Site Search

Main Menu

Home
Sikh Gurus
Historical Events
Sikh Scriptures
Gurudwaras:India
Gurudwaras :Pakistan
Gurudwaras World
Golden Temple
Sikh Way of Life
Sikh Youth
Sikh Warriors
Sikh Martyrs
Sikh Women
Famous Sikhs
Sikh Ethics
Sikh Prayers
Sikhism FAQs
Sikh History Timeline
Guru Stories
Punjab
Punjabi Cuisine
Sikh Organisations
Sikh Names
Glossary of SikhTerms
Sikh Matrimonials
Europeans in Sikh History
Bhai Laddha Print E-mail

Bhai Laddha,

Bhai Laddha, a Sikh widely respected for his piety, compassion and selfless service,lived in Lahore during the time of Guru Arjan. When Bhai Buddhu, as says Bhai Mani Singh, Sikhan di Bhagat Mala, solicited Guru Arjan's blessing to cancel Bhai Lakkhu's curse upon his brickkiln, the Guru deputed Bhai Laddha to intercede on his behalf. Bhai Laddha succeeded in softening Bhai Lakkhu. Once, records Bhai Santokh Singh, Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, the musicians, Satta and Rai Balvand, by their greed and vanity and by their disparagement of the earlier Gurus, had so annoyed Guru Arjan that he not only banished them from his presence but also declared that anyone pleading pardon for them would face punishment which would amount to blackening the intercessor's face and a ride through town astride a donkey, with a garland of old shoes hung around his neck.

Satta and Balvand were penitent, but found no one who would be willing to escort them back to the Guru. They, continues Bhai Santokh Singh, at last approached Bhai Laddha, who forthwith agreed to help even at the risk of earning the Guru's displeasure. He blackened his face, put a string of old shoes around his neck, and riding a donkey, went to the Guru's presence, leaving Satta and Balvand at the entrance. Guru Arjan, seeing that Bhai Laddha had voluntarily undergone the proclaimed punishment for having Satta and Balvand pardoned, agreed to readmit the bards to the sangat, provided they indemnified the sacrilege committed by composing verses in honour of the Gurus they had spoken ill of earlier. Bhai Gurdas, in one of his stanzas, praises Bhai Laddha calling him parupkdn one ready to do a good turn to others even at personal risk

 
A Gateway to Sikhism
No material from the Site be reproduced or used by anyone without the written permission from Gateway to Sikhism.