Bhai Gurdas
Bhai Gurdas | |
|---|---|
 19th centurymuralpainting fromGurdwara Baba Ataldepicting Bhai Gurdas | |
| Jathedar of the Akal Takht | |
| In office 1606–1637 | |
| Preceded by | Position Established |
| Succeeded by | Mani Singh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gurdas Bhalla 1551 Basarke,Amritsar,Punjab |
| Died | 25 August 1636 Goindwal,Tarn Taran Sahib,Punjab |
| Relations | Mata Ganga(cousin) |
| Parents |
|
| Known for |
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Bhai Gurdas(1551 – 25 August 1636) was aSikhwriter, historian and preacher who served as theJathedar of the Akal Takhtfrom 1606 to his death in 1636.[1]He was the original scribe of the early version ofGuru Granth Sahib,having served as theamanuensisof Guru Arjan in its compilation.[2]: 131–132
Early life[edit]
Bhai Gurdas was possibly born in 1551[note 1][3][4](exact year unknown but likely between 1543 and 1553[note 2])[3][5]at Basarke Gillan, a small village in thePunjab.[note 3]He was the only child of Bhai Ishar Das and Mata Jivani.[3]Gurdas' father, Ishar Das, was the youngest brother ofGuru Amar Das,therefore Gurdas was the nephew of Guru Amar Das.[3]Gurdas was born into the Bhalla clan ofKhatris.Bhai Gurdas was near 3 years of age when his mother died.[6][7]
After being orphaned at the age of 12, he was adopted by Guru Amar Das. Under the patronage of Guru Amar Das, Bhai Gurdas learnedSanskrit,Braj Bhasha,Persian,andPunjabiat Sultanpur Lodhi and eventually began preaching.[8]He was further educated in both the Hindu and Muslim literary traditions.[8]He spent his early years atGoindwalandSultanpur Lodhi.[8]At Goindval, Gurdas listened and obtained knowledge from scholars andswamisthat continuously visited the town while traversing theDelhi-Lahoreroad. He later moved toVaranasi,where he studiedSanskritandHinduscriptures. After Guru Amar Das died, his successorGuru Ram Das,assigned Bhai Gurdas as a Sikh missionary toAgra.
Later life[edit]
In 1577, Bhai Gurdas contributed his labour to excavating theSarovaratDarbar Sahib.Twenty years later, he went on an expedition toEast Kartarpurand recited many of the early hymns toEmperor Akbar.Akbar was impressed by their spiritual content and was satisfied they had noanti-Muslimtone.[6]
After Guru Ram Das left the world, Bhai Gurdas formed a close relationship with the fifth Guru,Guru Arjan.The Guru had great respect for him, and regarded him as his maternal uncle ( "mama"). Gurdas led a group of Sikhs toGwalior,where theMughalemperorJahangir,jealous of the popularity ofSikhism,had imprisonedGuru Hargobind.[6]After that, Gurdas was sent toKabul,Kashmir,Rajputana,andVaranasiagain to preach Sikhism. He even went toSri Lanka,preaching the name of the Guru among the masses and showing them the true way of life.
Literary works[edit]
Bhai Gurdas completed theAdi Granthin 1604. It took him nearly 19 years to scribe. He not only wrote theAdi Granth,as dictated byGuru Arjun,but also supervised four other scribes (Bhai Haria, Bhai Sant Das, Bhai Sukha and Bhai Manasa Ram) in the writing of various Sikh scriptures. His other works in Punjabi are collectively calledVaaran Bhai Gurdas.[6]Aside from his well-knownVaars,he also wroteKabits,a form of poetry, in the Braj-language.[9]He was initially thought to have been the author of 556 Kabits but a discovery of 119 additional Kabits authored by Gurdas was made in 1939 byVir Singhin a Gurmukhi manuscript.[3]
Writings[edit]
- 6Chhandsof 8 Verses each inSanskrit
- 672 Kabits and 3SwayyasinBrij Bhasha
- 40Vaarscontaining 912PaurisinPunjabi
Jathedar of Akal Takhat (1606–1636)[edit]
TheAkal Takhtwas revealed byGuru Hargobindon 15 June 1606. The foundation stone of the building of the Akal Takht was laid down by Guru Hargobind himself. The rest of the structure was completed by Baba Buddha and Bhai Gurdas. No mason or any other person was permitted to participate in the construction of the structure. Guru Hargobind himself was the custodian of the Takht. On 31 December 1612, when Guru Hargobind was imprisoned atGwalior Fort,he assignedBaba Buddhato perform the services atHarmandir Sahiband Bhai Gurdas as the firstJathedar of Akal Takht.
Death[edit]
He left his body for eternal abode on 25 August 1636 at Goindwal.[note 4][7][3]Guru Hargobind personally performed the ceremonial service at his funeral.
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^According to research conducted by the lateRandhir Singh.
- ^This time range for the likely year of his birth was set byVir Singhafter research he conducted trying to settle the issue of when Gurdas was born.
- ^Other sources give Goindwal as his place of birth.
- ^Other sources give his year of death as 1635.
References[edit]
- ^Jaggi, Dr. Rattan Singh (1974).Bhai Gurdas.Patiala: Punjabi University Patiala. p. 19.Retrieved10 December2022.
- ^Fenech, Louis E.; McLeod, William H. (2014).Historical Dictionary of Sikhism.Historical Dictionaries of Religions, Philosophies, and Movements (3rd ed.). Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield.ISBN978-1-4422-3600-4.
- ^abcdefSingh, Pritam (1992).Bhai Gurdas.Makers of Indian literature (1st ed.). New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi. pp. 15–34.ISBN978-81-7201-218-2.
- ^"Early Gursikhs:Bhai Gurdas Ji – Gateway To Sikhism".27 January 2014.Retrieved19 August2022.
- ^"Introduction to Bhai Gurdas -: ਵਾਰਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ:- SearchGurbani.com".searchgurbani.com.Retrieved19 August2022.
- ^abcdJaggi, Rattan Singh."GURDĀS, BHĀĪ (1551–1636)".Encyclopaedia of Sikhism.Punjabi University Punjabi.Retrieved25 August2015.
- ^abBhai GURDAS (1551–1636)Archived13 January 2007 at theWayback Machine– SikhHistory.com
- ^abcSingh, Pashaura; Mandair, Arvind-Pal Singh (2023).The Sikh World.Routledge Worlds. Taylor & Francis.ISBN9780429848384.
Under his [Guru Amar Das] patronage, his son-in-law Ram Das received training in the musical traditions of North India, and his nephew Gurdas Bhalla received his early education in Punjabi, Braj, and Persian languages, including Hindu and Muslim literary traditions at Sultanpur Lodhi.
- ^McLeod, William Hewat."Sikhism – Devotional and other works".Encyclopædia Britannica.
This was particularly true of the works of Bhai Gurdas, whose 40 lengthy poems, composed in Punjabi, remain popular. Their popularity is vastly greater than that of his 556 brief poems in Braj, a language little read in the Panth today.
