Bhai Rupa

Bhai Rupa
Town
Bhai Rupa
Coordinates: 30°25′52″N 75°13′14″E / 30.43111°N 75.22056°ECoordinates: 30°25′52″N 75°13′14″E / 30.43111°N 75.22056°E
Country India
State Punjab
District Bathinda
Population (2011)
 • Total 16,561
Languages
 • Official Punjabi
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 151106
Telephone code 91-1651
Website www.bhairupa.org

Bhai Rupa is a town in the sub-division Rampura Phul in the Bathinda district of the Punjab. It celebrates the name of a prominent Sikh, Bhai Rupa (Roop Chand, 1614–1709), the son of Bhai Sadhu, who laid the foundation of the village in 1631, at the instance of Guru Hargobind. Next to Bhai Rupa's house, a gurdwara (Sikh community center) was built in Guru Hargobind's honour. The present Gurdwara Sahib Patshahi Chhevin, a two-storey domed building, marks that site inside the village. Guru ka Langar is across a narrow lane. In the same direction is the pavilion, raised recently to accommodate larger divans.

The Gurdwara, though affiliated to the Gurdwara Local Committee, Bhai Rupa, is managed by the descendants of Bhai Rupa. Close to the Gurdwara, in a private house belonging to one of the descendants of Bhai Rupa, there is preserved an old rath or chariot. It is said to have been brought from Dera Ram Rai at Dehra Dun by Bhai Gian Chand, a grandson of Bhai Roop Chand Ji. According to local tradition, it once belonged to Guru Arjan and was used by his successors, Guru Hargobind and Guru Har Rai.

The title of "bhai"

The guru in recognition of devotion, honoured Roop Chand with the title of "bhai" (own brother) and put him in charge of the spiritual welfare of the new region of Malwa and the country south of Sutlej. With his own hands Guru Ji made Bhai Roop Chand the masand of the area and put on his forehead the tilaka, (saffron mark of leadership) and gave a karchha, a long spoon, asking him to run langar to feed the poor and the needy. This karchha is a symbol of veneration for the family. The guru also remarked that even fresh cut wood would burn like dry wood in the langar fire. This can be seen even now at Dyalpura Bhai village at any time.

Education

There are five government and several private schools in this village

Facilities

Main Bazar

[1][2][3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Bhai Roop Chand Ji - brcj - Pothis 6th-Guru_writin. - Bhai, Guru, Utensil, Mata, Hukamnama".
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ "Bhai Roop", sikh-heritage.co.uk, 2010.

External links

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