Bhai Jeevan Singh

December 23, 2010

A commemorative postage stamp on the 350^th Birth Anniversary of Baba Jiwan Singh (Bhai Jaita), a Sikh General and an accomplice, companion & friend of Guru Gobind Singh :

Issued by India

Issued on Dec 23, 2010

Issued for : The Department of Posts is happy to issue a commemorative postage stamp on Bhai Jeevan Singh.

Credits :
Stamp, FDC & Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.3 Million

Printing Process : Wet–offset

Printer : India Security Press, Nashik

Name : Baba Jivan Singh Ji [Bhai Jaita before baptism]

Born on Dec 13, 1661 at Patna, Bihar, India

Died on Dec 23, 1704 at Chamkaur, Rupnagar, Punjab, India

About :

Bhai Jeevan Singh, popularly known as Bhjai Jaita Singh, assumed a significant place in the history of Sikhs in India. He was born on 13^th December 1661 at Patna in the house of Bhai Sada Nandji and Mata Premoji. The ninth Guru of Sikhs, Sri Guru Teg Bahadur himself gave him the name Jaita. The early life and childhood of Bhai Jaita was spent in the family of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur and he grew up along with Gobind Rai (Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji).
Guru Teg Bahadur marched towards Delhi against the tyranny and religious intolerance of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Guru Teg Bahadur was arrested at Agra along with Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das, Bhai Jaita, Bhai Dayala, Bhai Udai and Bhai Gurditta and was imprisoned in Delhi. With the permission of Guru Sahib and with the assistance of Khwaja Abdullah (Kotwal of Chandni Chowk) under the directions of Bibi Jabunisha (daughter of Aurangzeb), Bhai Jaita, Bhai Uday and Bhai Gurditta escaped from jail.
During his term in the jail, Guru Teg Bahadur wrote 57 shlokas. He entrusted those shlokas, along with a letter and some other items to Bhai Jaita to carry them to Anandpur Sahib to Sahibzada Gobind Rai. Bhai Jaita accomplished this task and returned to Delhi. When it became clear that Guru Teg Bahadur would offer the supreme sacrifice of his life. Bhai Jaita volunteered to take upon himself the responsibility of bringing back the body of the Guru.
On 11 November 1675, Guru Teg Bahadur was beheaded at Delhi. An order was proclaimed by the rulers of the day that whosoever dares to take the head and body of Guru shall be dealt with in the same manner.
A plan was prepared to protect the beheaded body of Guru Sahib for taking it to Anandpur. Bhai Sada Nand, father of Bhai Jaita, directed him to behead him and exchange his head and body with that of the Guru Sahib and take the head and body of Guru Teg Bahadur to Anandpur. This supreme sacrifice also has no parallel in the history of mankind. Despite utmost surveillance of armed guards, intense rain and unruly weather, Bhai Jaita recovered the beheaded head of Guru Sahib and reached Kiratpur Sahib after traversing nearly 300 KMs.
From there, Bhai Jaita sent a message through a few disciples to Guru Gobind Singh. On 16^th November 1675 last rites were performed, after which Guru Gobind Singh asked Bhai Jaita to narrate the incidents in Delhi leading to the martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur. Bhai Jaita narrated the scene to Guru Gobind Singh.
This incident and its narration left an indelible impression in the mind of Guru Gobind Singh, subsequently being instrumental in paving the way for establishing the Order of Khalsa in 1699.
On initiation in the Khalsa order in 1699, Bhai Jaita was renamed as Baba Jeevan Singh by Guru Gobind Singh. He participated in at least 14 wars and military actions alongside the Guru. He was an extremely spiritual person, intensely devoted, an able general and strategist in war craft.
During the battle of Garhi of Chamkaur in 1704 Guru Gobind Singh conferred the supreme honour of the ‘Kalgi‘, the ‘Armaments‘ and the ‘Pushaka‘ on Bhai Jeevan Singh. He attained martyrdom while fighting the Mughal army at Garhi of Chamkaur on 23^rd December, 1704.
Text : Based on the material provided by the proponent.