Bhai Vir Singh

Bhai Vir Singh

December 5 marks the 150th birth anniversary of Bhai Vir Singh (1872-1957), and we commemorate “The Sixth River of Panjab.” In his versatile and prolific creative life, Bhai Vir Singh was a mystic, poet, novelist, essayist, exegete, historian, editor, publisher, and journalist. He drew inspiration from diverse classical and contemporary languages to publish pivotal editions of old Sikh texts. Bhai Vir Singh’s literary innovations were fundamentally connected to Sikhi’s significant concerns. He became a leading figure in the Singh Sabha Movement – the Sikh renaissance in the late 19th – early 20th century. As “The Sixth River,” Bhai Vir Singh’s poetic heart currents run steady across Sikh history to the present to offer us wisdom and beauty.

Videos

Monday
,
5
December
2022

The 150th Birth Anniversary of Bhai Vir Singh

To mark the 150th birth anniversary of Bhai Vir Singh, Harinder Singh shares 5 notions with 5 seeker personalities prevalent in today’s world culture.

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Monday
,
7
December
2020

Bhai Vir Singh: Master Musician?

Surinder Singh explains Bhai Vir Singh's musical genius which gets lost in his vast amount of work.

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Monday
,
7
December
2020

Bhai Vir Singh: What is life?

Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh beautifully explains how she interprets one of Bhai Vir Singh's works called "what is life?"

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Sunday
,
6
December
2020

Bhai Vir Singh: His Fragrance Travels Through Centuries

Scholar Dr. Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh, author, poet, and artist, Inni Kaur, and educator, Surinder Singh discuss the poetry, Gurbani, and the inspiration of Bhai Vir Singh.

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Saturday
,
5
December
2020

Bhai Vir Singh: Consciousness Streams Beyond Eras

Watch Harinder Singh's tribute to Bhai Sahib Bhai Vir Singh Ji on his 148th Birth Anniversary in collaboration with Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan

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Wednesday
,
14
March
2018

Kant Maheli (Panjabi) - The Fragrance of Bhai Vir Singh

Kant Maheli unveils the love-feelings of a maheli. Multiple words expressing the degrees of intensity, amplification and subtle elevations of love flow throughout this piece.

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Wednesday
,
10
January
2018

“The Fragrance of Bhai Vir Singh” – Eye First or Glimpse? - January 2018 (Panjabi)

The Fragrance of Bhai Vir Singh is a audio series exploring the legacy of the seminal poet presented by Sikh Research Institute.

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Wednesday
,
28
February
2018

Piare Jio – O’ Beloved (English) – The Fragrance of Bhai Vir Singh

"It is through compilations of personal letters in Piare Jio, (O’ Beloved) that we get a glimpse of the man, the father-figure he was.

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Wednesday
,
28
February
2018

Piare Jio – O’ Beloved (Panjabi) – The Fragrance of Bhai Vir Singh

"It is through compilations of personal letters in Piare Jio, (O’ Beloved) that we get a glimpse of the man, the father-figure he was. 

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Wednesday
,
14
March
2018

Kant Maheli (English) - The Fragrance of Bhai Vir Singh

Kant Maheli unveils the love-feelings of a maheli. Multiple words expressing the degrees of intensity, amplification and subtle elevations of love flow throughout this piece.

watch now ⟶
Wednesday
,
14
March
2018

Kant Maheli (Panjabi) - The Fragrance of Bhai Vir Singh

Kant Maheli unveils the love-feelings of a maheli. Multiple words expressing the degrees of intensity, amplification and subtle elevations of love flow throughout this piece.

watch now ⟶
Saturday
,
5
December
2020

Bhai Vir Singh: Consciousness Streams Beyond Eras

Watch Harinder Singh's tribute to Bhai Sahib Bhai Vir Singh Ji on his 148th Birth Anniversary in collaboration with Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan

watch now ⟶

Articles

Monday
,
5
December
2016

A Legacy of Love: Bhai Vir Singh

My earliest memory of having anything to do with Pitaji’s writings is the sweetest. Every Wednesday we would have kirtan at home. Just before Anand Sahib Masterji (because he was a Master of ragas) would sing one of Pitaji’s poems.

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Monday
,
5
December
2016

A Legacy of Love: Bhai Vir Singh

My earliest memory of having anything to do with Pitaji’s writings is the sweetest. Every Wednesday we would have kirtan at home. Just before Anand Sahib Masterji (because he was a Master of ragas) would sing one of Pitaji’s poems.

READ More ⟶
Wednesday
,
10
January
2018

The Fragrance of Bhai Vir Singh

SikhRI introduces a monthly series devoted to Bhai Vir Singh's writings.

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Wednesday
,
28
February
2018

Piare Jio – O’ Beloved

Bhai Sahib Bhai Vir Singh ji is best described as a savant-poet. As a poet, even his prose takes on a mystical, lyrical quality. The physical effect of reading his works is like a shikara (light, flat-bottom, roofed boat) gently bobbing along an open river. Mentally, he stretches not just your imagination but also your understanding. Emotionally, he shakes you to the core. His words carry the weight of profound experiences. Written with deep conviction, their impact on the reader is inevitable.

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Wednesday
,
14
March
2018

Kant Maheli - The Fragrance of Bhai Vir Singh

This poem is from a lived experience of the one who is drenched with love. Nature and its seasons become a mere reflection of that love.

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Thursday
,
31
May
2018

Fragrance of Bhai Vir Singh

“Kiüṁ mire kalgīāṁ vāle dāte!

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Thursday
,
31
May
2018

Rana Bhabor – The Fragrance of Bhai Vir Singh

In Bhai Vir Singh's narrative masterpiece, "Rana Bhabor," a poignant dialogue unfolds between Rana Uday Singh and his devoted Rani, offering profound insights into the complexities of love and devotion.

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Podcasts

Friday
,
30
December
2022

Nam: Divine Identification

Join us as we delve into Bhai Vir Singh’s epic poem “Rana Surat Singh.” The poem unveils mystical love’s mysteries via 14,270 lines in thirty-five cantos. Mystical love is helical and circular in its workings.

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Friday
,
23
December
2022

Dan: Giving

In the third podcast, we discuss: What is giving-philanthropy? What is true giving? Does dan play a role in one’s journey towards becoming a Gurmukh, Guru-oriented?

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Friday
,
16
December
2022

Isnan: Cleansing

In the second podcast, we discuss:‍What is purification? What is cleansing? Is it necessary in the journey to becoming a Gurmukh, Guru-oriented?

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Friday
,
9
December
2022

The Rani’s Love: Rana Surat Singh

Join us as we delve into Bhai Vir Singh’s epic poem “Rana Surat Singh.” The poem unveils mystical love’s mysteries via 14,270 lines in thirty-five cantos. In the first podcast, we discuss: What is longing? What is satsang (company of inspired beings)?

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Saturday
,
9
January
2021

Bhai Vir Singh: His Fragrance Travels Through Centuries

In this conversation, we are joined by scholar Dr. Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh, author, poet, and artist, Inni Kaur, and educator, Surinder Singh as they discuss the poetry, Gurbani, and the inspiration of Bhai Vir Singh.

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Sunday
,
29
November
2020

The Lover & The Beloved

Separation is perhaps the most difficult human emotion that one experiences. Does separation turn into a “longing?” Does “longing” guide us to an awareness? An awareness that love is eternal, so there can never be a separation in love.

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,

The Redemption: Jamuna's Journey Pt.2 - Bhai Vir Singh

We enter the world of Northern India in the 1920s through the eyes of a young Jain widow — Jamuna, as she struggles with loss, exploitation, and her own life.

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,

The Redemption: Jamuna's Journey Pt.1 - Bhai Vir Singh

Enter the world of Northern India in the 1920s through the eyes of a young Jain widow — Jamuna, as she struggles with loss, exploitation, and her own life.

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Tuesday
,
3
July
2018

The Rani of Raipur – The Fragrance of Bhai Vir Singh

The Fragrance of Bhai Vir Singh is an audio series exploring the legacy of the seminal poet presented by Sikh Research Institute. Known as the Sixth River of Panjab, Bhai Vir Singh gave style, rhythm, and flow to the modern Panjabi language.

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Thursday
,
30
August
2018

Fakiri Surat – The Fragrance of Bhai Vir Singh

Known as the Sixth River of Panjab, Bhai Vir Singh gave style, rhythm, and flow to the modern Panjabi language. His writings, spiritual in nature, stimulate the soul and open our eyes to the Beloved.

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Monday
,
1
October
2018

Rana Bhabor – The Fragrance of Bhai Vir Singh

Rana Bhabor is a story of a small hill chieftain who came in contact with Guru Gobind Singh Sahib during the days of his struggle with the Hill Rajas.

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Wednesday
,
5
December
2018

The Nightingale & The Traveler: Love & Wisdom – Fragrance of Bhai Vir Singh

Inni Kaur recites translations from the original works of renowned Sikh author and poet Bhai Vir Singh. In this episode, we explore the story of "The Nightingale & The Traveler".

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