Bhai Mani Singh Ji: the scribe of the Damdami Bir and his shaheedi in Lahore

The Shaheedi Purab of Bhai Mani Singh Ji remembers the martyrdom in Lahore in 1738 of one of the most learned and devoted Sikhs of his age, who served the Gurus for most of his life and is named in every Ardas among those who were cut apart, joint by joint.

A lifetime of service

Bhai Mani Singh Ji came to the court of Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji as a child and grew up beside the young Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, becoming his close companion. He took Amrit in 1699, and many of his brothers and sons gave their lives in the battles of the Guru's time. At Damdama Sahib in 1706 he was the scribe who wrote out Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji as the Guru dictated, adding the bani of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji. After the Guru, Mata Sundari Ji sent him to Amritsar as granthi of Sri Harmandir Sahib, where he settled disputes in the Panth and preached for many years. Tradition also credits him with gathering the bani of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

The Diwali tax

In 1738 he sought permission from Zakariya Khan, the governor of Lahore, for Sikhs to gather at Amritsar for Diwali, and agreed to pay a heavy tax from the offerings. Fearing an attack, the governor sent troops, the sangat scattered, and the tax could not be raised. Bhai Mani Singh Ji was arrested and taken to Lahore.

The shaheedi

Offered his life if he accepted Islam, he refused. He was sentenced to be cut apart joint by joint, and when the executioner began with his wrist, tradition remembers he held out his hand at the fingers, reminding him of his orders. He bore it in calm remembrance of the Divine. Gurdwaras hold kirtan, katha and Ardas in his memory.