Bhai Jiwan Singh
Quick Facts
Biography
Baba Jiwan Singh (also spelled Jivan and Jeevan) (Bhai Jaita before baptism) (1649–1705) was a Sikh General and an accomplice, companion and friend of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs. As well as his military prowess he was a poet and a warrior. He eventually became a Sikh martyr and an icon when he fell during the siege of Chamkaur in 1705 against the Mughal armies. He also taught gatka, shabad kirtan, archery, horse riding, and swimming to Baba Ajit Singh, a son of Guru Gobind Singh.
Born as Jaita to father Sada Nand and mother Mata Premo at Patna, India in 1649. He lived first at Patna where he received training in various weapons and learned the art of warfare. In addition, he learned horse-riding, swimming, music and Kirtan. When Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh guru, was killed by the Mughals in Delhi, three Balmiki recovered his dismembered body from a Muslim crowd and brought it back to his son, Guru Gobind Singh. In recognition of their act, he admitted the untouchable Chura sweepers into the Khalsa (the Sikh faith), giving them the name Mazhabi ("faithful"). Among the three was Bhai Jiwan Singh, who carried the head of Tegh Bahadur from Delhi to Gobind Singh in Anandpur Sahib. Singh was with the Guru during the evacuation of Anandpur Sahib and laid down his life to aid his leader's safe escape.
After his death in 1705 a tomb was erected to honour him and it stands there to this day.