SALHO, BHAI

SALHO, BHAI (d. 1628), a prominent Sikh of the time of Guru Arjan, rendered devoted service during the excavation of the sacred tank and the construction of the Harimandar at Amritsar. He was especially assigned to keeping record of all receipts and expenditure, in cash as well as in kind. Later, Guru Arjan entrusted to him the general administration of Amritsar, and he induced many people to come and settle in the town. Bhai Salho was among those chosen to accompany the marriage party of (Guru) Hargobind in January 1605.

Guru Arjan once described him as one “matchless in devotion, most dear to me.” Bhai Salho lived up to the time of Guru Hargobind. He died in 1628 and the Guru personally performed the obsequies. A gurdwara, called Dharamsala Bhai Salho ji, in Amritsar, commemorates him. Close by a samadh, or memorial shrine, marks the spot where his mortal remains were cremated.

References :

1. Santokh Singh, Bhai, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth. Amritsar, 1927-35
2. Gian Singh, Giani, Twarikh Guru Khalsa [Reprint]. Patiala, 1970
3. Macauliffe, Max Arthur, The Sikh Religion : Its Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors. Oxford, 1909