guru

AHRAURA, a small town in Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh, 40 km south of Varanasi (25°20\'N, 8205-81 E). has a Sikh shrine called Gurudwara Bagh Shri Guru Tegh BahadurJi Ka. Guru Tegh Bahadur visited Ahraura in 1666 in the course of his journey in the eastern parts. It is said that he told a devotee, Bhai Sadhoji, to plant a tree. This was the beginning of a garden which still exists. From this garden (bagh), the Gurdwara derives its name. A closet called Nivas Sthan marks the room in which Guru Tegh Bahadur is said to have stayed.

AKAL MURATI, a composite term comprising akal (non temporal) and murati (image or form), occurring in the Mul Mantra, the root formula or fundamental creed of the Sikh faith as recorded at the beginning of the Japu, composition with which the Guru Granth Sahib opens, literally means `timeless image`. Elsewhere, in the compositions of Guru Ram Das (GG, 78), and Guru Arjan (GG, 99, 609, 916 and 1082), the expression Akal Murati reinforces the original meaning of Divine Reality that is beyond the process of time, and yet permeates the cosmic forms. The non temporal Being transcends the space time framework and, as such, is Formless. However, in its manifest aspect, the same Being assumes the cosmic Form.

ALAM SINGH NACHNA (d. 1705), a warrior in the retinue of Guru Gobind Singh, was the son of Bhai Durgu, a Rajput Sikh of Sialkot. He earned the popular epithet Nachna (lit. dancer) because of his uncommon agility. Sarup Das Bhalla, Mahima Prakash, describes him as one of Guru Gobind Singh\'s constant companions. Possessing pluck as well as skill, he once killed a tiger single handed. On another occasion when during the chase Guru Gobind Singh was suddenly attacked by two hill chiefs, Balia Chand and Alam Chand, with a force far out numbering his own, Alam Singh Nachna showed exemplary courage.

AMIA, BHAI (d. 1635). a devoted Sikh of the time of Guru Hargobind. He was one of the five disciples sent to supervise the inhabitation of the village of Ruhela, renamed after Guru Hargobind. Bhai Amia took part in the battle of Amritsar (1634). According to Gurbilas Chhevin Patshahf, he commanded, jointly with Bhai Mihara, a contingent of 500 Sikhs in the battle of Kartarpur fought in April 1635. He was killed in action and Guru Hargobind had the cremation rites performed, before leaving for Kiratpur the following day.

ANANTA, BHAI, son of Bhai Kuko, a Vadhavan Khatri, was a devoted Sikh of the time of Guru Hargobind (1595-1644). According to Bhai Santokh Singh, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, he once earned the Guru`s displeasure for wantonly hitting a crow which became lame as a result of the injury. He was, however, repentant and was pardoned through Bhai Bidhi Chand`s intercession. Bhai Ananta laid down his life fighting for the Guru in the battle of Amritsar (1629).

ATAL RAI, BABA (1619-1628), son of Guru Hargobind (1595-1644), was born to Mata Nanaki at Amritsar on 23 October 1619. He died at the tender age of nine years. The circumstances of his death, as narrated in Gurbilas Chhevin Patshahi, were most extraordinary. Atal Rai had a playmate, Mohan, who was the son of a local businessman, Suini Shah. One day as they played with ball and sticks far into the evening, the forfeit was upon Mohan.

ARISAR SAHIB GURUDWARA :Gurdwara Arisar Sahib Patshahi Nauvin Village Dhaula Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji came to village of Handiyaya in the year 1665 A.D. As per the local people, it is said that while passing through Handiyaya his horse stopped all of a sudden just outside the boundary of village Dhaula. Even Guru Ji tried his best but the horse did not budge. Every body got surprised. The villagers then asked Guru Ji why was the horse not moving? Guru Ji smiled and said that the horse has stopped because he has smelt tobacco, which was grown over there.

AVTAR SINGH AZAD Avtar Singh \'Azad\', (1906 - 1972) the minor Punjabi poet, is not deserving of notice. Before independence, he had published four collections of poems, Swant Bundan (Drops of Bliss), Savan Pinghan (The Swings of Savan), Vishva Vedna (Plight of the World) and Kansoan (Intimations), and published a translation of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam under the title of Khayyam Khumari (Inebriations of Khayyam). His style is rhetorical in the way of most Urdu poetry.

BAHILOL, BHAI, a resident of Qadivind, a village near Kasur, now in Pakistan, was a devotee of Guru Amar Das. Once the Guru visited Qadivind at his request and, pleased at his devotion, promised him any boon he might ask of him. Bhai Bahilol spoke humbly : "Nothing is permanent in this world, Lord ! Grant me therefore the only boon worth asking for, that is, I may always remember God`s Name." The Guru gave him his blessing. The memorial gurdwara dedicated to Guru Amar Das and constructed on the land donated by Bhai Bahilol was looked after by a line of Udasi priests until the partition of the Punjab in 1947. The.samadh of Bhai Bahilol also existed near the gurdwara.

BALA MARVAHA. a devoted Sikh of the time of Guru Arjan. He served diligently as the Harimandar at Amritsar was under construction. Once, as says Bhai Mani Singh, Sikhari di Bhagat Mala, Bhai Bala, along with Bhai HamzaJa|ja, Bhai Nanon Ohri and Bhai Suri Chaudhari, went up to the Guru and begged him to explain the greatness and significance of Amritsar. The Guru said that Amritsar would remain of utmost sanctity for the Sikhs.