💧 What he did
He carried water to the wounded of both sides, giving every injured person a drink and care, whether they were friend or enemy.
Sikhism: Origins and Their Impact on the Community » Bhai Kanhaiya: Service to All
What you'll learn this session
Study time: 30 minutes
Edexcel spec: Paper 2 Sikhism (4RS1/2F), 1.4
- Who Bhai Kanhaiya was and what Sikh tradition says he did at Anandpur
- His teaching: the divine light in everyone, and service without sides
- His contribution to Sikhism, including the Sevapanthi tradition
- How far he is relevant to Sikhs today
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In Mukti, Gurmukh, Nam Simran and Sewa you met sewa, selfless service given with no reward in mind. In Guru Gobind Singh, the Khalsa and the Five Ks you saw that the tenth Guru and his Sikhs faced attacks at Anandpur. This lesson looks at one Sikh who is not a Guru, but whose example of sewa is remembered across the Sikh world.
Who was Bhai Kanhaiya?
The spec asks you to study one important Sikh other than the Gurus in human form. This course studies Bhai Kanhaiya (about 1648 to 1718). Bhai is a title of respect meaning "brother". He was a follower of Guru Tegh Bahadur and later of Guru Gobind Singh. The fighting at Anandpur in his story is dated by historians to around 1703. Most of what is known about him comes from Sikh tradition, the stories Sikhs have passed down, so it is taught here as tradition.
Key terms:
- Bhai: a title of respect, meaning "brother", given to a respected Sikh.
- Sevapanthi: the "path of service", the name given to the small Sikh tradition (sect) that follows Bhai Kanhaiya's example of selfless service to the sick and wounded.
The story of Anandpur
Sikh tradition says that during the fighting around Anandpur, Bhai Kanhaiya went onto the battlefield carrying a water skin. He gave water to the wounded and thirsty. He did not stop to ask which side a soldier belonged to. He helped Sikh fighters and the soldiers fighting against them.
😢 The complaint
Some Sikhs were upset. They told Guru Gobind Singh that Bhai Kanhaiya was helping the enemy and giving them new strength to fight.
The Guru asked Bhai Kanhaiya to explain. Tradition says he replied that he did not see friend or enemy on the battlefield. He saw only the Guru's face in everyone. In other words, he saw the same divine light in every person.
Guru Gobind Singh was pleased and praised him. Tradition says the Guru gave him ointment and bandages as well. The Guru said that Bhai Kanhaiya had understood the true meaning of sewa.
His teaching
🌟 The divine light in all
Bhai Kanhaiya acted on the Sikh belief that God's light is in every human being. If God is in everyone, then everyone deserves care, even in a war.
🤝 Sewa without sides
His example teaches that sewa should not depend on a person's religion or which side they are on. Help is given because someone is in need.
Common mistakes
- Saying Bhai Kanhaiya was a Guru. He was a Sikh follower, not one of the ten human Gurus.
- Stating the story as proven fact. Say "Sikh tradition says" because the stories come from Sikh memory.
- Saying he was disloyal. The Guru himself praised him, because he followed the Gurus' teaching.
- Just retelling the story. In (b) and (c) answers, say what it teaches and why it matters.
His contribution to Sikhism
- A lasting model of selfless service. He shows Sikhs what sewa looks like when it is hardest, helping people on the other side.
- The Sevapanthi tradition. A small Sikh tradition (a sect) known as the Sevapanthis (also called Sewapanthis) traces itself back to him. Tradition says that he carried on serving others after Anandpur, and they are remembered for caring for the sick and wounded. Many Sikhs outside the order also honour his example.
- An inspiration for relief work today. Sikh charities that help people in need, whatever their faith, often point to Bhai Kanhaiya's example. You met one such group, Khalsa Aid, in Peace and Peacemaking in Sikhism.
Many people also compare his work to that of the Red Cross, an organisation founded much later, in 1863, to help the wounded in war whichever side they are on. The comparison is often made, but he lived long before it began.
Is he relevant to Sikhs today?
✅ Yes, he is relevant
Sikhs still meet suffering, in disasters, wars and everyday life. His example gives a clear lesson: help everyone, with no conditions. Sikh charities that give disaster relief to anyone in need often point to his example.
❓ Less relevant, some say
He lived over 300 years ago and little detail is certain. Some Sikhs say the Guru Granth Sahib and the Gurus, not other people, are the guide, and the story is one example among many of sewa.
Most Sikhs would say his teaching is still very important, because the belief in the divine light in all and in sewa is at the heart of the faith. He is a role model more than a source of rules.
Exam-style question
(a) Outline two events in the life of Bhai Kanhaiya which showed his belief in service to all. [4 marks]
Model answer (a)
One event is that he carried water to the wounded of both sides at Anandpur (1), which showed he helped everyone in need, not just the Sikh side (1). A second event is that, when Sikhs complained, he told Guru Gobind Singh he saw only the Guru's face in everyone (1), which showed he believed in the same divine light in all people (1).
(b) Explain why Bhai Kanhaiya is important for Sikhs. [6 marks]
Model answer (b)
Bhai Kanhaiya is important because he is a lasting example of sewa. He gave water to the wounded of both sides at Anandpur, so he showed that Sikhs should serve people whatever their religion or side. This matters because Sikhs believe the divine light is in every person, so no one is an enemy to be refused help. Guru Gobind Singh praised him and gave him ointment and bandages, which Sikhs see as the Guru approving his action. His example is also the root of the Sevapanthi tradition. Sikh relief charities today still follow his example, so he continues to inspire how Sikhs behave.
(c) 'Bhai Kanhaiya is still important for Sikhs today.' Discuss this statement, considering the arguments for and against. In your answer you should include reference to teachings, other points of view, and your own opinion. [10 marks]
Plan for (c)
For: his sewa shows the belief in the divine light in all, and Sikhs still need this when they help others in disasters or war; the Sevapanthi tradition and Sikh relief charities keep his example alive. Against: he lived long ago, the details come from tradition, and some Sikhs say the Gurus and the Guru Granth Sahib are what guide Sikhs, not other people. Another view: the Sevapanthis honour him as a special founder, while most Sikhs see him as a role model, and some say sewa is a duty on every Sikh so the Gurus' teaching matters more than any one person. Possible conclusion: the story is tradition, but the belief behind it is central to Sikhism, so he stays important as a role model.
Exam tip
In a (b) answer on a person, do not just retell the story. Give each reason as "he did this, so it shows this teaching, so it matters to Sikhs".