Shiv in Sarbloh Granth Sahib is about Parmesvar not the demi-God Shiva.

An interesting Interview with Baba Santa Singh on the issue of 'Siv sarup'. Where Baba ji makes it clear that Khalsa is not the sarup of Shiva. Here is a transcript of a recording where Baba Santa Singh clarifies the passage from the Sarbloh Granth Sahib where the term 'Siv Sarup' is used. Please listen to the whole recording (not just the first 20 seconds), with the transcript of it below. https://soundcloud.com/kamalroop-singh/baba-santa-singh-shiv-sarup-part-1mp3

0:00-0:04 - Rajinder Singh: 'hon apane jirrey 'shiv saroop' ji baba ji ih da ki'

ਰਜਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ: 'ਆਪਣੇ ਹੁਣ ਜਿਹੜੇ 'ਸ਼ਿਵ ਸਰੂਪ' ਜੀ ਬਾਬਾ ਜੀ ਇਹੁ ਦਾ ਕੀ'

Baba Ji now that term 'form of Shiv' what does it [mean]?

0:05 - Uday Singh: 'ih khalsa kende a ke shiv saroop ve khalse nu ve kende dende'

ਉਦਯ ਸਿੰਘ: ਇਹੁ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਕਹਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਸ਼ਿਵ ਸਰੂਪ ਵੀ ਖਾਲਸੇ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਕਹਿੰਦੇ ਦਹਿੰਦੇ.

This Khalsa [Rajinder Singh] is saying that 'the form of Shiv' is also given to the Khalsa.

0:08 - Rajinder Singh: 'khalsa nu shiv saroop vi kenda'

ਰਜਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ: ਖਾਲਸਾ ਨੂੰ ਸ਼ਿਵ ਸਰੂਪ ਵੀ ਕਹਿੰਦੇ

The Khalsa is also called 'Shiv Sarup'

0:11-0:19 Baba Santa Singh: 'shiv saroop hai farla....... kesha'

ਬਾਬਾ ਸੰਤਾ ਸਿੰਘ 'ਸ਼ਿਵ ਸਰੂਪ ਹੈ ਫਰਲਾ.... ਕੇਸ਼ਾ'

The form of Shiv is the farla....the kesh.

0:20 - 0:45 Uday Singh: 'ik mint sanu gal baba nu nu bolan devoh ik mint sanu gal mai baitha sanu gal' ih neela kende shiv saroop ih viakhia chaundey jadda ih shiv sarup jimme, bharat na sambat hai ga ji'

ਉਦਯ ਸਿੰਘ: ਏਕ ਮਿੰਟ ਸਾਨੂ ਗਲ ਬਾਬਾ ਨੂ ਬੋਲਣ ਦੇਵੋ ਏਕ ਮਿੰਟ ਸਾਨੂ ਮੈਂ ਬੇਠਾ ਸਾਨੂ ਗਲ ' ਇਹ ਨੀਲਾ ਕੇਂਦਾ ਸ਼ਿਵ ਸਰੂਪ ਇਹ ਵਿਆਖਿਆ ਚਾਉਂਦੇ ਜਾਦਾ ਇਹ ਸ਼ਿਵ ਸਰੂਪ ਜਿਮ੍ਮੇ ਭਾਰਤ ਨੇ ਸੰਬਤ ਹੈ ਜੀ

One minute, listen to what Baba ji says and let him speak, I am sitting here, please listen. This blue bana of the form of Shiv, they want a greater explantion of it, about this form of Shiv, does it have a relationship with Indian [mythology]?

0:46 - Baba Santa Singh: 'Nahi'.

ਬਾਬਾ ਸੰਤਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ: ਨਹੀ

No.

0:49 - Uday Singh: 'Shiv Sarup khalse nu kaley 'shiv sarup' kehya gaya ih dey barey'

ਉਦਯ ਸਿੰਘ: ' ਸਿਵ ਸਰੂਪ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਨੂ ਕਲੇ ਸ਼ਿਵ ਸਰੂਪ ਕਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ ਇਹ ਦੇ ਬਾਰੇ

Why is the Khalsa called 'Shiv Sarup' they are asking about this?

0:52 - Baba Santa Singh: Khalsa pardhan hai pardhan Khalsa

ਬਾਬਾ ਸੰਤਾ ਸਿੰਘ: ਖਾਲਸਾ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਹੈ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਹੈ

The Khalsa is the highest, the highest is the Khalsa.

0:54 - Uday Singh: 'Shiv matlab Akal Purakh da naam hai?'

ਉਦਯ ਸਿੰਘ : ਸ਼ਿਵ ਮਤਲਬ ਅਕਾਲ ਪੁਰਖ ਦਾ ਨਾਮ ਹੈ ?

Is the name Shiv the name of Akal Purakh (God)?

0:57 - Baba santa singh: hai 'yes'

ਬਾਬਾ ਸੰਤਾ ਸਿੰਘ : ਹਾਂ "ਯੇਸ"

Yes

0:58 - Uday Singh: akali apa man dey akal purakh akali akal purakh ki fauj hai

ਉਦਯ ਸਿੰਘ: ਅਕਾਲੀ ਆਪਾ ਮਾਣਦੇ ਅਕਾਲ ਪੁਰਖ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਅਕਾਲ ਪੁਰਖ ਕੀ ਫੋਜ ਹੈ

The Akalis we believe that the Akalis are of Akal Purakh and [his] army.

1:01 - 1:08 - Baba Santa Singh: hanji 'Shiv sarup' Khalsa pardhan'

ਬਾਬਾ ਸੰਤਾ ਸਿੰਘ ; ਹਾਂਜੀ ਸ਼ਿਵ ਸਰੂਪ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਹੈ "

Yes, the form of Siv the Khalsa is the chief.

1:11 - Other Nihang Singh: 'Shiv da arth kenda a'

ਬਾਕੀ ਨਿਹੰਗ ਸਿੰਘ: ਸ਼ਿਵ ਦਾ ਅਰਥ ਕੇਂਦਾ

They are asking the meaning of the word Shiv.

1:13 - Baba Santa Singh: 'Shiv parmesvar'

ਬਾਬਾ ਸੰਤਾ ਸਿੰਘ : ਸ਼ਿਵ ਪ੍ਰਮੇਸ਼ਵਰ"

Shiv Parmesvar [God]

1:15 - Uday Singh: 'Shiv Parmesvar da Shiv ji to nahi sambodanhana,'

ਉਦਯ ਸਿੰਘ ; ਸ਼ਿਵ ਪ੍ਰਮੇਸ਼ਵਰ ਦਾ ਸ਼ਿਵ ਜੀ ਤੋ ਨਹੀ ਸਮ੍ਬੋਧਨ

That Shiv is God and not joined to the god Shiva.

1:17 - Baba Santa Singh': na

ਬਾਬਾ ਸੰਤਾ ਸਿੰਘ : ਨਾ

No.

1:22 - 1:33 - Uday Singh: 'Shiv sarup jana matlab Shiv, Shiv ji da sambandat nahi - Akal Purakh da hai Akali vi hai Akal Purakh da sarop ve kenda a ta Shiv sarup ve kenda a Shiv Akal na da nam hai Akal da sambodak hai'

ਉਦਯ ਸਿੰਘ : ਸ਼ਿਵ ਸਰੂਪ ਜਾਣਾ ਮਤਲਬ ਸ਼ਿਵ, ਸ਼ਿਵ ਜੀ ਦਾ ਸਾਮ੍ਬੰਦਿਤ ਨਹੀ ਅਕਾਲ ਪੁਰਖ ਦਾ ਹੈ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਵੀ ਹੈ ਅਕਾਲ ਪੁਰਖ ਦਾ ਸਰੂਪ ਵੀ ਕੇਂਦਾ ਤਾ ਸ਼ਿਵ ਸਰੂਪ ਵੀ ਕੇਂਦਾ ਸ਼ਿਵ ਅਕਾਲ ਦਾ ਨਾਮ ਹੈ ਅਕਾਲ ਦਾ ਸਮ੍ਬੋਧਕ ਹੈ.

The meaning of the word Shiv Sarup, has no relationship to Shiv ji, it is a name of God, the form of an Akali is the form of Akal Purakh, which is called the Shiv Sarup, Shiv is the name of Akal, and addressed to [Akal Purakh].

We can only conclude that the individuals propagating this ideology are making fools out of people who do not understand Punjabi, and those that have a limited understanding of their own Mother tongue! They are also ruining the memory of one of the greatest scholars the Panth has known Akali Nihang 96 krori Jathedar Baba Santa Singh ji.

In the words of Guru Gobind Singh from the Sri Dasam Granth Sahib in the Chaupai Sahib, it is clear:

Mahadev kau kehat sada Shiv. Nirankar ka chenat nahi bhiv.

ਮਹਾਂਦੇਵ ਕੌ ਕਹਤ ਸਦਾ ਸ਼ਿਵ ॥ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਕਾ ਚੀਨਤ ਨਹਿ ਭਿਵ ॥੩੯੨॥

महांदेव कौ कहत सदा शिव ॥ निरंकार का चीनत नहि भिव ॥३९२॥

He calls Shiva "The Eternal Lord, "but he does not know the secret of the Formless Lord.392.

Katha of Baba Santa Singh ji of Prachin Panth Prakash Part 4

Vahiguru ji ka Khalsa Vahiguru ji ki fateh! I was listening to the katha of Baba Santa Singh ji of Prachin Panth Prakash, and decided to try and make it clearer by digitally remastering it. I think it is a lot clearer and louder now. As I listen to them I will post them up with the relevant chapters from the epic work by Bhai Rattan Singh Shahid: http://www.scribd.com/doc/61685716/Sri-Gur-Panth-Prakash-Rattan-Singh-Bhangoo-English see from pages 18 to 26.

https://soundcloud.com/kamalroop-singh/sri-gur-panth-prakash-by-2

Unfortunately pp.11 - 17 are missing which tell how the British asked Rattan Singh to write his epic and mentions General Ochterlony, and Captain Murray. I have heard this was due to Baba Santa Singh ji telling the history of the Badal family and how they were British agents, and then joined the GOI. If anyone has tape number three please send it to me.

Bhai Rattan Singh Bhangu - Nihang Singh in his katha talks about the failure of the devte, and mentions the katha of this in Sarbloh Granth Sahib ji by Guru Gobind Singh ji, hence why the light of Akal Purakh Sahib ji, Guru Nanak became pargat in Kalyug. Bhai Rattan Singh ji then quotes this shabad from Adi Guru Granth Sahib ji Maharaj:

In this dark age of Kaliyuga symbolised by a pair of scissors,
The rulers have turned themselves into butchers.
Dharma or Moral values have disappeared from public life.
The truth, symbolised by Moon, has been eclipsed in this darkest phase.

ਕਲਿ ਕਾਤੀ ਰਾਜੇ ਕਾਸਾਈ ਧਰਮੁ ਪੰਖ ਕਰਿ ਉਡਰਿਆ।
ਕੂੜੁ ਅਮਾਵਸ ਸਚੁ ਚੰਦ੍ਰਮਾ ਦੀਸੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਕਹ ਚੜਿਆ।

kali kātī râje kāsāī dharmu pankh kari uḍriā.
kūṛu amāvas sachu chandramā dīsai nāhī kah chaṛiā.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Rag Majh, AG, ang 145.

Interestingly Guru Nanak is referred to as Nihkalank by Rattan Singh Bhangu:

ਨਿਹਕਲੰਕ ਤੇ ਨਾਨਕ ਕਹਵਾਯੋ ।੧੨।
nihkalank te nānak kahvāyo.12

Then Baba Santa Singh performs exegesis on the coming of Guru Nanak from the Sri Gur Panth Prakash of Bhai Rattan Singh Bhangu Shahid.

Akali Baba Tara Singh Nihang

Since 1997 I have travelled each year to India, to learn from spiritual people, teachers, warriors, Jathedars, Sants, Yogis, Pirs, Monks, intellectuals but I met hardly anyone like Akali Baba Tara Singh Nihang ji.

How I met him?

By the time I met Baba ji I was quite dismayed as I felt I needed a teacher to teach me about spirituality of the Guru Granth Sahib. All the people I had met so far were great but they just didn't do it for me. One Baba ji could meditate from long periods even up to a year, but he had no concerns for the world at all, another wanted lots of money if I wanted to learn, another just cared about his sword and its use and didn't read much gurbani, meditate or did any seva, another didn't speak and just read gurbani all day, I hadn’t found anyone with balance but I have the utmost respect for what all of them showed me. At this stage I was naturally quite cynical, and even quite reserved about the Nihang Singhs, many of whom knew more about horses and guns than spiritual matters. This thought was getting me quite down so I spoke to Bhai Uday Singh of Buddha Dal at the Bagicha of the Shahids and Baba Bamba Singh ji. I had tears in my eyes so didn't look at him directly. I asked him if there was any Singh he knew who was all round, mystical and knew the traditions. He didn't even blink, he said 'over there' and pointed to a room. I thought he was mocking me, I asked again, he pointed in the same direction. He said 'I will introduce you to a Brahmgiani who did Sangat of Akali Baba Sahib Singh Kaladhari.' I knew he wasn't joking. I followed him to the room, he knocked once on the door gently, which was more courteous than I had seen Uday Singh ji. After what seemed like ages a frail looking Akali Nihang Singh Baba opened the door, and loudly with lots of spirit said the Khalsa Gurfateh!

Baba ji's appearance.

Baba ji was very frail but great for his age, which according to him was between 110-113 years old. When you were near him you would feel a cool breeze, this feeling of peace would enter you, and make you shiver with anand! The many people I took to meet him, would just start crying with bairag, it was such a magical presence that he had, such innocence but wisdom. He always wore blue bana, and kamarkasa, he slept by his sword, with his durmalla and kamarkasa, always ready to get up. He wore a chakkar and small khanda, and said to me 'what is the point of reading the dumalla salok, if you don't put a chakkar on or torah?' He washed his clothes himself everyday early in the morning. He always looked clean and tidy! He had no material possessions except for gutkas, bane and shastar. He would clean his teeth with a twig each day, and laughed at the idea of a toothbrush. He said to me 'how can you put that back in your mouth the next day, after its become joota, and covered in saliva'. He still had a full set of teeth at his ripe age! Baba ji’s eyes were amazing, physically they were brown, but they always appeared to be very blue, like another hue or light was in his eyes!

Baba ji's bachans

Baba ji told me that Sikhi would spread to the West, and many people would take up the gift of bani and bana. He told me not to take the gurbana off, and read gurbani. He also told me not to do nindia of Jhatka just because people do not like it. He taught me a lot about the Sri Sarabloh Granth and what Akali Baba Sahib Singh Kaladhari had taught him about it. One day I aksed Baba ji to teach me Santhia, as this is and was a tradition of the Buddha Dal that senior members would teach beginners like me. I felt a bit scared to ask him as his presence was very powerful. One day I got the courage and asked him ‘Baba ji please could you teach me santhia’. He said ‘son how long are you here for’. I replied ‘no more than a year’ he said ‘ok perhaps you should just learn up to Sri Rag, than you will be able to grasp the rest of the Gurbani’. Then he thought and said ‘no that will take too much time, perhaps just learn nitnem properly’, then he thought and said ‘no just learn the meaning of japji sahib’. Then he paused and said ‘ no just learn the meaning of mool manter……….the meaning of the maha manter………no…the meaning of Ik Oankar Satinam….no…the meaning of Ik Oankar…..no …… just IK….son if you understand IK you will understand all of Guru Granth Sahib ji!’. It blew my mind! I felt like I was going to faint, his words just echoed inside me…..it was intense and liberating!

Baba ji was very strict he would rise at 12:30 am each day, bath, wash his clothes, make Shaheedi Degh and Karah Parshad for the Sangat reciting at least fifteen banis from memory. Then he would go into the presence of Adi Guru Granth, Dasam and Sarbloh Darbar and pay his respects and listen to the hukamnama. His morning sadhana was until 7:30 pm. He would never miss arti-arta, rahiras, and kirtan sohila and hukamnama in the evening either. While I stayed with him, I watched this old man who was like clockwork, then one day I thought I would ask him how long he had lived like this. He told me it had been 80 years! Naturally I asked what had inspired him. He narrated that:

When Baba ji was in his twenties the British banned the three foot Kirpan in the Punjab, Baba was going from his parents home to perform a duty reading Path in Bana. He went past a train station and an Official had him stopped, his guards said to the young Baba Tara Singh in a rude manner take of your Sword. Baba ji explained that the Sword was his Sri Sahib, and not to disrespect it, and he was going to go and do Path and he was getting late. A British police officer was instigating the Indian officers to apprehend Baba ji. Baba ji wasn’t stupid, so he went up to the British official to explain to him. The official also knowing the dislike of the Akalis Nihang Singhs of tobacco blew smoke in Baba ji’s face. He pointed his revolver at Baba ji, and cocked the pistol. He fired a single shot at Baba ji that hit Baba ji in the stomach, Baba ji pulled out his sword and in one blow decapitated the Officer. Everyone looked on. The Indian officers swore at Baba ji saying you will get us all hung! A crowd tried to apprehend him, but he swung his kirpan very fast, and seeing the dead officer, many others ran. Baba ji started to do Jaikare, and some other Singhs came to his aid, and in this way he got away. He got to Akali Baba Sahib Singh Kaladhari who ordered him to stay in the Dal Panth for life. A hakim was called for, who removed the bullet, and Baba ji recovered.

 Some other things about Baba ji

The biggest virtue Baba ji spoke of was loyalty. He always quoted the story of Ramayan, from the Hanuman Natak and Sri Dasam Granth Sahib about Hanuman and Ram. He said without this virtue there are no others.

He was born at amritvela on the full moon, in November. The same time Guru Nanak was born.

His farla or plume was awarded to him by Akali Baba Sahib Singh Kaladhari. He was the student of Baba Sahib Singh, the last Akali Nihang Jathedar of the Khalsa Panth.

On a personal level

There literally is hardly a day that goes by without treasuring his naam-filled memory! I get tears in my eyes thinking about him. The time I spent with him was magical, full of peace and love, and trust. I have no doubt that Baba ji went to Sachkhand, not after death but lived in that state in his very life! 

'Bob' Singh with Baba ji

Akali Baba Tara Singh on the far left.

Akali Baba Santa Singh Maha-Bali Balwan.

Baba Ji photographed when 80 years old.

Baba Ji was a mountain of a man, with the deepest voice I have ever heard. In the Buddha Dal there are a number of farlas given on the dastar for different seva. There is One for the Buddha Dal Jathedar, one for the head of the Horse Army and shastravidiya, one for head of the Langar, one for Katha, one for Kirtan.

One Baba Jis dastar were four farlas (in One), for Jathedari, Langar, Shastravidiya and Katha. He had at different times served all these positions and recieved the highest recognition. Baba Ji was extrememly wise and a Maha-Giani. He conducted 20 years of his own research of Adi, Dasam and Sarbloh.

When I met Baba Ji in 2003, I asked them how they had obtained this great wisdom (Buddhi). He said it was Gurus kirpa, and the blessings of a Saint. I asked him which Saint he said Brahm Giani Ap Parmesvar, Akali Baba Mitt Singh. Baba Ji then narrated when he was young and first came into the Dal he served in the Langar. Baba Mitt Singh Ji Akali asked Baba Ji one day to read the Rahiras, Baba Ji couldnt couldnt read or write, and he didnt know any Gurbani. Baba Mitt Singh Ji insited that Baba Santa Singh sit on the tabia and repeat the Gurbani of by heart. Baba Ji said I cant do it! Baba Mitt Singh was stern, and insisted. Baba Santa Singh went and sat on the tabia, and started and instantly he felt a divine light in him self, and he was able to repeat the Patth.! 'This is were I learnt my vidiya' said Baba Ji in great humility, 'from the Saints who are One with Vahiguroo.'

Baba Ji was extremely strong, and well built. Even as an old man his arms were bigger than most peoples legs! He was well versed in shastravidiya and taught many Singhs in the Dal Panth. One time there was a competition in Nepal where the Gurkas to test their skill have to behead a male buffalo in one go. Baba Ji found out and and took the Khalsa army there. When the King of Nepal saw Baba Ji he knew that he would win. So he made sure the male buffalo Baba Ji had to face, had its horns growing over its neck. Baba Ji seeing this did ardas, and went upto the Buffalo, and struck it from its neck upwards, and behead it with his Sri Sahib in one go. The King of Nepal was so amazed at Baba Ji's skill he gave him lots of maya, that Baba Ji gave to the Singhs, and a certificate.

Baba Ji was also threatened in 1984 by Indira Gandhi if they led a Mohalla, Baba Ji in defiance said 'we are also an army come and face us.' He led a Mohalla in the centre of New Delhi! Around this time and upto 1997 many Singhs were arrested and imprisoned by the GOI. Baba JI went many times with the Khalsa Armies, and freed the Singhs. Many people in Bhatinda owe their lives to Baba Ji who went armed to Police Stations, many hundreds of times. Baba Ji said 'the Kharkoohs are Soorme, so are we!' To stop Baba Ji in his activities, the Police made a permanent position outside the Nihang Chionee. People today see this as Baba Ji's protection from the GOI! This was NOT the case. The GOI tried very hard to keep Baba Ji under lockdown, and in the end many Nihang Singhs say that they were instrumental in his poisioning and murder. The Buddha Dal is the army of Akal Purukh - Guru Kalgidhar, Buddha Dal is not under the thumb of any wordly organisation.

Akali Baba Santa Singh Santhia Sarbloh Granth Sahib 2 /1 /2004

Akali Baba Santa Singh giving Santhia of Sri Sarbloh Granth Sahib to a young Nihang Singh at Sabo Ki Talwandi Dam Dama Sahib, 2-1-2004 filmed by Nihang Baba Katapa Singh. Baba Santa Singh Ji learnt his Santhia from the Sikh Brahmgiani Akali Baba Mitt Singh Ji, at Mata Sahib DevaChioni/Gurughar at Nanded. This is internal Taksal of Shiromani Panth Khalsa Akali Buddha Dal Panjva Takht. Baba Santa Singh Ji taught may Singhs before he left his body a few years ago, he was around 107 years old.Sarbloh Granth Sahib is also known as Sarbloh Guru Darbar, Sarbloh Parkash, Manglacharan Puran.