BALLU, BHAI, a barber who embraced the Sikh faith at the hands of Guru Angad came into prominence in the time of Guru Amar Das. When Guru Amar Das, after being consecrated Guru by Guru Arigad, retired to Goindval and shut himself in a room to meditate in seclusion,

SACHCHAN SACHCH, a simple Brahman so nicknamed for his habit of responding with "sachch, sachch (true, true)" to anything said to him, was a devoted Sikh of the time of Guru Amar Das. Leaving his native village, Mandar, now in Sheikhupura district of Pakistan he came to stay at

BENI, PANDIT, a learned Brahman of Chunian, in present day Lahore district of Pakistan, was a devoted Sikh of the time of Guru Amar Das. As he first visited Goindval, he came loaded with books to demonstrate his learning. Guru Amar Das spoke to him gently: "Mere learning begetteth

SADHARAN, SANT, was the name given by Guru Amar Das to one of his devoted Sikhs, a carpenter of Goindval, who had made a long wooden ladder for use in the baoli, or open well, then under construction. Pleased with his devotion and industry, Guru Amar Das called him

TAPA (lit. a practidoner of physical austerities) is the name given by Sikh chroniclers to an ascetic who once came to Guru Ram Das and, proud of the penances he had undergone, said, "Thy Sikhs are very proud ; they acknowledge not the Vedas and the Puranas ; they

BHIRAI, MAI, spelt by some chroniclers also as Bharai and Virai, who belonged to Matte di Sarai, the birthplace of Guru Arigad (1504-52), was married to Bhai Mahima, a Khahira Jatt of Khadur (Sahib) in Amritsar district of the Punjab. She was like a sister to Bhai Pheru Mall, the

TEJ BHAN, BABA (d. 1533), affectionately referred to as Tejo in early chronicles, was the father of Guru Amar Das, Nanak III (1479-1574). A Khatri of the Bhalla clan, Tej Bhan was born to Baba Hariji and Mata Milavi of Basarke Gillari, a village 12 km southwest of Amritsar.

DURGA, PANDIT, or Durgo Bhambi, a Sarsvat Brahman of Bhambi clan living in the village of Mihra or Mahera (location obscure), predicted great name and fame for (Guru) Amar Das when the latter even had not yet met Guru Ahgad. According to Sarup Das Bhalla, Mahima Prakash, Amar Das,

KABUL VALI MAI. or the Lady from Kabul, is the name chroniclers have given to a woman who rendered devoted service during the digging of the bdoH at Goindval under the supervision of Guru Amar Das. Day after day, says Sarup Das Bhalla, Mahimd Prakdsh, she toiled away at the

KATTU SHAH, a Muslim resident of Kashmir who converted a Sikh, was known for his piety and devotion. Journeying through Kashmir once, Guru Hargobind (1595-1644) put up with him in his house for a night. Later, as says Sarup Das Bhalla, Mahimd Prakdsh, a group of Sikhs, on their

KHEDA, BHAI, a Brahman resident of Khem Karan, in present day Amritsar district, was a devout Sikh of the time of Guru Amar Das. According to Sarup Das Bhalla, Mahimd Prakdsh, Kheda was initially a staunch worshipper of the goddess Durga and regularly went on pilgrimage to Javalamukhi. Once,