Bhai Kanhaiya

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Bhai
Kanhaiya
Fresco depicting Bhai Kanhaiya seated on a terrace leaning against a bolster from Sri Khat Wari Darbar, Shikarpur, Sindh
Leader of the Sewapanthi sect
Preceded bynone (founder)
Succeeded byBhai Sewa Ram
Personal
ReligionSikhism
Parent(s)Mata Sundri Ji and Sri Nathu Ram Ji
SectSewapanthi
Religious career
TeacherNanua Bairagi

Bhai Kanhaiya (1648–1718; also spelt as Bhai Ghanaiya[1]), known as Khat Waro Bao and Khaatwala Baba in Sindh,[2][3][4][5] born to Mata Sundari ji and father Sri Nathu Ram's home village Saudra district Sialkot now in Pakistan, was a Sikh of Guru Tegh Bahadur and was requested to establish the Sewapanthi or Addanshahi order of the Sikhs by Guru Gobind Singh. He was known for pouring water for all the wounded members of the battlefield no matter whether they were Sikhs or fighting against the Sikhs.[6]

During his youth he also spent a lot of time in the company of Nanua Bairagi, who belonged to a Saini agriculture family[7][8] and was also a disciple and comrade of last three Sikh gurus. Nanua Bairagi was a renowned poet-mystic of Punjab[9] and he left a deep imprint on Bhai Kanhaiya's spiritual and humanitarian outlook in his formative years.[10]

Biography[edit]

Fresco depicting Bhai Khanaiya meeting Guru Gobind Singh from Sri Khat Wari Darbar, Shikarpur, Sindh

Bhai Kanhaiya was born in 1648[1] in the Dhamman Khatri community of Sodhara, to Mata Sundari ji and father Sri Nathu Ram's near Wazirabad in the Sialkot region (now in Pakistan), and his father was a wealthy broker. He was known to have a habit of giving to the poor from a very young age.

In his youth, Kanhaiya met a man named Nauna Bairagi, who was a Sikh of the 9th Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur.[7] Their connection allowed Kanhaiya to meet the Guru, and he converted to Sikhism.[11] Kanhaiya stayed and continued to serve the Sangat (community). Kanhaiya was assigned as Guru's water bearer and later in Langar (community kitchen). He also looked after Guru Sahib's steeds. After the death of the 9th Guru, the 10th Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, had ascended and Kanhaiya began to follow him. Kanhaiya was visiting Anandpur in May 1704 when the city was attacked by a combination of Rajput troops and their Mughal partners. Bhai Kanhaiya was frequently seen carrying a goatskin water pocket and serving water to anyone who was thirsty.[12] He performed this sewa (magnanimous administration) with adoration.[13] This irritated the Sikh warriors on the battlefield, who complained to the Guru. The Guru then asked Kanhaiya, "These Sikhs are saying that you go and feed water to the enemy and they recover". Kanhaiya replied, saying, "Yes, my Guru, what they say is true, however, there were no Mughals or Sikhs on the battlefield. All I saw were people."[13]

The answer satisfied the Guru.[13][12] He provided with Bhai Kanhaiya with medical aid,[13] and later on his mission came to be known as the Sewa Panthi Sampradaye.[1]

In Sindh[edit]

He was sent by the Guru to Sindh in-order to propagate the Sikh religion amongst the locals of the region.[2][3][4][5] He is locally known as Khat Waro Bao or Khaatwala Baba in Sindh as he would preach whilst seated on a bed.[2][3][4][5] The Khat Wari Darbar in Shikarpur is a Sindhi temple dedicated to him.[2] After his passing, he was succeeded as head of the Sewapanthi sect by Bhai Sewa Ram.[14] His successor would continue preaching and proselytizing Sikhism in Sindh.[2]

Bhai Kanhaiya on a 1998 stamp of India

SGPC under president Prof Kirpal Singh Badungar first time celebrated the birth anniversary of Bhai Kanhaiya ji on September 20, 2017. In this context, the Punjab government under chief minister Capt. Amrinder Singh too celebrated his birthday on September 20, 2017 as the Manav Sewa Diwas.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Dilagīra, Harajindara Siṅgha (1997). The Sikh Reference Book (1st ed.). Edmonton, Alb., Canada: Sikh Educational Trust for Sikh University Centre, Denmark. p. 602. ISBN 0-9695964-2-1. OCLC 37769917. SEWA PANTHI : - This term is used sometimes for the associates of Bhai Ghanaiya Singh, the leader of the Sikh Red-Cross . Literally : Sewa Panthi is person whose life is devoted to the services (of the Sikh nation).
  2. ^ a b c d e Singh, Inderjeet (24 January 2018). "Sikhi & Sindhis". SikhNet.
  3. ^ a b c Sharma, T. R. (2005). Maharaja Ranjit Singh: Ruler and Warrior. Publication Bureau, Panjab University. p. 99. ISBN 9788185322353.
  4. ^ a b c Proceedings - Punjab History Conference, Volume 27, Part 1. Department of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University. 1991. p. 63. ISBN 9788173802201.
  5. ^ a b c Malkani, K. R. (1984). The Sindh Story. Allied. p. 152.
  6. ^ Ranjit Singh (2013). Golden Crystal. Chandigarh: Unistar Books. p. 180. ISBN 9789351130482.
  7. ^ a b Bhagata Siṅgha Hīrā (1988). "Ch. 6. A Contact with Bhakt Nanua". Bhai Kanhaiya, Beacon-light of Humanitarian Service & the Apostle of Peace. Sewa Jyoti Publications. p. 19. Bhai Kanhaiya would have hardly stepped in his teens that he, fortuitously, came across saint Nanua, an eminent gnostic and a heavenly-minded man. His company and precepts had lasting effect on his delicate mind.
  8. ^ Bhagata Siṅgha Hīrā (1988). "Ch. 6. A Contact with Bhakt Nanua". Bhai Kanhaiya, Beacon-light of Humanitarian Service & the Apostle of Peace. Sewa Jyoti Publications. p. 22. Bhai Kanhaiya passed his early days in his company. He listened to his sermons with keen interest, enjoyed his charming communions with eagerness and moulded his character accordingly. His devotion to Nanua advanced every day. As a true devotee he adopted his every advice.
  9. ^ Gurbachan Singh Talib (1973). Rose-garden of the Punjab: English renderings from Punjabi folk poetry. Punjabi University. p. 106. Nanua Bhagat is a renowned ascetic and mystic and a Punjabi poet of the classical school
  10. ^ "Bhai Kanhaiya would have hardly stepped in his teens that he, fortuitously, came across saint Nanua, an eminent gnostic and a heavenly-minded man. His company and precepts had lasting effect on his delicate mind." Bhai Kanhaiya, Beacon-light of Humanitarian Service & the Apostle of Peace, Chapter 6- A Contact with Bhakt Nanua, p. 19, Bhagata Singha Hīrā, Published by Sewa Jyoti Publications, 1988
  11. ^ Hīrā, B. S.. Ch. 6, “A Contact with Bhakt Nanua. Bhai Kanhaiya”, Beacon-light of Humanitarian Service & the Apostle of Peace. Sewa Jyoti Publications, 22-23.1988
  12. ^ a b Burra, Srinivas. "Collective Engagement and Selective Endorsement: India’s Ambivalent Attitude Towards Laws of Armed Conflict." Locating India in the Contemporary International Legal Order (2018): 51-65.
  13. ^ a b c d Jammu, Dilpreet Singh. "Compassion in Sikhism: A scriptural, traditional and historical perspective." Compassion in the 4 (2016): 266-274.
  14. ^ Singh, Harbans (1992–1998). The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism. Vol. 3, M–R. Patiala: Punjabi University. p. 299. ISBN 0-8364-2883-8. OCLC 29703420. PARCHl BHAl SEVA RAM is a biographical sketch, in Punjabi verse, of Bhai Seva Ram who led the Sevapanthi sect after the death of its founder Bhai Kanhaiya, a disciple of Guru Gobind Singh

Further reading[edit]

  • Lal Chand (1955). Sri Sant Rattan Mala. Patiala. ISBN.
  • Gurmukh Singh (1986). Sevapanthian di Panjahl Sdhit nun Den. Patiala. ISBN.

External links[edit]

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