Sahib Singh (Sikhism)

Bhai Sahib Singh(Gurmukhi: ਭਾਈ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਸਿੰਘ) was one of the Panj Pyare(or the Five beloved ones). He was formerly known as Sahib Chand,and was a Barber (Nai), before baptized into Khalsa tradition.

Birth and Family

There are different versions of different scholars regarding Birth Place and Family Members of Sahib Singh. Though all accepts the fact that, he was born in family of Barbers.

Regarding birth place:

• The most popular and acceptable belief is that, He was born in Bidar^[1][2][3] in present day Karnataka.^[4][5]
• As per Mahankosh, Bhai Sahib Singh was born at Nangal Shaheedan in 4,Harh Samvat 1722, District Hoshiarpur. ^[6]

Regarding father and mother name:

• As per Mahankosh, He was born to Bishan Devi and Tulsi Ram (or Charan Ram), a Barber.
• Another tradition believes that he was son of Bhai Guru Narayana (a barber of Bidar in Karnataka) and his wife Ankamma.

Accepting Sikh faith

Bidar had been visited by Guru Nanak early in the sixteenth century and a Sikh shrine had been established there in his honour. Sahib Chand, as Sahib Singh was called before he underwent the rites of the Khalsa, travelled to Anandpur at the young age of 16, and attached himself permanently to Guru Gobind Singh.

He won a name for himself as marksman and in one of the battles at Anandpur he shot dead the Gujjar chief, Jamatulla. In another action the raja of Hindur, Bhup Chand, was seriously wounded by a shot from his muskets following which the entire hill army fled the field. Sahib Chand was one of the five Sikhs who, on the Baisakhi day of 30 March 1699, offered, upon Guru Gobind Singh's call to lay down their heads. They were greeted by the Guru as the five beloved of him. These five formed the nucleus of the Khalsa, the Guru's own, inaugurated dramatically that day. Sahib Chand, after undergoing the rites of the Khalsa, became Sahib Singh, receiving the title of Singh common to all members of the Khalsa.

Bhai Sahib Singh fell in the battle of Chamkaur on 7 December 1705 with Bhai Himmat Singh and Bhai Mohkam Singh.

References

1. Page 209, Evolution of Faith and Religion: An Exploration, Phd Ajit Randhawa, AuthorHouse, Aug 1, 2009
2. Page 259, The Religions of India: A Concise Guide to Nine Major Faiths, Roshen Dalal, Penguin Books India, 2010
3. The Sikhs, Patwant Singh, Rupa Publications, Oct 28, 2012
4. "Panj Pyare the Five Beloved of Sikh History - Guru Gobind Singh Creates the Original Panj Pyare of 1699". about.com. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
5. Page 69, Guru Gobind Singh: A Multi-faceted Personality, Surinder Singh Johar, M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd., Jan 1, 1999
6. ਨੰਗਲਸ਼ਹੀਦਾਂ (ਜਿਲਾ ਹੁਸ਼ਿਆਰਪੁਰ) ਵਿੱਚ ਤੁਲਸੀ (ਜਾਂ ਚਮਨਰਾਮ) ਨਾਈ ਦੇ ਘਰ ਮਾਤਾ ਬਿਸਨਦੇਈ ਦੀ ਕੁੱਖ ਤੋਂ ੪. ਹਾੜ੍ਹ ਸੰਮਤ ੧੭੨੨ ਨੂੰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ ਦਾ ਜਨਮ ਹੋਇਆ. ਸੰਮਤ ੧੭੩੮ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਨੰਦਪੁਰ ਆਕੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਰਣ ਰਹੇ. ਸੰਮਤ ੧੭੫੬ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੀਸ ਭੇਟ ਕਰਕੇ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਜੇ. ੮. ਪੋਹ ਸੰਮਤ ੧੭੬੧ ਨੂੰ ਚਮਕੌਰ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਹੋਏ. ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀ ਸੰਤਾਨ ਦੇ ਲੋਕ ਨੰਗਲਸ਼ਹੀਦਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਵਸਦੇ ਹਨ: ਪੰਜ ਪਿਆਰੇ, Mahankosh, Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha

• Encyclopedia of Sikhism, by Harbans Singh.Published by Punjabi University, Patiala