Marriage and Sultanpur
Bhai Mardana joins Guru Ji
Bhai Mardana, a Muslim musician from the same village, came to Sultanpur and stayed with Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji as his rabab player.
The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism, drawing on several accounts, says Bhai Mardana was a married man with children when news of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji's generosity reached Talwandi. Mehta Kalu also asked him to go and bring news of his son. He went to Sultanpur and never really left. When Guru Ji later prepared to set out, Mardana hesitated because he still had a daughter to marry and no means to do it. A disciple, Bhai Bhagirath, found the money, and Mardana was free to follow.
How do we know?
A close source supports this story, and a second independent source agrees.
His birth date and the details of how he joined rest on later tradition.
- Early sourceNames Mardana the Mirasi as a good rabab player among the followers. (pauri 13)[Src]
- Early sourceNames him as companion at Baghdad. (pauri 35)[Src]
- ScholarshipGives his parents as Badra and Lakkho, born in 1459, and draws on Miharban and others for his childhood friendship and his journey to Sultanpur on an errand from Mehta Kalu.[EoS]
- ScholarshipHolds that a close bond with him can be taken for granted, but warns that his prominence grew because narrators needed an accompanist when quoting hymns. (pp. 171-172)[McLeod]
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