Himmat Singh (Sikhism) Explained

Religion:Sikhism
Himmat Singh
Honorific Prefix:Bhai
Honorific Suffix:Ji
Known For:Member of the original, inaugural Panj Pyare; was the third to answer the call by the Guru for a head
Birth Date:1661
Birth Place:Jagannath Puri, Odisha, India
Birthname:Himmat Rai Jheeaur
Father:Gulzari
Mother:Dhanno
Death Date:7 December 1704 or 1705 (aged 43 or 44)
Death Place:Chamkaur, Punjab, India
Death Cause:Killed in action
Native Name:ਹਿੰਮਤ ਸਿੰਘ
Native Name Lang:pa
Institute:Khalsa
Office1:Panj Pyare
Term Start1:1699
Term End1:1704 or 1705
Occupation:Water carrier

Bhai Himmat Singh (1661–1705), born Himmat Rai, was one of the inaugural group of Panj Pyare, or the first group of the Five Beloved in Sikhism.

Biography

Early life

He was born in 1661 in Jagannath Puri in modern-day Odisha, India into a low-caste of water-suppliers.[1] [2] His family belonged to the Jhivar (also Jheer or Jheeaur) caste.[3] His father was named Gulzari whilst his mother was named Dhanno.[4] [5]

Later life

He reached Anandpur at the age of 17 to serve the tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh. He was the third to answer the call by the Guru for a head during the ceremony to formalize the Khalsa order in 1699 atop a hill in Anandpur (where Takht Kesgarh Sahib now stands).[6] After his baptism into the Khalsa order, he adopted the name Himmat Singh. He died in the Battle of Chamkaur on 7 December 1704 or 1705.[7] [8] Himmat Singh was viewed as being an avatar of an obscure Bhagat named Phandak (hunter).

References

Notes and References

  1. Book: Punjab 1999. 9788186565766. Singh. Mohinder. 2000. Anamika Publishers & Distributors .
  2. Singh, Patwant (1989). The Golden Temple, South Asia Books. .
  3. Book: Fenech, Louis E. . The Cherished Five in Sikh History . Oxford University Press . 2021 . 978-0-19-753287-4 . New York . 1, 46, 48, 61–63, 125 . 1157751641 .
  4. Book: Singha, H. S. . The encyclopedia of Sikhism (over 1000 entries) . 2000 . Hemkunt Publishers . 81-7010-301-0 . New Delhi . 100 . 243621542 . HIMMAT SINGH, BHAI : Bhai Himmat Singh whose original name was Himmat Rai was one of the first Panj Piare who had offered their heads to Guru Gobind Singh on the Baisakhi day of 1699 AD at Anandpur and were thus the first to be initiated into the Khalsa brotherhood. Very little is known about his biographical details. According to one version, he was the son of Gulzari of Puri belonging to the Jhiwar (water carrier) caste. He was born in 1661 AD. After his initiation into the Khaisa he remained in the devoted service of Guru Gobind Singh and died fighting in the battle at Chamkaur in December 1705 AD..
  5. Book: The Sikh Courier International . Sikh Cultural Society of Great Britain . 1998 . 38-42 . 18.
  6. Book: Tyagi, Vidya Prakash . Martial Races of Undivided India . 2009 . Kalpaz Publications . 978-81-7835-775-1 . Delhi . 173 . Sikhs . 428923102 . Guru Gobind Singh addressed the congregation from the entryway of a tent pitched on a hill (now called Kesgarh Sahib). He drew his sword and asked for a volunteer who was willing to sacrifice his head. No one answered his first call, nor the second call, but on the third invitation, a person called Daya Ram (later known as Bhai Daya Singh) came forward and offered his head to the Guru. Guru Gobind Singh took the volunteer inside the tent, and emerged shortly, with blood dripping from his sword. He then demanded another head. One more volunteer came forward, and entered the tent with him. Guru again emerged with blood on his sword. This happened three more times. Then the five volunteers came out of the tent unharmed. These five, who were willing to sacrifice their lives for their Guru, were called Panj Piare ("the five beloved ones"). These five volunteers were the first Khalsa Sikhs: Daya Ram (Bhai Daya Singh), Dharam Das (Bhai Dharam Singh), Himmat Rai (Bhai Himmat Singh), Mohkam Chand (Bhai Mohkam Singh), and Sahib Chand (Bhai Sahib Singh)..
  7. Book: Pruthi, Raj . Sikhism and Indian Civilization . Discovery Publishing House . 2004 . 81-7141-879-1 . Culture and civilization series . New Delhi . 187 . Sikh Saints . 434576317 . Bhai Himmat Singh (1661 to 1704)
    The fifth Beloved One, Bhai Himmat Singh was born to a water carrier in 1661. He died fighting in the battle of Chamkaur in 1704..
  8. Book: Singh, Harbans . Punjabi University, Patiala . 1995 . 271 . English . HIMMAT SINGH, BHAI (1661-1705), one of the Panj Piare, or the Five Beloved, celebrated in Sikh history, was born in 1661 at Jagannath in a low-caste family of water-suppliers. He came to Anandpur at the young age of 17, and attached himself to the service of Guru Gobind Singh. Bhai Himmat, as he was called before his initiation, was one of the five Sikhs who one by one offered to lay down their heads in response to the Guru's successive calls made at an assembly of the Sikhs especially summoned on the occasion of Baisakhi of 1756 Bk corresponding to 30 March 1699. He along with the other four received the vows of the Khalsa at Guru Gobind Singh's hands and was renamed Himmat Singh. Himmat Singh proved a brave warrior and while at Anandpur, he took part in battles with the surrounding hill chiefs and imperial commanders. He died in the battle of Chamkaur on 7 December 1705..

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