Babak (died 1642), was a Sikh rababi or musician, who kept Guru Hargobind company and recited sacred hymns at morning and evening.

Bhai
Babak
Detail of a rababi (possibly Bhai Babak) from a painting of Guru Hargobind (the sixth Sikh Guru) listening to music, from a series of painting of the first nine Sikh gurus, circa 1800–1840
Personal life
Died1642
Amritsar, Punjab
Known forRababi
Religious life
ReligionSikhism

Biography

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He was a Muslim at birth. His name Babak, from Persian, means faithful. Babak performed the final rites of Bhai Satta and Rai Balvand.[1][2] Babak did this by digging the graves for the deceased on the banks of the River Ravi. After the service he performed the kirtan on the site where Guru Hargobind sat. He took part in the Battle of Amritsar in 1634 where he helped evacuate Bibi Veero, Guru Hargobind's daughter, to Guru Hargobind's camp.[3][4] Before Guru Hargobind passed away he asked Babak to return to Amritsar. Babak listened to the Guru and retired to Amritsar where he died in 1642. His last words are said to be, “Waheguru”.[5][6][7][8][9][10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Gurbilas Patashahi 6 Chapter 10
  2. ^ Fenech, Louis E.; McLeod, W. H. (2014-06-11). Historical Dictionary of Sikhism. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 52. ISBN 978-1-4422-3601-1.
  3. ^ The Sikh Courier International. Sikh Cultural Society of Great Britain. 1988. p. 27.
  4. ^ Macauliffe, Max Arthur (1909). Sikh Religion Vol.4. p. 83.
  5. ^ Gurbilas Chhevin Patshahi. Patiala, 1970 Chapter 20
  6. ^ Gian Singh, Giani, Twarikh Guru Khalsa. Patiala, 1970 Chapter 29
  7. ^ "Babak Rababi" by Shamsher Singh Puri
  8. ^ "Babak Rababi - A Forgotten Sikh Musician" by Dr. Gurnam Singh
  9. ^ "Guru Hargobind Sahib and Babak Rababi" by Giani Ishar Singh Nara
  10. ^ Macauliffe, Max Arthur (1909). Sikh Religion Vol.4. pp. 229–230.