Bidhi Chand
Baba Bidhi Chand Ji | |
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(ਬਾਬਾ) ਬਿਧੀ ਚੰਦ (ਜੀ) | |
![]() Contemporary depiction of Bidhi Chand Chhina | |
Personal | |
Born | Bidhi Chand
Chhina 26 April 1579 |
Died | 30 August 1638 | (aged 59)
Religion | Sikhism |
Parent |
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Known for |
Fighting the following battles:
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Baba Bidhi Chand (Gurmukhi: ਬਿਧੀ ਚੰਦ; 26 April 1579 - 30 August 1638) was a Sikh religious preacher, from Chhina Bidhi Chand village, 37 kilometers south of Amritsar and Chhina Bidhi Chand was part of Amritsar District not Lahore]. His Birth Place temple is situated in his own village Chhina Bidhi Chand and building was built by the residents with the help of Baba Daya Singh ji. Baba Daya Singh laid foundation with his own hands. Every year on his (Baba Bidhi Chand) birthday Baba Daya Singh ji now Baba Avtar Singh ji go to village Chhina Bidhi Chand and celebrate it there to date. He was a disciple of Guru Arjan and served Guru Hargobind for most of his life.[1]
He was one of the five Sikhs chosen to accompany Guru Arjun on his journey to martyrdom at Lahore in 1606. On the death of his father, Guru Hargobind turned his thoughts to training and raising an army to resist the dangers that threatened the peace-loving Sikhs. He chose Baba Bidhi Chand to be one of the commanders of the Risaldari (cavalry) he was raising. Baba Bidhi Chand was the first ever commander in chief of cavalry who fought with Mughals in the absence of Guru Hargobind Sahib ji. Baba Bidhi Chand displayed great feats of valour in several battles with the Mughal troops.[1] Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji Blessed Baba Bidhi Chand ji as saying (Bidhi Chand Chhina Guru Ka Seena) means Bidhi Chand is the Chest of Guru ji. He earned the gratitude of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji for his recovery of two horses, Dilbagh and Gulbagh, from the stables of the governor at Lahore's Fort. The horses had been seized as the owner, a Sikh who had raised and trained them, was bringing them from Kabul as an offering for the Guru.[1]
Many of Chand's swords and paintings are displayed in the museum of Gurdwara Sri Harmandir Sahib, located in Amritsar.
Early life
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 Dev ji's presence where he underwent a remarkable transformation. His life of banditry and misdeeds ended for he knew now wanted nothing more than life of dedication to the service of the Guru.
References
- ^ a b c Siṅgh, Bhagat (2002). "BIDHĪ CHAND, BHĀĪ (d. 1640)". In Singh, Harbans (ed.). The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism. Vol. I (4th ed.). Punjabi University. pp. 367–368. ISBN 978-81-7380-100-6. OCLC 808441524.
Further reading
- Gupta, Hari Ram (1994) [1984]. History of the Sikhs. Vol. I: The Sikh Gurus, 1469–1708 (2nd rev. ed.). Munshiram Manoharlal. pp. 371–374. ISBN 978-81-215-0276-4. OCLC 773483227.