SAMMAN, BHAI

SAMMAN, BHAI, was the masand or leader of the Sikh sangat at Shahbazpur, now in Amritsar district of the Punjab, during the time of Guru Arjan. He was known for his firm faith and piety. Bhai Gurdas praises Bhai Samman, in one of his stanzas, for the care ne took of the Sikhs in his area. According to Bhai Mani Singh, Sikhan di Bhagat Mala, one Bhai Kapur Dev once asked Guru Arjan to show him one of his favourite Sikhs. The Guru directed him to Bhai Samman. Kapur Dev found the latter a model of serenity and self control, who was neither excited at the marriage of his son nor upset at his sudden death the following day.

The son, Musan, was, like his father, a devoted Sikh, too. See KAPUR DEV, BI IAl, and MUSAN BHAI. The first two couplets of Guru Arjan`s composition, Chaubole, included in the Guru Granth Sahib (GG, !:»)3(>4j, are addressed to Bhai Samman. They extol love of God as the highest virtue. The first couplet for instance, says : “Could the love of God, 0 Samman, be bartered with wealtli, Ravan and others like him were no paupers [ Yet they were not blessed with such love]”.

References :

1. Mani Singh, Bhai, Sikhan di Bhagat Mala. Amritsar, 1955
2. Santokh Singh, Bhai, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth. Amritsar, 1927-35