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Bhai Gurdas

Bhai Sahib
Bhai Gurdas
ਭਾਈ ਸਾਹਿਬ
ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ
1st Jathedar of Akal Takht
In office
1618–1636
Preceded by Position Established
Succeeded by Mani Singh
Personal details
Born Gurdas Bhalla
1551
Goindwal, Tarn Taran, the Punjab
Died August 25, 1636(1636-08-25) (aged 84–85)
Goindwal, Tarn Taran, the Punjab
Mother Jivani
Father Ishar Das
Known for Transcribing the Adi Granth
Vaaran Bhai Gurdas
Religion Sikhi

Bhai Gurdas (Punjabi: ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ; 1551 – August 25, 1636) was an influential Sikh figure, writer, historian and preacher. He was the original scribe of Guru Granth Sahib and later served as the first Jathedar of Akal Takht.

Gurdas was born in 1551 at Goindwal, a small village in the Punjab. He was the only child of Bhai Ishar Das, first cousin of Guru Amar Das, and Jivani. Gurdas was barely 3 years of age when his mother died.

After being orphaned at the age of 12, he was adopted by Guru Amar Das. Gurdas learned Sanskrit, Braj Bhasha, Persian and Punjabi and eventually began preaching. He spent his early years at Goindval and Sultanpur Lodhi. At Goindval, Gurdas listened and obtained knowledge from scholars and swamis that continuously visited the town while traversing the Delhi-Lahore road. He later moved to Varanasi, where he studied Sanskrit and Hindu scriptures. After Guru Amar Das died, his successor Guru Ram Das assigned Gurdas as a Sikh missionary to Agra.

In 1577, Gurdas contributed his labour to excavating the pool at Harmandir Sahib. Twenty years later, he went on an expedition to Kartarpur and recited many of the early hymns to Emperor Akbar. Akbar was impressed by their spiritual content and was satisfied they had no anti-Muslim tone.


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