guru

GARU, BHAI, a Vij Khatri, received the rites of initiation at the hands of Guru Arjan. Once he, accompanied by Bhai Haru, also a Vij, and Bhai Chatur Das and Bhai Mula, both Kapur Khatris, waited upon the Guru and raised a question. They said, "While the advice of all other holy men is for the seeker to keep wakeful nights in meditation, Guru Nanak had in one of his slokas suggested that all effort was futile, for the reward, if He pleases, would come even during sleep." Guru Arjan, says Bhai Mani Singh, Sikhdn di Bhagat Maid, explained to them the correct import of the sloka.

GIAN SINGH, GIANI (1824-1884), scholar and theologian, was the elder son of Giani Bishan Singh, a collateral of the well known Giani house of Amritsar, headed by Giani Sant Singh and his son, Giani Gurmukh Singh. Gian Singh was born at Amritsar about 1824. He received his education from his father at his home, in Katra Ramgarhiari, near Chowk Baba Atal. As he grew up, he started giving discourses on Sikh Scripture and history at Gurdwara Thara Sahib, near the Akal Takht, and later at Buriga Mananvalian.

GONDA, BHAI, a devoted Sikh of the time of Guru Har Rai (1630-61). He was sent to Kabul to Dreach Guru Nanak`s word and he esiabhshed there a dharamsal. According to Sarup Das Bhalla. Mnhimd Prakdsh, one day as he sat in contemplation concentrating his mind on the Guru`s feet, he fell into a trance.

GUJJAR, BHAI, a blacksmith by profession, was a devoted Sikh of the time of GuruArigad. Once he came to see the Guru and said, "Lord, I am a workman, always busy with my trade. How shall I be liberated?" The Guru advised him to recite the Japu (fi) early in the morning and work for the poor in the name of the Guru. Bhai Guj[jar, says Bhai Man! Singh, Sikhdn di Bhagat Maid, not only engaged himself in the service of other Sikhs, but also reiterated to them the tenets of the faith.

GURBILAS PATSHAHI 10, a poeticized account of Guru Gobind Singh`s career, was completed in 1751, forty-three years after his death. Until it was published in 1968, there were only four manuscript copies of the work known to exist. Apart from specialists, very few had heard of it. The author of this work is Kuir Singh, a resident of Mohalla Kamboari of a city, which, in his book, remains unspecified, but which could possibly be Lahore. He entered the fold of the Khalsa under the influence of Bhai Mani Singh.

GURMUKH (gur = Guru; mukh = face), a word employed in Sikh Scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, in several distinct shades of signification. The gurmukh is, for instance, the Primordial Guru (God) who created all forms; it is He, too, who strings them into one thread oan gurmukhi kio akdrd ekahi suli provanhdrd (GG, 250). Gurmukh is also the Guru who instils the awe of the Fearless One, and through the Word shapes the misshapen (minds).

GURU NANAK VIDYAK SOCIETY, established in Bombay in July 1947 by the Deccan Khalsa Diwan, and registered with the Registrar of Companies on 27 March 1948 to provide educational facilities for the children of refugee families migrating to Bombay from riotaffected areas in the north. Funds were raised through voluntary subscriptions, later supplemented by a grant from the state government. The first institution set up under the auspices of the society was the Guru Nanak High School. The Society now runs two dozen schools, each having a separate management board appointed by it.

HAKTMPUR, a village 9 km southeast of Banga (31"11`N, 76"E) in Jalandhar, district of the Punjab, claims a historical shrine called Gurdwara Nanaksar, sacred to Guru Nanak (1469-1539), who, according to local tradition, once halted here travelling from Kartarpur (Ravi). Guru Har Rai, Nanak VII, (1630-61) also visited this village and stayed here for some time during one of his journeys between Kartarpur and Kiratpur. The Gurdwara is about one kilometre north of the village. The present three storeyed building built in 1974 by Baba Nihal Singh Hariarivelarivalc comprises a marble floored hall, which encloses at the far end the 4metre square old room got built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839) and used as the sanctum sanctorum.

HAUMAI is a term which recurs frequently in the Guru Granth Sahib in reference to the spiritual state of those who .have not discovered the way of liberation and peace. Literally, the word means `I am`, implying egoism reckoned as a spiritual and moral disease. It is, says Guru Amar Das, a filth which clings to man, a polluting presence which torments its victims while resisting all attempts on their part to wash it away: "jagi haumai mailu dukhu paid malu Idgi dujai bhdi; malu haumai dholi kivai na utaraije sou firath ndi in this world the filth of haumai, the clinging dirt of worldly affection, bring suffering.

HUSAIN KHAN (d. 1696), called Husaim in Guru Gobind Singh`s Bachitra Ndtak, was a slave general of Dilawar Khan, an important officer in the Mughal hierarchy. When Dilawar Khan learnt of the disaster suffered by the imperial expedition led by his son against Guru Gobind Singh, he sent his commander, Husain Khan, to avenge the defeat. Husain Khan proceeded towards Anandpur with a large army at the beginning of 1696. Several hill chiefs submitted to him. On the way, Husain Khan got involved with Raja Raj Singh (Raja Gopal of the Bachitra Ndtak) of Guler, who failing to produce the heavy tribute levied upon him was ready for an armed conflict.