Bhai Mardana was the son of Mir Badre, who belonged to a clan of wandering minstrels and was a Muslim by birth. He was born in 1459 in village Talwandi, which was also the birth place of Guru Nanuk.

He became a devoted follower of Guru Nanak and accompanied him on his travels. Since he belonged to the same village and it was a custom for minstrels to often visit the houses of government officials and prominent people, Mardana may have known Gumi Nanak during his early years because of the visits to the place of Mehta Kalu, father of Guru Nanak. Their fnend ship became truly strong only after the marriage of Guru Nanak, when he started on his travels all over India and distant countries. Mardana with his rabab (a violin like musical instrument) was his constant companion, the other companion being Bala.

Mardana was a gifted musician, and played the rabab beautifully. During the marriage procession of Guru Nanak he exhibited his talent with great zeal and emotion. He served Guru Nanak for 47 years and came to be known as Rababi.

The descendants of Bhai Mardana came to be called ‘rababis’ and served the successive Guru’s by singing hymns in the congregations. The ‘Mirasi’ clan to which Mardana belonged was considered low caste but Guru Nanak made no distinction on class or creed  this was something unique in the cast end den society of India where people of higher caste look down upon those of lower caste. Guru Nanak made Mardana sit by his side and while Bhat Mardana played on the rabab, Guru Ji sang in his melodious voice the praise of Wahe Guru the Lord of the universe the Creator.

Guru Nanak always arose well before dawn each day and after a bath, sang beautiful hymns in praise of God in classical, Indian ragas, Bhai Mardana was always there with his beloved Gun and played blissfully on his rabab. The whole atmosphere became heavenly and all who heard the hymns felt blessed.

So devoted was Bhai Mardana to Guru Nanak that he associated himself completely with his Guru and said while Guru Nanak was a rababi of the Lord, he was the rababi of Guru, while Guru Nanak had discourse with God, he had the privilege of direct dis course with his Master and he prayed to Guru Nanak to always keep him by his side. Guru Nanak assured Bhai Mardana that the Lord was pleased with him and showered him with his benevolence.

When Bhai Mardana was on his death bed, Guru Nanak was by his side and Mardana breathed his last in the presence of his Master, who showed him the way to Heaven. The descendants of Bhai Mardana, were called rababi’s and became devoted Sikhs.

Provided by: Bhai Tarlok Singh Sandhu

Article extracted from this publication >>  June 11, 1993