Born on 12 Feb 1947, born in the family of Brar-Jatt Baba Joginder Singh (Farmer) and Mata Nihal Kaur of Village Rode, Punjab.He was youngest of the seven brothers.

Jarnail Singh underwent a one-year course in scriptural, theological and historical studies, at the hands of Sant Gurbachan Singh Khalsa. Sant Jee memorised the following Bani’s, Dakhani Oankar in 1 day, Sukhmani Sahib in 13 days, and Sidh Gosht in 1 day and Asa Di Vaar in 8 hours.

After primary education,he engaged himself in farming until 1965 when he joined the Damdami Taksal of Bhinder Kalan village, then headed by Sant Gurbachan Singh Khalsa.

In 1966, he rejoined his Family and settled down to farming again. He was married in 1966 to Bibi Pritam Kaur, daughter of Bhai Sucha Singh of Bilaspur, and had two sons, Ishar Singh and Inderjit Singh, born in 1971 and 1975 respectively

Taksal was headed by Sant Kartar Singh Khalsa in June 1969 after Sant Gurbachan Singh Khalsa. After him Sant Jarnail Singh became new head of Damdami Taksal on 25 August 1977.

Sant Jarnail Singh exhibited remarkable enthusiasm in carrying out his missionary responsibilities. The primary task he addressed was the administrating of amrit (Khanda Baate da Pahul) . He vehemintly denounced drugs, alcoholic drinks and trimming of hair.

In order to suppress peaceful political agitation named “Dharam Youth Morcha” initiated by Sikhs to secure their political rights, Indira Gandhi had launched an armed attack on various Sikh Gurudwaras in the northern states of Punjab and Haryana. Nearly 36 Sikh Gurudwaras were attacked by Indian army during this armed attack that was code-named as “Operation Blue Star”.

The attack had begun on June 4, 1984 – a day when Sikhs were observing martyrdom day of their Fifth Guru, Sri Guru Arjun Sahib and Sikh pilgrims in large numbers had gathered in Gurudwaras.

During this attack thousands of Sikh pilgrims were killed by Indian Army. Sikh leader Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale along with about two hundred Sikh fighters attained martyrdom on 6th June 1984, while defending Sri Darbar Sahib and Akal Takhat Sahib at Amritsar.