52 court poets of Guru Gobind Singh

Bavanja Kavi, means fifty two poets in Punjabi. It is how the galaxy of poets and scholars who attended on Guru Gobind Singh is popularly designated. 
Guru Gobind Singh, prophet and soldier, was an accomplished poet and also a great patron of letters. 
According to Sarup Das Bhalla, Mahima Prakash, he sent out Sikhs to different parts of the country to invite and bring to him scholars of repute. His instruction was: "Let them bring with them works pertaining to the fields they specialize in." When they came, "the True Guru bestowed great respect and honour upon them and provided for them without disscrimination." 
Although traditionally mentioned to be 52, the number of scholars who came and stayed with the Guru at one time or the other was even larger. Bhai Santokh Singh, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, mentions 52 poets and Bhai Sukha Singh, Gurbilas, 36 lekhaks (writers or scribes). Besides, there were Bhatts who often recited their own poetical compositions. 
Several poets like Pandit Sukhdev, Brind, Alim, Kunvaresh, Kanshi Ram and Bhai Nand Lal Goya, who had earlier been at the Mughal court, came to spend the rest of their lives at the feet of the Guru. These men were assigned by Guru Gobind Singh to the task of rendering of Hindi, Sanskrit and Persian classics into Bhakha written in Gurmukhi script. The work appears to have been taken in hand quite early in his career, probably in 1678 and spread over the next two decades and more, including four very productive years at Paonta Sahib (from 1685 till 1688), until the Guru, foreseeing the impending conflicts that were to engulf Anandpur, relieved the poets, scholars and scribes. 
Classics such as Chanakya Niti, Ranch Tantra, Hitopadesa, Upanishads and parts of Mahabharata were translated into Braj and Punjabi and works and manuals on martial arts such as rearing, training and employment of hawks, horses, elephants, camels and dogs were prepared. A few Hindi classics were transliterated into Gurmukhi. 
According to Bhai Santokh Singh, author Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, the entire work was collected into a single anthology called Vidya Sar or Vidya Sagar, meaning ocean of knowledge. The poet even mentions the weight of the whole mass of manuscripts nine maunds or approximately 350 kilograms. Whatever the quantity of the material, the entire treasure was lost consequent upon the evacuation of Anandpur in December 1705, most of it in the flooded Sirsa stream. Only small fragments and copies of some of the manuscripts already prepared and carried out of Anandpur by the authors themselves or by others survived. 
==Name of the poets==
The names of poets and scholars which have come down to us through these fragments or through other works such as Sau Sakhi, Mahima Prakash, Gurbilas Dasvin Patshahi, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, Gurpad Prem Prakash and Twarikh Guru Khalsa are listed below:
===Mahan Kosh===
The list is from Mahan Kosh by Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha under the phrase 'Bavanja Kavi' (Fifty two poets.)
1. Uday Rai
2. Ani Rai
3. Amrit Rai
4. Allu
5. Asa Singh
6. Alim
7. Ishavar Dass, 
8. Sukh Dev, 
9. Sukha Singh, 1
0. Sukhia, 
11. Sudama, 
12. Sainapat, 
13. Shyam 
14. Heer, 
15. Hussain Ali, 
16. Hans Ram, 
17. Kallu, 
18. Kuveresh, 
19. Khan Chand, 
20. Gunia, 
21. Gurdas, 
22. Gopal, 
23. Chandan, 
24. Chanda, 
25. Jamaal, 
26. Tehkin, 
27. Dharam Singh, 
28. Dhanna Singh, 
29. Dhayan Singh, 
30. Nannoo, 
31. Nishchal Dass, 
32. Nihal Chand, 
33. Nand Singh, 
34. Nand Lal, 
35. Pindi Dass, 
36. Ballabh, 
37. Balloo, 
38. Bidhi Chand, 
39. Bulland, 
40. Brikh, 
41. Brij Lal, 
42. Mathura, 
43. Madan Singh, 
44. Madan Giri, 
45. Malloo, 
46. Maan Dass, 
47. Mala Singh, 
48. Mangal, 
49. Ram, 
50. Rawal, 
51. Roshan Singh, 
52. Lakha.
===Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth===
Kavi Santokh Singh gives this as the list of the Bavanja Kavi's in his magnum opus Suraj Prakash.
Nand Lal
Ratee Rai
Amrat Rai
Attu
Asa Singh
Balam
Iswar Das
Sukh Dev
Sukha Singh Sukhia
Sudama
Senapati 
Shyam 
Haer
Hussain Ali
Hans Rao
Kallu Kubresh
Khan Chand
Gania
Gurdas
Gopal
Chandan
Chanda
Jamaal
Dahkan
Dharam Singh
Dhanna Singh
Dhyan Singh
Nanu
Nihchal Das 
Nihal Chand
Nand Singh
Uday Rai
Bullo
Bhudhi Chand
Buland
Brikh
Braj Lal
Mathura
Madan Singh
Madan Gir
Mullo
Maan Das
Mulla Singh
Mangal Ram
Raval 
Roshan Singh Makhan
Alam
Lakhan
===Certain===
These poets were certainly members of the 52 poets.
#Alim/Alam
#Allu/Attu
#Amrit Rai
#Asa Singh
#Bidhi Chand
#Brij Lal
#Brikkha/Brikh
#Buland
#Chand (Chandan)
#Chandra Sain Sainapati
#Dhanna Singh
#Dharam Singh
#Dhyan Singh
#Gopal
#Gurdas Gunia
#Gurdas Singh
#Hans Ram/Hans Rao
#Hir Bhatt/Haer
#Husain Ali
#Ishar Das/Iswar Das
#Jamal
#Kallu
#Khan Chand
#Lakkhan Rai/Lakhan
#Madan Gir(i)
#Maan Das Vairagi
#Mangal Ram
#Mathura Das
#Nand Lal Goya 
#Nand Singh
#Nihal Chand
#Faqir Nihchal Das
#Roshan Singh
#Raval
#Shyam
#Sudama
#Sukhia
#Sukha Singh
#Udai Rai
===Uncertain===
These members are probably not part of the 52 poets of Guru Gobind Singh.
1. Adha
5. Ani Rai
7. Ballu Bhatt
9. Bhoj Raj
8. Bhagatu
11. Bihari
12. Brahm Bhatt
18. Desu Bhatt
19. Devi Das
23. Girdhari Lal
28. Hari Das
32. Jado Rai
35. Kashi Ram
36. Kesho Bhatt
42. Maddu Singh
38. Kunvaresh
40. Lal Khiali
43. Madhu
44. Mala Singh
45. Mall Bhatt
2. Madan Singh
2. Mullo
2. Maan Das
2. Mulla Singh
2. Mangal Ram
49. Mir Chhabila
50. Mir Mushki
52. Nand Lal, Pandit
53. Nand Ram
55. NanVairagi
56. Narbud Bhatt
59. Phat Mall
60. Pindi Lal
61. Prahilad Rai
2. Ram Das
63. Pandit Raghunath
66. Sharda
71. Sundar
73. Sukhdev
72. Tahikan
73. Tansukh
74. Thakar
Ratee Rai
Balam
Kubresh
Dahkan
Nanu
Bullo
Makhan
==52 Poets at Paunta Sahib==
In 1682 at the invitation of Raja Nahan, Guru Gobind Singh Ji moved to a place called Paonta Sahib and built a fort on the banks of the river Yaumna. So named because "The True Guru came from Anandpur and rested his foot (paonta)." It was subsequently named Paonta Sahib. Guru Ji stayed here for around four years. Whereas martial exercises continued and a few battles were fought including the famous battle of Bhangani, Guru Sahib Ji alos engaged himself in literary pursuits. Several Sanskrit and Persian classics were translated by various poets who had gathered at Paonta and enjoyed the patronage of the great Guru. Sometimes poetic symposiams were held and Guru Sahib Ji distributed awards to the best poets. Most of Guru Ji's compositions were written at Paonta Sahib.
 
Baba Ajit singh Ji the eldest son of Guru Ji was born to Mata Sundri Ji, at Paonta.
 
The number of court poets of Guru Gobind Singh Ji has been fixed at 52. Most of them were present at Paonta and helped in rendering the classical literature into Braj Bhasha, especially from Sanskrit. 
==See also==
* Paonta Sahib
* Kavi Darbar
* Gurudwara Paonta Sahib
* Sahibzada Ajit Singh
* Battle of Bhangani
* Hermit of Kaalsi
category:sikh scripture