NAND SINGH, SANT

NAND SINGH, SANT (1872-1943), a saintly personage who attracted a considerable following during his lifetime, was born the son of Jai Singh, an artisan by profession, and Sada Kaur in 1872 in the village of Sherpur Kalan in Ludhiana district of the Punjab. As a young boy, he was trained in the family craft and then moved to Lahira Khana, in Bathinda district of the Punjab, to join a seminary run by Sant Vadhava Singh from whom he learnt to read Sikh Scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib. Under the influence of a Sikh mystic, Baba Harnam Singh of Bhucho Kalari, he was drawn to meditation and practised the discipline for twelve years at various places such as Hazur Sahib (Nanded), Lahira Khana, Harappa and Bhirki. Rewarded with insight, he took to preaching Guru Nanak`s word and travelled extensively across the country. He established preaching centres called Thaths at Nanaksar Kalerari, Jharig Maghiana, Bhirki, Harappa, Montgomery, Jhorarari and in a village, Pauda, near Dehra Dun. In his favourite sermons, he stressed the value of kirtan, i.e. singing of the holy hymns, and simaran, i.e. repetition of the Divine Name. Sant Nand Singh died at the village of Kalerari on 30 August 1943 and his remains were consigned to the River Sutlej at Sidhvari Pattan. He is best remembered today for Nanaksar Kalerari shrine which was his principal centre.

References :

1. Visakha Singh, Sant, Malva Itihas. Kishanpura, 1954