Sri Nanaksar Gurdwara is situated in the Ludhiana district of Punjab and is located approximately five miles from the city of Jagraon along the road from Ludhiana to Moga and Ferozpur. The sacred beginnings of Nanaksar began over a hundred-years ago as a simple hut; humbled by its natural surroundings amongst the thick of the jungle. This location was specifically chosen by the Holy Saint, Baba Nand Singh Ji as it personified a spiritual retreat where one could move to escape the misguidance of the world, and concentrate on the sole treasure of Naam Simran.

Baba Nand Singh Ji was born on the Pooranmashi of month Kathak (November) in 1870 in village Sherpura, Tehsil Jagraon, Distt Ludhiana. His father’s name was Sardar Jai Singh Ji and his mother’s name was Mata Sada Kaur Ji. Even as a child, Baba Nand Singh Ji was extremely pious and his urge for devotional worship continuously saw him escape all worldly measures and partake solely in meditating the holy name of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji through recitations of Sahib Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

 

Baba Nand Singh Ji mastered selfless sacrifice, and devoted his existence to prolonged meditations and holy service. Baba Nand Singh Ji placed the utmost importance on the need for contemplation and never placed a single regard on weather conditions or how safe the local terrain was before embarking on his spiritual retreats. Furthermore, he never worried for worldly comforts such as food or water and solely believed that everything was in Waheguru’s hukam. This belief was principled on the thought that since he was devoting and meditating solely on the name of a higher being, all worldly requirements should definitely come when the time was right. With this strong belief in mind, he maintained his uninterrupted meditation and even in the most wild and isolated terrains, food always came as an offering from one source or another, at the required times in hukam from a higher being.

 

Through his teachings and the gathering of followers across India, Baba Nand Singh Ji established Gurdwara Nanaksar near Village Kaleran (5 miles away from Jagraon) in Punjab. Through stating the need to live a life fulfilling the teachings embedded within Sikhi, the establishment of Gurdwara Nanaksar provided the foundation for Guru Nanak Sahib’s message to be shared with the masses. With this new religious sanctuary, the continuous recitations of Akhand Paaths and Sewa continued but dramatically increased, attracting sangat from across Punjab and India. Even with the new amount of devotees visiting on a daily basis, the previous langar provisions of food arriving when it was in hukam remained and even though a single cook, kitchen or utensil cannot be found on the Nanaksar premises, the langar continues 24 hours a day, all with the love and belief of the devotees. Even today, a single program has not passed at Nanaksar without the provisions for langar being met to everyones contentment.

 

Baba Nand Singh Ji left for His heavenly abode on 13 of Bhadon (28th August) in 1943.  Prior to leaving, Baba Nand Singh Ji clearly stressed that there could only be one successor to continue the message of Guru Nanak Sahib. This successor had to be overflowing with love, virtue, knowledge and an undying compassion to serve humanity through immeasurable means.  With this said the only person Baba Nand Singh Ji found suitable and up to this most divine task was Baba Isher Singh Ji.

 

Upon his return to Nanaksar. Baba Isher Singh Ji introduced the divine baptization with sacred nector, known as Amrit, on a large scale as prescribed by Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Further to that, the singing of hymns from Sahib Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and the continuous discourses by different singers (ragis) and devotees of Baba Ji continued day and night.

 

Through advancing the development of the Nanaksar Gurdwara, Baba Isher Singh Ji visited different states in India and conducted religious programs to all race, religions and creeds. Baba Ji continually stressed that the partaking in holy Amrit was an absolutely essential part of being one with Akal Purakh and to see yourself as a reflection of your father, Shri Dasmesh Pitah.  BabaJi’s discourses emphasized the importance of Gurbani as the only source of true liberation and Amrit as the only means of overcoming the fear of death.  Baba Isher Singh Ji continually stressed that Sahib Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is the true Guru of the Sikhs and how all ailments can be relieved through maintaining an absolute faith in Guru Sahib and holding its message and body as the true Guru in this life and beyond.