Brahmleen Shri 108 Sant Sarwan Dass Ji Maharaj

Sant Sarwan Dass Ji was second Gaddi-Nashin of Dera Sachkhand Ballan. He was born on 15th February, 1895 in village Gill Patti, District Bathinda to father Baba Pipal Dass Ji and mother Bibi Shobhawanti Ji. At a very small age he moved alongwith his father from village Gill Patti to village Bal in district Jalandhar where the present Dera Sachkhand Bal is situated. The villagers of Bal gave much love and regards to him. Sant Sarwan Dass Ji got his earlier education from his father Baba Pipal Dass Ji. He obtained knowledge of Sanskrit and Ayurvedic system of medicine from Sant Karta Nand Ji of Kishangarh.

Sant Sarwan Dass Ji always remained with Baba Pipal Dass Ji during his religious sojourn to various villages. He took to meditation of God at a very early age. He was bestowed with "Naamdaan" from Sant Harnaam Dass Ji. After Baba Pipal Dass Ji left for his heavenly abode in the year 1928, he started initiating the disciples of the Dera onto the spiritual path. He healed thousands of his followers through his spiritual power and free Ayurvedic medicines.

He envisaged a great awakening and empowerment of human beings through education. Therefore, he laid great stress on the education of children. He firmly believed that those parents who do not care for the education of their children are their greatest enemy. He translated this idea in his own life by collecting children from adjoining villages in his "Kutia" and teaching them, providing them with all facilities and incentives. Those whom he taught during his life time fondly remember and revere him and are now helping generously in establishing educational and health institutions devoted to his memory. During Sant Sarwan Dass Ji's visit to Delhi in the year 1948 at the request of Giani Bishna Ram, S. Faqir Singh, S. Swaran Singh, S. Niranjan Singh Hothi Bal, S. Puran Singh, S Bhagat Singh, Shri Nama Ram Leel, Sant Sarwan Dass Ji used to deliver religious sermons at the residence of devotees. During his stay at Delhi, Sant Sarwan Dass Ji along with Giani Bishna Ram, went to meet Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Dr. sahib showed great respect to Sant Sarwan Dass Ji and was very much impressed by Sant Sarwan Dass Ji's personality and views.

In 1952 Dr. Ambedkar visited Punjab. Sant Sarwan Dass Ji could not meet him personally but wrote a very moving letter to him. To Quote :
“Dr. Sahib, you are a great son of community. March ahead for welfare of community and success will be yours and people will feel proud of you”.

Sant Sarwan Dass Ji preached the philosophy and teachings of Guru Ravidass Ji among the socially backward and downtrodden people throughout his life. He remained very distressed by the fact that there was no memorial to Guru Ravidass Ji in the city of Varanasi, though many Kings and Queens were his disciples. Sant Sarwan Dass Ji, being a great spiritual, visionary and revolutionary saint, undertook the task of perpetuating the memory of Guru Ji at Varanasi and giving a befitting memorial in his name. He assigned the task of tracing the birth place of Guru Ji in the city of Varanasi to a select group of people. The group went to Varanasi and surveyed the area near the Banaras Hindu University. The "Imlee" tree and other indicators confirmed a location in village Seer Goverdhanpur, in the outskirts of Varanasi near Banaras Hindu University, as the birthplace of Guru

Ravidass Ji. A plot of land was purchased and no time was lost to start the construction of an impressive temple. Sant Sarwan Dass Ji deputed his first disciple Sant Hari Dass Ji along with a large number of devotees of Dera Bal to start the construction of the Mandir. Sant Hari Dass Ji laid the foundation stone of the Mandir on Monday the 14th June, 1965 on Ashad Sankranti. As soon as the foundation stone was laid no time was lost in starting the construction of the Mandir in full swing. Sant Sarwan Dass Ji assigned the duty of construction work to his second disciple Sant Garib Dass Ji, who along with large "Jathas" (groups of people) of Dera "Sewadars" worked in the most difficult and unfavorable conditions to complete the construction of the first phase of the Mandir in the year 1970. In this endeavor help came from the public at large from within as well as from outside the country. The Guru Ji's devotees residing in U.K. and other foreign countries were also keen to see the project completed and they contributed according to their respective capacities.

In December 1970 a huge conference was held at Dera Sachkhand Bal in which prominent leaders such as Shri Mangoo Ram Mugowalia, Shri Dilip Singh, Shri Kulwant Singh from Himachal Pradesh, Captain Bhagu Ram Ji and a very large number of people from other states of India such as Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, J & K and Haryana participated. Many resolutions concerning the community were passed. Through one of the resolutions passed in this conference all the delegates expressed gratitude to Sant Sarwan Dass Ji for building a Mandir at the birthplace of Shri Guru Ravidass Ji and at the same time nominated him to be the Chairman of the committee formed for continuing the construction as well as for managing the affairs of the Mandir.

All the followers of Guru Ravidass Ji throughout the world will remain indebted to Sant Sarwan Dass Ji for giving them this place of pilgrimage, where people gather in very large numbers to pay their obeisance throughout the year as well as on the Jayanti (birthday) celebrations of Guru Ji.

Sant Sarwan Dass Ji left for his heavenly abode on 11th June, 1972 leaving behind a rich legacy. During his life time itself Dera Sachkhand Bal had acquired a prominent status among the large number of followers of Guru Ravidass Ji from within India as well as abroad. These followers draw their inspiration and seek spiritual guidance from the Dera. Recognising the services being rendered by the Dera, the public is contributing generously for the construction and running of hospitals and schools devoted to the memory of Sant Sarwan Dass Ji.