BHANA MALLAN, BHAI, and Bhai Rekh Rao, storekeepers of the Mughal governor at Kabul, were pious and devoted Sikhs of the time of Guru Arjan. Whatever they earned, they spent on feeding the needy Sikhs and others. Jealous of their generous hospitality, someone complained to the governor charging them with dishonesty. It was said that they used short weights and misappropriated the provisions in the stores. Bhai Mani Singh, Sikhan di Bhagat Mala, records that the weights were in fact short, though Bhai Bhana and Bhai Rekh Rao did not know.
Both were honest men and had deep faith in the Guru. They made an ardas, supplicating the Guru that their honour be vindicated. It is said that Guru Arjan was on that day in a congregation at Amritsar. A Sikh made an offering of five pice. The Guru took up the coins and, weighing them on his palm, began shifting them from one hand to the other and back again. The sangat was perplexed. Offerings, precious as well as humble, had always been made to the Guru, but he had hardly ever touched them.
Soon. however, Guru Arjan dropped the coins and smiled. Asked by the Sikhs to reveal the mystery, the Guru said that he was countervailing the weights of his innocent Sikhs in trouble. Meanwhile, the weights of Bhai Bhana`s store had been tested and found to be correct. Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha, Gurushabad Ratnakar Mahan Kosh and Bhai Santokh Singh, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, also mention this anecdote, but in reference to one Bhai Katara and not to Bhai Bhana Mallan and Bhai Rekh Rao.
References :
1. Mani Singh, Bhai, Sikhan di Bhagat Mala. Amritsar, 1955
2. Santokh Singh, Bhai, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth. Amritsar, 1926-37
