PAYING HOMAGE TO BHAI MARDANA JI ON HIS 490th AKAL CHALANA ANNIVERSARY (NOV. 28, 2024)

Bhai Mardana Ji is Sitting On The Right Side of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji  Thus, Bhai Mardana

Ji had also the privilege of having been born at the same place as Sri Guru Nanak Dev

Ji and growing up with him, though ten years senior to him in age. The parents of Bhai

Mardana Ji, Badra Ji and Lakkho Ji were 'Mirasi' by caste which is the caste of

hereditary minstrels who by tradition sing songs in praise of kings, rich men, brave

men and other high-ups in society to please them and thus earn their livelihood. He

was the seventh child of his parents, the first six had died in early childhood. Thus, his

mother Lakkho Ji called him 'Marjana' (means he will die) although his name was

Dana. The name 'Mardana' was given to him by Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The word

Mardana implies manliness and bravery. As reported by Ratan Singh Bhangoo in his

book Prachin Panth Prakash (1914) and Santokh Singh's book Sri Gur Partap Suraj

Granth (1926-1937) [6,8], Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji as a small boy gave Mardana Ji a

string instrument improvised from reeds called rabab to play on while he sang the

hymns and Mardana Ji started singing songs of Bhagats (saints) including Bhagat

Kabir Ji, Bhagat Trilochan Ji, Bhagat Ravidas Ji, Bhagat Dhanna Ji and Bhagat Beni

Ji. Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji used the rabab for inducing meditation and for musical

accomplishment.

During his childhood nobody, could have imagined that this naïve child singer would

grow up to become a very famous rebeck player and accompany Sri Guru Nanak Dev

Ji during his extensive travels across India and to Mecca, Madina, Egypt, Sudan,

Turkey and Baghdad in the west, Ceylon in the south and China and Tibet in the north.

He was the first 'Mirasi' who started singing the praises of God rather than the praises

of kings, rich men, brave men and other high-ups in the society which was the

traditional occupation of 'Mirasees' for earning their livelihood. It is worth mentioning 

that 'mirasee' cult i.e. singing in praise of high-ups in society may be traced to the time

of Hazrat Mohammad Sahib, the founder of Islam. The anecdote is that at one time,

for some reason, Hazrat Mohammand Sahib had beaten his cousin Hazrat Ukasa with

a whip who was the son of his father's elder brother Hazrat Amin. During the last days

of his life when Hazrat Mohammad Sahib moved to Madina, he asked the people at

large that if someone thought that he had been wronged by him in any way he could

come forward and take his revenge. In response to this announcement Hazrat Ukasa

came forward and said that he wanted to take revenge for having been beaten by him.

Hazrat Mohammad Sahib immediately uncovered his back to get beaten by him. But

Hazrat Ukasa, realizing how much justice lover Hazrat Mohammad Sahib was, kissed

his back and started singing in a very loud and clear voice his praises. Thus originated

the tradition of ministrel singing and Hazrat Ukasa was the one who initiated it. The

descendants of Hazrat Ukasa continued this tradition of glorifying through singing the

good deeds of kings, rich persons, brave persons and other high-ups in society. With

the passage of time some descendants of Hazrat Ukasa migrated from Arabia to Iran

and then with Khwaja Chisti to Ajmer in Rajasthan (India). Including the descendents

of Hazrat Ukasa, the sect of Muslims who adopted this occupation came to be called

mirasees. In India, the tradition of 'mirasi' is found mainly in Rajashtan and Panjab and

there is no part of these two states where 'mirasees' are not found.

The history of rabab (rebeck), i.e. the instrument played by Bhai Mardana Ji may be

traced back to Sufi Saints of Arabia and Iran. The word rabab comes from the Arabic

language which has been adopted in Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi languages. A book

written in 1959 in Punjab narrates a very interesting anecdote about this instrument

which took place in Bukhna city about one thousand years ago. In this city Hakim Abu

Nasir Pharsi a top musician of his time played an instrument in a huge gathering of

people which had been organized by a rich man. On listening to this instrument, the

whole of the audience first laughed, then started weeping, then became lost into its

sound and finally went into a trance. This instrument was nothing else but rabab.

When Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji left Rai Bhoe Ki Talvandi and went to Sultanpur Lodhi,

now in District Kapurthala of Punjab to join as a keeper of a government storehouse,

he got separated from Bhai Mardana Ji. However, several years later Bhai Mardana

Ji joined him at Sultanpur Lodhi. By this time Bhai Mardana Ji was a married person,

having two sons and a daughter.

At Sultanpur Lodhi Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Bhai Mardana Ji organized singing of

hymns and urged people to live a life of simplicity and righteousness. During this

period, once Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji was found missing from work for three days during

which he had an intimate communion with the Divine. He was directed by the Divine

to go forth into the world and preach. The first words he uttered on reappearance were,

"there is no Hindu, there is no Musalman", i.e. no one is a Hindu or a Mohammadan.

All people are the children of God. He announced to the world that God is beyond

religious divisions. He set on his mission with his Muslim mirasee companion Bhai  

Mardana Ji and four other companions (i) Bhai Bala Ji (a Sandhu Jat) (i) Bhai Saido

Gheo (iii) Seeha (Chcheemba by caste) and (iv) Hassu, a black-smith.

Before leaving Sultanpur Lodhi for the four udasis Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji sent Bhai  

Mardana Ji to a nearby place which was a small village named Bharoana16 km south-

west of Sultanpur Lodhi, Distt. Kapurthala, Punjab to purchase a rabab from Bhai 

Phiranda Ji. Bhai Phiranda Ji was a pious-minded musician who was a follower of Sri

Guru Nanak Dev Ji who manufactured the stringed instrument called rabab or rebeck

Bhai Phiranda Ji produced the instrument, but on learning as to who had ordered it,

refused to accept any money for it. A memorial shrine was constructed where Bhai

Phiranda Ji had lived, which became the centre of an annual fair held on the tenth of

the dark half of the lunar month of Assu (September-October). A handsome Gurdwara

named Gurdwara Rababsar Sahib has since been raised by the followers of Sant

Gurmukh Singh [1,6,8].

During the twenty years of extensive travelling Bhai Mardana Ji played rabab to the

accompaniment of hymns uttered by Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The udasis (journeys) of

Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji are grouped into four parts - east, south, north, and west. During

these journeys, Guru Sahib uttered hymns and Bhai Mardana Ji sang them. During

these journeys Bhai Mardana Ji had to undergo many physical hardships. Many

anecdotes depict how from time to time he had to bear the pangs of hunger and thirst

and requested Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji to arrange food and water. Bhai Mardana Ji also

at times was attracted to wordly pleasures and comforts.

During the journey through Punjab, Guru Sahib and Mardana Ji had not gone a long

distance from Sultanpur Lodhi that he complained of hunger. Guru Sahib asked him

to go to the nearby village and get some food from the Uppal Khatris living in that

village. The village people treated Bhai Mardana Ji to rich foods and also gave him

many precious gifts. When he showed these to Guru Sahib, he was told that those

things were of no use to them and asked him to throw them away which he did

willingly.[1]

During the first journey, which was east-ward, having travelled through Delhi, then

Haridwar and Varanasi in U.P. and Patna Sahib in Bihar, Guru Sahib and Bhai

Mardana Ji reached Dhaka (Bengal) a place known for jugglery. Bhai Mardana Ji was

warned by Guru Sahib of the evil designs of jugglers. But since he was hungry he went

to them for food. Instead, the jugglers turned him into a hog and tied him to a pillar.

Guru Sahib along with Bhai Bala Ji went there to release him.

In the dense forests of Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, tired of journeys and

pangs of hunger, Bhai Mardana Ji decided to return to Punjab. After having walked

some distance he was picked up by a man-eater giant, Kauda Rakash. Just when

Kauda Rakash was to put him into a caldron of boiling oil, Guru Sahib and Bhai Bala

Ji reached the spot and saved him. This place now falls in Jabalpur and at this site

Gurdwara Mada Tal has been established. Now this Gurdwara is called Gurdwara

Singh Sabha, Marhatal, Madhya Pradesh.  

Sometimes going through dark and dense forests, hilly areas and awe- inspiring

environment Bhai Mardana Ji would complain that some lion or other wild animal

would eat them and that he would have been well off at home singing the praises of

people to earn food. Guru Sahib would always console him that no such thing would

happen to him. The Janam Sakhis contain many anecdotes picturing Mardana Ji in

despair of agonizing hunger, thirst or petrifying fear and Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji or

nature coming to succor him somewhat miraculously. At one time they were passing

through a remote wilderness when suddenly a violent storm overtook them. So severe

was the tempest that the trees of the jungle began to fly about Mardana Ji started

trembling with fear and said to Guru Sahib "True Sovereign, thou hast brought me to

my death in this forest. I shall not here get a shroud nor a grave". Guru Sahib asked

him to remain calm, but Mardana Ji moaned, "I have not faced a calamity like this in

my life. What is going to befall my poor soul and body?" Then fire broke out. Smoke

was all over and the blaze on all four sides. Mardana Ji covered up his face and laid

himself down on the ground saying "Farewell, life". Then came water. Thick clouds

gathered and poured water in torrents." "Raise thy head, Mardana", spoke the Guru,

"and take thy rebeck". Mardana turned the strings and Sri Guru Nanak Sahib sang "If

the fear of God is in the heart, all other fear is dispelled" [1,4,5,6].

Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Hasan Abdal, in Attock district in Pakistan which was

established during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh reminds us of Bhai Mardana Ji.

When at the end of their tour of West Asia Guru Sahib and Bhai Mardana Ji arrived

here, Bhai Mardana Ji complained of thirst. Guru Sahib sent him three times to the top

of the hill where Wali Kandhari a Muslim saint lived. Wali Kandhari refused to give

water to a Muslim who was following a Hindu Guru. Guru Sahib asked Bhai Mardana

Ji to remove a nearby stone which he promptly did and from this place water came

gushing. Simultaneously, Wali Kandhari's reservoir started ebbing and finally became

empty. Wali Kandhari, in anger rolled down a stone towards them, which Guru Sahib,

stopped with his right hand palm where it got imprinted. Impressed by the miraculous

power of Guru Sahib, Wali Kandhari came down and bowed to Guru Sahib. To

commemorate the memory of this incident Gurdwara Panja (Palm) Sahib has been

established at this place.

Towards the end of the 20-year travels Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Bhai Mardana Ji

were taken prisoners by the Mughal Chief of Saidpur, now named Eminabad (now in

Pakistan). Baber invaded Saidpur, now called Eminabad during 1520, which is a

region located 15 miles from Sialkot (Pakistan) [4]. At this place the buildings were

destructed and a vast majority of men were killed, the remaining were taken prisoners.

The females and the little ones were captured and tortured [4]. According to The

Encyclopaedia of Sikhism published by Punjabi University, Patiala, (Vol I, 1995)

Baber's this attack is said to be the rivalry that brewed between the Sikhs and

Mughals.

Bhai Mardana Ji was honoured by the insignia of BHAI by Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.  

During the extensive journeys of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Bhai Mardana Ji was his

constant companion who would sing the hymns uttered by Guru Sahib. In 1534 after

completing the four preaching tours Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Bhai Mardana Ji came

to Kartarpur which is a town located 102kms from Lahore city in the Shakargarh Tehsil,

Narowal District now in Pakistan. Here Bhai Mardana Ji fell ill. He grew weak and hope

of recovery was lost. He told Guru Sahib that his remains after death should be

disposed off as per Guru Sahib's wishes. Guru Sahib asked him whether he should

construct a tomb in his memory to bring fame to him. Bhai Mardana Ji replied that

when Guru Sahib was releasing him from the bodily sepulchre (samadh) why should

he be entombed in stone. Thus, after Bhai Mardana Ji left for his heavenly abode on

August 13, 1534 [2]. Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji cremated his body himself and consigned

his mortal remains to the river Ravi in the accompaniment of singing hymns and

consoled his son Shahzada and other members of his family and asked them not to

weep for him who had returned to his heavenly abode.

Bhai Mardana Ji was a poet of high merit one of his slokas appears in Sri Guru Granth

Sahib along with two others by Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji addressed to Bhai Mardana Ji

(SGGS, 553). Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji composed four hymns alluding to the invasions

by Baber (1483-1530) which are collectively known as Baber Vani (SGGS, P 360, 417,

418, 422, 423)

Bhai Mardana Ji is remembered as a deeply spiritual man, an ever-time top musician

who bravely faced the oddities and risks during travels with Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Sri

Guru Angad Dev Ji (1504-1532) the second Guru of the Sikhs invited Bhai Mardana

Ji's son Shahzada to play rabab in Sikh congregations Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

According to SGPC Calendar this year i.e. in 2024 Akal Chalana Divas of Bhai

Mardana Ji falls on November 28. The Sikh Sangat all over the world will pay homage

to Bhai Mardana Ji, a great poet and musician on November 28, 2024.  

DHAN DHAN BHAI MARDANA JI!   

REFERENCES

1. The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism published by Punjabi University, Patiala Vol I, II,

III and IV (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998)

2. Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha's Book Mahan Kosh (1930)

3. Gurmukh Singh's Book Historical Sikh Shrines (2000)

4. Vir Singh, Bhai (Ed) Purantan Janam Sakhi (1982)

5. Kirpal Singh's Book (Ed) Janam Sakhi Prampara (1967)

6. Ratan Singh Bhangoo's, Book Prachin Panth Parkash (1914)

7. Bhai Trilochan Singh Vir Ji's write-up Bhai Mardana Ji (in Punjabi), Gobind

Times, August 2003, Vol 6, No. 8

8. Santokh Singh's Book Sri Guru Pratap Suraj Granth (1926-37)  

Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Marhatal, Gurdwara Rababsar Sahib,

Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. Bharoana, Makhu, Road Kapurthala, Punjab  

Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Hasan Abdal, Pakistan (A hand mark of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji

is visible on a big stone in the Gurdwara Sahib).  

Dr. Amrit Kaur Retd. Professor Punjabi University Patiala, Punjab India