with
the rest of his life and character. Reading through them we learn of a man who,
while lost in the Divine mysteries, was yet not lost to the world. A fellow
soldier who happened to be placed under him while he was a Havildar was
surprised that in all the three years they were together, he did not once
notice or hear of his being out of temper. He was always sweet-spoken and
refrained from harshness and vulgarity. All his life he remained a strict
vegetarian and an equally strict teetotaler. And to these we may add his rigid
brahmcharya, for he remained a celibate all his years. Wedded to devotion to
God, he never experienced the urge to marry, and stoutly resisted any attempt
to cajole him into matrimony. When his youngest brother Jiwan Singh also
entered the army and expressed his desire to marry, Jaimal Singh did not
object, but only said, "Why enter into this web when our family is not
destined to continue?" Jiwan Singh was married and a year later a son was
born who died shortly, followed by his mother. Dan Singh, the second brother,
who managed the farm, also had no issue, and Jaimal's prediction was thus
fulfilled. Other qualities that marked Jaimal Singh out of the general run of
men included an inexhaustible capacity for service, charity and generosity. Like
Swami Ji, he often distributed clothes and other necessities to the needy and
the wretched. He had no enemies and looked upon all as his friends. His love
however was especially directed to the poor, and even more so to sadhus and
devotees of the Lord. While others were idling or busy with sport, he sought
out the company of such devotees, ministering to their needs or discussing
spiritual problems. Neither in his army life nor even afterward did he
distinguish between creed and creed, but treated all - Muslims, Christians,
Sikhs or Hindus - on an equal footing. While ever ready to help materially or spiritually, he always avoided
the limelight. Even as a child he had been known for his modesty; his shyness
being sometimes made a subject of ridicule. If he met sadhus, he contented
himself with listening to what they said; he rarely contradicted or criticized.
If he met a genuine seeker, he was ready enough to discuss and explain, but he
attributed whatever he knew not to any virtue in himself, but to the grace of
his peerless Master. His dress and appearance were as simple yet elegant as the
man himself. Of medium height, some five feet and six inches, he was sturdily
built. He had a knotty protrusion on his forehead above the right eye and a
lotus mark, symbolic of true spirituality, on the sole of his right foot. He
had fine features, wheatish complexion and a glowing face whose ruddy color was
set off by a rich freely flowing beard which retained its lustrous grayness to
the very end, except for a few straggling streaks of white. When not in army
uniform, he wore a white turban in Jat style, a white muslin kurta (loose
shirt), and tight-fitting pyjamas of the same color. While in his quarter
informally among his fellows, he would usually wrap a khadi sheet about himself
tucking it on the left side, cover his hair (which when unloosed fell to his
waist) with a towel, and move about in kharaon (wooden sandals) or jooti
(Indian shoes). He was simple in his habits and frugal in his needs. Milk was
his favorite item of food and he was particularly fond of goat's milk. He spent
little upon himself and his earnings were mostly spent in charity or in sending
allowances to his brother.
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