AJAB, BHAI, a Jatt of Sangha clan who lived in the village of Darauli, now called Darauli Bhai, in Faridkot; district of the Punjab. He, like his brothers Umar Shah and Ajaib, forsook his faith in Sultan Sakhi Sarwar, became a Sikh and rendered devoted service at the time of the construction of the Harimandar at Amritsar. The three brothers were appointed masands, or parish leaders, in the areas of Moga, Zira and Dharamkot. They often used to quote Guru Arjan`s line: " If God so wills, He may keep one alive even after breath had departed the body." They were especially gratified once to have the line expounded by the Guru himself.
BHAGIRATH, BHAI, whose name occurs in the roster of leading Sikhs in Bhai Gurdas, Varan, XI. 18, was a Soini Khatri. He entered the Sikh faith in the time of Guru Arjan. From the Guru himself he received enlightenment and learnt to distinguish a true gurmukh (one with face turned towards the Guru) from a manmukh (an egoridden one). See BHULLA, BHAI
BHAIRON, BHAI, a devout Sikh of the time of Guru Hargobind (1595-1644). Bhai Bhairon`s name occurs along With those of Sadh, Deva,Jhanda and Bidhia in a contemporary Persian work, Dabistani Mazahib. The author narrates an interesting anecdote to illustrate the Sikhs` belief in the One Unincarnated Supreme Being.
BHIKHA(pronounced as Bhikkha), BHATT. a Brahman bard of Sultanpur Lodhi in present day Kapurthala district of the Punjab, became a Sikh receiving the rites of initiation at the hands of Guru Amar Das. He lived up to the time of Guru Arjan to whom he introduced sixteen other Brahman minstrels from his community. They sang in his presence praises to God and the Gurus. Some of their compositions were included by Guru Arjan in the Guru Granth Sahib. One of the two stanzas by Bhikha recounts his wanderings in search of a true saint ending with his ultimate success by the grace of God. "Lord," sang the bard, "hath caused me to meet the Guru; as thou wiliest for me so must I receive 0 God !"
BISHAN SINGH, GIANI (1875-1966), cleric and exegete, was a granthi or priest at the Khalsa College at Amritsar for 30 years. The Khalsa College was then a premier Sikh college excelling in research and publication in the field of Sikh studies. Four of the foremost Sikh scholars of this period, namely Bhai Jodh Singh, Prof. Asor Teja Singh, Bhai Sahib Singh and Dr Ganda Singh, were members of the college faculty and between them they brought about a major enlightenment in Sikh letters.
