Essay on Bibi Bhani ji in Punjabi

Bibi Bhani ji (1535 - 1598) was born to Guru Amar Das and Mata Mansa Devi on 19 January 1535 (21 Magh 1591 Bk) at Basarke Gillan, a village near Amritsar. She had an older sister called Bibi Dani and two brothers called Bhai Mohan and Bhai Mohri.

She was married on 18 February 1554 to Bhai Jetha (whose name was later changed to Guru Ram Das), a Sodhi Khatri from Lahore. Bhai Jetha later moved to Goindval which was an upcoming Sikh town and carried out voluntary service (Sewa) in the construction of the Baoli Sahib (sacred well).

Guru Amar Das was very impressed with the Sewa performed by Bhai Jetha and so a marriage was arranged between Bibi Bhani, his daughter and his dedicated devotee, Bhai Jehta. After their marriage, the couple remained in Goindval serving the Guru and the congregation (Sangat).

Later on, as the completion of the Gurdwara at Goindval neared, Guru Amar Das deputed Bhai Jetha with the task of establishing a new Sikh center at a location that first was known as "Ramdasar". The new center was to be built on a piece of land gifted, according to one version of history, by Emperor Akbar who, after a visit to the Guru, had been so impressed by the Langar of Guru Amar Das that he offered a substantial Jagir to support what he saw as noteworthy and noble cause. That bit of history also tells us that the Guru first, turned down the offer, but the wily Emperor then offered the jagir as a wedding gift for Bibi Bhani.

Noticing that the waters of the pond were said to have 'curative' powers, Bhai Jetha expanded the pond into a Sarovar that he named Amritsar. It was in the center of this ‘Lake of Amrit’ that the construction of the Harmandar Sahib was begun. Today the city that took its name from Bhai Jetha's sarovar, is known around the world as Amritsar.