KHIVI, MATA

KHIVI, MATA (d. 1582), wife of Guru Arigad, was the daughter of Bhai Devi Chand, a well to do Marvaha Khatri of village Sarigar, 4 km north of Khadur Sahib in present day Amritsar district of the Punjab. She was, on 15 November 1519, married to Bhai Lahina (later Guru Angad), then living at Khadur. To her were born two sons, Dasu and Datu, and two daughters, Amaro and AnokhT. Bhal Lahina, after his first meeting with Guru Nanak in 1532, left his presence but rarely. 

Mata Khtvi stayed behind in Khadur, looking after the children.Succeeding Guru Nanak in 1539, Bhal Lahina (now Guru Angad) made Khadur his principal seat. Disciples began to pour in from far and near to have a glimpse of the Guru and to receive instruction.Mata Khtvi now took it upon herself to look after the pilgrims and supervise Guru ka Larigar, the community refectory, which remained open from morning till late in the evening.

For her constant attention to it, the Larigar came to be called after her name as Mata Khivi Ji ka Larigar. Bard Balvand, in his verses preserved in the Guru Granth Sahib, says how Khivi, the noblest of women, provided comfort to pilgrims like a tree with deep leafy shade and how she distributed riches in the Larigar such as khir, i.e. rice cooked in milk, enriched with ghee which tasted like ambrosia itself (GG, 967). Maia Khtvi survived her husband to live through the times of Guru Amar Das and Guru Ram Das. She died at Khadur in 1582.

References :

1. Ghhibbar, Kc.sar Singh, Bansenxi Hixiiiin Damil Pdlsluilndu Kn. Chandigarh, 1972
2. Santokh Singh, Bhai, Sri Cur Prntdp Sintij Gmnlii. Amrilsar, 1927-33
3. Bharigii, Ratan Singh, Prachin Panth Prnkfisli. Amritsar, 1962
4. Gian Singh, Giani, Panlh Prnkfish. Patiala, 1970
5. Satibir Singh, Qudmtl Nur. Jalandhar, 1981