KIRPA RAM, PANDIT

KIRPA RAM, PANDIT or Kripa Ram (d. 1705), was the son of Bhai Aru Ram, a Sarasvat Brahman of Matan, 65 km east of Srinagar, in Kashmir. Aru Ram had met Guru Har Rai and sought his blessing at the time of the latter`s visit to Kashmir in 1660. In May 1675, Kirpa Ram led to Anandpur a group of Kashmir! Pandits driven to dire straits by Slate persecution. Iftikhar Khan, governor of Kashmir (1671-75), was a harsh man and was making forcible conversions to Islam. Guru Tegh Bahadur whose help the visitors sought asked them to go and have it communicated to the Emperor that, if he (Guru Tcgh Bahadur) was converted, they would all voluntarily accept conversion.

Kirpa Ram and his companions sent to Emperor Aurarigzib a petition to that effect through Zahm Khan, governor of Lahore. Then followed the imperial summons, and Guru Tegh Bahadur`s arrest and his martyrdom in Delhi. Kirpa Ram returned to Anandpur. According to some chronicles, he helped Guru Gobind Singh in his Sanskrit studies. In 1699, he received the holy amrit and entered the fold of the Khalsa. He fell a martyr in the battle of Chamkaur on 7 December 1705.

References :

1. Kuir Singh, Gurlnlds Palshdhi 10. Patiala, 1968
2. Triloclian Singh, Guru Tegh Bahadur: Prophet find Martyr. Delhi, 1967
3. Harbans Singh, Guru Tegh Bahadur. Delhi, 1986