In addition to the Gurus and the Bhagats,
the following Saints and Poets
who existed during the times of the Gurus have also had their teachings
included in Adi Guru Durbar:
Bhikan Shah,
a great Sufi saint who lived in a village called Kakori (Lucknow)
who lived during Guru Nanak Devji's lifetime. 2 Hymns of Bhikan
were added to Adi Guru Durbar.
Bhikan Shah
A painting done in the Persian style of the great
Muslim Sufi saint engrossed in prayer and contemplation
Soor Das was
born in 1528 (muslim calendar) and was a Brahmin by caste. Appointed
into the governorship of Sandil by Akbar the Great he spent all
the resources he had on Saints and great souls who devoted their
lives to the service of mankind and the Almighty. For this, he was
imprisoned, but was later released when his virtues were acknowledged
by the Moghal King. 2 Hymns of Soor Das are included in Adi Guru
Durbar.
Soor Das
An old painting of Soor Das who is said to
have composed 125,000 Hymns during his lifetime
Sundar was the
grandson of the 3rd Sikh Guru, Guru Amardas, and wrote a poem called
"Saad" (6 Pauris) that described the death of his grandfather.
Sattah and Balwand
were great and famous musicians of the court of the 5th Sikh Guru,
Guru Arjan Dev ji. They composed a 'Vaar' (ballad) of 8 Pauris that
speaks of the greatness of the Sikh Gurus which has been added to
Raag Ramkali in Adi Guru Durbar.
Mardana, the
great companion of Guru Nanak Dev ji has 3 Sloks which he composed
added to Adi Guru Durbar. Bhai Gurdas Ji speaks of Guru Nanak's
companion:
'From Mecca, Baba [Guru Nanak] went to Baghdad and spend his
time outside of the city. Firstly, Baba himself was was the
form of the Immortal [ie. at one with the Lord], and secondly,
he had his companion Mardana, the rabab [Indian musical intrument
similar to a Mandolin] player. Upon preparing for namaz [Muslim
method of prayer] he [Nanak] gave the calling, upon which the
entire world fell into silence'
(Bhai Gurdas Ji, Var 1, Verse 35)
Bhai Mardana
Bhai Mardana (left) playing the rabab in the company of Akali Guru
Nanak Dev Ji
17 great Pats (bards) who visited the
courts of the Sikh Gurus also have their works within Adi Guru Durbar.
They include: Gayand, Sewak, Sal,
Kirat, Jal, Jalap,
Jalan, Tal, Kal,
Bal, Harbhans, b, Nal,
Bhaal, Bhikka, Das,
and Mathur.
Adi Guru Durbar
A photograph of the Raagmala ('string of Raags') from the first
ever printed
'Larivar Swaroop' (continuous writing) version at Bhai Santokh Singh
Library at Amritsar, Punjab
It is ironic that the souls mentioned
above do not fit into the "image" of
what mainsteam Sikhs consider as "Sikh", yet, their works
are bowed to everyday by every person who claims to be a Sikh.
Within the Sanatan Sikh world, there
is one version of Adi Guru Durbar known as the "Bhai Bhanno
Bir", which contains additional works by a Rajput Princess
known as Mirabhai.
Mirabhai
The devotee of Krishan Maharaj whom she referred to as 'Giridhar
Nagar' in fond reverence
