Bibi Bhani
Daughter of Guru Amar Das, wife of Guru Ram Das and mother of Guru Arjan, remembered for her devoted service.
Bibi Bhani was born in 1535, the younger daughter of Guru Amar Das, and married Jetha, who became Guru Ram Das. She was the mother of Prithi Chand, Mahadev and Arjan.
The stories of her devotion to her father are many. In one, she noticed a leg of the stool he sat on giving way while he meditated and held it up with her hand for hours, until she bled. Her father, it is said, blessed her that the Guruship would remain with her descendants, and it did: from her son Guru Arjan to Guru Gobind Singh, every Guru was of her line.
She brought up Arjan, the fifth Guru, and supported his succession against his elder brother. She died at Goindwal in 1598.
Connected
Third Guru, who became Guru at 73. Made the langar a rule for all visitors, opposed sati and purdah, and organised the community into 22 manjis (districts).
Fourth Guru and founder of Amritsar. Wrote the Lavan, the four marriage hymns of the Anand Karaj.
Fifth Guru. Built the Harmandir Sahib, compiled the Adi Granth in 1604 and became the first Sikh martyr, tortured to death in Lahore in 1606.