Bankhandi

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)

Biography

Photograph of the temple at Sadh Belo, Sukkur, Sindh

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]