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Udasi saint and founder of Sadh Belo From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bankhandi (1807 or 1808–1863), commonly referred to as Baba Bankhandi Maharaj honorifically[1], was an Udasi missionary and saint who founded Sadh Belo in 1823.[2][3][4][5]
Baba Bankhandi Maharaj | |
|---|---|
 Depiction of Bankhandi from Sakhar Soonharo (1940) by Parsram Veerumal Masand | |
| Gaddi Nashin of Sadh Belo | |
| In office 1823 – 1863 | |
| Preceded by | none (position established) |
| Succeeded by | Swami Achal Prasad |
| Personal life | |
| Born | Balchand Sharma 1807 or 1808 Nepal or Kero Khetar near Delhi |
| Died | 1863 Sadh Belo, Sukkur, Sindh |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Sikhism |
| Sect | Udasi Bakhshishāṅ (Mihanshahi branch) |
Bankhandi, who was born as Balchandra, was originally a Gaur Brahmin said to hail from Kurukshetra (in Haryana).[6] Other sources claim he was born as Balchand Sharma, and was originally said to hail from either Nepal or Kero Khetar near Dehli.[3][2]
He became an Udasi missionary and belonged to the Bakhshishāṅ subsect (specifically the Mihanshahi branch).[7] He moved to a heavily forested island in Sukkur, Sindh on the Indus River called Menak Parbat in 1823 at the age of 15.[3] He took a liking to his newfound environment, where he established a dhuni (location for a sacred fire).[5] There he founded Sadh Belo, which grew to become a major centre of spirituality and learning for the Udasi sect.[8][1] Bankhandi established places of worship for various Indic deities, such as Annuparna, Ganesha, Shiva, and Hanuman.[5] He also constructed places where the Guru Granth Sahib was kept.[5] He is said to have died in 1863.[8] A temple dedicated to him was constructed in 1899 by the eight successor (gaddi nashin), Sant Harnam Das.[3][2] It remains a popular pilgrimage site today.[7]
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