GURBANSAVAU

GURBANSAVAU, by Saundha (variously Saundha Singh), is a chronology in verse of the Gurus and of their families. The author, a contemporary and for some time an employee of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, was a Sandhu Jattofthe Lahore district. His father was Chaudhari Hem Raj, and his elder brother, Hira Singh, was the founder of the Nakal family. Among his other works are Amrit Mahimd, Gur Ustati, Parsang Pdlshdhi Dasvm and Hdlimndmd, besides several independent poems. The Gurbansdvali which is more a good piece of literature than a document of historical information starts with homage to the Gurus.

The author records that Guru Nanak, son of Kalu Mehta and Mata Tripta, was a Bedi Khatri. The Guru had two sons, Sri Chand and Lakhmi Das. He lived up to the age of 70 years, 5 months and 7 days. Guru Nanak`s spiritual successor, Guru Arigad, was of the Trehan sub caste. He was married to Khivi and had two sons, Dasu and Datu.

The author does not mention the Guru`s two daughters, Bibi Amaro and Anokhi. His time is computed to be 12 years, 6 months and 9 days. Similar accounts are presented of the Gurus following. Written in simple verse, which is a mixture of Hindi and Punjabi, the work has been included, after minor editing, in GurprandUdn published by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee in 1964.