Bibi Nanaki was the First Sikh

Bibi Nanaki ji (1464-1518) was the elder sister of Guru Nanak and the daughter of Kalyan Chand Mehta (Mehta Kalu) and Mata Tripta. She was born in 1464 in her mother's home at the village of Chahal, now in Lahore district of Pakistan Punjab. The Guru's love for his sister is referred to in most touching terms in some of the Sakhis. A sister's love for her brother is a perennial theme of Punjabi folklore. There are many stories of Nanaki's deep and devoted affection for her brother, Nanak.

Bibi Nanaki was five years older then Guru Nanak; she was the first to recognize his spiritual eminence and to become his devotee. She is often credited as becoming the first Sikh. She protected Nanak from their father's wrath, when repeatedly he disappointed and angered him. She was with him throughout the early years of his childhood.

Bibi Nanaki adored her brother, Nanak, and felt herself blessed when he came to join the Nawab's service and stayed with her at Sultanpur. Childless, she loved Guru Nanak's sons, Sri Chand and Lakhmi Das, as if they were her own. Guru Nanak reciprocated her affection and after he had quit the Nawab's service to go out to preach his message, he did not fail to visit Sultanpur and meet with his sister between trips.

Once as he visited her in 1518, Bibi Nanaki sensing her end near, detained him a short while. Soon, she departed this life, as she had wished, in the presence of her brother — Guru Nanak Dev ji. Three days later, her husband, Bhai Jai Ram Ji, also passed away. Guru Nanak performed their obsequies. There is no doubt that, perhaps, the first Gur Sikh was none other than Bibi Nanaki and second Gursikh was Rai Bular, the ruler of Talwandi.

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Tees Hazaari is the place where Baba Baghel Singh took shelter with his 30,000 forces before attacking Delhi

Baba Baghel Singh (1730 - 1802) was born in village Jhabal, District Amritsar. From humble beginnings he arose to become a formidable force in the area between River Sutlej and River Yamuna. He aligned himself with Karor Singhia misl led by Sardar Karora Singh. After the early demise of Karora Singh, Baba Baghel Singh succeeded as a leader of Karora Singhia misl in 1765. As well as being a good soldier, Baba Baghel Singh was a very good political negotiator and was able to win over many an adversary to his side. The Mughals, the Ruhilas, the Marathas and British sought his friendship.

Then Baba Baghel Singh turned his attention towards the cis-Yamuna territories. Soon the Sikhs were invading territories in Delhi and beyond, including Meerut, Awadh, collecting tribute from the Nawabs of each area. He is celebrated in Sikh history as the vanquisher of Mughal Delhi. On the 11th of March 1783, the Sikhs entered the Red Fort in Delhi and occupied the Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience).

It is also commonly believed that Baba Baghel Singh with his army had camped in the jungles surrounding Delhi from which they were planning to secretly launch their attack. The place where the camp was established later came to be known as "Tees Hazaari". This is where the present day Delhi High Court is located.

Another story goes that the Mughal Emperor when he came to know that Sikhs were planning to attack Delhi, as sufficient quantity of food and other essential commodities were stocked in the fort he ordered that all gates of the fort be closed so that the Sikhs camping in the jungles would soon run out of rations and go back. Some of the Sikhs accidentally came across a mason from the neighbourly village who informed them that a particular place the wall of the fort had caved in from inside though the exterior was intact. He also agreed to lead the Sikh and show them this spot. The Sikhs planned to ram the wall with logs to make a hole in the wall to enter the fort through. This place is now called "Mori Gate" and this where the Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) in present Delhi is located.

Baba Baghel Singh had set up an octroi-post near Sabzi Mandi to collect the tax on the goods imported into the city to finance the search and the construction of the Sikh Temples. He did not want to use the cash received from the Government Treasury for this purpose, and most of that was handed out to the needy and poor. He often distributed sweetmeats, bought out of this Government gift, to the congregationalists at the place which, now, is know as the Pul Mithai.

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Mata Kheevi ji is the only woman in Sikh History whose name has been mentioned in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

Sri Guru Granth Sahib or Adi Sri Granth Sahib Ji (also called the Adi Granth) is more than just a scripture of the Sikhs, for the Sikhs treat this Granth (holy book) as their living Guru. The holy text spans 1430 pages and contains the actual words spoken by the founders of the Sikh religion (six of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism) and the words of various other Saints from other religions including Hinduism and Islam. In its 1430 pages it teaches everyone the true values of life, One God of the universe, Equality, Live Truthfully, Practice Humility, Kindness, Compassion, etc.

One thing in Sri Guru Granth Sahib is worth noting—the mention of Mata Kheevi ji. Mata Kheevi (1506 - 1582) is the wife of the second Sikh Guru, Guru Angad; she was born in 1506 to Karan Devi and Bhai Devi Chand Khatri in a small town called Sanghar which is now located in the province of Sindh in Pakistan.

Mata Kheevi Ji is responsible for the establishment of the present-day Langar system. She continued to help improve the langar system until the Guruship of Guru Arjan Dev and then the langar became known as "Kheevi ka Langar". She was also responsible for the organisation of the Sewa system in the community. She took upon herself the onerous task of managing every detail of the langar. She lived to the age of 75 and died in the year 1582. Her pleasant personality made a large contribution to the spirit of hospitality, which is now considered an essential trait of Sikh culture.

She got the distinction of being the only one of the Guru's wives to be mentioned by name in Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

SGGS - Ang 967

Raag Ramkali.

blvMf KIvI nyk jn ijsu bhuqI Cwau pqRwlI ]

lµgir dauliq vMfIAY rsu AMimRqu KIir iGAwlI ]

Balwand says that Kheevi, the Guru's wife, is a noble woman, who gives soothing, leafy shade to all.

She distributes the bounty of the Guru's Langar; the kheer - the rice pudding and ghee, is like sweet ambrosia.

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Bannd Bannd Katwaaye

We read this everyday in our Ardas. But we seldom know what does this mean. "Bannd Bannd Katwaaye" means ‘to be cut joint by joint’.

Who was cut joint by joint?

Bhai Mani Singh ji.

Bhai Mani Singh ji used to do the seva at Sri Harmandir Sahib. Zakaria Khan, the Governor of Lahore, passed an order in 1735, to prohibit the sikhs from taking a bath at the sarovar at Sri Harmandir Sahib. The sarovar was also ordered to be filled with silt.

Some how a permission from Zakaria Khan was taken to allow sikhs to access Sri Harmandir Sahib for ten days on Bandi Chorr in the year 1737. This was done on the condition of to pay Tax of Five Thousand Rupees. But the Governor & Diwan Lakhpat Rai had planned to kill the sikhs during those ten days.

Bhai Mani Singh ji came to know of their plan & informed the sikhs not to come to Sri Harmandir Sahib and no fair was held. The Governor summoned Bhai Mani Singh ji and demanded the Tax money. But Bhai Mani Singh ji refused as no fair was held. Bhai Mani Singh ji was asked to embrace Islam. He refused. And an order was passed to kill him by cutting the joints one by one. Bhai Mani Singh could have embraced Islam and saved his life, but he was firm on his faith.

In the year 1738, he was martyred by cutting him joint by joint. Bannd Bannd Katwaaye.

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Dohita Bani Ka Bohita

Guru Arjan was born in Goindwal, a small town in Amritsar district, in 1563. He was the youngest son of Guru Ram Dasji and Bibi Bhaniji And the grandson of Guru Amardasji.

Guru Arjan Devji always showed love towards gurbani. Guruji wrote Sukhmani Sahib, Barah Maha, Bavan Akhri & 2312 Shabads in all the 30 Rags of Adi Granth Sahib.

As a child, one day he found his way to the bed of Guru Amar Das who was then resting. His mother ran to fetch the child before he could disturb the Guru, but he had already awakened the Guru, who revealed, “Let him come to me; ‘ Dohita Bani Ka Bohita’- this grandson of mine shall be the Boat of Gurbani and a ship to take mankind across the ocean of the world.”

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