MŪL SIṄGH, MAHANT (d. 1982), who commuted freely between the main body of the Sikhs and their Nirmalā sect, held high positions in both. As a member of the Shiromaṇī Gurdwārā Parbandhak Committee, he played an important role in Sikh religious affairs, though his affiliation to the Nirmalā order was unambiguous.

         Born around AD 1885 at Goindvāl in the family of Tārā Chand, a Marvāhā Khatrī, Mūl Siṅgh spent the first four years of his childhood at Goindvāl. Thereafter he was taken to Baṭhiṇḍā where he completed his preliminary education returning to Goindvāl to study under Swāmī Bhagat Siṅgh of Piṇḍī Gheb. Mūl Siṅgh familiarized himself with the Sikh texts. He then travelled to Amritsar where he formally accepted the discipleship of Sant Rām Siṅgh of Buṅgā Nirmaliāṅ, the oldest among the Nirmalā, ḍerās or monasteries in the city.

         Mūl Siṅgh, learned in religious lore and of a charitable disposition, was appointed mahant of the Nirmalā Buṅgā on 21 March 1921 as successor to his teacher, Mahant Rām Siṅgh. This was the time when the Akālī movement for the reformation of the Sikh religious administration was at its peak. Mūl Siṅgh plunged into the agitation. He courted arrest, along with several other Nirmalā sants, at Gurū kā Bāgh. He served as a member of Shiromaṇī Gurdwārā Parbandhak Committee for 13 years. His chief responsibility in Shiromaṇī Gurdwārā Parbandhak Committee was conducting of akhaṇḍ pāṭhs. He also acted as the Jathedār, i.e. head, of the Laṅgar Committee. He was appointed Head Granthī or chief officiant of the Golden Temple which office he retained for fifteen years in an honorary capacity. In his own sect also Mahant Mūl Siṅgh occupied a position of honour. He also held offices in the-Nirmal Pañchāyatī Akhāṛā, Kankhal, and in the Nirmal Mahāṅ Maṇḍal.

         Mahāṅt Mūl Siṅgh died on 11 June 1982.