Bhai Gurdas
Scribe of the Adi Granth and author of the Vaaran, which Guru Arjan called the key to understanding the Guru Granth Sahib.
Bhai Gurdas was born around 1551, the nephew of Guru Amar Das, and grew up in Goindwal. He became the greatest scholar of the early Sikh community.
He was the scribe to whom Guru Arjan dictated the Adi Granth in 1603 and 1604 at Ramsar in Amritsar. He also wrote forty Vaaran, long poems in Punjabi, which explain the Gurus' teaching, describe the early community, list the prominent Sikhs of his time and record Guru Nanak's journeys. Guru Arjan called them the key to the Guru Granth Sahib, and they may be sung in gurdwaras. He also wrote poems in Braj.
He served Guru Hargobind, carrying out missions for him, and died in 1636. His Vaaran remain one of the most important sources for the history of the Gurus.
Connected
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.
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).
The scripture of the Sikhs and their eternal, living Guru: 1,430 pages of hymns by six Gurus and some thirty other saints, set in 31 ragas.