MAHESHA, BHAI, or Bhai Mahesa, a rich and influential Dhir Khatri of Sultanpur Lodhi, in present day Kapurthala district of the Punjab, once waited upon Guru Amar Das and begged to be initiated a Sikh, The Guru, says Sarup Das Bhalla, Mahima Prakash, pointed out to him that to

MAHIMA PRAKASH, known as Mahima Prakash Vartak (prose) to distinguish it from another work, in verse, bearing the same title, Sarup Das Bhalla\'s Mahima Prakash, is an unpublished manuscript containing anecdotes from the lives of the Gurus. The manuscript, copies of which are now available in the Khalsa College at

MAHIMA SHAHANVALA, one of the three adjacent villages sharing the name Mahima, 8 km west of Goniana Mandi (30°18\'N, 74°54\'E) in Bathinda district of the Punjab, has a historical shrine, called Gurdwara Gurusar Patshahi X. The shrine marks the spot where, according to local tradition, Guru Gobind Singh made a

MAHIMA, BHAI. Khahira Jatt of Khadur in Amritsar district, was a devoted Sikh contemporary of Guru Angad. According to Bhai Balevali Janam Sakhi, the Guru once stayed with him in his house. When the Guru desired someone to be sent for to transcribe in Gurmukhi characters Guru Nanak\'s horoscope

MAHIMASHAHIAS, followers of Mohar Singh (AD 1758-1815), a holy Sikh who earned the honoured nickname of Mahima Shah for his constant muttering of a phrase (\'infinite is Thy praise\') in God\'s mahima or adoration. Mahima Shah claimed spiritual descent from Bhai Daya Singh, one of the Panj Piare or

MAI DAS, a Vaisnavite sadhu of the village of Narli, now in Amritsar district of the Punjab, embraced Sikh faith at the hands of Guru Amar Das. As a wandering sadhu, he once visited Goindval and desired to meet the Guru, but since he was unable to comply with

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

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

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,

SANSRAM, son of Baba Mohan and a grandson of Guru Amar Das. According to Sarup Das Bhalla, Mahima Prakash, he lost his mother in infancy. His father being indifferent to worldly affairs, Guru Amar Das took him under his care. Sarisram grew up to be a gifted young man.

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