PACHMI PARKASH - Global Sikh Studies

After repeating this three times, which all the devotees heard, Baba Aaya Singh Ji
Maharaj departed from this world to finally be one with his True beloved Lord.
Panna 278: As water comes to blend with water, his light blends into the Light.
Panna 846: The rays of light merge with the sun, and water merges with water.
One's light blends with the Light, and one becomes totally perfect.
Baba Aaya Singh Ji Maharaj had blessed countless souls and served the devotees on
the spiritual throne of Dhan Baba Karam Singh Ji Maharaj for fifteen years and eight
months. Attaching souls to the Lords love and giving many new lives. News had
spread like wild fire through the Hoti and near by areas as whereever devotees were
standing they were left shocked. They left what ever they were doing and ran straight
to Baba Ji's hut.
Sant Ram Singh Ji, Sant Mahja Singh Ji and all the other disciples and devotees were
crying uncontrollably. With great remorse they followed through with Baba Ji’s
instructions and made arrangements and preparations for Baba Ji’s body, to be given
to the river.
The singing of Guru’s hymns had begun and messages were sent out far and wide as
Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims alike all came together. Khan Sahib of Hoti and the
Pataans came with instrumental band and garlands of flowers which were placed on
Baba Ji’s body. The Army personnel were given holidays so they could all be present
and many groups of Ragi singer came to perform. The congregation gathered in to a
procession and after performing a prayer they picked up Baba Ji’s body on a platform
and began to carry it to where it was to lays to rest. The procession was led with by
Hymn singers and devotees carrying Sikh flags (Nishan Sahibs) which fluttered
gently in the scented air, as they made their way via the Hoti site through Hoti and
Mardan towards Naushera, with many more beloved devotees continuing to join the
procession to say their final farewell to their Saviour.
On reaching the Shrine of Saidu, they placed Baba Ji’s body down and the huge
numbers of devotees went and paid their respects to Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj,
where performing a prayer of blessings everyone set off again to Khairabad. It was
here that Baba Ji’s body was placed on a high platform and bathed. Many of the
devotees collected the water into containers which they took home and many other
gathered the wet earth from under the platform and tied it into the corners of their
shirts to take home.
The body was then dressed into fresh clothes and with great love was placed into a
casket coffin that had been especially constructed for Baba Ji’s vessel by faithful
devotees. It was covered with a satin cloth and beautiful garlands of flowers made up
of roses and jasmines, then sweet scents were sprinkled over the body.
After this another prayer was completed and reciting the Gurus words, devotees and
disciples carried the coffin to the Atak River, where after tying it with ropes they
carefully placed it onto two small boats. The coffin had stones placed into it, to
weight it down, so it would sink to the bottom of the river and the boats slowly rowed
188