Bedi: Difference between revisions

Bedi is a well known Khatri clan in India. Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, was born into this clan. His son, Sri Chand was the founder of the Udasi order, which is the oldest of the existing Sikh sect.

Etymology

The ancestors of Guru Nanak Dev came to be called as Bedi (Vedi), because they had studied the Vedas, the ancient Hindu texts, according to the Bichitra Natak, the autobiography of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.

The text below is taken from the Dasam Granth (Bichitra Natak section), ^[1]

BHUJANG PRAYAAT STANZA

In mythology Bedis are said to be the descendants of Kusha, the son of Lord Rama. As is known Lord Rama had two sons Lava and Kusha and they had established their kingdom in Punjab and the famous city of Lahore owns its name to Lava. It was originally Lava awar (the fort of Lava) and later became Lahore. Centuries later intercine quarrels started and as a result, the descendants of Lava became victorious and the descendants of Kusha were all defeated. The descendants of Kusha who remained alive, saved themselves by fleeing away. They went to Kashi and learnt all the four Vedas. Those who studied the Vedas, called Vedis (Bedis), absorbed themselves in good acts of righteousness. Generations later, when the then King of Punjab requested them to return to their ancient land all the Bedis returned to Punjab.

The Sodhi king of Madra Desha (Punjab) sent letters to them, entreating them to forget the past enmities.1. The messengers sent by the king came to Kashi and gave the message to all the Bedis. All the reciters of the Vedas came to Madra Desha and made obeisance to the king.2. The king caused them to recite the Vedas in the traditional manner and all the brethren (both Sodhis and Pelis) sat together. Saam-Veda, Yajur-Veda and Rig-Ved were recited, the essence of the sayings was imbibed (by the king and his clan).3. The sin-remover Atharva-Veda was recited. The king was highly pleased and the bequeathed his kingdom to Bedis.4. He himself adopted the sin-destroyer Vanaprastha Ashrama. He put on the garb of a sage (rishi) and gave his kingdom to the reciter (Amrit Rai)5. The people tried to the king to do so, but, he had abandoned all sorrows. And leaving his wealth and property, absorbed himself in divine love.6. Having been bestowed the kingdom, the Bedis were very much pleased. With happy heart, he predicted this boon: When in the Iron Age, I shall be called Nanak, you will attain the Supreme State and be worshipped by the world."7. The descendants of Lava, after handing over the kingdom, went to the forest, and the Bedis (descendants of Kusha) began to rule. They enjoyed all comforts of the earth in various ways.8. O Sdhi king! You have listened to the recitation of three Vedas, and while listening to the fourth, you gave away your kingdom. When I shall have taken three births, you will be made the Guru in he fourth birth."9. That (Sodhi) king left for the forest, and this (Bedi) king absorbed himself in royal pleasures. There arose again quarrels and enmities, there was none to defuse the situation. In due course of time it actually happened that the Bedi clan began to lose parts of its kingdom.1. The Vaishyas acted like Shudras and Kshatriyas like Vaishyas. The Vaishyas acted like Kshatriyas and Shudras like Brahmins.2. Only twenty villages were left with the Bedis. A long time passed like this till the birth of Nanak.3. Nanak Rai took birth in the Bedi clan. He brought comfort to all his disciples and helped them at all times.4. Guru Nanak spread Dharma in the Iron Age and put the seekers on the path. Those who followed the path propagated by him, were never harmed by the vices.5. All those who came within his fold, they were absolved of all their sins and troubles, Their sorrows, their wants were vanished and even their transmigration came to and end.6. Nanak transformed himself to Angad and spread Dharma in the world

History

Sri Chand was a celibate yogi, but his younger brother, Lakshmi Chand (or Lakshmi Das), was married to the daughter of Diwan Uttam Chand. It is said that all the Bedis today are descendants of Manak Chand and Mehar Chand, the two sons of Lakshmi Chand. Traditionally the Bedis were specially respected by the Sikhs. Baba Kaladhari, a Bedi, was honoured and given special gifts by Guru Gobind Singh. Baba Kaladhari had inherited a cap ("seli topi") originally worn by Guru Nanak Dev. This cap has been preserved at Una in present-day Himachal Pradesh. Sahib Singh Bedi was asked to preside over the coronation of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Baba Khem Singh Bedi along with Thakur Singh Sanduwallia founded the Sanatan Singh Sabha. The current head of the family are Baba Surinder Singh Bedi who is based in Punjab & Baba Sarabjot Singh Bedi who is based in Una, Himachal Pradesh.

Guru Nanak Ji's Chola(upper garment) is lying on display at Sri Chola Sahib at Dera Baba Nanak which is managed by a local Bedi family who's progeny takes turns to control and collect manage donations for the upkeep of the Gurudwara. Dera Baba Nanak is the traditional home of the Bedi clan some of whom were granted Jagirs by Maharaja Ranjit Singh who had profound respect for the Bedis, particularly Baba Sahib Singh Bedi who had put coronation Tilak on the forehead of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. One more head of the family Baba Tikka Baba Harbhajan singh bedi is based in Chandigarh, India. Tikka Baba Harbhajan Singh Bedi is the 16th Descendent in the bloodline starting from Guru Nanak Dev ji with two sons Tikka Surjinder Singh Bedi and Kuwar Arvinder Singh Bedi.[2]Arvinder Singh Bedi is blessed with two sons Tikka Nain Noor Singh Bedi and Kunwar Gagandeep Singh Bedi making the 18th current bloodline starting from Guru Nanak Dev Ji.Three more heads of the family are in Pune and are children of Kunwar Baba Autar Singh Bedi Sahib of Rawalpindi , who belonged to the bloodline starting from Guru Nanak Dev ji and was a descendant of the the royal Bedi family of the Kingdom of Madra Desha (Punjab). Kunwar Baba Autar Singh Bedi Sahib had 3 sons who moved to Pune in India, they are Kunwar Baba Iqbal Singh Sahib,Kunwar Baba Jagtar Singh Bedi Sahib and Kunwar Baba Palinder Singh Bedi Sahib. The next generation following them were Kunwar Baba Tejpal Singh Bedi sahib and Kunwar Baba Harpal Singh Bedi Sahib (sons of Kunwar Baba Iqbal singh Sahib),then were Kunwar Baba Narinder Singh Sahib and Kunwar Baba Surinder Singh Sahib (sons of Kunwar Baba Jagtar singh Bedi Sahib) lastly Kunwar Baba Kanwarpal Singh Bedi Sahib.Currently the last generation of the Bedis are Kunwar Baba Ravishpal Singh Bedi Sahib,Kunwar Baba Jatinpal Singh Bedi Sahib (sons of Baba Tejpal and Baba Harpal),Kunwar Baba Dashmeet Singh Bedi Sahib(son of Baba Kanwarpal Singh Sahib)and lastly Kunwar Baba Mankaran Singh Bedi Sahib and Kunwar Baba Harjas Sahai Bedi Sahib the youngest (Sons of Baba Surinder Singh Sahib)who are the Crown Princes of the Kingdom of Madra desha in Punjab(Pakistan) and other cities like Lahore which came under the kingdom.

Eminent Personalities Decendents of Baba Shib Dayal Bedi

1. Baba Shib Dayal Bedi 1874-1941, Builder of the ITC Saharanpur, and builder of the railway line between Lahore and Delhi including the Jamuna Bridge. Baba Shiba Dayal Bedi also was the Municipal Commissioner of Saharanpur during the 1930s. Many Gurudwaras were built by Baba Shib Dayal Bedi. The railway station in Saharanpur was also built by him. The Victoria cross was given to him in 1937. The title of Sir was refused by Baba Shib Dayal Bedi as he felt the title of Baba was greater and valuable. One of His Grandsons Baba Dr. Dina Nath Bedi (1938-1998), was a computer pioneer and developed much in the way of speech and multimedia technology. He was director of the computer science department of CUNY from 1975-1984. In this time he trained blind programmers and this was an incredible task during this time. He was written about and authored a book on this subject. He also was appointed by Indira Gandhi to science and advisory commission of India along with M.N. Dastoor. Amougst his greatest contribution to science are his works which helped India become a centre for producing programmers. His son Baba Vickram A. Bedi (1974-) developed the world's first Pentium-based laptop in 1994. And is the the President of Datalink Computer Products, Inc. and D.N.Bedi Property group. At the current time this line is 16 Generations from Guru Nanak Bedi. And the family possesses a family tree which was verified by British Indian Government in 1941. The title of Sir was refused by Baba Sahib Dayal Bedi as he felt the title of Baba was greater and valuable.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji's Genology

1.Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji (Sam 1526-1596) 2.Baba lakhmi das ji and Baba Sri. chand ji (never married) 3.Baba Dhram Chand JI 4.Baba Mehar Chand JI 5.Baba Roop Chand JI 6.Baba Karam chand JI 7.Baba Maha Singh JI 8.Baba Lakhpat JI 9.Baba Raghpat JI 10.Baba Gandaa Singh JI 11.Baba Mool Singh JI 12.Baba Kartar Singh JI 13.Baba Pratp Singh ji 14.Baba Vikrama Singh JI 15. Baba Narinder Singh JI 16.Tikka Baba Harbhajan Singh JI 17. Tikka Baba Surjinder Singh JI and Kuwar Baba Arvinder Singh JI 18. Tikka Nainnoor Singh JI and Kuwar Gagandeep Singh JI

Family Tree of BABA AUTAR SINGH BEDI SAHIB OF RAWALPINDI

Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji

1. Baba Lakhmi Das Ji and Baba Sri. Chand Ji (never married)

1. Baba Dhram Chand JI

1. Baba Mehar Chand JI

1. Baba Auni Rai Sahib Ji(One of the 5 sons of Baba Mehar Chand Ji)

1. Baba Naunit Rai Sahib Ji

1. Baba Gobind Sahai Sahib Ji

1. Baba Bacharat Singh Sahib Ji 2)Baba Gurdayal Sahib Ji 3)Kunwar Baba Ramdayal Sahib Ji

1. (SONS OF BABA RAMDAYAL SAHIB JI ) 1)Baba Premdayal Sahib 2)Baba ManakBakhash Sahib 3)Kunwar Baba Pargaspat Sahib 4)Kunwar Baba Daspat Sahib

1. Kunwar Baba Karar Singh Bedi Sahib Of RAWALPINDI (ELDEST SON OF BABA DASPAT SAHIB JI)

1. Kunwar Baba Jhalmal Singh Bedi Sahib of RAWALPINDI

1. Baba Autar Singh Bedi Sahib of RAWALPINDI

1. (SONS OF BABA AUTAR SINGH BEDI)

1)Kunwar Baba IQBAL Singh Ji :

       *(1)Kunwar Baba Tejpal Singh Bedi sahib followed by Kunwar Baba Jatinpal Singh Bedi Sahib
		
       *(2)Kunwar Baba Harpal Singh Bedi Sahib followed by Kunwar Baba Ravishpal Singh Bedi Sahib
		

2)Kunwar Baba Jagtar Singh Bedi Sahib

       *(1)Kunwar Baba Navinder Singh Bedi Sahib 
		
       *(2)Kunwar Baba Surinder Singh Bedi Sahib followed by Kunwar Baba Mankaran Singh Bedi Sahib and
	    Kunwar Baba Harjas Sahai Bedi Sahib
		
 3)Kunwar Baba Palinder Singh Bedi Sahib 
		
        (1)Kunwar Baba Kanwarpal Singh Bedi Sahib followed by Kunwar Baba Dashmeet Singh Bedi Sahib

References

Munciple records Saharanpur, Uttar Pardesh.Municipal records Pune, Family tree of Baba Autar Singh Bedi compiled in 1920 Family tree of Baba Sahib Dayal Bedi compiled in 1905. Relics in the hands of Baba Shib Dayal Bedi.

External links

• Guru Gobind Gingh, Vichitra Natak, Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, Amritsar.
• Max Arthur MacAuliff, The Sikh Religion, Vol 1, (The Life of Guru Nanak), Oxford University Press, 1909.
• The Bedis
• Breathing new life into samadhis The Tribune, July 28 2001.
• Una District Principality of Bedi’s of Una
• Baba Khem Singh Bedi
• Baba Sahib Singh