Baba Gurbaksh Singh & Jaap of Naam vs. Bani
Taken from Nirmal Jeevan by G. Ishar Singh Nara
Translated by Admin www.tapoban.org

Baba Gurbaksh Singh jee was a blessed soul who had the opportunity to do sangat with Sant Attar Singh Mastuana.

Gayatri Mantar

One day, after divaan, Baba Gurbaksh Singh jee approached Sant Attar Singh and asked, “Many people say that doing paath of the Gayatri Mantar is very powerful. Which Mantar is this?”

Sant jee replied, “For Gursikhs, Satguru jee’s Mukhvaak chhan is the Gayatri Mantar. It is even more powerful than the Gayatri Mantar. It is ‘Gobinday mukhanday udaaray apaaray hareean(n) kareean(g) nirnaam akaamay”

Baba Gurbaksh Singh jee began to do jaap of this mantar with great faith. After Sant Attar Singh departed from the area, he did a chaleehaa (40 day jaap) of this mantar as well in which he would do 31 malas (108 beads in one mala) of this jaap.

After a few months, Baba jee again did another chaleeha and in total did 5 of them at various times. Baba jee began to feel a certain ras from doing this paath in side him. It was very pleasurable to do the paath.

Continued Jaap & Confusion

After some time, Baba Gurbaksh Singh for a total of 6 months repeated this paath. Then for the next 6 months repeated “Vahiguru gurmantar” . After doing this, Baba jee began to feel the same pleasure in doing jaap of both. Baba jee began to wonder sometimes that Gurmantar should give more ‘ras’ but both are giving the same.

Baba jee at this time kept doing jaap of both but the confusion grew. He was not sure why both mantars were giving the same pleasure to him.

It was winter time and the day of 22 Maghar ended and night fell at village Ghudiala in Jalandhar. After sleeping for the first quarter of the night, Baba jee awoke at 1am according to his nitnem. Everything was dark around him. Baba jee softly repeated, “namo andhkaaray namo tej tejay…”

Vision of Sant Mandali

Upon repeating this tuk, Baba jee’s consciousness was pulled inwards. He saw a spherical realm within which there was complete light. Within it, in golden lettering, were written the words “Sant Mandal” or “realm of the Saints”. Baba jee entered the realm and saw there were many spiritually glowing souls within. In the centre of all the souls was a supreme glowing light. Baba jee realized that the extremely glowing jot was Guru Nanak. Just as he had seen in some pictures, there was a simrana surrounding Guru Sahib’s dastaar.

Baba jee lovingly bowed and then sat off to one side. Baba jee saw one glowing spirit say to another “Jap Gurmantar!” the second then said to a third “Jap maha-mantar!”. The third then said to a fourth, “Jap Vahiguru Mantar!”

Baba jee was hearing these voices in a state which was neither waking nor asleep. He was seeing and hearing everything with his soul’s eyes and ears. He did not know what avasthaa this was but he could perceive everything perfectly.

Baba jee’s eyes then opened and his consciousness returned. His body was feeling very light and inside he could taste an amazing ‘ras’.

Meeting Again with Sant Attar Singh

Baba Gurbaksh Singh after some time went with other Sangat from his area to meet Sant Attar Singh who was staying in Sangrur in those days. Baba jee related his experiences with his jaap of the Gayatri Mantar and Gurmantar to Sant jee and also about the vision he had seen of Sant Mandali.

Sant Attar Singh said to Baba Gurbaksh Singh, “to remove your doubts, Guru Nirankaar gave you an answer that the jaap of a shabad or chhand is only for a certain time or purpose. Regular simran and abhyaas should only be done of Maha Mantar of Gurmantar ie. Vahiguru Mantar.

After hearing Sant Attar Singh confirm his belief, Baba Gurbaksh Singh until his end continued to do abhyaas of Vahiguru Gurmantar with complete faith and determination.

good story that teaches the connection between naam and gurbani.