DEVI DAS, PANDIT,

DEVI DAS, PANDIT, one of the numerous poets and scholars who kept company with Guru Gobind Singh (See Bavanja Kavi), was born in a Chhibbar Brahman family who had been followers of the Gurus. His father, Hardayal, was the younger brother of Bhai Gavaldas who, according to the Bhatt Vahis, had accompanied Guru Tegh Bahadur during his visit to the eastern provinces; and Bhai Chaupa Singh, author of one of the Rahitnamas, was his granduncle.

Chandra Sain Sainapati, another of Guru Gobind Singh`s poets, in his Sukh Sain Granth, acknowledges Devi Das to be his teacher. Manuscripts of three of Devi Das`s works Rajniti, SinghGau ki Katha and Lav Kus di Var survive. The first two are in Hindi, while the third is in Punjabi.

References :

1. Padam, Piara Singh, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji de Darbari Ratan. Patiala, 1976
2. — and Giani Garja Singh, eds.. Guru kiari Sakhi`ari. Patiala. 1986