guru

SIRSA, pronounced Sarsa (29"33`N, 75°04 E), in Haryana, once famous as a seat of Muslim Sufis and anchorites has two historical Sikh shrines : GURDWARA CHILHA SAHIB PATSHAHI 1. Guru Nanak once visited Sirsa and held discourse with the holy men, stressing the futility of withdrawal from the world and of undergoing austerities. A small shrine commemorating the visit of the Guru stands near the Khanaqah of Pahj PIrs in the northwestern corner of the town. Two engraved stones in the shrine carry the inscription Chilha Bava Sahib Nanak Dervish.

SRI GURU GRANTH PRAYAY, a glossary of the Guru Granth Sahib, is an anonymous and undated manuscript preserved in the Khalsa College at Amritsar under catalogue No. 1473. It comprises 147 folios, 24 cms x 16 cms, with 21 lines to a page, and is possibly a late eighteenth century or early nineteenth century work. Although the word prayay would signify /1 a glossary or lexicon, this work is not a | dictionary in the strict sense of the term, for it | lacks the alphabetical order and attempts | neither etymology nor uncovering varying shades of meanings of the words. Words chosen for explanation are in fact listed in the order in which they occur in the text.

SULABI KHAN. a nephew of Sulahi Khan, bore Guru Arjan a personal grudge thinking that his uncle had died as a result of Guru Arjan`s curse. Abetted by Chandu Shah, who had his own axe to grind, to take revenge on the Guru, Sulabi Khan set out with a troop of soldiers, and headed for Amritsar. But, according to Gurbilas Chhevin Patshahi, he was accosted on the way by another group of soldiers, who had been in the employ of his uncle but had not been paid for their services for a long time. They now demanded the payment of their arrears.

SUTHRASHAHIS, a mendicant order which owes its origin to Suthra Shah (1625-82), a disciple of Guru Hargobind. Not much is known about the life of Suthra Shah. The legend goes diat he was born in a Nanda Khatri family of Bahrampur, now in Gurdasur district, with a black mark on his forehead and with his teeth cut, on which account he was pronounced to be unlucky. His parents neglected him, but Guru Hargobind, sixth in the spiritual line from Guru Nanak, took him under his care.

TAKHTU. BHAI, a Dhir Khatri, embraced Sikh faith during the time of Guru Arjan. He lived up to the time of Guru Hargobind when he earned a name for himself as a soldier participating in the encounters with the Mughal troops. "Once", as says Bhai Mani Singh, Sikhan di Bhagat Mala, "Bhai Takhtu, accompanied by Bhai Dargah Tuli, Bhai Mansadhar, and Bhai Tirath Uppal, waited on Guru Hargobind and said, "Venerable True King ! We listen to discourses given by enlightened Sikhs and they do afford us mental peace, but when Bhai Nivala or Bhai Nihala expound the sacred word, it is a different experience altogether.

TARU POPAT is listed in Bhai Gurdas, Varan, XI. 13, among prominent Sikhs of the time of Guru Nanak (1469-1539). Bhai Mani Singh, Sikhan di Bhagat Mala, elaborating the reference in Bhai Gurdas says that Taru Popat was only a young boy often when he presented himself before the Guru and made the submission, "Friend of the poor, I have heard that whosoever meets a saint obtains peace. I have taken refuge at thy feet!" The Guru said, "You are yet too young and have hardly seen anything of this life. Where from have you learnt to think of these things." Spoke Popat, "One day I watched my mother make a fire.

TILOKA, BHAI, a Suhar Khatri officer in the Mughal army at Ghazni, once waited on Guru Arjan and said, "Soldiering being my profession, violence is my duty. How shall I be saved ?" The Guru spoke, "Remain firm in your duty as a soldier, but let not your mind be touched by violence." Tiloka received initiation as a Sikh and went back to Ghazni. One day, as says Bhai Santokh Singh, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, Tiloka slayed during the chase a pregnant doe. As he slashed his prey, , twin embroys, almost fully developed, were discovered, both dying after a few convulsive movements. Bhai Tiloka was filled with remorse and took a vow never to kill again.

TWARIKH GURU KHALSA, a voluminous prose narrative delineating the history of the Sikhs from their origin to the time when they lost the Punjab to the British. The author, Giani Gian Sihgh (1822-1921), claimed descent from the brother of Bhai Mani Singh, the martyr, who was a contemporary of Guru Gobind Singh. The work is divided into five parts : Janam Sakhi Dasari Guruari, Shamsher Khalsa. Raj Khalsa, Sardar Khalsa, and Panth Khalsa. In the first part the author presents biographies of the Ten Gurus and sketches the evolution of the community culminating in the emergence of the Khalsa.

UDHAU (UDHO) (also written as Uddhava or Oodho) Oodho, Akrura (of the Dwapara Age) and Trilochan, Namdev and Kabir (of Iron Age) got their sins effaced by remembering the Name of the Lord and the same Undeceivable Name, which ferries the saints across the world-ocean, came into the mind of Guru Amar Das. (Swayye Mahle Teeje Ke, p. 1393) Episode : Udhava was a friend and minister of Sri Krishna. He was present on the occasion of the Swayyamvara of Draupadi.

VAR MALAR Kl MAHALLA I, composition of the first Guru (i.e. Guru Nanak), is one of the twenty-two vars appearing in the Guru Grandi Sahib under different ragas. A var is a folk poem of war and chivalry, celebrating a hero and his gallantry. In the Guru Granth Sahib this form is adapted to spiritual ends and to bring to man`s attention the eternal truths of life. Var Malar Ki is cast in the malar raga or musical measure (hence the title).