Bhai Jiwan Singh

Early life

Bhai Jaita was born in 1661 at Patna, Bihar (India) to Sada Nand and mother, Mata Premo transcendence and immanence, in pantheism and nondualism. He grew up at Patna where he got training in various weapons and learned the art of warfare. In addition, he learned horse-riding, swimming, music, and Kirtan. When Sikh families staying at Patna returned to Punjab Bhai Jaita and his family went to Ramdas village and lived with Bhai Gurditta, the great-grandson of Baba Buddha. Later, Jaita married Bibi Raj Kaur, daughter of Surjan Singh.

When Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth guru of Sikh, was martyred by the Mughals at Chandni Chowk, Delhi, Bhai Jiwan Singh along with two other Sikhs, recovered his dismembered body from a crowd and brought it back to his son, Guru Gobind Singh.

There after Guru Gobind honoured them with the title Mazhabi ("faithful") and said loudly, "Rangrete Guru Ke Bete"(The Rangretas are the Guru's sons) to the all Mazhabi Sikhs. After that, Bhai Jiwan Singh was instructed by his father to behead him in order to swap the head of his father for that of Guru Tegh Bahadur ji. Bhai Jiwan Singh carries out his father's wish and carried the head of Guru Tegh Bahadur from Delhi to Gobind Rai in Anandpur Sahib.

Battles and death

Baba Jiwan Singh was with the Guru during the evacuation of Anandpur Sahib and fought the battles of Bhangani, Nadaun, Anandpur Sahib, Bajrur, Nirmohgarh, all four wars of Anandpur Sahib, Bansali/Kalmot , Sarsa and the battle of Chamkaur. In Dictionary of Battles and Sieges, the author states that Bhai Jiwan Singh attained martyrdom at Shahi Tibbi while the Sikh army was attempting to cross the Sirsa River.

Bhai Jiwan Singh also wrote about the exploits of Guru Gobind Singh, in his magnum opus the Sri Gur Katha.

After his death in 1704 or 1705 a tomb was erected to honor him at Gurudwara Shaheed Burj Sahib at Chamkaur.

References

References

1. Jacques, Tony. (2007). "Dictionary of Battles and Sieges". Greenwood Press.
2. Singh, Nikky-Guninder Kaur. (Feb 1, 2012). "The Birth of the Khalsa: A Feminist Re-Memory of Sikh Identity". State University of New York Press.
3. Singh, Jugraj. "ਭਾਈ ਜੈਤਾ ਜੀ ਦੀ ਕੁਰਬਾਨੀ ਦਾ ਸਿੱਖ ਇਤਿਹਾਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਥਾਨ".
4. Gandhi, S.S. (2007) History of Sikh Gurus Retold: 1606–1708 C.E. Atlantic Publishers & Dist p1109 {{ISBN. 8126908580
5. (2017-07-30). "Bhai Jaita Ji known 'Ragureta Guru ka Beta' daily post".
6. Khanna, Bharat. (25 December 2016). "Martyrdom of Bhai Jiwan Singh observed". The Tribune.
7. Gandhi, Surjit Singh. (2007). "History of Sikh Gurus Retold: 1606-1708 C.E". Atlantic Publishers & Dist..
8. Yong, Tan Tai. (2005). "The Garrison State: The Military, Government and Society in Colonial Punjab, 1849–1947". SAGE.
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12. "Bhai Jiwan Singh - SikhiWiki, free Sikh encyclopedia.".
13. Grewal, J. S.. (2019-07-25). "Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708): Master of the White Hawk". Oxford University Press.
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15. Nayar, Rana. (2017-07-05). "Cultural Studies in India". Routledge.