PRITHI MALL, BHAI

PRITHI MALL, BHAI. a Bhalla Khatri, resident of the village of Dalla, now in Kapurthala district of the Punjab. Once, as Guru Amar Das visited Dalla, he, accompanied by another Bhalla Khatri of the village, Bhai Tulsa, called on him and proudly announced that they too were of the Bhalla caste to which he (the Guru) himself belonged. According to Bhai Mani Singh, Guru Amar Das remarked, “The Guru has no caste. Castes and clans are attached only to the body which is destructible. ”

Another couplet from Guru Nanak: “Neither caste nor position will be recognized hereafter. Totally differently are men known there. They alone will be pronounced good whose merit is recognized worthy of honour” (GG.469). Prithi Mall and Tulsa, shedding their false pride, fell at the Guru`s feet and took the Guru`s precept.

References :

1. Mani Singh, Bhai, Sikhan di Bhagat Mala. Amritsar, 1955
2. Santokh Singh, Bhai, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth. Amritsar, 1927-35
3. Gian Singh, Giani, Twarikh Guru Khalsa [Reprint]. Patiala, 1970