Dera Sach Khand

Started the movement of teaching the principles of Ravidassia Religion to devotees. Sant Baba Pipal Dass, who hailed from village Gill Patti, District Bathinda (Punjab). His original name was Shri Harnam Dass. His parents were of a religious nature. He was married to Bibi Shobhawanti. He and his wife had two sons named Shri Sewa Dass and Shri Sarwan Dass. After the sad demise of Bibi Shobhawanti, Baba Pipal Dass left village Gill Patti along with his son Sarwan Dass. After traveling through various villages Baba Pipal Dass reached village Sarmastpur near Jalandhar. After a short stay in this village he moved to the village of Ballan near Jalandhar. The people of Ballan showed utmost regard to Baba. Therefore, he decided to stay there along with his son Sarwan Dass at a place where the original Dera is situated at present. There was a dry Pipal tree near this place of worship. Baba Pipal Dass started watering this Pipal tree which ultimately became green in due course of time. People of the village, having seen this miracle, started calling Baba as Sant Pipal Dass.

He was a scholar of Punjabi and well-wersed in the Bani of Guru Granth Sahib. Slowly the people from nearby villages started coming to Baba for spiritual guidance. Thus Sant Baba Pipal Dass established the Dera in the village where the followers of Guru Ravidass started paying their obeisance. Throughout his life Sant Baba Pipal Dass blessed his disciples with "Naamdaan" and fulfilled their wishes.

Sant Baba Pipal Dass left for his heavenly abode in 1928 on 13th shradh (lunar month). The present Gaddi-Nashin of the Dera, Sant Niranjan Dass was keen to build a suitable memorial at village Gill Patti. In this village there was a piece of land which belonged to his family. On this land there was a historic "Ber" tree planted by Baba Pipal Dass. At this site a memorial was established by Dera Sant Sarwan Dass on 5 July 2008. A "murti" (marble sculpture) was installed by Shri 108 Sant Niranjan Dass.

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Sant Sarwan Dass preached the philosophy and teachings of Guru Ravidass among the socially backward and downtrodden throughout his life. He remained very distressed by the fact that there was no memorial to Guru Ravidass in the city of Varanasi, though many Kings and Queens were his disciples. Sant Sarwan Dass, being a great spiritual, visionary and revolutionary saint, undertook the task of perpetuating the memory of Guru at Varanasi and giving a befitting memorial in his name. He assigned the task of tracing the birthplace of Guru in the city of Varanasi to a select group of people. The group went to Varanasi and surveyed the area near the Banaras Hindu University. The "imlee" tree and other indicators confirmed a location in village Seer Goverdhanpur, in the outskirts of Varanasi near Banaras Hindu University, as the birthplace of Guru Ravidass. A plot of land was purchased and no time was lost to start the construction of an impressive temple. Sant Sarwan Dass deputed his first disciple Sant Hari Dass along with a large number of devotees of Dera Bal to start the construction of the Mandir. Sant Hari Dass laid the foundation stone of the Mandir on Monday 14 June 1965 on Ashad Sankranti. As soon as the foundation stone was laid no time was lost in starting the construction of the Mandir in full swing. Sant Sarwan Dass assigned the duty of construction work to his second disciple Sant Garib Dass, who along with large "Jathas" (groups of people) of Dera "Sewadars" (Stewards) worked in the most difficult and unfavorable conditions to complete the construction of the first phase of the Mandir in 1970. In this endeavor help came from the public at large from within as well as from outside the country. The Guru's devotees residing in U.K. and other foreign countries were also keen to see the project completed and they contributed according to their respective capacities.

In December 1970 a huge conference of prominent leaders such as Shri Mangu Ram Mugowalia, Shri Dilip Singh, Shri Kulwant Singh from Himachal Pradesh, Captain Bhagu Ram and many others from the Dalit community and a very large number of people from another states of India like Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, J & K and Haryana was held at Dera Sachkhand Ballan. Many resolutions concerning the community were passed. Through one of the resolutions passed in this conference all the delegates expressed gratitude to Sant Sarwan Dass for building a Mandir at the birthplace of Shri Guru Ravidass and at the same time nominated him to be the chairman of the committee formed for the continued construction as well as for managing the affairs of the Mandir.

All the followers of Guru Ravidass throughout the world they will remain indebted to Sant Sarwan Dass for giving them this place of pilgrimage, where people gather in large number to pay their obeisance throughout the year as well as on Jayanti (birthday) celebration of Guru.

Sant Sarwan Dass left for his heavenly abode on 11 June 1972 leaving behind a rich legacy. During his lifetime itself Dera Sachkhand Bal had acquired a prominent status among a large number of followers of Guru Ravidass from within India as well as abroad. These followers draw their inspiration and seek spiritual guidance from the Dera. Recognizing the services being rendered by the Dera the public is contributing generously for the construction and running of hospitals and schools devoted to the memory of Sant Sarwan Dass.

Hari Dass

Shri 108 Sant Hari Dass Maharaj was the third Gaddi-Nashin (spiritual leader) of Dera Sachkhand, Ballan. Sant Hari Dass was born in 1895 at village Garha in Jalandhar district. His father was Shri Hukum Chand and his mother was Shrimati Taabi. He used to take interest in religious matters since his childhood.

Sant Hari Dass had heard about Baba Pipal Dass from the followers of Baba. He showed keen interest to meet Baba. After meeting with Baba Pipal Dass Maharaj, Sant Hari Dass requested Baba to give him the gift of "Naam". Baba Pipal Dass Maharaj accepted his request and initiated him. After receiving "Naam", Sant Hari Dass devoted his entire life to serving Baba & later his son Sant Sarwan Dass.

Sant Sarwan Dass always kept Sant Hari Dass with him, showed great affection for him and deputed him for important religious duties. He was specially assigned the task of laying the foundation stone of Shri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan Mandir at Seer Goverdhanpur, Varanasi. This was done by him on 14 June 1965 along with the followers of Dera Sachkhand Bal.

After Sant Sarwan Dass left for his heavenly abode on 11 June 1972, Sant Hari Dass was installed as Gaddi-Nashin (spiritual leader) of Dera Sachkhand, Bal.

Sant Hari Dass started the construction of the temple at Dera Bal on 10 Aug 1972 in the memory of Sant Sarwan Dass Maharaj. Within one year the construction of the temple was completed and it was inaugurated on 11 June 1973 on the first Barsi Samagam (anniversary celebration) of Sant Sarwan Dass. The murti marble sculpture of Sant Sarwan Dass Maharaj was placed in the temple. This temple is famously known as "Dera Sachkhand Bal".

He also constructed a hall for the devotees. This hall is known as the "Sant Hari Dass Satsang Hall".

He was against child marriage. He bestowed "Naamdaan" on thousands of disciples. Throughout the life, his disciple Sant Garib Dass had been serving the people by providing Ayurvedic Medicines.

Sant Hari Dass left for his heavenly abode on 6 Feb 1982. In the memory of Sant Hari Dass Maharaj, every year on 7 February, Hari Manav Unity saint conference is celebrated in Sant Sarwan Dass Charitable Hospital at Kathar district Jalanadhar.

Sant Garib Dass was born in 1925 in a village called Jalbhe which is in Jalandhar district. His father was Shri Nanak Chand and mother was Shrimati Har Kaur. When he was only six months old his father expired. After this tragic incident his mother took care of the little child. He was the youngest of five brothers.

He used to visit Dera Sachkhand Ballan occasionally. The teaching and ideology of Sant Sarwan Dass impressed him greatly. So he started coming to the Dera more often. Within a short period he won the heart of Sant Sarwan Dass.

Shri Kartar Chand took the 13-year-old Garib Dass to Ludhiana for helping him in the business of silk weaving. There he received a letter from Sant Sarwan Dass asking him to come to the Dera immediately for some urgent work. Without wasting any time he reached the Dera. There he was instructed to remain in the Dera from that point onwards. He followed the instructions of Sant Sarwan Dass politely and humbly.

One day Sant Sarwan Dass told him, "Garib Dass, detach yourself from the materialistic world and serve the Almighty God." "Har ke naam bin jhuthe sakal pasare". Garib Dass very obediently prostrated at the feet of Sant Sarwan Dass and vowed to devote his whole life to the service of Almighty God and Humanity. Apart from delving into the fathoms of Gurbani, he learned to prepare Ayurvedic medicines and treated many patients who came to the Dera with various ailments. The young boy had now grown in wisdom and stature under the patronage of Sant Sarwan Dass and in the company of Sant Hari Dass. Therefore, Swami Sarwan Dass used to entrust him with many jobs of responsibility. It is a well known fact that the birthplace of Sri Guru Ravidass at Seer Goverdhanpur, Varanasi was traced thanks to Swami Sarwan Dass. He deputed Sant Hari Dass to lay the foundation stone of the temple to be constructed there. But it was Sant Garib Dass, who was entrusted with the responsibility to develop and complete the construction of the temple. He used to lead a team of sewadars (stewards) to Varanasi for this purpose. Construction of the temple was completed by him in the most difficult weather conditions & challenging circumstances.

When Sant Garib Dass became the Gaddi-Nashin (spiritual leader) of Dera Sachkhand Bal on 7 February 1982 he wanted to construct a hospital in the memory of his Guru, for giving medical aid to poor people. A milestone in the history of the Dera Sachkhand Bal was created on 22 October 1982 when Sant Garib Dass laid the foundation stone for Sant Sarwan Dass Charitable Hospital at village Dheypur-Koopur, Adda Kathar. This hospital made a humble beginning with its inauguration on 1 January 1984. Today it is a 150-bed hospital providing quality service in eight specialties at very nominal rates to the people who cannot afford costly medical aid. For those people who cannot meet even the nominal rates, the expenditure is met by Dera Sachkhand Bal. Additionally all expenditure of a capital nature such as machinery or building extensions is met by the Dera.

He was a great Saint who also understood the importance of having a newspaper, which would serve the cause of the community. So he started a weekly named ‘Begumpura Shehar’, thus giving a voice to the poor people.

During his lifetime the Sachkhand temple, Sant Hari Dass Bhavan, Langer Hall and major portion of Yatri Niwas at the Dera were built.

He laid the foundation stone of Sant Sarwan Dass Teaching Block in the I.T.I (Industrial Training Institute) at Phagwara and got a spacious hall built there. He has also constructed many ‘Guru-Ghars’ (temples) in various cities in India and abroad.

During his lifetime, he wanted to see the Janam Asthan Mandir at Varanasi in full glow. He got "Swarn Kalash" (gold minarets) installed at the Mandir in the presence of Saheb Kanshi Ram (President of the Bahujan Samaj Party). He paid a historic visit to the mandir along with a number of Dera followers from 16 June to 23 June 1994 as if he had a premonition that he will be leaving this world very soon.

Sant Niranjan Dass was born on 5 January 1942 at village Ramdass Pur near Allawalpur in district Jalandhar. His father’s name was Shri Sadhu Ram and mother’s name was Shrimati Rukmani. His father and mother were devotees of Pipal Dass and Sarwan Dass. Whenever they were free from home chores they used to visit Dera Ballan and listen to the holy words and do seva at the Dera. He was always accompanied by their loving son Niranjan Dass. Sarwan Dass was very happy to see the child and used to listen the sweet words from the child.

Shri Sadhu Ram, father of Niranjan Dass decided to offer his son at the holy feet of Sant Sarwan Dass. From that point onwards Sant Niranjan Dass remained at the Dera and started doing Sewa at the Dera-attending to miscellaneous jobs which he used to do running about. Seeing the speed at which he used to perform his tasks, Sarwan Dass named him "Hawaigar" ("speedy one"). He grew up doing service at the feet of Sarwan Dass and later with Hari Dass and Garib Dass. After Garib Dass left for his heavenly abode on 23 July 1994, Niranjan Dass was installed as Gaddi-Nashin (spiritual leader) of Dera Sachkhand Bal on 9 August 1994. He started with the development of all projects devoted to the service of humankind in right earnest and the Dera has made tremendous progress under his guidance.