BHATTVAHIS, scrolls or records maintained by Bhatts, hereditary bards and genealogists. According to Nesfield as quoted in W. Crooke, The Tribes and Castes of the North Western India, 1896, Bhatts are an “offshoot from those secularised Brahmans who frequented the courts of princes and the camps of warriors, recited their praises in public, and kept records of their genealogies.” These bards constantly attended upon or visited their patron families reciting panegyrics to them and receiving customary rewards.
They also collected information about births, deaths and marriages in the families and recorded it in their scrolls.These scrolls containing information going back to several past centuries formed the valued part of the bards` hereditary possessions. A group of Bhatts was introduced to Guru Arjan, Nanak V, by Bhatt Bhikha who had himself become a Sikh in the time of Guru Amar Das. According to Bhai Gurdas, Varan, XI. 21, and Bhai Mani Singh, Sikhan di Bhagat Mala, he had once visited Guru Arjan with the sangat of Sultanpur Lodhi.
Some of the Bhatts who came into the Sikh fold composed hymns in honour of the Gurus which were entered in the Guru Granth Sahib by Guru Arjan. These Bhatts and their successors too maintained their vahis in which they recorded information concerning the Gurus, their families and some of the eminent Sikhs.These old vahis are still preserved in the descendant families, now scattered mostly in Haryana state. Their script is bhattakshari, a kind of family code like lande or mahajani.
During the late 1950`s, a researcher, Giani Garja Singh, obtained Gurmukhi transcripts of some of the entries pertaining to the Guru period, from Guru Hargobind (1595-1644) to Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708) through Bhatt Man Singh of Karsindhu village, in Jind district. Some of these were published as footnotes to Shahid Bilas Bhai Mani Singh, edited by Giani Garja Singh and published by Punjabi Sahitya Akademi, Ludhiana, in 1961.The rest are still in manuscript form lying in the Department of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University, Patiala.
These extracts provide valuable information regarding dates, places and events of the period. As contemporary evidence, BhattVahis have to be used with caution however, for they are not diaries of the eyewitnesses. It was customary for the Bhatts to visit their hereditary patrons usually twice a year at harvest time to sing their praises and receive rewards or customary donations as well as to collect information for record in their vahfs.These records are, therefore, based on information gathered generally after the occurrence of events and, possibly, sometimes received at second hand.
This may not apply to entries regarding the Gurus which were recorded by Bhatts who generally remained in attendance. For instance, an entry about the conferment of guruship upon the Guru Granth Sahib in 1708 is by Bhatt Narbud Singh (son of Keso Singh and grandson of Bhatt Kirat whose hymns are included in the Holy Book) who had accompanied Guru Gobind Singh to Nanded. On the whole, these Bhatt Vahis are a mine of information of historical and sociological value
Introduction to Bhatt Vahis
Bhatt Vahis—also sometimes called Bhat Vahiyan—are invaluable records maintained by hereditary bards known as Bhatt, who served as genealogists, poets, and chroniclers for the Sikh Gurus and other prominent families. These scrolls offer a unique glimpse into the early history, hagiography, and genealogical details of the Sikh community, and they continue to be treasured sources in Sikh historiography.
Historical Role and Cultural Significance
Historically, the Bhatt Vahis served multiple functions:
Genealogical Records: The Bhatt Vahis recorded detailed family lineages, not only of the Sikh Gurus but also of prominent Sikh families. These records were essential in preserving the heritage of the community and ensuring continuity across generations.
Hagiographical Accounts: The Bhatt tradition is closely tied to the recording of spiritual and heroic events. Many Bhatt Vahis contain poetic narrations and panegyrics about the lives and deeds of the Gurus. This helped in projecting the divine grandeur of Sikh history and in inspiring future generations through memorable accounts.
Cultural Transmission: In an era before modern documentation methods, these scrolls were circulated during periodic visits by Bhatts to their patron families. Their recitations at harvest time or during significant community gatherings helped maintain not only a historical record but also a cultural and literary tradition that seamlessly mixed religion, art, and history.
Script and Preservation
The Bhatt Vahis were composed in Bhattakhri, a distinct script that belongs to the Landa family of scripts—with similarities to Mahajani. This specialized script was used exclusively by the Bhatt community for their records and possesses a characteristic style that distinguishes these texts from other Sikh manuscripts written in Gurmukhi.
Transliterations: Over time, as scholars sought to preserve and study these works, figures such as Giani Garja Singh and Bhatt Chhaju Singh Kaushik provided Gurmukhi transliterations. Today, many of these transliterated texts are carefully housed at institutions like Punjabi University in Patiala.
Manuscript Caution: While the Bhatt Vahis serve as a remarkable repository of historical information, modern researchers treat them with caution. Since the Bhatts compiled these occasions based on information sometimes gathered long after the events—or based on secondhand retellings—the records are invaluable as cultural documents, even if not strictly “eyewitness” accounts.
Impact on Sikh Historiography and Heritage
The Bhatt Vahis have significantly shaped the Sikhs’ collective memory. These texts:
Enrich the Narrative: By providing detailed narratives about the lives of the Gurus and other eminent Sikh figures, they have contributed to the mythos and spiritual narrative that underpins the Sikh faith.
Validate Oral Traditions: Their existence supports the longstanding oral tradition of Sikh history and the transmission of spiritual wisdom through verses and genealogical recitations.
Support Academic Inquiry: Modern scholarship continues to mine these texts for insights into historical dates, events, and familial lineages—their careful study has often supplemented information from the canonical Guru Granth Sahib and official contemporary records.
Highlight Cultural Diversity: The records reflect the broader cultural milieu of the time, noting that many early Sikhs hailed from different backgrounds (including Brahmin, Rajput, and Jat communities) and joined the faith through the persuasive panegyrics of Bhatts. This melding of traditions underscored the inclusive vision of Sikhism.
