🏡 Early Life and Background

Bhai Himmat Singh Ji was born in 1661 in Jagannath Puri, located in the eastern state of Odisha (then Orissa). He came from the water carrier caste, traditionally known as “Jhivar”, which was considered low in the caste hierarchy. This background made his contribution to the Khalsa even more profound, as he represented the breaking of caste barriers and emphasized the Sikh ideal of equality among all human beings.

His father’s name was Gulzari, and his family was humble, hardworking, and spiritually inclined. As a young man, Himmat Rai was always drawn toward spirituality, devotion, and service. His heart longed for divine truth and freedom from social discrimination, and this quest led him to Anandpur Sahib, where Guru Gobind Singh Ji was gathering Sikhs from all walks of life.

📖 The Sacred Day of Baisakhi – 1699

On the Baisakhi day of 1699, Guru Gobind Singh Ji made an unprecedented call. In front of thousands gathered at Anandpur Sahib, the Guru appeared with a sword in his hand and asked,

“Who is prepared to give his head for the Guru?”

The sangat was stunned. After Bhai Daya Singh Ji and Bhai Dharam Singh Ji had stepped forward, the Guru asked again. Without hesitation, Himmat Rai, a man from a so-called low caste, stood up with devotion and dignity. He walked toward the Guru, offering his head in complete surrender.

He became the third of the Panj Pyare — the Five Beloved Ones — and received the name Bhai Himmat Singh Ji after the Amrit Sanchar ceremony. The name “Himmat” means courage or inner strength, truly reflecting his fearless devotion to the Guru and the message of social equality.

🧡 Initiation into the Khalsa

Guru Gobind Singh Ji initiated the first Amrit ceremony, preparing the Nectar of Immortality (Amrit) in a steel bowl with a double-edged sword, stirring it while reciting the Five Banis. Bhai Himmat Singh Ji drank the Amrit and became a Khalsa — a saint-soldier who lives by divine values and is ready to defend righteousness.

From that day on:

• He wore the Five Kakaars (5 Ks).

• He was forbidden from practices that discriminated based on caste, ritual, or superstition.

• He became a role model for living a life of honesty, discipline, and valor.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji shattered the walls of caste that divided society. By choosing Himmat Singh Ji — a man from a marginalized community — as one of the first five, the Guru declared that in the Khalsa, all are equal, all are divine.

⚔️ Role in the Khalsa and Service to the Guru

Bhai Himmat Singh Ji dedicated the rest of his life to Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s mission. Alongside the other Panj Pyare, he became a symbol of spiritual strength, social justice, and martial excellence. He traveled with the Guru, fought in battles, and helped spread the ideals of Khalsa Raj.

He also:

• Participated in the baptism ceremonies of countless Sikhs.

• Served the sangat (congregation) with humility and love.

• Actively contributed to the defense of Anandpur Sahib, where the Sikhs were frequently under siege by the Mughal and Hill Raja forces.

Despite being born into a community looked down upon, Bhai Himmat Singh Ji now stood shoulder to shoulder with warriors, scholars, and leaders — not just as an equal, but as a leader of the highest order in the Guru’s eyes.

⚔️ Battle of Chamkaur Sahib (1704)

One of the most heroic chapters of Bhai Himmat Singh Ji’s life came during the Battle of Chamkaur Sahib in 1704, a battle that has become a symbol of unmatched bravery and sacrifice in Sikh history.

In this battle:

• A small group of Sikhs, including the Guru’s two elder sons and the Panj Pyare, defended the mud fort of Chamkaur against an army of thousands.

• Bhai Himmat Singh Ji fought valiantly to protect Guru Gobind Singh Ji and the Khalsa ideals.

• He, along with Bhai Mohkam Singh Ji and Bhai Sahibzada Ajit Singh Ji, attained martyrdom, laying down their lives in defense of truth.

His martyrdom was not just the end of a life but the beginning of a legacy of fearless resistance against tyranny, rooted in spiritual equality and divine purpose.

🌸 Spiritual and Social Legacy

Bhai Himmat Singh Ji’s legacy is multidimensional:

🕊️ Spiritual Revolution

He embodied the message that God resides in all, regardless of caste or birth. He lived a life of Nam Japna (remembering God), Kirat Karni (honest living), and Vand Chakna (sharing with others) — the pillars of Sikh living.

🛡️ Martial Excellence

He was an example of a Sant-Sipahi (saint-soldier) — gentle in heart, fierce in battle. His bravery in Chamkaur Sahib still inspires Sikh warriors and defenders of justice today.

🤝 Equality and Inclusion

By becoming one of the Panj Pyare, he erased centuries of social discrimination. The message was clear: In the Khalsa, all are one, regardless of caste, creed, or color.

🏵️ Remembering Bhai Himmat Singh Ji Today

Bhai Himmat Singh Ji’s memory is cherished in:

• Daily Ardaas (Sikh prayer), where the Panj Pyare are always remembered.

• Amrit Sanchar ceremonies, where five Sikhs represent the spirit of the original Panj Pyare.

• Gurdwaras and historical narratives, where his story is told to inspire generations to rise above social injustice and serve with spiritual love and unshakable courage.