Pandit Kirpa Ram Dutt (d 1704 CE/236 NS) was the son of Pandit Aru Ram Dutt, a Sarasvati Brahman of Mattan, Kashmir. For generations the Dutt family was associated with Sikhism. Pandit Kirpa Ram’s grandfather, Pandit Braham Dass had met Guru Nanak at the site of twin springs at Mattan during Guru Ji’s third udasi.

Supplicant at Guru’s court

When Emperor Aurangzeb is said to have intensified his fanatical plans for forcibly converting Hindus of Kashmir to Islam on some false excuses, this move had caused serious consternation. Kashmiri Pandits, after long deliberations, decided to meet the ninth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji at Anandpur. About sixteen Kashmiri Brahmans under the leadership of Pandit Kirpa Ram Dutt came to Anandpur in May 1675 (207 NS) for protection against the atrocities of Aurangzeb. Kirpa Ram had also met Guru Har Rai, during Guru ji’s visit to Kashmir in year 1660 (192 NS).

The group of sixteen Kashmiri Pandits come to Guru Tegh Bahadur in May 1675 (207 NS) for protection from Emperor Aurangzeb's policies inflicted through his Suba (provincial governor) of Kashmir during years 1671-75 (203-207 NS). They claimed to have faced atrocities, stiff taxes, and cruelty under Mughal rule. Honour of Kashmiri Pandits was being lost and they were losing their religion to the fanatic zeal and proselytization activities of Emperor Aurangzeb.

Guru Tegh Bahadur’s shaheedi

The delegation of Kashmiri Pandits supplicated in front of the Guru for a solution.  Guru ji replied "Such activities can only be stopped by a sacrifice of a great person”

Young Gobind Rai (who later became Guru Gobind Singh ji) walked into the meeting to find his father lost in deep thoughts. He enquired about the reason and suggested: 'Who else is greater than you, O father?” Guru Tegh Bahadur knew immediately about his Dharma. He told the Brahmans "Go tell Aurangzeb that if they can convert your Guru then you will all become Muslims”.  Kirpa Ram obliged and Aurangzab issued summons for Guru ji to visit Delhi. Guru sahib performed the gurta-gaddi ceremony, and declared that next Guru be his son Gobind Rai (Guru Gobind Singh ji).

After Guru Tegh Bahadur’s arrest and martyrdom in Delhi, Kirpa Ram returned to Anandpur. Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das, and Bhai Dayala also achieved martyrdom in front of Guru ji.

Making of Bhai Kirpa Singh

At Anandpur, between years 1675-90 CE or 207-22 NS, Guru Gobind Singh took extensive courses in Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, and Punjabi to educate himself. According to Chronicles, Pandit kirpa Ram helped Guru Gobind Singh in his Sanskrit studies. Kirpa Ram received khande ki  pahul (also known as Amrit) in year 1699 CE (231 NS) and entered the fold of the Khalsa.  Bhai Kirpa Singh got trained in the in martial arts at Anandpur.

The battle of Chamkaur was fought between the Khalsa led by Guru Gobind Singh ji, and the coalition forces of the Mughals led by Wazir Khan. Guru Gobind Singh ji makes a reference to this battle in the victory letter Zafarnama.  Bhai Kirpa Singh fell as a martyr along with forty other Sikhs in the battle of Chamkaur on 5 December 1704 CE (236 NS). Last rites of the martyrs were performed by Guru Gobind Singh ji himself.

 

Genealogical tree of Bhai kirpa Singh

       Pandit Thaker Das (Dutt Brahman)

|

Pandit Braham Das      Harcharan Das

|                        

Narain Das                        

|                        

Aru Ram                         

|                        

                      Kirpa Ram           Shiv Das               Chela Ram

  |                                                        

Dharam chand       Isher Das                                                            

 

 

Sources

• Panda Vahies (Hardwar, Matan)
• Shaheed Bilas
• Musar Alimgiri
• Guru kian Sakhian
• Encyclopaedia of Sikhism