VIGAH MALL, BHAl, of Sultanpur Lodhi now in Kapurthala district of the Punjab, embraced Sikh faith during the time of Guru Amar Das. He lived up to the time of Guru Arjan and once visited him in Amritsar with the sangat of Sultanpur to receive instruction from him. His

BHAGAT (BHAKTA) BANI The Sikh Holy Book, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, comprises writings coming from two sources the sayings of the Gurus and those of the Bhagats (Bhaktas). The term Bhagat here broadly covers, besides some of the saints of medieval India whose compositions occur in the Guru Granth

BHIKHAN (1480-1573), a medieval Indian saint two of whose hymns are included in the Guru Granth Sahib. There are in fact two saints of that time sharing the same name Bhakta Bhikhan and Bhikhan the Sufi. Bhakta Bhikhan was a devotee in the tradition of Ravidas and Dhanna. His

CHHAJJU, BHAI, a Bhalla Khatri of Sultanpur Lodhi, whose name figures in Bhai Gurdas, Varan, XI. 21, and who had embraced the Guru`s precept at the hands of Guru Amar Das. He once visited Amritsar with the sarig`at of Sultanpur and received instruction from Guru Arjan. See AKUL, BHAI,

DIPA, BHAI, resident of the village of Dalla in present day Kapurthala district of the Punjab, has been listed by Bhai Gurdas, Varan, XI. 16, amongst the leading Sikhs of the time of Guru Amar Das. He had received instruction at the hands of the Guru himself. See RAMU,

JAPA, BHAI, a Khatri of the Khullar clan, was a devoted Sikli of the time of Guru Ram Das. His name figures in the roster of prominent Sikhs in Bhai Gurdas` Varan, XI. 17.

LALA, BHAI, a Sethi Khatri, was a devoted Sikh of the time of Guru Arjan. He was a talented musician and recited and expounded the holy hymns at Sikh gatherings. See Bhai Gurdas, Varan, XI.24.

MURARI, BHAI, an Anand Khatri, who accepted Sikhism at the hands of Guru Arjan. The Guru taught him to practise ndm, i.e. repeat the Divine Name, and to serve others. The name figures in Bhai Gurdas, Varan, XI. 27.

PAIRA, BHAI, a devoted Sikh of the time of Guru Arjan. The Guru, as says Bhai Man! Singh, Sikhdn di Bhagat Maid, instructed him in the virtues of honest labour and charity. Bhai Paira gave away all he possessed and lived a very simple and pious life. Also see

RAMU, BHAI, a devoted Sikh of the time of Guru Amar Das. He received the rites of initiation at the hands of the Guru at the time of the latter`s visit to his village, Dalla, now in Kapurthala district of the Punjab. As he heard of the Guru`s arrival,

SURI, BHAI, a village headman, received initiation at the hands of Guru Arjan. Once, as he was on a visit to Amritsar, the Guru impressed upon him the sanctity and significance of the holy place for the Sikhs. His name appears in the list of Guru Arjan`s Sikhs in

VISSA, BHAI, a Bhardvaj Brahman who accepted Sikhism at the hands of Guru Arjan. The name occurs in Bhai Gurdas, Varan, XI. 20.