TEJ BHAN, BABA (d. 1533), affectionately referred to as Tejo in early chronicles, was the father of Guru Amar Das, Nanak III (1479-1574). A Khatri of the Bhalla clan, Tej Bhan was born to Baba Hariji and Mata Milavi of Basarke Gillari, a village 12 km southwest of Amritsar. He was married at the age of 12 to Bakht Kaur (also known as Lachhmi, Lakhmi or simply Lakkho) from a Duggal Khatri family. Guru Amar Das, born on 5 May 1479, was the eldest of their four sons, the other three being Ishar Das, Khem Rai and Manak Chand. The family lived partly by agriculture and partly by trade. According to Kesar Singh Chhibbar, Bansavalmama, Baba Tej Bhan died in Kattak 1590 Bk, corresponding to October 1533.
References :
1. Chhibbar, Kesar Singh, Bansavalinama Dasan Patshahian Ka, ed. Ratan Singh Jaggi. Chandigarh, 1972
2. Gian Singh, GianI, Twarikh Guru Khalsa. Patiala, 1970
3. Bhalla, Samp Das, Mahima Prakash. Patiala, 1971
4. Satbir Singh, Parbatu Meran.Jalandhar, 1983
5. Jodh Singh, Life of Guru Amar Das. Amritsar, 1949
Tej Bhan, affectionately known as Tejo in early Sikh chronicles, is remembered as the father of Guru Amar Das, the third Guru of Sikhism. Hailing from the Khatri community of the Bhalla clan, Tej Bhan was born to Baba Hari ji and Mata Milavi in Basarke—an area situated near modern Amritsar in Punjab. This culturally vibrant region not only shaped his early life but later also provided the rich backdrop against which Guru Amar Das was raised, underscoring the deep-rooted connection between familial legacy and spiritual lineage in Sikh history .
From a young age, Tej Bhan’s life was interwoven with both the practicalities of trade and the values of spiritual inquiry. Married at the age of 12 to Bakht Kaur (alternatively known as Lachhmi, Lakhmi, or simply Lakkho) from a Duggal Khatri family, he helped create an environment in which ethical conduct and service were paramount. This nurturing household played a critical role in the upbringing of Guru Amar Das, born on 5 May 1479, whose teachings would later emphasize equality, community service, and the transcendence of social barriers .
The legacy of Tej Bhan is significant not only for his direct connection as the progenitor of a great spiritual leader but also for embodying the dual strengths of commercial acumen and devout spirituality—traits that resonate deeply in the Khatri tradition. His life set the stage for the values and principles that Guru Amar Das would articulate and propagate, contributing to a transformation in Sikh identity that blended material well-being with a profound spiritual mission.
