Bhai Jiwan Singh

Jiwan Singh
Born (1649-11-30)30 November 1649
Patna, Bihar
Died 7 December 1705(1705-12-07) (aged 56)
Chamkaur, Punjab
Parent(s) Sada Nand
Mata Premo

Baba Jiwan Singh (also spelled Jivan and Jeevan) (Bhai Jaita before baptism) (1649–1705) was a Sikh General and an accomplice, companion and friend of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs. As well as his military prowess he was a poet and a warrior. He eventually became a Sikh martyr and an icon when he fell during the siege of Chamkaur in 1705 against the Mughal armies. He also taught gatka, shabad kirtan, archery, horse riding, and swimming to Baba Ajit Singh, a son of Guru Gobind Singh.

Born as Jaita to father Sada Nand and mother Mata Premo at Patna, India in 1649.[1] He lived first at Patna where he received training in various weapons and learned the art of warfare. In addition, he learned horse-riding, swimming, music and Kirtan.[2] When Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh guru, was killed by the Mughals in Delhi, three Balmiki recovered his dismembered body from a Muslim crowd and brought it back to his son, Guru Gobind Singh. In recognition of their act, he admitted the untouchable Chura sweepers into the Khalsa (the Sikh faith), giving them the name Mazhabi ("faithful").[3] Among the three was Bhai Jiwan Singh, who carried the head of Tegh Bahadur from Delhi to Gobind Singh in Anandpur Sahib.[4][5] Singh was with the Guru during the evacuation of Anandpur Sahib and laid down his life to aid his leader's safe escape.[6]

After his death in 1705 a tomb was erected to honour him and it stands there to this day.

References

  1. ↑ "Sikh Warriors :Bhai Jivan Singh". All About Sikhism. Archived from the original on 5 December 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  2. ↑ Gandhi, S.S. (2007) History of Sikh Gurus Retold: 1606-1708 C.E. Atlantic Publishers & Dist p1109 ISBN 8126908580
  3. ↑ Yong, Tan Tai (2005). The Garrison State: The Military, Government and Society in Colonial Punjab, 1849–1947. SAGE. p. 73. ISBN 978-8-13210-347-9.
  4. ↑ McLeod, W. H. (2009). The A to Z of Sikhism. Scarecrow Press. p. 171. ISBN 978-0-81086-344-6.
  5. ↑ Cole, W. Owen (2004). Understanding Sikhism. Dunedin Academic Press. p. 153 – via Questia. (subscription required (help)).
  6. ↑ Gandhi, S.S. (2007) History of Sikh Gurus Retold: 1606-1708 C.E. Atlantic Publishers & Dist p1109 ISBN 8126908580
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