|
Bibi Nanaki ji were elder
sister of Guru Nanak and the daughter
of Kalian Chand (Baba Kalu) and Mata
Tripta, was born in 1464 in her mother's
home at village of Chahal, now in Lahore
district of1 Pakistan Punjab. The Guru's
love for his sister is referred to in
most touching terms in some of the Sakhis.
A sister's love for her brother is a
perennial theme of Punjabi folklore.
There are many stories of Nanaki's deep
and devoted affection for her brother,
Nanak. Five years older then Guru Nanak,
she was the first to recognize his spiritual
eminence and to become his devotee.
She protected Nanak from their father's
wrath, when repeatedly he disappointed
and angered him. She was with him throughout
the early years of his childhood. When
Guru Nanak Dev was only Six years old
in 1475, Nanaki was married to Jai Ram,
a revenue official of very good reputation,
at Sultanpur, which is in the present
native state of Kapurthala, and was
then the capital of the Jalandhar Doab.
Nanak continued to live at home. He
rebelled against any norms that were
imposed without reason. He loved to
be in the company of saints who were
The wise men of the day, and gave money
away to the poor and the hungry. His
father despaired of never being able
to make him behave and take on a respectable
position in the village. And so it was
that his father gave up, and so, at
the age of fifteen, Nanak was sent to
live with his sister, and to work for
her husband. It was Jai Ram who arranged
the wedding of Nanak to Sulakhani, daughter
of Moolchand Chand Khatri and Mata Chando
of the village Pakhoke, District Gurdaspur.
Herself Childless, Bibi Nanaki adored
her brother, Nanak, and felt herself
blessed when he came to join the Nawab's
service and put up with her at Sultanpur.
She arranged Guru Nanak's marriage
and she loved his sons, Sri Chand and
Lakhmi das, as her own. Guru Nanak reciprocated
her affection and after he had quit
the Nawab's service to go out to preach
his message, he did not fail to visit
Sultanpur and meet his sister between
whiles. Once as he visited her in 1518,
Bibi Nanaki seeing her end near, detained
him a short while. As she had wished,
she departed this likfe in the presence
of her brother- Guru Nanak Dev ji. Three
days later, her husband, Jai Ram, also
expired. Guru Nanak himself performed
their obsequies. There is no doubt that
perhaps first Gur Sikh was none other
than Bebe Nanaki and second Gursikh
was Mata Sullakhni ji, Guru Nanak Dev's
Wife.
Copyright © Harbans Singh "The
encyclopedia of Sikhism.
Mahima Prakash written by Sarup Das
Bhalla, Patiala 1970.
|
