Bhai Langaha and Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji

[Akaal Purakh Di Fauj]

The name of Bhai Langaha is mentioned among the famous Sikhs of the Guru period by Bhai Gurdas Ji in his // no. 11. He wrote "Chawdhari Langaha of the Dhillon clan lived in Patti and was a committed Sikh of the Gurus." Bhai Langaha lived in village Jhabal, about eight kilometers to the south of Amritsar. He was one of the three administrators of the Patti area yielding about 900,000 rupees of annual revenue to the government. He was the first person of the village to become a Sikh and helped other people to follow the faith.

Earlier, Bhai Langaha was a disciple of the Pir Sakhi Sarvar. This sect was a first step for Hindus to be converted to Islam. The followers of the Pir worshipped in the Pir-Khanna, a house of the Pir.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji built a Sikh center at Taran Taran and dug a sarovar there. A Sikh sangat was founded there to preach the faith among the people of this region who were attracted to the Pir. The Guru also opened a hospital for the handicapped and sick people. It was during these activities that Bhai Langaha came to know of the Sikh faith and met Guru Arjan Dev Ji. As a result of this, he replaced the Pir-Khanna in his house and established Sikh sangat there. The people would gather in the house to sing the virtues of the Lord. Bhai Langaha also donated a large parcel of land to the Guru for maintaining and grazing cattle and horses. This place was administrated by Baba Budha Ji and hence was named Bir Baba Budha Ji.

When Guru Arjan Dev Ji was arrested and taken to Lahore, Bhai Langaha was one of the five Sikhs who went with the Guru to keep the Sikhs in touch with the conditions of the Guru. He did this at great risk to himself for he could have been removed from his position or even arrested and murdered by the government for associating with the Guru.

After the execution of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Bhai Langaha maintained his loyalty to Guru Har Gobind and remained a devoted Sikh.

When the governor of Lahore attacked Amritsar in 1629, it was the day of the marriage of Bibi Veero, the daughter of Guru Har Gobind. Knowing the impending attack on Amritsar by the army, the Guru sent his daughter and her mother to Bhai Langaha in village Jhabal for performing the marriage ceremony. Bhai Langaha did not hesitate to accept this responsibility knowing full well that it could result in repercussions by the government against him.

The family of Bhai Langaha remained committed to the Sikh faith after his death. His children and grandchildren associated with the Gurus and the Khalsa Panth. They took Amrit and joined the Khalsa Panth. They also provided food and other facilities for the Sikhs fighting guerrilla warfare during the early eighteenth century.

The sakhi of Mai Bhag Kaur, grandniece of Bhai Langaha is well known to the students of Sikh history. She organized the villagers to fight for Guru Gobind Singh when the Mughal army was pursuing him after he vacated Anandpur Sahib. She was able to collect a large number of Sikhs and intercept the army at Mukatsar where the Guru camped on the banks of a small lake. The Sikhs forced the army to retreat. Mai Bhag Kaur received many injuries and became unconscious. After treatment when she recovered, she remained with the Guru and accompanied him to the south. After the death of the Guru at Nanded, she continued to do sewa there. A gurdwara named after her was built near the Gurdwara Sach Khand at Nanded.

Another famous member of this family was Sardar Baghail Singh, who was the head of the Kror Singhia Misl. He was not only a brave soldier but also a great statesman. He took over Delhi and built gurdwaras at the places connected with Guru Tegh Bahadur and Guru Har Krishan Ji. He performed this service before the end of the eighteenth century.

Sardar Khazan Singh, who was also a member of this family, did great service to the Panth during the period of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Sardar Karam Singh, a great historian of the early twentieth century, also belonged to this family.

The devotion and commitment of Bhai Langaha helped his generations to feel pride in being Sikhs, living as Sikhs and dying as Sikhs

[GuruManeyoGranth]

Waheguroo

Truly a blessed Gursikh family

[Harjit_S_Banga]

WGJKK

WGJKF

History is full of such GURSIKHS. We should learn what COMMITMENT to GURU ji mean from such GURSIKHS and their families....

DHan Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji.......Wahe gurooo....Wahegurooo