The Multifarious Faces of Sikhism
throughout Sikh History
Page 4 of 8
Bedis
cont'd
Another notable Bedi Sikh was Baba
Sahib Singh Bedi (1756-1834), who was
the grandson of the great Baba Kaladhari and
son of Baba Jit Singh Bedi (also
known as Ajit Singh Bedi) and Mata Sarpa Devi.
Baba Ajit Singh was the first Bedi to be initiated
into the Khalsa by the Budha Dal.
He, along with his younger brother, Baba
Mehboob Singh Bedi, spent much of their
time hunting in the jungles of Punjab.
Baba Sahib Singh Bedi
Depiction of the great warrior descendant of
Akali Guru
Nanak Dev Ji accompanied by an attendant, circa
mid 19th century
Baba Sahib Singh Bedi had three
wives:
a. Mata Gulab Dai, daughter of the Bhai Ram
Sahai, a Khatri from Doaba.
b. daughter of the Khatri, Bhai Jit Mal.
c. daughter of the Sahai Singh, a Sirdar of
the region of Naka (Multan).
From his three wives, he had three sons -
Baba Bishan Singh, Baba Tegh
Singh and Baba Bikram Singh.
Baba Bishan Singh’s descendants established
themselves in the village of Kalar in the Rawalpindi
region. Baba Bikram Singh’s descendents
remained in Una. Baba Tegh Singh had sadly died
at a young age.
Baba Bikram Singh Bedi
Sketch of the on of Baba Sahib Singh Bedi, circa
1849
Baba Sahib Singh Bedi, being the ninth in succession
to Baba Lakhmi Chand was a
man of great spirituality and wisdom. On one
hand, he was linked to the Udhasis through his
family lineage, and on the other hand, he was
also descended from the Nirmala lineage of Bhai
Daya Singh. A scholar named Teja Singh wrote:
‘From all this it
seems Siri Baba Ji [Sahib Singh Bedi] was
a true man of deed and word, a warrior.
Amongst the Sikh congregation, kings and
especially Nirmala Sikhs he was considered
the greatest. ’
‘Ajooni’, January - February
1984, Pa. 38
In addition to Udasis and Nirmala links, Baba
Sahib Singh Bedi also had similar strong ties
with the Seva Panthis. The
famous Seva Panthi ‘Sadh’ (holy
man), Baba Neschal Singh spoke
of the wisdom he was given by another elderly
Seva Panthi, Baba Bhagat Singh thus:
‘In that Bedi clan,
was born Baba Sahib Singh. Who can sing
of his glory? (meaning his praises can not
be done). My elder, Baba Bhagat Singh Ji
Seva Panthi ‘Mahant’ (custodian)
of Mitha Tiwana used to say: “My elder
Mahant master, Baba Hari Singh Ji said that
I touched the feet of Baba Sahib Singh,
and in my mind thought that there are numerous
names of God. Which name should I contemplate
to find salvation? I had this desire in
my mind that whatever name Baba [Sahib Singh]
Ji gives me, that I will contemplate. Then
when I bowed my head before him and he placed
his hand on my head, and understood my heart’s
desire, and said with gentle words:
“Contemplate oh mind ‘Sat Nam’
(true name of God), always Sat Nam”.
Then I accepted what I heard”.
I took his words to heart and was certain
he was complete holy man.’
‘Ajooni’, January - Febuary
1984, Pa. 33
Sriman 108 Baba Neschal Singh Ji Sewa
Panthi
The elderly philanthropist, scholar, author
and historian
Even the Seva Panthis that followed Baba
Hari Singh had great adoration for
Baba Sahib Singh Bedi. Sant Baba Neschal Singh
Seva Panthi writes:
‘After Bhai Bhagt
Singh, Siri ‘108’ [referring
to the fact that he was fully mastered in
sacred texts] Baba Jawahar Singh became
the ‘Mahant’ [custodian] of
Mitha Tiwana (Gurdwara). I cannot fully
express his faith [in Baba Sahib Singh],
but this much I will offer for the readers
-that a few years before he [Baba Jawahar
Singh] died, he had said to me, his servant,
that “On my death, do my final
rites at feet of Baba Sahib Singh in Una
no matter where I die”.’
‘Ajooni’, January - February
1984, Pa. 32
