By Ravi Rohmetra
His father, Bohlamal, and mother, Krishna Devi, were filled with supreme bliss at the appearance of Shri Bawa Lal Ji. The entire village celebrated the great festival of the divine birth of child Lal and was overwhelmed with jubilation. Child Lal was nurtured with profound love and care by his family.
One day, the parents, along with child Lal, went to a renowned sage-astrologer for the naming ceremony. The sage studied the child’s zodiac signs, named him “Lal,” and foretold: “He is a divine child with brilliant radiance on his face. All signs show that the Supreme Lord has appeared with His transcendental qualities and opulence to establish Dharma and grant deliverance to His dear devotees. He shall be unparalleled in name, fame, and influence, and will bestow eternal liberation from the bondage of birth and death.”
During his childhood, he took cows for grazing. Unlike other children, while grazing the cows, he contemplated spiritual truths and sought answers from nature. One day, amid beautiful sunrays and soothing winds, he fell asleep. Despite the intense heat, the child slept peacefully. It is said that God Himself protects the pious souls. God appeared in the form of Sheshnag and shielded child Lal from the scorching rays with His hood like an umbrella. Passing mahatmas were wonderstruck to witness Sheshnag protecting the child and perceived his mystic energy.
The child awoke to the noise and was astonished to see an aged mahatma cooking rice by making a hearth with his feet. After eating, the mahatmas offered three cooked grains of rice to the child. Upon consuming them, Lal experienced immense divine light within his heart, and the cosmic order unfolded before him. He remained immersed in this divine state for a long time. The holy saint who blessed him was his Satguru, Chetan Swami.
He became detached from worldly life and longed for the ultimate goal. At the age of eight, he left home in search of his Guru and travelled through Lahore, Behra, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Riyas, Rajouri, Kashmir, Mansarovar (Kailash Parvat), Badrinath, and Kedarnath, wandering fearlessly through forests, mountains, and riverbanks.
One night, he dreamt of his Guru calling him back. Following the divine instruction, he returned to Punjab and attained the invaluable darshan of Guru Chetan Swami near Shahdara on the banks of the river Ravi. At Lal’s request, Guru Chetan Swami accepted him as his disciple and initiated him into his faith.
To test him, the Guru sent Bawa Lal Ji to Dwarka to procure Gopichandana (sacred earth). He completed the mission within an hour, astonishing all and proving his spiritual proficiency.
After completing his education and pilgrimages, Shri Bawa Lal Ji settled in Saharanpur. While residing there, he would daily visit Haridwar in his Sukshma Sharir to bathe in the holy Ganga. Pleased with his devotion, Ganga Ji appeared in his dream and instructed him to leave his kamandal at Haridwar. Obeying her command, he later poured its water eastward, manifesting the sacred stream known today as Paon Dhoai Ganga. He lived in Saharanpur for a hundred years, performing intense austerities for the welfare of the world.
As devotees multiplied, he moved to Punjab and later settled near Kalanaur, where he performed severe tapasya in the river Kiran. With divine power, he rejuvenated himself, an event witnessed by Dhiandas, a disciple of Saint Dadu, who became his devoted follower. With the growing congregation, an ashram was established at a serene place named Dhianpur in A.D. 1495.
Shri Bawa Lal Ji initiated people of all faiths without discrimination. Ascetics and householders alike experienced spiritual enlightenment through his darshan, discourses, and Guru Mantra. He expanded the Bawa Lal Sampraday by establishing twenty-two Gaddis across India and appointing enlightened disciples to guide humanity through knowledge, renunciation, and devotion.
His glory spread far and wide. Even Prince Dara Shikoh, son of Emperor Shah Jahan, sought his guidance after military defeat. Their spiritual dialogues were later compiled as Nadir-un-Nikat. Shah Jahan, too, developed deep reverence for Shri Bawa Lal Ji after witnessing his divine powers.
In one instance, Shri Bawa Lal Ji demonstrated the visions of Pralaya and Mahapralaya at the Red Fort, saving only the pure souls. Shah Jahan thereafter placed complete faith in him.
When Shah Jahan sought to know his successor, Shri Bawa Lal Ji revealed that Aurangzeb would ascend the throne, a prophecy that later proved true. Though Aurangzeb often disrespected the saint, he ultimately sought forgiveness after divine intervention.
Having completed his divine mission, Shri Bawa Lal Ji declared that he would eternally manifest through his enlightened disciples. In A.D. 1655 (Kartik Shukla Dashmi, Vikram Samvat 1712), he returned to his eternal abode.
(Ravi Rohmetra is a Social Worker and Freelancer Writer and can be reached at 9419652999; [email protected])
