BHIKHAN KHAN (d. 1688) was a Pathan who had served in the Mughal army before joining Guru Gobind Singh at Paonta Sahib on the recommendation of Pir Buddhu Shah of Sadhaura. He had one hundred soldiers under his command, but he crossed over to the hill rajas on the eve of the battle of Bharigani (AD 1688). According to Bhai Santokh Singh, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, Bhikhan Khan told the Pathans in the employ of Guru Gobind Singh that the Guru was mainly dependant on them and that the rest of his army was only a miscellaneous rabble who would run away when they heard the first shot fired. He suggested that they could save their lives by taking the side of the hillmen.
BISHAN SINGH, SANT (d. 1973), holy saint most of whose life was spent in works of seva, raising of buildings by labour volunteered by devotees, at different shrine sites, came of a well to do Sindhi family. Nothing is known about his early life except that his parents were Sahajdhari Sikhs and that he was in government service when he came in 1940 to the Punjab on a pilgrimage visiting Sikh places of worship and saw Sant Gurmukh Singh of Patiala, then engaged in massive works of seva reconstructing the shrines and sacred pools at Khadur Sahib and Goindval. Bishan Singh was so impressed by the piousness, humility and devotion of Sant Gurmukh Singh and of the large number of Sikhs volunteering their labour that he resigned his post in the government, gave away his personal belongings and joined the holy company.
BHAI: Bhai, literally means brother. In the Sikh culture this term is used to show respect for a person. A saintly person, an intellectual, a humanitarian, a leader may be addressed as Bhai. The British adopted conferring the title of Sardar Bahadur to the persons loyal to their regime.
CHAU, BHAI, a Bammi Khatri and a resident of Sultanpur Lodhi, embraced Sikhism during the time of Guru Amar Das. He was one of the sangat who, according to Bhai Mani Singh, Sikhan di Bhagat Mala, went to see Guru Arjan at Amritsar and received the holy precept. See AKUL. BHAl and BHIKHA.BHATT
DAMODAR, BHAI, a pious Sikh ofSultanpur Lodhi. He visited Amritsar along with the sangat of that town to receive instruction at the hands of Guru Arjan. His name figures among the devotees of the Guru in Bhai Gurdas, Varan, XI. 21. See AKUL, BHAI, and BHIKHA, BHATT
DHARAM SINGH, BHAI (1666-1708), one of the Pan] Piare or the Five Beloved, the forerunners of Khalsa, came of farming stock. He was the son of Bhai Sant Ram and Mai Sabho, of Hastinapur, an ancient town on the right bank of the Ganges, 35 km northeast of Meerut (29°N, 77° 45`E). Dharam Das, as he was originally named, was born around 1666. As a young man, he fell into the company of a Sikh who introduced him to the teachings of the Gurus. He left home at the age of thirty in quest of further instruction. At the Sikh shrine ofNanak Piau, dedicated to Guru Nanak, he was advised to go to Guru Gobind Singh at Anandpur, where he arrived in 1698.
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 on the left bank of the River Beas, 32 km southeast of Kangra. According to Bhai Santokh Singh, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, Raja Dial fell to a shot from Guru Gobind Singh.
DASU, BABA (b. 1524), eldest son of Guru Arigad and Mata Khivi, was born on 9 Bhadon 1581 Bk / 7 August 1524 at Khadur Sahib in present day Amritsar district of the Punjab. He was ambitious to succeed his father in the spiritual line, but the latter, as records Kesar Singh Chhibbar, Bansavalinama, spoke: "He [Amar Das] is my brother and to him I am entrusting the responsibility .... Him I have reckoned as capable of bearing the burden." Dasu kept quiet at the time, but, after the passing away of Guru Angad, as his duly anointed successor, Guru Amar Das shifted to Goindval, he proclaimed himself Guru at Khadur even against the remonstrances of his mother. Later he recanted and apologized to his mother who took him to Goindval. He made obeisance to Guru Amar Das whose true disciple he remained thereafter.
Discover the inspiring journey of Bhai Ganga from serving in the Mughal army to achieving spiritual enlightenment under Guru Arjan and Guru Hargobind.
GOIND KUKK, BHAI, and Bhai Gola and Bhai Mohan, also Kukk Jatts, sought refuge at the feet of Guru Arjan and asked to be instructed in the path of righteousness and liberation. The Guru gave them twofold advice: "Repeat the Name of God and remember death. By remembering death, you will desist from committing sin, and by repeating God`s Name the effect of your past sins will be erased." Bhai Goind and his two companions became Sikhs and, according to Bhai Santokh Singh, Sn Gur Pratdp Sura] Granth, ever remained in the service of the Guru.
