Bhai Gurdas (Punjabi: ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ; 1551 – 25 August 1636) was a Sikh writer, historian and preacher who served as the Jathedar of the Akal Takht from 1606 to his death in 1636.[1] He was the original scribe of the early version of Guru Granth Sahib.
Bhai Gurdas was possibly born in 1551[2] (exact year unknown but likely between 1543-1553)[3] at Basarke Gillan, a small village in the Punjab. He was the only child of Bhai Ishar Das, nephew of Guru Amar Das, and Mata Jivani. Bhai Gurdas was near 3 years of age when his mother died.[4][5]
After being orphaned at the age of 12, he was adopted by Guru Amar Das. Bhai Gurdas learned Sanskrit, Braj Bhasha, Persian and Punjabi and eventually began preaching. He spent his early years at Goindval and Sultanpur Lodhi. At Goindval, Gurdas listened and obtained knowledge from scholars and swamis that continuously visited the town while traversing the Delhi-Lahore road. He later moved to Varanasi, where he studied Sanskrit and Hindu scriptures. After Guru Amar Das left for his heavenly abode, his successor Guru Ram Das, assigned Bhai Gurdas as a Sikh missionary to Agra.
Later life
In 1577, Bhai Gurdas contributed his labour to excavating the Sarovar at Darbar Sahib. Twenty years later, he went on an expedition to Kartarpur and recited many of the early hymns to Emperor Akbar. Akbar was impressed by their spiritual content and was satisfied they had no anti-Muslim tone.[4]
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 to Gwalior, where the Mughal emperor Jahangir, jealous of the popularity of Sikhism, had imprisoned Guru Hargobind.[4] After that, Gurdas was sent to Kabul, Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Varanasi again to preach Sikhism. He even went to Sri Lanka, preaching the name of the Guru among the masses and showing them the true way of life.
Literary works
Bhai Gurdas completed the Adi Granth in 1604. It took him nearly 19 years to scribe. He not only wrote the Adi Granth, as dictated by Guru Arjan, 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 called Vaaran Bhai Gurdas.[4] Aside from his well-known Vaars, he also wrote Kabits, a form of poetry, in the Braj-language.[6]
Mural showing Bhai Gurdas and Baba Buddha in conversation.
The Akal Takht was revealed by Guru Hargobind on 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 at Gwalior Fort, he assigned Baba Buddha to perform the services at Harmandir Sahib and Bhai Gurdas as the first Jathedar of Akal Takht.
Death
He left his body for eternal abode on 25 August 1636 at Goindwal.[5] Guru Hargobind personally performed the ceremonial service at his funeral.
^Jaggi, Dr. Rattan Singh (1974). Bhai Gurdas. Patiala: Punjabi University Patiala. p. 19. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
^"Early Gursikhs:Bhai Gurdas Ji - Gateway To Sikhism". 27 January 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
^"Introduction to Bhai Gurdas -: ਵਾਰਾਂ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ :- SearchGurbani.com". www.searchgurbani.com. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
^ abcdJaggi, Rattan Singh. "GURDĀS, BHĀĪ (1551-1636)". Encyclopaedia of Sikhism. Punjabi University Punjabi. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
^ abBhai GURDAS (1551-1636) 13 January 2007 at the Wayback Machine - SikhHistory.com
^McLeod, William Hewat. "Sikhism - Devotional and other works". 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.
External links
Sikh Marg
April 28, 2023
bhai, gurdas, punjabi, ਰਦ, 1551, august, 1636, sikh, writer, historian, preacher, served, jathedar, akal, takht, from, 1606, death, 1636, original, scribe, early, version, guru, granth, sahib, ਰਦ, ਸ19th, century, mural, painting, from, gurdwara, baba, atal, de. Bhai Gurdas Punjabi ਭ ਈ ਗ ਰਦ ਸ 1551 25 August 1636 was a Sikh writer historian and preacher who served as the Jathedar of the Akal Takht from 1606 to his death in 1636 1 He was the original scribe of the early version of Guru Granth Sahib Bhai Gurdasਭ ਈ ਗ ਰਦ ਸ19th century mural painting from Gurdwara Baba Atal depicting Bhai GurdasJathedar of the Akal TakhtIn office 1618 1737Preceded byPosition EstablishedSucceeded byMani SinghPersonal detailsBornGurdas Bhalla1551Basarke Amritsar PunjabDied25 August 1636Goindwal Tarn Taran Sahib PunjabRelationsGanga wife of Guru ArjanParentsIshar Das father Jivani mother Known forTranscribing the early version of Guru Granth SahibVaran Bhai Gurdas Contents 1 Early life 2 Later life 3 Literary works 3 1 Writings 4 Jathedar of Akal Takhat 1606 1636 5 Death 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksEarly life EditBhai Gurdas was possibly born in 1551 2 exact year unknown but likely between 1543 1553 3 at Basarke Gillan a small village in the Punjab He was the only child of Bhai Ishar Das nephew of Guru Amar Das and Mata Jivani Bhai Gurdas was near 3 years of age when his mother died 4 5 After being orphaned at the age of 12 he was adopted by Guru Amar Das Bhai Gurdas learned Sanskrit Braj Bhasha Persian and Punjabi and eventually began preaching He spent his early years at Goindval and Sultanpur Lodhi At Goindval Gurdas listened and obtained knowledge from scholars and swamis that continuously visited the town while traversing the Delhi Lahore road He later moved to Varanasi where he studied Sanskrit and Hindu scriptures After Guru Amar Das left for his heavenly abode his successor Guru Ram Das assigned Bhai Gurdas as a Sikh missionary to Agra Later life EditIn 1577 Bhai Gurdas contributed his labour to excavating the Sarovar at Darbar Sahib Twenty years later he went on an expedition to Kartarpur and recited many of the early hymns to Emperor Akbar Akbar was impressed by their spiritual content and was satisfied they had no anti Muslim tone 4 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 to Gwalior where the Mughal emperor Jahangir jealous of the popularity of Sikhism had imprisoned Guru Hargobind 4 After that Gurdas was sent to Kabul Kashmir Rajasthan and Varanasi again to preach Sikhism He even went to Sri Lanka preaching the name of the Guru among the masses and showing them the true way of life Literary works EditBhai Gurdas completed the Adi Granth in 1604 It took him nearly 19 years to scribe He not only wrote the Adi Granth as dictated by Guru Arjan 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 called Vaaran Bhai Gurdas 4 Aside from his well known Vaars he also wrote Kabits a form of poetry in the Braj language 6 Writings Edit 6 Chhands of 8 Verses each in Sanskrit 672 Kabits and 3 Swayyas in Brij Bhasha 40 Vaars containing 912 Pauris in PunjabiJathedar of Akal Takhat 1606 1636 Edit Mural showing Bhai Gurdas and Baba Buddha in conversation The Akal Takht was revealed by Guru Hargobind on 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 at Gwalior Fort he assigned Baba Buddha to perform the services at Harmandir Sahib and Bhai Gurdas as the first Jathedar of Akal Takht Death EditHe left his body for eternal abode on 25 August 1636 at Goindwal 5 Guru Hargobind personally performed the ceremonial service at his funeral See also EditSikh GurusReferences Edit Jaggi Dr Rattan Singh 1974 Bhai Gurdas Patiala Punjabi University Patiala p 19 Retrieved 10 December 2022 Early Gursikhs Bhai Gurdas Ji Gateway To Sikhism 27 January 2014 Retrieved 19 August 2022 Introduction to Bhai Gurdas ਵ ਰ ਭ ਈ ਗ ਰਦ ਸ SearchGurbani com www searchgurbani com Retrieved 19 August 2022 a b c d Jaggi Rattan Singh GURDAS BHAi 1551 1636 Encyclopaedia of Sikhism Punjabi University Punjabi Retrieved 25 August 2015 a b Bhai GURDAS 1551 1636 Archived 13 January 2007 at the Wayback Machine SikhHistory com McLeod William Hewat Sikhism Devotional and other works 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 External links EditSikh Marg Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bhai Gurdas amp oldid 1151394203, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
