SAIDO, BHAI

SAIDO, BHAI, a Gheho Jatt, worshipper of Khwaja Khizr, a mythical Muslim saint, became a disciple of Guru Nanak. According to Puratan Janam Sakhi, he accompanied Guru Nanak during his journey to the South. While in Ceylon, Guru Nanak is said to have uttered Pran Sangali, a metrical composition desribing the state of true spiritual discernment. Bhai Saido is said to have reduced the text to writing. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Santokh Singh, Bhai, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth. Amritsar, 1927-35 2. Vir Singh, Bhai, ed., Puratan Janam Sakhi. Amritsar, 1971 3. Macauliffe, Max Arthur, The Sikh Religion: Its Gums, Sacred Writings and Authors.

Oxford, 1909 P.S.P. SAIDO, BHAI, of Lahore, received the rites of initiation during the time of Guru Amar Das. He once led a sangat to the presence of Guru Amar Das to request him to lift the “curse” pronounced by Guru Nanak upon Lahore. There is a line in Guru Nanak: “The city of Lahore went through a quarter of a day`s cruel atrocity” (GG.1412). The somewhat obscure reference appears to be to the sack of Lahore by Babar`s invading host in 1524. Guru Nanak was alluding to the terror let loose upon the citizens for well over three hours, to which he had probably been a witness. But the Sikhs of Lahore, says Bhai Santokh Singh, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, thought that Guru Nanak`s words, implied a curse foretelling a future calamity.

Bhai Saido accompanied by Bhai Sain Ditta, a goldsmith, Jhanjhi by caste, waited on Guru Amar Das and invited him to visit Lahore. In Lahore, the entire sangat, full of apprehension, requested the Guru to cancel the curse. Guru Amar Das allayed their fear saying, “The City of Lahore is the very pool of nectar.” The verse is recorded in the Guru Granth Sahib like Guru Nanak`s. Bhai Saido and Bhai Sain Ditta went to see Guru Arjan and narrated to him the event. Guru Arjan instructed them to repeat always Vahiguru, the single word denoting the formless as well as the manifest nature of God. Bhai Saido and his companion fell at the Guru`s feet and felt blessed.

References :

1. Santokh Singh, Bhai, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth. Amritsar, 1927-35