Bhai Kanhaiya

Bhai Kanhaiya (1648–1718; also spelt as Bhai Ghanaiya), known as Khat Waro Bao and Khaatwala Baba in Sindh, born to Mata Sundari ji and father Sri Nathu Ram's home village Saudra district Sialkot now in Pakistan, was a Sikh of Guru Tegh Bahadur and was requested to establish the Sewapanthi or Addanshahi order of the Sikhs by Guru Gobind Singh. He was known for pouring water for all the wounded members of the battlefield no matter whether they were Sikhs or fighting against the Sikhs.

During his youth he also spent a lot of time in the company of Nanua Bairagi, who belonged to a Saini agriculture family  and was also a disciple and comrade of last three Sikh gurus. Nanua Bairagi was a renowned poet-mystic of Punjab and he left a deep imprint on Bhai Kanhaiya's spiritual and humanitarian outlook in his formative years.

Biography 

Bhai Kanhaiya was born in 1648 in the Dhamman Khatri community of Sodhara, to Mata Sundari ji and father Sri Nathu Ram's near Wazirabad in the Sialkot region (now in Pakistan), and his father was a wealthy broker. He was known to have a habit of giving to the poor from a very young age. 

In his youth, Kanhaiya met a man named Nauna Bairagi, who was a Sikh of the 9th Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur. Their connection allowed Kanhaiya to meet the Guru, and he converted to Sikhism. Kanhaiya stayed and continued to serve the Sangat (community). Kanhaiya was assigned as Guru's water bearer and later in Langar (community kitchen). He also looked after Guru Sahib's steeds. After the death of the 9th Guru, the 10th Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, had ascended and Kanhaiya began to follow him. Kanhaiya was visiting Anandpur in May 1704 when the city was attacked by a combination of Rajput troops and their Mughal partners. Bhai Kanhaiya was frequently seen carrying a goatskin water pocket and serving water to anyone who was thirsty. He performed this sewa (magnanimous administration) with adoration. This irritated the Sikh warriors on the battlefield, who complained to the Guru. The Guru then asked Kanhaiya, "These Sikhs are saying that you go and feed water to the enemy and they recover". Kanhaiya replied, saying, "Yes, my Guru, what they say is true, however, there were no Mughals or Sikhs on the battlefield. All I saw were people."

The answer satisfied the Guru. He provided with Bhai Kanhaiya with medical aid, and later on his mission came to be known as the Sewa Panthi Sampradaye.

In Sindh 
He was sent by the Guru to Sindh in-order to propagate the Sikh religion amongst the locals of the region. He is locally known as Khat Waro Bao or Khaatwala Baba in Sindh as he would preach whilst seated on a bed. The Khat Wari Darbar in Shikarpur is a Sindhi temple dedicated to him. After his passing, he was succeeded as head of the Sewapanthi sect by Bhai Sewa Ram. His successor would continue preaching and proselytizing Sikhism in Sindh.
SGPC under president Prof Kirpal Singh Badungar first time celebrated the birth anniversary of Bhai Kanhaiya ji on September 20, 2017. In this context, the Punjab government under chief minister Capt. Amrinder Singh too celebrated his birthday on September 20, 2017 as the Manav Sewa Diwas.

See also
Sevā
Sewapanthi
Nanua Bairagi, mentor of Bhai Kanhaiya

References

Further reading

External links 

Indian Sikhs
1648 births
1718 deaths
Sikh saints