- Bhai Gurdas
Bhai Gurdas (
1551 -25 August 1636 ) was a PunjabiSikh writer, historian, missionary, and religious figure. He was the original scribe of theGuru Granth Sahib [http://www.sikhs.org/saints.htm Saints] - Sikhs.org] and a companion of four of theSikh Gurus .Early life
Bhai Gurdas was born in 1551 in Goindwal, a small village in the Punjab. His father was Bhai Ishardas who was a first cousin of
Guru Amar Das (see family tree) His mothers name was Jivani [http://www.searchgurbani.com/main.php?book=bhai_gurdas_vaaran&action=intro Life Bhai Gurdas Ji] - SearchGurbani.com] and she died in 1554 when Gurdas was only three [http://www.sikh-history.com/sikhhist/gurus/gurdas.html Bhai GURDAS (1551-1636)] - SikhHistory.com] .After being orphaned at the age of 12 , he was adopted by his uncle
Guru Amar Das . He learned Sanskrit, Brijbhasha, Persian and Punjabi (Gurmukhi ) and eventually began preachingSikhism . He spent his early years at Goindval andSultanpur Lodhi . At Goindval he listened to scholars andswami s who kept visiting the town while traversing theDelhi -Lahore road. He later moved toVaranasi where he studiedSanskrit andHindu scriptures. There, he was subsequently initiated intoSikhism . AfterGuru Amar Das died, his successorGuru Ram Das , appointed Gurdas as the Sikh missionary to Agra. [http://www.info-sikh.com/GurdasPage1.html Bhai Gurdas Ji] - Infosikh.com]Later life
In 1577, Bhai Gurdas contributed his labor to excavating the pool at the
Harimandir Sahib . Twenty years later, he went on an expedition toKartarpur and recited many of the early hymns to EmperorAkbar . This was at a time when many of the Sikhs were becoming very anti-Muslim in tone and family feuds within the Gurus' family had put Sikhism in danger. Akbar received the verses positively and became convinced there were no anti-Muslim suggestions.After Guru Ram Das died, Bhai Gurdas formed a close relationship with the fifth Guru,
Guru Arjan Dev . Guru Arjan Dev had great respect for him, and regarded Bhai Gurdas as his maternal uncle ("mama"). It is said that the Mughal emperorJahangir was growing jealous of the popularity of Sikhism, and Bhai Gurdas was sent toKabul ,Kashmir ,Rajasthan , andVaranasi again to preach Sikhism.He even went toSri Lanka , preaching the name of the guru among the nasses and showing them the true way of life.Literary works
He completed the
Adi Granth in 1604. It took him nearly 11 years to complete this task. Bhai Gurdas not only wrote the Adi Granth as dictated by Guru Arjan Dev but also supervised four other scribes, Bhai Haria, Bhai Sant Das, Bhai Sukha and Bhai Manasa Ram. He assisted these scribes in the writing of various scriptures. [http://www.searchgurbani.com/main.php?book=bhai_gurdas_vaaran&action=intro Life Bhai Gurdas Ji] - SearchGurbani.com] His other works in Punjabi are collectively calledVaran Bhai Gurdas .Numbers
*6 Chands of 8 verses each in Sanskrit.
*672 Kabits and 3 swayyas inBrij Bhasha .
*40 Vars containing 912 pauris (in Punjabi).Death
He died on
25 August 1636 inGoindwal . Guru Har Gobind Sahib personally performed the ceremonial cremation.References
External links
* [http://www.answers.com/topic/bhai-gurdas Bhai Gurdas] - Answers.com
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