Balvand Rai | |
|---|---|
_from_a_painting_of_Guru_Arjan_(the_fifth_Sikh_Guru)_listening_to_music%2c_from_a_series_of_painting_of_the_first_nine_Sikh_gurus%2c_circa_1800%25E2%2580%25931840.jpg) Detail of a rababi (possibly Bhai Balvand Rai) from a painting of Guru Arjan (the fifth Sikh Guru) listening to music, from a series of paintings of the first nine Sikh gurus, circa 1800–1840 | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | Balvand Doom |
| Died | Lahore, Punjab |
| Known for |
|
| Relatives | Satta Doom (brother) |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Sikhism |
Balvand Rai (fl. late 16th to early 17th century) also spelt asBalwand andRai Balvand,[1] was a poet mystic andrabab player in the court ofGuru Arjan.[2][3]
He was born aMuslim belonging to the Doom-Mirasi community who embraced Sikh thought during the time of Guru Arjan.[3][4] Alternative sources describe him as being born into a Bhatt family.[5] He had a brother namedSatta Doom.[3] Other sources do not ascribe a brotherly blood relation between Balvand Rai and Satta Doom.[5] Another narrative is that he began playing hymns for the Sikh guru's congregation during the guruship of Guru Angad, a relationship with Sikhs that would continue up til the guruship of Guru Arjan.[3][1] His three hymns are included in theGuru Granth Sahib inRamkali measure atAmritsar.[3] According to Sikh lore, him and his brother, Satta, became too arrogant and abandoned the guru after a disagreement over funds they requested from the Sikhs.[3][1] Eventually, they would return to serving the Sikh guru after falling ill and realizing their errors, where they were pardoned for their earlier transgressions.[3] He co-composed this Ballad of Ramkali with his brother, Bhai Satta Doom, who was a drummer (player of thejori),[6] which includes a total of six hymns.[7][1] They were motivated to compose these hymns as a means of apology for leaving the service of the guru.[8] The compositions he co-composed with his brother Satta can be found on pages 966–968 of the Guru Granth Sahib under the title ofRamkali ki Vaar Rai Balwand tatta Satte doom akhi.[8][1] The Sikh guru was greatly impressed by the work and conduct of Balvand, therefore he gave the title of "Rai", which is usually reserved forBrahmin scholars alone.[8] He is said to have died inLahore during the time ofGuru Hargobind (1595–1644) and was buried on the bank of theRiver Ravi.[3]
BALVAND AND SATTA. Rai Balvand and Satta the Dum were two rabab players who, according to tradition, sang kirtan for Guru Angad. After some years they became increasingly insubordinate and left the Guru's service. When they lost popularity, they were humbled. To signal their contrition they wrote the first five stanzas of Tikke di Var, composing the remaining three stanzas in the time of Guru Arjan.
Bhai Rai Balwand was a Muslim rebab musician and Satta was a Muslim drummer during the time of Guru Angad up to the time of Guru Arjan; they both sang gurbani-kirtan and composed a Ramkali var that was included in the Guru Granth Sahib (pp. 966–68).
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