Sadhu Sundar Singh – Story of Christian Sadhu

Childhood

Sadhu Sundar Singh was born in 1889 in Punjab, India. His family belonged to the Sikh religion. His mother, a devout woman, would take young Sundar to an ascetic man to learn about God. He also attended a Christian mission school to learn English but resented it and showed no interest in the Bible. At the tenderer age of 14, Sundar’s beloved mother died. He was devastated. Succumbing to despair, he went through a major faith crisis and even considered suicide. This crisis led him in a search for truth. Unconvinced that the teachings of Jesus were true, he tore up his Bible and would throw stones at any preacher he saw passing by.

The Miraculous Transformation

In December 1903, on a cold winter’s night, Sadhu Sundar Singh decided to throw himself under the Ludhiana Express, a train that passed by his home. That night he prayed for several hours pleading, “O God, if there is a God, reveal yourself to me tonight.” Before dawn early the next morning, as the time neared for the train to pass by, his room was suddenly filled with an unfamiliar glow. Sundar peeped outside his door and saw only sheer darkness. He closed the door and the light grew brighter. Suddenly, he saw a figure appear before him and heard a voice say, “How long will you deny me? I died for you; I have given my life for you.” He also saw that the figure’s hands had holes in them as if pierced by nails. Sundar was astonished. He was expecting to see some of the traditional gods whom he worshipped, but he saw Jesus instead. Sundar realized it was indeed Jesus in his vision and that he is still alive today. As he knelt down and prayed, he had miraculous peace and joy in his heart, which he had never experienced before. The vision disappeared but the joy remained and the peace lingered. This was wonderful a life-changing event for Sundar, though his family ostracized him for his newfound faith.
The true Christian is like sandalwood, which imparts its fragrance to the axe which cuts it, without doing any harm in return… – Sadhu Sundar Singh

Life as a Sadhu

In 1905, on his 16th birthday, Sundar was baptized in an English church in Shimla. At that time, he chose to become a Christian Sadhu, so he could dedicate himself to full-time service for the Lord. As a Sadhu, he wore a yellow robe, lived on the charity, abandoned his possessions, and maintained celibacy. He was convinced this was the approach to introduce Jesus Christ to his people in India and the surrounding regions. He wanted to be like the Sadhus, which are commonly seen in India wearing such customary saffron clothes. Sundar traveled extensively all over India and Tibet. He visited Malaysia, Japan, and China between the years 1918-1919. He was a gifted preacher and attracted hundreds of people whenever he spoke. In addition to India and Tibet, he toured Sri Lanka, Europe, Middle East, and America. Despite his growing fame, Sadhu Sundar Singh remained modest, desiring only to follow Jesus’ example: to repay the kindness and win his enemies by love. Towards the end of his life, he had many health issues due to excessive traveling. He wrote a number of books during this time. Listed below are some of the books he wrote. They were written in Urdu and translated by different authors.

Books by Sadhu Sundar Singh

Final Days

In 1929, Sadhu Sundar Singh was on his way to Tibet with some other traders. He walked several miles beyond Badrinath on rugged, snowy mountain paths. The route was steep and challenging. He never returned from this trip. His friends searched for him but his body could not be found.  Nobody knows exactly what happened to him. Sadhu Sundar Singh is called the “Apostle with Bleeding Feet” since he would often go from one place to another, in bare feet, to talk about Jesus.  He was a monk.  His dedication to spread the love of Jesus Christ in India and the South Asian region is matchless. He represented Christ well in the Indian context,  living as the traditional itinerant preacher or sadhus. He was the Sadhu, who found his Salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, his Guru.
Salt, when dissolved in water, may disappear, but it does not cease to exist. We can be sure of its presence by tasting the water. Likewise, the indwelling Christ, though unseen, will be made evident to others from the love which he imparts to us. – Sadhu Sundar Singh

References

Related Testimonies:

Testimony of a Hindu Person from Nepal Testimony of Hindu Friend from India Pandita Ramabai – Founder of Mukti Mission Sanjay Gupta- Vaishnav Hindu from Lucknow Video Testimony of Young Hindu Student: Ritesh Patel

44 Responses

  6. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ from India,
    Many times ago I try to get some good information about Sadhu Sundar Singh. I did translate the book ” Sadhu” (Streeter and Appasamy) into Russian and also a book by Phyllis Thompson named “Sadhu Sundar Singh”. Many people in Ukraine have an interest in his life because his life inspires us to live for Jesus Christ. Do you know about the newspaper “Nur (or Noor) Afshan” where were printed some Sadhu Sundar Singh’s articles? May I ask you to make for us copies of the newspaper since 1916, October 6 and 13? Please, help us!

    Shalom,

    Sergei Loginov, Pastor
    P.O.Box 53
    UA-73040 Kherson
    Ukraine

  14. Dear Sir or Madam at Jeevan Marg:

    Just like Pastor Sergei Loginov from Ukraine requested, I would be very grateful if you could please email to me articles by Sadhu Sunder Singh in Nur Afshan of October 6 and 13, 1916. I tried to get it many ways but was not successful. I appreciate your help very much

    John Thomas
    Follower of Jesus

  17. God bless u I share a vision of my wife( a diplomat)who was lifted up in heaven on 2nd Jan 2014 and stood in front of the Most Holy throne and God spoke to her in loud and furious voice that go on Earth back and tell the people that something Unique will happen on Earth in May 2014 which never happened before. Save the people who wana be saved and leave the rest. She did not share this vision except me to anyone because already many people told this kind of vision but God had mercy and gave more time to the world to be prepared for heaven but this time He was not looking in the mood to give more time and Grace. So I wana share it with no discrimination of caste or religion, white or black, rich or poor, gentle or sinner, king or beggar. It is the Will of Lord Jesus Christ to tell the message of deliverance to everyone not any particular group of people. To the workers of Lord Jesus Christ, I request do it with the speed of racehorse not at the pace of snail or tortoise. Spend much money on big conventions and seminars not only on Sunday but 24×7 encourage each other. Don’t hate anyone but give the message of God to everyone. Don’t care the people what they say about you but seek the Lord,s Will. KL Angora .

  18. I have always wondered the inspiration received by those who had spread gospel in Theni – Tamil Nadu – particularly in the Andipatti hill area. They were young men struggling for daily bread but spread the gospel through their one man missionaries. I asked one of them and he fished out an old paper having a bio-graphy of Sadhu Sundar Singh.This was in 1978.

    Since then I have always thought of Sunder Singh and Christ during my difficult times- I am a common lay man and a non- baptised believer and a low-rung employee belonging to a ostracised community.I have never read the bible in detail, though the words of the lord have been spoken to me. This is also typed at a browsing centre.I happened to listen to a conversation on Sadhu sundar singh and requested the young men to express my opinion.

    There is a miraculous power thinking of him as a brother and praying to Christ.

    Best Wishes

  21. Dear Sir,
    I am a christian young man, living in udaipur, rajsthan, i need hind biography book let of sadhu sunder singh to distribute our hindu friends as gift, can i have those copies for this regards.

    In Him,
    Jeebant
    7073655752
    Udaipur, Rajsthan

  24. PRAISE THE LORD .GOD CREATED AND SELECTED SUCH A MAN TO SAVE SINNERS LIKE ME. I READ HIS BOOKS WHICH WILL TAKES ME DEEP AND STRONG CONNECTION WITH CREATOR .BY HIS BOOK I GROWN REAL CHRISTIAN. THEY CLARIFY MY DOUBTS REGARDING GOD. THANK YOU LORD YOU SEND SADHU SUNDER SINGH TO OUR COUNTRY AS A MISSIONARY .

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  27. Thank you for the story it helped me alot, he really was a man of faith an inspiration.

  28. If there is any book of sadhu sundar singh in Hindi , i would love to use it for the Hindi speaking community please

  29. Hi ….Praise the lord
    I am Amit kamble From District jalna(Maharashtra )
    I am Very Much inspired From the Story of Sandhu Sundar singh and pandita Ramabai
    I Am Not So Rich But In my Hole life i wish to Do Some thing for this two Spirtual Saints I want to direct A Flim on This Spirtual Saints …

  30. I’ve never come across like this story in life.. it really inspired me alot….

  34. Its a wonderful story praise the lord sadhu sundar singh is a greatest man who s choice for greatest work

  35. yes anyone can become like sadhu sunder singh…but we must have faith and we must follow word of god..and jesus calling should be there…

  38. I think you better watch on you tube prophet Sadhu sundar selvaraj click “How to wait on God ” it’s a 4 parts talk.Thankyou Pastor God Bless you and your church!

  39. Good testimony he is a good man of God its story be come a change my goal’s I inspired his testimony, thanks my God bless u

  41. The story is very nice.it really inspired me for God s ministry .
    Praise the Lord
    Amen

  43. Hi Pastor Sergei, did u get the Nur-Afshan newspaper article by sadhu sunder Singh works?

  44. Hi,I check your blogs named “Sadhu Sundar Singh: Story Of Christian Sadhu | Testimonies Of Indians From Hindu Background” like every week.Your humoristic style is awesome, keep up the good work! And you can look our website about fast proxy list.

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