Avtar Bhanearawala

Background

Avtar Bhanearawala first started his cult back in 1980 in village Dhamana in Roopnagar. During the Sikh movement he operated quietly just like every other human “guru”. After the decline of the movement he forcibly took over 19 acres of land in the village and expanded his dera. He started attracting many followers from the local area and gaining some popularity. He would not have gained much popularity had it not been for greedy leaders. According to a report: “A controversial person Piara Sio Bhanearawala became famous when Minister Boota Sinh went to beg for votes. He was the first leader to visit the dera. Boota Sinh wanted to secure his dalit votes since majority of the followers of Bhanearawala were dalits.” (Desh Sewak, 7 October 2001)

Besides his numerous “female companions”, he has three legal wives Kusam Devi, Rupinder Kaur and Surjeet Kaur. He has three sons. The youngest keep matted hair like a sanyasi and the eldest shows off a Hindu lifestyle while the middle son has adopted a Sikh form. This is done to attract followers from Sikhi and Hinduism. He has property worth billions of rupees some of which is distributed among his three wives based on the condition that the property could not be sold but only passed on to the heirs.

Challenges to Sikhi

His direct opposition against Sikhi came forward in a form of his “holy book” called “Bhavsagar Samundar Amar Bani” which was filled with false and nonsensical stories and insulting remarks about Sikh Guru and Sikh practices. It was put together by 21 government sponsored people including policemen and teachers. Five of 21 people were women. Bhanearawala has resorted to insult Sikhi practices on daily basis. He encouraged his followers to desecrate saroops of Guru Granth Sahib. His followers acting on his words burnt hundreds of saroops in many cities of Punjab. Report published in Desh Sewak newspaper exposed his true face. According to his followers Jaswinder Singh, Bindar Singh and Ashok Kumar:

Piara Singh Bhanearawala was enraged at Sikhs for burning his granth. To seek revenge he appealed to us to burn Guru Granth Sahib. When we refused, he forced us to do it at gunpoint and threatened to kill us. We stole a saroop from Ratangarh and burnt it at a dera in Rasoolpur. (Desh Sewak, 14 October 2001)

Burning of saroops continued for many months in Punjab. Bhanearawala was not arrested by the police for inciting hatred and disrespecting another religion. Instead, he was provided with security forces by the government.

He has also established a place in his local dera which he says is more powerful and holier than Darbar Sahib. According to a report published by Vijay Chandan: The notorious Bhanearawala has built a place in his dera where his followers come to disperse the remains of their dead. There exists a pond in which the remains are thrown. It is believed by the followers that person whose remains are put in the pond goes straight to heaven. Bhanearawala charges Rs. 1000 to use the pond. (Desh Sewak, 28 October 2001)

He claims that his filthy granth has no derogatory comments about the Sikh faith which is far from the actual truth. Here are some stories from his granth.

An Amritdhari used to go to Gurdwara everyday. He was in a dire situation and prayed everyday but no avail. At last, Bhanearawala blessed him with his vision and brought him to Bhaneara. (Page 27)

Bhanearawala blessed Amritdharis with his visions, impressed them with his spiritual powers and destroyed their false ego. (Page 116)

One time an Amritdhari came to the dera and questioned Baba Ji (Bhanearawala) as to why Guru Granth Sahib was not kept there. Baba Ji replied, “It is of no importance.” Amritdhari became angry and left the dera. After some time his legs were broken in an accident. God blessed him with a vision in form of Baba Ji and told him to serve at the dera. His legs were healed by Baba Ji. He used to work at Mehta Gurdwara then why didn’t God bless him with a vision in form of Amritdhari? (Page 701)

An Amritdhari named Yugraj Singh had been yearning for God’s vision. Baba Ji blessed him with a vision. (Page 909)

Karamjit Singh used to work as a granthi. Due to some illeness he lost his eyesight and his wife became paralyzed on one side of the body. They had Akhand Paath at Darbar Sahib and did immense seva at Gurdwaras but nothing turned to their benefit. Baba Ji Bhanearawala cured their illness. Karamjit had prepared to go to Anandpur Sahib at 300^th centennial and wanted to take his wife along with him but she refused and came to Baba Ji instead. Baba Ji told her that those who go to Anandpur Sahib never get salvation and remain in the cycle of life and death. If there was a benefit of going to the Gurdwara they would’ve been cured there. (Page 995)

On the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Manjit Kaur was blessed with a vision of Bhanearawala. She saw Guru Arjan Dev Ji sitting on a hot iron plate and the entire body was full of blisters. Then the image of Guru Arjan Dev Ji took the form of Baba Piara Singh and told Manjeet to do seva at dera Bhaneara. Then the form turned back to Guru Arjav Dev Ji and said to Manjeet, “Look what the humanity have done to me. They have not spared me of their injustice.” (Page 1107)

One time a lady was going to Gurdwara. Guru Arjan Dev Ji revealed Himself to her and said, “Why are you going to Gurdwara? There is nothing there. Go to dera Bhaneara instead. True Satguru resides there. You shall reach liberation there.” (Page 1240)

One person told Baba Ji Bhaneara to summon before Akal Takhat but Baba Ji refused and said, “I don’t accept any Akal Takhat. God has told me that falsehood shall perish.” (Page 1240)

These are some of the contained in Bhavsagar granth. Bhanearawala was greatly opposed by the Sikhs which resulted in decline in his followers. Few of his followers were killed in jail and Bhanearawala was attacked by a knife but luckily he survived.

Altering Gurbani

Besides preaching against Sikhi and insulting Sikh Gurus at his deras, Gurbani is misused to mislead the people into thinking that he provides correct interpretations. Some examples are below:

ਦੀਨ ਗੁਆਇਆ ਦੁਨੀ ਸਿਉਂ ਦੁਨੀ ਨਾ ਚਲੀ ਸਾਥ, ਰੱਬ ਨੂੰ ਭੁੱਲ ਕੇ ਬੈਠ ਗਿਆਂ ਕਿਸੇ ਨਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਸਾਥ । (Page 134)

ਕਰਨੀ ਆਪੋ ਆਪਣੀ ਲੇਖੇ ਹੋਏ ਹਿਸਾਬ, ਰੱਬ ਨੇ ਲੇਖਾ ਮੰਗਣਾ ਦੇਣਾ ਪਵੇਗਾ ਜਵਾਬ । (Page 144)

ਹੁਕਮੈ ਲੈ ਅੰਦਰ ਸਭ ਕੋ ਬਾਹਰ ਹੁਕਮ ਨਾ ਕੋਇ, ਜਿਥੇ ਰੱਖੇ ਪਰਮੇਸਰ ਸਵਾਮੀ ਉੱਥੇ ਰੱਬ ਕਰੇ ਵਾਸ । (Page 1325)

Sikhs need to unite together and eliminate such nefarious groups for the sake of Sikhi’s survival. While Sikhs continue to waste time in seeking justice from the government he continues to spew hatred towards Sikhi while enjoying the security of the government.