Bhai Mardana

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Bhai Mardana (Punjabi: ਭਾਈ ਮਰਦਾਨਾ; 1459–1534) was one of the first Sikhs and Guru Nanak Dev’s lifelong companion. He was born a Muslim in Rai Bhoi di Talwandi (now Nankana Sahib, Pakistan) as Dana Mirasi. His parents were Badre Mirasi and Bibi Lakho; he married Bibi Rakhi and had two sons, Shahzada and Baba Shajada, and a daughter named Kaki.

Mardana was a skilled rabab player and helped Nanak sing hymns. He became a Sikh and traveled with Nanak on his journeys, helping spread his message. Swami Haridas, the teacher of Tansen, learned Classical Music from Mardana.

There is a tale that Nanak reassured Mardana’s worried mother that her son would not die early, a story connected to the idea that the name MarDana means “does not die” in Punjabi.

Mardana wanted to marry off his daughter before traveling with Nanak, and Bhai Baghirath helped him with the marriage so he could join Nanak. In their travels, Mardana sometimes asked questions, which helped illustrate Nanak’s teachings.

In Kartarpur, Mardana grew ill. The Guru instructed that his body be disposed of by throwing it into the river Ravi after prayers, and his soul is believed to have departed the next morning. Shahzada, his son, stayed with the Guru afterward.

The Guru Granth Sahib includes shlokas honoring Mardana against wine, and Mardana himself wrote poetry. One of his compositions appears in the Guru Granth Sahib in Bhagadrei ki Var along with Nanak’s hymns to him, teaching that sins can be cleansed in the company of the holy.