Bhai Bidhi Chand Chhina: Difference between revisions

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'''BHAI BIDHI CHAND''' (d. 1640). warrior as well as religious preacher of the time of [[Guru Hargobind]], was a Chhina [[Jatt]] of the village of Sur singh, 34 km south of [[Amritsar]] (31° 37'N, 74° 52'E). His father's name was Vassan and his grandfather's Bhikkhi. His mother was from Sirhali, another village in the same district. As a young man Bidhi Chand had fallen into bad company and taken to banditry. One day, a pious Sikh, Bhai Adali of the village of Chohia, led him into [[Guru Arjan]]'s presence. Bidhi Chand wished no longer to return home and decided to dedicate the rest of his life to the service of the Guru.  
'''BHAI BIDHI CHAND''' (d. 1640). warrior as well as religious preacher of the time of [[Guru Hargobind]], was a Chhina [[Jatt]] of the village of Sur singh, 34 km south of [[Amritsar]] (31° 37'N, 74° 52'E). His father's name was Vassan and his grandfather's Bhikkhi. His mother was from Sirhali, another village in the same district. As a young man Bidhi Chand had fallen into bad company and taken to banditry. One day, a pious Sikh, Bhai Adali of the village of Chohia, led him into [[Guru Arjan]]'s presence. Bidhi Chand wished no longer to return home and decided to dedicate the rest of his life to the service of the Guru.  


He was one of the five Sikhs chosen to accompany [[Guru Arjan]] on his journey to [[Lahore]] where he was martyred in 1606. [[Guru Hargobind]] chose him to be one of the commanders of the armed force he had raised and he displayed as a soldier great feats of valour in battles with the imperial troops. His bestknown exploit, however, was the recovery of two horses, Dilbagh and Gulbagh, from the stables of the governor of [[Lahore]]. The horses belonged to a Sikh who was bringing them from [[Kabul]] as an offering for [[Guru Hargobind]], but they were seized on the way by the [[Mughal]] satrap. The first horse Bidhi Chand recovered disguised as a hayseller, and the second disguised as an astrologer.
He was one of the five Sikhs chosen to accompany [[Guru Arjan]] on his journey to [[Lahore]] where he was martyred in 1606. [[Guru Hargobind]] chose him to be one of the commanders of the armed force he had raised and he displayed as a soldier great feats of valour in battles with the imperial troops.  
 
His best known exploit, however, was the recovery of two horses, Dilbagh and Gulbagh, from the stables of the governor of [[Lahore]]. The horses belonged to a Sikh who had raised and trained them and was bringing them from [[Kabul]] as an offering for [[Guru Hargobind]]. All along the way the horses attracted attention. The stories of their qualities and beauty arived at the Mogul govenors court before the horses reached lahore. The Govenor offered a fortune for each animal and decided to seize them upon the young Sikhs refusal to sell. It is said, there are many versions of the story, that Bidhi Chand recovered the first horse while he pretended to be  a hayseller, and the second he disguised himself as an astrologer.


[[Image:Bhaibidhichand1.jpg|thumb|250px|left|[[Bhai Bidhi Chand]] rides  [[Dilbagh]] to [[Guru Hargobind]] ]]
[[Image:Bhaibidhichand1.jpg|thumb|250px|left|[[Bhai Bidhi Chand]] rides  [[Dilbagh]] to [[Guru Hargobind]] ]]


Besides being a brave warrior, Bidhi Chand was well versed in Sikh lore and tenet. From [[Kiratpur]], he was sent out by [[Guru Hargobind]] on a preaching mission to the eastern provinces where a Muslim saint, [[Sundar Shah]] of Devnagar, became so attached to him that, before he left for the [[Punjab]], he secured his word that he would return and spend his last days with him.  
Besides being a brave warrior, Bidhi Chand was well versed in Sikh lore and tenets. From [[Kiratpur]], he was sent out by [[Guru Hargobind]] on a preaching mission to the eastern provinces where a Muslim saint, [[Sundar Shah]] of Devnagar, became so attached to him that, before he left for the [[Punjab]], he secured his word that he would return and spend his last days with him.  


According to [[Gurbilas Chhevin Patshahi]], Bidhi Chand remembered his promise and, as he saw his end drawing near, he took his leave of [[Guru Hargobind]] and went to Devnagar. The two friends spent three days reflecting together on the teaching of Guru Nanak, whereafter, continues the Gurbilas, both died at the same time (14 August 1640). Sundar Shah's disciples buried the one in accordance with Muslim rites and cremated the other in accordance with Sikh rites, and raised shrines in their honour. Some time later, [[Lal Chand]], a nephew of Bhai Bidhi Chand, brought from the site of his shrine at Devnagar some earth over which he built a samadh in his ancestral village, Sursingh.
According to [[Gurbilas Chhevin Patshahi]], Bidhi Chand remembered his promise and, as he saw his end drawing near, he took his leave of [[Guru Hargobind]] and went to Devnagar. The two friends spent three days reflecting together on the teaching of Guru Nanak, whereafter, continues the Gurbilas, both died at the same time (14 August 1640). Sundar Shah's disciples buried the one in accordance with Muslim rites and cremated the other in accordance with Sikh rites, and raised shrines in their honour. Some time later, [[Lal Chand]], a nephew of Bhai Bidhi Chand, brought from the site of his shrine at Devnagar some earth over which he built a samadh in his ancestral village, Sursingh.

Revision as of 19:53, 11 April 2008

BHAI BIDHI CHAND (d. 1640). warrior as well as religious preacher of the time of Guru Hargobind, was a Chhina Jatt of the village of Sur singh, 34 km south of Amritsar (31° 37'N, 74° 52'E). His father's name was Vassan and his grandfather's Bhikkhi. His mother was from Sirhali, another village in the same district. As a young man Bidhi Chand had fallen into bad company and taken to banditry. One day, a pious Sikh, Bhai Adali of the village of Chohia, led him into Guru Arjan's presence. Bidhi Chand wished no longer to return home and decided to dedicate the rest of his life to the service of the Guru.

He was one of the five Sikhs chosen to accompany Guru Arjan on his journey to Lahore where he was martyred in 1606. Guru Hargobind chose him to be one of the commanders of the armed force he had raised and he displayed as a soldier great feats of valour in battles with the imperial troops.

His best known exploit, however, was the recovery of two horses, Dilbagh and Gulbagh, from the stables of the governor of Lahore. The horses belonged to a Sikh who had raised and trained them and was bringing them from Kabul as an offering for Guru Hargobind. All along the way the horses attracted attention. The stories of their qualities and beauty arived at the Mogul govenors court before the horses reached lahore. The Govenor offered a fortune for each animal and decided to seize them upon the young Sikhs refusal to sell. It is said, there are many versions of the story, that Bidhi Chand recovered the first horse while he pretended to be a hayseller, and the second he disguised himself as an astrologer.

Besides being a brave warrior, Bidhi Chand was well versed in Sikh lore and tenets. From Kiratpur, he was sent out by Guru Hargobind on a preaching mission to the eastern provinces where a Muslim saint, Sundar Shah of Devnagar, became so attached to him that, before he left for the Punjab, he secured his word that he would return and spend his last days with him.

According to Gurbilas Chhevin Patshahi, Bidhi Chand remembered his promise and, as he saw his end drawing near, he took his leave of Guru Hargobind and went to Devnagar. The two friends spent three days reflecting together on the teaching of Guru Nanak, whereafter, continues the Gurbilas, both died at the same time (14 August 1640). Sundar Shah's disciples buried the one in accordance with Muslim rites and cremated the other in accordance with Sikh rites, and raised shrines in their honour. Some time later, Lal Chand, a nephew of Bhai Bidhi Chand, brought from the site of his shrine at Devnagar some earth over which he built a samadh in his ancestral village, Sursingh.


References

1. Gurbilas Chhevin Patshahi. Patiala, 1970

2. Gian Singh, Giani, Twarikh Khalsa. Patiala, 1970

3. Max Arthur Macauliffe, The Sikh Religion. Oxford, 1909

4. Banerjee, Indubhusan, Evo/ution of the Khalsa. Calcutta, 1980

External Link