SLOKAS OF SHAIKH FARID. Baba Shaikh Farid GanjiShakar (1173-1264), the famous Sufi saint born in the Punjab, some of whose compositions are included in the Guru Granth Sahib, was a poet whose Punjabi verses form the first recorded poetry in the Punjabi language. Guru Nanak himself seems to have

SITALA (SHITALA) He who runs towards Bhairava, Bhuta (Ghost) or Sitala, he can only be recipient of the reward of the vehicle of an ass, who rolls up in the dust. (Gond Namdev, p. 874) Sitala is the name of the deity, who is supposed to have the charge

TRUMPP S TRANSLATION OF PORTIONS OF THE GURU GRANTH SAHIB, first published in 1877 under the title The Adi Granth, was the earliest attempt at rendering the Scripture of the Sikhs into another language. The translator, Dr Ernest Trumpp (1828-85), an eminent linguist proficient in several languages, western as

WAZIRKHAN (d. 1634) is the name popularly given by Sikh chroniclers to Hakim `Alim udDin, son of Shaikh `Abd ulLatif of Chiniot, a town now in Jhang district of Pakistan Punjab. Trained as a physician, he rose in favour with Emperor Shah Jahan, who created him a ma.nsa.bdar of

ANANTI, MATA, wife of Baba Gurditta and mother of Guru Har Rai, Nanak VII. She was popularly known as Mata Natti. Some chroniclers have also used for her the names of Nihal Kaur and Bassi. See NATTi, MATA

ANN DEVATA (Personification of corn or food grain as god) Corn-god, water-god, fire-god, salt and ghee was put the fifth. (Var Asa M. l, p. 473) See : Pani Devata

BENI, BHAGAT is one of the fifteen saints and sufis some of whose compositions have been incorporated in the Guru Granth Sahib. Very little is known about his personal life except that he spent most of his time in prayer and contemplation. Nabhaji`s Bhagatmal, which includes him in its

BISHAN SINGH, GIANI (1875-1966), cleric and exegete, was a granthi or priest at the Khalsa College at Amritsar for 30 years. The Khalsa College was then a premier Sikh college excelling in research and publication in the field of Sikh studies. Four of the foremost Sikh scholars of this

CHANDU, BHAI, a Chaujhar Khatri, received initiation at the hands of Guru Arjan. His name is included among the devotees in Bhai Gurdas, Varan, XI. 19. See SAIN DAS, BHAI

DEVI DAS was, according to Bhai Santokh Singh, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, a devout Sikh of the time of Guru Hargobind (1595-1644), trained in martial skills. He took part in the battle of Amritsar (1629) in which the Sikhs worsted the attacking Mughal force led by Mukhlis Khan,

DAU, BHAI, a devoted Sikh of Guru Hargobind (1595-1644), is listed by Bhai Santokh Singh, Sn Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, among warriors who fought in the battle of Amritsar (1629).

GOBINDPURA, village 7 km west of Bareta (29°52`N, 75°42`E) in Mansa district of the Punjab, is sacred to Guru Tcgh Bahadur as well as to Guru Gobind Singh. Guru Tcgh Bahadur, says the Sdkhi Polhi, arrived here from Bachchhoana on his way to Gaga and further east. Guru Gobind