Above is an image of Giani Sant Singh Ji who were the vidya Guru of Kavi Bhai Santokh Singh Ji.
The above image is of Bhai Sant Singh Ji who is included in the lineage of the Damdami Taksal and also of the Nirmala lineages. Bhai Sant Singh Ji taught Kavi Santokh Singh Ji whilst they were head granthi of the Sri Harmandir Sahib. His life and the way he lived his life was an exception to the norm and Bhai Santokh Singh Ji pays homage to his teacher without whom he would not have the knowledge to create this beautiful composition.
In the next stanza which is numbered thirty three in the first Adhyai of the Sri Nanak Parkash Kavi Santokh Singh Ji expounds the beautiful attributes of his teacher and mentor. It is essential to find a teacher to fully give one a grasp of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and the spiritual teachings of the Guru. Without Giani Bhai Sant Singh Ji having such an influence of Kavi Santokh Singh Ji I do not think we would have seen such wonderful works.
The translation of the thirty third stanza follow;
ਕਬਿੱਤ ॥
ਨਿਤ ਹੀ ਭਗਤਿ ਰਤ ਨਾਮ ਕੀਨੋ ਬ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਚਿਤ ਸੰਤਨ ਸੋਂ ਹਿਤ ਅਤਿ ਸੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਨਾਮ ਹੈ ।
ਸੁਜਨ ਦਿਆਲ ਧੀਰ ਧਰਮ ਬਿਸਾਲ ਧਰਿ ਜਾਸ ਬੈਸ ਬਾਲ ਹੂੰ ਤੇ ਭਜਨ ਸੋਂ ਕਾਮ ਹੈ ।
ਜਾਂ ਕੇ ਚਰਨੋਦਕ ਕੀ ਬੂੰਦ ਮੈਂ ਬਦਨ ਪਾਇ ਸੁਮਤਿ ਸਦਨ ਭਯੋ ਕਦਨ ਬਿਰਾਮ ਹੈ ।
ਤਾਂਕੇ ਅਰਬਿੰਦ ਪਦ ਸੁੰਦਰ ਮੁਕੰਦ ਦੁੰਦ ਬੰਦ ਕਰ ਬੰਦਨਾਂ ਸਦਾ ਮੈਂ ਸੁਖ ਧਾਮ ਹੈ ॥੩੩॥
Kabit – (This is the invocation to the teacher of Bhai Santokh Singh Ji) Forever was my teacher (Vidya Guru) imbued in the name of God as his consciousness was engrossed in the concentration of the Lord. The name of my Vidya Guru was ‘Bhai Sant Singh’ who was forever in the company of other saints. Bhai Sant Singh Ji was friendly, graceful, content and righteous. From childhood they ever remained engrossed in the meditation of the name of God. I have taken a drop of sweat from the feet of Bhai Sant Singh Ji and put it in my mouth (this is not a reference to Charan Pahul as Bhai Santokh Singh Ji took Khande Da Amrit however it is metaphoric for watching someone’s life and adopting the same as them). From accepting their spiritual discourses I have become great and diligent. The feet of Bhai Sant Singh Ji are beautiful like a lotus blossom and grant the gift of liberation. I am folding both of my hands and bowing to the feet of Bhai Sant Singh Ji as their feet are forever the abode of bliss. 33.
ਨਿਤ ਹੀ ਭਗਤਿ ਰਤ ਨਾਮ ਕੀਨੋ ਬ੍ਰਿਤਿ ਚਿਤ ਸੰਤਨ ਸੋਂ ਹਿਤ ਅਤਿ ਸੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਨਾਮ ਹੈ ।
ਸੁਜਨ ਦਿਆਲ ਧੀਰ ਧਰਮ ਬਿਸਾਲ ਧਰਿ ਜਾਸ ਬੈਸ ਬਾਲ ਹੂੰ ਤੇ ਭਜਨ ਸੋਂ ਕਾਮ ਹੈ ।
ਜਾਂ ਕੇ ਚਰਨੋਦਕ ਕੀ ਬੂੰਦ ਮੈਂ ਬਦਨ ਪਾਇ ਸੁਮਤਿ ਸਦਨ ਭਯੋ ਕਦਨ ਬਿਰਾਮ ਹੈ ।
ਤਾਂਕੇ ਅਰਬਿੰਦ ਪਦ ਸੁੰਦਰ ਮੁਕੰਦ ਦੁੰਦ ਬੰਦ ਕਰ ਬੰਦਨਾਂ ਸਦਾ ਮੈਂ ਸੁਖ ਧਾਮ ਹੈ ॥੩੩॥
Kabit – (This is the invocation to the teacher of Bhai Santokh Singh Ji) Forever was my teacher (Vidya Guru) imbued in the name of God as his consciousness was engrossed in the concentration of the Lord. The name of my Vidya Guru was ‘Bhai Sant Singh’ who was forever in the company of other saints. Bhai Sant Singh Ji was friendly, graceful, content and righteous. From childhood they ever remained engrossed in the meditation of the name of God. I have taken a drop of sweat from the feet of Bhai Sant Singh Ji and put it in my mouth (this is not a reference to Charan Pahul as Bhai Santokh Singh Ji took Khande Da Amrit however it is metaphoric for watching someone’s life and adopting the same as them). From accepting their spiritual discourses I have become great and diligent. The feet of Bhai Sant Singh Ji are beautiful like a lotus blossom and grant the gift of liberation. I am folding both of my hands and bowing to the feet of Bhai Sant Singh Ji as their feet are forever the abode of bliss. 33.
