GULABA, a former masand or local sangat leader who, after the abolition of the office by Guru Gobind Singh in 169899, had settled at Machhivara in present day Ludiriana district of the Punjab, faithfully served tlie Guru and his three companions coming out after the battle of Chamkaur (December

JASSA MALL (d. 1836), son of Dhanpat, a Brahman shopkeeper, of the village of Dalval, in Jehlum district, joined Maharaja Ranjit Singh`s service in 1809 as a clerk on five rupees a month. In 1816, he became a treasurer in the Bela To shakhana, the treasury for charitable purposes.

KESHO GOPAL, PANDIT, a learned Brahman, became a devotee of Guru Amar Das. According to Sarup Das Bhalla, Mahimd Prakdsfi, he used to give discourses at the afternoon gatherings called by the Guru at Goindval. The words keso gopal pandit, appearing in the Guru Granth Sahib in the composition

MADAN NATH, head of a band of Kanphata yogis, called on Guru Gobind Singh as he was visiting Thanesar in 1702. As says Bhai Santokh Singh, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, the yogi was surprised to see Guru Gobind Singh in a warrior\'s dress and gave expression to his

NAUNIDH, Bhandari Khatri of Agra, waited upon Guru Gobind Singh during his visit to the city in AD 1707. According to Bhai Santokh Singh, Sri Gur Pratdp Suraj Granth, he enquired about the reason for prescribing unshorn hair for the Sikhs. The Guru explained that keeping long hair was no

RAMANANDA (1300-1410?), promoter of Vaisnav Bhakti in North India and founder of the Bairagi sect of anchorites, was born at Prayaga (Allahabad) in a Kanyakubja Brahman family. He studied in Kasi (Banaras), the ancient seat of learning, and it was here that he became a disciple of Raghavananda, the

SHIV DIAL, whose ancestors had made their home in Wazirabad, entered the service of Charhat Singh Sukkarchakkia and was assigned to managing his estates. His father, Kishan Kumar, a follower of Gurbakhsh Singh Wazirabadia, was the first in the family to have taken up service with the Sikhs. When

THAKAR DAS, son of Kanhaiya Lal, worked as keeper of the small private signet of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in place of his father for some time. He was later appointed manager of the area of Dhanni, Rupoval, etc., on a salary of rupees 4,320 per annum when Kanvar Nau Nihal

AJUDHIA PARSHAD, DIWAN (1799-1870), soldier and civil administrator in Sikh times, was the adopted son of Diwan Ganga Ram. Maharaja Ranjit Singh first employed Ajudhia Parshad in 1819 to serve in the military office in Kashmir. Three years later, he was recalled to Lahore and appointed paymaster of the

BALA JHINGAN, a learned Brahman who was known for his skill in debate and discourse. Accompanied by another learned Brahman, Kishna, of the same Jhirigan subcaste, he visited Guru Arjan. Both confessed to the Guru that despite their knowledge of the sacred texts and despite their ability to sway

CHAIYA, BHAI, son of Bulaki, who held charge of Dhaka as a masand, i.e. to the collector, was appointed to that office in Bihar province by Guru Tegh Bahadur. In the time of Guru Gobind Singh, he was found guilty of misappropriating devotees` offerings and suffered punishment.

DIAL, RAJA (d. 1691), of Bijharval who allied himself with Alif Khan, the Mughal commander, despatched by Miari Khan, the viceroy of Jammu, to exact tribute from the hill chieftains. The hill princes sought Guru Gobind Singh`s help and a battle took place on 20 March 1691 at Nadaun