Discover the spiritual essence of Asa di Var, a Sikh morning hymn by Guru Nanak, highlighting themes of divine union and societal introspection.
Unveil the heroic journey of Banta Singh, from wars to martyrdom at Nankana Sahib. Explore his legacy in the heart of Sikh history.
BHAGAT (BHAKTA) BANI The Sikh Holy Book, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, comprises writings coming from two sources the sayings of the Gurus and those of the Bhagats (Bhaktas). The term Bhagat here broadly covers, besides some of the saints of medieval India whose compositions occur in the Guru Granth Sahib, those outside of the Guru line whose compositions were entered in the holy book by Guru Arjan (1563-1606) who compiled the Granth. All these contributors are in common parlance collectively called Bhagats. Under this rubric bhagat is included Shaikh Farid, the Sufi.
BIRK, village 10 km northeast of Jagraon (30M7`N, 75°28`E)in Ludhiana district, is sacred to Guru Hargobind who travelling in 1631 arrived here from Siddhvan Kalan. The Gurdwara, called Manji Sahib Chhevin Patshahi, is outside the village to the southwest of it. The present complex raised in the 1970`s, has a 15metre square hall, with a pavilion of the same size in front. The Guru Granth Sahib is seated in a glasspanelled square room in the centre of the hall.
BUNGA: A place of residence for the Sikhs or the place for rest for the pilgrims. There were at least 69 Bungas at Amritsar in the nineteenth century, some of them are still in existence. Another term for the resting hostel for the Sikh pilgrims is Saran. At Darbar Sahib, Amritsar Guru Ram Das Saran has been built for the pilgrims. Another Saran at Darbar Sahib is named Guru Nanak Niwas. Lately, a paid hostel named Aka/ Rest House, too, has been built. There are Sarans attached to almost all of the major Gurdwaras.
CHANDA SINGH, BHAI (1885-1921) was born on 9 Savan 1942 Bk / 22 July 1885, the son of Bhai Hukam Singh and Mat Nand Kaur, a peasant couple of village Nizampur, in Amritsar district. The family shifted westward to Chakk No. 38 Nizampur Deva Singhvala, in a newly colonized district. As he grew up, Chanda Singh, was influenced by the current of Sikh reformation then sweeping the Punjab.
DALLA, an old village, 6 km southeast of Sultanpur Lodhi (31° 13`N. 75° 12`E) in Kapurthala district of the Punjab, is one of the oldest centres of the Sikh faith. It had a flourishing sangat a fact which has been noted by Bhai Gurdas in one of his Varan. Prominent among the earliest devotees were Bhai Paro and Bhai Lalu, contemporaries with Guru Arigad and Guru Am ar Das. According to Bhai Mani Singh, Sikhan di Bhagat Mala, Guru Amar Das himself once visited Dalla.
DHARAM SINGH, SARDAR BAHADUR (1881-1933), Sikh philanthropist, was born at the village of Kopra, in Sialkot district, now in Pakistan, on 18 January 1881. His father, Bhai Nattha Ram, was a sahajdhari Sikh who became Nattha Singh after receiving the rites of amrit. Dharam Singh learned Gurmukhi characters at the village dharamsala from Bava Narayan Singh. He had a religious bent of mind, and could read fluently the Guru Granth Sahib before he was 8 years of age. For his primary education, he joined the Mission School, Wazirabad, later passing his matriculation from Khalsa High School, Gujrariwala. In 1901, he qualified to be a sub overseer from Thompson Engineering College, Roorkee, and got a job in Burma.
DASI-SUTA Ask Bidara (Vidura), Dasi-Suta (the son of the maid-servant), in whose house Krishna stayed. (Suhi M. 4, p. 733) The words Dasi-Suta mean the son of a maid-servant. These words are used with reference to Vidura, the half-brother of Dhritarashtra and Pandu. When Vichitra-virya, the son of Shantanu passed away without any issue, two sons were bom to his widows Ambika and Ambalika through Niyoga with Vyasa in order to continue the royal line.
