Bhai Mani Singh Ji

Few words and a tribute on the martyr’s day of Bhai Mani Singh ji:

Son of Bhai Mai Das who was a devotee of House of Nanak and out of twelve, eleven of his son’s found heroic end, safe guarding the values of this house. Mai Das brought his son Mani Das at Kiratpur to meet Guru Har Rai ji for his blessings. Guruji blessed him that he will make his name big in history. He was always in Guru’s service till the tenth Guruji. Like Baba Budda ji he also served House of Nanak for longest period and died a hero’s death.

After the missionary work of Guru Teg Bahadurji where Bhai Mani Das always accompanied him he came to settle in Anandpur Sahib with Guru ji. Guruji entrusted him the work of making copies of the Guru Granth Sahib ji. When Guru Teg Bahadur ji left for Delhi for his martyrdom he entrusted the look after of Guru Gobind ji as he was still a child then. Along with the education and marshal training of Guruji Bhai Mani Das acquired all the training and became a great schlolar and warrior. He fought valiantly the battle of Bhangani in which his brother died of hero’s death. Guru ji bestowed the decoration of Diwan on Bhai Mani Das after seeing his velour and scholarly inclinations to solve problems. He became Bhai Mani Singh along with whole family after baptizing to Khalsa on the baisakhi day of 1699.

After the battles of Anandpur Sahib where he lost two of his sons Bhai ji was asked to come to Damdama Sahib where Guru ji asked him to make the final edition of Granth Sahib in which Guru Teg Bahadur ji’s Bani was added. Guruji asked him to stay at Damdama Sahib to look after Sikh matters when he himself went to south to meet Aurangzeb.

After Banda Singh Bahadur’s martyrdom there was a big divide in Sikhs and they had become directionless. Many Sikhs followed Banda Singh Bahadur as Guru whereas Guru Gobind Singh ji had passed on the throne to Guru Granth Sahib as final Guru of the Sikhs. These manmukh Sikhs even tried to change the greetings of Sikhs like instead of Wahe Guru ji ka Khalsa Wahe Guru ji ki Fateh they started using Fateh Darshan as greeting. There was another opposing force to this manmukh group of Sikhs who called themselves Tat khalsa. They took permission from the rulers of the time to celebrate diwali at Amritsar Sahib and for a large congregation of Sikhs. The rulers gave permission for the large congregation thinking that the Sikhs will finish fighting with each other as both groups marched towards Amritsar. Diwali celebrations passed on peacefully but the bitterness was still prevailing. Some Sikhs consulted Mata Sundri ji to solve this problem forever. Mataji entrusted Bhai Mani Singhji for this task and he came to Amritsar.

Bhai Mani Singhji became the Granthi of Darbar Sahib. After taking charge he regulated the affairs there and then started preparing for the large congregation of Sikhs at Darbar Sahib on the occasion of Baisakhi. Zakaria Khan who was the ruler of Punjab asked to pay tax of Rs 5000 for this celebration but with his malign intentions to kill all Sikhs during this religious congregation. When Bhai Mani Singhji came to know of Zakaria Khan’s intentions he tried to stop Sikhs coming to Amritsar but it was too late and thousands paid with their life. There was no congregation and when Bhai Mani Singh ji complained he was arrested for not paying the tax. He was taken to Lahore and ordered to convert to Islam or face death. Bhai Mani Singh ji chose death and he was martyred by slaughtering. He was butchered at 52 joints one by one.

Bhai Mani Singh ji was a Gurmukh and died for his belief in Sikhism like a hero at a very late age of His life. His contributions to the House of Nanak can never be repaid by simple tributes. Only the Lord knows to glorify His true followers.

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